What We Studied
Another week of anatomy, coding, and Greece! We’re taking is easy this month and not pushing the curriculum too far. Plus we have all those fun advent activities to fit in!
Literature and Poetry
We finished Part 1 and have moved into Part 2. Arthur liked the story more when we really get into more of the monsters. He especially liked Scylla.
Tales from the Odyssey Part 1 by Mary Pope Osborne
Tales from the Odyssey Part 2 by Mary Pope Osborne
Math
Instead of continuing Singapore Math, we switched over and started learning about computer science. We finished the first book with Ruby and have moved onto the second book. Some of the activities in the back of the book are great to reinfornce certain ideas. This past week we talked about and, or statements, logic gates, and pixels. (Arthur has also been doing daily math pages to keep up his arithmetic skills.)
Hello Ruby: Journey Inside the Computer by Linda Liukas
Hello Ruby: Adventures in Coding by Linda Liukas
Math Curse by Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Social Studies
History was all about Greece (and will be about Greece until Christmas). We wrapped up the Minoans and Mycenaeans and talked about the development of Greece, specifically the rise of the city-states. We focused a bit on Sparta and learned about their way of life. This coming week will feature Athens and then Alexander the Great.
How People Lived in Ancient Greece by Colin Hynson
Eyewitness: Ancient Greece
Ancients in Their Own Words: Ancient Greece by Michael Kerrigan
Ancient Greece: Voyages Through Time by Peter Ackroyd
The Wooden Horse of Troy by Cari Meister
The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War by Emily Little
Ancient Greece by Mari McGee
The First Olympics by Lisa M. Bolt Simons
Science
Science until Christmas is all about anatomy and physiology. We studies the muscular and digestive systems. Now Arthur just wants to tell me poop jokes all the time.
Eyewitness: Human Body
My Amazing Body Machine by Robert Winston
Art
No formal art lessons this month, but we are doing a variety of projects related to the season and to our other subjects. This week Arthur did a drawing of the Trojan Horse and some free drawing for holiday time.
Music
Our composer this week was Ralph Vaughan Williams. Another composer that I have definitely heard his music, but couldn’t place the name. Arthur was not a fan.
Unit Theme
Our unit theme until Christmas is holidays around the world. We did some random holiday activities this week. Plus, we are doing an advent (see my Christmas Bucket List post) that is all holiday themed. Finally, I wrapped the 24 days of Christmas books again this year to enjoy. The boys love opening a package of two books every night. I got some new ones from the library along with some old favorites (both borrowed and owned).
24 Days of Books
Auntie Clause for the Holidays by Elisa Primavera
Maple and Willow’s Christmas Tree by Lori Nichols
Holiday Heroes Save the Christmas by Adam Wallace
Snowmen at Christmas by Caralyn Buehner
The Perfect Christmas by Eileen Spinelli
The Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas by Laura Murray
Turkey Claus by Wendi Silvano
Just Right for Christmas by Birdie Black
The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by Carolyn Conahan
The Nightmare Before Christmas by Tim Burton
A Christmas Tree for Pyn by Olivier Dunrea
Was That Christmas? by Hilary McKay
Dino-Christmas by Lisa Wheeler
The Knights Before Christmas by Joan Holub
Henry and Mudge and a Very Merry Christmas by Cynthia Rylant
Here Comes Santa Cat by Deborah Underwood
Misc. - Random picture books read
John Cena Elbow Grease: My Monster Truck Family
Zen Happiness by Jon J Muth
Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates by April Jones Prince
Highs
it was 60 degrees on Tuesday and we played at the park!
And then it was below freezing on Friday and Saturday and the boys played in the snow! They loved both days.
Lows
Feeling a bit of crunch in terms of getting through everything I planned for this month. Outwardly being very light and relaxed; inwardly a bit wound up.
Next Week
More of the same topics! We will be continuing with the development of Ancient Greece, reading The Odyssey, learning about computers, exploring the human body, choosing a new composer, and doing all the holiday activities!
Next up on the TBR pile:
