We study poetry several times throughout the school year. Sometimes we read, occasionally memorize, and sometimes we create. The following is my resource list that I have used time and time again.
This week we began our Thanksgiving unit studies with a couple of Pre-Thanksgiving activities. Below are some of the links we followed as we both reviewed and learned about the early American Settlements of Roanoke and Jamestown.
For the school days from now until Thanksgiving we we will be notebooking, crafting, cooking, reviewing, and researching who, what, when, where, and why – everything associated with the Plymouth Colony. We will keep journaling pages and bulletin boards of what we discover.
Below are the links we’ll be using for resources as we travel back in time to visit early America over the next few weeks.
Plimoth Plantation “Just for Kids” Activities – Coloring, Talk Like a Pilgrim, Virtual Field Trip, History Detective, and more! https://www.plimoth.org/learn/just-kids
This homeschooling week started off with an unplanned study on poison ivy remedies. My daughter brought the itchy rash home with her from last week’s mission trip.
We learned that placing potato slices over the rash sites was an effective treatment.
Also this week, we the added an anemometer and a barometer to our homemade weather forecasting center.
Z7 updated the current conditions chart and practiced weather related jokes. His favorite this week is, “What does a cloud wear under it’s raincoat? Thunderwear!”
For “Poem In Your Pocket” day we not only kept poems in our pockets, but also studied poetic devices. Instead of notebooking or lapbooking our printable mini posters, we put them on our current (art in progress) chalkboard wall. I think it looks nice having some of the blank spaces filled in.
And, SALT (saved, anointed, loved, transformed) practice for our homeschool group’s creative ministries troop.
And, Silver Lining, homeschool color guard practice.
We will be ending our homeschooling week with our monthly homeschool support group’s family game night and potluck.
April 18 is “Poetry In Your Pocket Day”. Though poetry has been carried around in pockets throughout history from the Renaissance to recent times, this special day was officially established in 2002.
To celebrate this day you need to select a poem, carry it with you in your pocket and share it with others throughout the day. Many libraries, bookstores, and schools will have events to celebrate Poetry In Your Pocket Day. For the history and details of Poetry In Your Pocket Day click here hhttp://www.poets.org/page.php/prmID/406
For our poetry studies in our homeschool we will be reading several types of poems and writing some original poetry. We will be using resources from these links:
I’ve already selected which poem is going in my pocket!
A Mother’s Love
This world has jewels, money, land
position, power, and mansions grand
But a mother’s love more precious far,
than all these other treasures are.
A mother nurtures, guides, protects
Her teachings each child’s life affects,
and when in later years they go,
away from home, and friends they know
Those teachings will provide the stay,
to keep them on the good straight way.
Though some may stray to taste the fruits,
of worldly pleasures — still the roots
of Mother’s teachings, love, and care
will some day draw them back to where,
the Savior’s love can them enfold,
and fill them with a spirit bold.
So children, each and every day,
honor your mother in some way —
To show that you appreciate,
she taught you how to love, not hate.
To comfort you, to guide, to lead,
to be there in your time of need.
But best of all, — to show the way,
that leads to home with God some day.
Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!
This is an Irish blessing we read with part of our holiday unit study of Saint Patrick’s Day. This poem and other Irish blessings, as well as everything else Irish can be found here:
We made these shamrock treats! Hershey Kiss, Green M&M’s, and Pretzels – Bake at 275 Degrees for just a couple of minutes until the Kiss has melted. Watch carefully not to over cook, because burnt chocolate happens easily!
We have a few new rules during this study: must wear green, Irish accents and phrases are mandatory, if anyone finds a pot-o-gold they must share with Mom, and ABSOLUTELY NO PINCHING!
Last but not least, a brief history video on St. Patrick from Veggie Tales
It’s springing here in Western KY. With the time change springing ahead, the extra daylight hours have aided the trees in producing their blooms. Flowers are opening up and the grass has lost it’s dead color and found new green. The temperatures are a bit warmer. The birds that stayed around through the winter are singing a happier song than they were just last week.
Spring is a wonderful time for outdoor nature lessons. We have some flowerpots to decorate and a variety of flower seeds soaking to germinate before planting. We will be making a fairy garden around a tree stump in the back yard. We will be studying the spring nighttime skies, and making a weather center.
Spring is the time to get out the sports equipment, bikes, and kites. Hiking and picnics are on our spring agenda along with some outdoor field trips with our homeschooling support group.
Our middle ages history studies will move on into the Renaissance.
Spring is also a good time for poetry studies (picture my kids rolling their eyes and sighing).
Song of Songs (Solomon) 2:11-12
Don’t you see? The winter is done.
The rains and clouds have come and gone. The flowers are unfolding in the fields;
the birds are warming up their songs,
Poetry can be in the form of music, too (picture my kids no longer rolling their eyes or sighing).
Still Learning Something New 