When I tried to think of a title for this post, I kept coming back to the phrase spring learning. It sounds kind of silly, but actually to us it makes sense. One of the great advantages of home education is immersing ourselves in the day - the natural day. If it's sunny or rainy or perhaps that gray and mellow kind of day, we feel it. It is part of our day and it becomes very much part of our learning. I am so glad for that for my children. I love it that they watch goldfinches while they work on sentence structure and listen to bird song during math. I can only imagine that the fresh air coming in through the windows does their expanding brains a world of good. It certainly does mine.
Here's a snippet of our spring learning today. :)
Note #1: We got a bit of a late start. EB found himself in a rather messy situation so a morning bath was in order. The older two kept themselves busy while I oversaw EB's bath and then threw in a small laundry. While EB bathed we played with the small plastic animal collection. We sorted out the animals that would live in water, and practiced saying their names.
Roundabouts 9:30 we were back on track:
Math
- The boys completed their lessons while munching on Honey-Nut-O's and listening to the birds in the woods.
Spelling
- Catholic Spellers A and E - check.
Grammar
- Language of God A - check
- Lessons in Writing Sentences Book 1 - check
- Spent some time admiring the bright yellow goldfinches just outside the window (see photo below).
Note #2: EB threw up, and that confirmed it; he has a stomach bug. Got it all cleaned up (him too) and readied his bed for a nap. Postponed the backyard nature study until after he was asleep.
History
- SOTW2: The End of the World (The Plague)
- mapwork - check
- wheel of transmission - check
Note #3: Took a break to look all over this site recommended by Theresa. Printed out the light saber cross section to show Daddy. Mail came: Bookworm's Cobblestone (D-Day issue) and a Disney Movie Club offer that the boys pored over while I made lunch:
- Whole wheat pb&j's, chopped dates and salted peanuts, cheddar crackers, lemonade and sugar-free pumpkin pie for dessert
Nature Study
- We took a nature walk around the yard. (See photos below.) We were looking for signs of change. It was bright and windy, still pretty cool. A nice fresh early spring day.
Religion
- Read "Jesus Enters Jerusalem" in Children's Bible; discussed Palm Sunday.
Science
- Read Our Wet World while CJ sorted plastic animals by water habitat. Tomorrow we will make a poster of aquatic ecosystems.
- Also read "Foods from the Sea" in this book and brainstormed what to serve this Friday for our Home Fish Fry (we'll miss our parish Fish Fry - long story - so we're doing one at home):
- clam chowder
- scallops
- fish sticks
- onion rings
- french fries
We finished up by 1:30 and now the boys are watching Zoboomafoo (you bet I count it as science!). The red squirrel is under the feeders right now, and two beautiful mourning doves are nestled in the sunny grass nearby. The wind is howling all around the house and the sun is splashing across the floor. I just love these early spring days (can you tell?). :)
And last but not least, here are our photos from today's nature walk:
Tiny crocus shoots pushing up towards the light.
The goldfinches are getting so bright!
Couldn't resist posting one more finch picture.
A forsythia bud shows promise ...
As do the very tips of this large tree.
We'll have to look up this fungi in our field guide.
The river out back. Wish I had sound to go with it!
