11.09.2009
Pictures from Homeschool Graduation
These photos were taken at a homeschool graduation we attended celebrating the accomplishments of the lovely Morgan Wilson. Congrats!
Look what John caught in a trap!
We had a suspicion that some nocturnal creature was visiting us, so John set a trap (a harmless one). It was an opossum! I was happy to see it, because we toted one off a couple of years ago thinking that they were "bad" to have around the house -- sort of like having a rat. I then learned how beneficial they are (they eat slugs for one). So, we released him in the backyard. I hope we didn't scare him away.
11.07.2009
11.03.2009
11.01.2009
10.30.2009
Amazing Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
This cake is made with chick peas instead of wheat flour. It is so very moist and delicious!
Garbanzo Bean Chocolate Cake
Garbanzo Bean Chocolate Cake
(image is from www.allrecipes.com)
10.24.2009
Spoken by Nathan on October 22, 2009
"How will I ever become a great artist when she's in the competition? She makes them come alive!"
He was referring to Jill Barklem of The Complete Brambly Hedge (which I snagged for $25 after waiting for months!).
He was referring to Jill Barklem of The Complete Brambly Hedge (which I snagged for $25 after waiting for months!).
10.22.2009
Lesson Plans and Information about Filippo Brunelleschi
Geography of the Renaissance
Discovering Linear Perspective
An Interdisciplinary Unit
The Dome of the Duomo
** You can click on biography, vocabulary, or tasks from there.
Discovering Linear Perspective
An Interdisciplinary Unit
The Dome of the Duomo
** You can click on biography, vocabulary, or tasks from there.
Children's Books about Filippo Brunelleschi -- the Renaissance Architect
You can buy them all at Amazon
Waiting for Filippo: The Life of Renaissance Architect Filippo Brunelleschi by Michael Bender
A pop-up book about the Italian Renaissance architect,sculptur and engineer, Filippo Brunelleschi, explaining how he designed the dome of the cathedral in Florence. Brunelleschi developed the theory of perspective, altering the face of architecture. The details of Florentine life are given as the book follows Brunelleschi's career from apprentice to leading architect.
Waiting for Filippo: The Life of Renaissance Architect Filippo Brunelleschi by Michael Bender
A pop-up book about the Italian Renaissance architect,sculptur and engineer, Filippo Brunelleschi, explaining how he designed the dome of the cathedral in Florence. Brunelleschi developed the theory of perspective, altering the face of architecture. The details of Florentine life are given as the book follows Brunelleschi's career from apprentice to leading architect.
Filippo's Dome by Anne Rockwell
The building of the dome of the city of Florence by Brunelleschi.
Pippo the Fool by Tracey E. Fern
The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence was a marvel of art, architecture, and engineering. But it lacked a finishing ornament, a crowna dome! The city fathers had a solution: to invite the finest masters to compete for the chance to design a dome. The rumors of this contest reached the ears of Filippo Brunelleschi, better known in Florence as Pippo the Fool. As soon as he heard about the contest, Pippo knew it was the chance he had been waiting for. If I can win the contest, I will finally lose that nickname once and for all! This book tells the story of the construction of an architectural masterpieceBrunelleschis Dome. Tracey E. Fern depicts Pippos prickly personality with humor and warmth, and Pau Estradas richly detailed illustrations bring Renaissance Florence to life. An excellent way to introduce kids to an important moment in Western engineering and history.
10.14.2009
Here's a great coloring book website!
It even has The Adventures of Tintin coloring pages!
More favorites are Beatrix Potter, Sarah Kay, Thomas the Tank, and Winnie the Pooh.
More favorites are Beatrix Potter, Sarah Kay, Thomas the Tank, and Winnie the Pooh.
10.12.2009
Bats -- Teacher Resources
Guide to Bat Resource Trunk
Glorious Bats
(scroll down to page 36 for a matching exercise and pages 41-42 for a cute research printable).
National Wildlife Federation
Bat House Plans
Reader -- Printable Book
Free Lapbook
Booklet for younger students
Glorious Bats
(scroll down to page 36 for a matching exercise and pages 41-42 for a cute research printable).
National Wildlife Federation
Bat House Plans
Reader -- Printable Book
Free Lapbook
Booklet for younger students
Leonardo da Vinci -- Websites Galore
Here are some great websites for studying Leonardo da Vinci.Museum of Science
A Lifetime of Color
Leonardo's Workshop
Time Warp Trio Guide
Lesson plan for older students
Mono Lisa Coloring Page
Art prints to print
10.10.2009
Here are some great Renaissance artists resources!
They pertain to a book you can purchase here, but they can be used on their own.
Teacher's Guide
Activity Sheets
Here are also some great resources to help from Core Knowledge:
Remembering the Renaissance
Music from the Renaissance
The Renaissance -- Rebirth of Ideas
Four Armed Men from the Renaissance
The Art of Illusion
scroll down until you see several pages that deal with this.
Teacher's Guide
Activity Sheets
Here are also some great resources to help from Core Knowledge:
Remembering the Renaissance
Music from the Renaissance
The Renaissance -- Rebirth of Ideas
Four Armed Men from the Renaissance
The Art of Illusion
scroll down until you see several pages that deal with this.
10.08.2009
Here's a Great Art Resource!
Download this pdf file!
It lists picture books according to:
1. media (ex. charcoal, collage)
2. element (ex. line, shape)
3. style (ex. impressionism, cartoon)
It also includes a list of picture books about art museums and photography.
Here is another one by the same person: Seeing the World through Art
I really need to work on my own list, because we've been reading a lot of books this year with great art work. I try to always discuss the sort of art work in the book with my boys, and I've noticed they really pay attention to it.
So, there's one of my plans for the year -- to track the art work in various history and science picture books we use. We've found great ones during our Mayan/Aztec/Incan study using papercrafting, and today we read a book using acrylics and colored pencils!
A fabulous book to buy which includes hands-on art projects copying styles, techniques, elements, etc. from great picture books can be bought here
Here's another great article about this same thing including more examples: here
It lists picture books according to:
1. media (ex. charcoal, collage)
2. element (ex. line, shape)
3. style (ex. impressionism, cartoon)
It also includes a list of picture books about art museums and photography.
Here is another one by the same person: Seeing the World through Art
I really need to work on my own list, because we've been reading a lot of books this year with great art work. I try to always discuss the sort of art work in the book with my boys, and I've noticed they really pay attention to it.
So, there's one of my plans for the year -- to track the art work in various history and science picture books we use. We've found great ones during our Mayan/Aztec/Incan study using papercrafting, and today we read a book using acrylics and colored pencils!
A fabulous book to buy which includes hands-on art projects copying styles, techniques, elements, etc. from great picture books can be bought here
Here's another great article about this same thing including more examples: here
9.29.2009
Just another reason I am glad I homeschool
Obama Proposes Longer School Day
Seriously? Children need to be in school longer? Nope. Not here. It takes us about four hours. Four hours to homeschool two children (one in third; one in fourth).
Today, our school included:
handwriting/copywork
spelling
grammar
writing
math
science (monotremes)
history (Ferdinand Magellan)
art appreciation
piano
oh -- and no homework! :)
My boys also had time to:
work on a model railroad
talk to friends on the phone
pick cucumbers in the garden
transplant tomato plants and rearrange the flower pots in the backyard
watch a movie with their 19 year old brother
type on the computer
listen to a Redwall audio book
read a Spiderwick Chronicles book
play Legos
do their chores
play with their cats
snuggle their mama over and over again
hear "I love you" over and over again
draw
eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at home
and, most importantly, spend the day with the people who love them the best.
No, I will keep my children here. Sometimes a mother just knows best.
Seriously? Children need to be in school longer? Nope. Not here. It takes us about four hours. Four hours to homeschool two children (one in third; one in fourth).
Today, our school included:
handwriting/copywork
spelling
grammar
writing
math
science (monotremes)
history (Ferdinand Magellan)
art appreciation
piano
oh -- and no homework! :)
My boys also had time to:
work on a model railroad
talk to friends on the phone
pick cucumbers in the garden
transplant tomato plants and rearrange the flower pots in the backyard
watch a movie with their 19 year old brother
type on the computer
listen to a Redwall audio book
read a Spiderwick Chronicles book
play Legos
do their chores
play with their cats
snuggle their mama over and over again
hear "I love you" over and over again
draw
eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at home
and, most importantly, spend the day with the people who love them the best.
No, I will keep my children here. Sometimes a mother just knows best.
9.19.2009
Marsupial Animal Report Form
I couldn't find exactly what I wanted by Googling, so I made up my own:
Here are some other great ones I did find:
Here are some other great ones:
You can download it here:
9.15.2009
Here are some fun American History poems
http://www.geocities.com/maureen1780/andys_page.html
There are also worksheets which accompany them.
Since we are currently studying European explorers, I thought I'd share this poem from that website:
The Columbian Exchange
And to the new found shores, many more would come,
At the outset for treasure, and later for rum.
While those staying home in the Old World nations
Were thrilled, indeed, by these explorations.
Like a sudden sunburst, how their lives did change:
Dinner menus, for one, did it re-arrange.
As ships back to Europe were laden with goods:
Like tomatoes and corn, and potatoes and wood.
Of course, trading back then was still filled with danger,
With the seas deadly rought and pirates no stranger.
-- But one thing is certain: Spanish sailors were daring
In the Age of Exploring and of brave sea-faring.
And what a marvel it was, what a change of pace,
To hear of new peoples and discover new tastes.
Like pineapples and turkeys and the cocoanut frond,
Indeed, goodies galore did now cross “the pond.”
With peppers and spices and tortillas and beans
Soon filling the plates of hungry Europeans.
And while trying new foods and learning new ways
Is not always easy, it adds dash to one’s days.
While oranges, lemons and stalks of sugar cane,
All made their way west-ward from the ports of Spain.
Soon after came horses, came cattle and wine
To shape how the New World would travel and dine.
And The Columbian Exchange, as this became known,
Brought chocolate as well to those Old World homes.
-- It’s a wonder to think and a fright to ponder:
What folks did for a snack before chocolate came yonder?
There are also worksheets which accompany them.
Since we are currently studying European explorers, I thought I'd share this poem from that website:
The Columbian Exchange
And to the new found shores, many more would come,
At the outset for treasure, and later for rum.
While those staying home in the Old World nations
Were thrilled, indeed, by these explorations.
Like a sudden sunburst, how their lives did change:
Dinner menus, for one, did it re-arrange.
As ships back to Europe were laden with goods:
Like tomatoes and corn, and potatoes and wood.
Of course, trading back then was still filled with danger,
With the seas deadly rought and pirates no stranger.
-- But one thing is certain: Spanish sailors were daring
In the Age of Exploring and of brave sea-faring.
And what a marvel it was, what a change of pace,
To hear of new peoples and discover new tastes.
Like pineapples and turkeys and the cocoanut frond,
Indeed, goodies galore did now cross “the pond.”
With peppers and spices and tortillas and beans
Soon filling the plates of hungry Europeans.
And while trying new foods and learning new ways
Is not always easy, it adds dash to one’s days.
While oranges, lemons and stalks of sugar cane,
All made their way west-ward from the ports of Spain.
Soon after came horses, came cattle and wine
To shape how the New World would travel and dine.
And The Columbian Exchange, as this became known,
Brought chocolate as well to those Old World homes.
-- It’s a wonder to think and a fright to ponder:
What folks did for a snack before chocolate came yonder?
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