Making dream catchers craft ~ part of our North American Continent study

I promised to post about how we made the dream catchers for our North American study craft. This was a fun craft and actually very easy to prepare for (on my part) and to make (for the boys). So, here goes:

What you need:

~ paper plates

~ a hole punch

~ string/yarn (or even leather strips if you prefer)

~ beads (optional)

~ feathers

How to put it together:

Start by cutting out the center of your paper plate (at this point you could color or paint the paper plate, if you wanted to add more color to your dream catcher).

Then punch holes around the edge of the paper plate.

Take your piece of string (make it relatively long) and tie it to one of the holes, then start to make a web by lacing the string through the different holes around the plate (I used white string, because it is what I had on hand at the time, but you could use colored string or yarn, or even leather strips). During this stage you can add beads on the string if you want to add a little more color to the “web” of string.

Once you are happy with the string pattern you have made, tie off the string in the hole adjacent to where you started, so you can loop the two ends together to make a hanging hook for your dream catcher.

Punch three additional holes at the bottom of the dream catcher. Tie short strips of string here, so they hang down from the bottom of the dream catcher. Decorate with beads if you like, then tie a feather on the end, knot off to complete and hold the beads and feather in place.

And you’re done!

This has been added to: Preschool Corner & 5K too and Show and Tell.

Geography: the North American Continent

We just completed a week long study of the North American Continent. Here is a summary of what we covered:

We read various books on North America, some of which appear at the end of the post. Added to those at the end of the post are: Atlas of North America by Karen Foster and North America by Katie Bagley.

Rylan completed this North American themed math worksheet which I made for him. It can be downloaded here if you would like to use.

We made and ate Mexican food. We were out running errands all day Thursday and had to stop at McDonalds for lunch, I suppose that could count as American food, right (or just bad food!)? :P

We listened to various Putamayo CDs, the selection can be seen at the end of the post.

Rylan put together a North America poster based on our learning, which included a map, people of North America, animals of North America, and a fact sheet. We also added the USA flag that Rylan had colored during the week.

We made dream catchers (Native American) and read about what they are and how they are used (here is a tutorial on how to make them).

We added the Baha’i places of significance in North America to our wall of Baha’i Holy Places and Houses of Worship around the world.

We read about children of North America in Children Just Like Me.

We read the story from North America (the American Southwest) entitled “She Who Is Alone” from the book The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales. We also read a few stories from Around the World in 80 Tales, which I have to admit I edited somewhat, since some of the stories in that book are a bit (or a lot) mean spirited.

Rylan completed some pages in the Around the World Coloring Book.

To see our previous continent studies, click on these links: Africa, Asia, Europe.

This has been added to: Show&Tell and Preschool Corner & 5K too.

Geography: learning about Europe

As always, we started our new continental study with looking back on our travels, this time through Europe – Rylan has travelled in England and Italy (oh, how I would love to spend a few weeks in Italy again…).

{Rylan (18 months at the time) pointing to the intricate ceiling inside the Vatican, Rome, Italy…I believe his exact words were, “Mommy, WOW!”}

Our learning activities included:

• Reading the True Book “Europe”. I read it to the boys over the course of the week, we stopped to discuss and research more in depth certain aspects of the book as we went along. At the end of the week I gave Rylan the assignment of reading the book again himself while I put Damian down for a nap, then I gave him a short oral quiz (styled like a game) to see how much he remembered.
  
• We made and ate European food…to be honest this is no great thing in our home! A lot of European styled dishes are a part of our ordinary diet, especially Italian pastas!
  
• We watched Celtic Woman and the Riverdance together.
  
• We listened to various Putamayo CDs with a European flavor, you can see the list at the end of this post.
  
• We put together a European poster based on all our learning, which included a map, places of significance, people of Europe, and a fact sheet.

• We practiced our Spanish (since this is the second language we are learning in school) and learned how to say hello in other European languages.
  
• We added Baha’i places of significance in Europe to our wall.
  
  
• We read about children of Europe in Children Just Like Me.
  
• Rylan built the Eifel Tower out of Lego for fun.

To see our previous continental studies click on these links: Africa and Asia.

This has been added to Preschool Corner and 5K too.

Learning about children around the world

We took things slowly this past week, to ease ourselves back into the school day rhythm. I planned some themed activities, that both my boys could comfortably participate in together. We dedicated the greater part of one day to learning about children around the world. With a focus on our similarities, despite outward differences – unity in diversity.

We read several books, spread out in-between the different activities I had lined up for the boys on the theme. Here is our book list for the day:

In addition to the books, we put together this Melissa and Doug “Children of the World” puzzle.

We made paper people, the idea for which I got from Counting Coconuts. You could also make a paper doll chain and color them to look international.

While we worked we listened to a mix of international music with our Putumayo world music.

The boys completed a worksheet from The Baha’i Children’s Workbook about the oneness of humanity.

Then I pulled out a set of international play figures that I had purchased at the Lakeshore Learning Centre. The boys loved this set. After we discussed where the different children came from, and used them for a couple of formal activities, they took them all downstairs to the play room, built a city for them out of blocks and played together for a couple of hours.

This has been added to Preschool Corner & 5K too.

Raising Children Who Feel at Home in the World

With globalization, international travel, and the internet it seems like the world is getting smaller.  Businesses are seeking out people who feel comfortable working with those of different cultures and backgrounds, and people willing to travel and live in other countries. Besides the world is just becoming a more complex place, and it is more important than ever for us to get to know our neighbors and understand where they are coming from. So, how can we prepare our children for entering into this global society? ….to read more stop over at The Homeschool Classroom where you can find me today.

Geography: Asia Study

Over the past couple of weeks we have been studying Asia as a part of our general introduction into world geography (then we will go on to specific countries). Before our summer break we had just completed Africa.

We have had so much fun studying about Asia, I have to say that geography is fast becoming one of my favorite subjects to do with Rylan (and Damian joined us for many of the activities too). Here is a list of the activities we did and the resources we used:

• We read the True Book: Asia together and created a fact sheet from it. We also read parts of several country specific picture books.

• We read about children living in Asia in Children Just Like Me.
  
  
• We colored and labeled a map of Asia.
  
  
• Rylan drew pictures of some Asian animals and colored in a Japanese lion mask.
  
  
• I printed off pictures of Asian people from Google images, and Rylan cut them out and glued them onto our Asia poster, as we discussed where the people came from.
  
  
• We put together an Asian poster of all the info we collected above, to put up in our school area.

• We read folktales from various Asian countries (some are in the book list shared at the end of this post).
  
  
• We listened to Asian music (see recommendations below) and learnt how to say hello in several of the languages (a fun song to use is the “Rapp Song” on the DVD Hooray for the World! by Red Grammer).
  
  
• We ate Asian food. I made khoresh bademjoon (a Persian dish), the boys helped me make fresh humus (Israeli/Arab food), we went out to a Chinese restaurant, we made havesh polo (a Persian styled rice with carrots), and we also ate a Japanese inspired meal together.
  
  
• I put together an Asian sensory tub for the boys to play with, in rice of course! I had envisioned a lot more going into this tub, but Asian items proved hard to find on this little island!
  
  
• We made Chinese lamps and origami sea creatures. We were also going to make a Japanese kite, but didn’t get round to it with the flu bug visiting our home during that week!

• We used our homemade tangram set (tangrams originated in Asia).
  
  
• Rylan completed Asian themed math worksheets, which I shared for download here.
  
  
• Asia is of special significance to Bahá'ís, since it is the birth place of our religion (much like all the other major religions in the world), so we read stories about the beginning of our Faith, learnt about pilgrimage (which Rylan has been on, but was very young), and we also started to create a wall of pictures and facts about Bahá'í places of significance, which we will add to as a part of our “travel” through the continents.

• We had fun going down memory lane as we looked through our pictures from our seven years of life in Israel.

{setting off on a several hour camel ride through the mountains along the Red Sea…that’s Grandpa with the cap on}

Website resources:

• Asia Kids Society
  
• GEO Puzzles - Asia
  
• Printable worksheets for use with Children Just Like Me: from Jolanthe at the Homeschool Classroom

A walk down memory lane – the beginning of our Asian study

Over the past couple of weeks we have been studying Asia as a part of our general introduction into world geography (before we go on to specific countries). Before our summer break we had just completed Africa.

As a lead into our study about the continent the boys and I first took a little walk down memory lane, just like we did in preparing for our African study. You see Asia, and more specifically, Israel, hold some very dear memories for us! Israel is, as for many major world religions, the Holy Land and place of pilgrimage for Bahá’ís. It also happens to the place I have spent 9 years of my life (7 with my husband, 2 with my parents when I was child), and it is the spot where both of my sweet boys were born. So, lots of memories!

{images of the Shrine of the Báb and terrace gardens around it – a Bahá’í Holy Place in Haifa, Israel}

Below are images taken from our apartment in Haifa. {The Shrine of the Báb at sunset}
{Bahá’í buildings and gardens}

{our last Haifa sunset before leaving our home of 7 years}

We loved living in Israel, and miss it often. While there we tried to see as much of the country as was possible. Despite its small size, there is SO much to see because every step you take (literally) there is a piece of history. There are some historical sites where you can actually view the layers of different civilizations that were built on top of each other.

{3 year old Rylan running down an ancient Roman street}

We also visited many of the other religious holy places in Israel.

{The Western Wall and Dome of the Rock in Old Jerusalem}

{The Church of the Beatitudes on the Sea of Galilee}

Tomorrow I will share the learning activities that we did during our study of Asia.

Asian themed skip counting and addition printables

While I am on the topic of math, I thought I’d share another set of math worksheets I made up for Rylan. We are studying the continent of Asia right now (just a general introduction, like we did with Africa before our summer break). I made a few math worksheets with an Asian theme to add to his workboxes this week, and I wanted to share them (I will be posting separately about the Asian study and everything else we are doing). Here are some sample pages:

Skip counting worksheets, which can be downloaded here or by clicking on the picture below:

Addition worksheets, which can be downloaded here or by clicking on the images below:

Added to: Preschool Corner and 5K too

Our 2010-2011 curriculum

Over the last week I have been doing a lot of research, sifting through catalogues, books, and websites; and have finally settled on an outline for our upcoming year. I ordered everything we did not already have yesterday, and both Rylan and I are eagerly awaiting their arrival (yes, I know we are total nerds! ;) ).
Here is Rylan’s 1st grade curriculum (oh my gosh, I have a first grader!?! Where did the time go?) Although I have this outline to follow, everything is subject to revision if it doesn’t work for us:
Reading: I purchased Rocket Phonics last year, and we worked through the first few lessons. Although I like what I have seen so far in the program, and we may continue to work through some of it, Rylan has by in large taken learning to read into his own hands and doing very well, so we will see if is is necessary to add this into our days. Either way, I don’t mind having purchased the program because I will use it for Damian eventually.
English language and writing skills: we will be starting with First Language Lessons this year. As well as using The Complete Writer: Level 1 Workbook for Writing with Ease.
Math: we will continue working through the Math-U-See program. I will also incorporate math work into other areas of study, as I have before, because Rylan does tire of working on math only through the workbook.
Handwriting: We will continue with Handwriting Without Tears, this year using My Printing Book.Spiritual/religious: We will continue with our virtue lessons as a part of our daily circle time, as well as learning new prayers. In addition, we will continue reading through "Children’s Stories From The Dawn-Breakers" and Rylan will also be working through the Baha’i Children’s Workbook.Spelling: We will be starting with All About Spelling using Level 1 of the program. I am very excited about this program because I have heard a lot of great things about it from many people.
History: I just ordered The Story of the World and its activity book.
Geography: For now we will continue moving through the continents as a general introduction to world geography.
Science: I read through Rebecca Rupp’s Home Learning Year by Year as a general guide for what should be covered for science in first grade, and to be honest Rylan has already covered most of the areas, since he has such a passionate love of science related subjects, especially animal and nature studies. So, I am not investing in a science curriculum of any kind. We are going to stick with interest led learning here, although I think I will plan a unit on the human body at some stage during the year.
Spanish: I just ordered Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) Homeschool Edition Level 1. And I am going to do it too! :)
Art: We will continue working through Drawing With Children. I am also looking into using Discovering Great Artists to incorporate some art appreciation (thank you Jolanthe for pointing out this book!).Music: Music appreciation with Ramtin on weekends, focusing on classical music.
PE: Rylan will continue with swimming lessons and gymnastics during the year.
Damian at 2 1/2 will have no set curriculum, of course, just lots of play and reading time! He will, however, participate in much of what we do, like virtue learning, prayers, circle time, and so on and so forth. As he gets older and I see the need for more focused learning I will incorporate it into his days, but what is most important for him now is to learn through play and to continue to develop a love of reading, so that will be our focus.
And I think that is a wrap! I am super excited about this year and cannot wait to get started! I am aiming to start in about two weeks, we have to wait for the materials I just ordered to arrive and for me to get a look through them and a feel for how to use them. I also need to fix up the school area. Over our unplanned (but much enjoyed) summer break our school area has become a storehouse for various items I have piled up to go be sold on craigslist or go to charities. I need to actually get those things out the door so we have a nice, organized space to work in again!

Learning About Africa Part 2 (printables included)

So I am finally getting round to posting part 2 of our African Studies (part 1 here). I have been putting it off because I knew I would have to gather various images, books, and info and honestly, I feel like I am leaving something out, but hey, at least you'll get the general idea of what we covered! We started by reading general information/facts about the African continent and then we cut and paste this poster together with the facts and images we found in our research. Rylan also colored and labeled a continental map and some African animal coloring sheets I found for him online. Rylan put together this South African flag puzzle that I made for him, and we glued it onto the poster as well. After going through this book, Rylan built the included African savannah diorama.

For maths work with an African flavor I created these "African Addition Worksheets" which you can download here if you are interested in using them.

I also made these "African animal skip counting worksheets" which you can download here.

I put together some African themed writing practice, using this site.

Rylan completed this word maze after reading Lions at Lunchtime with Dad (bedtime reading). I downloaded it from a teacher resource site, but I cannot find the link for it right now!

We took a close look at all the African art we have in our home - my husband and I collected many beautiful pieces before leaving Africa. We have various stone, metal, and wood carvings, bead work, woven baskets, small pieces of furniture, drums, clay pots, and even a clay mask hanging over our television. After this Rylan made an African mask himself:

We also listened to African music and read many picture and non-fiction books, most of which can be viewed in the carousels below. I had planned to cook up an African meal, but we didn't get round to that, we may do it sometime in the near future, but I am kind of hoping my sister-in-laws will send us some biltong instead! ;)

This has been addded to: Preschool Corner & 5K too