Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Classical Conversations Week 9 - Tutoring

Review Game: "Sticky Hands"

This game is so simple.  My class really liked this one---it got a lot of laughs.  More importantly, it got a lot of answered review questions.  Kudos to Traci at http://motherofchina.blogspot.com/ for sharing this idea last year.  It's a keeper!

-This game is kind of like 'fishing'.  The sticky hand is the 'fishing pole'.  Whatever, cards the sticky hand picks up---are the cards the student answers.
- I used the CC Memory Master flashcards.  I spread them on the ground and they got to see how many their sticky hand picked up.
- I bought the sticky hands at Target in the party supplies aisle.  I found them in the $1-$2 goodie bag toys area. 

Sis helping me practice this review game at home.



New Grammar:

Geography:  We located and labeled areas for Eastern Asia.  I also showed them visual clues to remember some of the Continents and also China.  They took turns coming up to the big map and pointing to different locations.  I'll have to post this printable soon.  I need to consolidate them to one sheet first.  If you are interested---leave me a message.

Timeline: I showed the timeline cards and explained hand motions for the new timeline grammar.  We I used the hand motions from C3 (Classical Learning Center) main page: https://www.classicalconversations.com/foundations-classical-learning-center     One of their favorite motions this week was Benedict and Monasticism (a monk robe).

History:  We learned the history sentence about the Confucius and Taoism by doing hand motions.  I also shared to scriptures with them about having ‘no other god’s’ and also that Jesus is ‘the way, the truth and the life..’.  

English Grammar: We learned the next set of the prepositions using hand motions.  The class really likes to do these motions.  I am using the motions found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj08_kRNOuY .  

Math: I have been having the students find a number on the skip counting chart to help them with number recognition. ( I have mostly First graders.) We then sang the tune for the 15’s.  You can find the skipping counting posters here: http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2012/01/skip-counting-charts-updated  I like how it visually shows the ‘skipping’ of numbers.  

Latin: I showed them the Latin pronunciation chart to help sound out the Latin noun endings.  The one I used can be found on C3:  C1 Latin Noun Declensions Picture Pronunciation Gu.pdf* Picture keywords to help students correctly pronounce the Latin Noun Endings* NoGreaterJoy5

Science: We recited the science sentence on parts of a plant.  This was a fun and simple one as the class got to pretend to be these parts.

Science Lab:

 We went on a nature walk.  Boy, did they ever have fun doing this.  I think their little eyes are pretty astute on finding critters and interesting things.  I used brown lunch bags and glued a checklist of things to find.  (I found this checklist on C3)  I also had colored pencils, clipboards and a lab sheet ready at the end of our walk.  The students were then able to draw and tape down things they found---that were not animals;)

Tin Whistle:

We discussed rhythm.  We learned a hand rhyme to remember the whole, half and quarter notes. This was pretty fun and I know we'll review this again and again.   The children then identified which of those notes were in ‘Mary had a little lamb’.   I also used the Rhythm Pizza printouts that are found here: http://susanparadis.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/rhythmn-pizza-on-foam-board/

We also went over some conducting prompts to help them know when to start playing.  I clap and then say ‘1, 2, ready and’.  That is our cue to start playing.  The class surprised us all by playing the song pretty well the first time.  I have found that my little ones can remember the song easier by learning which finger hole to cover.    (Mary had a little lamb Finger code: 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 2)

Linking up to:
Half a Hundred Acre Wood CC Weekly Link Up - Wk 9

Classical Conversations Week 9 - At Home

School Week 13 CC Week 9

 We are reading and learning a little more about China this week. The History sentence and Geography locations centered around China so that is what we are focusing on. Here is a little of what we're reading and also a great unit study found on Homeschool Share.
We read 'Daisy Comes Home' last week and this week we read (re-read for Bud) 'The Story About Ping'


Sis and Lil Bear got to work on Tangrams as a part of Saxon K.  Bud wanted in on this, too.

Covering the shapes
I'm so proud of her! 
.....and so proud of this little guy!
more tangram shapes

I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a bird or what??

Working on calendar and also showing his 'gospel beads'.  These are kind of like 'gospel fuzzies' for those that have heard of those.

Sis showing her bead wristband and working on calendar with some incentives (Tic Tacs) in the mix.
The trio busy learning and having fun!

Bud got a chance to copy and learn some Chinese words/characters. 
Chinese calligraphy printable found here: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/chinese_character_cards.htm

He loved trying to copy these. 



We got a chance to discuss how these characters only used straight, angled or curved lines.   So, that was a nice OILS tie in.

Chinese calligraphy by Bud

Before lunch, Bud found some Space books from last year.  So of course, he pulled them out and wanted to read them.  Little Bear, of course, wanted to be just like big brother.



We are back to using A Reason for Handwriting.  For Bud, the best part about this is picking out a border page and getting to choose who to give it to.  When it comes to handwriting, I'll go with whatever motivates him.



Everyone getting ready for Daddy to get home.  We heard this quote over the summer, "You get what you INSPECT, not what you EXPECT."  Sooo, he started inspecting a few areas when he gets home.  Two of those being school areas and school work.

Linked up to:
http://www.halfahundredacrewood.com/2012/07/classical-conversations-cycle-1-week-9.html