A is for Apples

Last week we started school again! We're back to school after a long Christmas break and before that two back to back unit studies on Thanksgiving and then on Christmas.

It was great and no pressure type of holiday, but boy was I ready to get back to our routine.

The first lesson back with MFW (My Father's World) K was A is for Apple.

The words to remember were: If I stay in Jesus I will have much fruit.

Bud enjoyed this unit because it touched on the fruit of the Spirit. He really liked learning those and rattling those off. It made for great teachable moments, too.

Our routine has been to open up with a 'circle time' of sorts at the kitchen table. We review house rules and then go over:

• Calendar
• A in Big Thoughts for Little People by Kenneth Taylor
• Rainbows Verse (Elephant Badge)
• Helping Goal: Keeping Desk Neat (before 5pm)
• Phonics

I then introduce the Lesson for the day, Bud works on the worksheets that are included for the day, any activity or craft.

I get asked a lot how I do this with the other two littles.  Well, the easiest way to explain, is that Sissy usually sits in with us for the circle/table time.  She usually runs off to play with Little Bear when Bud starts on something on his own.  Then the younger two join us back at the table for any type of craft.  I usually just give them extra paper or print out something along the same theme for Sissy.  See apple stamps craft below.

When Bud is finished and starts writing or playing or working on an activity on his own.  I then shift my focus on reading time for the little ones.  I read at least three books to each one---many times more---basically whatever they can handle.  For Little Bear, it's great for helping him to pronouce words and identify pictures/objects.  Sissy loves books and will hear me read a story and then will want to run and retell the story to her dolls.

Here is some pics from A/Apple Week:

Bud working on a diagram of an Apple

We sampled different varieties of Apples--  Pink Lady apples were the family favorite

his labeled diagram

Handwriting practice

bead sorting and counting fun---Bud and Sissy spent a lot of time with this.

We made mini pizzas even though it is not an A/Apple activity--it was fun though!

The finished product!

Bud couldn't wait

You can barely see the stairs and little rooms Bud drew on his Apple in this photo---it was his picture of the worms new home from Grasshopper on the Road by Arnold Lobel.

writing out the fruit of the Spirit

All three at the table for a craft: Bud working on artwork after hearing a story, the other littles working on an apple craft

making the apple stampers

Little Bear having fun!

Sissy's apple stamps

Fruit of the Spirit cards by Bud

The school/play room---another configuration

I brought a slide in from the outside--it was too cold to go out and they need to burn energy.  You got to do what you got to do;)

Little Buckaroo

He loves having his own desk/table

Little Bear on saxophone, Sissy on oboe and Bud on bassoon...they love to pretend they are in an orchestra.

Some other Apple Resources we used:

http://mama-jenn.blogspot.com/2010/08/words-to-remember-mfw-kindergarten.html

http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/rrpreschoolsamplefruit.html

-          Apples facts

-          http://www.motts.com/ApplesAndHealth/AboutApples/Facts.aspx

-          Apple seasons

-          http://www.motts.com/ApplesAndHealth/AboutApples/Growing.aspx

Apple diagram sheet

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs32465/johnny_appleseed/diagram.pdf

http://www.coloring.ws/fruit.htm

Tasting Sheet

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/docs32465/johnny_appleseed/taste_test_4.pdf