Monthly Memories - March 2012

Inspired by my enjoyment of Angela's Choice Time and Learning in Review posts, I'm joining in Kylie's Monthly Memories, a great way to commit our memories to 'paper' each month.

Endeavouring to capture the learning highlights of the past three weeks.

Our greatest achievement was our Mega Mapping.  The evident enthusiasm with which this project was received was heartening.  Truly, to see our children focus for six hours straight, mapping and creating flags for every African nation was impressive!  Best of all they now know and can locate each African nation.

We endeavoured to make consistent, steady progress in Maths, Science, Language Arts and the Humanities, and for the most part have, however the past month consisted of a few interruptions.

Highlights

• Carpenter has been faithful at writing narrations for his study of the Middle Ages.
• Carpenter wrapped up his Astronomy studies (see list below) and declared it all interesting.
• Carpenter continues to really enjoy Understanding the Scriptures.
• Einstein declared Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? most interesting.  He enjoyed learning the history of Economics, how it progressed throughout the ages and how it works today.
• Einstein's maths has been focusing on a deeper level of percentages.  He is finding it a challenge but enjoying a sense of achievement.
• Michelangelo completed his Inventions and Technology text and became rather fascinated, he then took this to a new level (see below)
• Michelangelo is really enjoying his Writing lessons, is enthusiastic and confident.
• Princess was introduced to synonyms and antonyms and was able to complete her assigned task easily.  
• Princess declares Literature is her favourite subject.
• Jelly Bean and Jack Jack are really enjoying listening to and narrating the Life of Jesus.  They are most enthused when they re-hear these passages in the Gospel at Mass. 
• Jelly Bean and Jack Jack are both doing so well with their reading:)

Spontaneous Learning

Many of my most favourite moments in our home education journey is when our children take up an area of interest and learn of their own volition. 




Einstein continued his interest in researching various biographies; Christopher Columbus, Mother Teresa, Samuel Morse, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler.  He spent hours researching and being very enthused.   Not only has he read deep and watched youtubes but has written narrations of each one.  He has enthusiastically shared his readings with me.
Michelangelo was so taken with his Inventions and Technology text he embarked on a deep reading binge in this area (see list below).  I have been regaled with many inventions from the popsicle to the supermarket trolley and more.  I just love those deep connection moments.
Princess' desire to create flags for the Mega Maps. She became rather enthused and can recognise a number of African flags now.








Hours of play were focused on the creation of K'nex masterpieces [alas the photos were deleted:( ].  These masterpieces were incredible crossbow weapons, outfitted with the capability of projecting missiles for a great distance.  Calculations and corrections and alterations raged for days.







What can I say, it really was a special moment.




Films Watched 
Zoo Tales Season 1 & 2
A documentary based on zoo keepers endeavouring to save and care for their animals, pelicans featured largely.  The children found the series interesting.







Poetry - We enjoyed reading various poems from the Oxford Treasury of Children's Poems.  I love it when we find old favourites and the older children chime in reciting the poems from memory.  Another delight is when a child appropriates a poem for pertinent moments, such as Mr Nobody, often a relevant poem;)

Picture Books
We didn't read many picture books this month, nor was I very diligent in recording what we did read, however I jotted a few down;
The Princes and the Moon - Brian Wildsmith
Make Way for Duckings - Robert McCloskey
You and Me, Little Bear - Martin Waddell
Can't You Sleep, Little Bear - Martin Waddell
The Brave Little Tailor - Robert D Dan Souci

Geography Books
Children Just Like Me DK

Individual Reading
Carpenter
Science
The Night Sky - Steve Massey
Kingfisher Book of Space - Martin Redfern
The Usborne Book of Astronomy and Space - Lisa Miles
Astronomy - Reader's Digest

Lirael - Garth Nix (not rec. for all. caveats)
Abhorsen - Garth Nix (not rec. for all. caveats)
Conspiracy 365 January - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 February - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 March - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 April - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 May - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 June - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 July - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 August - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 September - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 October - Gabrielle Lord

Einstein
Biographies
George Washington - Norma Cournow Camp
Christopher Columbus - Bennie Rhodes
Abraham Lincoln - David Collins

The Hollow - Agatha Christie
The Moving Finger - Agatha Christie
Three Act Tragedy - Agatha Christie
Ordeal by Innocence - Agatha Christie
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe - Agatha Christie
Adventures of the Christmas Pudding - Agatha Christie
Peril at End House - Agatha Christie
The Body in the Library - Agatha Christie
Hercule Poirot's Christmas - Agatha Christie
Conspiracy 365 January - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 February - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 March - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 April - Gabrielle Lord

Michelangelo
Science
I Wonder Why Zips Have Teeth and Other Questions About Inventions - Barbara Taylor
Inventive Australians - Ron Cull
The Kid Who Invented the Popsicle - Don L Wulffson
1000 Inventions and Discoveries - DK
Usborne Inventions: From Da Vinci to Biro - Struan Reid
Science and Technology: the Amazing Story of Inventions and Discoveries - John Farndon
Inventive Australians - Stephen Gard

The Youngest Templar Bk 1 - Michael P Spradlin
The Youngest Templar Bk 2 Trail of Fate - Michael P Spradlin
The Youngest Templar  Bk 3 Orphan of Destiny - Micheal P Spradlin
39 Clues Bk 2 Cahill vs Vespers - Jude Watson
39 Clues Bk 4 Beyond the Grave - Jude Watson
Star Wars Jedi Apprentice- The Only Witness
Star Wars  Jedi Apprentice- Shattered Peace
Conspiracy 365 January - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 February - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 March - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 April - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 May - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 June - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 July - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 August - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 September - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 October - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 November - Gabrielle Lord
Conspiracy 365 December - Gabrielle Lord

Princess 
Faith
Saints for Home and School
American History
Usborne 1: Story of Slavery
The Drinking Gourd - FN Monjo
Science
Whitefoot: A Story of a Wood Mouse - Robert M McClung

The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling