What We Studied
After only one day of school for the week, we prepped to leave on a 5-day road trip to Kansas. After getting back on Sunday, we were supposed to have a normal school week. It didn’t quite work out that way. We got some school work in, but also spent two days at the park (coop field day and a regular park day), plus errands and unpacking. Good thing we have already finished our history, math, and science curriculum for the year. We’re slowing down a bit, making plans for next year, and enjoying lots of time with friends.
Day 1: Former airfield where atomic bomb pilots trained
Day 1: National Orphan Train Memorial
Literature and Poetry
We finished our current read aloud and started the next one. Arthur continued with his spelling curriculum and we read a ton of picture books and such.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
Day 1: Former German POW Camp
Day 1: Old dugout house
Math
Another week of math games, puzzles, and review
Logic Countdown
The School of Numbers
Day 1: Sculpted Brick Wall
Day 1: Rock City Geologic Formation
Social Studies
Arthur did some map work and a few scavenger hunts. He really got into playing around on Google Earth and finding different places. I love when a small assignment leads to more independent research and fun. He even spotted a good restaurant in Wichita for us that wasn’t on my list. We had dinner there and it was great (Wichita Pizza and Brewing Company, if you wanted to know).
Informally we learned a lot from the various museums and attractions that we saw in Kansas. I loved learning more about the Cosmonaut program in the 1950s and 1960s from the exhibits the Cosmosphere. Arthur really got into the exhibits at the World of Treasures Museum.
Day 1: Coronado Heights Castle
Day 2: Strataca Salt Mine
Arthur Independent Time
To allow for one-on-one time with Quentin, I have added an hour of independent work time for Arthur. Each week, he will have a mix of packet work (mostly grammar and math review), independent reading time, and special projects. Many of his projects will be aligned with our literature selections (some taken from B&R Language Arts curriculum) and history.
Day 2: Liberty Bell 7 at the Cosmosphere
Science and STEAM Coop
Nothing formal but we did go to a lot of science-related spots on our road trip. We learned a ton about salt and mining at Strataca in Hutchinson.
Day 1: Daal Horses
Day 2: Keeper of the Plain Statue in Wichita
Art/Music
None this week
Day 3: Mini Stonehenge
Day 3: Glass Mosaic Mural
Quentin
I have scheduled at least four 1-hour time blocks for one-on-one time with Quentin. I bought Blossom and Root’s Early Years Volume 2 curriculum to use as our base. I love the variety of activities and some of the bigger projects included.
ELA
Eric Carle's Animals Animals
Eric Carle’s Dragons Dragons
The Very Quiet Cricket by Eric Carle
The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Hugs & Kisses for The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle
Pancakes, Pancakes by Eric Carle
Do You Want to be My Friend? by Eric Carle
Today is Monday by Eric Carle
Eric Carle and Friends: What's Your Favorite Bug?
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
The Greedy Python by Eric Carle
The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Happy Halloween from the Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle
Eric Carle and Friends: What's Your Favorite Animal?
The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?
Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See?
Baby Bear, Baby Bear, What Do You See?
Math
Lollipop Logic Book 1
Tinkeractive PreK Math
Other
Crayola Our Colorful Earth: Celebrating the Natural Work
Tinkeractive PreK Science
Ten Pigs by Derek Anderson
Day 3: Old Cowtown Museum
Day 3: Museum of World Treasures
Field Trip
There wasn’t a field trip this week.
Day 3: Original Pizza Hut
Day 3: Nifty Nut House
Documentary Selection
I have carved out a one hour time block each week to watch a documentary related to our studies. We watched a great NOVA episode about searching for Life on Mars. It detailed the various Mars rovers and focused heavily on the Perseverance mission.
Day 4: Great Plains Transportation Museum
Day 4: Field Station Dinosaur
Misc. Picture Books Read
The Fantastic Fishsitter by Mo O’Hara
Day 4: The Arcade
Day 5: Sedgwick County Zoo
High
Kansas Road Trip! What started as a weekend trip to Hutchinson to see the Cosmosphere turned into a 5 day trip to Hutchinson and Wichita filled with many stops. One of my favorites was getting a private tour of the Great Plains Transportation Museum from a former rail worker. Bob gave us so much more information than was listed on the signs and handouts.
Low
The transition back home after road trip is always a bit rough. We ended up with a lighter school week than I intended.
Next Week
Continuing our read aloud
Playing some math games
Watching a documentary or two
Making a craft?
Exploring outside with friends.
Day 5; OZ Museum
Only pic I took at the park…
Next up on the TBR pile:
