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...
Monday, September 3 - Labor Day. NO SCHOOL!
Monday, September 10 - Picture Day. Please return forms and payment to school.
Wednesday, September 12 - Spirit Day. Students may wear spirit shirts with jeans.
Wednesday, September 12 - NEST (Nurture, Encourage, Strengthen and Train) Meeting for parents, 9 a.m. in the Sanctuary
Monday, September 10 - Picture Day. Please return forms and payment to school.
Wednesday, September 12 - Spirit Day. Students may wear spirit shirts with jeans.
Wednesday, September 12 - NEST (Nurture, Encourage, Strengthen and Train) Meeting for parents, 9 a.m. in the Sanctuary
MATH:
- Divide a 3-digit whole number by a 2-digit whole number where the quotient may be a two-digit number.
- Divide a 4-digit whole number by a 2-digit whole number.
- Review for upcoming test.
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:
- Engage in meaningful Socratic dialogue about Phantom Tollbooth.
- Increase vocabulary.
WRITING/VOCABULARY:
- Learn the definitions of the vocabulary words and be able to correctly use each word in a sentence.
- Know the elements of a story sequence chart: characters/setting, conflict/plot, and climax/resolution.
COMPOSITION:
This week, we’ll finish a final draft of our Mayflower composition.
VOCABULARY ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS:
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 & 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:
- Assess mastery of Step 4 words.
- Learn to spell words ending in IVE.
GRAMMAR:
- Know what a preposition and an object of a preposition are, be able to identify them in a sentence and include them in a sentence diagram.
- Be able to name a preposition if asked.
LATIN:
- Review for upcoming test.
- Know the vocabulary words, maxims, and charts for Ch1-4.
- Know the chapter maxims for Ch1-4
HISTORY:
- Know the names of explorers Ponce de Leon, Magellan, and Verrazano and know their contributions to Europe's understanding of the New World.
SCIENCE:
- Know that ecology is the study of relationships between plants, animals, and their environment.
- Complete a diorama demonstrating a biome or habitat.
- Write a paper describing the biome or habitat.
- Appreciate the intricacy, interdependence, and beauty of God's creation
BIOME OR HABITAT DIORAMA PROJECT: Students need to choose a biome (grassland, ocean, rainforest, arctic, desert, etc.) or habitat (a smaller, more specific region of a biome, such as a coral reef in an ocean) and do some research about the types of plants and animals that live there. They need to create a diorama, which can be as simple as a shoebox with paper plants and animals taped or glued into it. You may either snap a picture and email it to me, or have your student bring it to school on Monday to share with the class. Students also need to write a 3-paragraph paper to accompany the diorama. I want students to marvel at the way that God created animals to be able to adapt to changes in their environment! Here is an outline of what the paper should include:
- 1st paragraph - Describe the landscape: What kinds of plants are there? Are there mountains, plains, trees? Is the vegetation sparse or thick?
- 2nd paragraph - Describe the climate: Is it arid or wet? What is the average temperature? What is the average rainfall? Does it have seasonal changes, or is it essentially the same year-round?
- 3rd paragraph - Describe some of the animals that live there: How have they adapted to living there? How are they connected to each other (feed chain, symbiosis, etc.)?
GEOGRAPHY:
- Develop a heart of compassion for the peoples of the world who don't yet know Christ.
- Assess mastery of the names and locations of the world’s seven continents and five oceans.
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: Here is a link to the first four minutes of the history timeline song, 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: Our first quarter poem is Proverbs 2:1-11.