MFW 2nd Grade - Week #3

Bible:    This week we talked about how Jesus Saves, how to Live Like Jesus, and Jesus as a child.  A fun activity was the Jesus Window Poster.  We used a veggie peeler, wax paper, construction paper, and crayons.  We shaved the crayons into little pieces and ironed them between wax paper.  The result was this very pretty "stained glass" Jesus poster.  What fun!

History:  In our American Pioneers and Patriots book we read about how three small ships brought pioneers from England to a place on the James River where they started a small town and called it Jamestown.  We read and discussed Jamestown, John Smith, and Pocahontas.

We also read a story in our American Pioneers and Patriots book called the Runaway.  Very interesting story about pioneers and their way of life.

Read-A-Loud:  We started a story on Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims this week.  It is a chapter book and we will be reading assigned pages from it for the next three weeks.  Caleb enjoys it so much that it's always a struggle to put the book away.  He wants me to continue on to the next chapter.  I love that!!

Reading:

Paul the Pitcher, Paul Sharp
Buffalo Hunt, Russell Freedman
The Sniffles for Bear, Bonny Becker
Don't Know Much About the Pioneers, Kenneth C. Davis
Hedgehog Bakes a Cake, Maryann McDonald
Raccoons and Ripe Corn, Jim Arnosky

Handwriting Practice:  This week Caleb practiced his handwriting with letters K-R.  I really love how neat his handwriting is when he takes his time and stops to think about the letters.

Math:  We worked out of our Singapore Math book all this week, closing out the week with the beginning of review.  This review is covering all we've been working on in 2nd grade as well as the end of 1st grade when we started Singapore Math.  I was very pleased with Caleb's progress.  The idea of review is great.  From all the topics covered in this review there was only one area we'll be working a little extra on - - Number Bonds.  Honestly, I didn't even remember what a number bond was, nor do I think it was ever taught to me that way.  Another mom shared an idea of using a deck of cards, 1-6's to work on Number Bonds (otherwise know as Number Families).  Example for those of you wondering:               3
                            5
                                  2
That is a number bond or number family.  3+2=5; 2+3=5; 5-2=3; 5-3=2

Science:  This weeks topic was Science with Air.

These are pictures of our Collapsing Carton Experiment.  By drinking all the juice out of the carton and then sucking the air out Caleb learned that the air outside the carton pushes in the sides of the carton.

Not every experiment we participate in is a complete a rolling success.  I must admit that the Heavy Newspaper Experiment was really a failure for us.   The FIRST time.  The idea is, hit the ruler, but the air pressing down on the newspaper makes it hard to flick off.  Well, we just didn't get it and we were smacking the ruler and letting it all fly....

Which resulted in everything landing on the floor.  When done right, you are to flick the ruler to try to throw the newspaper off.  Aha!!  When we figured it out and did it correctly, yes, the newspaper would not fly off.  Sometimes it takes a new day and a new perspective.  ;o)

Upside-Down Trick was another science activity this week.  Fill a cup with water, lay a flat piece of cardboard on top of it and flip it over.  Air pushes up on the cardboard and keeps it in place.  This makes the water stay in the cup.  Of course, Caleb loves that I didn't do a very good job and it all fell and splashed all over me.  He did it twice and did it "right" both times.  ;o)

Art:   Confession time.  If you've been following my blog at all, you already know that Caleb isn't much for coloring and drawing.  I going to admit that I'm really not digging the art lessons.  I think, if you have a child who is all about drawing and wanting to better their skills - - it's perfect.  Matter of fact, I might enjoy them for myself, to learn to draw better.  But, for a child who doesn't like to do those things, it's a bit of drudgery.  Our son loves hands on activities.  You can see from our posts.  His hands are pictured in all of them as a participant.  I think it would be fun to have a special art class, say, once a week with a specific art project in mind.  Just something fun, that maybe does teach a new art skill, but more than anything helps him get into the creativity box without making feel like he's not good at it.  So, I'm on the lookout for some ideas.  More research.

Week #3 in Adventures was such a blessing.  I am enjoying our days together so very much.

Keep the prayers coming!

Educating in Christ,

Pam