What We Studied
These past two weeks ended up being filled with activities. That meant that we didn’t get as much book work done. But I am glad that we could take advantage of the good weather and hagn out with friends.
Literature and Poetry
Arthur is primarily using Hearth and Story G6 for his language arts this year. While I love H&S, there’s never enough literature in there. Thankfully we have a stack of books just waiting to be picked up and read. Beyond H&S, we are focusing on expanding vocabulary and reading comprehension this year. Arthur start a classic, Watership Down, but hasn’t really been loving it. It is a long book. I picked up the graphic novel version this weekend from the library. We might switch to that that for him. And then move on with another read aloud selection. I must say that I am enjoying the story. I never actually read this book before now. I will probably continue independently.
Poetry: Hearth & Story G6
Poetry: A Child’s Introduction to Poetry by Michael Driscoll
The Vocabulary Workbook for 6th Grade by Kelly Anne McLellan
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Quentin is primarily using Blossom & Root G3 for his language arts this year. We will pull some elements from Build Your Library Level 3 and random books that we have around the house. We are also starting the Reading Explorer series to focus on reading comprehension and word choice. We dove into one of my favorite elementary school reads. I’m not sure that Quentin is really loving it, but I am definitely enjoying reading it again. We finished the book. I’m still not sure that Q really loved it, but he didn’t complain out loud so I’m taking the win.
Poetry: My America
One World, Many Religions by Mary Pope Osborne
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Math
Arthur is using Singapore’s Math in Focus Course 2. Effectively this is Singapore’s 7th grade math text. We dove into the second book for the year. We moved onto geometric shapes. This chapter is a lot of review but good review. We don’t have formal logic book this year, but are focusing on lots of critical thinking and math puzzles.
Math in Focus Course 2 Book B
Quentin is using Singapore’s Primary Mathematics Common Core edition 3B and 4A. We are taking a bit of a break from our regular math books to dive into some financial literacy before we circle back. We only have one more week in the Financial Literacy book and then we are starting 4A.
Logic Countdown
Evan Moor Financial Literacy G3
Social Studies
Arthur was using Curiosity Chronicles Modern History Vol. 1. Unfortunately the company has yet to release the next volume. Instead, I decided to use Build Your Library L4 and Story of the World Vol. 4 to get us through Modern History. Arthur finished the major sections on World War I. We still have the Treaty of Versailles to cover next week, but before that, we have Indian and Irish Nationalism to cover.
Story of the World Vol. 4
DK History
DK Timelines of Everything
DK Timelines of Everyone
DK A Child Through Time
A Journey Through Art
DK When on Earth
Where Poppies Grow
Smithsonian World War I Timeline by Pamela A Dell
Living Through World War I by Nicola Barber
DK Eyewitness World War I
DK Find Out World War I
World War I by Steven Otfinoski
The War to End All Wars: World War I by Russell Freedman
1919: The Year that Changed America, by Martin W. Sandler
Quentin is using Build Your Library Level 5 to begin our two year exploration of American History. No history for Q these weeks. We just couldn’t fit it in.
History Quest United States History
DK When on Earth?
DK History
DK Timelines of Everything
DK Timelines of Everyone
DK A Child Through Time
DK American History
We were There Too
Words that Built a Nation
Science
Arthur is using RSO Earth and Environment 2 and later RSO Astronomy 2 for science. We are taking a break from Earth and Environment to start Astronomy 2. We covered planetary motion. Not a big week for astronomy, but we managed at least one chapter. We also kept up with our physics prep for co-op.
RSO Earth and Environment 2 (August-December; March-May)
RSO Astronomy 2 (January-March)
Astrophysics for Young People by Neil DeGrasse Tyson
DK Timelines of Nature
DK Space
Recentering the Universe: The Radical Theories of Copernicus, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton by Ron Miller
DK How Space Works
Quentin is using RSO Physics 1. We finished the Story of Science Vol. 1 this week. Next week we will be doing some review and packets before jumping back into Physics.
RSO Physics 1
The Story of Science Vol. 1 by Joy Hakim
Physics: Investigate the Mechanics of Nature by Jane Gardner
Physics for Curious Kids Introduction
The Way Things Work Now
Enrichment STEAM Co-op /Academic Co-op
We’ve fully settled into our new rooms at the college. I am liking them so much better than the basement rooms. I think all the classes went really well. Looking forward to our last four weeks.
Art and Music
We are doing something a little different this year. Instead of trying to do music and art every week, we will be trading off. I realized last year these subjects were always the first to be cut when we had time constraints. We didn’t have any music or art this week.
DK Music and How it Works
DK The Arts
Why is Art Full of Naked People? by Susie Hodge
The Story of the Incredible Orchestra by Bruce Koscielniak
DK Art and How it Works
13 Art Techniques Children Should Know
The Story of Paintings
Field Trip/Activities
We had a few activities these two weeks including a random park playdate (it was almost 70 degrees), curriculum planning (more for me, but the boys hung out with their friends), Joslyn Art Explorers, Medieval Putt, Prehistoric Putt, and Lost in Fun. I wanted to use the rest of our Get Out Pass before it renewed on the 15th so we managed to sneak in a few more things.
High
Tuesday was the co-op’s annual Valentine’s Day exchange and bowling party. It went so much smoother than last year’s party. We really enjoyed ourselves this time!
Low
Sickness in the Academic Co-op made us rearrange some things. I also really feel bad for the sick families. They have missed so much and we only meet for 9 weeks.
Next Week
Starting a new read aloud (Q) and switching to the graphic novel version of our read aloud (A)
Continuing with our math textbook (A) and financial literacy (Q)
Learning about Indian and Irish nationalism (A) and starting the War of 1812 (Q) for history
Covering our solar system (A) and magnets (Q) for science
Week 6 of Academic Co-op!
Next up on the TBR pile:
