We spent several weeks observing, experimenting, and learning about the life cycle of meal worms. The kids each got their own worm in a little container that they checked on daily, measured, did labs on to discover more about their behaviors, made observations, and watched the life cycle unfold. They also had to keep a worm journal, which was a creative writing project where they wrote from the perspective of their worm in a fun and humourous way.
To prepare for a colonial day event and to learn more about colonists and native americans the kids made lots of things including an indian owner stick (when a hunter killed a large animal and wasn't able to move it himself, he would lay his owner stick on it while he went for help, so other indians coming across it would know it already belonged to someone), God's eyes, bead necklaces, friendship bracelets, indian pottery and snickerdoodle cookies from scratch.
We had been learning about Jamestown, colonists, native americans and the Powhatan indians, and during fall break my friend Lori hosted "colonial" day for us & Melissa and her boys. We made pumpkin pies all from scratch, and the kids had spent the week making things to barter and trade with one another. It was a fun way for them to see how things were for the colonists.
We did the Monster Exchange Project. Each of the boys created a monster, writing a descriptive parapgaph about it and drew a picture of it. Then they exchanged discriptions only and using it they had to recreate the monster and draw what they thought it looked like. It was good for both descpritive writing and for discussing points of view.
We did Headstone History projects. The kids picked deceased famous people from history, looked them up and learned about them, filled out a report about them and then created a headstone with a rhyme about them on it.
we learned about mexico and it's culture and traditions, including Die de los Muertos, the day of the dead. We compared it to Memorial Day and discussed how they were alike and different, and we even went to a Day of the Dead celebration at an art studio which included food, music, art, and more!
on Halloween we did "pumpkinology" which included activities based on pumpkins including all the subjects. We did measuring, extimating, experimenting, art, writing and more...it was lots of fun.
Novemeber is National Novel Writing Month, which I am participating in once again. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days. There is a student program as well, and the boys are participating in it. Roman has a goal of 1000 words and Bourbon has a goal of 5000 words. They are not only writing their own novel, but they work each day out of a writers workbook which takes them through the entire writing process, from the mechanics of writing, to planning, drafting, character development, plot, conflict, etc. They are both having a really good time with it, we spend an hour on it each day, and they both have a hard time walking away from it after the hour, which of course I love. Maybe they will love writing as much as I do.
The recent earthquakes have also led us to learn more about earthquakes, and we are also learning about what makes the leaves turn color and fall off of the trees.
Homeschool is an adventure that we have had a lot of fun with so far.
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