Art Expressions through Clay

Aleli on 8/29 and 8/30 has worked on making things out of Clay. She has done this as her art activity for both days. She built several things in several colors with Clay.

A Thank You Note

Last Week 8/22-8/26

Last week we discussed Science things like Earthquakes and Hurricanes. Since we experienced the East Coast Earthquake last week here on the Mountains of North Carolina. It was not too much but a small wave at our home but we got to experience first hand an Earthquake. We got to feel it and observe the situation before and after an Earthquake. So we tuned in to the news and the aftermath of the East Coast Earthquake . Then we got ready to track Hurricane Irene's track as well. We know it would impact the North Carolina Coast line. We only got maybe 14 mph Winds last Saturday night at our home. This experience made my daughter learn more about Weather Forcasts, Tracking, Radars on Satellite TV like Direct TV. She was able to follow Hurricane Irene's path from North Carolina to Vermont. So we took last week as themed as Science in the real world.  We are now getting back to other topics. She also did worksheets last week leasrning about Fractions and Words with Long Vowels. However, the big focus was on the Weather. She also learned about Plants and how a pumpkin can grow up to 10 lbs. She wa learning the cycle of a plant. 

8/18/2011 Dear Diary Activity

Journal Writing in the most basic form. She is making her own Dear Diary. Aleli is practicing to write her thoughts into a journal.She is writing simple sentences like ---> My car is sick. She also asks for words to be spelled out for her if she does not know them. She is practicing to write.

She is also keeping a Nature Sketch Book/Composition Book. She will be keeping tabs on her ant habitat.

Guided Reading/ Story Time 8/17

For Story Time I read to Aleli the book : Castaway cats by: Lisa Wheeler . This book gets kids reviewing basic math - counting the cats through out the story. We discussed the book.  She also practiced her writing and drawing . She practiced pc skills online as well.

Science: A Balloon Rocket Experiment

Used Book ChildCraft -The Universe

 Balloon Rocket Experiment"  We observed the balloons behavior and see if it could do the action of a Rocket.  According to the Book ( pg 159) " A real rocket works in a similar way.  Burning fuels make gases that rush out of the rocket and propel it into outer space." 

Aleli helped make the Ballon Rocket and we tried it several times.

What Your Second Grader needs to know by: E.D Hirsch Jr

Went to the Library. Picked up the copy of the book - What Your Second Grader Needs to Know by E. D Hirsch Jr. This Core Knowledge Curriculum has been used in schools like Three Oaks Elementary in Lee County, Florida in the 90's and reviewed by experts in education.  What we will explore from this book in the next few days:

Language and Literature
1. Reading, Writing and Second Grader Tips
    * Read Aloud Regularly & Talk about what they are reading
    * Take the children to the Library
   
Topics to Explore : Literature -Poetry-Stories-American Tall Tales-Myths from Ancient Greece
                                Learning about Language
                                *Sentences * Writing Sentence Rules
                                *Nouns,Verbs,Adjectives,Using Capital Letters

World History & Geography - Review 7 Continents , Important Oceans , Maps

2011-2012 Home School Resources

1.  CraZArt Crayons 24
2.  Big 2nd Grade Workbook
     Skills Include : Reading & Writing
                              Basic Math
                              Science
3. Monthly Planner : Day to Day Activity Tracker
4. Books to Explore : Science Themes  ----> The Kids Nature Book 365 Indoor/Outdoor Activities & Experiences 
                                   EyeWitness Book -Great Scientists - Discover the pioneers who changed the way we think about our world.

5. Main Curriculum : What Your Second Grader needs to know -Fundamentals of a Good Second Grade Education  edited by : E.D Hirsch Jr.  - Core Knowledge Series
Supplemental Curriculum: What Your Fourth Grader needs to know edited by: E.D Hirsch Jr.

Map out Lessons based on 2nd grade to 4th. 

8/15/2011 See it, Trace it, Write it Activity

Writing: Sight Words

More about Tens and Ones

8/15/2011 Work Sheets

Draw and Write Activity

Write on her Mead White  Board on the Draw and Write Activity Section. Drawing a picture and writing something about it. She also made a picture and wrote a complete sentence.

Science: Reading book on diverse topics.

Looked at a Science book. Read Aleli the book and looked at the diverse illustrations. We also looked at the Kid's Nature Book 365 indoor /outdoor activities & experiences. Last night Aleli also observed the moon and stars in the star. She is exploring several science books this week on diverse topics like :
planets, stars, sun, moon, star charts....

Independent Reading 8/13/2011

Aleli has been using the TAG Reader to do independent reading.

Friday Home Schooling

We took Aleli to the Library on Friday. She picked books on Science themes. She picked astronomy books that explain the stars, milky way and planets. She picked several books that teaches how to follow star maps. She used binoculors to see the night sky and map it out. She also went to the bank and learned to count money. She went to the grocery store and counted $$. She also set up her lego and built a log home with them.

Reading: Mac and Cheese Box Instructions

Look at the Mac & Cheese Box Instructions and follow along . Let her see how the instructions relate to cooking the food. See the quantity and how its done. Then serve as part of the meal .

Math: Bank & Money Counting 8/10/2011

Go to Bank of America on a field trip. Get Aleli to count money from her Savings. She can count up to $100.00 . She will add up $20.00 bills to make $100.00 . She can count her money. Then take her with money to store and see how much left she will have if she spends a certain amount in groceries. This is a real life math problem . She learns amount , amount taken away and Change. Learning to count and use Money in a real life situation.

Math & Reading Skills 8/10/2011

Follow Numbered Pictured Instructions to build a castle. Using Harry Potter themed Lego's. Follow the instruction booklet to make the object in the picture.

Rango

Aleli watched Rango. Rango the Movie is a great teaching flick. It shows all about story telling and ideas like the quest of a hero.