Sunday, October 26, 2008

Disney Education

So who would have thought that a family vacation like Disney would be an educational experience? I certainly didn't! But hey we learn something new everyday right?? That's why we homeschool!

What we discovered!
  • Florida in October is beautiful bordering on really Warm but not HOT! It is very muggy though especially when the rain is moving in!
  • Disney near Halloween is still a ZOO - with European vacationers and plenty of Canadian and Americans to boot
  • We discovered the selfishness of adults as they made both young young (under 2 yr olds) and old stand even at 10 pm or later.....
  • Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween is pretty popular - and lots of people go all out! :)
  • We learned about the History of Consumer Technology ( on the Carousel of Progress)
  • We revisited our World History on Space Ship Earth
  • We learned about Different Cultures on its a small world
  • We learned more about Cultural Customs and Traditions at Epcot via Kidcot Funstops and just exploring the different countries via their food!
  • We learned of the importance of keeping an eye on our Money both literally(a woman lost a wad of money in Tomorrowland) and figuratively (by making sure we weren't spending too much on items that wouldn't be played with tomorrow!)
  • We studied Literature through rides like Snow-white, Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh! and kind of discussed how this is one person's interpretation of the stories as they were written
  • We also kept a partial journal and discovered that M isn't really into journal keeping just yet (if she is like me she may never be! LOL! but I'm not placing my prejudices on her yet!)
  • We learned about Animals at the Animal Kingdom - where the showcase different info from expeditions and encounters with animals and insects alike. They also have a window to an operating theater or exam room depending on the circumstance (thank goodness there was no sick animals last week - so we didn't see any surgeries! I'm not quite ready for that! LOL!)

So all in all it was a good week for the big one.

We discovered that S is a go with the flow kind of kid for the most part, and would adventure onto any ride, as long as mummy was with her. We discovered that without any guidance she has learned to identify letters A, L, S and P - and she can still count to 5 repeatedly always missing #4! LOL!

Current - Grade 2 Plan

Just like last year we're still slowly tailoring M's learning program - which is just as much learning about what fits her style and mine as following our interests ... here is an update of the post I originally back in April when I was just in the planning stage!

We're still fine tuning everything and making adjustments here and there.

LANGUAGE ARTS
- K12 Language arts (Grade ?)
- Growing with Grammer 1 & 2
- Various Reading materials.
- Baltimore Curriculum Literature
- Creative Writing assignments from various topics and Prompt Plan Write (mostly typed!)
- Penmanship various letters and thank-yous to family

- Spectrum Reading (Grade 2) *Finishing*
- Spectrum Spelling (Grade 4)

MATH
- K12 Math (Grade 2)
- Singapore Math (2A and B) - Oct 26
- Various online computer games

HISTORY/GEOGRAPHY
- K12 History (Grade 2)

SCIENCE
- K12 Science (Grade 2)
- various topics (including Brownie Try-Its and other subjects of interest)

LANGUAGES
- Sign Language (need to find better program - maybe Signing Times Videos + more)
- Spanish (is it the right time?? need to find a better program here too!)

I'm not really happy with what we're using here and need to find something better. I'm tempted to let the Spanish sit for a year or 2 and just focus on the sign since we have both an interest and a need for it. That way when S is ready to start "schooling" we can include her in the spoken Spanish lessons and go from there.

ARTS/CRAFTS/MUSIC
- Extra Curricular Art Projects
- Art Group through Kids Art
- various projects
- extracurricular classes as appropriate
- Baltimore Curriculum Art and Music

EXTRACURRICULAR
- Brownies
- Ballet
- Art Classes
- outside classes as interest deems necessary

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If anyone out there reading has an absolute favourite program that they want to share, I'd love to check it out! :) I feel like I'm doing so much better this year in my planning than last year! (question is where will it lead me! LOL! Trouble no doubt!)

I will continue to update as we progress through this year! :)

Friday, October 3, 2008

A Day of Sewing

We've been really lax on working on Brownie Try Its this year. M hasn't had an interest and I'm trying to stand back and let her take more of a lead! We're doing an award ceremony in December. As of today M had earned 5 Try-its.... when I told her this she promptly announced that she wanted to get 16 Try Its at the award Ceremony - so I told her to get working.

Today's work was around the Girl Scout - Virginia Skyline Council's "Sewing" Try it. We've been learning to sew periodically for months now. She keeps telling me ....

"Mum, I want to sew" (2 minutes to lunch time.)
"Mum, I want to sew" (5 minutes til we leave for class.)
"Mum, I want to sew" (15 minutes to bed time.)

So today I gathered up my stuff, including Sewing safety rules, pulled up the GSVSC's requirements (which we got approval for in July) and started to work. We worked on hand sewing... she learned whipstitch and running stitch and she is working on a little jacket for her webkinz poodle. She is very pleased.

Inevitably the little one decided that she too needed to learn to sew. I was dreading those words! LOL! Years ago I had bought M a box of lacing cards - M never really got into them, or we just didn't have time and she lacked the patience. Shockingly S, has the patience, coordination and skill to do it all at 2.5 yrs old. Is this the same kid who can't do anything without running around the house 1/2 a dozen times.

I ended up printing ghost image off the internet onto card stock, gluing to pieces of card stock together and using the laces from the box for S to play with.... and OMG she ran with it. M got into the actual lacing cards and perfected her whipstitch technique there, before continuing with her jacket project.

All in all it was a good Home Ec kind of day. M is pleased with her doings and completed her Sewing Try It and S has returned to running madly around the house.