Learning with the Landes Family: 2012

This week we wrapped up our study of South America and are ready to head into next week as we do a book study on The Trumpet of the Swan. Here is a little of what we learned and did this week.

Bible

We finished reading through the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew and continued to memorize Matthew 5:14-16.

Geography

As I mentioned above, we finished our study of South America this week and I am proud to tell you that Isaac and Julia can name and locate all of the countries in North and South America. We all had fun finishing the Carnival costumes they started last week. They also got to make and decorate Carnival masks. Each one turned out very unique and true to that child's personality. We celebrated our study of South America by making brigaderiros, a chocolate treat. We didn't get around to watching Rio. One of the kids' didn't earn enough points to get TV time and the other kids didn't mention watching the movie so I left well enough alone.

Making Brigaderiros

This little cooking project was SUPER messy! (and the kids loved every minute of it)

Science

We learned about birds of the rain forest this week and did two fun activities. With the first we learned about how strong egg shells are. I took four empty egg shells and cut off the bottom half of each to make dome shapes. Then we predicted how many books we thought the egg shells would hold up before cracking. The kids both guessed 2 or 3. We had a stack of 17 books on the egg shells before they cracked. This totally amazed the kids! Then we talked about how water birds have a gland near their tail that produces oil and the birds spread that over their feathers. I cut out two construction paper feathers and coated one with cooking oil. Then I dropped water on both feathers. Obviously, the water beaded up on the one with oil.

Music/Art

We learned a song from Peru called Los Pollitos. And for art this week the kids made their masks and finished their costumes.

Read Aloud

We finished reading Nate Saint: On a Wing and a Prayer. I knew the end of this story before we even started reading this book,but it was still hard to get through the last couple of chapters. So sad yet such a testimony of fully giving your life for the Lord's work. And to read about how the door was opened to this tribe after the death of these men was awesome. We read that now 1 out of every 10 tribe members are Christians. Amazing! The kids made these airplanes just like the one Nate flew.

Poetry

We learned about limericks this week. We read three limericks by Edward Lear the same author that wrote The Quangle Wangle's Hat, which we studied last week. Isaac and Julia both wrote their own limericks and they turned out pretty cute. We also learned about hyperbole, extreme exaggeration. They had fun the rest of the week giving examples of hyperbole.

Isaac

*multiplying by 3
*learning to organize his writing
*exclamation points
*story writing

Julia

*doubles addition
*learning to write an interview (dialogue)
*story writing
*dictation

Caleb

*I didn't have any formal lessons with Caleb this week. Just a lot of playing, reading, and plain 'ol fun! Of course he had his own idea of what would be fun. One day he was playing in the backyard. I looked up to check on him and saw him walking around the backyard half naked. Silly, silly boy!

Next week we will do a book study of Trumpet of the Swan. The following week we will spend a week doing fall/Thanksgiving activities. Then we will take some time off from school. Our baby boy is due to arrive sometime around the 24th!!

This week began with a day at the Witte Museum for the Homeschool day. Witte offers different classes or educational presentations for the home school kids. This year I signed the kids up for a class called "Why Matter Matters". So much fun! The kids and I loved this. The instructor did a great job teaching to this age group and kept it interesting with lots of experiments and visual aids. I quizzed them later in the day about what they learned during that class and they remembered a lot of what was taught. Good job Witte!

The burning gummy bear experiment to show chemical change - the kids favorite!

We spent the rest of our time there exploring the museum. We enjoyed the mummy exhibit, the South America textiles exhibit (we are studying South America right now!!), the Native American exhibit, the circus exhibit, the dinosaur exhibit, and so much more. At the HEB tree house, both Isaac and Julia tried out the rock climbing wall and both made it up about half way. Inside the tree house, we explored all the fun hands on science activities. What a fun way to begin our week.

Perfect picture of my kids. Isaac "Mom, this is so lame" Julia "I'm going to give you my sweet smile" Caleb "WooHoo. Can I get one of these at home?"

Caleb was doubled over in laughter at the ball and air exhibit

Caleb's puppet show

The sky bike

Making some music. This boy needs a drum set!

The Weekend Forecast

We found an exhibit about South American textiles. Perfect since we are studying South America right now.

Thought this was funny. Way to use your chin, Isaac!

Dinos! Caleb wanted to go see the dino so much, but when we got there he said he was scared. Silly boy! Of course he doesn't look too scared in the picture. He knows how to cheese it for the camera

Love, love, love my kids


This was at the end of the day. Julia had an upset stomach from seeing the mummy exhibit. She was in no mood for a picture, but the boys were!

Caleb fell asleep in the van after the Witte. We had to go to HEB before we went home, so I put him in the cart like this. He got a few more snoozes!

Bible
We have been focusing on Matthew 5:14-15 the last few weeks. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill can not be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it give light to everyone in the house" We have also read other verses in Matthew including Matt. 6:19-24 about storing up your treasures in heaven. As we discussed these verses, Julia got all teary eyed. When I asked her what was wrong she said it made her sad to think of Baby (her beloved bunny) being eaten by moths and getting destroyed. Aw, she has such a tender heart. Sweet girl! We also read about a tribe in South America called the Yanomamo who believe in Animism. They live their lives in fear of evil spirits. We prayed that they would hear God's Truth and live in the Freedom of Christ.

Geography
We worked on some Geography worksheets about South America. We learned about and located the deserts, vegetation, and islands of South America. We also tried out some of the language from Brazil and played the Geography game a few more times. They both have it down! They know all the countries of South America. Impressive!!

Using longitude and latitude to find islands around South America

Science
We learned more about the animals and plants of the Amazon River and rain forest. There are some strange creatures lurking in the Amazon. I don't think I would want to be caught in there alone!
We learned that because of the abundant food supplies, most of the plants and animals grow to enormous size. Like the 12 inch millipede or the 5 foot long lily pad. And let's not forget the 26 foot long anaconda. YIKES!

Music/Art
We learned a song this week from Argentina called Mi Chacra (My Farm). For art one day we made Carnival costumes from old pillowcases and fabric markers. Their perfectionist tendencies kicked in, so neither one are finished with them just yet. I will post pics of the finished costumes next week.

Julia starting her Carnival costume

Isaac starting his Carnival costume

Poetry
This week we learned about nonsensical poems. Edward Lear is know for his nonsensical poetry. We read his poem, "The Quangle Wangle's Hat" Fun poem! We also discussed rhythm and couplets.

Isaac
Isaac had a good week. We are really working with him to develop good work habits during school time. He can tend to get distracted easily and lose track of time. I have a feeling this is just something we will always be working on with him. Because this is a work station week, there isn't much to report as far as what they are learning individually except for Math. Isaac is working on skip counting by 3 this week. And for Reading, both he and Julia are learning about character elements.

Isaac is itching to go back to Enchanted Rock for real rock climbing

Julia
Julia also had a good week. She learned about shapes and skip counting by 2 in Math this week. Not much else to report. They are both working through their handwriting books (cursive) and are nearing the end of the book. They are also working through their Explode the Code books. And both Isaac and Julia are plugging away at Spanish. Julia got 100% on the section she did today!

Julia earned 20 points last week and got to go on a Smoothie date

My rock climbing girl!

Julia's drawing. I am going to have to show this at her wedding one day. Julia and her Prince Charming.

Caleb
I did spend a few days working on some school with Caleb. He was so excited. I do believe he has missed it! This week Caleb did activities focused around "Itsy Bitsy Spider". He got to make a marble spider web painting. Caleb also made a spider, rain, and sun puppet to act out the rhyme. I think Caleb's favorite from the week was making a spider leg snack which was chow mein noodles with melted chocolate chips. Mmm!! Mmm!