This morning I decided to put together a small care package for our World Vision sponsored child Nedira. We have only been sponsoring her for a few months (our previous boy in India graduated out of the program). We have had excellent communication with her family - it's been a delight to receive the letters.
Adrianna and Nate both decorated a card with stickers and drawings for Nedira and her family. I also included a floppy Canada hat and a Christmas card for her family and a few stickers etc. Anyway, while we were putting the package together, I took the time to gently teach the kids about Ethiopia and Africa. Then we watched some videos on Ethiopian landscape and Ethiopian food, listened to some Ethiopian music and learned a little bit about street kids in Addis Ababa and the difference between their lives and our lives here.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
What We've Been Reading This Week
1. For the Children's Hour
by Carolyn S. Bailey
488 pgs. Yesterday's Classics
Originally published in 1906 by Milton Bradley Co.
We've been reading one story a day in the afternoon at tea/snack time. Adrianna is surprising me with her understanding of the stories as well as with her increasing attention span to listen even with no pictures. So far we've read the first three stories:
1. The Little Grey Grandmother
This story was too advanced for both of them, however, I think I'll revisit it in a few years when I focus more on character.
2. Grandmother's Curtains
Adrianna "got" this one and understood what the little girl was up to.
3. Hans and the Wonderful Flower
This story sparked a great discussion on what we do if we were given a bag of precious jewels. Adrianna would make jewelry. Nate would put them in the money box at church. Cute.
3. The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh
by A.A Milne. illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard
344 pgs. Dutton Children's Books
Another Value Village find. I paid a grand total of $3.99! Wow!
Adrianna (and occasionally Nate), really enjoys these stories. I caught her "reading" them to Nate (narration!!). Cute. I enjoy remembering hearing these stories as a child. Just classic wonderful.
We've read the first three stories. It was delightful to watch Adrianna "get it" while reading "In Which Pooh and Piglet Go Hunting and Nearly Catch a Woozle". All of a sudden she yelled - "it's them! It's THEIR own footprints!" awesome!
4. Tickety Tock by Jason Robert Brown. Illustrated by Mary GrandePre
32 pg.
I thought this story was beautiful! Who doesn't want to go back in time and do things differently? But, I think the concept was lost on my kids. Nate liked the "tick tock clocks" and I think Adrianna liked the rhythm of the rhymes, but I was the one who liked the story.
5. Frog and Toad Books
by Arnold Lobel
We are thoroughly enjoying these books also! Both kids will sit and listen to the stories. Such gentle and real friendships. Such emotion. So few words and yet so much conveyed. Love it.
by Carolyn S. Bailey
488 pgs. Yesterday's Classics
Originally published in 1906 by Milton Bradley Co.
We've been reading one story a day in the afternoon at tea/snack time. Adrianna is surprising me with her understanding of the stories as well as with her increasing attention span to listen even with no pictures. So far we've read the first three stories:
1. The Little Grey Grandmother
This story was too advanced for both of them, however, I think I'll revisit it in a few years when I focus more on character.
2. Grandmother's Curtains
Adrianna "got" this one and understood what the little girl was up to.
3. Hans and the Wonderful Flower
This story sparked a great discussion on what we do if we were given a bag of precious jewels. Adrianna would make jewelry. Nate would put them in the money box at church. Cute.
Edited by Olive Beaupre Miller
I had the very good fortune of stumbling across the ENTIRE 12 volume set of this beautiful series in Value Village. I paid a grand total of $10 for the entire set! I had never heard of this book series before but I could instantly tell that they were quality books. Turns out I was right! Owing to the value of the books, I keep them safe in my room and bring them out to read to the kids at bedtime. Adrianna thoroughly enjoys the stories in Volume 2 and I thoroughly enjoy the beauty and quality of the book.
3. The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh
by A.A Milne. illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard
344 pgs. Dutton Children's Books
Another Value Village find. I paid a grand total of $3.99! Wow!
Adrianna (and occasionally Nate), really enjoys these stories. I caught her "reading" them to Nate (narration!!). Cute. I enjoy remembering hearing these stories as a child. Just classic wonderful.
We've read the first three stories. It was delightful to watch Adrianna "get it" while reading "In Which Pooh and Piglet Go Hunting and Nearly Catch a Woozle". All of a sudden she yelled - "it's them! It's THEIR own footprints!" awesome!
32 pg.
I thought this story was beautiful! Who doesn't want to go back in time and do things differently? But, I think the concept was lost on my kids. Nate liked the "tick tock clocks" and I think Adrianna liked the rhythm of the rhymes, but I was the one who liked the story.
5. Frog and Toad Books
by Arnold Lobel
We are thoroughly enjoying these books also! Both kids will sit and listen to the stories. Such gentle and real friendships. Such emotion. So few words and yet so much conveyed. Love it.
Amazing Fungi Time-lapse
Adrianna loves trees and mushrooms and forests. She found this (and other) time-lapse videos of mushrooms growing absolutely mesmerizing. Very cool.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Get Those Kids Outdoors!
Here is a wonderful aticle about how nature study (ie: just being outside in nature) really helps the brain to absorb materiel and learn.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Friday Fieldtrip
Homeschool day at Doon Heritage Village. It's a great outdoor living museum of life in the early 1900s in our local region. My kids went a little bonkers running around so I didn't get much pictures - just one while they sat and ate lunch!
The big hits:
1. Train Engine 894 - a CP engine constructed in 1911. Nathaniel LOVES trains right now. We've been watching a lot of YouTube videos of trains and Nate literally squeals with delight. Both kids spent a lot of time examining the wheels and climbing up to see where the coal was put into the tender. At some point, Anna went into the station and looked at the pictures of a steam engine and really wants to know how a steam engine works. Daddy will explain it tomorrow.
2. Horse and wagon ride. What kid doesn't love a horse and wagon ride?! Nate's favorite was when the horses galloped - he yelled "going very very very very fast!!" and laughed his crazy laugh.
3. The church and Christmas hymn singing. There was a simple organ and two ladies in period costumes singing Christmas hymns. Anna leaned over and whispered "what IS this??" - she LOVED it. Nate kept asking "piano? piano?" - he loves instruments and music.
We were all quite tired (and grouchy) afterwards but it was a nice day.
The big hits:
1. Train Engine 894 - a CP engine constructed in 1911. Nathaniel LOVES trains right now. We've been watching a lot of YouTube videos of trains and Nate literally squeals with delight. Both kids spent a lot of time examining the wheels and climbing up to see where the coal was put into the tender. At some point, Anna went into the station and looked at the pictures of a steam engine and really wants to know how a steam engine works. Daddy will explain it tomorrow.
2. Horse and wagon ride. What kid doesn't love a horse and wagon ride?! Nate's favorite was when the horses galloped - he yelled "going very very very very fast!!" and laughed his crazy laugh.
3. The church and Christmas hymn singing. There was a simple organ and two ladies in period costumes singing Christmas hymns. Anna leaned over and whispered "what IS this??" - she LOVED it. Nate kept asking "piano? piano?" - he loves instruments and music.
We were all quite tired (and grouchy) afterwards but it was a nice day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)