Here Goes Nothin...

The kids have been working with Patrick and their cousins making stilts. They cut  out the platforms for their feet using hand saws at first, then Patrick helped them with the band saw  to speed it up and bit and he did pocket screws to attach them to the poles.  They kids used block planes and sand paper to smooth out the corners of the poles. They have made 3 different heights and have made 5 pairs so far. They are hoping to have enough for all the cousins for a New Years parade.  (Photo Credit: Elizabeth Bartle)                                                                                                                                 ...

We have continued trying to read a chapter a day in the Faith and Life series Anne-Marie has finished the Kumon Multiplication book and has started in to the Delta Math-U-See and is finishing lesson 2 In free writing A-M is working on a continuing story about a Girl who finds out she is a wealthy princess. In science we have read about the migration of birds. This is a fact wheel that the kids made. This one was made by Ann-Marie Gregory has been working on copy work and dictation and spelling practice. This is a sample of his copy work. He is working from the Draw-Write-Now books I think you saw the girls colour wheels, this is Gregory's. He was busy while the girls did theirs. One of Gregory's activities to help him remember the definitions for some of the words we learnt regarding birds flight and migration. Gregory if flying through his math book. There are days when I tell him he has to put it away to do other school. A short write by Elizabeth Elizabeth is still working t...

  REST ETERNAL GRANT UNTO THEM O LORD, AND LET LIGHT PERPETUAL SHINE UPON THEM. MAY THE REST IN PEACE. AMEN         We made it to Mass this morning. Patrick came with us as he had the day off. We sent 2 mins of silence at 11:00am to remember the solider who fought and who gave their lives for our freedom. I learned that the first minute is to remember those who lives and to give thanks for their lives, and the second is to remember those who died fighting for our freedom. I also learned that the two minutes of silence was first observed in South Africa and Sir Percy Fitzpatrick was so touch by it, having last his son in France, and he wrote  letters and eventually the idea got to King Gorge V who after obtaining approval from the War Cabinet had this press statement released... To all my people,      Tuesday next, 11 November, is the first anniversary of the armistice, which stayed the world-wide carnage of the four preceding year...

My latest idea of what we are going to try in regards to language arts... here goes nothing...     We are continuing our study of birds and a neighbour gifted us a bird skull that was found in their garden. Our next chapter in on bird nests so I have pulled out the 2 nests that we usually save for the Christmas tree for the kids too look at while we are reading and talking about different types of nests. Elizabeth's copy work, crossword puzzle, fact wheel, and Fascinating facts for chapter 4. Chapter 4 was on how birds fly and migration. In art we have been looking at Greek Idealism and Roman Naturalism. We have looked at the early Christians art in mosaics, frescos, carvings, and icons.   Elizabeth's sign language hands Elizabeth's face   Elizabeth colour wheel Icon samples from the text. Icons use a naturalistic style showing movement through the folds in clothing and to peoples stance...often with their weight on one leg. Sample of a fresco from the text The top p...