Monday, December 23, 2013

Medieval Times, Lessons 18 & 19

Pilgrimages and The Crusades & Richard the Lionhearted and Robin Hood

Stuck to the classics (or rather versions of) for these two lessons. I considered making a bow and arrow set as a craft with Tessa, but we already have Merida's bow (from Brave) and a Nerf Rebelle Heartbreaker Bow hanging about. I will say Tessa really liked reading about Robin Hood, though. It always amazes me how much she loves the classics. Sometimes, I think she understands them better than I do. She enjoys them more for sure! At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if she chooses to study either literature or history in college.


Lesson 18 - Pilgrimages and The Crusades

Bedtime Read-Aloud



Lesson 19 - Richard the Lionhearted and Robin Hood

Bedtime Read-Aloud

* HO = History Odyssey

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Earth Science: Weather, Unit 4

Wind

Tessa enjoyed many hands-on activities while studying wind this week. She also made the pinwheel featured on Bill Nye the Science Guy on her own.


Monday

Tuesday

We quickly ran outside to test our weather vane. Luckily, the day was breezy and it worked!
We quickly ran outside to test our weather vane. Luckily, the day was breezy and it worked!

Wednesday

We have a ton of washable markers, but none besides black that are permanent. So, instead of drawing designs onto a plastic bag as directed in "Wonderful Windsocks," we used a really cute bag with lime green polka dots that I had stashed away. Tessa cut the fringe and helped me assemble the windsock.
We have a ton of washable markers, but none besides black that are permanent. So, instead of drawing designs onto a plastic bag as directed in "Wonderful Windsocks," we used a really cute bag with lime green polka dots that I had stashed away. Tessa cut the fringe and helped me assemble the windsock.

The day was mild and there was a nice breeze, so Tessa had a wonderful time flying her windsock like a kite. It work well when we hung it on a post to tell wind direction too!
The day was mild and there was a nice breeze, so Tessa had a wonderful time flying her windsock like a kite. It work well when we hung it on a post to tell wind direction too!

Friday
  • Tessa read Wind by Marion Dane Bauer during reading.

Monday, December 16, 2013

...3 Cheers for Animals! - Session 5

It's Your Story - Tell It!: A Leadership Journey
Girl Scout Daisies

"Girls learn more about the day-to-day needs of animals in preparation for teaching others about animal care."

Download ...3 Cheers for Animals! - Session 5 handout.


Session 5 - Out and About with Animals


Opening Ceremony, page 62 from "How To Guide"
  • Not applicable for our chosen activity.

Field Trip, page 63 from "How To Guide"
(Option: Sounds of Nature Walk)

Since it is the dead of winter here in Missouri, I created a virtual sounds walk of sorts for our Journey girls. I burned the following free MP3 sound files in the order listed below onto audio CDs. The girls played the CDs at home while completing Animal Sounds Match game.

Alternatively, animal sounds could be played straight from a computer with internet access in a troop meeting setting. Just be sure the girls can't see the name of the files on the screen. Or, download the animal sounds files only onto an SD card or thumb drive to play on a computer without internet access. An adult volunteer could act as the narrator for the numbers.

After playing Animal Sounds Match game, Tessa drew a picture of a zebra for the Team Animal Mural.
After playing Animal Sounds Match game, Tessa drew a picture of a zebra for the Team Animal Mural.

Downloading the number files might be a teeny bit tricky at first. You'll need to sign up for a free Forvo account to download them. Afterward, click on the appropriate number from my Forvo bluehouseschool favorites list (the number links below take you to the same page). Note the pronouncer's user ID (imscotte1), then click on the appropriate number, locate his ID on that page and then choose "Download MP3" underneath his name. I wish I could have figured out an easier way to link these, but it's really not all that bad once you get going.


Animal and insect sounds are from A Zillion Sounds 2.0 (animal sounds, insect sounds). Blank/Silent MP3s are from Xamuel.com. The "5 Seconds of Silence" files are to allow the girls time to make their selections while playing the game with an audio CD.


Role-Play: What Animal Am I?, page 64 from "How To Guide"
  • Completed as directed.
  • Tessa chose an animal of her choice from Animal Sounds Match game (a zebra) to draw (and cut out) onto a half-sheet of white cardstock for the Team Animal Mural. (Completed zebra shown in the final picture of this post.)


Animals Talk and So Do We, pages 65-66 from "How To Guide"

Tessa practiced communicating and identifying emotions with Emotions Roll game.
Tessa practiced communicating and identifying emotions with Emotions Roll game.

Closing Ceremony, page 67 from "How To Guide"
  • Not applicable.

Tessa's completed work for "...3 Cheers for Animals!" Journey, Session 5. The zebra is for the Team Animal Mural.
Tessa's completed work for "...3 Cheers for Animals!" Journey, Session 5. The zebra is for the Team Animal Mural.

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Looking for more activities to complement the ...3 Cheers for Animals! Journey?

Check out my Girl Scout Law Ring Book - Pets Version - Girl Scout Daisies & Brownies printable scouting helper.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Medieval Times, Lessons 16 & 17

The Christian Church & Medieval Architecture

I really hate that I have been having such a hard time coming up with additional literature for our latest lessons. I feel like we're not covering subjects well enough. There's not much to be done about it, though, since resources are so few and far between. Seriously? No one can write a children's picture book about stained glass? (If I were on a chat board, I would insert one of those confused smileys right about here.)

Sometime, I would like to take Tessa on a tour of a big cathedral. We'll be driving through downtown St. Louis soon, so I plan to point out examples of stained glass and gargoyles then. I know Tessa will get a kick out of finding gargoyles. It will be like a real-life search-and-find.


Lesson 16 - The Christian Church

Lesson 17 - Medieval Architecture

While not the absolute best example of how stained-glass windows are made, I thought these holiday Makit & Bakit ornaments fit the bill well enough for Tessa's age. She hadn't done any of these before, so it was a neat experience for her. Plus, it doubled as a holiday craft.
While not the absolute best example of how stained-glass windows are made, I thought these holiday Makit & Bakit ornaments fit the bill well enough for Tessa's age. She hadn't done any of these before, so it was a neat experience for her. Plus, it doubled as a holiday craft.

* HO = History Odyssey

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Earth Science: Weather, Unit 3

Precipitation

Snow, rain, sleet and hail...Tessa learned about various forms of precipitation.


Monday

Tuesday

Tessa conducted a demonstration to see which one falls faster...a raindrop or a snowflake. We used a wadded up piece of blue paper to represent a raindrop and a sheet of white paper of equal size for a snowflake.
Tessa conducted a demonstration to see which one falls faster...a raindrop or a snowflake. We used a wadded up piece of blue paper to represent a raindrop and a sheet of white paper of equal size for a snowflake. 

Wednesday

After creating a quick accordion-fold construction paper booklet of various types of snowflakes for "Frosty Figures," Tessa decorated the front cover with snowflakes drawn with glitter glue.
After creating a quick accordion-fold construction paper booklet of various types of snowflakes for "Frosty Figures," Tessa decorated the front cover with snowflakes drawn with glitter glue.

Friday
  • Tessa read Snow by Marion Dane Bauer during reading.

Other Books of Interest

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Medieval Times, Lessons 13, 14 & 15

Knights, Castles, Villages & Towns

Due to having to wait on library books and package deliveries, we worked on these three lessons simultaneously. As a result, I've listed our resources by the lesson instead of by the day.

Since knights and castles are still common themes within the current popular toy market, we used pre-packaged activity kits for our fun days instead of making items from scratch. It was nice to just do simple for once.


Lesson 13 - Knights

The Perler Dragon Slayer kit includes beads to make a shield, sword and dragon. Tessa started off by piecing together the shield.
The Perler Dragon Slayer kit includes beads to make a shield, sword and dragon. Tessa started off by piecing together the shield. 

Tessa's completed ensemble. She really had a good time with this kit and got a kick out of slaying the dragon time and again.
Tessa's completed ensemble. She really had a good time with this kit and got a kick out of slaying the dragon time and again.

Lesson 14 - Castles

In lieu of building a castle from cereal boxes or what-have-you, I bought Tessa the Lego Castle Brickmaster set. It includes an interactive storybook of sorts that tells the story through the mini models that the kids builds.
In lieu of building a castle from cereal boxes or what-have-you, I bought Tessa the Lego Castle Brickmaster set. It includes an interactive storybook of sorts that tells the story through the mini models that the kids builds.

Tessa's completed models for the first chapter of Lego Castle Brickmaster. There were too many models to build during the two days we worked on this during school time, but the rest will give Tessa several more hours of building fun on her own time.
Tessa's completed models for the first chapter of Lego Castle Brickmaster. There were too many models to build during the two days we worked on this during school time, but the rest will give Tessa several more hours of building fun on her own time.

Lesson 15 - Medieval Villages and Towns

Bedtime Read-Aloud
We actually read this selection a while back. Scroll through my Read-Alouds - 2013-14 post to find out why.

* HO = History Odyssey

Saturday, December 07, 2013

Atelier Art, Level 1 - Module B, Lesson 4

Starry Night

"Starry Night" is an artist appreciation lesson based on Vincent van Gogh's infamous Starry Night. Tessa created her interpretation by drawing with oil pastels onto blue poster board. She also cut and glued shapes from various pieces of colored cardstock for the trees and houses.

Tessa really connected with this lesson and seemed to enjoy it more than other recent lessons. She loves using oil pastels. Later in the week, she created another version of Starry Night on her own. Heck, I even got into this one and created a mini version that I hung next to our school table.

Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night"
Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night"

Using a picture of van Gogh's "Starry Night" as a guide, Tessa drew the majority of her interpretation with oil pastels.
Using a picture of van Gogh's "Starry Night" as a guide, Tessa drew the majority of her interpretation with oil pastels.

Tessa cut and glued shapes for the trees and houses from colored cardstock. Afterward, she finished up with oil pastels.
Tessa cut and glued shapes for the trees and houses from colored cardstock. Afterward, she finished up with oil pastels.

Tessa's completed rendition of "Starry Night." She really had a lot of fun with this one. I think it may be one of her favorites.
Tessa's completed rendition of "Starry Night." She really had a lot of fun with this one. I think it may be one of her favorites.

Later in the week, Tessa created another version of "Starry Night" with oil pastels and construction paper on her own time. She hung it with poster putty in the hallway, which apparently now is an art gallery.
Later in the week, Tessa created another version of "Starry Night" with oil pastels and construction paper on her own time. She hung it with poster putty in the hallway, which apparently now is an art gallery.

Inspiration struck as Tessa worked on her original "Starry Night," so I snatched a scrap from the trashcan and went to work. I hung my mini masterpiece, which is only a couple of inches tall, next to the school table. It makes me happy when I look at it for some reason.
Inspiration struck as Tessa worked on her original "Starry Night," so I snatched a scrap from the trashcan and went to work. I hung my mini masterpiece, which is only a couple of inches tall, next to the school table. It makes me happy when I look at it for some reason.

Wednesday, December 04, 2013

Tula the Tulip (Red), Courageous & Strong Petal

Tessa has drawn pictures to earn her last couple of petals, so I really wanted to do something different for her Tula petal. Part of patch requirements is to learn about a woman who is/was courageous and strong. I chose Helen Keller. I read Tessa a children's book about Helen Keller and then we completed a wonderful free hands-on learning activity that I found at Teachers Pay Teachers. I can't say enough good things about the activity. It was a perfect complement. Tessa loved it so much that she made Daddy do it all over again with her when he got home from work. Since it took both of us at full capacity to complete the activity, I wasn't able to take any pics.



What We Did

 

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Looking for more Tula the Tulip petal ideas?

Check out my Story Suitcases - Girl Scout Daisies - "Tula - Red Petal" (Steps 2 & 3) printable scouting helper.