Classic Music Study

One aspect of a Classical Education is to incorporate the study of Classical Music. So far this school year we have studied Mozart, Beethoven, and now we have started on Tchaikovsky.

We use the following format for our Classic Music Studies:

Music Study Format
1. Listening Study
2. Comparison
3. Biographical information( Picture books, children biographies, movies, etc..)
4. Project (making craft instruments, etc...)

A great resource for Children's Classic Music projects, printouts and audio is: http://www.classicsforkids.com/

Today during our Music hour we read the Picture Book "Swan Lake" illustrated by Shigeru Hatsuyama while listening to a few selections from Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake. Sometime we turn the lights off and listen to a piece while laying still. At elementary age don't expect to get more than a "I like the way it sounds." or "This music is pretty." With an other child you can ask more probing questions.

Martin Luther King Jr. Unit Study

Martin Luther King Jr.
Unit Study
Suggested Grades: K- 2nd

Library Resource List

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King by Jean Marzolla
Martin’s Big Words: The Life of Martin Luther King Jr. by Doreen Rapppaort
My Dream of Martin Luther King by Faith Ringgold
My Brother Martin by Christine King Farris
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr by David Alder
Martin Luther King Jr. by Mary Winget

Printouts and Lesson Plans

MLK Mini book
http://www.bry-backmanor.org/mlk.html

MLK Worksheets
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/MLK/

FREE Lesson Plans and Teachers Guide from
Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Site
http://www.nps.gov/malu/forteachers/lessonplansandteacherguides.htm

Other MLK Lesson Plans and links

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson248.shtml

Arts and Crafts

MLK Toliet Paper Puppet
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/mmlk.html
MLK Coloring Sheets
http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/mlk/color.htm
http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/mposters-mlk.htm
MLK Crafts
http://www.theholidayzone.com/mlk/mlkart.html



Audio and Video Clips

I have a Dream Speech
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

I’ve Been to the MountainTop

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm

Scripps Homeschool Spelling Bee

Today my Daughter had the privilege of participating in a Scripps Homeschool Spelling Bee. Even though at the Jr. level they don't go on to state competitions I felt it was a wonderful learning experience. The Jr. competitors all received a certificate of participation. I thought that was nice too.Who knows I could have a future Akeelah and The Bee on my hands.

For homeschoolers to participate in the Scripps National Spelling Bee competition a local homeschool organization must sponsor the local challenge. If you are interested in having your homeschooler participate in the Scripps Spelling Bee next year or your local homeschool organization hosting the event check out http://www.spellingbee.com/

Here is a handy list of study websites to help your child in preparation for the Bee.

http://myspellit.com/

http://www.funbrain.com/spell/index.html

http://www.wordcentral.com/

Praying For Haiti

Ways to Give

http://www.yele.org/

http://www.care.org/

http://www.redcross.org/

Ancient Egypt Unit Study

As I posted previously. In History/ Georgrapy we are doing a large 12 week Unit Study on Ancient Egypt. Right now we are just 2 weeks into the unit and I wanted to share with you some of the FREE resources I have found here online.

Here is a link for printout and suggested readings at my favorite resource Homeschool share

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/ancient_egypt.php

Suggested Library List

Who Was King Tut? by Roberta EdwardsUsborne

Who Built the Pyramids? by Jane Chisholm & Struan Reid

Pyramids! by Avery Hart & Paul Mantell

Projects About Ancient Egypt by David C. King

Adventures in Ancient Egypt by Linda Bailey

Pyramid by David Macaulay

Tutankhamen's Gift by Robert Sabuda

Tut's Mummy Lost and Found by Judy Donnelly

The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Cleopatra by Diane Stanley

Egyptian Gods and Goddesses by Henry Barker

Egyptian Treasures (CD) by Jim Weiss

The Magic Tree House Research Book – Mummies and Pyramids by Mary Pope Osborne

Also I for older children I found this resource to be of great assistance at Homeschool Helper Online: http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/lapbooks/ancient_egypt.htm

Suggest Library List

The Best Book of Mummies by Philip Steele 1st-3rd

Voices of Ancient Egypt by Kay Winters, Barry Moser 3rd-6th

Egypt: A to Z by Jeff Reynolds (non-fiction) 4th-6th

The Story of the Nile by Anne Millard 4th-6th

Daily Life in Ancient and Modern Cairo by Joan Barghusen (culture) 4th-8th

Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt by Usborne (non-fiction) 4th-9th

Glorious Past: Ancient Egypt, Ethiopia, and Nubia by Earnestine Jenkins (events) 7th-9th

Egyptian Princess by George Ebers (historical fiction) 10th-12th

Here is the breakdown in which we are going to study this Ancient Civilization.

Ancient Egypt

Units

People (Kings, Queens, Other important people) 6 lessons 3 weeks
Places (Capitol city, land forms, bodies of water, landmarks)
6 lessons 3 weeks
Culture (Religion, government, food, clothing, art, music)
6 lessons 3 weeks
Events (Wars, Death, Pivotal turning points) 6 lessons 3 weeks

Total= 24 lessons, 12 weeks

Other Completed Lapbook Photos from the web:

http://www.squidoo.com/egypt-lapbook