MFW 2nd Grade - Week #4

Bible:  This week we talked about Jesus being the Light of the world.  We also brought back the concept of the Memory Verse, with the first one being:

"I am the Light of the World.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  John 8:12  

I can say this time we did great!  Together, we have it memorized!!  Our goal, to be consistent and memorize all of them we can this year!!

Bible Activity: Make a Jesus is the Light of the world candle.  Caleb wrote Jesus the Light of the World on a piece of paper which he then glued to a candle he'd picked out at the grocery store recently.   Next he rolled the entire thing in salt, to cover up whatever glue was showing around the label.  

We put the candle in our class room so we can look at it and have a clear reminder of who Jesus is and what He means to us.

Read-a-Loud:   We continued with our story of Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims this week.  Very good story and I'll admit we finished out the week reading one day ahead.  Squanto was in trouble and neither of us wanted to wait til the next day to see what happened next!!

Reading:

Chloe, Peter McCarty

A Duck in Luck, Anne Marie Ryan

What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs, John Morris & Ken Ham

Peepsqueak!, Leslie Ann Clark

Breezy and Funnybone, Megan McDonald

These Bees Count!, Alison Formento

Spelling:  Spelling word lists and spelling tests are a very new concept for Caleb in 2nd grade.  He's been doing really well for someone who's never had to do that before, missing one or two.  I knew his perfectionism would kick in.  This week he make a 100 on his spelling test, on Thursday.  We didn't even have to carry it over to Friday!  So tickled with him!!

Handwriting:   Handwriting letters this week were S-Z and can I say Caleb is quite pleased to be done with them.  He did great, but he loves it when it's the last time we have to do something repetitive.

History:  This week's topic in history has been about Indians.  We read a little each day from our book called, North American Indians.  Caleb learned about the different tribes and where they lived in North America.  We talked about the homes the different Indian tribes lived in and even I was amazed to be reminded that they didn't all live in teepee's!  We closed out the week practicing some Indian sign language and trying to talk to each other.  Quite funny actually!!

Hands on Activities:   We made wigwams and teepee's and had a great time doing it!!

Science:  Our topic for this week has been the Universe, Planets and Constellations.  We had an activity that was about looking at a clear, night sky and finding some constellations.  But, we've had quite a bit of cloudy weather and not very clear nights this week.  This topic will continue to next week and I'm certain between now and then we'll be able to go outside and study the stars.  Living in the country like we do, some nights are very pretty and clear.  We need a night like this!  (But, we need the rain more.  If cloudy weather brings the rain, well, our viewing of the stars can wait!!)

Related reading:  

Our Stars, Anne Rockwell

The Sun Our Nearest Star, Franklyn M. Branley

The Sun, Seymour Simon

Find the Constellations, H.A. Rey

Gravity Activity: Drop a piece of tissue paper and a coin from the same height.  Be sure the tissue is nearly the same size as the coin.  Caleb learned that the coin landed first because it is heavier.

Then we put the tissue inside one container and the coin inside a separate container (both containers should be identical).  What Caleb learned is that once the smaller items were inside the identical containers they then fell at the same rate.

Math:    More review lessons this week from Singapore Math.  Caleb seems to be grasping more every day and that's a comfort.  

Community Service:  This week we volunteered our time at the local food pantry.  

Can I say this was an amazing week of school?  It really was.  By Tuesday I was so excited I could barely contain myself.  Haha!!  Caleb and I were so in sync and on the same page.  Honestly, I think he missed the consistency as much as I did.  School has been a bit sporadic since the injury to my eye, Sissy having a baby and then she, hubby and baby living here with us for a short while, Caleb having round two of strep, then a week of doctor visits nearly every day for one of us.  Now though, Sissy is cleared to drive and we're pretty much back to our normal schedule.  Blessings!

Here's a peek at my new Grandson and Caleb's new nephew.....C.J. born at only 4 lbs. 7 oz and 17 3/4" long.  

Educating in Christ,

Pam/Momma