Language arts block 2

After our Saints block we were supposed to start a week of Nature

then take a week off for holiday.  I decided to deviate from our curriculum a bit.

The flexibility of home schooling is something I really love.  

What I decided to do was spend a week on Saint Martin.

Which ended with Martinmas. Then we spent a week on Native American 

heroes. then, we went on to spend a couple of days with the pilgrims. Which 

we ended with Thanksgiving.  I stayed with language arts when introducing 

all of these stories.  

I told Saint Martin stories from various sources we practiced

drawing the story and writing a summery.

chalk drawing of Saint Martin

For our crafting this week we made two different lanterns.

we attempted a unsuccessful lantern walk.

The candles kept blowing out. :)

Matthew also did a lot of penmanship practice this week.

lower case letters

 We took full advantage of our remaining warm days

Spending the afternoon down by our river playing and picnicking.

 

Two cheetahs in the African grasslands :)

 The next week I told stories of Hiawatha, Iktomi lost his eyes, and the White Buffalo Woman.

We crafted this birch bark canoe, stick tee pee, and 

beeswax Hiawatha for our stories

When it was time for pilgrims I found a great resource.

We went to Plimoth Plantation.  They had the real stories of Thanksgiving 

and the native Wampanaog Indians.

We had fun coloring pictures

We played games the pilgrims played and then made a game the 

Native Americans played.

We ended this block with celebration on thanksgiving of our own.

Before that we went to a performance at the Childrens' Theatre company.

The kids had fun.  Matthew worked very hard over the last three weeks and 

I think reading has begun to click with him.

So much so we decided to make our first readers.

He's been doing great.  I still do not want to push him.

Although, I think it may be coming together very well.

until next time...
~blessings