Our Week in Review - History and Science

The boys and I are starting up science again next week, but our daughter G has been working hard all summer to finish Apologia General Science, so she can begin Physical Science this year. She is currently in module 13 (3 more to go and we're done!) and did an experiment this week to prove that combustion requires oxygen.


It involved floating a candle in vinegar inside a bowl with tall sides, and then slowly pouring baking soda into the vinegar. The results were quite dramatic!


So dramatic in fact, that her brothers came running to look and the experiment had to be repeated! The flame whooshed out very quickly once the gas from the vinegar and baking soda took up all the space inside the bowl. We tried for a few minutes to relight the candle, and it took about 5 minutes before all the gas was dissipated enough for oxygen to once again fill the bowl and allow the candle to be relit. Very cool experiment!


In history this week we focused on the role of the pharoah, and the the amazing construction of pyramids. In addition to our assigned history reading, we also drew Egyptian pictures from this book:


It helps the student draw step by step like this:


Our son C ended up with these 3 great pictures!


This was also our first week of virtual co-op, and son G has joined the co-op this year! Here he is, all plugged in and enjoying the discussion!


Soon we will need two dedicated computers, but for now daughter G is able to use my husband's laptop just for co-op. When his contract job ends and he has to turn in his work laptop, he will need this one all the time.


The boys worked on a pyramid mini book for their history notebooks. These are lapbooking elements available from Tapestry of Grace, but instead of making them into lapbooks we glue them onto cardstock and put them directly into our history binders. Below is Little Man's minibook. He drew the picture of a large block of stone being dragged on a wooden sled, and dictated the accompanying words to me. Here is what I wrote for him: "It takes big huge bricks and you put them on sleds and carry them to the pyramid and put them on it." Pretty good for a 5 year old!


Son L working on his pyramid lapbook.


Son C's.



And son G's.


It was a good week!