End of summer!

As summer comes to a close, we are determined to soak up whatever warm weather we can. After a quick library trip, we headed off to the park.

  Last week we enjoyed a gorgeous beach day. The weather was perfect!

 

The day was extra special because Juan joined us at the beach, which is definitely a rarity. I honestly can't remember the last time he joined us at the beach!

The kids found a huge hole and threw some sticks over it to make a ship.

 On the ride home this little lady knocked out!

Cells Part 2

Last week we finished up our plant and animal cell unit with an edible project. We used one round container (animal) and one rectangle container (plant) to act as cell membranes.We used jello to act as a cell.

Caitlin chose the animal cell and had the task of adding just a nucleus (half of a small orange). Jayden chose the plant cell so he had to add a nucleus as well as chloroplast (green grapes cut in half lengthwise).

Yum!

2013-2014 Curriculum

2013-2014

We are fortunate enough to be able to swap out things that don't work, for things that do. For our 2012-2013 school year, there were many thing we did not like. Even though our plan was thorough, it just wasn't a good fit for our family. As I said in that post last year, nothing was set in stone. Fortunately we learned a lot about what works and what does not. Our plan for the next school year is much more solid.

Because we homeschool year round, our school years blend together.

So far this is our plan from now until Jayden completes second grade. It is not final, nor is it complete.

*All subjects contain a link that breaks down what he will be learning.

Math: Math in Focus 2A & 2B

LA Spelling: Soaring with Spelling Level 2 

LA Grammar: Growing with Grammar Level 2

LA Writing: Winning with Writing Level 2
*Both kids participate in a monthly writing club as well. 

Science: R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey- Life

History: Story of the World Volume 1

Geography:  Map work from our history lessons

Art: Art classes through the library

Spanish: R.E.A.L. Homeschool Spanish

Sports: Apart from swimming, this has not been decided yet. We are letting Jayden decide once the fall sports sign ups begin.
Jayden & Caitlin are both in karate and gymnastics. In the fall Jayden did flag football. He did a winter baseball clinic as well. Caitlin is in soccer.

We also have a book list that we will get through this year. This book list is compiled of books that I will be reading to both children.

Apart from LA and math, all other subjects will take place on an alternating schedule.

Caitlin will continue to learn basic addition, subtraction, and practicing her reading and writing. We will also use various workbooks I have for her if/when she is interested.

Caitlin will join us for science, spanish, music, and art (all at an appropriate level). Because she is not required to do anything for another 2 years (kindergarten is not mandatory here), we will go at whatever pace she sets.

Writing

Caitlin is suddenly very interested in writing. She wants to practice her writing so that she can be a faster writer. She sees how quickly Juan, Jayden, and I are able to write and she gets frustrated that she can't do it too. So now she insists on practicing in her new pink notebook. I write three sentences and she copies them. Her handwriting is so freakin adorable!!!!!!!!!!

She loves using the "addicus"  (what she calls the abacus).

In history we read about the earliest writing (Egyptian-hieroglyphs and Sumerians-cuneiform). Caitlin & Jayden colored a picture showing an ancient Egyptian carving hieroglyphs into stone.

 Jayden also worked  on map skills, identifying the Nile River and Egypt.

  The latest artwork hanging on our line!

Cells

Last week in Science the kids learned about cells. We started by reading a little bit about them, learning the difference between plant cells (usually rectangular in shape) and animal cells (usually circular in shape).

 Then the kids started their lab sheet.

We had to examine an unfertilized chicken egg (which is considered a single cell) with a magnifying glass. The kids learned that an egg shell has tiny holes to allow air and water to enter and leave.

We cracked open the egg and compared it to the egg diagram, finding the parts listed and labeling them.

 Both children colored in their diagrams according to the color chart on the lab sheet.

Jayden labeled the parts of his egg.

While working on the lab sheet we discussed the importance of the yolk; how it provides nutrients to the developing chick and would no longer be there once a fertilized egg hatched.

The handy dandy iPad proved to be very useful again today. (I have to keep writing about how we use it for school so that Juan doesn't realize that this iPad is really all for me, me, me!). I downloaded an app called iCell. iCell gave us 3D views of three different types of cells: animal, bacteria, and plant.

We were able to zoom in on specific parts of the cell, as well as rotate it to give us a full view of it from all angles.

We were also able to tap on each organelle and read a description about it. Each organelle came with a basic, intermediate, and advanced description.

It is a very basic app, pretty straightforward.

I think it's safe to say Jayden really liked it.