Week 1: In the Beginning

Our very first week of the 2012-2013 school year is complete.  It is actually quite the accomplished feeling.  Judging by the way that things went this week I really don't have much to adjust so far.  I actually think we accomplished quite a bit for just one week and a first one at that.

Our new Bible curriculum was a huge hit.  I thought it would be fitting to start the beginning of the year off talking about the beginning of time.  Chiggie kept busy with Bible memorization and journaling while the younger ones really enjoyed making their first lapbook. 

They spent a little time each day coloring and matching facts and then at the end of the week put together their book.  I was impressed with how they turned out.  They are all looking forward to starting another one next week.

In science we are all studying Anatomy and Physiology together.  This week was mostly an introduction talking about the history of the subject.  They all drew a diagram of a cell, which went amazingly well for the little ones, and then we mummified an apple.

 We weren't really sure what to expect, but one apple was left in a bowl uncovered while the other was left in a bowl covered with baking soda and salt.  We left them this way for several days to see how they would turn out.

lll

 
Today we unveiled the covered apple and it was so neat to see how it had mummified.  The skin almost felt like leather and it was completely dehydrated.  The girls really thought it was weird.


 


This year I decided to do a "home ec" style unit with Chiggie.  This quarter she is baking.  This covers everything from kitchen safety and washing dishes to making several goodies from scratch.  Her first project was peanut butter cookies.

All I can say is yum.  She is a natural.  She said this was one of her favorite activities this week.  I love that we have time for stuff like this.

Midge really enjoys math.  She loves to use manipulative's which is not something the older girls really ever got into.  I love her excitement it tends to be contagious.

This guy is just plain cute.  He has his uncooperative moments but for the most part he has rolled right along with the flow and adjusted to our new routine. 

Tea has become a voracious reader.  She read two full novels this week and begged me to take her back to the library for more.  She works so efficiently it can be hard to keep her busy enough.

I really don't think Boo could get any happier.  She is just so thrilled to be more involved this year.  She is a sponge and is catching on very quickly!  I love teaching her and can't imagine doing it any other way.

This year we added art to our weekly regimen.  It was something I really felt we missed out on last year.  Today they did their first project, which was a painting using patterns and dots.  I was so impressed with how they turned out!  I think we have some pretty talented kiddos.  I'm so glad to have our first week under our belts.  We have so much fun planned for this year and it's only just begun!