What a busy year this has been! With three kiddos being homeschooled, and a fourth determined to avoid or disrupt that process at every turn, my hands have been full, full, full!
Here's a quick run-down of our academic adventures:
In literature, Ammo began to read, and bookworms Julia and Nate spent great quantities of time in the worlds of Henry Huggins, Thornton Burgess' animal friends, Swallows and Amazons, a spider named Charlotte, the Back of the North Wind, Betsy-Tacy, and the four Boxcar Children,
to name just a few. Their games, of course, tend to be set in these worlds.
to name just a few. Their games, of course, tend to be set in these worlds.
In language study, we began Spanish
(with all four chattering together and Daddy feeling decidedly excluded)
and Koine Greek (just the older two).
They enjoyed making their own word scrambles and other games:
We tried to find ways to spice up math, like Fruit Loop Fractions
and follow-the-yellow-brick-number road.
Under the general heading of Science:
We finished up our Apologia Astronomy studies,
including the obligatory Mars Volcano experiment.
Then in early Spring we started Apologia Botany, and planted a little garden
(which the kids LOVE to tend--we'll have to go bigger next year!).
In the realm of Nature Study
We received a microscope for Christmas and watched the kids' jaws drop
as they discovered a whole new way to observe God's amazing creation
(and another reason to catch lots of bugs!),
caught baby bunnies, rescued baby birds, played with baby chicks, and watched an old robin die
(a sad surprise--we just thought he was unusually tame!).as they discovered a whole new way to observe God's amazing creation
(and another reason to catch lots of bugs!),
caught baby bunnies, rescued baby birds, played with baby chicks, and watched an old robin die
A visit from Bado meant more of the Ga'Hoole series, and even some owl pellets to dissect!
And when a beloved aunt brought the cousins for a visit,
we made our own grape juice! Yum!
On to the Fine Arts...
the older two are still playing the piano,
Nathan continues to enjoy his woodworking projects,
Julia is hand-sewing her first quilt,
We've been experimenting with various painting techniques,
and, of course, there was lots of "sculpting" going on!
This year we discovered the wisdom of the individual checklist,
memorized lots of poetry,
read together each afternoon until my voice was sore,
and camped out in the Age of Exploration.
All in all, it has been our favorite school year yet!
