BLOG KEY
General:
Act – Activity
Ch – Chapter
Ex – Exercise
L – Lesson
p – Page(s)
Math:
HIG – Home Instructor’s Guide
TB – Textbook
WB – Workbook
FP – Facts Practice (A, B, C, or D denotes which sheet to use)
Science:
SG – Student Guide
USE – Usborne Encyclopedia of Science
KSE – Kingfisher Encyclopedia of Science
COMING SOON...
Wednesday, August 15 – Spirit Day! Students may wear Fortis spirit shirts with uniform bottoms.
Wednesday, August 29 – Pizza Day! Students may wear Fortis spirit shirts with uniform bottoms.
DISCIPLESHIP: Courage
This month, we’ll introduce the virtue of courage as we discuss the explorers who risked their lives time and again to explore uncharted waters. We'll also take a peek into the life of David, who wrote many of his Psalms while on the run from his enemies.
MATH:
- Interpret numbers up to 1 million in terms of place value.
- Read and write 6- and 7-digit numbers and corresponding number words.
- Compare and order numbers within 10 million.
- Understand how big 1 million is.
- Round whole numbers to the nearest 10, 100 or 1000.
- Understand the symbol ≈ to mean “is approximately” or “is about.”
- Review multiplication and division of tens hundreds, or thousands by a one-digit whole number.
- Estimate the answers in addition and subtraction of whole numbers.
- Estimate the answers in multiplication and division by a 1-digit whole number.
Please grade all work by first indicating which answers are incorrect and then giving your student an opportunity to correct his/her mistakes before offering assistance. Initial the top when all problems have been completed correctly. Practice and review exercises should always be completed on notebook paper and turned in as homework on the following school day. I will check workbooks for completion periodically.
MATH FACTS:
Please make copies of the four math facts pages (A-D) that were sent home in binders (inside front pocket). These are master copies. You will use these all year. We'll be using sheet A (addition) for the first few weeks. Here are the instructions for administering facts practice sheets:
1. Set a timer for five minutes.
2. When the five minutes is up, if your child has not finished, please mark the place where he/she left off, and then have the student finish the sheet.
3. Parents, please use the key sent home to check your child's work. Have him/her make any corrections.
3. Turn the sheet in as homework on the next school day. I will take it as a homework completion grade.
READING:
- Assess reading levels of incoming students.
We will spend this week doing reading assessments before beginning our first assigned reader next week.
WRITING/VOCABULARY:
- Learn the definitions of the vocabulary words and be able to correctly use each word in a sentence.
- Learn dictionary skills.
- Write key word outlines.
- Be able to retell a story using only a key word outline.
- Understand the importance of using good structure when you are writing.
COMPOSITION:
We’ll work on creating good key word outlines from a historical reading passage. Retelling is a critical part of this process, so please don’t skip that part of the assignment.
VOCABULARY:
1. Cut out the SHEET of vocab cards for this week's lesson. Do not cut out the individual cards. Hole punch it, and place it behind the "Writing &d Grammar" tab.
2. Study the definitions and the parts of speech for each word. Color the picture on the front of the card. (This is an especially helpful step for kids who are visual and/or kinesthetic learners.)
3. Use a dictionary to look up the word.
2. Study the definitions and the parts of speech for each word. Color the picture on the front of the card. (This is an especially helpful step for kids who are visual and/or kinesthetic learners.)
3. Use a dictionary to look up the word.
4. On the reverse side of the card, students should fill in the blank with the word and read the sentence. Then, they should write an original sentence with the word that is significantly different from the sentence given. You might have to help your child with this part. Students may use the dictionary to find a sample sentence.
5. If possible, students should write at least one synonym and one antonym for each word, using a dictionary or a thesaurus if necessary.
6. Look up the etymology of the word in the dictionary. Discuss the meaning. See if you can brainstorm some other words that come from the same root or roots.
6. Look up the etymology of the word in the dictionary. Discuss the meaning. See if you can brainstorm some other words that come from the same root or roots.
SPELLING:
- Review spelling and syllable division rules.
- Review phonograms.
This week, we'll review phonograms and syllable division rules from previous levels.
GRAMMAR:
- Know what synonyms and antonyms are and understand their value in good writing.
- Know what nouns and verbs are and be able to identify them in sentences.
- Be able to name the four types of sentences and be able to identify them.
LATIN:
- Learn ten vocabulary words and the chapter maxim.
- Memorize the first conjugation "amo" chart.
HISTORY:
- Know that men were created with a spirit of curiosity and a desire to explore and seek new adventures.
- Understand that native peoples and cultures were already established in the Americas when explorers arrived.
- Know that Erik the Red and Leif Erikson were Vikings who explored the southeastern parts of Canada.
JOURNALS: Students will have weekly history journal assignments that will vary from things like writing paragraphs, to conducting basic research, to completing simple projects. This week, they simply need to think about the answers to discussion questions and jot down their thoughts and ideas, using complete sentences, so they will be ready to participate and share with the class on Monday. This “thinking time” is a critical part of good Socratic dialogue, so please do not allow your child to rush through it or skip it. Students will receive a homework grade each week based on how much time and effort they put into the journal assignments. Before you get started, be sure to read the instructions on the first page of the journal.
SCIENCE:
- Know that cells are the basic building blocks of living things.
- Know the basic differences between plant and animal cells.
- Know that DNA is contained in the nucleus of a cell.
- Be introduced to the names and functions of other cell organelles.
GEOGRAPHY:
- Develop a heart of compassion for the peoples of the world who don't yet know Christ.
- Know the names and locations of the world’s seven continents and five oceans.
- Understand how the northern and southern hemispheres are different, and how they work together to keep the plant ion balance.
MEMORY WORK:
Scripture: We'll spend the year working on our scripture memorization of Philippians 2:1-18 (KJV). Our intent with scripture memory is for students to hide God’s word deep in their hearts so that they can call upon it for comfort, reassurance, and strength in times of trouble. With that in mind, we will not be testing over this scripture, but we will be reciting it together as a school every morning during assembly time. Here is a link to an article that explains why we generally prefer to have our students memorize the King James Version.
Geography: We'll begin working on the continents and oceans this week. A hard copy of the maps can be found behind the "memory" tab in your child's binder. Additional maps, as well as MP3s of the songs, are available at this link: Geography Resources.
History: The bulk of our history memory work for the year will involve memorizing the entire 13-minute history timeline song. Here is a link to the first four minutes, which is what we'll test over first. We will also memorize a portion of the Declaration of Independence (bolded portion only) and 12 key dates. We will test over the first four dates on 10/24:
1. Columbus Sails to America - 1492
2. Founding of Jamestown - 1607
3. Landing of the Pilgrims - 1620
4. Salem Witch Trials - 1692-1693
1. Columbus Sails to America - 1492
2. Founding of Jamestown - 1607
3. Landing of the Pilgrims - 1620
4. Salem Witch Trials - 1692-1693
Poetry: This week, we'll introduce the first of our four poems for the year, Proverbs 2:1-11.