Weekly Wrap-up: Fall Week 5

Our week in pictures.
                                                                     Art
We are still learning about Monet. This week we read some chapters from a book

I am loving using Meet the Masters for our Art program.

They also learned how to paint like Monet using a q-tip to make a color wheel.

                                                                  Zoology
Chordates was the focus of their zoology presentation. We talked about the characteristics that make up this group in the Animal Kingdom

They learned about the different types of animals that belong to the Chordate family. The cards above can be purchased at Montessori Print Shop.                                                                                  

 They also drew pictures of animals that belong to the Chordate and made their own information wall.  
                                                                       
                                                                         Math
Loads of maths was accomplished. From working with multiplication all the way to Algebra working with negative numbers, solving problems that will not result in x being negative.

Power of two cube.

Multiplication color by number.

Long multiplication with the  Checkerboard.

Long Division work with the Rack and Tubes.

Working with the Division Chart

                                                                     Number words.
        
                                                                        Latin
In Latin Michelle has finished Chapter two in Unit 1 figuring out English derivatives and she started on Chapter 3 learning a new chant.

Ken and DJ completed Chapter 2 in Song School Latin which taught Latin vowel sounds, and What is your name? My name is____.

                                                                                 
                                                                  Language

Looks like we are having a language explosion around here. When it comes to language works all of them are constantly requesting more work in this area.

   In WriteShop I, Ken did activities using a thesaurus, and enjoyed making a mind map.                                                                        

 DJ and Ken started step 2 in All About Spelling Level  which introduced some spelling words, sounds, and  spelling strategies. They knew how to spell all of them except effect, which they spelled affect, this led to using the spelling poster that I appreciated  having.                                                                        

 In Write Shop Junior DJ has been learning to write with humor.                                                                              

 A Journal prompt inspired him to write a book.    

                                                                     History
This subject has been really exciting!! The have been learning about the Paleozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, and the Cambrian Era. I really like how they create group work while learning about this time in history.                                                                    

They have renamed the Paleozoic Era the Age of the Rats based off the the creature pictured above.

Matching the die cuts have been a bit of a challenge but they are learning a lot through discovery along the way.                                                                          
                                     Highschool Hodgepodge

 This week Michelle has had her head in a lot of good books, mainly the books are all related to psychology. She also learned quite a bit of French.

                                                                          Music
  We have been learning the dance moves to the video Beat It by Micheal Jackson. So much fun!!                                                                        

                                                         Geography
I went on and presented the Geographic Impressionistic Chart #3, even though they hadn't work much with chart #2.  This one only came with two experiments which they loved doing under my supervision.

                        The Cosmic Dance- Beginning of the Cooling Process

                             The hot air on the Earth rose and then cooled.

  After cooling it came back to the Earth's surface and was heated again by the Sun.

We did more reading in our Great Lessons books from Book 2 .

                                                            Extra Stuff

                       DJ sewed a pillow using felt.                                                  

                               Ken made another doll dress.                                              

                 Michelle finalized what her comic book character will look like.

Linking up to What's New and Weekly Wrap-Up.  Also to Montessori Monday                                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                           

Time Line of Life: Detailed Exploration

Right now the kids are doing a Detailed Exploration of the Time Line of Life. They have absorbed the first row of the chart. Now they continue to analyze in detail the periods listed on the second row.

We have learned where the names of the periods derived from.

We continue to take in lots of information about mountains, volcanoes, ice glaciers and ocean levels.

By matching the die cuts using the mute chart everything has fallen into place.  A lot of the Time Line of Life information is new knowledge to me as well. We have enjoyed this time in history and we are going to learn this one day at a time. I couldn't imagine doing another Great Lesson yet, it is just so much we are discovering.  Their questions have been on topic and we are living in the now with this work.

To see other children doing activities related to history and geography activities please join in the fun at All Things Beautiful History/Geography Meme. 

Also pop over and visit Living Montessori Now and see the fantastic activities that are inspired by the Montessori Method  shared on Montessori Monday.                                                                   

Zoo Whiz: A SchoolHouse Crew review

Zoo Whiz is a computer based learning program. It covers grammar, math, punctuation, spelling, word skills, vocabulary, phonemes and reading. It is a program geared toward children ages 5-15.



How it works:  First your child or you creates an account, then they choose their avatar. After choosing their avatar(character) they then navigate the map. Learn to Earn is the place where the educational activities are located also a place where they can build their educational score (ED) and earn coins to make purchases at the BIODOME and the ARCADE. This is  also where you will select your child's educational content and age range goals for the activities. The BIODOME  is where your child will purchase animals to build their own zoo by using the coins that they earned. The ARCADE contains games that are played for pure fun, and the child earns these games for all the work that they done at Learn to Earn. MILESTONES is the place where your child or you keeps track of their progress whenever they want. While they are improving in their core subjects they are also becoming Zoologist learning about the different animals that they are buying to fill up their zoo with their coins. This allows the child to equate their success with the many animals that they now have in their zoo which instantly makes them a Zookeeper.

Zoo Whiz is free!!  You can take a tour here. I was given the Premium subscription that is $14.95. The Premium subscription allows your child to have unlimited access to playing time. The selection of the Arcade games increases, as well as the selection of animals to purchase for their zoo. With a premium subscription your child can access detailed information on their animals. They are also currently working on adding more content to get a quick glance pop over here

How we used it: I decided to test this program out on DJ(8). When his school day was finished he was allowed computer time.  For DJ this program was the latest best thing that has happened to his after school life. He has enjoyed building his zoo, and being identified as a Zookeeper. The facts that he had learned about the animals that he purchased is amazing. DJ is really excited that there is a game that helps him learn at the same time and targets his interest. Everyday he has been playing away counting how many coins and animals he had in his zoo. It was interesting to me to watch him enter Milestones so frequently. He checked his progress after every correct answer:)

 As you can see in the picture he loves animals, and playing games on the computer comes in second. The games keep coming and his zoo is getting larger. I never felt like I should be limiting his screen time while he was playing this program. It was comforting to know that he was getting some academics at the same time. I would definitely recommend this program to those who have children in their lives that love animals and computers, this would be a perfect combination.

I am looking forward to seeing what else Zoo Whiz will add during our year subscription.

To read what other crew members thought about this product go here schoolhousereviewcrew.com/786479
 I received a one year ZooWhiz premium subscription for one child in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are all my own.                                                                      

The Buddha Board

                                                     

All kids from preschool to high school have been working with the Buddha Board. The Buddha Board is meant to illustrate the" art of letting go".

     Once someone draws or writes on it the image slowly disappears.

 Michelle has been using it to practice Japanese writing characters, to go along with her study of languages.

 Janessa has used the Buddha board as a replacement to using the sand tray to help with formation of her letters as well as sound writing.

                                                                           
Besides the children being entertained while learning I really like that they are using a paintbrush as their stylus, which is helping Janessa with her pencil grip.

If you were going to link up today I apologize. My free subscription has expired and I need to get a paid subscription that I don't have time to complete today. I sure hope you will come back next week and link up.

Serving

                                                                           

When I Grow Up I Want To Be A Veterinarian

DJ's current project is finding out information for what it takes to become a Veterinarian. He is very adamant in making this decision and he is already hard at work to become one.

His first request was to go to the library to pick out some books.

 Theses books have been doing a great job of introducing behind the scenes life of a Veterinarian.

 This book DJ has been using to make some sketches of animals who have been injured.

After we went to the library and he read some of the books. DJ said that it would be really cool if I he had a doctors uniform.

 Which meant he needed a "real" book on how to take care of animals and signs of illnesses,etc.

After doing some researching online he found a photo of a dog which showed where the parts of the anatomy of a dog is located.

 This poster inspired him to want to make a visual aid that he can use to hang up in his office.

 So we went to Jo Ann's to purchase some felt. DJ is well into this work and I will update when he is finished making the visual aid.

     The Pet Health Manual is never too far away from him.