Q Week Wrap Up....

This week in our school we....

Learned the letter Q...

In Poetry...
Ava started to say the poem of the month with me, I think she'll have it memorized by next week.  We both really enjoyed the poem of the week, The Song of the Queen Meadow Fairy, she is really beautiful.

Our theme for the week...
Was Earth Day!  I wanted to have a lot of time to talk about Earth Day, so we started this week talking about different aspects of the earth.  Monday I gave them each an Earth Day gift, used books!  Big Momma Makes the World, by Phillis Root (for Ava) a very sweet creation story.  This gave us an opportunity to talk about why people use creation stories, and their importance in our culture's history.   Earth, by Dana Meachen Rau (for Cyrus) a non fiction look at the attributes of our planet, and how we fit into the solar system.  A Pig is Big, by Douglas Florian (for Sol) a simple story about size getting larger and larger 'till the whole universe.  To demonstrate the vastness of the earth's cultures we read Hello World Greeting in 42 Languages Around the Globe (I really want to own a copy of this!!!) by Manya Stojic and Where in the World?  Around the Globe in 13 Works of Art by Bob Raczka.  Specifically on the topic of Earth Day we read three non fictions, Let's Reuse, by Sara E. Nelson, Recycling, by Rhonda Lucas Donald, and Earth Day by Trudi Strain Trueit.  We are still experiencing the kind of weather that keeps everyone out side, so that's were we spent all of our free time.  Next week to celebrate Earth Day we have some special songs to learn, a garbage in our neighborhood walk, and some planting to do!

In Math we learned...
~ To count objects by 2s
~ To add 1 to 2-digit numbers
~ To construct a graph showing colors
~ To add 2 to 2-digit numbers

In Science we...
Covered two lessons concurrently.  Air is a substance, and Gravity; The earth's gravity, horizontal and vertical.  These two lessons were chalk full of hands on experimenting.  We also talked about how in science we don't make decisions based on votes, or opinions.  We look at the evidence derived from investigations.  Having the activities allowed these rather advanced concepts become first hand observations, putting them at her level.  Plus it was just really fun, or as Ava said "science is so cool!".

In Art Study we...

Explored Manuel Osorio Manrique de  Zunega, by Francisco de Goya Y Lucientes.  There seems to be a lot of cruelty in this painting.  When asked if she would like to dress like him, Ava let me know that he looks uncomfortable, and his outfit looks like pajamas with a plastic bow.  That about sums it up.


We were able to get a lot done this week, which was a surprise to me.  The weather isn't going to hold, it's going to get HOT.  Soon.  I don't mind arranging our day around playing in the backyard.  I'm pretty sure that they are learning more outside on their own than any lesson I could put before them!

Just Ladybugs...

We've had an amazing ladybug season so far.  Not only have we been blessed to have many hands on opportunities, we've been able to capture some 'just' moments on camera....

Just hatched~

Thanks to Ava and her keen eyesight we were able to see this little guy, who is teeny tiny.   He must be new to the larva stage.  He'll continue to grow and eat (a lot) for about 20ish days.

Just pupated ~

This scene was witnessed in our "ladybug home".  It was fascinating to watch the pupa push-ups this guy was engaged in.  (if anyone know what or why they do that, let us know)  Within an average of about 5 hours he will complete his metamorphose into pupa and be a dark orange- red color with spots, and stay in his pupa stage for about a week.  Something like this guy from last year...

Just emerged...

She was found just after she became an adult ladybug.  Isn't she striking?  (Does anyone know why they stay with their pupa shell for so long? )  In about 49 minutes you could see her spots start to appear...

  

Just flying...

Here I was lucky enough to catch one of our little friends just as she lifted her shell to open her wings.  Stunning.

I'm so grateful for our experiences.  We've all learned more this year than we knew last year.  We plan to enjoy the time we have left with our ladybugs this season,  just a few more weeks.

For the Love of Gold...

 ~Blooming Palo Verde.  

The state tree of Arizona, with a rare April storm coming in.

~Misumena Vatia 

(crab spider, goldenrod spider) 

fascinating little guy surprised Ava as she was collecting aphids for her lady bug larva collection.

 Bella, the alpha male cat.  

(result of 5 year old with naming rights)

Yellow ladybug freshly hatched from her pupa shell.  

Her spots hadn't shown up yet!  

(more on her later)

I'm seeing yellow with a new perspective these days.  Last week it was the soothing white and greens that I felt drawn to.  This week I feel the energizing pull of yellow.  Hello Yellow!

Garden love

 meyer lemon

 lavender

 blackberry (could be raspberry)

 Grape (forgot the variety)

 Anna Apple

Our move has been delayed from late Spring, to late Summer.  It is sometimes tricky knowing how to plan your future with so many variables in the air.  So today we'll stick with what we know, what we have.  I am so grateful to have one more season to harvest from our edible garden.  One more chance to appreciate the sweet rewards of gardening.  One more cycle to learn.  

And plus, aren't flowers just pretty?

Gratitude Monday...

What I love about today...

~Finding people on facbook...

~The first half of the seventh Harry Potter movies..

~My new kitchen table...

 (oh. .my. goodness.)

~A little baby who loves to stand on his own...

(just one little step closer to stepping out and away)

~A little girl who has me a bit out smarted...

(don't worry, I have some expert books on the way)

~A little boy who set the table with an art project for each person

(the perfect way to finish lunch, I'm sure)

~A partner who found the perfect table...

(I found the same one 7 years ago, that is what makes it so perfect)

I love Sundays.

(I just LOVE them)

Here's to a brand new week...  This weekend saw a lot of changes to families that mean a lot to me. 

My heart is with them at this time.

Z week wrap up....

This week in our school we....

We learned the letter Z...

In poetry we started a new 'poem of the month' When all the world's asleep, by Anita E. Posey, found in this collection of poems put together by Jack Prelutsky.  We also read the Song of the Zinnia Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker . 

Our theme for the week...
was Lambs and Bunnies.  Its seemed a fitting theme to start our Spring with.  We read Bunny's Noisy book, by Margret Wise Brown.  This book may be overly simple, but I LOVE it.  I have a soft spot for Lisa Mcue, she illustrates the sweetest little flower and animal scenes, and has long been a favorite of mine.  Also from our personal collection was The Little Lamb, and The Little Rabbit, both photographed by Phoebe Dunn, and both are extremely popular in my house.  It was our second time this school year with  Pelle's New Suit, by Elsa Beskow, however the story is just so perfect I find myself looking for reasons to read it!  For non fiction reading this week we skimmed through a very informative book Great Pets, Rabbits, by Ruth Bjorklund.  This book made me want a bunny or two.  Seriously, they are so adorable!!

 We were faced with some AMAZING weather (we had rain!!!!) this week, so that kept us from getting to most of our art projects.  We did find time to make tissue paper collages to decorate our workbooks.  They turned out so lovely.  We had a really good time with these.  I regret that I that I didn't take photos of the finished products.


In Math we learned...
~ to add 10s and 1s in problems, and written equations
~ to count by 10s and 1s
~ to make a chart to one hundred
~ to count 20 dimes to 2 dollars
~ to count by 10s to 200
~ to construct from paper the quantity 200 using tens

 Cyrus loves playing with the Geo board, or as he says "musical instrument".
(The reason it seems we covered so much is because we did a lesson last Friday to help refresh our minds before Spring Break ended.)

In Science we...
 Covered the concepts of energy, making things go.  I'm going to determine over the weekend whether or not we need to spend more time on this topic before we move on.  Admittedly I was pretty apprehensive approaching the subject of energy.  It was really hard not to 'over talk' the subject, or to make the principles too complex.  I am really proud of the work she is doing, and I continue to LOVE this program.  Love it.

 In Art Study we...

 Explored Edward VI as a Child, by Hans Holbein the Younger.  This painting had a much different impression on me than it did Ava, for many reasons.  Socially I found it fascinating.  The the obvious wealth of this young prince in all of his gold, and the means that went into his conception.  (Also I watched a few seasons of The Tutors a few years ago which added a whole new level of interest.)  Ava on the other hand saw a little boy wearing a grown up costume, and didn't understand why the mama would want him dressed like that, or how his hat stayed on.  Good point Ava.



It was a great week back at school, easing back into our rhythms.  It was a little tricky staying on task when NO ONE wanted to be indoors, so we shuffled things around quite a bit.  I'm still hoping to fit in the Rice Crispy Treats that I plan on calling "Fluffy Lambs and Bunnies" so I can justify making them by saying its on theme...

Of white and green

Sometimes you need a little less color, a little less noise.

Rainbow full of Sound...

The Arizona Renaissance Festival is a feast for the senses.   The buildings, costumes,  characters, craftsmen,  colors, songs, shows, sword fights, jousting, cows, and fairies.  Oh my.

 

Until next year...

One look

One look and I catch my breath.
She is
Growing.  Up.  So.  Fast.
I need to up my game plan.
I believe that we are leaving early childhood behind.
I need a new set of tools.
I need to be ready.
The six year change is in our home.

And here I humbly request that any of you kind and gentle mamas that have walked this road before me, if you have any tips, I'm all ears.

Gratitude Monday...

What I am loving today...

~A weekend that was SO full.  So so full...

(even a loves to be at home person like myself can appreciate a weekend of fun)

~Strawberry Yogurt Popsicles...

~A baby who still sucks on my chin to let me know he wants to nurse..

(its messy but adorable)

~A boy who carried around (all weekend) a cardboard framed photo of me in my ballet recital finery..

(age 9ish)

~A girl who holds my hand while we walk...

(her hand feels so little, and so big at the same time.)

~A partner who keeps us on track...

(even if it means I am running out of excuses not to start packing)

~My new apple slicer/corer...

(Thank you Ikea!)

 ~My new alphabet box!

(more on that later)

~My new continent boxes!

(more on that later)

~Starting our first day of Spring Bs.

(there are only 12 weeks left of our very first homeschooling year!!!)

Here's to a great week for all of us!