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Russell Ramblings: Water & a New Phonics Idea

9/29/2016

10 Comments

 
​“And what is our Bible verse for our ‘water’ unit?” I asked my boys.  They quickly spouted off, “Rain is falling all around, it falls on field and tree, it rains on the umbrellas here, and on the ships at sea.”  (This is a poem called “Rain” by Robert Louis Stevenson.)
 
“Hmmm.  Not quite, “I replied.  “But I’m glad you remember the poem we’ve been reciting each day!” 
 
Yet another feature I appreciate from our My Father’s World kindergarten curriculum is that there is usually a poem or song to recite/sing each day of the unit.  This is a fun part of our morning routine when we begin school each day.  This unit, without even intending it, my boys memorized the “Rain” poem we recited every day.
 
We continued our water unit from last week with an activity to demonstrate the word “dissolve.”  We added sugar to a quart jar of water and canola oil to another quart jar of water.  After much shaking, we observed how the sugar dissolved and the oil did not.
Picture
​The last day of the unit for our nature study time, I had the boys observe some creek water in a glass jar.  The only problem was – it appeared perfectly clear just like the tap water I had put in another jar for comparison.  So, we switched it to a discussion on what might be dissolved in the creek water and why we shouldn’t drink it.  (Just another example of why teachers should always try out their activities first!)  I just assumed our creek water would have some dirt or floaties in it, but it was perfectly clear. 
 
AJ continues to read through the Bob Books series and progress through his My Father’s World first grade reading and math.  I had an inspiration today to help spice up his phonics lesson.  Phonics is not his favorite part of the day.  MFW gives a page of about 20-30 words to read for one phonics lesson.  Since AJ isn’t at a point where this is manageable without frustration, we do 10-15 words a day.  Here a snapshot of his reading workbook to help you understand what we are doing.
Picture
The words are laid out in rows and columns, and it quickly becomes boring for AJ.  Today, we were finishing up a page, and I wanted him to review the words.  Rather than asking him to read them all again, I drew a compass rose in the bottom corner of the page.  Next, I had him find a certain word, such as hole.  Then I said, “Travel south to find went.”  Once he found went, I said something like, “Travel west to find ​sale.”  And on and on.  AJ found this a fun way to review words.  This is a simple activity you could do with any child simply by writing words they need to review in rows and columns.  As a benefit, it reinforces directions.  As AJ gets better at this activity, I will add in more difficult directions like southwest and northeast, etc.
 
Well, we are finished with our “water” unit and ready to fly into our “insect” unit.  The only problem is that our ants haven’t arrived in the mail yet.  Yes (shiver), I ordered ants as our curriculum suggested to put into our ant farm.  I’m hoping they don’t get out of the ant farm, and I’m hoping they arrive before we’re off to the hospital for Baby day (which is coming up in October!!).
 
How was your week?

This post is linked to the weekly wrap-up at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.
10 Comments
Melissa Newell link
9/30/2016 07:59:42 am

nice week! Ours was the last week of our relaxed summer school schedule...Monday we hit it hard! Enjoy the weekend!

Reply
Vanessa link
9/30/2016 08:09:24 pm

Back to school - the teacher in me loves that time of year :) We started in mid-August this year with plans to take off a few weeks for our baby in October. Blessings as you begin your year! Thanks for stopping by!

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Lucinda link
9/30/2016 09:43:40 am

I love the creative way you livened up phonics! I've been there with the strangely clear creek water, too. Sounds like you had a good learning conversation about it, though. :)

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Vanessa link
9/30/2016 08:10:33 pm

Thanks, Lucinda! Yes, it was a good learning conversation - especially for boys who like to experiment with anything (such as creek water) in their mouths. Thanks for stopping by!

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Chrystal
9/30/2016 10:08:06 am

Such a fun looking week! You never know what can't be seen in that creek water, good switch mamma!

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Vanessa link
9/30/2016 08:13:44 pm

Thanks, Chrystal! Yes, you never know what is in creek water; we know enough about upstream that we don't want to drink ours, but it is great to play in (for which we are thankful!). Thanks for stopping by!

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Mother of 3 link
9/30/2016 07:53:16 pm

I can not tell you how many science experiments (or just lessons in general) that failed or turned out totally different than I had planned. At least you turned it around and they still learned something.

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Vanessa link
9/30/2016 08:16:09 pm

Those moments happen to all of us! If nothing else, our children learn from we mamas admitting our mistake/lack of prep/misjudgment. And, sometimes, we can turn it into a lesson without them realizing it was an unintended lesson! Thanks for stopping by!

Reply
COLLEEN MOCHNOC
10/1/2016 07:36:26 pm

I REALLY ENJOY ALL OF YOUR BLOGS
LOOK FORWARD TO READING ALL OF THEM
HAVE A GOOD WEEK

Reply
Vanessa link
10/7/2016 12:43:43 pm

Thanks SO much, Colleen! I appreciate you as a loyal reader! I hope to have an especially exciting blog here soon with Russell baby #5 :)

Reply



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    Vanessa from Russell Homestead.  Follower of the Lord Jesus, wife of my knight in shining armor, mother of 5 wonderful children, and joint-keeper of the Russell homestead.  Thanks for stopping by!
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"The earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." Psalm 24:1

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