Bringing Up the Rear with Week 37

This week we worked only on science and history, which is all we have left to finish up for the year.  We have thoroughly enjoyed our new, slower pace.  School feels a lot less like work, and a lot more like fun!  It makes me wonder if we really NEED to do all the subjects I have tentatively planned for 2nd grade.

Science:  We talked more about skin, we had fun learning about the digestive system, and we started talking about respiration.  We made a model of the digestive system and had fun decorating it:

Perhaps too much fun in some areas:

History:  We were introduced to the great teacher of ancient China, Confucius, and we played with Chinese tangrams.

  We also read about the life of Julius Caesar, and made a "Roman mosaic".

1st Grade: Week 36 Highlights

This was the last week of our full school schedule.  "Rupert" is so excited to be mostly done with the first grade, and is already asking when second grade will start.  We still have to finish our science and history studies, which will probably take about a month more.  After that, we'll celebrate with a little 1st grade open house party with the grandparents where we will have "Rupert's" projects and samples of his work on display.  Should be fun!  I'm also planning to put together a photo book of our 1st grade year, so he will have a book of memories and pictures of all his projects.  That way we won't have to keep the actual projects forever.  :-)


Phonics:  This boy has really taken off with reading!  This week he actually ditched his weekly monitoring of the garbage man in favor of READING!  I could. not. believe it!  He then declared himself the reading master!  When I sit down to read to him, he asks me if he can read to me first.  I've caught him reading along with me during our read aloud time.  And he is looking forward to taking a book to Grandma and Grandpa's house so he can read to them.  I'm not sure how this happened, but I hope it continues!

We officially love Beverly Cleary!  We have been enjoying the Ramona books for about a year now (we're on our 2nd time through them), and we were recently turned on to reading another book by Beverly Cleary, Socks (thanks to Writing With Ease, which we use for writing and copy work).  We finished reading that tonight, and are looking forward to starting The Mouse and the Motorcycle.  

Writing:  We finished up our writing curriculum this week, much to "Rupert's" delight.  I think copy work is his least favorite thing to do, but as I told him, not everything that is good for you is fun...so DEAL.  :-)

History:  This week we talked about ancient China and the Qin Empire.  "Rupert" also tried his hand at Chinese calligraphy.

Science:  We talked a little more about skin and learned about fingerprints.  We studied our own fingerprints to see which of the three main patterns each of our fingers had.

1st Grade: Week 35 Highlights

The biggest highlight of this week was our bird dissection.  I didn't know if "Rupert" would be upset or fascinated by this, but we gave it a try anyway.  Turns out he was not upset at all, and really liked learning about what was inside a bird!

The opened bird:

The brain:

The heart:

        

The eye:

Working the tendons to move the toes:

1st Grade: Week 34 Highlights

"Rupert's" play went very well!  He had 6 performances over the weekend and really loved it.  He's already talking about the next play which will start rehearsals in the summer.  He got some great experience with singing, dancing, and even did a little solo part.  He made lots of new friends, and we are both looking forward to working with everyone again this summer.

Phonics:  "Rupert" is still loving the Little Bear books.  I've actually caught him sneaking in some reading after bedtime.  LOVE that!

History:  We talked about ancient India this week and painted "Rupert's" nails like the ancient Indian men did.  This was actually done as a sign of manliness and strength, and to attract women.

We also tried an Indian dish this week, curried rice.  "Rupert" loved it!

Science:  This week we learned about blood.  We did a little project to show how much blood a baby, a child and an adult generally have.

 

"Rupert" made the signs himself, and I love how you can tell the adult is an adult because he is saying, "Go clean your room!"  LOL!

"Rupert" is on a crocheting rampage!  Ever since my friend's daughter taught him how to do the chain stitch, he has been chaining away like a madman.  He even took his chain to kung fu one day this week so he could work on it during break.  :-)

Speaking of kung fu, this week we sent our junior instructor off to the Air Force.  There was a nice good-bye party with all the students in the school on Tuesday.  Good-bye and good luck, Zach.  We are proud of you, and we will miss you!

Education.com

I just found this website where you can look up the stats on your local public schools.  I was just curious as to which school my son would be attending if we had chosen public school for him.  They come up well behind the state average in all subjects recorded.  It was quite shocking to see!  I am SO glad we are homeschooling!  It is sad to think about what he would be going through if he did attend that school, though...condemned to a life of not reaching his potential.  :-(