Our Week in Review

We are currently in the middle of a 3 week mini-unit on Africa, and learning more about the European colonization of Africa and Asia during the late 1800's. Here are some of the books we used in our learning this week. The two president books in the middle of the stack were used by everyone. Above those are the ones our daughter G used, and below them are the Africa picture books that our boys used.



I was very impresssed with this picture of a man that Little Man drew all by himself during Bible one day! When I snapped this picture he was about to draw a tall hat on this man, an indication that he was a Pharisee (not to be confused with Abraham Lincoln, who also gets drawn with a tall hat!). Everyone else draws in their Bible journals, but Little Man draws on his white board as I read. He pretty much draws the same picture for every story!


One of my favorite children's books, Miss Fannie's Hat by Jan Karon. I love reading this book! It reminds me of my grandma Esther who is now in heaven.


C sorting food pictures into food groups on the food pyramid. Little Man was very disappointed to learn that there was not an actual pyramid somewhere in the world made out of food!


School on the road.....reading at the Dr's office!


Little Man, painting what would become his turtle shell at co-op preschool.


And back at home, sorting different pasta and beans by color and shape.


He loved using a clothespin to move the beans into the egg cartons. Great for strengthening his pincher grasp!


Dum-da-da-dum! Son C finished all 27 Fun Tales books this week! We are so proud of him! In this picture he is trying to smile in such a way that you can see all 3 of his recent tooth holes. He lost 3 teeth this week!!


I have enlisted our daughter's help with our hands on activities this year. If I let her plan them and help me organize for them, we are much more likely to actually DO them. Like about 100% more likely! So I gave her this great book of hands on activities for Africa and told her to pick two that she thought everyone would enjoy doing. She labeled them with little yellow post it notes for me, #1 and #2 (wonder where she gets that penchant for labeling??). This week we did activity #1 which was making ceremonial shields used when 13ish aged boys were ceremonially introduced into the world of being a warrior.


First each child drew their design onto thin cardboard which I'd cut ahead of time (cereal or frozen pizza boxes work great for this!).


And then we began painting.



Even Little Man made one! He drew the design all by himself.


And painted it himself with just a tiny bit of help from me along the lines.


Ta-da! Didn't they turn out awesome?! We duct taped straps across the back so they'd be easy to hold.


Despite the sickness we had this week, it was a good week of learning. We are taking a short 3 day spring break and will hit the ground running again the middle of next week.

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A 4 year old history lesson:

Me, while painting African shields: Do you know what continent these shields were used on?

Little Man: Um......Africa?

Me: That's right! And is Africa a country?

Son G interjecting confidently: No! It's a continent!

Me: Good remembering. How many countries are there in Africa?

Daughter G: 53!

Me: Wow, you're right! Okay Little Man, what ocean would we have to cross to get to Africa?

(waiting and wondering what he's going to say)

Little Man: The Atlantic!


Yes! Score 1 for listening to his older siblings' lessons!