*****Please note that there are days where I will post more than once. So, to find out all the latest happenings and "goings-on" in our family (or my random thoughts), be sure to scroll down.*****

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Third Grade Week 6 in Review

We finished up week 6 yesterday, so here’s our summary.
Bible – Our lessons focused on “God Knows All Things” and “God is Three Persons.”  We read from Psalm 139:1-10 and Matthew 28:16-20.  Caleb’s memory verse was Psalm 145:3.
Science – Caleb continued working on his animal classification lapbook.  He completed several of the mini-books, and we’ll finish it up next week.
Social Studies – Our lesson was on “the search for new lands.”  We read about how the Native Americans would try to trick the explorers by sending them in search of different places.  We read about Ponce de Leon and his quest for the Fountain of Youth, Balboa and his quest, and Magellan and his voyage.  We read the book Magellan – A Voyage Around the World by Fiona Macdonald.
Reading – Caleb continued to work on finding the BEST action word to complete sentences and the sentences WITH the best action words.  He also worked on sequencing story details.
Vocabulary – He continued to review his words, and he took his test and scored 86%.
Math – This week we worked on telling time:  minutes.
English – Caleb continued to review the formation of cursive letters, and he finished up the week by taking a test on his first ACE Pace for 3rd grade.
Have you started back to school yet?  If not, when do you all start?  We appreciate those of you who continue to follow our journey.  We always look forward to sharing what we’ve learned with our blog readers. 

Zoo Atlanta

On the 16th of July, Brian decided that it was time for us to make a trip to Zoo Atlanta.  We hadn’t been since Caleb was Micah’s age, so we were overdue for a visit.  Due to the fact that it was going to cost us roughly $75+ just for the day, we opted to go ahead and spend $99 for a family pass.  Now, we can go back whenever we want for a full year…sounds like a plan to ME!  Considering how much Micah loved it, I’m sure we’ll get good use of that $$$. 
This visit was also a great homeschool educational trip.  Caleb is finishing up his study of Animals…classification, characteristics, etc.  So, this visit helped cement some of what he’s been studying the past 5 weeks.
Both of the boys had a good time looking at the animals, but Caleb would tell you…”some of the animals were a dud.”  Well, he’s right…a good many of the animals weren’t visible in their exhibits (even though this was a much cooler weekend considering the recent HEAT WAVE we’ve been experiencing…hence the reason we decided to visit and take advantage of the cooler temps).  We aren’t sure why, but Caleb was a bit disappointed.  Seeing some of their favorites made up for it though. 
Since we didn’t get there until about 2:30, the boys didn’t get to enjoy the train or the play area.  However, I’m sure they will in due time…besides, my flip flop broke near the end of our visit, so it became difficult to keep it on my foot and walk.  Oh well…it was my fault for trying to release the stroller brake with my foot…won’t do that again.  LOL!
Here are the pictures of our visit…ENJOY!

Monday, July 25, 2011

We’re Jammin’…

Do you like Bob Marley?  Ever since we went on our honeymoon to Jamaica, I’ve loved his music.  That reggae beat just takes me back to our honeymoon, and it was so wonderful.
Anyway, I digress…this post has nothing to do with Bob Marley; however, we did make some homemade jam.  We got together with some of our homeschool friends to make blueberry jam.  Well, the boys and I went to pick more blueberries with some other friends, and I ended up making even more blueberry jam.  I also attempted to make strawberry jam which really turned out to be strawberry syrup (I don’t think my measurements guesstimates were accurate).  Regardless, they were both yummy, and there’s still more in the freezer.

Micah mashing the blueberriesIMG_7581
Caleb’s turnIMG_7582
Waiting on the sugarIMG_7583
Close-upIMG_7584
Ready to sit for 24 hours and then freezeIMG_7588
Micah dissolving the sugar into the strawberriesIMG_7591
Caleb’s turnIMG_7592
Waiting for 10 minutes to pass…IMG_7594
Close-up shotIMG_7593
Strawberry jam syrup ready to sit for 24 hoursIMG_7595
Have you ever made homemade jam?  We did the quick, no-cook recipe, and I’ll definitely try it again.  Caleb and I are really enjoying the blueberry.  And like I said, the strawberry turned out to be a yummy syrup.  It was fabulous over cheesecake.  Smile

Sunday, July 24, 2011

More of Caleb’s Art Creations

As promised, here are pictures of the rest of Caleb’s art creations.  Some are drawings that he’s worked on each week during the private art class, and the rest are projects that he worked on during the week of art camp.  During his art class, his teacher first started by having him draw shapes.  He then used those shapes to create pictures.  Art camp was a week of painting and clay.  When I stop and look at his work, I’m truly proud of how wonderful he is doing.  He really loves art, and I can’t wait to see his work in a few more years.  Smile

Bird drawingIMG_7717
Frog drawingIMG_7718
Flower drawingIMG_7720
Troll??? drawing (not sure if it’s a troll or what)IMG_7723
Bear drawingIMG_7724
Landscape paintingIMG_7686
Clay maskIMG_7687
Clay “gold” fishIMG_7703
IMG_7706
IMG_7691
Clay bowlIMG_7698
IMG_7696
Clay bowlIMG_7702
I’m probably going to start taking him back to art lessons at some point in August.  We took off the month of July because I needed a break from going, going, and going.  Plus, we really needed some time to focus on school and get into the routine.  I’m sure he’s ready to go back, and we can’t wait to see what he’ll create next.

 
Blogging tips