Week 19

Hello everyone,

We begin the last quarter of our year and I would like to thank everyone for being cooperative and attentive in class.  And for all the parents for the encouragement you've shown the kids and me. I am sending my deepest gratitude to all of you. Ruthie, we missed you.  We hope to see you next week.

Presentation was fun - we had pancakes, bouncing balls, flying wheels and wallets.  Thank you so much for all the preparation you've done and thank you very much to the parents for all the support you've shown. Next week would be the girls' turn to show us how to make, do or fix something. Seth, you can also do your presentation next week. Remember we only have 4-5 minutes for each presenter. Thank you very much.

Science with Mr. Herson is always fun... "Probability"... big word!  This is a good video on probability.  If you are interested in playing more probability games, you can go to this site. Thank you Mr. Herson.

New Grammar
Timeline: Song - CC CD
We sang through the song and did the hand motions taught during the opening ceremony. We were able to review the timeline from last week as well.

History: Song - CC CD
I briefly explained why NATO was created.  To read more on NATO, you can visit this page. For more on NATO in the recent years, you can visit this page.  Have fun answering the worksheet.  We sang through the song using the following hand motions.
 US - fingers of both hands are interlocked and moves in a semi-circle from left to right.
 allies - both F-hands interlocked and move forward twice
 NATO - spell N, A, T, O (we decided to just use N so we won't be rushed)
 resist - right palm-out fist and push forward once
 spread - both close fist hands starts at the center and then hands open while separating moving outwards.
 Soviet - both 5-hands are placed on waist and taps the waist twice
 Communism - right palm-out fist raised above the line of vision as in communist salute   

Math: Song - CCC NoGreaterJoy
I briefly explained how pi π  is derived = Circumference/diameter.  Any size of circle, if you divide the Circumference by the diameter, you will get approximately 3.14 which is π. Try it at home... it is fun.  I was reminded that last Saturday was Pi day and it is a big one this year (happens only every one hundred years) 3.1415926... (March 14, 2015 9:26 am).  I promised to attached a file on the explanation how the formula for the circle is derived. Here is the video. Have fun. I will send my illustration via email.

Science: Song - CCC NoGreaterJoy
In the next six weeks, we will be learning about theories on how the universe started.  I told the kids that I personally believe in God, the creator of the heavens and the earth (Gen, 1:1). It is clear in our memory work today that when we see the world around us - nature, the solar system and everything else, we will realize that there is a creator.  Allow me to share Romans 1: 20 to you, "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." We sang Psalm 19:1 and did the following hand motion.
 heavens - open palm hands roll up in front of the body and moves apart toward the side above the head
 declare - both pointer fingers start from mouth and move apart and away
 glory - right open palm tap the left open palm and moves up while wiggling the middle finger
 God - right B-hand facing sideways moves from top to bottom in front of face
 sky - right 5-hand wave from left to right
 proclaim - same as declare
 work of His hands (create) - closed-fist hands, one on top of the other then twist  

Latin: Opening Ceremony Song
We finished John 1:5.  the signs we used for this week are darkness, not, comprehended. See previous post for the hand motions or come see me anytime during the lunch hour for the hand motions.

English: Song - CCC NoGreaterJoy
We finished the second part of the sentence, the predicate. Please take note of the whole definition of the predicate. I made some modification to the song to include all the words in the definition of the predicate. We struggle through this and now, they are confused with the definition of the subject and the predicate.  Please work with them at home.

Geography: CCC NoGreaterJoy
We learned about the historic trails of the U.S. The map we are using in class is somewhat confusing. Please review the Trivium maps with them at home.  I struggled with this one a lot myself. Thank you very much Mrs. Thompson for reminding us that the trails starts from the east going to the west (U.S. Westward Expansion).  Thank you to the parents who helped with distinguishing the trails. 

Fine Arts
We learned about Jim Davis, the creator of Garfield - the big fat lazy cat who loves lasagna. For more on Jim Davis, go to this site. We created comic strips and the kids brought extra paper home.  Have fun. Next week, we will begin our great composers.

Review Game
Jeopardy! (the tune is still singing in my head) The kids did really well.  My observation - the kids struggle with Geography. Continue working with them at home.

Book recommendation
Some of the books I found in the local library:
NATO by Reg Grant
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cindy Neuschwander (we love this!)
Peter and the Wolf by Sergei Prokofiev (for those going to the show)

    



Have a wonderful week. See you next week...

Miss Zabrina