What We Studied
Literature and Poetry
We started reading Pippi Longstocking. I don’t remember ever reading this as a child (just watching the movie from the late 80s), so this is a treat. There are a few word choices here and there that are problematic, but mostly we’re really enjoying the story of Pippi.
We also started our rainbow reading challenge! Each day we read books whose titles including the color of the day. By Saturday, we had worked through the colors of the rainbow. Each day, the boys picked their favorite story to write onto our rainbow.
Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lundgren
Raining Cats and Dogs by Will Moses (idioms)
Ruby, Violet, Lime: Looking for Color by Jane Brocket
Goodnight, Rainbow Cats by Barbara Castro Urio
Red House Tree House Little Bitty Brown Mouse by Jane Godwin
A Fire Truck Named Red by Randall de Sève
Red by Jan De Kinder
Little Red Writing by Joan Holub
Red by Jed Alexander
Orange Peel’s Pocket by Rose Lewis
Who Eat’s Orange? by Dianne White
Black Bird, Yellow Sun by Steve Light
Yellow Kayak by Nina Laden (Tobe favorite)
Linus the Little Yellow Pencil by Scott Magoon
Hare and the Big Green Lawn by Katharine Crawford Robey
A Green, Green Garden by Mercer Mayer (Arthur read)
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Green Pants by Kenneth Kraegel
Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni
Blue by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family by Ibithaj Muhammad
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Violet the Snowgirl by Lisa L. Walsh
Shrinking Violet by Cari Best
Math
We finished Unit 8 and started on Unit 9 in our Singapore Math 2B. More review, but it’s good practice to strengthen Arthur’s math skills before we move on to more difficult material.
Social Studies
We had a combo week of geography and history. For geography, we studied our last continent: Australia. Arthur really got into that continent. We kept referring back to a three part NOVA series on Australia that he watched months back independently. Some days I’m amazed at how much he retains. For U.S. History we continued with the American revolution focusing on the Declaration of Independence and Soldiers and Leaders (mostly George Washington with a side of Henry Know and others).
D is for Down Under by Devin Scillian
Australia and Oceania by Mel Friedman
Introducing Australia by Anita Ganeri
Bilby: Secrets of an Australian Marsupial by Edel Wignell
Over in Australia: Amazing Animals Down Under by Marianne Berkes
Wombat Walkabout by Carol Diggory Sheilds
Ready to Dream by Donna Jo Napoli and Elena Furrow
Under the Souther Cross by Frane Lessac
Sun Mother Wakes the World adapted by Diane Wolkstein
Birrarung Wilam by Aunty Joy Murphy and Andrew Kelly
Wombat Stew by Marcia K. Vaughan
The Declaration of Independence by Elaine Landau
The Declaraction of Indepdendence in Translation by Annie Jane Leavitt
Fight for Freedom by Benson Bobrick
DK American Revolution
George Washington by Mike Venezia
Henry Knox: Bookseller, Soldier, Patriot by Anita Silvey
Henry and the Cannons by Don Brown
Science
For science, we continue learning about rainbows, spring, and gardening.
Who’s Awake in Springtome? by Phillis Gershator and Mim Green
Growing Season by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Curious George Discovers the Rainbow
Take a Walk on a Rainbow by Miriam Moss
The Rainbow by Felicia Law
Raindrop Plop by Wendy Cheyenne Lewison
A Peaceful Garden by Lucy London
Spring for Sophie by Yael Werber
A Seed is Sleepy by Dianna Hutts Aston
Spring Blossoms by Carole Gerber
The Seasons of the Year by Emma Carlson Berne
Plant a Little Seed by Bonnie Christensen
Spring Thaw by Steven Schnur
Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner
A Bunny for All Seasons by Janet Schulman
Grow Kind by Jon Lasser and Sage Foster-Lasser
Grow Happy by Jon Lasser and Sage Foster-Lasser
Quiet in the Garden by Aliki
Digger and Daisy Plant a Garden by Judy Young (Arthur read)
Springtime Blossoms by Jerdine Nolen
Art
Nothing formal
Music
We started listening to Alexandre Desplat’s movie scores, but actually only got to one this week. We’ll carry over to next week.
Unit Theme
We focused on poetry this week to celebrate Poetry Week! We read a variety of poems, including different styles, and tried our hand at writing some poetry. This theme will probably continue into next week.
Pieces: A Year in Poems and Quilts by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Handsprings by Douglas Florian
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Earth Verses and Water Rhymes by J. Patrick Lewis
Misc. - Random picture books read
If You Ever Want to Bring a Circus to the Library, Don’t by Elise Parsley
No Pirates Allowed! Said Library Lou by Rhonda Gowler Greene
Ming’s Adventure in the Forbidden City by Li Jian
The Library Book by Tom Chapin and Michael Mark
Ready, Jet, Go: Mission to the Moon!
Luna Loves Library Day by Joseph Coelho
I want a Monster by Elisa Gravel
Homer the Library Cat by Reeve Lindbergh
Do NOT Bring Your Dragon to the Library by Julie Gassman
Wild Kratts: Wild Insects and Spiders
If I Had a Raptor by George O’Connor
Highs
We had a lovely park playdate with multiple families that are interested in forming a STEAM coop for the fall. I’m so excited to be able to see other people again!
Lows
Weird attitudes from the kids. We’ve hit a doldrums. It was sunny most of the week and the kids just wanted to play outside (but not for any length of time). Everyone was in a bit of a funk.
Next Week
I have a ton of weird appointments that are going to negatively affect our school plans. So we are going to do a week of 1/2 days next week. Two of the days, Arthur will have independent packet. the other three days i hope to actually teach a bit. We are going to focus on doing math and reading every day and add in Earth Day and climate change. Plus we will probably listen to more Alexandre Desplat movie scores. That’s it. No history or formal art. I’m going to try to make it easy on me, but keep the kids engaged.
Next up on the TBR pile:
