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| week 13 |
Last Friday, we finished up our study of Arabia by celebrating at a Middle Eastern restaurant, Babylon.
This week Katie made gingerbread cookies with Quentin and James.
At the beginning of the week, I make a list of possible explorations for the younger two boys, and they get to pick from the list (or come up with alternatives of their own). In this way, we both get our needs met. I have some ability to guide their studies and they have some control over what they learn about and how they learn about it and when they study it. They work on their reading and writing skills and sometimes math skills on most every day, in varying degrees in addition to this. I direct Alex's studies pretty much totally and Sam has his own schedule that he works through during the week.
On Monday, both James and Quentin wanted to begin their study of Russia. I had gotten some books of Russian fairy tales out of the library to read to them at night and they had piqued their interest.
James wanted to explore the onion domes and St. Basil's cathedral.
Quentin was more interested in Russian clothing. And so, they both made art projects around their interests. Alex worked on reading comprehension.
On Tuesday, Alex, James and Quentin all made maps of Russia and we took this opportunity to go over some of the places we had studied before, a review of sorts. We also added Scandinavia, where we will be headed next. Quentin also worked on writing his first name in cursive.
On Wednesday, Quentin wanted to work on his phonics/reading skills and completed a few workbook page. He likes them sometimes as a change of pace. Alex worked biology. I read him some from a book and asked him a few basic comprehension questions. He began a sketch of a cell for a notebook page.
James completed this Kandinsky-style art project
Books
When we read The Firebird (by Jane Yolen) Quentin became very curious about a phrase that ends the story, "there's a tale for you, and a crock of butter for me." We researched it and found out that this Russian saying is a common way for storytellers to end their stories. According to The Distinctive Qualities of Russian Fairytales by Rebecca Steltner , "the storyteller simply wants to raise attention to the fact that he has not yet been paid for his story and that he cannot live on stories alone...sometimes the narrator will be more direct and say exactly what he wanted in return,
'Now I wouldn't mind a glass of vodka' or 'There is a tale for you and a crock of butter for me.'"
At the beginning of the week, I make a list of possible explorations for the younger two boys, and they get to pick from the list (or come up with alternatives of their own). In this way, we both get our needs met. I have some ability to guide their studies and they have some control over what they learn about and how they learn about it and when they study it. They work on their reading and writing skills and sometimes math skills on most every day, in varying degrees in addition to this. I direct Alex's studies pretty much totally and Sam has his own schedule that he works through during the week.
On Monday, both James and Quentin wanted to begin their study of Russia. I had gotten some books of Russian fairy tales out of the library to read to them at night and they had piqued their interest.
On Wednesday, Quentin wanted to work on his phonics/reading skills and completed a few workbook page. He likes them sometimes as a change of pace. Alex worked biology. I read him some from a book and asked him a few basic comprehension questions. He began a sketch of a cell for a notebook page.
Sam and Katie got together and made this series of comics about biology. Sam had the ideas and asked Katie to sketch them out for him and he added the words. Well, at least Sam is paying attention. : )
On Thursday, Quentin completed this sketch of a Russian Nesting doll.
James and I enjoyed a math activity centered around Anno's book, Anno's Magic Seeds. He figured out how many seeds there were after each step.
Alex worked on a Lift-the-Flap book on Invertebrate Classification, a map of the Panama Canal and a bit about Teddy Roosevelt. I will post more pictures as soon as I take them. I am afraid that picture-taking is one of the things that I seem not to be able to keep up with lately.
When we read The Firebird (by Jane Yolen) Quentin became very curious about a phrase that ends the story, "there's a tale for you, and a crock of butter for me." We researched it and found out that this Russian saying is a common way for storytellers to end their stories. According to The Distinctive Qualities of Russian Fairytales by Rebecca Steltner , "the storyteller simply wants to raise attention to the fact that he has not yet been paid for his story and that he cannot live on stories alone...sometimes the narrator will be more direct and say exactly what he wanted in return,
'Now I wouldn't mind a glass of vodka' or 'There is a tale for you and a crock of butter for me.'"
- The Arabian Nights by Wafa Tarnowka
- The Firebird, Jane Yolen, This story is based on a Russian folktale and a famous ballet. The story includes an evil wizard, maidens held captive, Prince Ivan searching to save them and a mischievous Firebird. The illustrations in the book feature the folktale, with vignettes of the ballet in the border.
- The Tale of Tsar Saltan, Alexander Pushkin This story features jealous sisters and a tsarina and her infant son that gets sealed in a barrel and cast in the ocean. They are helped by an enchanted swan, which eventually turns the son into a gnat so he can fly back to the tsar to be rescued. Gorgeous illustrations.
- The Little Humpbacked Horse, Adapted by Elizabeth Winthrop, A classic Russian tale. Ivan is sent on one impossible task after another and is helped by the little humpbacked horse.
- Luba and the Wren, Patricia Polacco. This is a favorite author of ours. An Russian-style adaption of the tale, The Fisherman and his Wife.
- Russian Folk Tales, retold by James Riordan
- Locks, Crocs, and Skeeters; The Story of the Panama Canal, Nancy Parker
- Peter Pan (CD in the car)
On The Menu:
In addition to a second Thanksgiving dinner, and Katie's gingerbread cookies, this week we tried these new dishes on the menu...
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| Mexican Potato Bar from I Wash You Dry |
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| Italian Chicken over Pasta from Our Story |
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| Easy Cheesy Squash Bake from Kalyn's Kitchen |
They were all very good and I would recommend that you try them.
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