Saturday, December 22, 2012

Ancient History, Week 10

Ancient Egyptians: Pyramids

Tessa and I finally finished up our first survey of Ancient Egypt. We will pick it up once again in a month or two when we study people, events and things more closely associated with the New Kingdom time period.

My plans were for us to build a pyramid together out of Legos as our project this week, but we ran out of time and by the time we had time, it was time to move on.


Monday

Quickly noting that there was one discreet sexual innuendo in this documentary but it went way over Tessa head. Also, there was a brief but not-too-intense death scene.


Tuesday


Wednesday

Other Books of Interest

Friday, December 14, 2012

Atelier Art, Level 1 - Module A, Lesson 4

Clowns

We're still loving Atelier Art! My original goal for art was every other week (or at least twice a month). I think we've fallen off that schedule a bit, as history and science have been absorbing so much time lately. I really need to get us back on track. Tessa always enjoys art day.

"Clowns" is a lesson on pattern. I was afraid it might be a little complex and slightly daunting for Tessa. There's so much drawing and coloring to be done, but she remained focused and resolved. We were rewarded with a really cute piece of artwork.

After viewing several photos of various types of clowns and a little guidance from the Atelier Art teacher, Tessa set to work on her clown.
After viewing several photos of various types of clowns and a little guidance from the Atelier Art teacher, Tessa set to work on her clown.

Tessa enjoyed using bold contrasting colors to create many different types of pattern.
Tessa enjoyed using bold contrasting colors to create many different types of pattern.

Tessa's completed clown is a happy fellow! I especially like his rainbow hair.
Tessa's completed clown is a happy fellow! I especially like his rainbow hair.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Life Science, Week 9

The Lungs & Respiratory System

Breathe in, breathe out. Age-appropriate books are sparse on the subject of the lungs and respiratory system, so we relied on a couple of fun and easy hands-on activities to illustrate the concept.


Wednesday

Using a clear plastic bottle filled with water, a straw and modeling clay, we created a model of a lung. The plastic bottle served as the lung, the water as air, and the straw as a bronchial tube. When Tessa squeezed the "lung," the "air" was forced out through the "bronchial tube" to mimic exhalation. Releasing the lung created the reverse effect...inhalation.
Using a clear plastic bottle filled with water, a straw and modeling clay, we created a model of a lung. The plastic bottle served as the lung, the water as air, and the straw as a bronchial tube. When Tessa squeezed the "lung," the "air" was forced out through the "bronchial tube" to mimic exhalation. Releasing the lung created the reverse effect...inhalation.   

Thursday

Using a clear plastic bottle cut to size, balloon, piece of plastic (cut from a bag) and tape, we created a model of a lung. Tessa pushed and pulled a tab taped to the bottom of the "diaphragm" to deflate and inflate the balloon "lung."
Using a clear plastic bottle cut to size, balloon, piece of plastic (cut from a bag) and tape, we created a model of a lung. Tessa pushed and pulled a tab taped to the bottom of the "diaphragm" to deflate and inflate the balloon "lung."

Other Books of Interest

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Ancient History, Week 9

Ancient Egyptians: Gods

Short week for history this week. We didn't dive too deeply into Ancient Egyptian gods due to the lack of good readily available picture books, but the subject matter was too much to weave into last week's lessons.


Monday

This video isn't really about Ancient Egyptian gods but we couldn't fit it in last week.


Tuesday


* HO = History Odyssey

Saturday, December 08, 2012

Atelier Art, Level 1 - Module A, Lesson 3

Animal Textures

This quick and easy lesson on texture seemed more like a craft than true art, but it did the trick. Tessa now knows and understands the word "texture." It was a fun little project...one that we both enjoyed.

Tessa first chose a piece of glittery stiffened felt from a stack of differently textured fabrics. It reminded her of Speedy, a box turtle that we housed once for a local turtle race. After adding a head and legs cut from card stock, she drew shapes on its shell.
Tessa first chose a piece of glittery stiffened felt from a stack of differently textured fabrics. It reminded her of Speedy, a box turtle that we housed once for a local turtle race. After adding a head and legs cut from card stock, she drew shapes on its shell. 

Tessa enjoyed creating her textured turtle so much that she asked to make a second animal. A fluffy piece of purple fleece made her think of a sheep.
Tessa enjoyed creating her textured turtle so much that she asked to make a second animal. A fluffy piece of purple fleece made her think of a sheep.

Ancient History, Week 8

Ancient Egyptians: Mummies

I was a little nervous about teaching the process of mummification to Tessa. The details really are quite gruesome...a level of gruesomeness that Tessa had not been exposed to before. Though she did wince and cover her eyes on more than one occasion, she embraced the knowledge and has been fascinated with all things mummy ever since.


Monday
  • Read Usborne: Ancient World by Fiona Chandler (pages 12-13).
  • Completed corresponding Blue House School ancient world worksheets.

Tuesday
  • Looked up and defined HO dictionary word for Lesson 6, Main Lesson Part 1.
  • Read Mummies by Kremena Spengler.
  • Read Mummies Made in Egypt by Aliki.
  • Completed draw and color.

Wednesday

Thursday

I have mixed feelings about Lift the Lid on Mummies. Tessa absolutely adores the set, but I feel a little cheated for the price. I knew there were some cardboard pieces in it, but I really think the bottoms of the canopic jars should be made of resin like the lids. The gauze provided to cover the mummy is a little short as well. Just three or four more inches would have made a big difference. Besides placing the internal organs in their appropriate canopic jars and tucking the amulets within the mummy's bandages, Tessa could do little else. The cutting and paper piecing is too intricate for early elementary students. Having said that, Tessa did learn a few things and greatly enjoyed the activity in whole. 

Our completed mummy, canopic jars and cat coffin. Tessa and I stuck the amulet stickers onto cardboard remnants left over from the canopic jars and then I cut around them so she can play with them again and again.
Our completed mummy, canopic jars and cat coffin. Tessa and I stuck the amulet stickers onto cardboard remnants left over from the canopic jars and then I cut around them so she can play with them again and again. 

Friday

Other Resources of Interest

* HO = History Odyssey

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

Life Science, Week 8

The Five Senses

We have come to a point in both science and history that 2-3 days just isn't enough time to appropriately cover some of the topics, so we are rotating weeks between the two as needed. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, this past week's investigation of the five senses spanned two calendar weeks.


Monday

Tuesday

I used a cloth bag instead of a box for the "Touch is One of the Five Senses - Mystery Box" activity. Tessa used her sense of touch to identify and describe the mystery items in the bag.
I used a cloth bag instead of a box for the "Touch is One of the Five Senses - Mystery Box" activity. Tessa used her sense of touch to identify and describe the mystery items in the bag.

Wednesday

Following Monday

Tessa used her sense of smell to identify and match scents. I used cotton balls soaked (or dusted) in cinnamon, peppermint, pickle juice and vanilla.
Tessa used her sense of smell to identify and match scents. I used cotton balls soaked (or dusted) in cinnamon, peppermint, pickle juice and vanilla.

Following Tuesday

Following Thursday

Following Friday

Tessa is quite fond of her Leapfrog Tag Reading System, so when I saw Leapfrog came out with this human body discovery pack, I just had to buy and incorporate it into our studies.
Tessa is quite fond of her Leapfrog Tag Reading System, so when I saw Leapfrog came out with this human body discovery pack, I just had to buy and incorporate it into our studies.

Other Books of Interest

* RSO = R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey