Its hot outside, like really HOT! I'm not a fan, so we started our school year on July 11. Mornings spent at the kitchen table in the air conditioning are what mama likes! Once it cools down we'll take some more time off for wandering the woods, but for now its all about the books. We're continuing this year to follow Charlotte Mason's ideas on education and I feel like we are closer now to her real vision than ever and we're enjoying our school time more than ever as well! I'm so happy to be back in third grade....lol.....its amazing how much fun school is as an adult. I must have forgotten a lot about the ancient world because as we read about Archimedes, Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, the Battle of Actium....I'm just fascinated. The way our history book ties the typical ancient events to the Biblical events of the same time period is another reminder of why we homeschool. Did you realize that the children of Israel were fighting for the promised land about the same time the Phoenicians were discovering the Atlantic Ocean? Oh, and Greek music on the pentatonic scale is not our favorite....its just annoying! Its not all ancients either, in US. History we have already read a biography on Daniel Boone and we're making our way through Amos Fortune: Free Man now. Science is all water screws, levers, pulleys, water displacement.....its a bit heavy, but Rebecca seems to enjoy it and if she understands even half of it then I'd call it a 'win'. Of course we added more grammar this year along with poetry, storytelling, dictation and narration....then there is math and artist study, handicrafts and nature journaling. Its sounds like a lot, but I've been amazed how just a few pages from each book a day, a couple hours of work is all.....it adds up, even in just 3 weeks, to a real 'feast' of learning. The boys, I admit, have much less going on. Usually some morning TV shows while I read with Rebecca and then playtime, favorite picture books, a speech lesson or two, and some crafts mixed into the week. I am really looking forward to cooler days when they can get back outside with their shovels and tonka trucks! Here are some highlights from our first three weeks!
First day of school picture...they are growing up so fast!
Unloading groceries, laminating and playing logic games all at the same time.....its a bit nutty!
Logic games for younger brains.
Cow Appreciation day happened on our second day of school....yay for free kids meals and no dishes to wash!
Blueberry art to go with 'Blueberries for Sal' our book of the week the first week.
Salt dough map of the ancient world.
Blueberry picking....still tying into our book that week.
Painting her map...the finished product is really pretty. We'll add landmarks throughout the year.
Tea with friends.....we got to have 4 teas this summer each one with a different special family friend.
Examining a bunch of cicada shells they collected from the yard,
We've graduated to the larger 10" potholder loom. To all the women of the family, hope you like homemade potholders!
Experimenting with our own water screw.
Weekend adventure while daddy was home sick.
Brain freeze face....possibly my favorite photo of him EVER.
Playing in the fountains last Saturday to cool off! Isaiah was about to lose his drawers. ;)
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