MFW: ECC~ Canada (weeks 7 & 8)

After taking a week off in the middle, we are finally done with our study of Canada! It has been a nice visit but we are ready to leave our continent and fly to Brazil. This is a look at the fun we had in Canada.

Math U See: Lessons 20 & 21

All About Spelling Level 2: Steps 24 & 25- we are finished!

BJU English: Chapter 4. This was another writing chapter and Senior learned how to write step-by-step instructions using time order words ;-)

Reading: Yet another rich book basket unit. Here is just one of the book basket books that Senior enjoyed.
This unit had so many great books to choose from for Senior's reading assignments. Week #7, he read Paddle-to-the-Sea.

This week, he read Owls in the Family. This was not his favorite book but he still made it through.

We are finishing up our read aloud on Cameron Townsend. I was surprised at how much Senior enjoyed this book. He actually asked if he could read it on his own at bedtime- yeah! I love that we are learning about these amazing missionaries this year.

ECC Bible: Our prayer focus has been the people of Garifuna & Greenland. In addition to continuing to read through Matthew, Senior studied the qualities of William and Catherine Booth and George Muller.

ECC Geography: Again I didn't snap many pictures of the book work associated with Canada but Senior enjoyed learning many facts of the country.

ECC Science: Senior's science this unit included food chains and webs. He enjoyed this book along with playing this online game.

The second week, was a quick overview of plants and animal reproduction (we just skimmed this information). MFW scheduled a quick experiment with celery. The stalk on the left (red) has had most of the xylem removed. The results were VERY clear even by the end of day 1.

By day two, they were ready for the trash ;-) Senior was able to see how important xylem is to plants.

ECC Art: Senior learned about the Inuits who are the native people of northern Canada. We tried our hand at soap carving. This is how the young Inuits learn how to carve.

I think we many need more practice, ha! The front one is my polar bear ;-) Senior had hi hopes of being able to carve a Star Wars Y-wing in that bar of soap but in the end he settled for a heart.

One day, the boys attempted to construct an igloo from sugar cubes. The entire time they kept asking how long they had to work before getting to eat one, hee hee.

Our final project was to make an impression of a maple leaf and use it as a stamp. Everyone enjoyed the nature walk to pick out our leaves.

He was going to get one no matter what.

I took the opportunity to do some fun fall crafts with all the boys.

In the end, our impression was way too big to use as a stamp, but the we still have a great maple leaf.
For our farewell celebration, we had dessert of pure maple syrup over ice cream.

Thumbs up all around!


Good-bye Canada, we had fun!

I am linking up to MFW: Highlights @ 2 Ladybugs and a Lizard.

MFW: ECC~ Mexico (weeks 5 & 6)

Wow, am I late posting this ;-) We finished Mexico over a week ago and just finished our week off (I am loving this year-round schedule). We start Canada on Monday, so I knew I needed to officially close the book on Mexico.

Math U See: Lessons 18 & 19

All About Spelling: Steps 22 & 23

BJU English: Chapter 3. Senior is loving this and says it is his favorite subject.

Reading: Unfortunately we couldn't find a chapter book on Senior's level to go along with Mexico, so he read a book we already owned. He liked Shiloh and I allowed him to just enjoy reading and didn't give any assignments based on it.

Here are a few of the book basket selections.

I had a happy mommy moment while we were working on our pinata. Senior told Gator-Tot that we had a book about pinatas and asked if he wanted him to read it. They sat down on the couch and enjoyed it together ;-)

ECC Bible: We prayed for Cuba and Haiti. Senior is also continuing to read through Matthew.

ECC Science: The past two weeks has been a study on the desert biome. We found a great Bill Nye DVD from our library on deserts.

This was also a favorite book.

During our study we took our field trip to the botanical gardens and really enjoyed the desert area.


We did an experiment to help Senior understand how animals try and stay cool in the heat of the desert. We had two ice cubes, one in the sun (of course the sun didn't want to cooperate, ha) and another in the shade. Watching ice melt is super fun for a 7 year-old boy ;-)

As predicted, the one in the sun melted first.

The next experiment was to see how burrowing in the sand help keep animals cool. This was a simple but effective demonstration.

We went out and I let the boys pick out some plants to observe. I had plans of recreating an experiment from the Bill Nye video but haven't had the chance (read: I keep forgetting).

ECC Geography: I am now realizing that I didn't take any pictures of our worksheets or us playing the geography game. Senior is LOVING the geography game and already has all the countries in North and Central America memorized! Any tips on how to keep his interest in the game for the next two weeks?

ECC Art & Fun: Week 5 our art project was the clay sun.

Here are the finished suns. Can you tell which one is mine, Senior's, and Gator-Tot's ;-)

Week #6 we took on the pinata. This may just be Senior's favorite homeschool memory! He loved this project even though it took us 4 days to complete it.

Time to decorate!


Gator-Tot was very proud of the finished project (although he never did put his hands in the glue).

The boys also made the tissue paper flowers to decorate the house for the fiesta.



I also found some fiesta decorations at the dollar store so the house was very festive.

The boys had no interest in helping, but I made some whole wheat tortillas for us to enjoy.


I have a confession: even though I had grand plans of a homemade fiesta- it never happened :-( I put it off for almost a week and then we broke down and went to a restaurant. Just tonight, we got around to breaking the pinata. It may have been very late but the boys still had a ton of fun!


Monday we fly to Canada! You probably won't see me post about it for another 3 weeks due to a little vacation we are taking. I am linking up to MFW Highlights @ Discover Their Gifts.

Field Trip: Botanical Gardens

Last week we took a field trip to the Botanical Gardens. This is such a great preview of our science this year with ECC.

This was our first visit and we could not believe how beautiful it is! My husband and I want to make plans to go back for a date where we can relax and truly enjoy the peace and quiet ;-)

You almost forget you are in the city.

A favorite was learning about carnivorous plants.


It is hard to believe that these plants eat bugs!


Japanese Garden

Rainforest
I loved the trunk of this tree.

It is so wet in the rain forest that the roots can get all the moisture they need from the air!

All of the boys enjoyed learning about the frogs that live in the rainforest.



Gator-Tot looks sad in this picture because he was having trouble spotting the big turtle in the water below.

Desert

The cacti and succulents in the desert area were so interesting.

Ponds

The mosaic lily-pads are beautiful.


Having fun....


I really hope we can visit again soon.

I am linking up to MFW Highlights @ 2 Ladybugs and a Lizard this week. I will be posting about our time in Mexico as soon as we have our fiesta that keeps getting rescheduled ;-)