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: