Classical Conversations Cycle 1 Week 14

How are we doing out there CC folks?  Especially all you lurkers out there from HalfAHundredAcreWood's link up.  I see you in my blog views ;) Say hi so I can check out your space on the internet, too!

I was completely out of commission this week.  I have been struggling with headaches so debilitating that I was at the ER at the end of July.  I was initially told they were "just migraines" and given medicine that doesn't help at all.  This week was so bad that I could barely get out of bed, but I was tremendously blessed by my mother stepping in to help me, and of course by the knowledge that my kids would at least have their "pegs" in place thanks to their CC tutors.  I did come out to tutor on Thursday and my wonderful husband stayed home from work so he could help me in my class (and watch to make sure I didn't do anything embarrassing like faint mid-class).  God greatly blessed me with students who were eager to get back to work and were on their very very best behavior the entire day. The first week back is always my favorite since we can spend a little more time on each piece of memory work doing fun things.

Week 14 should be fun, too.  I've finished up my Latin Magnet Boards for my class to use (and my kids at home since I'm keeping them in my magical tutor box!) and you can find a link to it here if you'd like to make your own.  I'll have a substitute in my class this week as I go in to have a few tests done.  I hate to miss CC day, but when they shuffle appointments to fit you in and it's either a Thursday or a two to three week wait, you take the Thursday :( My substitute is a fantastic Christian mom and former classroom teacher, though, so my main sadness is how much better she is at tutoring than I am! I'm sure my class misses her when I come back!

Here's what's on tap for this week, and a few notes from last week:

History: Songhai/Zanj/Zimbabwe
Again, we utilize Story of the World.  I'm really enjoying encorporating some of the Anansi stories through our literature, as well.  These fun fairy tales have some great morals.  I also want to try to show the kids as much as I can. We have a field trip coming up to the Museum of African Art, which should be fun.  I also found some great VERY QUICK introductions to African Empires on HowStuffWorks.  Being sick this week, I was also reminded of what great resources the Timeline Cards and Science Cards are.  Yes, they're wonderful to have as a ready-reference for the song or fact of the week, but have you flipped them over? There's all the basic info you need to feel like you "covered it" and on a week where you just want to put a check in the box (and we all have those weeks) they are invaluable.  We're also pretty adventurous eaters over here, and I thought that making a traditional dish from this region would be fun.  Polenta with Bolognese is one of my faves, so when I saw Sadza from Zimbabwe (a cornmeal paste served with sauce of choice) I decided we'd go with it, and on the side, I'm thinking a Chicken Stew, although I'm reading peanut butter dishes are also a staple. For the less adventurous, how about some Sweet Potato Cookies?

Science: Three Types of Rock
Momma Owl's Lab has a great instructional post on how to mimic the three types of rock with crayon shavings, which is perfect, because we have some crayons that are ready to go, anyway!

I also found a fantastic video on YouTube that uses a "chef" theme.  We might have to simulate the igneous rock at home ;)

Because chocolate sauce on ice cream just seems like a good idea. Don't hate.  If you are not a crunchy granola mom that limits all snacks to kale chips and apple slices, you could even have one kind of rock each day for snack.

Geography: More Africa
In addition to using our Trivium Tables to locate and circle each geography point, I want to really start to focus on beginning to draw the world with the kids.  Wednesday is usually my geography day, so we're going to start this format: 

Here are the steps for beginning with your family:

1. Obtain a good atlas. Ideally, your maps should include the lines of latitude and longitude, the continents, and the oceans.

2. Give everyone paper and pencil.

3. Draw and label the Great Circles: Arctic Circle, Tropic of Cancer, Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, and Antarctic Circle (younger children should use initials).

4. Draw seven “blobs” for the continents.

5. Label the four oceans: Indian, Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific.

6. Repeat the project every week until it is easy.

Math: Linear Equivalents
We always like to do a little something to "prove" our math.  Last week, we made Kool Aid in my Abecedarian class (which was a big hit- I overheard one of my students explaining at lunch that math knowledge is important so you can make kool aid for lunch!) and this week we'll probably measure a few things using inches and centimeters and then use a calculator to prove that we've done it correctly.  Neither of my children multiplies by decimals yet, so we'll pull out the calculator for a treat. 

Latin: Latin Noun Cases
We'll just be drilling on in Latin.  I hope to start an actual program with the boys next year, but for now, this works :)

English Grammar: Do, Does, Did
I'm working right now on making ships and waves (because they were what I originally found) for a file folder game with sentences for each week.  As soon as I get the file done, I'll add it :)

Have a fantastic week CC mommas!

Classical Conversations Cycle 1 Week 12

Week 12 History Sentence: Tell Me About the Muslim Empire 

HISTORY SENTENCE

1.    Print memory work slide (see file).

2.    Practice song with hand motions (see file).

3.    Parent reviews “history highlights” (see file) for background.

4.    Glance through “Muslim Empire Activities (see file) for activities your children would find interesting; note especially the activity with food coloring-in-water and the ability to connect it with the geography map, below. 

Hand Motions W12:     Tell me about the Muslim Empire

Muslim    use two hands to make a dome over your head (like a mosque)

Muhammad sign language “M”

worshipped  bow down

Ottoman  sign language “O”

expanded hands together, palms touching.  Spread out as in expanding

weakness    make your whole body wither as if growing weak

westernization make sign language “w” with both hands.  “Do the twist” with hands holding out “w”s in time to the music

Week 12 Geography: Muslim Empire

GEOGRAPHY

1.    Print geography slide (see file).

2.    Use graphic in following link (http://jfortunato.weebly.com/whi8-study-resources.html) with above-mentioned activity in history. (Coloring in water, spread of Islam.)

Week 12 Math: Teaspoons and Tablespoons 

MATH

1.    Post visual teaspoon/tablespoon chart (see file).

2.    Consider this song: “Totally 3^rd grade” liquid conversion song, http://www.totally3rdgrade.com/lemonade_stand.html

3.    Have fun playing with actual conversions (tablespoons, teaspoons, etc.)

Name _____________________________

Date ___________________

Prepositions:Weeks 7-12

W A A T D U N D E R S U D S I A 
R M E W Q I G R K C I I L E T E 
J E I I H J N O N T O N I B K S 
O S N T J X L E U E O A K S B E 
N L I F S K F O N C G W E R R H 
N W P N E A H O D O F F A I M N 
T U A K S G O P E Q P E M R R Q 
G O S R U I O N R H N T T P D T 
I N T O P T D V N S G D S D F G 
Y I R U O H Q E E A H W I S O A 
P H R T N R E G A R D I N G T L 
T O E S Z O Z I T L E T C E I T 
A Y E I P U F T H L T H E T M G 
E R I D U G E A L Z V O N B A W 
D J B E O H H P E T E U S N I T 
S Y Y E L E I R T A L T T R A U




Find the following hidden PREPOSITIONS:

Week 7: in, inside, into, like, near,

Week 8: of, off, on, onto, out,

Week 9: outside, over, past, regarding, since,

Week 10:through, throughout, to, toward,

Week 11: under, underneath, until, up, upon,

Week 12: with, within, without,

SCIENCE/PROJECT

1.    Post science memory work (see file) as well as plant diagram/photosynthesis slide (see file).

2.    Consider adding hand motions (see file).

3.    Parent reviews “science snippets” info (see file).

4.    Read chapter containing info about photosynthesis (see file) by http://eequalsmcq.com/ClassicScienceLife.htm, mostly to be able to do fun activity related to photosynthesis (see file).

5.    Read “classifying animals/plants” files—two for the student, two for the parent (see file).

Week 12 – What are the plant systems?

Hand motions:       

Photosynthesis – hands reaching toward sun and pulling it in

Respiration – hands by your lungs squeezing/kneading motion

Transpiration – hands pushing down and out toward feet

Classical Conversations Cycle 1 Week 10

(This week uses content from CC Connected, which is available for $7 per month for registered CC Families)

Cycle 1 Week 10

NEW GRAMMAR

Timeline       Use CC Hand motions

History          Tell me about the Heian Empire  (CC Song)

                        Hand Motions:

Heian                  sign language “H”

weakened          let your “H” go limp as if your hand is growing weak

shoguns              make guns with both hand and shoot R-L-R in rapid succession

rule                     pound the ground with your scepter

expel                  hitchhiking thumb over shoulder

isolation             shrinking pose (look down, bring arms into your chest)

circa                   draw a circle with one finger in the air

Commodore Matthew Perry                        salute

trade                  alternate giving and taking with hands

Meiji                   sign language “M”

Japan                  sign language “J”

                                    •       Scholastic’s Everything You Need to Know About World History Homework p.36-37

                                    •       CC’s C1 History Highlight W10 (CY1 HistHighs wks1-12 Aug-09.pdf in FSC-History)

Latin               Noun Endings – 4th Declension   (CC Song)

                                    Repeat. Say. Hear. Sing

                                    Use C1 Latin Noun Declensions Picture Pronunciation Gu.pdf in FSC-Latin

                                    Use C1 Noun Declension Charts Classroom Size.pdf in FSC-Latin

                                    Use C1 Latin Noun Declensions Single Page.doc in FSC-Latin

                                                      Print and place in page protectors.  Have students write out the first 3 declensions while saying the chant.

                                                                                                                    

4th Declension	Singular	Plural
Nominative (SN)	- us	- ūs
Genitive (PN)	- ūs	- uum
Dative (IO)	- uī	- ibus
Accusative (DO)	- um	- ūs
Ablative (OP)	- ū	- ibus

Science          What are some kinds of leaves and leaf parts?

                                    Some kinds of leaves and leaf parts are: 

                                                                        spines, needles, tendrils, bracts, bud scales and palmate. 

                                    Repeat. Say. Hear. Sing. (AJT C1 W10 Science Song_Leaves.mp3 in FSC-Science)

                                     Show diagram

                                    •       Use C1 W10 Leaves and Leaf Parts Clipart.ppt in FSC-Science.

                                    •       Scholastic’s Everything You Need to Know About Science Homework p.24-25

Geography    Japan                        Locate each spot.

                        Repeat. Say. Hear. Sing.  (CC C1 Geography w1 to 12.mp3 in FSC-Geography)

                                    Map and Story Picture:

                                    A Treasure Hunt in JAPAN

                                    Search for the key (KYOTO), to unlock this treasure chest.  Inside there is a token (TOKYO) and a treasure map.  The map will lead you to the top of MT.FUJI, to the shores of the PACIFIC OCEAN and across the beautiful countryside to the SEA OF JAPAN.  Perhaps you will discover that the greatest treasures of all are all around us.

                                   

English          Prepositions            Preposition Song (C1 Weekly CD)-Repeat. Say. Hear. Sing.

                                    Use your Preposition Pete/Patty to act out the prepositions on your Preposition List.

                                    (C1 W1 to 12 Preposition Pete the Puppet.pdf in FSC-English)

through                     Pete runs THROUGH the tunnel. (Hold up left arm/hand making a tunnel.  Pete goes through it.)

throughout  Pete travels THROUGHOUT the world.  (Move Pete all around.)

to                 Pete gives something TO me. (Have Pete put something into my hand.)

toward                      Pete moves TOWARD me.  (Have Pete move toward your nose and give you a kiss.)

Math               Skip Counting Squares      

                                    •       Use W10 Math Squares BW.pdf in FSC-Math.

                                    •       For older students, use graph paper and have them draw their own squares.

FINE ARTS – Tin Whistle

Music

Theory           Review Treble Clef Note Name Rhymes (Lines: Every Good Boy Does Fine; Spaces: FACE)

                                    Review Week 7-8: Use Mary Had a Little Lamb to review:

                                    Staff, Musical Notes, Whole note, half note, quarter note, eighth note, time signature, measure, bar lines. 

                        Introduce:      Musical Scale, Octave, Sharp, Flat

                        Draw D-scales with dry erase markers.  Clap rhythms

                         

Tin Whistle  Review Left Hand and Right Hand Notes

                        Teach D-Scale

                        Teach the first line of Mary Had a Little Lamb

SCIENCE – VanCleave Experiment             #62 Pollution

                                                                

Scientific Method       (Post Section Titles from C1 Exp Scientific Experiment Banners for White Boa.ppt from

FSC-Science Project down the left side of the classroom white board.  Walk students through the scientific method, remembering…”The process is the goal.”)

Have a classroom mom write the data from the board onto a blank lab sheet:

C1 Exp Scientific Experiment Lab Note Sheet Blank.doc)

                                                      (W9 Science Experiment Script.doc in FSC-Science Projects Folder demonstrates how to engage students in the scientific method.  Modify for week 10.)

Journal Page                    Hand out two blank copies of Scientific Lab Sheet to put in their folders.  E-mail scanned copies of the classroom lab sheets to students.  Have students copy it onto their lab sheets.

PRESENTATIONS –A Poem Recitation

Present:         A Poem Recitation (2-3 minutes)

Skills:             Confidence

                        Eye contact

                        Volume

                        Articulation

                        Poise

                        Expression

                        Gestures

                        Tempo

Prepare         Expository Speech w/Visual Aid (2-3 minutes)

                        An Expository Speech is one that exposes something.  It is factual—not something you make up.  This week we will “expose” a hobby or a subject about which you have read a lot.  Share interesting facts.  You may bring a picture, chart, poster or prop to help your audience relate to your topic.  Practice using your visual aid(s) in your presentation.  This presentation should be 2-3 minutes long.

Practice:        All delivery skills.

Demonstrate: Tutor demonstrates a poem recitation (2-3 minutes).

REVIEW

Geography    World Map - 7 Continents Song (FSC). 

                        Fold 8.5x11 sheet of paper in half.  This represents the equator.  Draw the continents as blobs in the correct locations.

                        Africa Map – Geography Song (FSC). 

                        Label Fertile Crescent, Assyrian Empire, Hittite Empire, Nile Delta, Roman Empire in your Geography Notebook with a dry erase marker.

                        Hebrew Map – Geography Song (FSC).  Trace and label Hebrew Empire.

                        Eastern Asia Map – Geography Song (FSC).  Use tracing paper to trace and label Indus River, China, Eastern Asia, and Japan.

                       

W4-9              Modified Musical Chairs

                        
Have 8 chairs labeled with the following tags:  History Timeline, History, Latin, Science, English, Math, Geography, and Free Space.  Put all of the flashcards that need to be reviewed in a brown paper bag.  Have students walk around the chairs while playing the Classical Music For Dummies CD (which we will be using next quarter).  When the music stops, the students sit in the chairs.  Draw out a flashcard and the student in the corresponding chair attempts to answer the question.  If the student answers correctly, he/she remains in the game.  If the student does not answer correctly, he/she stands next to the wall.  The game continues until only one student is remaining.  If all of the flashcards have not been reviewed by the time the game is over, play again.