1, 2 skip to my Lou, CC Cycle 3 Week 2

Classical Conversations Cycle 3 Week 2 Highlights

One two skip to my lou ... skip counting anyone? I've never heard the phrase skip counting until now. It of course, makes perfect sense to me and had I known the songs that went with the skip counting I may have been able to master them long ago. This week we worked on 3s to the tune of "Jingle Bells" and 4s to the tune of "This Old Man." Skip counting is counting by a number that is not one. Learning to skip count helps you count many things quickly and learn multiplication tables.

This week we learned in 1620, the Pilgrims from Plymouth, England signed the Mayflower Compact before landing in Plymouth, Massachusetts. If you're curious like I am you're wondering what is a Compact? Turns out it was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by Separatists, sometimes referred to as the "Saints," fleeing from religious persecution by King James of England. For more about the Mayflower Compact and those who signed it click here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayflower_Compact. 

Taped together sheets of the United States outline.

 Completed United States outline using sharpies.

Geography was a little different this week. I found a site online where you can print a United States floor map up to 9x9 feet wide. After we identified each state and capital, students showed me where they were on the big map. Eventually after learning all the states and capitals I’m hoping to play twister with it. To print your own for free visit http://www.yourchildlearns.com/megamaps/print-usa-maps.html After printing you just lay them beside each other and tape them together. I used a white shower curtain over top the image and copied using a sharpie. You can usually get a liner for under five dollars at Wal-Mart, you may even find one at the dollar tree. This would be something fun for your child to remember the states and capitals. Dot-to-dots for each state we learned, which also include the state capital can be printed from www.makinglearningfun.com Classical Conversation students will need to eventually know how to draw them free-hand, so I also encourage you to have them trace them on their maps with a dry erase crayon or marker. 

 Kid-sized skeleton with movable joints.

This week we learned about the axial skeleton. We made a duplicate kid-sized skeleton using Creed's hands and feet and downloaded the rest for free from here: http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2011/06/a-book-a-craft-funnybones-paper-skeleton.html After printing the parts you can have your child cut them out and fasten them together using brads (metal fasteners used for paper to make movable parts) or snaps. I used some left of diaper snaps that worked out quite well. For review we've played bingo in a very unique way. One side the spaces included images from the axial skeleton, so I'd say something like, "B Cranium, O Ribs." The other side featured the hand motions for the science we learned last week, so I'd say something like, "I Connective (picture with clasped hands), N Muscle (picture of flexed muscle). Keep in mind this is for itty-bittys, that aren't reading yet. This is proving to be a bit of a challenge, however it's working out so far.

Fine Arts this week focuses on mirror image. The process of drawing the opposite side of an object. We practiced duplicating the symmetry in objects accurately using our white boards. We also used paint to draw half a Mayflower, (tying in the history sentence) and then folding the paper together when finished to reveal a mirrored image. At home you could practice using scissors by folding a paper in half and cutting an image on the fold, such as half of a heart, when opening revealing the whole heart. Another great way to teach your children about symmetry is using a mirror. Visit http://www.housingaforest.com/mirror-symmetry-drawing for an en example of mirror symmetry you can do at home. In addition, a great resource is a book by Author Marilyn Singer, “Mirror Mirror,” which I skimmed through class showing the children different pictures of mirror images. This book uses clever poems which are read top to bottom and then in reverse, giving the stories a new spin.  

Our hands-on Science experiment was exploring the convex and concave eye lens using a water drop. We shaped a piece of wire into a circle with a handle, like a bubble wand, after which dipping it into water and looking at texts or images. The water drop is curved outward and acts like a convex lens. This type of lens is used as a magnifying lens and is the type of lens in eyes. Sometimes the water drop stretches so tightly between the wire that it curves downward forming a concave lens. This type of lens causes the letters to look small. We had a second experiment using a metal spoon. When you look at one side your reflection is upside-down, caused by the concave shape of the spoon and when you look at the other side it's right-side up, causes by the convex shape. Try it at home. The only thing you’ll need is a shiny metal spoon, clear enough to see your reflection. 

Next week we will be on break for Labor Day. This will be a great time to catch up on what we've missed so far or need to fine tune. I'm in the process of making a "Candy Land" math floor game using a shower liner. I'm still looking for fun ways to review Latin for a non-reading group. If you've got any suggestions please comment! We finally received our Song School Latin DVD set so hopefully this will be a great inspiration.