CC Cycle 3 Reading List

I've been working on our History reading selections for the next Classical Conversations Cycle.  Cycle 3 is probably my favorite Cycle.  Now that I have children in both Upper and Lower Elementary, I thought I'd schedule out a picture book and read aloud option.

***I've recently updated up to Week 12: CC-Cycle-3-Reading-List-Weeks-1-12

If you'd like to download from Scribd directly go to:  CC-Cycle-3-Reading-List-Weeks-1-6

CC Cycle 3 Reading List - Weeks 1-6

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

Classical Conversations Cycle 1 Literature Selections until the Christmas Break

During the summer break I posted a list of books that have some connection to what we would be studying in Classical Conversations the previous week.  At the time, I was not even sure we would use it.  But, now 10 weeks or so into school I can safely say that we are going this route.  I had grand plans of something different before the school year started.  However, it just makes so much more sense to do as many subjects combined as possible AND to try and match things up to integrate well with the CC memory work.  I was trying to follow Memoria Press' 1st grade literature and also MFW K literature focus.  But, what I was noticing was that the books that really 'stuck' were the ones that had a great tie-in activity or a 'seek and find' memory work element to it.  Norman the Doorman by Don Freeman was the first one back in week 3 for Greek/Roman gods.  The kids got to play detective and figure out which Greek god statue was in the museum in the book.

All that to say---here is my book list from now until the Christmas Break.

week 7

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McClosky- Connection: reproduction: eggs (Science)

week 8

Daisy Comes Home by Jan Brett - Connection: China (Geography)

Owl Moon by Jane Yolen - Connection: owl pellet dissection (Science lab) and conifers (Science)

week 9  

Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack - Connection: China (History/Geography)

Down, Down the Mountain by Ellis Credle - Connection: parts of plants (Science)

week 10 

 A Pair of Red Clogs by Masako Matsuno - Connection: Japan (History/Geography)

 Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney - Connection: Parts of a flower (Science Lab)

week 11

The Crusades: Knights and Castles - Connection: History and Timeline 

activities and books  http://www.homeschoolshare.com/knights_lapbook.php 

Knights in Shining Armor by Gail Gibbons

Brave Young Knight by Karen Kingsbury

The Squire and the Scroll by Jennie Bishop

week 12

The Mystery Bottle by Kristen Balouche– Connection – Middle East (History)

Ali: Child of the Dessert by Jonathan London - Connection - Islam (History/ Geography)

Curriculum Plans 2012 - 2013

Our new school year starts on Monday. (Hip hip hooray!)  The following lists our carefully thought out, over researched, and much discussed curriculum plans for the new year:

Together

Circle Time
Family Time Fitness (Dad)
Classical Conversations

 

Toddler

Together:

• CircleTime activities with resources from: Recitations: MFW K WTR, Nursery Rhyme, Calendar from 1+1=1 (toddler and other calendar pages)
• Family Time Fitness

With Mom:

• Abeka Preschool 3: Letters and Numbers
•  NurseryRhymes Activities that match-up with MFW K letters
•  Book Basket: Learning books and fun to read books

With Pre-K’er: (He won’t HAVE to do these activities, but he will be included according to his attention span.)

• SaxonMath K
•  My Father's WorldK
• OrdinaryParents Guide to Teaching Reading  

o 

Pre-Kindergarten

o   

•  CircleTime activities
•  Math: Saxon K
•  Phonics: OPGTR and MFW K
•  My Father's World Kindergarten (Bible, Science, Literature)
•  Classical Conversations Cycle 1

          Other:

•  MPact girls: Daisies
• Hands On Learning Co-op class
• Draw Write Now Class
• Family Time Fitness 

First Grade

• CircleTime activities
• Math: Christian Light EducationMath 1 (finish), begin Saxon2 after completion of CLE Math 1
•   Language Arts:

-        Reading: Memoria Press Storytime Treasures and More Storytime Treasures

-        Spelling: All About Spelling

o   Complete level 1 and begin on level 2

-        Handwriting: Memoria Press New American Cursive

-        Grammar, Poetry, Narration: First Language Lessons

-        Literature: Memoria Press

-        Book Basket: Our Classical Conversations Cycle 1 inspired list

-        Copywork: Memoria Press

• ClassicalConverations: Weekly Presentations, Science Experiments, Fine Arts, Memory Work: Timeline, History, English Grammar, Latin, Math, Scienc, Geography

-        CC online for review

-        Wisdomand Righteousness lapbooks

o   History: using History Highlights from c3, hands on history group with friends, and book basket list

• Science: Christian Kids Explore Biology (non Anatomy portions) and Earth/Space (non Space portions) to match-up with CC Cycle 1
•    FamilyTime Fitness

Other:

-         Ranger Kids

-        Co-op activities

-        Draw Write Now class

-        T-Ball (Fall)

-        Hands on History class

-        Junior Bible Quiz

-        Piano 

Linking up to: Preschool Corner and