Back to it

We lost a day of work last week due to Family Day which threw my schedule off way more than it should have. We still had fun with some snowshoeing though. Then another lamb was born unexpectedly, which interrupted another day and the fact that the mother ewe needed a vet call was another problem too. So this week should be smoother. Let's see how that works out....

Middle Ages are going nicely. I do like the unit study concept where we can really look at a topic in depth. This week is more about knights now that we've covered castles. Last week, Em built an impressive box castle for an afternoon project.

I saved up boxes for months  :)  Here is our castle model, complete with working drawbridge at the front, two watchtowers with crenelations, an open baily and a secure keep at the back. She's been building Lego additions ever since.

Need to find a typing program for her and also get started on a little research "paper". She needs work on collecting facts and putting them all together, knowing what to keep and what to leave out. I've been stalling but am determined to start this week. The topic is Eleanor of Aquitaine . She read a great fictionalized diary about her life (check the link), and she is actually a distant relative. The interest is there, so I am hoping that there is motivation to do some work too.

Ok, now I'm just rambling and not getting my own work done.

Getting the Vibe

I seem to be changing a little when it comes to our day-to-day rhythms. Letting go of some specifics and details, and letting our day flow how it does. Not quite ready to ditch the plans and schedules yet but I'm starting to really enjoy the freedom.

Spent a fun evening going ice sledding in the dark a couple nights ago, and had a grand time. Between runs, we looked at the stars and pointed out the 3 constellations we know (note: learn more constellations!). Days have more free reading and I take time for errands when I feel like it.

She's now getting into fractions, improving her cursive and starting to do typing practice too. Grammar is going to take a backseat to a broader writing plan. Stories and short essays, including editing and formatting are what I'm thinking but we'll see how that works out.

The middle ages are really fun and I'm not so stressed about all the specifics anymore. Plenty of books are around, and I have a handful of interesting hands-on projects waiting in the wings.

Life has brought my some unexpected challenges lately which has led me to consider putting her back in school next year. Still not sure how I feel about that.

What isn't educational?

Watching old episodes of "How It's Made" should count as school, shouldn't it? Well, it's an episode on making suits of armor and if that doesn't fit a study on the Middle Ages, I don't know what does.

Enjoying the Middle Ages

So far this unit study is going pretty well. Still a lot to cover but I have found a load of good resources though the library books are a little iffy.

Here is our first lapbook:

Not that much color but each of these mini books is filled with writing and information. It turned out really well. I got most of the components from Homeschool Share. Not all of their stuff is secular, but this particular project was fine. I've been making some of my own worksheets too, which I'll start to post when I get a minute.

Trying to get a better schedule going for us, with a better plan for the afternoons. French and geography are going to be planned out better instead of just being hit or miss. Spending a few weeks looking at the world ecosystems too since that was part of this year's school work but we covered very poorly (in my opinion). The BBC Planet Earth series is an awesome way to look at the major habitats of the world. We're on deserts right now.

Cheerful

Currently discussing the lyrics to Ring Around the Rosy, and how it relates to the Black Plague.

And people think today's music lyrics are bad....

Snowed in

Too much snow, and we're missing our weekly play day (again). Getting a little discouraged and more than slightly desperate for spring.

So we're taking our first steps into the Middle Ages today with a little reading and a lapbook. I picked a bunch of components from Homeschool Share for knights and castles. I lucked out and got the book from the library to go with it, but i'm sure any Middle Ages book would do. She seems to be enjoying the process so far.

So much for that...

Sat down to write about our day, and daughter came pounding at the window: "Lamb!"

No time for anything now, had to go watch another birth.

I guess that's one of the great things about homeschooling. You can make time for the unexpected.