Maya, Inca and Aztec thingy

We did a mini study of the Maya, Inca and Aztec last week. Today, we finished this...I just don't know exactly what to call it. There are a few mini books, but then I added pages with page protectors to put the kids reports in and it's not a file folder refolded, its a a regular folder with the three prongs. Soooooooo, it's not a lap book, it's not a notebook, I guess it's lap/note book thingy...or I'll just call it a folder book. (Ummm, can I have that patented?) Any ways, here they are below.  This was basically a breif overview of the subject covered and in 5 days time. For the folder books, with my younger two, I used History Pockets Ancient History and for my older ones, I used Inca, Aztec, Maya reproducable book by edupress.

Books we read and used were Eyewitness Books, Aztec, Inca, and Maya. Aztec and Maya arts and crafts and  Me Oh Maya with the Time Warp Trio. To help my 7th grader, she read, "Streams of Civilizations" and my 6th grader read, "The Story of the World". These were really good to emphasize and supplement what we were learning about. I also made up a worksheet for the kids to fill in about each ones location, social structure and religion. Our curriculum suggested them to write a report and the easiest way for all of us to this was for me to make up a worksheet (it as the Lord's idea, not mine : ))

This week we will be learning about the Bible- not about the info in the Bible, but about the Bible itself. Who wrote it, why is it called a "book of books", how many books are in the Bible, ect. We will be making it into a lapbook, as well. Of course I will post pics!

 

I'm back on Schedule!!!

The Lord has done so many great things for my wonderful Husband and I and my family this week, until I just couldn't settle down to write from all the excitement. I will share my testimony later on as things progress. Now, my assignment for this week...
Using the FIRST letter of the Alphabet, describe yourself or things that are important to you. The hard part: use ONLY one word per letter! Share another scripture that is upon your heart this week. Agape balloons cute : ) determined excelling fun Godly happy important joyful kept loved miracle nice optamistic postive quiet (sometimes) righteous saved! trustful unified victorious washed eXcelling yeilding Zion              Anyone dizzy yet? I am!

"And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:18-23

Weaver's Interlock Program

This week, my 4 year old and I completed our first week of the Weaver Interlock Program. It is Weaver's Pre-School and Kindergarten Unit Study. He really had a lot of fun and learned various things. This weeks lesson was on the God Head, "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is ONE!" He also learned about triangles and Dads. I didn't use this with my other children because they were too old when I was lead to use the Weaver, so this is my first time going through and I am so excited to use it with him!

Dino Lapbooks are FINISHED!!!!

What a fun Dinosaur lapbook! I purchased it from Live & Learn Press. (To see sample pages click here) It is the largest lapbook we have every done! It took three file folders to put all the mini books in. This is also the first lapbook I have actually purchased and it was worth every penny.

I was really frustrated trying to find the right information about Dinos so I could teach.
The problem was it was so much information and I had a hard time trying to figure out what was necessary to teach and what really wasn't important at this time. Then I came across this lapbook. It was perfect! We have learned so much in the last couple of weeks. I have the pics of all four of our lapbooks below. (Normally, I would three lapbooks, but my four year old was DETERMINED to be involved in this study. He cut out his own mini books and colored his own papers. He is so proud and so am I.)
As a teacher, I learned a lot on the lapbook side of things. The way Live and Learn Press did their folds and  the set up of the folders were so informational and made so much more sense. My favorite part was the tic-tac-toe Dino game. I printed it on cardstock paper and then covered it with some laminating stuff, that didn't need heat and it looked so nice! I just came out of my sons' room and they had their lapbooks out playing the game. Another game they played was with the dino cards. I believe the ebook came with about 24 cards of different dinos that were to be cut out. My sons played a match up game and it kept them occupied for awhile.

I chose not to do some of the booklets for time's sake, but the next time we cover Dinos, I plan to do it all.
To go with the theme we watched "The Land Before Time Movies" along with Disney's "Dinosaurs"
My youngest son really got into the Disney movie. He had never seen it before and neither had my middle son. So, we made a big deal out of it. I spread a blanket out on the floor and made two bowls of popcorn.
I know it sounds simple, but it was a big deal to the kids! We also added some Dinosaurs to our educational toys. (They kept my four year old busy while we did school work-I think I learned something, to keep everybody on the same topic, I can buy toys from the $1 on whatever subject we are covering. I think he feels included more)

I was trying to figure out what I could do with food as far as dinos are concerned...I went into Wal-Mart and saw a neat sandwich cutter with the shapes of Dinosaurs. Two dinos per sandwich and no crust (one of children does not like the crust on the bread. Not bad for $1.99!

Something I would like to share- We had McDonalds the other night:
11 year old: Hey, can I have your leftover fries?
6 year old: Sure, but then I will call you a scavenger! (one of our vocabulary words from this lesson)

For the pictures, my 6th & 7th grade children did the same lapbooks. I have a lot of my 6th graders pics because his folders are three different colors and it makes things easier to understand.
Here are some pics...

 

 

NEVER FORGET!

Look at this!

This looked like worth passing on; its a photo smart printer give away at  5 Minutes for Mom.
It 's open until the 10th of September. Oh, what I could do with this!!!!

My first Blogger School Assignment

A. Give a brief introduction paragraph stating how you got started blogging and your personal goals for journaling.

I first learned of blogging about a year and a half ago and by accident. I signed up for it not having any idea what I was doing. Then when it really dawned on me what was going up, I kinda liked it. Then in June I learned how to fix my blog up and make it look presentable and I've been blogging every since!
My goals for journaling are to write about our adventures of homeschooling and help others see what homeschooling is like in our family.

B. Share a “dream” place to blog in picture if you can. Suggestions…..a rock on the beach, under a tree at a park….take or find a picture(s) that would best describe a PLACE that you would LOVE to blog. DREAM!

Hmmmm.....that would be here with the fireplace in my bedroom:

C. Answer some questions to tell us more about you:

1. What time do you usually blog? At night when I am up by myself


2. What is your favorite drink? A Shirely Temple- Sprite mixed with cherry syrup and cherries
   


3. What is your favorite book? Besides the Bible- Christian Historical Fiction
   


4. What is your favorite dessert? My husband's cheese cake
   


5. Share a scripture that has been an inspiration in your growth with Christ.                       "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
   (Philippians 4:11-13)
   

EXTRA CREDIT FUN: This week make a commitment to visit 10 classmates blogs and leave them a comment.