Studying the Weather

Really, I had no idea how easy it was to study the weather. Since it is easy to observe and measure in a meaningful way it lends itself well to a hands on science unit. I found multiple ideas and activities to incorporate into our weather unit.

Main Resource
Our Weather and Water (God's Design for Heaven and Earth) - Using the sections on weather only, our weather unit lasted approximately 10 weeks. We covered topics like atmosphere, water cycle, clouds, precipitation, storms, and weather instruments.

Weather Instruments
These three weather instruments were easy to make from easily accessible supplies. My second grader learned how to tell wind direction with a wind vane, measure precipitation with a rain gauge, and determine wind speed (no/slow/fast) with an anemometer.

wind vane

rain gauge

anemometer (measures wind speed)

Other Activities
The weather instruments were the highlight of the unit for my son. However, he did enjoy the other activities as well.

• Layers of the Atmosphere Worksheet - While studying the layers of the atmosphere, students in my co-op class drew various objects found within each atmospheric layer on a worksheet. For instance, precipitation was drawn in Troposphere, and the Northern/Southern Lights were drawn in the Thermosphere.
• Water Cycle Lift the Flap Project - Inspired by this idea, I created a worksheet which followed the basic idea of this lift the flap water cycle.
• Cold Air Activity - Using this activity, students learned about air pressure.
• Cloud Examples - While studying cloud formation, students made their own cloud types out of cotton balls, which were glued to a piece of blue construction paper. (Idea found here.)
• Cloud in a Jar
• Rain in a Jar - This idea was found here.
• Thunder Demonstration - By blowing up a small brown lunch bag and clutching the end shut, we formed a balloon shaped bag. Next we popped the bags. It sounded sharp, a bit like thunder.
• Making Lightning - We tried several ways. This one seemed the most successful.
• Tornado/Hurricane - Using two 2L bottles, a washer, loose glitter, water, and duct tape, we made a storm in a bottle. The students had a blast making the water tornado.
• Weather Report - Each student was given a weather chart and asked to observe the weather for one week. We used these free ones.
• Thermometers - This is one activity, we did not get around to! However, next time, I will be incorporating this homemade one.

Extra Books

• Earth and Space: What Makes It Rain? by Susan Mayes and Sophy Tahta
• It's Raining! by Gail Gibbons
• Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather, by Jennifer Dussling
• Kingfisher Readers: Weather, by Anita Ganeri
• Extreme Weather, by Ann O. Squire
• Little Cloud, by Eric Carle
• The Cloud Book, by Tomie de Paola
• Clouds, by Anne Rockwell
• It's Snowing! by Gail Gibbons
• Snow is Falling, by Franklyn M. Branley
• Community Helpers: Meteorologists, by Sandra J. Christian, M.Ed.
• The Magic School Bus at the Waterworks, by Joanna Cole
• Close to the Wind: The Beaufort Scale, by Peter Malone
• National Geographic Kids: Storms, by Miriam Busch Goin
• The Magic School Bus Kicks Up a Storm: A Book about Weather, by Nancy White
• Tornadoes, by Gail Gibbons
• Twisters! by Lucille Recht Penner
• Tornado Alert, by Franklyn M. Branley
• Wild Weather: Tornadoes! by Lorraine Jean Hopping
• Hurricanes, by Gail Gibbons
• The Magic School Bus: Inside a Hurricane, by Joanna Cole

Ancient Greece

 

Using Ancient Civilizations and the Bible as a spine, we studied through quite a few ancient cultures. Along the way we decided to study a few of those cultures at a more in-depth level. Aside from Ancient Egypt, we also took a nice long jaunt through Ancient Greece last year. Below are the resources we used.

 

Supplement

History Pockets: Ancient Greece, Grades 4-6+, by Sandi Johnson

 

Nonfiction Works

The Greek News, by Anton Powell and Philip Steele

Science in Ancient Greece, by Kathlyn Gay

Usborne Internet-Linked: Greeks, by Susan Peach and Anne Millard

Ancient Greek Art, by Susie Hodge

 

Literature

The Aesop for Children, illustrated by Milo Winter

Greek Myths, as told by Jim Weiss, audio CD

Heroes in Mythology: Theseus, Prometheus, and Odin, as told by Jim Weiss, audio CD

The Children's Homer, by Padraic Colum

Black Ships Before Troy: The Story of the Iliad, by Rosemary Sutcliff

The Wanderings of Odysseus: the Story of the Odyssey, by Rosemary Sutcliff

 

For Younger Children

The First Marathon: The Legend of Pheidippides, by Susan Reynolds

The Tortoise and the Hare, illustrated by Jerry Pinkney

Usborne Beginners: Ancient Greeks, by Stephanie Turnbull

The Trojan Horse: How the Greeks Won the War, by Emily Little

The Librarian Who Measured the Earth, by Kathryn Lasky

 

Historical Fiction

Theras and His Town, by Caroline Dale Snedeker

 

 

Hands On Projects 

 



{Hoplite Shields made from sturdy paper plates}

Sadly, over the course of about a decade of homeschooling, I had never made paper mache. It is messy! This past year, I decided to get over myself and try it. My second grade teacher would be so proud. I was inspired by this Greek vase project and decided to give it a whirl with my crew. Oh did we have fun! And oh, was it ever messy, but worth every minute hour of clean of up.

The children also made cardboard models of Greek houses, drew Trojan horses, and wrote their names in Greek.

Ancient Egypt

This past school year, our three younger children (7th, 5th, and 1st grade at the time) studied the Ancient History time period.

For our youngest child, this was the first time he learned about Ancient Egypt, Ancient Israel, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. It was the second time through for our middle children. Over their school years, we hope to go through world history three times.

The first time our daughters studied Ancient Egypt, we made papyrus paper using this kit. It didn't work. For the record, it could have been user error, as in our fault. Regardless, it was not the hands on learning I had dreamed of completing. In hind sight, I should have gotten this instead. Already preprinted papyrus would have been easier.

This time, I contemplated mummifying a chicken. We have the instructions in this book. I chickened out. Yes, I'm a bit squeamish.

Instead, we did a lot of paper, markers, and glue kind of projects using History Pockets: Ancient Egypt, published by Evan-Moor. It offered hands on learning with less mess. (Though when we got to Ancient Greece I relented and even tried homemade paper mache - quite the mess!)

Activity Ideas:

• Hieroglyphic writing (we wrote names and messages)
• papyrus paper (paint on kit)
• pyramid building (out of anything and everything, but Legos work nicely)
• reed boat building (instructions here, could substitute drinking straws for reeds)
• make an Egyptian Jeweled Collar (instructions here)
• play Senet (how to found here)
• mummify a chicken (for the brave of heart - how to found here)
• make canopic jars (inspiration here)

Books:

• The Cat of Bubastes, by G.A. Henty - I read this one aloud to our children, and my daughter asked for this one read aloud by Jim Weiss for Christmas
• The Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt, by Elizabeth Payne - read by our 7th grader
• Pyramid, by David Macaulay - paged through by the children on their own
• Tut's Mummy: Lost and Found, by Judy Donnelly - I read it aloud to our 1st grader
• Seeker of Knowledge: The Man Who Deciphered Egyptian Hieroglyphs, by James Rumford - shared with all the children
• Science in Ancient Egypt, by Geraldine Woods - read by our 7th grader
• The Great Pyramid, by Elizabeth Mann - shared with all our children
• Ms. Frizzle's Adventure in Ancient Egypt, by Joanna Cole

 

 

After our Ancient History studies, we took the children to a museum which features Ancient Egyptian artifacts (including mummies!).

 

For those interested, I have a Pinterest board for Ancient Egypt. I'll be adding to it as we progress through the years. After all, I should be returning to teaching Ancient History at least two more times.

 

 



Follow Dorie Kay's board Ancient Egypt on Pinterest.        

Studying Birds

With the return of the chicks to the farm, we ended our study of birds. Today, I thought I'd share all the resources and activities we used {and liked!}

This unit was taught to a group of Kindergarten through second graders. Since my son happened to be in the class and I happened to be his teacher, we completed extra readings and activities at home, outside of the co-op meetings.


Spine Reference Book:

• Apologia Exploring Creation with Zoology 1

Books:

• National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America, by Jonathan Alderfer
• Birds, Nests, and Eggs, by Mel Boring
• What Is a Bird? by Jennifer W. Day
• Crinkleroot's 25 Birds Every Child Should Know, by Jim Arnosky
• Why Do Birds Sing? by Joan Holub
• Bird Songs from Around the World, by Les Beletsky
• Beaks! by Sneed B. Collard III
• Crinkleroot's Guide to Knowing the Birds, by Jim Arnosky
• Birds: Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines, by Caroline Arnold
• The Long, Long Journey: The Godwit's Amazing Migration, by Sandra Markle
• Falcons Nest on Skyscrapers, by Priscilla Belz Jenkins
• Usborne Beginners: Eggs and Chicks, by Fiona Patchett
• An Egg is Quiet, by Dianna Aston
• What Do You Call a Baby Swan? by Emma Nathan
• Where Do Chicks Come From? by Amy E. Sklansky
• Chicks and Chickens, by Gail Gibbons
• Robins, by Melvin and Gilda Berger
• All About Owls, by Jim Arnosky
• The Eagles Are Back, by Jean Craighead George
• Watch Me Grow: Duckling, by Lisa Magloff
• Ducks Don't Get Wet, by Augusta Goldin
• All About Turkeys, by Jim Arnosky
• Turkeys on the Family Farm, by Chana Stiefel

For Fun:

• Make Way for Ducklings, by Robert McCloskey

Online Resources:

• How to ID a Bird
• Bird Nest Cameras
• What Bird?
• All about Birds
• National Geographic
• Bird Watchers Digest
• PRBO Education Program

Printables:

• Bird Journal (1/2 sheet booklet)
• What Is a Bird? (worksheet)

Activities:

• made bird feeders (half an orange cleaned out, oats, raisins and peanut butter mixed to fill)
• watched birds and recorded in a bird journal
• observed actual feathers, nests, and eggs
• completed an egg hatching project
• field trip to wildlife refuge to see birds

Even though the unit has ended, I am confident we'll keep on observing and learning about birds, just like we always have.

'bout Birds

This year, we'll be using a co-op for one class only - science.  Each week, we'll spend one afternoon with others learning about God's creation and order for our world and the things in it.

As per most co-ops, I need to volunteer for our family to participate. This year, like the past two, I am teaching the youngest students, specifically Kindergarten through second grade science. Our co-op has grown since last year and a new third/fourth grade science class was added to keep class sizes from growing too large. Even though my class lost the third graders, the new K-2nd grade class has 19 students. {It was a wise move.}

Three units are typically taught each year. Last year, the students learned about biomes, outer space, and the human body. Spine books from Apologia or Answers in Genesis are used for topics and general information. Additional resources and activities are added.

For the current school year {co-op classes start this week!}, I will be using Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day, God's Design for Heaven and Earth: Our Planet Earth, and God's Design for the Physical World: Machines and Motions as spine books. Our main topics are birds/insects, geology, and simple machines. Since our first unit covers birds and insects, I have been compiling various resources, sites, and ideas for each.

A sampling of what I've found thus far...

Free printables ~

• Coloring Pages (for younger children)
• Bird Journal (1/2 sheet booklet)
• Bird Journal (full sheet pages for older kids)
• Backyard Bird Emergent Reading book

Informative Articles and Helps ~

• How to ID a Bird (5 suggestions)
• Identify a Bird with Sounds and Illustrations
• How to Identify Parts of a Bird
• How to Identify Feathers
• Parts of a Bird Wing 
• Information and Diagrams about Birds' Feet

Free Lesson Ideas ~

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology
• art lesson on drawing a bird's head found here
• nature study page with videos

Activity Ideas ~

• Bird Beak Experiments
• Bird Hunt with Paper Birds
• build a bird feeder with a Pringles can
• string circle shaped cereal to feed birds

Books and Resources ~

• a list of bird books (we are using the Nat Geo book)
• poster identifying birds ($)
• paper cut out birds ($)
• nature cards of birds ($)

Websites ~

• What Bird?
• All about Birds
• National Geographic
• Bird Watchers Digest

If you like, you can follow along as I find more teacher resources, books, and activities for birds on Pinterest.



*Photographs from a recent Birds in Action talk and demonstration at our local zoo.

Travel the World - The Extras

The trip is complete! However, along the way, we have encountered some general resources which may be of use to you on your own trip around the world. Each book was found at our local library. Links provided for further information.

Additional General Resources:

• Where in the World? Around the Globe in 13 Works of Art, by Bob Raczka 
• The International Cookbook for Kids, by Matthew Locricchio
• The Usborne Round the World Cookbook, by Caroline Young
• If the World Were a Village: A Book about the World's People, by David J. Smith
• World Wide Crafts: Animal Crafts, Iain MacLeod-Brudenell
• Children of the World: How We Live, Learn, and Play in Poems, Drawings, and Photographs, by Anthony Asael and Stephanie Rabemiafara
• A Cool Drink of Water, by Barbara Kerley

Travel the World - Australia

It has been quite the whirlwind of a year. My Kindergartener is finishing his trip around the world. Learning about different cultures has been incredible. At the same time, he learns about the physical geography of a particular region, including ecosystems, fauna, and flora. Though it has been a busy spring, we still found time to travel from Africa to Australia. With just one country as a continent, the overall learning seemed sparse. However, we did include Oceania, which helped to create a fuller unit.

Spine Books ~

• National Geographic Beginner's World Atlas pp. 50-55
• The Usborne Book of Peoples of the World, by Gillian Doherty and Anna Claybourne, pp. 80-91
• The Usborne World of Animals*, by Susanna Davidson and Mike Unwin, pp. 86-95 
• Galloping the Globe, by Loree Pettit and Dari Mullins: Australia - flag, p. 221; New Zealand - flag, p. 229

Read Alouds ~

• Australia ABCs: A Book about the People and Places of Australia, by Sarah Heiman
• New Zealand ABCs: A Book about the People and Places of New Zealand, by Holly Schroeder

Art Activity ~

"Scratched Animals"
from Art Treasury pp.72-75

 

 

Next Stop: Poles and Ocean

 

 

 

*The copy we have is out of print. However, a more recent version can be found here.

 

Travel the World - Africa

This year of learning about our world has been incredible. I have, er, I mean my Kindergartner, has learned so much! Alas, we are almost done with our trip around the world. From Asia, we traveled to Africa. It has been fascinating learning about the different regions and people of Africa. Below, I have listed the resources we used.

Spine Books ~

• National Geographic Beginner's World Atlas pp. 38-43
• The Usborne Book of Peoples of the World, by Gillian Doherty and Anna Claybourne, pp. 48-63
• The Usborne World of Animals*, by Susanna Davidson and Mike Unwin, pp. 54-65
• Galloping the Globe, by Loree Pettit and Dari Mullins: Egypt (flag p. 211), Morocco (flag p. 203), Kenya (flag p. 199), and South Africa (flag p. 196)

Read Alouds ~

• Egypt in Colors, by Nathan Olson
• Egypt ABCs: A Book about the People and Places of Egypt, by Sarah Heiman
• Count Your Way through Egypt, by Jim Haskins and Kathleen Benson
• Ethiopia: Faces and Places, by Elma Schemenauer
• The Lion's Whiskers: An Ethiopian Folktale, by Nancy Raines Day
• Morocco: Faces and Places, by Patrick Merrick
• We Come From Kenya, by Wambui Kairi
• Kenya ABCs: A Book About the People and Places of Kenya, by Sarah Heiman
• Kenya in Colors, by Sara Louise Kras
• My Rows and Piles of Coins, by Tololwa M. Mollel {takes place in Tanzania}
• Shaka: King of the Zulus, by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema
• Count Your Way through South Africa, by Jim Haskins and Kathleen Benson
• Country Explorers: Ghana, by Lyn Larson
• Anansi The Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti, by Geral McDermott {Ghana folktale}
• Desert Elephants, by Helen Cowcher
• Hero Tales, by David & Neta Jackson {David Livingstone, pp. 56-67}
• Ricky and His Friends Go to Africa, by Tony & Tracey Van Dyke
• Stories from Africa, compiled by Kerry Lovering

*Most of these we found at our local library.


Projects ~

Kente Cloth
Inspiration found at

• Kente Cloth at Crayola
• Kente Cloth Strips at Kinder Art
• Kente Cloth printable lesson plan from Teacher Vision

 

Mask
The Usborne Art Treasury, by Katie Dickins, pp. 24-27

Next Stop: Australia

Travel the World - Asia

Our Kindergartner is still traveling about the world in his studies. He just finished several weeks learning about Asia. And, after our mini unit on Europe, I think we might have overdone the Asia unit. Alas, it is the ebb and flow of life.


Spine Books ~

National Geographic Beginner's World Atlas pp. 44-49
The Usborne Book of Peoples of the World, by Gillian Doherty and Anna Claybourne, pp. 65-79
The Usborne World of Animals*, by Susanna Davidson and Mike Unwin, pp. 74-85 
Galloping the Globe, by Loree Pettit and Dari Mullins: Russia - flag, p. 56; India - flag, p. 40


Read Alouds ~

The Never-Ending Greenness: We Made Israel Bloom, by Neil Waldman
Tokyo Friends, by Betty Reynolds
The Conference of the Birds, retold by Alexis York Lumbard
In the Far North, by Lola Kamalova
Russia in Colors, by Catherine Ipcizade
Russia ABCs: A Book About the People and Places of Russia, by Ann Berge
Sasha's Matrioshka Dolls, by Jana Dillon
The Littlest Matryoshka, by Corinne Demas Bliss
Once a Mouse...A Fable Cut in Wood from Ancient India, by Marcia Brown
India in Colors, by Nathan Olson
Japan ABCs: A Book About the People and Places of Japan, by Sarah Heiman
The Story about Ping, by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese
China in Colors, by Marla Gamze-Pendergrast
China ABCs: A Book About the People and Places of China, by Holly Schroeder
No Year of the Cat, by Mary Dodson Wade
The Chinese New Year, by Cheng Hou-tien
A Grain of Rice, by Helena Clare Pittman


Activities ~

World Wide Crafts: Animal Crafts, by Iain MacLeod-Brudenell

"Origami Cygnets" pp. 20-21 {paper folding - Japan}
His older brother helped him fold the cygnet.

"Paper Peacocks" pp. 22-23 {paper cutting - China}
His older sister got into the fun as well for this project.

 

"Dragon Fire" {a movable dragon puppet}, pp. 10-11
This one, I made for him - he helped assemble it, but the rest was my handiwork.
He enjoyed playing with it.

Geography Through Art, by Sharon Jeffus & Jamie Aramini

"Matryoshka Doll" for Russia p. 72 {used provided template}

"Boy's Day Fish Banners" for Japan - p. 68 {used provided template}

Tangram for China
We used the tangrams we had from our math kit, but used the diagrams from Papercrafts Around the World, by Phyllis Fiarotta and Noel Fiarotta, p.10 to make animal shapes.

Field Trip ~
We spent a day at the art museum learning about Chinese New Year.{Read more here.}

During our visit to the art museum, we saw displays of art work made by local schools. Each display reflected an aspect of Chinese culture.

We tried out several of their ideas. You can read and see more of the art project ideas here.


Next Stop: Africa



*The copy we have is out of print. However, a more recent version can be found here.

Learning and Creating with Balloons

 



It started with my mom's gift of twistable balloons.

There were directions on how to make numerous animals and flowers.

 

 

Unfortunately, the balloons must have been old or seconds.

They wouldn't twist and turn as they were suppose to.

More times than not, the balloon burst.

 

 

While the older children kept attempting the different animals,

our youngest opted to make a coiled snake.

 

Then, they all decided to pull out the various balloons we have in the house,

which included water balloons and regular balloons.

 

Water balloons filled with air became an instant fascination.

They created flowers and learned about static,

which got me thinking:

 

What else could we learn and create with balloons?

 

I was reminded me of last month's solar system display where we used various balloon sizes to represent the different planets {an idea from Exploring Creation with Astronomy}.

Then, I remembered last year's scented balloon activity.

I thought about books we have read in the past.

 

 

Fun Books we have read about Balloons

• Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade, by Melissa Sweet
• The Big Balloon Race, by Eleanor Coerr

 

All of this spurred me onward to find more lessons, demonstrations, and activities which used balloons, and can potentially be incorporated into future lessons. 

Some of these ideas are listed below.

 

 

 

 

 

On Line Ideas for Learning with Balloons

• Build a Balloon Rocket Car
• Make a Hot Air Balloon
• Learn about states of matter, using vinegar, baking soda, a jar, and a balloon
• Learn about transfer of heat, condensation, and evaporation with a bottle, water, and a balloon
• Learn what happens to air as it cools
• Measure lung capacity
• Build a model of the lung
• Explore static electricity and bend water
 
 

On Line Ideas for Creating with Balloons

• Learn How to Twist Balloons into Shapes
• Paint with Water Balloons
• Play one of these balloon games

 

 

 

 

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Shakespeare Resources and Lesson Ideas

When my daughter chose Shakespeare as her birthday party theme, I was thrilled. I thought there would be lots of ideas and plans available. Since her birthday party was to be postponed until after the holiday season, I decided to wait until after Christmas to start planning. After all, I assumed there was a plethora of information and ideas available. There was no hurry, right?

Alas, I was wrong, quite wrong. Apparently, not many young girls have a Shakespeare themed birthday party. I had to start from square one with only a few weeks to plan her party.

However, the internet is bursting with information about Shakespeare, his works, and the time period in which he lived. I researched it all. What follows are websites and resources which I thought would be great resources for anyone planning a lesson on Shakespeare.


Online Resources

Complete Works of Shakespeare found here

Language {articles and helps}

• an article on Elizabethan language
• Speak Like Shakespeare
• Talk Like Shakespeare

Quotes

• Shakespeare Quotes

Food {articles and recipes}

• food from the 1500's
• English food from the 1600's
• Renaissance foods
• Renaissance cooking and recipes
• cook book from 1591 called A Book of Cookrye

Clothing

• video on how to make clothing {warning, it is funny}
• article on how to make clothing of the time period
• sewing hats
• alternative directions on sewing hats
• suggested supplies and fabrics for hats
• place to purchase hats
• how to make a jester hat from craft foam
• how to make a jester hat from construction paper

Games of Shakespeare's time found here

Articles and Activities for Kids

• from Cricket: free articles about Shakespeare 
• from free-for-kids: Shakespeare word games
• from Activity Village: coloring pages
• from Crayola: coloring page
• free printable Globe Theatre paper model

Teacher Resources

• Activity Village has free printables for notebooking
• life and times of Shakespeare with free power point presentations {You will have to poke around this site as some of it needs updated links}
• short written biography found here
• A Day with William Shakespeare can be accessed here
• brief video biography found here
• a link to Shakespeare's Globe online resource listing, lots to peruse for the serious student

Books and Videos {we found most at our local library}

Biographies and Nonfiction Resources

• Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare, by Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema
• Who Was William Shakespeare, by Celeste Mannis
• William Shakespeare and the Globe, by Aliki
• Shakespeare and Macbeth: The Story Behind the Play, by Stewart Ross
• Shakespeare's Kitchen: Renaissance Recipes for the Contemporary Cook, by Francine Segan
• Shakespeare for Kids: His Life and Times, by Colleen Aagesen

Works

• The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works, General Editors Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor
• Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare for Children, edited by Edith Nesbit
• Tales from Shakespeare, retold by Charles and Mary Lamb
• audio retelling Shakespeare for Children, by Jim Weiss

Picture Books of Plays

• The Tempest, retold by Ann Keay Beneduce
• William Shakespeare's Macbeth, retold by Bruce Coville
• William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, retold by Bruce Coville
• William Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, retold by Bruce Coville
• William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, retold by Bruce Coville
• William Shakespeare's Hamlet, retold by Bruce Coville
• William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, retold by Bruce Coville

Videos of Plays

• BBC & Time Life Films: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - {We borrowed Twelfth Night}

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