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Apologia Astronomy project #1 – Balloon Solar System

Written by Joy
6 Comments
Apologia Astronomy project #1 – Balloon Solar System

I am excited about our science this year.  My younger kids decided they wanted to learn about Astronomy.  What better curriculum to use than Apologia’s Exploring Creation through Astronomy! This past week, the kids and I have been reading lesson one in the Astronomy book.

Project #1, Balloon Solar System from Apologia’s Exploring Creation Through Astronomy.

 

The kids have learned what Astronomy is and why God created the Universe.  We talked about God making the planets and what scientists have named them.  We also talked about why scientists don’t consider Pluto a planet anymore.

We have learned words such as; gravity, constellations, instinct and gravitational pull.

The kids and I read about the scientists Nicolas Copernicus and Galileo Galilei, who believed the sun was the center of the solar system and the planets revolved around the sun.

However, I think the best part of the lesson was at the end and getting to make our own Solar System.  The kids and I had a great time trying to blow up the balloons to the dimensions that they gave us.  While we didn’t hang the balloons like they suggested, still had a fun time with the project.

The kids are really enjoying the Apologia Astronomy and can’t wait to read the second lesson and work on the project.   I am just happy that we are having fun and learning about science!

What are you using for science? Are you and the kids having fun?

 

 

2012, homeschooling, , , ,

first week of school

Written by Joy
8 Comments
first week of school

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

While we had done a couple of weeks of school back in August, right after we moved to Colorado, this was our first week of school with our curriculum that I shared here.  Over all, I think it went rather well.  We do have some tweaking to do with our routine, but I think once we get a couple of weeks under our belt, we will be doing just what we need to be doing.

Samuel working on handwriting and Claire working on Math.

One of the things I have enjoyed the most about our week?  My children have gotten up, ready and have eaten breakfast and then got their books out to do school work.  They were so ready to get back to our regular routine.  They love to learn and that does warm my heart.

Now this isn’t to say that we haven’t had a few tears this week.  Even momma has had to talk with daddy during the day to get calmed down.  We have all been a little stressed with the move and that has played a big part with some of our attitudes (ahem), me included.  That is when we closed our books for a few moments and just talked.

Sarah working on math.

So what has really worked this week.  Well, mostly all of the school work, has worked!  haha   Seriously though, the Illuminations program that I am using, I like it a lot.  The kids are enjoying their school work.  They love the Mystery of History that we are doing.  The books we are reading, we are enjoying.  They are loving the Apologia Astronomy that we are reading.

What didn’t work this week?  Well, we are trying to get a hang of all the Language Art components.  Mostly that was my fault though.  I wasn’t nearly as prepared with the lesson plans as I had intended on being.  Also, changing from one subject to the next is going to take some work.  It has come to my attention that all three of my kids can not be working on math at the same time.  Especially, when it is 3 different grade levels of math.  I will need to find some independent work for the younger children, while I am helping their sister.

First week of school is a success!

Like I said, over all the week went pretty well.  I am happy with it.  I am looking forward to this year!

How did your week go?  Did you do any special projects?

Romans 12:2

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2012, homeschooling, , , ,

curriculum changes for the new school year …

Written by Joy
7 Comments
curriculum changes for the new school year …

A lot has happened since I last posted about what we will be using for our curriculum for this school year.  The biggest, we moved.   So, as I am getting ready to start school again, there have been a few changes in our curriculum.  We will be using Illuminations.  They give many suggestions on what to use and even offer an awesome scheduling tool to help you prepare your lessons.  We will be using a lot of the suggestions that Illuminations gives.  One of the main reasons why I am going with Illuminations this year?  All three of my children will be using a lot of the same materials.  Especially my younger two.  I am hoping this will help scheduling and teaching them  slightly easier this year.

So what is Illuminations? Bright Ideas Press says it best in their description.

“Illuminations is an all-inclusive *curriculum, covering Bible, Language Arts (grammar, writing, copywork, spelling and vocabulary), Literature, Science, Humanities (poetry, theatre, music, and art), Geography, History, Life Skills, and Projects. Illuminations is built to compliment our Mystery of History or All American History Series.”

 So, what will we be using with Illuminations Year 1?  We are still using Mystery of History: Volume I.  We finished about a 1/4 of the book last year, so I thought I would save some money and just continue to use it this year.  All three of my children will be using this as their History.

For Language Arts, we will be using what they recommend.  For the younger kids, Natural Speller (Spelling), WriteShop (Writing), English from the Roots Up (Vocabulary) and Winston Grammar Basic Level AND The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation (Grammar).  They also give a great list for the Literature section.

I am excited about incorporating the geography that they are recommending; The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide and Hands-On Geography.  We will also be using WonderMaps.  We have used it in the past and it is one of the best programs that I have seen.

I love Apologia Science curriculum, so we will be continuing on with it this year.  The younger two kids have asked to study Astronomy.  My oldest daughter, who is now in 9th grade, will be doing Biology from Apologia.

For Math, we are sticking with Bob Jones for Samuel and Claire.  Sarah, she will continue with Teaching Textbooks.  If it works, I see no need of changing it.

We will also continue to use See The Light for our art curriculum.  My younger two have absolutely enjoyed using this and have learned a lot.  I love how Pat Knepley teaches the art and then shares a scripture at the end of the lesson.   As for Sarah, she will be using Artistic Pursuits.  I think she will be challenged by this art curriculum.  I am also wanting to add Harmony Fine Arts at Home.  We will also be using the Young Guide to Composers curriculum.

The most important book of all we will be using, is the Bible.  It is important to me for my children to learn about God and to love Him with all their heart.  We will also be using the Who is God? curriculum from Apologia, for a family bible study.  I am excited to be able to use this with all three of my children.

While it does seem like a lot, it really does not take long to complete the work that is involved.  Illuminations has this amazing scheduling tool that I can use to schedule the curriculum out the way I need to.  I am excited about this curriculum and look forward to sharing with you all we learn this year.

I would love for you to share with me some of the curriculum you are using this year.  Is it working so far?  Have you had to change anything yet?  Let me know in the comments!

2012, homeschooling, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

curriculum: what worked and hasn’t worked for us this year…

Written by Joy
6 Comments

We have definitely had one interesting sort of year.  Nothing bad has really happened, but some things never go as you plan them.  This past year was just like that.  However, I do feel like we have accomplished what God wanted us to.  To me, I feel like we have even come closer together as a family.  Sometimes, book work definitely needs to be set aside while we work our our relationship with one another and also with God.  I feel like this year was that big year for us.  We have had a lot of great talks around our table during school time.  Talks that I don’t think would of happened if my kids were in school all day away from me.

So, let’s get started with what did work for us.

Mystery of History, written by Linda Lacour Hobar and published by Bright Ideas Press, has been a wonderful addition to our homeschool this year.  My kids (all three that I am homeschooling) have come to love history again through this wonderful curriculum.  We have enjoyed it so much that we are going to begin Illuminations that is also from Bright Ideas Press.  I am excited about this currciulum as I can adjust it for my 2nd grader so she can do it along with my 3rd grader and 9th grader.

Apologia Science has also been a big hit in our home.  I have used the elementary series with my oldest daughter when she was younger and she loved it.  This year, my younger children and I read through Exploring Creation through Botany.  We have had a wonderful time learning all about plants from our they grow from a seed, to how they get water and food to why some tree leaves change colors and fall off trees.  My oldest daughter has also enjoyed Apologia Physical Science and will be moving on to their Biology course as soon as I can get it ordered!

My younger kids have also used Hooked on Phonics and Bob Jones English this year.  It has worked well and the kids are beginning to read.  This was our first year using Hooked on Phonics and I like the fun little songs and lessons that the kids watched.  They also have workbooks that you can get to follow along with the lessons.  I used Bob Jones English with my oldest daughter when she was in elementary grades and it worked well with her, so I thought I would try it with the kids.  They have done well with it.  I think I will keep using the workbooks for extra practice, but we will be using other curriculum for English, Grammar, Spelling and Writing next year.  (Will explain in another post what that is. ) I will still recommend it for homeschooling families that are just beginning their journey.

My oldest daughter has loved using Teaching Textbook for math.  It has made a big difference in our family.  We no longer have anymore crying breakdowns.  She will be finishing up Pre-Algebra and heading right into Algebra this year.  For myself, I started the younger kids out with Bob Jones math.  I was comfortable with it from using it before and it has worked with our family.  My youngest son does get frustrated at times with math, but I think it is because there is so much repetition with it.  He catches on to a concept very quickly and is ready to move on.  While I think I will look for something else for him, I plan on keeping it for our youngest daughter.

Finally this year, thanks to a great friend, I found an art curriculum that we all love!  It is See The Light with Pat Knepley.  This art curriculum uses every day art supplies and really captures a child’s attention.  However, what I love about it most is how they incorporate scripture at the end of each lesson.  I am looking forward to getting the rest of the lessons.  They also have wonderful story dvd’s that are told through their art and give the students lessons after the story has been told.

We really had a lot work for us this year compared to what didn’t work for us.  What didn’t work for us was mostly with my oldest daughter and her curriculum.  At the beginning of the year, we started out with Tapestry of Grace.  I have said before that I love Tapestry of Grace and was excited about using it again.  We had used it two years ago and it worked well for us then.  This year, we just couldn’t get it to work, no matter how hard we tried.  By mid-year, my oldest daughter was listening in on the younger kid’s history and doing lessons suggested for her age.  It worked so well, that she will begin the Illuminations with the younger kids.  Not only am I excited about this change, so is she.  They will all 3 be using the same History and reading a lot of the same books, just at their own levels.

We will begin Illuminations soon and continue schooling through the summer.  It won’t be a very heavy workload, but I am excited to begin this new season with my three children that I still have at home with me.  I am looking forward to sharing with you all soon what new curriculum we will be adding.

Until then, I would love to know what curriculum has worked for you and what hasn’t worked!

 

2012, homeschooling, , , , , , , , , , ,