What an intriguing beginning to our new adventure, A Wrinkle In Time.
This week we discussed the characters in our story. A lot of us could relate to Meg Murry the way she thinks she is not smart, even though she is a genius. She believes that she is plain-looking when it is so obvious to others just how attractive she is.
We defined what INTUITION is, and challenged ourselves to trust our gut more often.
We sipped on Charles Wallace's hot chocolate while we discussed the character, Mrs. Whatsit.
(ask your student what the difference is between hot cocoa and hot chocolate)
Jael was our first volunteer to be transformed into the character, Mrs. Whatsit. We dressed her in a shawl, and eight scarves. Then topped the tramp with a man's wool fedora! What fun it was to re-create the scene when Mrs. Whatsit showed up to Meg's house that dark and stormy night. Other characters joined into the scene, and the scarves and hat were recycled onto a new Mrs. Whatsit, and the scene was acted out over and again because it is such fun to pretend.
This week, please read chapters five through eight.
We will continue our discussion of Meg and Mrs. Whatsit and TESSERACT travel.
Friday, March 10, 2017
Friday, March 3, 2017
Julie's big decision
This week, we finished up our discussion of our book, Julie of the Wolves.
Those students who read the ending to this book agreed that the ending was both climactic and disappointing.
Miyax chooses to migrate closer to the river, and builds herself an igloo made from hard, dry snow.
We watched a video of some Inuits showing us how to expertly build an igloo in 40 below weather. Amazing!
Then, we built our own "igloos" using mini marshmallows.
What if you were Miyax's position? Would you choose to continue your journey to San Francisco like you planned? Would you choose to go live with your father? Or would you choose to live with your adopted family of wolves out on the tundra?
Our next book is "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle. Get started reading right away. Students will need to have read up to chapter four by next week's discussion.
Those students who read the ending to this book agreed that the ending was both climactic and disappointing.
Miyax chooses to migrate closer to the river, and builds herself an igloo made from hard, dry snow.
We watched a video of some Inuits showing us how to expertly build an igloo in 40 below weather. Amazing!
Then, we built our own "igloos" using mini marshmallows.
What if you were Miyax's position? Would you choose to continue your journey to San Francisco like you planned? Would you choose to go live with your father? Or would you choose to live with your adopted family of wolves out on the tundra?
Our next book is "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeline L'Engle. Get started reading right away. Students will need to have read up to chapter four by next week's discussion.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
Part 2
Last week, we had a discussion about Part 2 of the book, Julie of the Wolves.
Part 2 describes Miyax's life before she ran away, before she learns to survive among the wolves.
We talked about her becoming a child bride, and suggested that maybe this was their native custom of "adopting" a new member into the family. We agreed that if any of us were to be treated as disrespectfully as Daniel treated Miyax, then we have every right to leave the relationship immediately.
Our discussion then led to all of the things that Miyax learned from her father. He taught her to hunt, to preserve food, to sew, to read and understand the nature around her. What have WE learned from our fathers that serve us well today?
Since Miyax was very skilled at sewing caribou fur in to muklaks and mittens, we thought it might be a good survival skill for us to learn, also. Each student was given a section of caribou fur to make an article of clothing with. Most chose to make mittens, but I also saw furry ear muffs, and a furry bag, too. Sewing fur is tricky!
Continue reading Part 3 of the book, and be ready to discuss on March 2nd.
Ask yourself "What is the THEME of this book"?
Part 2 describes Miyax's life before she ran away, before she learns to survive among the wolves.
We talked about her becoming a child bride, and suggested that maybe this was their native custom of "adopting" a new member into the family. We agreed that if any of us were to be treated as disrespectfully as Daniel treated Miyax, then we have every right to leave the relationship immediately.
Our discussion then led to all of the things that Miyax learned from her father. He taught her to hunt, to preserve food, to sew, to read and understand the nature around her. What have WE learned from our fathers that serve us well today?
Since Miyax was very skilled at sewing caribou fur in to muklaks and mittens, we thought it might be a good survival skill for us to learn, also. Each student was given a section of caribou fur to make an article of clothing with. Most chose to make mittens, but I also saw furry ear muffs, and a furry bag, too. Sewing fur is tricky!
Continue reading Part 3 of the book, and be ready to discuss on March 2nd.
Ask yourself "What is the THEME of this book"?
Thursday, February 16, 2017
Julie of the Wolves
We started out our discussion today by getting familiar with Miyax and her world. We were able to find Barrow, Alaska on a map and visually tracked her long journey to San Francisco. Seeing how close Alaska is to the North Pole helped us to understand her dilemma of "midnight sun" and lack of navigational stars in the summertime.
Jonny helped us to better understand the science behind a frost heave, and Corban and Benjamin offered some great ideas on ways we could build a sod house.
We learned more about the author, Jean Craighead George, and watched a video clip of her communicating with her dog, the same way Miyax learned to talk with the wolves. We all agreed that Ms George's knowledge of nature helps us to believe the events in this story are realistic and true.
After practicing our own wolf howls, we finished our immersion by playing a game that Eskimo children play. It is called Tingmiulang, and it uses tiny clay ducks that point their beaks at the winner. I challenged the students to make their own set of tingmiulang ducks the next time they find riverside clay.
Next week, come prepared to continue our survival discussion having read up to Part 2 in the book.
Jonny helped us to better understand the science behind a frost heave, and Corban and Benjamin offered some great ideas on ways we could build a sod house.
We learned more about the author, Jean Craighead George, and watched a video clip of her communicating with her dog, the same way Miyax learned to talk with the wolves. We all agreed that Ms George's knowledge of nature helps us to believe the events in this story are realistic and true.
After practicing our own wolf howls, we finished our immersion by playing a game that Eskimo children play. It is called Tingmiulang, and it uses tiny clay ducks that point their beaks at the winner. I challenged the students to make their own set of tingmiulang ducks the next time they find riverside clay.
Next week, come prepared to continue our survival discussion having read up to Part 2 in the book.
Monday, December 12, 2016
Summer of the Monkeys
December's book is SUMMER of the MONKEYS. Boy! Are we enjoying this book! I think this one is my favorite story so far.
The first week, we learned all about the author, Wilson Rawls and how he loved telling stories, and writing stories. He grew up in a very rural home in the Ozark hills and since there wasn't a school nearby- he was home schooled by his mother. She would read him books like Little Red Hen, and Little Red Riding Hood. Wilson thought those were GIRL books, and had little to no interest in reading anything at all. Until....his grandmother sent the book The Call of the Wild by Jack London. That book became his most prized possession, and he carried it with him every where he went. He decided at a young age that he was going to tell stories with DOGS in them. Where the Red Fern Grows was his first published story. Summer of the Monkeys came later, and we're so glad it did.
Last week, we used our creative minds to build some humane monkey traps. We used things from my recycle bin, using apples as monkey bait - and I've got to say how impressed I am with the clever engineering they were able to come up with to catch monkeys of all sizes.
This week- we will wrap up our discussion on the book while tasting a "huckleberry pie that could put muscles on a grapevine".
******** As an incentive - I'll award all readers who have read up to Chapter 15 ************
************with their own vintage Ozark Jay Berry pocket weapon. ***************
***Readers who finish the entire book will also be supplied ammunition to go with the weapon***
The first week, we learned all about the author, Wilson Rawls and how he loved telling stories, and writing stories. He grew up in a very rural home in the Ozark hills and since there wasn't a school nearby- he was home schooled by his mother. She would read him books like Little Red Hen, and Little Red Riding Hood. Wilson thought those were GIRL books, and had little to no interest in reading anything at all. Until....his grandmother sent the book The Call of the Wild by Jack London. That book became his most prized possession, and he carried it with him every where he went. He decided at a young age that he was going to tell stories with DOGS in them. Where the Red Fern Grows was his first published story. Summer of the Monkeys came later, and we're so glad it did.
Last week, we used our creative minds to build some humane monkey traps. We used things from my recycle bin, using apples as monkey bait - and I've got to say how impressed I am with the clever engineering they were able to come up with to catch monkeys of all sizes.
This week- we will wrap up our discussion on the book while tasting a "huckleberry pie that could put muscles on a grapevine".
******** As an incentive - I'll award all readers who have read up to Chapter 15 ************
************with their own vintage Ozark Jay Berry pocket weapon. ***************
***Readers who finish the entire book will also be supplied ammunition to go with the weapon***
Friday, November 4, 2016
An Introduction to Yorkshire
This week, we opened up the discussion for November's book, All Creatures Great and Small.
We heard mixed reviews and feelings about the book itself. Some found life as a country veterinarian to be "gross" and "boring" while others (including myself) found the stories to be humorous and interesting.
Our lesson was taught by Teacher Stephanie. Since her own mother was from Yorkshire, she was able to share some interesting facts and foods with us. We learned that when Dr. Herriot moved to Yorkshire, it was like moving to a whole new country with having to learn a new language/dialect, new foods, and new people. Stephanie brought some English shortbread and some ginger beer for us to snack on while we ooh-ed and ahh-ed at photos of the lush, green country side and the animals that reside there. We learned that they wear "wellies" on their feet, "kegs" on their legs, and they work to "addle some brass".
We wrapped up our Yorkshire experience by watching a couple of videos demonstrating the distinct Yorkshire dialect. It sounded so foreign to our ears, but it was fun to hear the different way of speaking English. We then attempted to speak a sentence using the new phrases that we learned. It's a lot more difficult than we thought it would be, but it was really fun and silly.
Next week, come prepared to train as a Veterinary Apprentice!
We heard mixed reviews and feelings about the book itself. Some found life as a country veterinarian to be "gross" and "boring" while others (including myself) found the stories to be humorous and interesting.
Our lesson was taught by Teacher Stephanie. Since her own mother was from Yorkshire, she was able to share some interesting facts and foods with us. We learned that when Dr. Herriot moved to Yorkshire, it was like moving to a whole new country with having to learn a new language/dialect, new foods, and new people. Stephanie brought some English shortbread and some ginger beer for us to snack on while we ooh-ed and ahh-ed at photos of the lush, green country side and the animals that reside there. We learned that they wear "wellies" on their feet, "kegs" on their legs, and they work to "addle some brass".
We wrapped up our Yorkshire experience by watching a couple of videos demonstrating the distinct Yorkshire dialect. It sounded so foreign to our ears, but it was fun to hear the different way of speaking English. We then attempted to speak a sentence using the new phrases that we learned. It's a lot more difficult than we thought it would be, but it was really fun and silly.
Next week, come prepared to train as a Veterinary Apprentice!
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Our next book...
Our next book on the calendar is All Creatures Great and Small.
I need to apologize to all of you about this one.
I admit that most of the books on our list are ones that I personally have not read yet, but wanted to.
All Creatures Great and Small has some excellent reviews and some really fun activities for us to engage in.
...BUT...
I just discovered that this book is 500 pages long!! Ack! Obviously, I wasn't aware of this fact when it was selected.
I know that I will not be able to read all 500 pages, and I certainly will not expect the students to, either.
I will be listening to this one via free audio book.
Please accept my apologies, and know that I've learned an important lesson about book selection research. Let's make the best out of the situation, and read/listen to some version of the story so we can still enjoy our hands-on activities, imagining what life is like for a Country Veterinarian.
I need to apologize to all of you about this one.
I admit that most of the books on our list are ones that I personally have not read yet, but wanted to.
All Creatures Great and Small has some excellent reviews and some really fun activities for us to engage in.
...BUT...
I just discovered that this book is 500 pages long!! Ack! Obviously, I wasn't aware of this fact when it was selected.
I know that I will not be able to read all 500 pages, and I certainly will not expect the students to, either.
I will be listening to this one via free audio book.
Please accept my apologies, and know that I've learned an important lesson about book selection research. Let's make the best out of the situation, and read/listen to some version of the story so we can still enjoy our hands-on activities, imagining what life is like for a Country Veterinarian.
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