Resources and plans for Term 2 2013

We cover Maths and English in a more formal, scheduled way, and then cover the other subject areas in a more spontaneous, casual way.  Here is an overview of some of what we are doing and resources we're enjoying this term:

English
Amy (Kindergarten/Year 1) is continuing to learn with Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL) Blue level.  I really like the co-ordinated early readers that this program uses as they set her up for reading success very quickly.  LLATL Blue is based around great quality children's books like these:

We add other readers from the library, as well as plenty of picture books. 

Lili (Year 2) is working through LLATL Red, and is charging ahead with her literacy.  Lili LOVES reading, telling stories, writing, spelling.  She devours books from the library, with her current favourite being the Horrible Henry readers.  LLATL Red also uses some great childrens books.  Here is a tiny selection of the many books Lili has been reading in the last week or so:

Both girls enjoy using Reading Eggs.

Nathan (Year 6) is also an avid reader.  He has been charging through all kinds of novels including The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck  both by Brian Selznick; the entire series of The Spiderwick Chronicles  by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black; The Search for WondLa  and A Hero for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi and many more.  Nathan was doing LLATL Purple level but we both felt it was getting very bogged down in grammar rules and rather boring.  This term Nathan's English is based around Finish This Book by Keri Smith, which he is really enjoying.  We add some spelling to this- after trying online spelling, workbooks etc we have circled back to an old-fashioned plain notebook and doing a weekly spelling list as both Nathan and I find this the easiest way to build spelling skills.

 

"Doing English" in disguise...

I came across Rip the Page! Adventures in Creative Writing by Karen Benke, which Nathan and Lili may use later this term. I really like the creative style of this book as it looks like a really engaging way to encourage and develop creative writing.  I will post a review once we've tried it out.

Of course, all three kids have plenty of unscheduled, spontaneous, life-based learning opportunities that develop their language skills! We aim to do about three or four sessions a week in a more formal way using the resources above.

Maths
We are still very happy with Math-U-See for our maths.  The kids like it and I find it very easy to use with zero preparation time :)
Amy is working on addition and subtraction in Alpha level.  Lili is doing more complicated addition and subtraction with regrouping in Beta level.  Nathan is over halfway through Epsilon which covers fractions.  The girls usually do one unit per week which can be done in a few sessions of math or may take several if it is a newer concept.  Nathan is working faster and covering around two units per week.  

History, Geography, Science, Nature Study
There are many and varied learning opportunities happening that roughly fall into these subject areas.  

Nathan has been reading some historically based novels on Australian history, such as The Horse Who Bit a Bushranger by Jackie French and The Convicts by Iain Lawrence. I grabbed a pile of books on British Colonisation, Convicts and the Goldrush from the library- ones that focused on factual stories of real characters rather than text-book style facts- and placed these in the basket of books. Inevitably, Nathan ran out of things to read and so read them too and found that he enjoyed them :) Unfortunately I forgot to record all of the titles.

Nathan chose, read, and loved, The Donkey who carried the wounded by Jackie French, and was inspired to create an art work about the battle of Lone Pine.

We went to Tocal Field Days, and the influx of animals around here has the kids learning lots about what animals need to survive.  They bought a chick each at Tocal, and have been learning to care for them.

Our new sheep are pregnant and our plan is to use their lambs for meat.  Of course there has been lots of debate with the whole family about the idea of raising our own meat, and the confronting realities that will involve.  Nathan and Lili have both discussed the idea at length and it has been a good opportunity to learn about where our food comes from, how animals for meat are treated and possible food choices including vegetarianism.

The kids went hunting for fungi, and took photos of their finds...

 Amy and Lili are enjoying attending Girl Guides and are working towards their first badges.  Amy is gaining her Animal Tracks Badge, and searched for tracks to photograph.  She found horse, rabbit, bird, chicken, sheep and dog prints.  Lili is recording how she is looking after some of the animals to gain her Pets Badge.

 
Creative Art
All the children have been attending weekly art classes at the local art gallery.  Nathan has been dabbling in oil painting at home which is a new medium for him and one that he is surprised to be really enjoying.  Amy and Lili create all kinds of drawings, sculptures and collages every day- we go through so much glue, paper and sticky tape!

Lili and Amy are enjoying sewing and have bought and set up their own sewing kits.  

We are using ideas from this book:

 and the girls are keen to get started on this project:

Sport
Nathan is doing archery weekly with a homeschool group.  This is also a great place for all the kids to catch up with their friends and we usually follow up archery with lunch and a play in the park with friends.
Lili and Amy have been having weekly riding lessons here at home on their rather naughty pony, Spud.
Nathan rides his motorbike and there is always plenty of running, trampolining and exploring happening.