FIAR: Harold and the Purple Crayon Lapbook

Lapbook Resources

Homeschool Share

The Homeschool Mom (THM)

Enchanted Learning

The Glorious Flight Unit Study Lapbook

Lapbook Resources

Homeschool Share

The Homeschool Mom (THM)

Enchanted Learning

Target $1 Bin Treasure

Papa Piccolo Lapbook Unit Study

Lapbook Resources

Homeschool Share

The Homeschool Mom (THM)

Enchanted Learning

Target $1 Bin Treasure

Rowing Week 9: If I Ran for President Part 1

After a long search of the internet I could not find one election unit study that was right for my five year old. After a leisurely afternoon in Barnes and Nobles I came across this wonderful book by Catherine Stier and illustrated by Lynne Avril.

An Amazon.com reviewer sums up why I love this title:
"This book takes a very complex subject about our election process (which itself is confusing, even to adults) in the United States and breaks it down in to easily understood concepts that run from the beginning stages of announcing your candidacy through actually winning the election and being sworn in to office. Kids learn about the two party system, the electoral college, primaries, campaigning, and campaign promises. I loved that the author chose not to dumb down the information, but instead used words that kids understand to explain how elections work. It is an excellent factual book, and the story is engaging enough for children that it will keep their attention while they learn about serious, important subject matter. FIVE BIG STARS to Catherine Stier for tackling a complex, complicated subject and making it enjoyable for children to learn."

Science
In the book the potential candidate travels around the country participating in various activities to drum up support for their campaign, which leaves them tired and in need of a nap. Our science discussion will be about the importance of sleep.

Read-Along:Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science Books: Sleep is for Everyone.

Experiment: Chart daily emotions and sleep duration for one week.

• Where you cranky with less sleep?
  
• How was school with more sleep?

Math

Election Unit Study Math (HSS)

How old do I have to be to vote?

What year will I be able to vote? (Subtraction)

What year will I vote for president for the first time? (Skip counting by 4's)

Tie in To Math General Math

• What president's are on what coin?
  

Social Studies-Geography

Where does the president live?

• Make a story Disc and place on Washington DC.
  
• Learned about the White House from Target's Places Around the World Cards.
  
• A map of Washington D.C. with famous sites from Enchanted Learning
  

In the book the author does an excellent job describing the election process from the decision to run, through the primaries, conventions and elections. It also describes the political parties.

Define the two major political parties and match the candidates to the party.

Language Arts

After reading the book complete the Vocabulary Flap Book with Cover from (HSS).

Music/Art

Watch party conventions and candidate elections videos at NickJr.com. These videos are each less than 4 minutes and give a kids summary of the conventions as well as the major points about the candidates.

Discuss the colors used in the book on posters, buttons and banners.

• What are the main colors in the book?
  
• Why do they use those colors?
  
• What do those colors make you feel? Discuss how color help convey feelings and emotions.
  
• Define patriotic
  
• Make your own campaign poster on Scholastic.com
  
• Why did you choose the colors, theme and symbols for your poster?
  

Bible/Character

Continue Discussion on Fruits of the Spirit: Self-Control

Fieldtrip

TS accompanied us to our local polling location to participate in early voting process.

Fine Motor Activity

We shall attempt to build the White House with Lego's.

Social Skills Activity

The candidates are required to shake lots of hands on the campaign trail. How did this tradition start? What's the proper way to shake hands?

Lapbook Resources

Homeschool Share

Enchanted Learning

Rowing Week 3: Madeline

Science

Leaning about Self Care (HSS) and FIAR Science Section 22

Read-Along:
Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science Books: Germs Make Me Sick

1. Used magnifying glass to see small objects.
   
2. Reviewed hand washing and self care routines.
   

What is an appendix?

We used our Scholastic Dictionary and Enchanted Learning to identify the appendix.

Math

Madeline: 12 Little Girls Math (HSS)

FIAR discussion on sizes (HSS).

• Completed experiment on sizes.
  
• Did worksheets on sizes and sorting of objects.
  

Discussed Day and Night

• How many hours in a day?
  
• Did worksheets on time of day.
  
• Introduced time tracking.
  

Social Studies

Where is France?

• Map Disc (HSS) and FIAR Science Section 18
  
• France worksheet from Target's Places Around the World
  
• Learned about the Eifel Tower from Target's Places Around the World Cards.
  
• Welcome to France (Welcome to the World)
  
• Chick-fil-A
  foreign language French CD
  

Language Arts

We discussed the difference between fiction and nonfiction.

TS was not thrilled about reading Madeline. In his words there was not enough action and too many girls. He did like Ms. Clavel. So to make things a little more interesting we also read Madeline to the Rescue. He really loved this version of Madeline because in his words..." it has action."

Music/Art

Listen to the always classic Frère Jacques.

TS drew his favorite scene from Madeline which was the Eifel Tower.

Bible/Character

FIAR Character and Bible Study : Compassion

Fieldtrip

We attended playgroup and library storytime.

Fine Motor Activity

We built French buildings with Legos.

Lapbook Resources

Homeschool Share

The Homeschool Mom (THM)

Enchanted Learning

Rowing Week 2: Lentil

Science
Leaning about acoustics (HSS) and FIAR Science Section 22

Read-Along: Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science Books Sounds all Around

1. Experiment from Read-Along using water glasses to test different sounds.
2. Making telephone from paper cups to see how sound travels.
3. Making a guitar from tissue box and rubber bands.

Leaning about taste buds (HSS) and FIAR Science Section 22

Read-Along: Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science Books My Five Senses

Math
Lentil Math and Music Patterns (HSS)

Social Studies
Where is Ohio? What is a State? Map Disc (HSS) and FIAR Science Section 18

Studying human relations and appreciating being unique.

Read-Alongs:
What I Like About Me
I 'm Gonna Like Me: Letting off a little self-esteem

What I Do Best

Language Arts
TS became fascinated with a new word found in Lentil. Whittling. Yahoo Kids’ Dictionary defines it as: To cut small bits or pare shavings from (a piece of wood). To fashion or shape in this way: whittle a toy boat.

He still didn’t get it. So Mom whipped out a bar of soap, a butter knife and marker. We sat on the front porch swing and attempted to whittle a fish out of a bar of soap. HE GOT IT! The look on his face was priceless. I almost saw the light go on. HE LOVED IT! We now have a fish-ish, car-ish and a stegosaurs-ish out of soap.

Music/Art
Playing the Harmonic and practicing simple songs on the harmonica (HSS) and FIAR Science Section 21

Bible/Character
FIAR Character and Bible Study Section 7

Introduction to what is the purpose of a prayer.

Fieldtrip
We attended playgroup and library storytime.

Fine Motor Activity
TS cut lemons for taste bud experiment. He also cut and pasted all of his lapbook himself.

Lapbook Resources
Homeschool Share

The Homeschool Mom (THM)

Key Learnings
TS really go into the science experiments. We spent a whole day doing just science.

I love music. I play music in the morning and during quiet time. It was refreshing to have him play his harmonica most of the week.

My son loves to whittle.

Five In A Row (FIAR) Rowing Week 1: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Science
Leaning and labeling the parts of a steam shovel (HSS) and FIAR Science Section 47

Math
Mike Mulligan Math Homeschool Share (HSS)
Building Numbers (Hardcover)

Art
Introduction to Lapbooking and Notebooking

Social Studies
FIAR Social Section pg 43

Language Arts
FIAR pg 45

Music
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, for narrator & symphony orchestra London Philharmonic Orchestra

Bible/Character
FIAR-BS pg 14

Read Alouds

• Digger (MACHINES AT WORK
• Road Builders (Paperback)
• I Stink! (Paperback)
• Trashy Town (Hardcover) by Andrea Zimmerman

Fieldtrip or Outings
There is so much construction in our area we were able to visit several construction sights and take pictures of the machines doing there jobs. We are go back to three sites once a week to take pictures of their progress. So we get to see a building built from ground clearing to completion.

Fine Motor Activity
Using sand toys to dig a square “neat and clean” as Mike and Mary Anne. Drawing shapes in the sand with fingers and scooping with spoons.

Lapbook Resources

• Homeschool Share (HSS)
• The Homeschool Mom (THM)

Key Learnings (forgive the phrase it is a throw back from work)

• The music CD gave the experience a new dimension and prevented bored since we just read this book earlier in the year.
• The music CD was educational because it taught us about the parts of an orchestra.
  
• The theme song has become a household favorite.
  
• We also learned why the composer chose the certain instruments to convey specific feelings.
• Explored the concept of stewardship.
• TS found that he loved lapbooking and chose one to present at our Orators club.