FI♥AR: The Tale of Peter Rabbit

"Rowing" the Week

* The Tale of Peter Rabbit *

{FI♥AR} Volume II

One of the best loved children's authors, telling one of the best loved children's stories of all time.  Rowing just doesn't get any better than this.  This was our first book to row after our summer schooling session, so we were both ready to get back to sharing this time together.

The Bug and I worked together on our Nature Table - we found this quite Pinteresting - so we tried it ourselves.  Decorating for our rowing may become a new tradition.  It really set the tone, mood and setting, plus opened up discussion about our book before we even began reading.

Language Arts:

• Dictation of vocabulary from The Tale of Peter Rabbit
• Discussed the principle of onomatopoeia and listed the examples from the story.

Geography/History:

• Discussed London, England & located on globe and in almanac 
• "Sites to see in England" notebooking
• Read the biography of Beatrix Potter

Science:

• Discussed Naturalists, what they do & why.
• Visited our local nature center and got to here from some Master Naturalists, plus catch butterflies . . . bonus!

• Healthy Eating (Eating Like a Rabbit) - Completed Notebooking page & made an Menu for Rabbits.

Composition:

• We wrote a letter of apology to Mr. McGregor from Peter.  The Bug really enjoyed this activity. 

• Beatrix Potter Notebooking pages, Peter Rabbit Poetry & Coloring, Animal Fantasy Notebooking pages

Art:

• Peter Rabbit watercolor painting
• Practiced how to draw rabbits using this pin

• Enjoyed . . . not really, tolerated making rabbits with painted hand-prints. (Generally speaking she just does not enjoy getting her hands dirty, unless she is ACTUALLY in the garden.)

• Looked at Beatrix Potter's early work and discussed
• Did exercises in sketching from the early book of Beatrix Potter's Painting and Drawing Book with Tale of Peter Rabbit (1915)

Home Economics:

• Salad Preparation
• Peeling and Cutting Carrots 

I have provided links in this post to the FREE resources we used to complete our Rowing.  Here are the printables that I created.  Please feel free to download them for you family to row with too:

• Homeschool Share Peter Rabbit Lapbook
• Homeschool Share Rabbit Study Lapbook

We are taking a two week break in our Five-in-a-Row schedule.  The Bug is a bit taken with Little House on The Prairie . . . again, and we will be finishing a couple of these Laura Ingalls Wilder reads until after Thanksgiving.

What is in on your reading list this week?

Happy Homeschooling!

The Joyful Socks Mom 

• Take a journey through Notebooking Success! Best notebooking resource for home educators. . .and beyond.
• Wonder Maps is the homeschool geography that moms and kids can both give an A+
• HARMONY FINE ARTS: The best study for art and music appreciation!  Hard working moms with little time left will love this curriculum plan.

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This is How We Row: FI♥AR Notebooks

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Oh Five-in-a-Row, How I love thee, let me count the ways . . .


We will "row" probably until it goes out of style . . . and even then, probably "row" a little longer.  The Bug and I, as well as my entire Co-op Classroom, enjoy the unity and common thread that Five-in-a-Row gives to our classroom and home education.  One of the elements that both student and teacher enjoys is Notebooking or Lapbooking.  If you are a home educator, these are not new terms.  If you are saying, "She sure needs to use spell check before she sends out these posts!" . . . then, you are not familiar with Notebooking or Lapbooking, or at least not yet.  Stay with me.


FI♥AR (Five-In-A-Row) Lapbooking or Notebooking is simply a means to document your Five-in-a-Row journey, as well as your homeschooling journey in general.  Notebooking is my preferred method, as I enjoy using the Principled Approach in our own homeschool.  This method of teaching focuses on producing, rather than consuming.  The beauty of this method, is that the child gets an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and, I find, a greater enjoyment of learning.  A FI♥AR Lapbook or Notebook will include the various projects, copywork, dictation and activities that a child produces in the course of studying a FI♥AR book selection.  You can use may different methods to document this journey.  Here a few links that you can click to if you are unfamiliar with the methods I am discussing: Lapbooks and Notebooks.

At Homeschool Co-op, we use the Homeschool Portfolio to "house" our Five-In-A-Row Notebook.

Students take great pleasure and pride in producing their Notebooking pages.  Something special happens when a child knows their work is going into the "oh, so special" sheet protector!  The work gets neater, the hand a bit steadier and the smile bigger.  Here is a peek inside our Notebooks at Co-op:

{Here is a page from our  FI♥AR Notebook for Miss Rumphius.  It is a Qtip painting of lupines}

{This is the Notebooking page we completed for Owl Moon - You can find the free printable Here}

This is How We Row: Owl Moon

{They Were Strong and Good - This selection was hands down a favorite of my class!}
How We Row: They Were Strong and Good

I hope you have enjoyed a quick glance into our Five-in-a-Row Notebook.  Hoping that you will continue to "row" right along with us.  

We will continue to take a "rowing" break as we finish all things Co-op (it is our last week, next week).  Then my kids and I will take a break for a couple of weeks, then back to Summer School fun and rowing with the Bug!

Happy Rowing!

The Joyful Socks Mom     

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FI♥AR: Make Way For Ducklings

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"Rowing" the Week (@ Co-op)

April 23 - April 29th
Make Way For Ducklings by: Robert McCloskey

{FI♥AR} Volume II

This is a beautifully illustrated and we written, tenderhearted story about a family of ducks, well, soon to be a family.  The book has many wonderful themes woven into it, using an easy to predict style for younger children.  I love the opportunity this book gives for discussion about families, parents and caring for others.  The author spent much time observing ducks in the Boston Commons Gardens, so you can also use this book to teach the importance of studying God's creation ; ) again.

Writing:

I created a "sensory table" to help inspire some creative narrative stories.  We discussed ducks, their habits, what they eat, what they do during the day.  We discussed personification and how Mr. McCloskey uses several human traits to keep his story funny and interesting.

The students came to touch the items on the table.  You cannot see it well in the pictures, but the plastic bag is filled with blue "pond" water.  I was sure to double bag it, one word, BOYS!  When each of the students felt inspired, they began writing: My Day as a Duckling!  They took a 18" x 12" piece of construction paper and folded it down to book size, covering the front with an illustration and pasting their story inside.

Grammar:

We lined up in alphabetical order during the week, just like the ducks in our story.

Math:

I drew a map on the board and we used the peanut factor from our story to review our multiplication.  Example:  Jack, Kack and Lack are sitting under a bush.  A child gives them each 2 peanuts.  How many peanuts did they get together?  3 x 2=6

We used this resource from Homeschoolshare.com to complete some more multiplication and addition practice.

Just Mommy and the Bug 

These are rowing activities that the Bug and I enjoyed at home.

Geography

Found Boston on the map, then discussed and research the historical sites in Boston.  Then we created and labeled a map of the Boston Commons Garden, where part of the story takes place.

"Make Way for Ducklings" sculpture by Nancy Schön. Photo by Gareth Owen

Vocabulary

Word Fun: Each word must be looked-up in the dictionary, spell out each word with our Spill and Spell, acted out and then written in a sentence.

molt, cozy, incubate

Handicraft: Cross-stitching

I found a cute little pattern on the internet for the Bug to use in her cross-stitch work.  I colored her pattern with maker onto a piece of mesh drawer-liner.  Then we placed it inside her hoop so she could work on her duckie.

Hope are you "rowers" out there are enjoying Rowing Around the World with us!

Happy Homeschooling!

The Joyful Socks Mom      

Be sure to check out and follow my Pin Board on Five In A Row - I find great resources and pin them there before we create them in the classroom.

Resources have been included to help inspire Five-In-A-Row Homeschool families in their "Rowing' journeys as well.  Enjoy and comment!  We would love to know what you are "rowing' too!

*Note: Five in a Row, Vol. 2 {FI♥AR} is made to be a five day curriculum and should be used with the Teacher's Manual - as we only attend Co-op 3 days per week, I will post what we have done in class and fun resources for that you may want to do at home. (Not REQUIRED homework - just some family fun options.) 

This is How We Row: Passport Tutorial

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Welcome Rowers and those who want to be "rowing"!  This post is an informational post about rowing and will include a look at how to make your own Five-in-a-Row Passport - so, read on . . .

A quick word on passports.  You can always purchase your passport for use with the  Five-in-a-Row curriculum from Rainbow Resource.  We found that making our own was more fun, but we are homeschoolers that way!

We are sure when rowing to take a look at our maps closely, in order to learn about where we are "rowing" and where we have "rowed" before.  Here is a FREE download for the "Land of Make Believe" map, which is definitely off-the-charts.

{This is a picture of our Rowing Map at Cooperative}

I like to visit the library a couple of times a week . . . duh, I know it's obvious!  Anyhow, I am constantly on a look out for books that make a good match with our upcoming rowing "theme".  I usually have plenty to choose from at our local library and from my own overindulgent collection of children's books.  I put these books aside in a Rowing Book Basket that students can peruse later when work is completed or during centers.

{They Were Strong and Good Book Basket @ Cooperative}

Here is an example of the selections I make for the Five-in-a-Row Book Basket.  Let's say the book we were rowing was They Were Strong and Good by: Robert Lawson.  You could choose books to accompany this book using several different themes: Bees/Beekeeping, Slavery, Civil War, Soldiers, Evangelism, etc.

{Closer look at the Five in a Row Book Basket}

 Now, on the the Five-in-a-Row Passport. . . .

Written Paper Bag Book Tutorial - - - - >
Materials Needed:  Basic Brown Lunch Sacks (garden variety brown is fine, but you can upgrade to colors if you want to feel fancy), glue, scissors, sewing machine with thread.


1.  Sort the bags in alternating order according, the amount of bags to use is determined by how large a passport you want.  Each sack will ultimately provide you with 4 pages, excluding the front cover, inside cover, and back cover.
2.  Place each bag flat and position flush for sewing.  Now, bend the bags inward, folding in half like a book.
3.  Sew a straight zig-zag seem down the center of the bag, along the crease that you just created.
4.  Clip the edges of thread from both ends of the passport.
5.  Go HERE to print the Front Cover and inside cover pages of your Passport.
6.  Now you can use this excellent resource from Tamara and Homeschoolshare.com to illustrate all the places you are going to row!  Download  Volume 1 Here, Volume 2 Here, Volume 3 Here, Volume 4 Here.  Cut out each illustration page and glue to the pages of your passport.


Here is an AWESOME easy-to-use tutorial HERE on how to make a paper bag book!  Mucho better than mine. . . I found this on Pinterest of course!

Source: colourherhope.com via Rosie on Pinterest

Now you are ready to row around the world and beyond.


Happy Rowing!

The Joyful Socks Mom   

P.S.  We have a HUGE little announcement coming up NEXT WEEK!  Be sure to subscribe to this blog via email so you won't miss the BIG small news! : )

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Rowing This Week:FI♥AR Harold and the Purple Crayon

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Harold and the Purple Crayon
by: Crockett Johnson

{FI♥AR}
Five in a Row, Vol. 2

Resources have been included to help inspire FI♥AR Homeschool families in their "Rowing' journeys as well.  Enjoy and comment!  We would love to know what you are "rowing' too!


*Note: Five in a Row, Vol. 2 {FI♥AR} is made to be a five day curriculum and should be used with the Teacher's Manual - as we only attend Co-op 3 days per week, I will post what we have done in class and fun resources for that you may want to do at home. (Not REQUIRED homework - just some family fun options.) 

"Rowing" the Week (@ Co-op)
APRIL 3rd - 9th, 2012

What an awesome rowing week we had in class this week!  Not that every week isn't super great when you're rowing, because it totally is!  However, it rarely goes smoothly, according to my fabulously designed lesson plans ;) when you're dealing with funny second graders  lovely children.  This week though, went swimmingly according to my master plan - sweet!


Our classic read this week was Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson.  I remember my mother reading this one to me for years, what great memories for me and I hope we are making great memories for my students in the classroom too!


Tuesday:


Art
They started the day with the butcher paper covering our table and then I wrote the book title "Harold-style" in the center. 

While I read the story aloud to the class, each child used their own purple crayon to draw illustrations from the story.  

Here Mr. Fix-it and the Scholar are diligently working on their art.  The tabletop looked awesome by the end of our story.

Here is the Bug's illustrations.

The Scholar.

and the Horse Lover.

Bible

We discussed the talents that God gives us.  Like Harold's imagination, God wants us to use our talents to serve Him and to bring Him glory.  We had a wonderful discussion about our talents and how we can use them as we get older.

Nutrition

Purple grapes for snack.

Wednesday:


Math
We enjoyed some Blueberry Muffin Tin Math.  Why exactly they call them blue when they actually look purple?  We did not have time to figure out all of that in class.  What we did figure out was how to multiply by 3!

Each student would add three blueberries at a time to a muffin.  (Flax and whole grain muffin mix that I whipped up before class)  Then we would count by 3's together, using the various mathematical terminology that we needed to review.  (There are 4 muffins with 3 blueberries, that is 4 groups of 3 blueberries, 4 x 3 = 12, etc.)

Science
We briefly discussed the various forms that water can take.  Liquid, gas and solid . . . brrr, ice!

We took our purple ice boats outdoors to see how quickly the ice would return to a liquid state.  They were pleased to find their hypothesis correct when the purple ice turned our sailing water purple too.

Little Miss is enjoying melting her boat with her group.  It didn't take long, because as you can see from the photos, it was a fabulous day!

Thursday:

Homemaking/Nutrition

We discussed antioxidants and the kinds of fruits and vegetables that have this wonderful quality.  Then we prepared this low-sugar nutritional snack of Purple Pie (blueberries and blackberries) in mini pie shells made of won ton wrappers.  We saved them for our Purple Party!

Art

Above are the decorations we used for our party.  The kids drew the building illustrations with, guess what? Yep, their purple crayons.  They scattered their buildings all over the classroom.

We went outside at this point, eating up our purple pies.  Well they tried, but most students declared it was "too healthy", so the Bug and I ate most of the pie!

We played a Purple Memory game at our Purple Party.  I filled a basket with 12 different purple items.  The kids worked with a partner and had one minute to memorize the items.  Then the items were removed and they had to work with their partner to write down all the items on paper.


We also enjoyed a game of Purple Balloon Relay races.  The kids would waddle to the line with their purple balloon between their legs.  Then sit on the balloon to pop it, run back and tag the next person.  


As you can imagine, we had lots of Purple smiles (those of us who had pie that is) and a happy kids,dressed in purple on Purple Day!

Just the Bug and Me!
Here are a couple of fun extension items the Bug and I did at home:


Playing Purple Pictionary
Same game as regular Pictionary, but with the purple crayon.


Purple Scavenger Hunt
We did a purple scavenger hunt outdoors while taking our Nature Study walk. She had to list how many purple items she could find in nature.  There's more than you would think.


Talent List:  We sat a discussed the many God given talents that the Bug possesses.  We made a list and then wrote down the many things she can do with those talents to bring glory to God.  Then she made a couple of illustrations.  We folded them up and put them in a purple envelope to put in the Homeschool Portfolio, that way she can look back and see how God has used her talents in His kingdom.


More Five In A Row Folks I Love:

• Delightful Links
• Homeschool Creations
• All in a Kind Family

Where We're At:

AND Joining for the first time -

Happy Rowing All!

The Joyful Socks Mom 


P.S.  We have a HUGE little announcement coming up!  Be sure to subscribe to this blog via email so you won't miss the BIG small news! : )

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