Classically Catholic Memory~ Gamma Year Week 18

It's hard to believe we have finished up another year using the Classically catholic Memory Curriculum. Over the years I have found I love things about it but dislike some things too. I love how we can take what works for us and use, but leave out what doesn't work.

Geography~
We are finishing up with the rivers and seas from the Southwest and the Caribbean. We did our usual work.
Here are the links to the maps we used.
Outline Map of the United States
Outline Map of Mexico and Central America

We did end the year on a test. I tested their knowledge of the 50 states. They did fairly well. All those rectangle states can trick you up. I'm not too worried, as we continue on our state study they will learn more,

Latin~
We are finishing up the Anima Christi.

We have worked on learning this prayer in English and Latin the few weeks. I am so proud on how well they have done. I love praying this prayer when we enter the church and are praying before Mass starts. I love gazing upon the crucifix and reciting this prayer to our Lord.

Religion~
Love your enemies....oh this can be so hard at times.
I had the children read their bibles, copy the verse on their cursive worksheet, and copy the verse into their religion notebook to help them memorize the verse.

We talked about how we could do this in everyday life.

• Being nice to those that might make fun of us
• Share items at co-op with kids who may not be nice or annoy you
• Greet everyone with a friendly smile
• Allow everyone to play in a game
• Forgive those who may have been mean to us
• Do something nice for someone who may have been mean to us     

I found this lesson to help kids understand this important teaching from Jesus. I found another great lesson for younger kids here.

One thing I stressed to my kids is that we may not get along with everyone or want to be best friends with everyone, but we do need to include them in group activities (at co-op, church functions,etc) and treat them with love and respect.

Great Words~
This week we worked on learning the last two sections of the Concord Hymn. By the end of the second week, the kids had it down pat. We never stop reciting the first sections we learn. We just keep adding on!

History~
The War of 1812

For this weeks lesson, we read from Pioneers and Patriots. The kids read a few books we picked out at the library about this 2 year war.
For activities and projects, we cheated a little. In an effort to make things easier for this mama, I bought History Study Time Travelers: The Early 19th Century from Home School in the Woods! It has tons of great projects, resources, and information about this time period. No searching or digging up information. The kids made a flap book that will go into their 19th century lap book.
Our goal is to get up to Fort McHenry sometime this fall. I went there on a field trip when I was around 7 or 8. I remember enjoying it.

Science~
Simple Machines
I have to admit, this was an easy lesson for us. Michael really became interested in robots and all things like that at Christmas. He got all types of goodies this past Christmas to help with this learning.
I found all types of worksheets at Super Teacher Worksheets. Some are free, while others can only be used by members.
They did have cute little book for kids to put together.

We also have the advantage of a wonderful kids museum near us. It has a whole section devoted to simple machines! You check it out.

Math~
I found this great lesson online that explains how to find the volume of a cube or box. It has great graphics and it explains it in a simple easy way for kids to understand and mamas too.

The kids worked on a few worksheets.
Worksheet #1
Worksheet #2
Super Teachers Worksheets has a few pages too.

Hope you had fun working with us through Classically catholic Memory's Gamma Year!

See you next time with Delta year,

~Monique

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Classically Catholic Memory~ Gamma Year Week 17

Geography~
This week we get to wander out west and learn about the rivers and mountains there.
So with every new week, we did the following.....

Labeled the map with the stickers (the kids alternate placing the stickers on)
Review the map daily (with stickers for 1st week)
Label and color the maps I printed out (great way for kids to learn how to read maps)
Review the map with the side with no stickers ( each one does this on their own while the other one is doing different work)
Geography Test

Here is a link to the map we used to label the rivers and mountains.
Outline Map of the United States

Latin~ 
We are working through the Anima Christi.
Please see week 10 and week 11 for ideas on this beautiful prayer.

Religion~

This week, we are learning the greatest commandment given to us by Jesus Christ....LOVE ONE ANOTHER! To start off, I had the kids find the verse in their bibles and we read the entire section.

After reading the verse, they worked on their cursive handwriting worksheet I made online. Later on in the week, I had them write the verse in their religion notebooks. 

We worked on reciting the bible verse daily. Lots of repetition!

I went online and searched for a fun, creative craft to get this message understood by the kids. We did a simple heart craft with the bible verse written out in the middle. I did find so many wonderful ideas! You can check out more things I found on my CCD pinterest board. I'm sure you will find something your kids would love to do!

Great Words~
This week we move on to the Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Ralph Waldo Emerson was an early American philosopher, poet, and writer. He wrote the poem the Concord Hymn. The poem was sung July 4, 1837, as a hymn in a ceremony for the completion of the Concord Monument. 

The Concord Monument commemorates the Battle of Concord and the famous "shot heard around the world."

When ever we start a new poem, I always read the entire poem first. When finished, the kids and I read the poem together a few times. We follow that up with working on the lines being highlighted that week. 

This poem was perfect. We had 4 weeks to learn it and 4 stanzas. So we just added a stanza each week.

If you want to learn more about the who fired the shot heard round the world, you can check out this lesson.  It has vocabulary, research ideas, and map work!

For younger kids, who can spell, I found this worksheet about the Concord Hymn to do.

History~
This week, we talked about the first three presidents, Thomas Jefferson, and Lewis and Clark. It was a busy few weeks. We spent more than 4 weeks on most of these topics. For older kids, I find two weeks on certain subjects is just not enough, so we delay moving on.

For the presidents, I used materials I had found online years ago when my kids were very little....too little for the info I had found. Most of it centered around George Washington. We checked out a few biographies on the first 3 presidents. We didn't go into to much detail. I still want to get the kids to Mount Vernon and Monticello sometime this year. We just didn't make their this year.

For Thomas Jefferson and the adventures of Lewis Clark, we were lucky enough to participate in a review for Lewis and Clark: From Sea to Shining Sea from Homeschool Legacy. This was a fantastic unit study filled with so much! The kids learn about Thomas Jefferson and the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark's travels, the Native Americans, tracking animals, and the difficulties of the journey.
This was so easy to use along with CCM. If your kids want to spend more time learning about these to great explorers, I highly recommend this unit study. It's all laid out for you. Simple and easy for
homeschooling mamas!

We did visit Harpers Ferry in June and they had a exhibit all about Lewis and Clark. The kids and I spent a great deal of time looking through the exhibit.

For an added literature bonus for this section, I had the kids read books about Seaman, the dog who traveled with Lewis and Clark. He was a huge Newfoundland. My kids loved both the books they were give to read.

Seaman's Journal

Seaman: The Dog Who Explored the West With Lewis and Clark (Peachtree Junior Publication)



Science~
Newton's Third Law
This week we had fun testing this law with tennis balls. We tossed the balls softly and hard. The dog had a blast. Needless to say our testing was slightly flawed.

We did learn that if you throw a tennis ball, the dog will chase it and get it in her mouth before you can pick it up. So I guess we did prove Newton's law in a way.
A rocking chair is another great way to demonstrate this too. If you push it, it will rock back.
I found this worksheet on line to help explain this law to the kids.

Math~
Area of a Circle
For this weeks lesson, we headed outdoors for a fun lesson about the area of circle and the we worked on last weeks lesson the circumference of a circle.
All you need is a hula hoop!

I found the idea over at Ramblings of a fifth and sixth grade teacher. Sunshine and circles is what she called it. perfect for getting the kids outside to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine!

After using the hula hoop, we measured our patio table since it was round too.

Till next time,

~Monique

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Classically Catholic Memory~ Gamma Year Week 16

Geography~
We have moved out of Canada and are now traveling through the Unites States again. This week the kids worked on learning the Great Lakes and a few rivers.

Here are the steps we use to learning the lakes and rivers....

• Label the map with stickers
• Review map with stickers daily the 1st week
• Fill in printed maps daily
• Review map without stickers the 2nd week
• Test on lakes and rivers

Here are the maps we used for labeling and the test.
Outline Map of the Great Lakes
Outline Map of the Eastern United States

Latin~
Please see previous post for resources used while learning the Anima Christi.

Religion~

The last 5 commandments are talked about this week. We discussed what each commandment means and how we can follow them in our own lives.

Great Words~
The Declaration of Independence
For the next weeks, the kids will be working through the rest of the Declaration. If you need ideas, please check out my posts for Week 10 and Week 11.

History~
The French Revolution

We read about the French Revolution in Pioneers and Patriots. The kids then filled in this French Revolution timeline from Tina's Dynamic Homeschool.
We also watched a documentary called The Palace of Versailles.
You can find tons of information on the French Revolution for kids here.


Science~
Newton's Second Law of Motion
This week, we talked about force and motion. We watched a movie I checked out at the library about Newton's Laws of Motion.
The kids worked on a worksheet I found.

Math~
Circumference of a Circle
Here are two worksheets I found to help the kids learn and implement this math fact.
Worksheet 1
Worksheet 2

Till next time,

~Monique

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Classically Catholic Memory~ Gamma Year Week 15

Geography~
We're still traveling through Canada. The kids labeled more rivers and bays on their map. We followed our normal routine...
Label the map with the stickers
Go over the map daily....1st week side with stickers, 2nd week side without stickers
Label paper maps that I printed out daily
Map of Greenland and Canada
On the last day of the 2 weeks, the kids get their test to see what they can remember.

Just a side note~ While studying Canada and the rivers (and the following 2 weeks map work) reading Paddle to the Sea by Holling C. Holling would be great! We read this book earlier and loved it! It goes perfectly with the area being studied. My kids had fun making a canoe craft.


Latin~
Weeks 10-18, the kids are learning the Anima Christi. You can find resources we used on Weeks 10 and Weeks 11.


Religion~
The Ten Commandments
For the nest 4 weeks, the kids will be learning about the 10 Commandments. Week 15 talks about the first 5, while Week 16 talks about the last 5.
Resources, we used this week were pretty simple..
The Bible~ We read the bible passage of when God gave Moses the 10 Commandments. We used a regular bible, but if your kids are younger all children's bibles have the story in it. There are even story books about the 10 Commandments for kids. This was a pretty easy week.
We watched the movie The Ten Commandments movie from back in the day. My kids love watching this movie! We watch it every Easter.

I had both kids write out the 10 Commandments in their notebooks and then they did a simple craft of creating their 10 Commandments by using gray construction paper cut out into stone tablets and gluing a page with the 10 Commandments onto them.
I'm sure their are a lot of crafts out their, some even more elaborate, but this was simple and worked for us.

Great Words~
The Declaration of Independence
For the next weeks, the kids will be working through the rest of the Declaration. If you need ideas, please check out my posts for Week 10 and Week 11.

History~

Attribution: Nicolás Pérez

The Industrial Revolution
This was a fun week for the kids. We read a lot of books about various inventors and inventions. Our local library has a wonderful selection of biographies for kids. I just had the kids pick out a few books and read about the people that invented some amazing things. Generations before us achieved so much, without the help of computers! So many of the inventions from this time are still in use today. They may have a changed a little but the original concept is still their.

Homeschool Share has tons of lap books to go along with various inventions. The lap books are for a variety of ages and would be a great way to add some more wonderful books into everyday learning.
I didn't use any lap books for this week. We just focused on reading!

Science~
First we read a biography about Isaac Newton, so the kids would know a little about him. We followed up with the notes in the CCM book.

A few experiments later, and the First Law of Newton's was understood!

Here are a few worksheets I found online to go along with this lesson.
Isaac Newton Biography
Newton's First Law of Motion Worksheet


Math~
Triangles!!! Geometry was not my favorite subject. I had an amazing teacher, but my brain just didn't comprehend it all that well.
So this week, we learned

The Area of a triangle = One half its base times it's height

We worked on memorizing this fun little fact. I used the math dictionary to help explain it and show example.

To put the fact into action, I found this worksheet for the kids to work on.

Till next time,

 ~Monique

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Classically Catholic Memory~ Gamma Year Week 14

Geography~

As usual, the kids labeled the map on the first day of the week. They found rivers and mountain ranges on the map. I love having giant maps on our school room walls to help show them where things are! The following days, we reviewed the map and worked on labeling paper maps that I have printed out. For the second week of map work, I flip over the CCM map and have the kids provide the names of the places as I point at them. To end our two week study of  Canada, I give the kids a test to see what they have learned!

Outline Map of Canada I used with my kids.


Latin~
Anima Christi or Soul of Christ
We are still working through this beautiful prayer.
You can see Week 10 and Week 11 for more ideas.


Religion~

" You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all you mind." 

This is one of my favorite bible verses for kids. I think it just states what we need to do so clearly for little ones.

I did find one coloring page that can work with this bible verse, it does say heart, soul, and might (instead of mind), but I think it will still help kids see what is important.

I did find this cute little song, sung to Row, Row, Row Your Boat about loving God.

I did find two lessons online that helped talk about loving God and loving others.
Lesson 1
Lesson 2

* This are not Catholic sites, but the lesson can easily be made be adapted.

For my kids, since they are older, we dug deeper into what the verse means and how we can live out this commandment from Jesus. As kids get older, it can be difficult to be nice to others when they our not nice to us. We live in a world where kids bully others and talk behind their backs. I think these 2 bible verses are a wonderful way to get kids to see how we should treat others.
We should always look at the person next to us as if they were Jesus himself.

I didn't do a craft with my kids this week, but I'm sure if you google it you will find tons of crafts you can do!


Great Words~
The Declaration of Independence
For the next weeks, the kids will be working through the rest of the Declaration. If you need ideas, please check out my posts for Week 10 and Week 11.

History~

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights
First off, I have to be honest. This is a subject I am not that great it. I know the basics, but if you asked me to put it all in order, I would have a hard time. One of the nice things about homeschooling is that we are learning too. Learning never stops!
So we immediately headed to the library to check out some books.

                                     

After reading through he various books, we worked on a few lap book pages.
I found ideas here.
After our study I did find an amazing lap book at Teachers Pay Teachers. I wish I would have found it sooner. We may end up using it for a recap.
Don't do lap books, well I found some notebooking pages for the kids to use over at Homeschool Helper Online.

A fun idea to bring the constitution to life is have the kids create their own constitution. You can find old looking paper or dye paper with tea bags. After the paper dries, they can have them write out a little of the constitution out with a quill and ink. My kids did this a few years ago on George Washington's birthday and they had fun. It's a lot harder than it looks!


Science~
Light!
This week, the kids learned about light and the 3 ways it can interact with matter.
We did a few experiments from the book after I talked about light.
We did use a prism (bought at Hobby Lobby) to see how light reflects through it. The cats had fun chasing the rainbow around the floor!

For us, we read the chapter on light in out Real Science 4 Kids Physics book. They learned about light waves, light reflection, and how light passes through objects.
I did find 2 worksheets for the kids.
Light and Reflection
Light through an Object



Math~
We learned the math term and then I had the kids do a worksheet to put the math into practice.
When teaching math and trying to explain the math terms, I found their I times I need help. It's funny, how we just know how to do something and it makes sense to us but when we go to explain it, the explanation comes outs all jumbled up. There are plenty of times, I explained and I get that look like I am talking like the teacher from a Charlie Brown special. One resource that I have found to help is the book, called Math Dictionary for Kids. It's geared for kids in the 4th-9th grade.

This book has been a life saver for me. I don't have a problem doing math, but I just couldn't explain it well enough for Therese. Michael uses the book on his own. If he reads his chapter and has a question, he just reaches for this and off he goes. Highly recommend it.

Till next time,

~Monique

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Classically Catholic Memory~ Gamma Year Week 13

Geography~
This week the kids continued their journey through Central America and crossed over the Gulf of Mexico to learn a few islands nearby. The kids once again labeled the map and worked on their maps.
Outline Map of Central America
Outline Map of the Caribbean Islands

Throughout the year, the kids have been creating a geography notebook. As we learned a new area, the added new maps to their notebook. At the end of the 2 weeks, I would test them on what they had learned (memorized). I have been pleasantly surprised with what they have learned. Their minds are like little sponges.

Latin~

The kid are still working on learning the Anima Christi in Latin. I have added the extra work of learning this prayer in English, so they have their work cut out for them.



Religion~
This weeks Bible verse deals with the Spirit of Truth. The kids worked on reciting the verse daily. The first day, they did the cursive worksheet I made over at Worksheet Works. A few days later they added the verse to their religion notebook.
A great hands-on way to reinforce this verse would be a Holy Spirit craft.
Jennifer at Catholic Inspired has a huge selection of craft ideas for kids.


Great Words~
The Declaration of Independence
For the next weeks, the kids will be working through the rest of the Declaration. If you need ideas, please check out my posts for Week 10 and Week 11.

History~
This week the kids have jumped right on into the American Revolution. The CCM book recommends 2 weeks for each week listed. For this topic, we spent a lot more time on it. My kids have been waiting to learn about America, so I have been adding a lot of extras.
During the next few weeks, they worked on the projects from the History Pockets American Revolution.

Therese read the American Girl Felicity books. I was going to have her work on a lapbook for the books, but we ran out of time with everything else going on.
Michael is reading Johnny Tremain. He is enjoying it, even though he complained about having to read it. Funny boy!

We did bits and pieces from an American Revolution lapbook I found online.

Science~
This week, the kids are learning about sound! The kids read from Real Science 4 Kids Physics book.
They worked on two different worksheets.
What is Sound?
Speed of Sound

The kids did a few of the suggested activities from the CCM text.
For little ones, making tin can phone is a fun way to show them how sound vibrations travel.

Math~
Rectangles
The kids worked on memorizing this weeks math fact.
To help reinforce this week work, I found two worksheets online.
Rectangle-Area
Rectangle-Perimeter 

Till next time,

 ~Monique

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Classically Catholic Memory~ Gamma Year Week 12

Geography~
This week, we started learning about Mexico and Central America! We did our usual......we labeled the map, filled in our worksheets throughout the 2 weeks. We used the unlabeled side of the map to see what the kids had learned.
Blank map of Mexico
Blank map of Central America


Latin~
We are still learning the Anima Christi.

Religion~
"Peter and on this rock I will build my Church."

Coloring Page of Peter receiving the keys. I use this one for my CCD class.
The kids created a rock necklace. You can find the instructions here.
Here is mosaic craft I found online, but didn't get a chance to do with my kids. We may do it for St. Peter's feast day this year.

If you want to learn more about how we learn the Bible verse, please read week 10 and week 11.


Great Words~ 
The Declaration of Independence
For the next weeks, the kids will be working through the rest of the Declaration. If you need ideas, please check out my posts for Week 10 and Week 11.

History~
This week in history, we are learning about the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, and America's quest for freedom.
First off, we read a few books about the Declaration of Independence and America's journey to independence.

              

We worked on the projects in our History Pocket American Revolution book!

Science~
Electricity & Magnetism
We read from our Real Science 4 Kids science book.
We completed a few of the experiments from the book. The kids learned All About Magnets.
They even built their own Electromagnet!
You can find instructions here.


Math~
Polygons
Here are two worksheets to help kids learn about polygons.
Worksheet #1 
Worksheet #2

Till next time,

~Monique

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Classically Catholic Memory Gamma Year~ Week 11

Geography~

Source~Wikipedia

We colored in our Outline Maps for New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii. We labeled the state's capitals.

Latin~

We are still learning the Anima Christi. We have been listening to the CCM cd and saying the prayer on our own.
I did find a wonderful resource over at Catholic Sistas that breaks down the prayer (in English) line by line. This is a fantastic resource for older children and adults. I'm sure it can be adapted for younger children too.

Religion~
The next few weeks we will continue to learn different verses from the bible. I love how CCM spends the first have teaching the Catechism and then spends the second of the weeks showing the kids were in the Bible we can find what was being taught during the Catechism section.
For the Bible verses, we read the section out of the CCM book, then we find it in the Bible. This is a great way to help kids navigate the Bible. I have the kids practice reciting the verse, they filled in the cursive worksheet I made, and they write it down in their religion notebook.


Great Words~
The Declaration of Independence

Source~Wikipedia

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris

Over at The Notebooking Nook you can find a variety of resources to use when studying about the Declaration of Independence......mini books, notebooking pages, flashcards, etc.

Here are a list of coloring pages to go along with the Declaration of Independence
Reading the Declaration of Independence
Independence Hall
Signing of the Declaration of Independence

History~

We completed a free lapbook about the Boston Tea Party. You can find it at Homeschool Helper Online. We read a few books that we had borrowed from the library.


               

Boston Tea Party Coloring Pages
Coloring Page #1
Coloring Page #2
Coloring Page #3

Here is a fun art project that can be done during this week's study of the Boston Tea party.

If you have a Lego fan, you can have them recreate the Boston Tea party.


Math~

To learn the multiples of 12, we used the multiplication flash cards to get quicker them. 

I reinforced the multiples of 12 by having the kids work on a few worksheets I made at WorksheetWorks.com.

Science~
Electricity, Electricity!
We read the section about electricity in our Real Science 4 Kids
The kids worked on an electricity word search.
They also worked on various electricity worksheets I found on Super Worksheets. Some of the pages are free, while others are only for members. They have so many other worksheets available that membership is definitely worth it!
Of course, we did a few of the experiments from the book too.

Till next time,

~Monique



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