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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The Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-up # 1

So what have we been up to here on the mountain? Well, a lot. 

Summer has officially ended! It seems like it was was just the beginning of summer. The kids had fun at their camps. Michael enjoyed his nature adventure camp and loved learning about all the different animals. Therese enjoyed signing in the children's choir and is looking forward to joining the group later this year. We all think summer went by way too fast.

In our life......

Right now we are getting back into the swings of doing "full" school, adjusting to co-op classes, running around to play rehearsals. Therese is going to be in the Seussical Jr. production. This is her first play and we are very proud us her. She auditioned in front of 50 people! I could never have done that at her age. She is very excited and loving it so far. Starting back to school always has us adjusting back into our normal routine.

In our homeschool.....

Well, we just finished up our 3rd week of school. We never really stop schooling, but we do a lighter portion during the summer. Things have been going fairly well. 

We are switching back to Saxon Math for Therese. The program we chose to do just isn't working. So back to our good old stand by. She's not too excited, but I figure we will work through it slowly. I don't care how fast we get through the book and material, just that she gets a good understanding of math. One of the many advantages of homeschooling! Michael is switching back to Seton's spelling. He didn't like the spectrum spelling I purchased. 

The kids are enjoying the tree and bird study I added this year. I can't wait to get back in to our daily nature walks routine. It's been a little to hot this past week to take the fog for a walk.

We decided to drop Latin. I think it's important, but I if the kids really want to learn it they can pick it up in high school or college. They just are not interested in it this year. I'd rather focus on topics they want to learn about.

What we are reading....

Michael is reading Johnny Tremain and all types of survival wilderness books he checked out at the library.

                                            

Therese is reading Ramona the Brave by Beverly Cleary.

                                 

For our read aloud, we are reading Heroes of History Daniel Boone: Frontiersman from YWAM publishing. I'll be posting a review for the books later on this month, so stayed tuned!

What I am reading.....

I have been reading through two books right now. The first book is A Little Way of Homeschooling by Suzie Andres. This is a wonderful book that shares stories from Catholic Unschoolers.

The other book I have been reading is The Farmer's Wife 1930 Sampler Quilt. I'm joining in on the quilt sew along over at Gnome Angel. If you like to quilt, you should head on over and check it out.

What I'm working on this.....

I've been trying to decide on what fabrics I want to use for the 1930's quilt. There are so many options, I am having a hard time choosing! 

I am currently testing another pattern for Jen over at Faith and Fabric. I am very excited to be able to be testing this pattern. I know you'll love it when I share! Here's a hint....It's perfect for Advent.

I picked out fabric to make new curtains for our french doors.

I have my eye on some new fabric

What have the kids been working on......

Cleaning their room! I keep encouraging them to thin out anything they no longer play with. They find this extremely difficult to do.

Field trips this week.....

None yet, but I have a few planned for the upcoming weeks.

                                        

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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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