Week 8: Halloween, Amistad, and Atoms

 Edan Acre's this week was a lot of fun for the boys! They walked the trail that runs around the property and saw many animals. They played a table top roll playing game, helped collect walnuts, and played several other field type games. They have lucked out, we dressed for rain and a really cold day, and it ended up being sunny and beautiful. They have yet to spend a day in the pouring down rain at forest school yet, but I am sure it is coming. haha!

After two weeks of working on one chapter, we moved on to the next chapter, Chapter 3, in math! We were all happy to see the next few chapters have fewer worksheets. I am hopeful we can make it through the whole first level before next fall, giving Michael at least four years of Beast Academy before he starts community college. 

Story of the World took us on a trip through the slave trade triangle. We learned that although slaves were common around the world, they had yet to have been brought to North America. That ended when John Rolfe (the same Rolfe who later married Pocahontas), planted Spanish tobacco in American soil and started a thriving business. Soon all of England was buying American tobacco rather than obtaining it from their constant rivals, the Spanish. At first, indentured servants came to plant tobacco, but soon the business was so huge they needed more hands, and cheap hands at that. Thus began the transport of slaves to America. We had a few books on Amistad from the library and had planned to read Amos, Man of Freedom, but have not started it yet.

Chemistry this week had us learn more in depth about the components of an atom. We used pretzels, marshmallows, and banana chips as protons, neutrons, and electrons. The boys super enjoyed this project as we built the first 10 elements. 

Avery has started All About Reading Level 1. I realized he isn't quite ready for it, as his letter sounds are not 100% yet. We have been alternating All About Reading, taking one lesson slowly, with sounding out Bob Books together. He so far seems to like the Bob Books better. I was going to also try a lesson in 100 Easy Lessons to Reading, but I think I must have loaned it out, as it is missing!

Michael and Emmet have continued to read, although Michael is very into audio books and has listened to 11 of the Dragonette Prophecy series and I believe book 4 or 5 of Redwall series. Emmet is doing his Usborne Storywriter book for writing, and Michael has jumped around a lot. We tried a cursive book, which he decided was not what he wanted to do, and isn't happy writing sentences he constructs, nor ones I build. So still trying ideas to find a writing activity that meets both our needs. 

That brings us to Halloween!!! We knew it would look different this year, so I started prepping boys a few months ago. We decided not to trick-or-treat, and instead our homeschool co-op had a party! We decorated Easter eggs with glow in the dark paint, and the parents put little prizes in each egg. As the kids watched an elephant toothpaste experiment by one mom, and then played bingo with another mom, the rest of us charged the eggs under flash lights and scattered them in the yard, then it was game on! Everyone had SO much fun. We also had the boys leave their trick-or-treat bags (we use the same ones each year) out on the table so the Halloween witch could leave them a surprise. They got some flower bulbs, pokemon cards, candy, and Risk!!! We have played Risk about 1,436.8 times since then. lol!

Hope your Halloween was spooky, but not germy!

Cheers,

The Dillmans