What We Studied

This week our subjects were Babylon, Assyria, and Asia (Social Studies), Van Gogh (art), Bats and Spiders (unit theme), Moon (science), Antonin Dvorak (music), and Winnie the Pooh (literature). Amazingly, we managed to finish everything that I had planned in my usual ambitious lesson plan. It will never happen again, but it was an accomplishment.

Literature and Poetry

We finished reading The House at Pooh Corner and did some study questions about the stories. Arthur also watched the Disney movie version of The World of Pooh.

• The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

• Candy Corn: Poems by James Stevenson

Math

We covered Unit 16 in Singapore Math 1B. These lessons were all about numbers up to 120; addition, subtraction, and basic number theory. With this unit done, we only have one more unit to cover in Singapore Math 1.

Social Studies

We covered Ancient Babylon and Assyria for World History. At the end of the week, we did a geography continent study for Asia.

• Hammurabi by John Bankston

• Ancient Babylon by Karen Bush Gibson

• The Assyrians by Elaine Landau

• Spotlight on Asia by A.R. Schaefer

• Introducing Asia by Anita Ganeri

• Asia by Mary Lindeen

• Adventures in Asian Art by Sue DiCicco

Science

We finished our moon study and started documenting the various phases of the moon leading up to and after Halloween.

• Smithsonian The Moon by James Buckley Jr

• The Moon by Michael George

• The Sun and the Moon by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano

• The Moon Keeper by Zosienka

• Earth Space Moon Base by Ben Joel Price

• The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson

• Moon Wishes by Guy and Patricia Storms

• Once in a Blue Moon by Danielle Daniel

• Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

• The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons

• Moon by Steve Tomecek

• Wild Kratts: Glow Wild by Martin and Chris Kratt

Art

We did a study fo Van Gogh’s life and paintings. We focused on The Starry Night, Sunflowers, Bedroom in Arles, and Self Portrait. Arthur made his own versions of those paintings. We also found some great picture books about Van Gogh.

• Vincent Paints His House by Tedd Arnold

• The Yellow House by Susan Goldman Rubin

• Vincent Can’t Sleep by Barb Rosenstock

• Biography by Mike Venezia

• Vincent’s Colors by The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Music

Our composer of the week was Antonin Dvorak. J and I are big fans of Dvorak. Arthur liked his compositions, but not quite as much as Mozart and Beethoven.

Nature Play Day

No nature play this week as Q had a small cold. We didn’t want to infect our friends.

Unit Theme

Our theme was bats and spiders! We’re embracing the spooky for October. Lots of animal science this week and a ton of picture books. We also watched two Magic School Bus episodes about spiders and bats. I’m so excited that I found some great video guides to go along with the episodes.

• Spiders by Nic Bishop

• A Web by Isabelle Simler

• Miss Muffet or What Came After by Marilyn Singer

• Frank the Seven-Legged Spider by Michaele Razi

• Spartacus the Spider by Etienne Delessert

• Spiders: Strange and Wonderful by Laurence Pringle

• Spiders Deadly Predators by Claire Llewellyn

• The Hugely-Wugley Spider by Ethan T. Berlin

• Bear’s Scare by Jacob Grant

• The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howl

• The Spider by Elise Gravel

• The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle

• Bats by Sally Morgan

• Bats by Kate Riggs

• Bats After Dark by Ruth O’Shaughnessy

• Bats by Julia Vogel

• The Bat can Bat by Gene Barretta

• Bats at the Ballgame by Brian Lies

• I am Bat by Morag Hood

• Hello, Bumblebee Bat by Darrin Lunde

• A Kite for Moon by Jane Yolen

• Bats at the Library by Brian Lies

• Little Red Bat by Carole Gerber

• Bats in the Band by Brian Lies

• Bats by Julie Murray

• Bat Count by Anna Forrester

• Bats Biggest Littles by Sandra Markle

• Bats by J. Angelique Johnson

• The Bat by Elise Gravel

Misc. - Random picture books read

• Applesauce Day by Lisa Amstutz

• Ready for Pumpkins by Kate Duke

• Hooray for Fall by Kazuo Iwamura

• Hedgehugs by Steve Wilson and Lucy Tapper

• Attack of the 50 Foot Fluffy by Mike Boldt

• Manana Iguana by Ann Whitford Paul

• Penguin Problems by Jory John

• Little Lizard’s Big Party by Melinda Melton Crow

Highs

• Spontaneous dance party!

• We had a fun time doing the Boo Drive-thru at the Oak View Mall on Friday.

Lows

• Quentin had a bit of cold this week so no nature play. Sad to miss our friends!

• I think that both kids had a bit of cold and there were many meltdowns throughout the week.

Next Week

We’re going to start The Chronicles of Narnia; first up is The Magician’s Nephew. For history, we’re going to cover Persia, Hebrews, and Phoenicians. And next week is Halloween! Lots of fun spooky books in our stack.

Next up on the TBR pile: