World War I - Week 4

Here is an update to our current unit study.

We have 2 more weeks (of six) left to study The Great War, and have really enjoyed the books, discussion starters, and activities from World War I Thematic Unit by Teacher Created Resources. I highly recommend these studies for 6th-8th, and one nice thing is that they can be downloaded instantly from CurrClick. I have used several of these units, and each has a literature book, a "spine" book, discussion questions, suggested schedule, and cross-curricular activities. It has been fun learning about The Great War, as it was a topic I knew very little about before. Gotta love homeschooling!

Here are some of the things Miss M did this week in our unit study:

• Read Chapters 13-16 of World War I and discuss provided questions. (History)

• Read Chapters 16-20 of After the Dancing Days and discuss provided questions. (Literary Analysis)

• Researched the Purple Heart award and it's origin. (History)

• Learned about the different types of gas used in WW I. (Science & Technology)

• Discussion, "Is the use of chemical warfare ever justified?" (Critical Thinking)

• The need for faster, quicker, more powerful weapons brought about numerous inventions during this time period. Research one WW I weapon, and create a scrapbook page to show what you learned. (Science & Technology, Language Arts, Design)
  

• Create a short story of an imaginary war experience, using one of the story starters listed in the Thematic Unit. (Creative Writing)

• Second Lieutenant Frank "Balloon Buster" Luke became one of America's greatest flying aces during WW I. Read about his problems as well as his triumphs. Discussion, "What makes a good hero?" (Critical Thinking, History)

• Video: "The First World War" Part 8 - Germany's Final Gamble (History)
  

• Family Read Aloud - Rilla of Ingleside (Literature)
  

• Free Reading - Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson (audiobook) - Miss M really enjoyed listening to this on audio. She says the story was exciting, and she loved it. She wrote down a recipe from the book for World War I time Spice Cake, and just announced that she wants to make it today. (History, Practical Life Skills).

Here is the WW I Cake (eggless, milkless, butterless) recipe from Hattie Big Sky:

War Time Spice Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1 1/2 cup water
1/3 cup shortening or lard
2/3 cup raisins
1/2 tsp each of ground cloves and nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder

Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and floud 8x8 inch baking pan.

Boil brown sugar, water, shortening, raisins, and spices together for 3 minutes. Cool. Dissolve soda in 2 tsp water, and add to raisin mixture. Add salt. Meanwhile, stir together flour and baking powder, and add to raisin mixture 1 cup at a time, beating well after each addition.

Pour into prepared 8x8 inch pan and bake at 325 degrees for about 50 minutes.



I will close with the poetry assignment Miss M completed this week, a World War I-themed cinquain.

"World War I" by Miss M
Death
Gone forever
Lost to war
Never coming back home
Grief

Thanks for taking a peek into our homeschool. How was YOUR week?

The Great War: Week 2 - Life in the Trenches

We just finished a great week of schooling. I am so thankful that things are going smoothly around here! Here are some highlights from the second week of our World War I unit study.

• Family Read Aloud (girl interest): Rilla of Ingleside

• Read Ch 5-8 of World War I

• Write 10 true or false statements from Ch 5-8 on 1/2 size index cards

• Read Ch 6-10 of After the Dancing Days

• Explore life in a Trench with the websites HERE and HERE.

• Create a "Life in the Trench" scrapbook page

• Mini-project choice #1 - Write a newspaper article covering the sinking of the Lusitania.
  

• Create a map of WW I Europe. Visit interactive map.

• Digging Deeper: Do you think the United States should have joined WW I? Should it have waited so long after the Lusitania was sunk? Write down at least 3 good reasons to support your opinion in your notebook.

Videos:

• Sinking of the Lusitania,
  

• Upstairs, Downstairs: Season 4: Disc 1

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek into our homeschool happenings! I hope your week was blessed.

THE GREAT WAR UNIT STUDY

We're back from Christmas with a new six-week unit study focus on World War I. I am so excited about this! Since I know next to nothing about this topic, I read an EXCELLENT book over Christmas break called The Yanks Are Coming. It pulled me into a topic I am a little reluctant about, and I can happily report that The Yanks Are Coming is back in print, published by Beautiful Feet! This is a factual history that reads more like a novel, and is perfect as teacher background or a high school level spine.



We are beginning a couple days this week by watching one of the excellent videos from the series The First World War, an outstanding DVD series! The remainder of the day will be devoted to unit-related reading, research, writing, and student-selected projects. To keep our day simple, we are only adding math daily and alternating language arts and Bible.



Here's what we are doing our first week:

• Family Read Aloud (girl interest): Rilla of Ingleside
  
• Independent Literature Book (girl interest): After the Dancing Days - Ch 1-5
• "Spine" Book: World War II by Peter Bosco - Ch 1-4
• Videos: The First World War (Parts 1 & 2 of 10), The Trench
• Discuss and or Define: Causes of WW I, The Central Powers, The Allies, Militarism, Imperialism, Nationalism, Alliance
• Begin Making The Great War review game: We will create True/False questions from each WW I chapter and play a game with them.
• Student-selected mini-project: Write a newspaper article covering the sinking of the Lusitania
• Notebooking: Design a page on either "The Sinking of the Lusitania" or "Causes of The Great War"
• Supplementary challenges, accountability questions, and cross-curricular activities: World War I Thematic Unit by Teacher Created Resources

I will post more over the next six weeks, and will be compiling a six-week WW I lesson plan AND WW I videos list, so please stop by again soon!

Africa Unit Study

If you read my blog, you already know that our family is currently studying Africa in our homeschool. I thought I would compile some of the resources we are using in a more organized fashion, and add to them as our study progresses.

Suggested Length of Study

North Africa - 2 weeks
West Africa - 2 weeks
East Africa - 2 weeks
South Africa - 2 weeks

Culture and History
World Book Encyclopedia CD or Book - "Africa"
Enchantment of the World series- choose a minimum of 4 countries to learn about from various regions (North, East, West, South)
A Glorious Age in Africa by Chu and Skinner
Eyewitness Africa
Create scrapbook pages, timelines, copywork, mini-books, or oral reports.

Fiction
Star of Light
Journey to Jo'burg by Beverly Naidoo
The Rat-Catcher's Son by Carolyn London
African Folk Tales by Hugh Vernon-Jackson (Dover Thrift)
Beat the Story Drum, Pum-Pum by Ashley Bryan

Biography
Trial by Poison: Mary Slessor (Trailblazer Books)
Escape from the Slave Traders: David Livingston (Trailblazer Books)

Science
Sand on the Move: The Story of Dunes
other books about deserts
Zoobooks about various African Animals: Elephant, Giraffe, Rhinos, Hyenas, Lions, Zebras, Cheetahs, Gorillas, etc.
Keep vocabulary book, draw diagrams, create mini-reports.

Writing
Copywork and/or Dictation from Africa-related books. Cross-curricular activities such as writing for scrapbook pages and reports.

Music
African music such as African Playground, which features fun, upbeat songs from various countries of Africa or Geo Deo Journey Into Africa Songs

Poetry
African proverbs

Art
Hands-On Africa: Art Activities for All Ages or Global Art (Africa portions) by Kohl
Journey Into Africa Coloring and Fun Pages
Journey Into Africa How To Draw and Color (African Animals)

Geography
Color thematic maps using a World Atlas and blackline maps of Africa - "Countries," "Capitals," "Physical," and "Climate." Color 1 region at a time (North, East, West, South) and add to each of your thematic maps weekly. Or, use suggestions/schedule for "Africa" weeks in Trail Guide to World Geography by Geography Matters.

Videos (preview, use with caution, some are PG-13)
Hotel Rwanda
Africa: The Serengeti: IMAX
National Geographic: Africa: Disc 1
National Geographic: Relentless Enemies
National Geographic: Eye of the Leopard
National Geographic: Wildlife
The History Channel Presents: Sahara
Gorillas in the Mist
Lion of the Desert
Sarafina!

Sample Schedule for upper elementary

Monday/Wednesday
Poetry - Read and explain the meaning of an African proverb
Memory - Work on memorizing African countries from one region at a time (North, East, West, or South)
History/Culture - World Book, Enchantment of the World, or Biography reading (non-fiction) - 30 minutes
Writing - Copywork, Dictation, mini-report, notebook page or mini-book related to non-fiction reading
Music - Listen to and try to learn one African song for the week
Literature - Fiction Reading - 30 minutes
Other activities as desired

Tuesday/Thursday
Poetry - Read and explain the meaning of an African proverb
Memory - Work on memorizing African countries from one region at a time (North, East, West, or South)
Science - Science Reading (Deserts or African Animals) - 30 minutes. Define 5 vocabulary words and draw one diagram from Science reading
Music - Listen to and try to learn one African song for the week
Literature - Fiction Reading - 30 minutes
Other activities as desired

Friday (Hands-on Day!)
Art - have child choose a more involved craft project from Hands On Africa, Global Art, have her draw African animals as directed in Journey Into Africa How To Draw and Color or choose a project from another activity book - 60 minutes +
Geography - color thematic maps, work on Trail Guide to World Geography "Africa" if available, or create other Africa-related geography project - 60 minutes +
Finish or begin a notebook page on something learned this week. Consider adding images from the internet and building it into a scrapbook or 3-D page - 60 minutes +
Practical Life - cook an African food
Play African games
Talk about what you learned this week, and share questions you may be curious about
Watch a VIDEO
Other activities as desired

Journey into Africa

This month we will be learning about the land and people of Africa in our home. This topic wasn't scheduled in Sonlight 5 until the last 6 weeks of the year, but in the spirit of Black History Month, we decided to cover it now. Gotta love homeschool freedom!!! There are some really attractive resources available for a study of Africa such as:






Our Africa study will be loosely unit study-style with some Charlotte Mason elements thrown in. We are doing a pretty laid-back study using the child-selected book basket method for reading, a writing unit from HomeschoolEstore called Adventures In Writing: A Sensory Journey Into Africa, African proverbs, and Trail Guide to World Geography (Africa portions). Hands-on activities will be chosen by my dd from Hands on Africa or Global Art as she has time and interest. We will also focus on racial issues facing African Americans in the present and disuss how we can work toward racial harmony and justice for ALL.

You can download our six week schedule and resource list HERE.

African Proverb: "There is no medicine to cure hatred." - Ashanti of Ghana

Week 19 Report - Beginning 'Russia'

This week we began our "Russia" home-designed unit study. Unlike studies done in younger years, this unit is high on reading/writing and lower on crafty activities. We are using Russia by Eyewitness Books as a spine - and the book is gorgeous!

Here is what Miss M completed in her thematic studies this week:


Cultural Studies

Eyewitness Russia - selections

□ “Early Russia” □ “A varied land” □ “Peoples of Russia” □ “Wealth of a nation” □ “A life of serfdom” □ “Orthodox religion”

• VIDEO: "Russia Land of the Tsars" - Disc 1

• Russian Fairy Book by Dover - finished

• Peter the Great by Diane Stanley - finished

• Catherine: The Great Journey, Russia, 1743 (The Royal Diaries) - 1/3 of the way through

Science

• researched and gave an oral mini-report on the gray wolf of Siberia

Writing

• Wrote a narrative story about "a day in my life" as a peasant (serf) in old Russia
• Copywork from Eyewitness Russia

Music

• "All About Tchaikovsky" lesson at Classics for Kids

Art

• Using Eyewitness Russia's photographs as a resource, sketched a portrait of herself dressed as a peasant in Old Russia

Additionally, she completed daily lessons in Language Arts, Typing and Math.

We plan to take a field trip to a local Russian market in the next weeks, so I'll post about that when and if we go! We will likely be studying Russia for the next 3-4 weeks before resuming our usual, non-thematic "CM" studies. It was a fun week, and a very simple unit to implement.

Blessings to you!

Nutrition and Digestive System Mini-Unit

I planned this one-week unit for my 5^th grader around United Streaming videos and books I have sitting on my shelf. We plan to use it this week!

Reading

□ BJU Science 4 - “Digestion” pp 91-106

□ Blood and Guts - “Digestion” pp 75-82

□ How It Works: The Human Body by Kate Barnes pp 20-21

□ Library or other books of choice on the digestive system and nutrition – for more ideas see the Human Body book list at Paula's Archives http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/sciencebooks.htm#lsbody

Videos

□ “Human Body Systems: The Digestive System” by United Learning. 1997.

□ Print out Blackline Masters and have child complete worksheets

□ Take Video Quiz

□ “Managing Your Health: The Digestive System” by Discovery School. 2004.

□ See Teacher's Guide

□ Nutrition and Exercise: Teen Wellness (A Sunburst Tale). 1996

□ Take Video Quiz

□ “Nutrition and Digestive Health: Eating for Your Future” by Discovery School. 2005.

□ Take Video Quiz

Copywork/Dictation Exercise

□ Use sentences or paragraphs from Blood and Guts - “Digestion” chapter

□ Proverbs 23: 20-21

Writing

□ Create a patient brochure about one digestive problem. The brochure, similar to one they might see in a doctor’s office, should describe the problem, its causes, symptoms, and possible treatments. Each brochure should include age-appropriate illustrations or diagrams to help explain the digestive problem.

The following Web sites will help students in their research:

Discovery Health: Digestive Conditions
http://health.discovery.com/centers/digestive/conditions.html

Managing Your Health: The Digestive System: Teacher’s Guide 3 • GERD

http://www.gerd.com/

KidsHealth: Lactose Intolerance

http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/digestive/lactose_intolerance.html

KidsHealth: Ulcers

http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/digestive/ulcers.html

Discovery Kids: Your Gross and Cool Body
http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/flash/body/index.html

Activity Ideas

□ Starch and Spit Test – Blood and Guts p 78

□ Using directions in the BJU Science 4 Manual or on the internet, make a Digestive System Model.

□ Using the diagram on p 77 ot Blood and Guts as a guide, draw a diagram of the digestive system.

□ Write a definition for each of the following terms: digestion, calorie, nutrients, esophagus, saliva, liver, pancreas, enzymes, peristalsis, bolus, chyme, villi

□ What you eat and how much you eat are important for maintaining good health. Use the food pyramid to categorize and record all the foods you eat for three days. How healthy is your diet?

□ Learn the latest dietary recommendations from USDA, which can be found at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2005pres/20050112.html

□ Write a contract for eating habits that need to be changed. Be specific. Don't take on more than you can resonable achieve.

□ Look at recipes either online or in magazines and cookbooks and to find at least three recipes—one for dinner, as well as a recipe for a side dish and a dessert. The recipes must be appealing and have healthy ingredients. Your child may find the following Web sites a good place to start.

• http://www.epicurious.com/

• http://food.cookinglight.com/

• http://www.foodtv.com/

• http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/

□ Prepare a fresh fruit smoothie and give it an exotic name. What vitamins and other nutrients are contained in your smoothie?

Resources used for planning: United Streaming Teacher's Guides, KONOS Vol 1 “Stewardship,” BJU 4 Teacher's Manual.