Tag Archives: unit study

World Turtle Day

According to my special days calendar, May 23 is World Turtle Day! I have found some great free resource links to follow as we learn about turtles in our homeschool!

Lapbook from here http://www.homeschoolshare.com/turtles.php

Much about turtles, conservation, rescue, and more here http://www.seaturtleinc.org/

More cool turtle stuff here http://www.conserveturtles.org/turtletides.php

Look inside a turtle’s shell! http://boredomtherapy.com/inside-tortoise-shell/

List with photos of different types of turtles with quick facts https://animalsake.com/different-types-of-turtles

Turtle myths and legends http://www.ancientpages.com/2015/08/29/myths-legends-reveal-ancient-turtle-worship-linked-creation-world/

Children’s Bible Ministry lesson with a turtle theme http://www.bibleline.org/turtles.html

Something challenging for an art project. Origami instructions https://www.freekidscrafts.com/origami-turtle/

Learn to draw 4 different turtles https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Turtle

Rock painting tutorial https://garden.org/thread/view/3659/Turtle-Rock-Paint-Project-Tutorial/

Turtle jokes https://www.jokesbykids.com/turtle/

“What kind of jokes do turtles tell? SHELL-arious ones!”

And finally notebooking pages with ocean animals including turtles from here https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ocean-Animal-Themed-Writing-Paper-FREEBIE-1213370

It looks like we’ve got science, language arts, computer lab, art, and fun covered for our homeschool summer school today (actually a few days worth of resources)!

betty jo

Yuck! Worms!

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“Mom, why do worms go to the sidewalk when it rains?” I answer that I don’t know, then tell him to pick them up and throw them in our garden. Of course that leads to his next question, “Why?” Before another worm question can be asked, the idea for a new mini unit study is already forming in my head. And since the weather forecast is calling for more showers, I am thinking now will be a good time to begin.

I found this at our library for the younger boys, but we will all read it because we all love picture books.

For the answers to the worm questions, we’ll take a look here http://www.biologyjunction.com/earthworm%20facts.htm#How%20long

Because very few science studies are complete without a lapbook project, we’ll download from here http://www.homeschoolshare.com/worms.php

Worm jokes for fun from a wonderful kids and garden site http://www.kidsgarden.northwestwigglers.com/worms-and-bugs/worm-jokes/

And for the grand finale, gummy worms and the movie, How To Eat Fried Worms.

For more about our homeschool’s gardening project click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/14/homeschool-gardening/

In case you are wondering why the worm crossed the road, I know that answer. To get away from the chicken!

betty jo

Our Homeschooling Week, April 15-19

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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.

How was your week?

betty jo

Passover

The Old Has Gone

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2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

It was supposed to inspire me to meditate on things “spring”, like budding trees and flowers, then make a comparison with my new self since giving my life to Christ. However, when I read it, this is what I saw, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the NEW CREATION has come: THE OLD HAS GONE…”. I glance away from my study for just a second, and see our chalkboard wall.

“NEW CREATION”? The “Castle Wall” has been the featured chalk art since the end of January. We are finished with the knights and castle part of our middle ages unit study. It’s time for something “NEW”. So I had B14 erase it.

“THE OLD HAS GONE”!

The next study will be about the plague. I do not want anything plague related in my kitchen. So, I’m thinking something “spring”. Something butterflies and flowers. I glance through an art book we got from the library . And, sure enough there’s step by step instructions for drawing a butterfly.

It usually takes a couple of days to finish a mural, but when it’s done, I’ll show you.

For earlier posts about our chalkboard wall click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/one-of-our-favorite-things-the-wall/ and here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/01/oops-i-forgot/

Happy Spring and Happy New Creation,

betty jo

Keeping The Code

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I usually learn as much as the kids do in our homeschool. The “all things middle ages” that we have been researching this school year has been quite educational for me. Recently, I realized that I want my sons (I have 4 of them) to be knights. Not the modern ones such as Paul McCartney or Elton John, but the kind of knights from the middle ages. Well, minus the jousting.

As a knight in training, a boy would start off as a page at 7 years old, (I have a 7 year old). He would be responsible for some chores, he received an education and learned to read Latin. He was taught manners, and learned and practiced skills that would serve him later. Not a bad start, huh?

At age 14, (I have a 14 year old, too), the page became a squire. This was his time of apprenticeship with a trusted knight. Real one on one tutoring and hands-on studies happened here. Practical life skills and life or death lessons were learned. Responsibilities were increased.

When the knight in training turned 21, (oh yeah, got one 21, too), he was ready to become a noble knight. But first, before he was dubbed, he had to vow to keep The Code of Chivalry. This is the real reason behind my wanting my boys to become knights. These young men swore to protect the weak, fight wrong, seek justice, be loyal to friends, and be fair to all people. They promised to be true, gentle, faithful, and brave. They pledged to honor and respect women, to be generous, and to dare to do right. I want my sons to develop the character needed to be able keep to this code.

I have daughters, too. One is my own, and one that we pretend is mine. I do not want them to ever be helpless damsels in need of being rescued. I want them to be well educated, trained, and practiced in their callings, too. I think this Code applies to them as well. And definitely should apply to their future husbands.

Here’s the link to the Code of Chivalry and everything else middle ages: http://www.middle-ages.org.uk/knights-code-of-chivalry.htm

And here’s the link to free lapbooks on knights which includes a simplified knight’s code: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/knights_lapbook.php and knight connections http://www.homeschoolshare.com/connections__middle_ages.php

And here’s a random pic that showed up on my Facebook newsfeed , seems to be appropriate.

betty jo

Art Day – Sistine Chapel Style

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As part of our “cathedral” section of our current middle ages unit studies, we researched Michelangelo and his masterpiece ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. To get a feel of what laying on your back and painting was like, we taped some paper to our dry erase board and and set it across a couple of chairs, then took turns laying under it to paint Bible story scenes. Even the homeschool graduate wanted in on this project. I love it when our assignments capture the interest of the older kids.

This is A21.

Tay art 1

Z7 and B14

A22 and E17

J9 and the finished Bible Story Paintings.

And here are the links we used for our study and notebooking:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaiOzJHKaRQ

http://artsmarts4kids.blogspot.com/2007/09/artist-profile-michelangelo.html

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/michelangelo.htm

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/michelangelos_surprise.php

http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/m/michelan/index.html

For other art related posts click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/12/leonardo-da-vinci/ and https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/06/raphael/

betty jo

The Office

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My sweet J9 often says very insightful but odd things. One day, he was sitting at the kitchen table. He looked sad. When I asked him about what was going on, he replied that he was in need of an office. I did not have a clue where this idea came from or where it was going, but I was curious. I asked him why he needed an office, and J9 answered, “When you’re in an office, people do what you tell them to.” Wow, suddenly he wasn’t the only one wanting an office, I wanted one, too.

We have two tables in our kitchen. One for meals and school work, the other is a drop leaf that was a collection center for coats, books, groceries, random toys, etc. That table only got cleaned off when company was coming and we needed more seating or room for a buffet.

J9 and I cleaned everything off the dropleaf. Then we moved the homeschool records, school supplies, unit study box, and printer to that table. We hung a bulletin board. And TA DA an office for J9 and me.

However, this has turned out to be a bit of a disappointment for him. People (our family members and the boy next door) do not do what he tells them to just because he tells them from an office. J9 has shouted at us, “You’re fired!” (imagine Donald Trump), at least 10 times apiece. However, he does like having his computer time there.

I am not disappointed at all in our office. I love it. It looks better. The organization is an improvement. Before, our homeschool records were on the hutch in the living room. The printer , mostly stayed in my bedroom (not convenient). The unit study box could have been found anywhere (garage, under beds). Now when one of the kids asks me where their folder is, I tell them, “It’s in the office”, and they actually will find it there. I print off unit study pages and right away they go into the unit study box. If we need a crafting supply, we simply look in the tote that’s stored under the table. I even have a place for our homeschooling support group notebook.

The office is where I sip hot creamy coffee and plan our weeks. It is where I can meet one on one with each kid to discuss work, grades, schedules, and such. It’s where the calendar and planner can be found. And of course, the office is where parent-teacher conferences happen (insert a snicker or chuckle here).

Sometimes, the simplest ideas end up being the best ideas. After years of homeschool disorder we finally have some organization. Our office cost nothing to set up. We got it together in hardly any time at all. I find it a wonderful home/ homeschool improvement. The office has become one of the best areas in our home.