Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Week 31: May 25-29

Religion & Bible

Reading

Writing

MaTh

Science
Astronomy (Usborne Discovery Internet-linked Astronomy)
*Night sky
Measuring space
Bright stars
Galaxies
Planets and moons
Our solar system
*Changing sky
spinning earth
different views
*Starting skywatching
binoculars 
telescopes
observatories
space probes

Language/Spelling/Grammar

History & Geography
Japan: c. 500-1500
Land of the Samurai
-Shinto and Buddhism
-the emperor's court
-nobles and shoguns
-Samurai armies
-Noh plays
-jobs in Japan
-map of Japan

Art & Music Appreciation
Music: Gioachino Rossini
Art: Pattern/Abstract picture study
"Simultaneous Contrasts: Sun and Moon" 1912-13 by Robert Delaunay
"Movement in Squares" 1961 by Bridget Riley
Project: Abstract Weaving
1. take three pieces of paper in different colors.
2. draw wavy lines across one piece.
3. cut along the waves. Don't cut right to the edge.
4. cut the other pieces of paper into strips
5. weave the strips under and over the waves. Turn the weaving over and tape the ends.


Physical Education

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Boston

We spent a week in Boston and surrounding towns, visiting my sister and her husband.

Walked part of the freedom trail and saw the first church built in America, the oldest cemetary (some of the gravestones have stood for over 400 years!)

Paul Revere's house and the north church where the signal was posted: "one if by land, two if by sea."

The old town hall

Lexington, and Cambridge - made a quick stop at Harvard.
Talked with some delightful people.

Attended Jayme's graduation from the Boston Conservatory of Music


Monday, May 18, 2009

Week 30: May 18-22

Religion & Bible

Reading

Writing

MaTh

Science
Space exploration
-space probes
-first man in space
-men on the moon
-space stations
-the space shuttle


Language/Spelling/Grammar

History & Geography
China: c. 580-1500
Dynasties of China
-Tang dynasty
-Tang inventions
-adventurous traders
-Sung dynasty
-Mongol invaders
-Ming dynasty
-map of China


Art & Music Appreciation
Music: Felix Mendelssohn
Art: Outdoor art
"Hole in Leaves Sinking" 1987 by Andy Goldsworthy (photography)
Project: Temporary picture
1. collect things to use, such as pebbles or twigs.
2. draw a simple shape. Arrange the things around it.
3. be sure to photograph your design

Physical Education

Monday, May 11, 2009

Week 29: May 11-15

Religion & Bible
studying the Beattitudes

Reading

Writing

MaTh

Science
Space exploration
-optical telescopes
-radio telescopes
-space telescopes
-satellites



Language/Spelling/Grammar

History & Geography
Southeast Asia: c. 500-1500
Map of Southeast Asia
-Hindus
-Buddhists
-warring kingdoms
-the Khmer kingdom
-the kingdoms collapse


Art & Music Appreciation
Music: Robert Schumann
Art: Imaginary Places picture study
"The Mysterious Barricades" 1961 by Rene Magritte
Project: Painting your own imaginary place

Physical Education

Thursday, May 7, 2009

National Day of Prayer

Today at noon we went to our community's observance of the National Day of Prayer. It used to be held at the courthouse but it has grown so much in numbers that we meet at a local community center. 

For an hour, from noon to one o'clock, we prayed with our local leaders, pastors, friends, business associates and strangers - unified in our desire to remain One Nation Under God.




Monday, May 4, 2009

Third Term, Week 28: May 4-8

Religion & Bible
The Beattitudes

Reading

Writing
short stories and journaling

MaTh
review place values
analog clocks for fun
addition: missing addend with whole hundreds
addition: four addends with a single missing addend

Science
Space Debris
-asteroids
-numbers and types
-trojans and apollos
-near encounter
-comets
-comet's tail and how it forms
-meteoroids


Language/Spelling/Grammar

compound words
word study skills: dividing words into syllables



History & Geography
India: c. 550-1500
Conquerors of Northern India
-map of India
-Muslim invaders
-sultans of Delhi
-Mongol raiders
Kingdoms of Southern India
-Buddhist teachers
-the Chola kingdom
-Vijayanagar fights back

Art & Music Appreciation
Music: Franz Liszt
Art: Places picture study
"An Organ Grinder" 1934 by Laurence Stephen Lowry
"Nichols Canyon" 1980 by David Hockney


Physical Education