We made it through our first full week of the school year!
It was almost a completely normal week…but not quite, because on Monday, we were in the path of totality for the Great American Eclipse! We’ve been preparing for it almost since the end of the last school year, by learning about the science behind an eclipse, and even going to a special eclipse show at the St. Louis Science Center. We were very excited when the big day was finally here, and while we did some schoolwork in the morning, most of the day was spent marveling at and celebrating this unique event!
Other than that, the rest of the week was a typical school week. Turkey and Bunny had their first geometry test…Turkey got 100%, and Bunny only missed one. They moved on to the next lesson, which focuses on unions and intersections, and that’s been going really well, too! Ladybug has been reviewing math concepts from last year, and learning the order of operations. Chickadee is still working on left and right and counting.
Language arts has been interesting. Turkey and Bunny have a formal grammar curriculum for the first time in a few years, and Ladybug doesn’t (although I am planning on getting the new Peace Hill Press curriculum when it’s available). We’ve been working on a special creative writing assignment to start the school year, although Ladybug did begin her regular writing curriculum this week. And Chickadee is working on handwriting, letter sounds, and Get Ready for the Code!
In history, Turkey and Bunny have been learning about cuneiform and hieroglyphics, and the importance of written history. Ladybug has been learning about how early nomads settled down and became farmers, and Chickadee has been listening to just about everything, even though she’s probably not understanding too much of it. They’re all also learning early Old Testament stories in religion (from three different CPH series!), which is tying in well with history for the moment.
We also had our first science experiments of the year this week. Ladybug got to see how camouflage and natural selection work using m&ms (with a little help from Chickadee), and Turkey and Bunny classified a whole bunch of living things using a biological key. They’ve already finished up the first chapter of their science text, and will have a test early next week.
We also started our first literature studies of the year. I have never read either of the two books we’re going through right now, and I have to admit, it’s fun to have something previously unknown to me on the schedule! Chickadee is still enjoying our read-through of Ramona the Pest, and I’m enjoying all of the memories that reading it out loud yet again is bringing back.
Next week, I’m hoping we’ll get a chance to see a special exhibit at the St. Louis Art Museum. And we’re looking forward to the first “Homeschool Day” of the year at the Missouri History Museum…it’s only a few weeks away!