Math Monday: Dental Care (Again)

Back in February 2009, I began putting this unit together, but never got past the first day.  I am going to finally finish the unit this week.  I will not be including elementary math in today's post, but will instead include the link to the 2009 post and just post a couple of word problems for the older students.


Word Problems

- You saved all the money that the Tooth Fairy brought you since you lost your first tooth.  Your last tooth just fell out.  The Tooth Fairy will bring you $1.50 tonight, just as she has done each time you lost a previous tooth.  Most people lose a total of 20 baby teeth.  How much money will you have after the Tooth Fairy visits tonight?  Now imagine you took that money and put it in a savings account.  If the account you choose pays you 3% interest, how much money will you have at the end of the year?

- Uh oh!  You just visited the dentist for a cleaning and they found 2 cavities.  It will take about 45 minutes to have each cavity filled and they will need to be done on different days.  If it takes 15 minutes to drive each way to the dentist, how much time will you need to spend in order to get both cavities filled.

Time Travel Tuesday: Dental Care

Dental history will probably be too dry for the younger age group so instead we will talk about their personal dental history.

Baby teeth and adult teeth begin growing when a baby is still in the womb. Baby teeth begin at 6-8 weeks of development and the adult teeth begin around week 20. When a tooth begins to grow under the gums, it is called a tooth bud (good vocabulary word).  Humans have 4 types of teeth: incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.  By the age of  3 years, most babies will have all their baby teeth.  They will begin to lose their baby teeth around the age of 6, with the adult teeth replacing the baby teeth.  They will continue to get new teeth until their wisdom teeth (which are molars) come in.  Wisdom teeth typically come in around the age of 15-20 years old.

Ask your parents if they know how old you were when your first tooth came in and when you lost your first tooth.

Dental history (for the older students and those who are interested)

Write a short essay on dental history.  Talk about how dental care and the materials use in dental care have changed over time.  Here are a couple of sources to help you get started:

The Dental Center has an intermediate-level of dental history on their website with links to other dental history websites.

The American Dental Association also has a page of dental history that is much more in-depth and covers from ancient times to 20th century innovations and technology.

Sum It Up Saturday: Basketball

This is the end of my first week back to blogging here.  My plan on Saturdays is to link to the previous 5 days so that you have the entire unit easily accessible in one post.  Do you prefer it this way or would you rather I just post the entire unit at one time?  If I post entire lessons at once, it may result in more than one unit a week, but I can't promise that.  I also realize that I did not include science in this lesson plan.  I will share some ideas on that in a minute.  In future weeks, I think I will move the fun ideas to the Sum It Up post on Saturday and include science ideas on Fridays.

Basketball

Some science ideas related to basketball:

- Anatomy and Physiology: Learn about the muscles used while playing basketball.  Younger kids can focus on the parts of the body being used (heart, brain, arms, legs, back) and more advanced kids can learn the muscle names, insertion points, etc.  You can also talk about aerobic exercise and how muscle cells work.  Adapt this to whatever ability you are working with.

- Physics: This post on reference.com has some great ideas for exploring physics with basketball, especially in regards to potential and kinetic energy and the law of conservation of energy.

- Scientific Theory:  Practice dribbling the ball.  Make a prediction about what will happen if you dribble ball faster or slower or from your waist level, your knee level, or your chest level.  Try it and make notes of what happened and try a new prediction.  You can do the same thing when practicing making baskets.  Try changing the bend of your elbow before you release the ball, or try closing your eyes when you take a shot.  

Math Monday

Time Travel Tuesday

Writing Wednesday

Think Of Others Thursday

Fun Friday

Fun Friday: Basketball

(Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase.  This is at no additional cost to you and does not affect my opinions.)

- Go watch a basketball game.  This could be a pick game at a park, a school game, a college game or a professional game.  Can't find a game to watch, play one instead.

- Play a fun variation of basketball by playing a game of H.O.R.S.E., Around the World, or Lightning.

- Gather some friends, or work on your own, and work on improving your basketball skills with these 63 basketball drills.

- Play Basketball Shootout at home, a friend's home, or a local game room.

- Play a basketball themed game such as Jukem Basketball Card Game, Decision Day - Fantasy Basketball Board Game, or The Ultimate Basketball Trivia Game.

- Print and color some basketball coloring pages (this one also has a Connect-the-Dots page), basketball player coloring pages, or NBA coloring pages.

- Sew a basketball pillow.

- Make a salt dough basketball magnet, or turn it into an ornament instead.

- Make some basketball cookie pops.

Think of Others Thursday: Basketball

Around the World

Basketball Around the World is a Facebook page that shows basketball being played around the world through pictures and videos.

Learn about the history of FIBA (International Basketball Federation, better known by it's French acronym for Fédération Internationale de Basketball).



Serving Others

Learn about some of the ways the NBA serves others.

Host a skills clinic and invite local kids.  You don't have to be the best basketball player to share what you know.  Choose your best skills and share what you can with a small group of kids.

Mentor a younger child, perhaps a sibling, as they learn the skills to play basketball.

Host a fundraiser where you raise money for an organization like the National Wheelchair Basketball Association or your local Wheelchair Basketball League.  You could raise funds by hosting a 3-on-3 tournament, hosting a basketball shoot-out where the participants find sponsors who will donate based on how many baskets they can shoot in a given time period, or you could charge for a one-day skills clinic.  Please share any of the things you might try so that others can be inspired and we can cheer you on.

Writing Wednesday: Basketball

Copywork 

"You can't win unless you learn how to lose."  -Kareem Abdul Jabbar

"Basketball is my passion, I love it.  But my family and friends mean everything to me.  That's what's important."  -LeBron James

"What you are as a person is far more important than what you are as a basketball player."  -John Wooden

"Be strong in body, clean in mind, lofty in ideals." -James Naismith


Writing topics
In addition to yesterday's writing assignment, here are a few more writing assignment ideas:

- Choose a basketball player, past or present, that you admire or want to know more about.  Research them and write a report about them.

- Learn more about the "Dream Team" and write a report about who they were and what they did.

- Write a narrative about a basketball game you have watched.  Now, write the same story from the point of view of the referee or one of the players.

- Write a narrative about a basketball game you have played in.  Now, write the same story from the point of view of the referee or one of the spectators.

- Write an information piece about your favorite basketball team.


Writing Prompts

- Imagine you were tasked with keeping a group of rowdy teenage boys busy during the winter.  Your supplies are limited to what can be found in the YMCA gym.  What game might you develop?

- You just started a job selling items in the stands during basketball games.  Write about your new job, being sure to write about what you are selling and the people who make purchases from you.

- You look up and see your face on the big screen above center court.  Why are they showing you and how will you react?

- Walking by the basketball court, a basketball comes rolling up to you and stops at your feet.  You pick it up and go to toss it back to the player.  Tell about who was playing and what happens next.

- You were just hired to work for your favorite basketball team.  What is your job?  How does your first day go?

Time Travel Tuesday: Basketball

For history this week, research the history of basketball.  Find out who invented basketball, where and when it was invented, how they played the first games (what equipment did they use, what happened when they scored a basket), and why the game was invented.  For the youngest students, they can watch this video, to find the answers.  Somewhat older students can research the answers and write them in a notebook and older students can write a paragraph or a paper, depending on their ability.

The oldest students could take this assignment a step further by writing about the history of the NBA or women's basketball, along with the history of basketball.

Here are some websites to help with the research:

Cool Facts for Kids (this site also has a bunch of fun basketball facts)
LiveStrong
Kansas Heritage (includes the 13 original rules of the game, which could be used to compare/contrast with modern NBA rules)
KidzWorld

Here are some books that could be used to help (Disclaimer: these are affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through the site.  This does not result in an additional cost to you.)

Basketball (Watts History of Sports)
Hoopmania: The Book of Basketball History and Trivia (Sports Illustrated for Kids Books)
Basketball: A history of the game

Math Monday: Basketball

Basketball is a great topic for studying various areas of math.

Counting

- Younger students can practice counting by ones, twos, fives, tens, etc.  Dribble a basketball or bounce it back and forth with a partner, counting each time it bounces.

- Learn how to keep score in basketball.  Watch or play a game and keep track of the score.

Geometry

- Print out a diagram of a basketball court (high school court or NBA court)

• Measure the lengths of the various parts of the court.  Determine the perimeter and/or area of the court itself, half of the court, the free throw lane and for more advanced students, the center circle. (Here is a diagram to identify the different parts of the basketball court.)
• Identify the different types of lines found on a basketball court (parallel, perpendicular, horizontal, vertical) and the parts of a circle (arc, circumference, diameter, semicircle)

- When shooting a basket, take note of the angle of your elbow as you start your shot.  Try starting with your elbow at different angles and see which angle you have the most success with. 

Algebra

- Watch a game or go out and shoot some hoops.  Keep track of how many times you (or a certain player or one team) attempts to make a basket, and how many times you/they succeed and miss.  Now, determine the percentage of shots made.

Word Problems

Word problems can be made with a basketball theme for many levels.  My samples use the student as the subject, but you could easily substitute a favorite team and player.  Here are a few samples:

- Your team scored 15 points in the first quarter.  The other team scored 17 points.  How many points were scored in all?

- Your team scored 87 points in the game.  You scored 18 of the points.  How points did your teammates score?

- During your last basketball game, your team scored 4 3-point shots, 8 foul shots, and 35 baskets inside the 3-point line.  How many points did your team score in all?

- You took a total of 42 foul shots last year.  You scored with 35 of the shots.  What percentage of foul shots did you make?

There are also some online games to practice math facts with a basketball theme.

Math Facts Basketball (Basic math facts)

Hoops (multi-step word problems)

There are also several math related books about basketball.  (Disclaimer: the following are affiliate links.  This simply means I may receive a small commission if you purchase from the site.  This does not cost you anything extra.)

- Basketball: The Math of the Game (Currently available free through kindleunlimited)

- Basketball Math: Slam-Dunk Activities and Projects for Grades 4-8

- Fantasy Basketball Math: Using Stats to Score Big in Your League

- The Math of Basketball 

- Basketball: Math on the Court (Currently only available for free on kindleunlimited)

Revitalizing Homeschool Unit Studies

Having been away from this blog, and blogging in general, for quite a while now, I am feeling drawn to come back to it.  Beginning in the next week or so, I will start posting unit studies here again.  To give you something to hold you over, I wanted to share this blog post from Jen Reviews.  She shares 63 basketball drills to help your child improve their basketball skills.  These drills would be a great addition to a physical education course or an overall unit on basketball.  I am planning on using them with my basketball loving son over the next few months.

Now, are there any specific topics you are looking for?  I am happy to consider putting together new unit studies along with the ones I have already prepared, but may have not shared yet.

Book Review: Carschooling

I have had this book for quite a while now and absolutely LOVE it.  Carschooling is a book that I find I am often recommending, not only to homeschoolers, but also to parents whose children are in traditional school settings as well.  I suggest to those who find themselves traveling often as well as those who take trips across town a few times a week.  It is full of fun and unique ideas that cover a wide range of subjects including: language arts, math, social sciences, science, geography, visual and performing arts, foreign languages, physical education and health, and even recess.  There is also a chapter that shares a bunch of ideas that do not fall in the traditional school subjects, such as vocational training and home economics.  For those who are new to the concept of carschooling, there is a chapter to introduce you to the ins and outs of learning on the run as well as chapter to help you get your vehicle and yourself organized so that every trip is a learning opportunity.

We used this book extensively on our cross country trip in the summer of 2009.  The family loved playing several of the games suggested in the book, but especially enjoyed License Plate Equations and Pave the Way With Palindromes.  We also discovered a love for audio books during this road trip and the book has a wonderful list of resources as well as some ideas for turning the stories into additional lessons.  My favorite part of this book is that many of the activities need little to no equipment and can be played time and time again whenever the feeling strikes.  I also like that there is something for everyone in the book, including a section on Road Kill Zoology, complete with the warning that it is not for the squeamish. 

We are preparing for yet another cross country trip in the late spring and I will not be packing this book.  Yes, you read that right.  I will not be packing it, because it's home is in my van, right under the front passenger seat.  We use it ALL the time, every time we are going to be in the van for an extended period of time.  On our shorter trips, we often find ourselves playing the games we already know from the book. 

It is rare for me to HIGHLY recommend any book, as I am a big fan of borrowing from the library to save both money and resources.  However, there are certain books I insist on owning simply due to the amount that I use them and the value I get from it.  Carschooling is one of those books. It is so chock full of ideas and information, that if it did not have a home in my van, it would be shelved with my reference books. Of all the book reviews I have done, I HIGHLY recommend this book to EVERY parent, homeschooler or not, whether they travel or not.


***Disclaimer***
I did receive a copy of this book for free from the author in exchange for this review. However, this review is my own personal opinion and is unaffected by others. I had originally borrowed this book from the library and loved it so much I was preparing to buy it when this opportunity was presented to me.

Jackie Robinson and part of Penguin unit postponed

Due to life circumstances, I am postponing the Jackie Robinson unit and the remainder of the Penguin unit.  We have still been working on school for those weeks, but not on specific units.  My husband is a full time student and we spent much of last week preparing for the new semester and this week, we are trying to adjust to a new schedule.  It appears this is what our life will be like over the next few years.  As each new semester starts, we will need to adjust to his new schedule.  Not a big deal, but it definitely affects my ability to plan lessons.  I will be back with the next unit, Chinese New Year, either later this week or early next week.  I may also switch back to posting a few subjects each day, rather than posting the entire unit in one day.  If you have a strong preference for having the entire unit posted at once, let me know and I can e-mail it to you separately.

Penguins (Partial Unit)

Reading

- For younger readers, read If You Were a Penguin by Wendell and Florence Minor.  Older readers can read Penguins Strange and Wonderful by Laurence Pringle.  Write down 10 facts that you learned.

Writing

- Write a story about penguins that uses at least 5 facts that you have learned.  You can use the picture found here: http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/pdf.htm?penguin.pdf for your book cover.  Lay the cover page over several blank pages and then cut along the outline of the penguin to make a penguin shaped booked.  When the book is complete, you can either staple the pages together or bind them some other way.

Math

- Use a website or books to find out the average height of several different types of penguins and make a bar graph showing what you learned.  Some types of penguins include: Emperor, Fairy, King, Adelie, and Rockhopper.
- Practice percentages by playing this game: http://www.funbrain.com/penguin/index.html
- Practice number places with this game: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/starship/maths/placethepenguin.shtml

Science

- Watch March of the Penguins to learn more about the life of an Emperor Penguin.

Service

- Put together a fundraiser in order to foster a Yellow Eyed Penguin chick for 1 year.  It costs $20 for 1 year of fostering.  You can learn more here: http://www.penguins.org.nz/content/foster-yep-chick  Ideas for a service project include shoveling driveways/sidewalks for neighbors, helping with chores around the house, or making and selling penguin themed crafts.

Health

- Penguins have blubber to help keep their bodies warm.  To experience how blubber works, get a cup of ice water.  Place your finger in the water to see just how cold it is.  Then coat your finger in a thick layer of shortening and place it in the water again.  Humans do not have blubber to protect their bodies from the extreme cold.  Hypothermia and frostbite are 2 issues that people face when exposed to extreme cold.  Learn about the symptoms of either one of these medical issues and create a poster telling others how to avoid getting them.  Also be sure to learn how to treat the issue you choose.

Social Studies

- Penguins live in a variety of climates and locations.  Based on your earlier research (reading, writing, math), make a list of all the places where penguins live.  Then use a world map to locate each of these locations. 

Benjamin Franklin

Reading

- Read Benjamin Franklin, American Genius: His Life and Ideas. Choose at 3 of the activities listed in the book and do them.

Writing

- Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor. Many of his inventions are still used to today and many others have been improved on to become products we use today. Choose one of Benjamin Franklin's inventions and write a short report on it. Try to answer when he invented it, why and how he invented it, if he worked with any other people on the invention, where he invented it, if we still use it, or any form of it, today, and any other interesting facts that you find. Some of his inventions include: bifocal glasses, the Franklin stove, the lightning rod, and the glass armonica.

Math

- "A penny saved is a penny earned", is a saying from Benjamin Franklin. It means that if you do not spend a penny, it is the same as earning it. If you invest (see vocabulary words) that penny, you can earn more money on it as long as you leave it in the bank long enough. The money you earn on your investment is called interest (another vocabulary word). Interest is money that the bank gives you for letting them hold onto your money (they are actually borrowing it from you, but you will learn about that much later in your education). Take a "field trip" to a bank and speak with a bank representative about interest and how it works. If you do not already have one (and you have your parent's permission), see about opening your own savings account.

Science

- For a fun activity about electricity and circuits, have an adult help you with the lesson plan listed here: http://askeric.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Physics/PHS0005.html

Service

- Benjamin Franklin founded the first public library. Contact your local library and find out if there is any service project you can do for them. Some ideas: help prepare craft materials for an upcoming program; wipe down book covers; help clean up toys in the children's room, or help out with a program for younger children.

Vocabulary/Spelling

• invest- to put money into something in an attempt to earn even more money
  
• interest- money paid in exchange for borrowing money
  
• taut- tight
  
• alternate- switch back and forth
  
• apprentice- a person who works for another person in order to learn their trade
  
• brayer- a small roller used for inking
  
• bifocals- eyeglasses that have 2 types of lenses, one to see close and one to see far, in one lens
  
• armonica- a musical instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin that uses a series of spinning glass bowls that the player runs moistened fingers over; also called a glass harmonica
  
• Philadelphia- a city in Southeast Pennsylvania
  
• colonial- refers to the early years of the US, when the colonies still belonged to England
  

Health

- Another famous saying from Benjamin Franklin is, "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away." This tells us that a healthy diet will help us to avoid bigger medical problems. It is recommended that we eat 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Keep a journal of all the foods you eat for one day. Are you eating the recommended amount? Look through a cookbook or look online for a recipe that is fruit or vegetable based and make it for your family.

Social Studies

- Ben Franklin spent a lot of time in Philadelphia and there are a ton of sites there that one can visit to learn more about Ben Franklin and his life. For those who cannot visit Philadelphia, I have listed an alternative activity that involves Netflix and another one that does not.
- Watch episode 10 of Liberty's Kids (currently available for instant streaming on Netflix) to learn about Benjamin Franklin's involvement in the Post Office. Many, if not all, of the episodes at least mention Ben Franklin and help teach about life before and during the Revolutionary War. I highly recommend watching the entire series at least once.
- Play the True and False game on this website: http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/social_studies_games/ben-franklin/franklin_true_false.html This will be easier if do the reading assignment first. There are a few other games as well that will help you learn more about Ben Franklin.

Language Arts

- Ben Franklin was the publisher of the "Pennsylvania Gazette", one of the most successful newspaper of the colonies. Visit this website: http://www.libertyskids.com/lnn.html and create your own family or classroom newspaper.

Religion

- Another saying of Ben Franklin's is, "God helps them that helps themselves." What does this statement mean to you? Do you agree or disagree with it?

Gym

- A game similar to jacks was commonly played in colonial times. This game was called jackstones and was played with small stones or small fruit seeds, like apples or pumpkin. On the first turn, the player tosses a small stone into the air and scatters the seeds on the ground in front of him, catching the stone before it lands. The next player then tosses the stone in the air and picks up as many seeds as possible and catches the stone before it lands with the same hand. Play continues until all the seeds are picked up. The one with the most seeds wins. Play a few rounds of jackstones with a friend or family member, or practice by yourself.
- Hopscotch was another common game played during the colonial era. Draw, or find, a hopscotch board and play for a bit. If you live in a colder climate, see if it is possible to draw or paint a board on a large piece of cardboard or ply wood or even the basement floor (GET AN ADULT"S PERMISSION FIRST!!!)

Domestic Arts

- Make a whirligig, a toy common in the colonial days. Find a large, circular button and then string 2 1/2 feet of string through the holes of the button and tie the ends together. Then hold each end of the strings and twirl the button until the string is taut (tight) and then pull apart, letting the button spin. Alternate (switch back and forth) between pulling and relaxing to keep the button spinning.

Art

- Benjamin Franklin spent many years working as a printer. Practice the art of printmaking by making your own prints. To do this like Franklin did, you will need to get a brayer (a small roller), but if you do not have one, there are other ways to do this project. Find, or make, some alphabet stamps. Arrange them to spell a short word, like your name. Then using a brayer, apply ink to the stamps and place the paper on top of the wet stamps. Gently apply pressure to the paper by placing a block on top the paper. Carefully remove the paper by lifting it straight up off the stamps and allow it to dry. If you do not have a brayer, you can apply the stamps directly to the ink and apply them to the paper one at a time.

Music

- Learn about the armonica, a musical instrument invented by Benjamin Franklin, by watching this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8D9BBMDWoNM

Spanish

• lightning- el relámpago
• glasses- las gafas
• newspaper- el periódico
  

Free Chinese New Year Study Kit

As I posted a few days ago, I will be posting a unit in a few weeks on Chinese New Year. Today, I came across (thanks Money Saving Mom!) a free Chinese New Year Study Kit from Panda Express. It includes:

• Panda Express’ Year of the Rabbit DVD
• Year of the Rabbit Fact Sheet
• Jade Emperor’s Interactive Game & Activity Sheet
• Chinese New Year Decoration Art Activity
• Lai See Activity Sheet
• Bookmarks (with a Free Kids Meal with purchase coupon attached)

I am still planning to post my study unit, but I am letting you know about this as I may, or may not, use activities in it for the unit. According to the website, this must be ordered by midnight (CST), January 8th.

Elvis Presley- Part Two

Vocabulary/Spelling words
-Be able to define and to spell these 10 words:
absorption-to take something in, as in the gelatin takes in the water forming a sticky gel
poverty- being poor and having little money, food, and other needs
Mississippi-a state in the southeastern part of the US
Tennessee-a state in the southeastern part of the US, north of Mississippi
Elvis Presley-a singer from the 1950s-1970s, known as the King of Rock and Roll
Memphis-major city in Tennessee; where Elvis settled and later died
Tupelo- a city in Mississippi; where Elvis was born
military-armed forces; in the US consists of the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force and the Coast Guard
Graceland- the name of the estate owned by Elvis; currently a museum honoring Elvis' life
gospel music-intense, joyful music sung in churches, particularly in the American South

Social Studies
- If you can, take a visit to Graceland. If, like most of us, this is not possible, take the video tour, led by 12 year old Curtis, of Graceland: http://www.elvis.com/graceland/tours/for_kids.aspx Write down 10 facts that you learned about Graceland, Elvis, or Elvis' family.
- Print out the Graceland Activity Book: http://www.elvis.com/!userfiles/editor/docs/EPE_ChildrensBook.pdf and do the activities that are in it.

Language Arts
-Using all the letters in Elvis' name (Elvis Aron Presley), make an acrostic that tells about him and his life. An acrostic is when you use each letter in the word as the first letter in a word or phrase about the main word. For example: I will use Elvis' nickname, The King, and write an acrostic below.
Traveled a lot
Handsome
Elvis Aron Presley

Kind
Idol
Nice hair
Graceland

Religion
-In addition to singing rock music, Elvis is also famous for the many gospel songs he sang. One gospel song he sang is How Great Thou Art. You can see him perform it here. Read the lyrics to this hymn, and write about what the words mean to you. Make a list of 10 things that show how God is great. If you follow a non-Christian faith, which verses, if any, fit with your beliefs?

Gym
-Play some music by Elvis and dance to it. Move with the music. You can find many songs by Elvis on You Tube and iTunes. Some good dance songs include: Jailhouse Rock, Hound Dog, Blue Suede Shoes, Johnny B Good, and All Shook Up.

Domestic Arts
-It is rumored that Elvis liked grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches, possibly with bacon in them. With an adult's supervision, make one of these for yourself and see what you think of them. As with all recipes, be sure to read through all the directions first and have all your ingredients ready before you start. First, take two slices of bread (Elvis likely used white bread, but you can use whole grain to be healthy) and butter one side of each slice. Then, spread some peanut butter on the unbuttered side of one of the slices. I find it is easiest to now put that slice, butter side down, on a hot griddle or frying pan. It is important to always grill sandwiches over medium-low heat so as not to burn them. Next, spread some mashed banana (sliced banana would work, too) on top of the peanut butter and sprinkle on some crispy, crumbled bacon (or use whole strips of cooked bacon) and top the sandwich with the other slice of bread, butter side up. Grill the sandwich for a few minutes, usually about 5-7, and then carefully flip the entire sandwich over to grill the other side. The other side will only take about 3 minutes before it is golden and crisp. Remove from pan, cut in half and let cool slightly. Be careful when you first bite into this sandwich as the banana, especially if you used mashed banana, will be very hot.

Art
- Elvis filmed several movies in Hawaii and performed concerts there many times. It was one of his favorite places to be. The lei is a popular symbol of Hawaii and is used to greet visitors. While they are traditionally made with real flowers, that can be a bit expensive, so we are going to make our own leis with paper flowers and plastic straws. First, get a length of string long enough to make a necklace that will fit over your head. Then, cut out several small flower shapes (about 1.5-2 inches across) from various colors of construction paper. Also, prepare the straw pieces by cutting straws into pieces about 1 inch long. Now, simply string one straw piece followed by one flower and continue alternating until you have filled most of the necklace. Tie the two ends together and you have a lei!

Music
-Print out the lyrics to the song (I Just Want To Be Your) Teddy Bear by Elvis Presley and then sing along to the song here.

Spanish
-Learn these 3 words in Spanish:
guitar (la guitarra)
music (la música)
singer (el cantante)

Elvis Presley- Part One

Reading
-Elvis Presley's Love Me Tender (especially appropriate for younger students, as this is a picture book set to the words of Love Me Tender)
-Shake, Rattle & Turn That Noise Down!: How Elvis Shook Up Music, Me & Mom ( a graphic novel about the author's introduction to rock music)

Writing
- Elvis appeared in 31 films during his career. Watch Follow That Dream
(currently available on Netflix's Instant Queue) and write a short report about it. Briefly tell what the movie was about and what you liked and disliked about the movie.
***A note about Netflix***
I LOVE Netflix and use it as a home schooling tool regularly. It is reasonably priced, especially compared to cable. We currently use the 1-out-at-a-time and unlimited streaming plan and pay about $10 a month. I know they are also currently offering a plan that does not allow for any physical discs, just unlimited streaming, which is less expensive than our plan and one we are considering switching to. You do need to have a way to stream the movies, such as a computer, a Wii, a Playstation 3, or an Xbox360 AND high speed internet. I will try to note when I suggest a movie, as to whether or not it is available through Netflix and if it is currently available for instant streaming or physical disc only. Any which way, most of the movies I will recommend will likely be available at your local video store and/or library as well.

Math
- Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and later moved to Memphis, Tennessee. According to Mapquest, and today's maps, these two cities are about 110 miles apart from each other. One mile is made up of 5280 feet. How many feet apart is Tupelo, MS from Memphis, TN? A mile is equal to about 1.6 kilometers. How many kilometers apart are these two cities? For more practice, visit Mapquest and find out how far each of these cities are from your own home and convert that distance to both feet and kilometers.
- Elvis was born January 8, 1935 and died August 16, 1977. Some people believe that Elvis did not actually die in 1977 and that he is still alive somewhere. If that were true, how old would Elvis be on January 8, 2011?

Science
-Elvis was well known for his looks, especially his hair. To get his hair the way he liked, he needed to use hair gel to style it. Learn about absorption by making your own (with an adult's assistance) hair gel. To do this: dissolve 1/4 tsp unflavored gelatin into 1/2 cup warm water and stir until smooth. If you want to make this a scented gel, use sugar-free flavored gelatin or add a few drops of an essential oil to the water before stirring it. Extra gel should be stored in the fridge. The gel forms because the gelatin absorbs the water and swells up, creating a sticky goop that will hold your hair in place.

Service
- Elvis grew up in poverty. As an adult, he often gave money to people and organizations that helped those who were struggling financially. Find an organization in your area, such as a food cupboard or soup kitchen, that assists those who are struggling financially. Contact them and see if you can come in and provide a few hours of service. At a food cupboard, you may help fill orders or stock shelves. At a soup kitchen, you may be able to help serve food to the hungry or clean up after a meal is served. With your parent's permission (and hopefully with the whole family) follow through on providing the service.

Health
-As an adult, Elvis gained a large amount of weight, most likely due to his poor food choices and hectic lifestyle. According to Larry Geller, Elvis' hair stylist and friend, shortly before Elvis's death, he had decided that he wanted to embark on a healthier lifestyle. They (Elvis and Larry) planned to go to Hawaii, one of Elvis' favorite places, and begin a diet free of junk food and full of fresh fruits and veggies and fresh juices. They would exercise, play sports, and meditate as well. Unfortunately, Elvis passed away before they could make this dream come true. What are 5 changes you could make to improve your health? You could work on physical health through a healthy diet and exercise, emotional health through yoga and meditation or journal keeping, spiritual health through prayer and scripture reading, or any other thing you can think of that will help you live a healthier life. Choose one of these changes and actively work on it for 1 month. It may help to keep a journal specifically about the changes you make so you can see how much changes in that time. Continue working on the changes you chose until you achieve all of them.

Back Again

I had to take a break to re-evaluate how I was putting together my units and sharing them. I write my units in Microsoft Word, but cannot figure out an easy way to copy them from there and paste them here. The other ways I have tried to do it, take entirely much too long and were keeping me away from far more important activities, such as my family. I am planning on posting again starting this week and while I still cannot do it as planned, it will be much easier than trying to reformat all my other units and get them up here. Here is a run down of the planned units for the next several weeks:
1/3-1/9: Elvis Presley
1/10-1/16: Benjamin Franklin
1/17-1/23: Penguins
1/24-1/30: Jackie Robinson
1/31-2/5: Chinese New Year
2/6-2/13: Valentine's Day
2/14-2/20: the Human Heart
2/21-2/27: John Glenn
2/28-3/6: Barbie (yes, THAT Barbie)

Each unit is purposely planned for the time it is due to relevance in some way. In many cases, it is due to the holiday falling in that time frame and in some cases it is due to birthdays near that time. However, most of the units would be appropriate any time of year.

Thank you again for reading along and hanging in there with me.

Product Review: Scholastic Storybook Treasures

My father has been legally deaf my entire life, but because his true hearing loss was something that gradually got worse over time, I was able to talk to talk to him as a child. Due to that, I never learned anything more than a few basic signs and the alphabet in American Sign Language. Now, my father has almost complete hearing loss and I find it can be difficult at times to communicate with him, especially for my children. It is important to me that my children learn ASL, but it can be difficult to find materials designed for their ages.

On July 27, Scholastic Storybook Treasures will launch a new line of storybooks-on-DVD, the American Sign Language series. The first two DVDs are "Goodnight Moon...and more great bedtime stories" and "A Pocket for Corduroy... and more stories about friendship." Each DVD contains 3 best-selling children stories along with an expertly signed adaptation. While the story is being read aloud, there is a person signing along and the words are shown on the screen. The DVDs are designed for children in the 3-9 years age range and while not designed to fully teach sign language, they are great for learning and reinforcing vocabulary. Also, the child can see just how important facial expressions are when using sign language, by watching the signers as they tell the story.

Not only is sign language a great marketable skill, children that learn sign language at an early age can increase their IQ scores by an average of 12 points and it is great for enhancing fine motor skills. Learning another language is easiest in the preschool years and helps to make learning additional languages easier later in life. Teaching sign language also enhances communication, vocabulary, language skills, reading readiness and sight word retention.

The DVDs are about 30 minutes long and retail for $12.95 each. If you like the first two, be sure to keep an eye out for the third DVD coming out on August 24, "Five Little Monkees...and more great children's stories."

***My opinion***
I really liked these DVDs for all of my children. The 2 and 3 year olds loved listening to the story and I liked that they were being exposed to sign language and written language as well. My older two, ages 7 and 9, felt a little too old for the stories themselves, but loved the sign language vocabulary lessons that are available as extras on the DVDs. The lessons also include comprehension activities that go along with them. On the downside is that I am not a big fan of sitting the kids in front of the DVD to educate them, especially for something like story time, however, if they are going to watch tv (and sometimes that is necessary), I want them watching something that is enjoyable as well as educational. So would I buy them? I would because I love that they are introducing my children to more sign language vocabulary than I could do on my own and I like that they can see there are other deaf people in the world, not just their Papa. The DVD's are well-made and great when mom or dad need to do something else, such as make an important phone call, work with another child, make lunch, etc.



***Disclaimer***
I received the above-mentioned products for free to review. No monetary compensation was received and my opinions were not influenced by anyone.

Summer Activities

During the summer, we have a much less structured school time, but I still do have the kids participate in "school" activities. This year, I printed up a packet of activities for them to do. The packet is divided up by subject and they are to choose 3 activities from each subject to do each month. Reading is the only exception as they only have to read one book (from the list) each month and do the related activities. Each subject, except reading, has more than 9 choices so they do not have to do every single thing on the list. Also, if they do something not on the list, but that is related to the subject, it can be substituted in place of one of the activities. Here is the packet I gave them this year (minus the religion section which is available upon request):

Reading
For this section only, you only need to choose 1 activity (book and all related activities) each month.

Read the book Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.As you read, be sure to visit this page: http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading23/number_the_stars.htm and answer the online questions for each set of chapters and do the corresponding activities.

Read the book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. As you read, visit this page: http://www.mce.k12tn.net/chocolate/charlie/charlie_and_the_chocolate_factor.htm Do activities 1, 2, and 4 listed at the top of the web page as well.

Read the book Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. As you read, visit this page: http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/dixie/because_of_winn_dixie.htm and answer the online quiz questions for each set of chapters. You also need to do the following activities from the same web page: Make both of the recipes in the “Recipes” activities, Read about alcohol in the “Alcohol” activity,and Print and complete the Printable Crossword Puzzle.

Computers
***Do this activity first*** Visit the Girl Scout website and print out the Internet Safety Pledge: http://www.girlscouts.org/internet_safety_pledge.asp Read it over with an adult and then sign it. Be sure to always follow the rules in this pledge.The rules that deal specifically with Girl Scouting do not apply unless you are a Girl Scout.

Learn how to create a flyer using Microsoft Word. Learn these vocabulary words: font, clip art and italic. Learn how to change the font and to change the look of it by changing the size, changing the color, making it bold, changing it to italics, and underlining it. Learn how to insert and adjust the size of a clip art of your choice. Learn how to save what you have created. Make a poster for your bedroom or a poster for a party.

Learn how to write a paper using Microsoft Word. Learn how to use tab, spell check, how to set margins, and how to insert page numbers. Write a short story and submit it.

Start or continue a blog. Learn how to change the settings and layout of the blog. Learn how to create an “About Me” page and create one. Post at least one picture to your blog (after your parent approves it).

Learn more about using e-mail. Learn how to send the same e-mail to more than one person (called copying someone in), how to forward an e-mail, how to attach a picture or file to an e-mail and how to reply to an e-mail.

Learn how to run Spybot and AdAware to help keep the computer free from viruses and Trojans. Learn how to read the reports and fix any problems found after running these programs.

Keep track of any computers you see outside of your house for one week. Write down where you see them and how they are being used.

Find out about a job in the computer field. Find out what kind of education and experience you need to get this type of job.

Learn how to scan something onto the computer.

Go through the keyboarding lessons on this web site: http://www.davis.k12.ut.us/cjh/appliedtech/business/keyboarding/index.html


Writing

Write in your journal every day for 1 month. Talk about what happened in your life each day and how you feel about it.

Make an alphabet book for a younger child. Each page should have 2-3 pictures with the words carefully written underneath.

Write a story in your journal about your most recent vacation.

Write a story about a vacation you would like to take. Tell me about where you want to go, what you want to do, who you want to go with, and what it will be like when you are there.

Write a poem about your favorite thing.

Write 3 letters to family members who live far away.

Make up a book of family members to share with a younger sibling or cousin. Write their names under their pictures.

Write a book report about a book you have read. Visit this website to learn more about writing a good book report: http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/hh/writeideas/articles/0,28372,634427,00.html

Write a story about what you think your life will be like in 20 years. Where will you be living? Who will be in your life? What is your daily life like?

Learn how to write all of the capital letters in cursive writing. Practice until you can easily write them.

Learn how to write all the lower case letters in cursive writing. Practice until you can easily write them.

Write a poem for someone you love.


Math

Learn the names of the parts of a fraction (numerator and denominator) and be able to add and subtract fractions with the same denominator.

Learn the 3 types of angles: acute, obtuse, and right. Learn the three types of triangles: scalene, equilateral, and isosceles.

Learn what a cube, sphere and cone are. Be able to identify 10 different shapes.

Learn how to find the perimeter of a square and of a rectangle. Find the perimeter of 3 items in the house.

Learn what pi is and memorize the first 5 numbers of pi. Be able to draw and identify the symbol for pi.

***Learn the multiplication facts for 0-5.

Learn the multiplication facts for 6-10.

Be able to identify a number family up to 1 million.

Learn how many ounces are in 1 pound and learn the abbreviations for ounces and pounds.

Find out how tall you are and learn how to write it using marks for feet and inches. Find out how tall 3 other family members are and write their heights as well.

Learn how many pints are in 1 quart and how many quarts are in 1 gallon.

Learn how many feet are in 1 yard and how many feet are in 1 mile.

Find examples of 5 graphs in newspapers and magazines. Be able to tell me what the data tells you.


Science

Be able to identify 5 different dinosaurs. Choose 1 dinosaur and write a report about it. Include pictures and tell me what it ate, where it lived, and at least 3 interesting facts about it.

Learn the names of the planets in order from the sun. Choose one planet and write a report on it. How big is it? What is the atmosphere like? How many moons does it have? Include at least 3 additional interesting facts about the planet.

Be able to identify 10 bones and 5 muscles in the human body by their scientific name. Be able to also show the general area of 5 organs of the human body.

Learn the parts of a flower and be able to identify them on a real flower. Use this web page to help you: http://www.amnh.org/learn/biodiversity_counts/ident_help/Parts_Plants/parts_of_flower.htm

Be able to identify at least 3 different types of clouds in the sky. http://www.carlwozniak.com/clouds/types.html will tell you about 3 types of clouds, but feel free to explore www.yahooligans.com to learn more. Make a cloud by doing this experiment: http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Meteorology/MET0003.html

Learn about animal adaptations by going on an E-Safari: http://fen.com/studentactivities/CCCNet/sciencelab/Animals/AnimalAdapts.html#Food First print the Safari Sheet and then fill it out.

Learn about worms and composting by doing the activities on this website: http://can-do.com/uci/ssi2001/soilandworms.html

Determine whether liquids are acids or bases by performing the activity here: http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/physical9.html


Grown your own crystals by performing this experiment: http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/crystal.html Record what happens and what you see in a science journal.

Learn about mold and grow your own mold terrarium by following these instructions: http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/mold.html



Service

Provide 4 hours of service to family members living outside of our house.

Create a treat to give to 3 different neighbors.

Make bath sachets to share with women you know: http://lds.about.com/od/enrichmentmeeting/a/bath_sachets.htm

Make 5 cat toys to donate to an animal shelter. To make them: cut out 2 matching pieces of felt scraps about 6 inches wide. All around the edges, cut lines about 2 inches long, 1 inch apart from each other. Tie the strips together (1 from front and 1 from back) around 3 sides. Crumple up a plastic grocery bag and stuff it inside the pocket you have made. Tie up the remaining side.

Pick up litter at a park.

Collect cans and bottles that you find and return them for the deposit. Be sure to ask friends and families to donate their cans and bottles too. Then use the money you raised to buy school supplies for needy children at a local school.

Knit 5 washcloths or 1 scarf to donate to those in need.

Become a pen pal to someone living in a long-term care facility.

Make 10 cards for Meals on Wheels to include when they deliver meals to people.

Write a thank you letter to someone serving in the military.

Write a letter to a missionary from your area that is serving far away.


Vocabulary/Spelling
For this section, you will choose 3 themes each month to learn the meaning and spelling of 10 words. You will need to use each word in a sentence and pass a spelling test for each theme. The themes and words are:

Clothing: romper, suspenders, petticoat, apparel, attire, blouse, caftan, turban, fez, windbreaker

The Sun, Moon and Stars: astronomy, celestial, galaxy, meteorite, comet, Jupiter, Venus, astronaut, gravity, solar

In the Garden: trowel, nozzle, sprinkler, hedge, fertilize, compost, fungus, stamen, pistil, arbor

Bugs and Spiders: insect, arachnid, caterpillar, chrysalis, antenna, beetle, mosquito, cicada, mantis, hornet

Birds: albumen, sparrow, eagle, pelican, flamingo, cardinal, raven, talon, partridge,penguin

In the Kitchen: whisk, ladle, spatula, fondue, knead, yeast, thyme, chocolate, legumes, herb

Crafts: purl, knit, thread, bobbin, embroider, kiln, loom, weave, stitch, fastener

Shapes: square, triangle, circle, rectangle, polygon, pentagon, octagon, hexagon, pyramid, cylinder

Sports: aerobics, stretch, marathon, cleats, soccer, gymnastics, ballet, badminton, trampoline, canoe

Food: waffle, sausage, steak, barbecue, cauliflower, broccoli, wheat, almond, lentil, sundae

4^th of July: Independence, parade, liberty, statue, patriotic, fourth, united, picnic, anthem, colony

At the Movies: theater, preview, feature, concessions, aisle, comedy, intermission, director, producer, character



Health

***Brush your teeth twice a day and floss once every day for 1 month.

Learn how to properly care for a skinned knee. How do you treat it when it happens and how do you care for it until it is healed?

Spend 30 minutes each day exercising for one month.

Plan and hold a fire drill for the whole family.

Conflicts occur when 2 or more people disagree about something. Write a short story about a conflict you might have with someone. Then write 2 endings to the story, one that tells the wrong way to deal with conflict and one that tells the right way to deal with conflict.

Make a list of 10 of your talents. Pick one and work on improving your skills in your talent.

Limit your computer, video game, and TV time to 30 minutes total each day for 1 month.

Make and serve a salad for the family that has at least 5 fruits or vegetables, one from each color family (white, yellow/orange, red, blue/purple, and green)

Make a book for a younger child showing playground safety rules.

Observe how acid eats away at your teeth. Get an empty baby food jar and put some egg shells in it (egg shells are made of calcium, the same stuff your teeth are made from). Pour in a bit of white vinegar (an acid, like soda) and cover the jar. Let it sit for a few days and then look closely at the egg shell. Do you see small holes and dark spots appearing?

Write about a time that someone broke a promise to you. How did that make you feel? Have you ever broken a promise? How do you think the person you had promised felt? What can you learn from this about being trustworthy?
Watch a movie or TV show and notice how the characters treat each other. In what ways were they respectful? How were they disrespectful? How do you think the other person felt when they were treated with respect? How do you think they felt when they were treated disrespectfully? Give some examples. What can you learn from this about showing respect to others?


Social Studies

Find the flag of any country other than the United States and use craft materials to make your own replica of their flag. You can use construction paper, markers, felt, etc.

Choose any country and make a recipe that is popular there.

Watch the PowerPoint presentation about the International Pencil. What did you learn?

Learn about the US Constitution. Fill out this worksheet: http://www.education.com/worksheet/article/learn-constitution/

Make a collage showing the difference between needs and wants. You can either cut out pictures or draw your own.

Learn about imports and exports on this web page: http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lesson=EM400 Complete activity #2 and answer the questions asked in the conclusion on the web page.

Learn about consumers and producers by completing the slide show and answering the questions here: http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/WebLessons/BusinessBuddies/eco002.htm

Learn the names of the 7 continents (North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica) and be able to locate them on a world map. Do the same with the 5 oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern)

Make a tin can lantern using the instructions here: http://www.education.com/activity/article/tin_can_lanterns/ Have an adult help with this project.

Research any invention you choose and write an essay about it. Who invented it? When did they invent it? Why did they invent it and what did it replace? Where was it invented? How was it invented/what materials were used?

Draw a map of your backyard. Do not forget the legend/key.


Language Arts

Work through all of the lessons listed under Grade 3 on this website: http://www.eduplace.com/kids/hme/k_5/quizzes/index.html#three

Practice choosing the correct word here: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/its_there_quiz.htm (its vs. it’s, they’re/their/there)>

View the capitalization rules power point .

See your parent/teacher for the following directions worksheet. This is a timed 3-minute paper so be ready to do it when you ask for it.

Do the activity listed here: http://wps.ablongman.com/long_long_rw_2/43/11195/2866145.cw/index.html by choosing which answer does NOT support the topic sentence and then writing a short paragraph based on one of the examples. After you submit the “quiz”, you will have the ability to e-mail the results to your parents/teacher. Be sure you do so.

Learn how to determine the main idea of a paragraph by practicing on this website: http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/book_buddy/rosie/skill_pre.html

Learn about comparing and contrasting with this activity: http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/rcccon1.htm

Go through these 17 quick lessons and activities to learn the parts of a book: http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/e2topic.cfm?TopicID=317

Visit this website to learn about haikus: http://k12east.mrdonn.org/Haiku.html Write a haiku about any topic you wish.

An alliteration is a sentence where the first letter is repeated often, such as “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers”. Notice how the “p” sound is repeated over and over. Write an alliteration of your own and draw a picture to go with it.

Learn about acrostics here: http://volweb.utk.edu/Schools/bedford/harrisms/acrossti.htm Write one about someone you love. Get a nice frame and put your acrostic in it. Give it to your loved one at Christmas or another holiday.


Domestic Arts

Learn how to sew a button on.

Choose a cake recipe to make from scratch. Make it one night for dessert.

Plan a healthy meal and make it for the family. You can make a breakfast, lunch or dinner. Be sure to include all the food groups.

Plan and hold a Family Home Evening/Family Activity Night.

Beans are an excellent source of protein and are low in fat. They are also inexpensive and therefore a great food to base meals on. Find a bean recipe and make it.

Create a decoration for your bedroom or another room in the house.

Create a piece of jewelry for either you to wear or to give as a gift.

Create an article of clothing from a stained or torn piece of clothing you already have.

Refurnish or repurpose something that is no longer being used. This can be something in your home, something from the side of the road, something given to you or something bought at a yard sale or thrift store. Be sure to have an adult's permission before altering it.

***Make your bed every morning for 1 month.


Art

Look at these paintings by Claude Monet (click on the picture to make it bigger): http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/monet/later/ Write down the title of your favorite one and write why you like it. How does the picture make you feel?

Make a yarn painting. Click here for instructions.

Put on some music and just dance as the music moves you. Dance for 30 minutes. How did you feel like moving when fast music was playing? How did you move when slower music was playing?

Using a mirror, draw your self portrait.

Write your name in large bubble letters across a piece of paper. Divide the paper into six equal sections and paint each section according to the color wheel. You can only use red, yellow and blue paint to make all 6 colors. Here is an example: http://www.mrsbrownart.com/artwork/colorwheelname_800.jpg

Symmetry is when both sides of a picture or object are the same. Draw a picture that is symmetrical.

Using whatever materials you choose, make a puppet. This can be a sock puppet, a puppet on a stick, or any other type you choose. Then create a one-puppet puppet show to share with the family.

Make a texture collage make making several different crayon rubbings on a piece of paper. You can make rubbings of tree bark, leaves, flowers, the sidewalk, etc. Use lots of different colors.

Color a monotone picture of your choice. Choose one color and find various shades of it. Use only those crayons to color your picture.

Use fabric scraps to create a picture.

Choose a famous artist and write a short report about their life. Tell where and when they lived, what type of art they made, any special contributions they made to the art process, and name at least 3 of their most famous pieces of work.

Draw a still life picture of anything you choose: fruit, vegetables, flowers, stuffed animals, etc.


Music

Learn and be able to identify the bass and treble clefs. Practice drawing them as well. You can find samples here: http://www.largemart.com/read-music/notes-clefs.html

Choose a classical composer from the list here: http://www.lessontutor.com/musicgenhome.html and write a short report about them. Tell me when and where they lived, what type of music they were known for, anything special that they contributed to the music world and at least 3 major works they composed.

Learn the words to the entire first verse of “The Star Spangled Banner”

Learn the words to “America the Beautiful”

Learn the words to “God Bless America”

Change the words to a song you already know to teach others something about you or something you have learned about.

Watch a movie about music such as “Mr. Holland’s Opus” or “Footloose”.

Watch the musical “Oliver”. Choose 3 songs that you liked in the musical and practice singing them. Learn one of them well enough to perform it for your family. You can find the lyrics here: http://www.stlyrics.com/o/oliver.htm

Have an adult help you make a rain stick. The instructions are here: http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Make-your-very-own-Rainstick/

Make some paper mache maracas. The directions are here: http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/mexico/mexican_maracas.htm


Spanish
Just as in the vocabulary, you will need to choose 3 topics each month and learn the words that go with that topic. You will be quizzed before passing a topic.

Clothing: hat (el sombrero), t-shirt (la cameseta), shoes (los zapatos)

Colors: white (blanco), purple (morado), orange (anaranjado)

Numbers: zero (cero), one hundred (ciento), twenty (veinte)

Family: brother/sister (hermano/a), cousin (primo/a), nephew/niece (nieto/a)

Food: meat (el carne), bread (el pan), fruit (las frutas)

Time: hour (la hora), year (el año), minute (el minuto)

Seasons: summer (el verano), fall (el otoño), winter (el invierno), spring (la primavera)

Days of the week: Monday (lunes), Tuesday (martes), Wednesday (miercoles), Thursday (jueves), Friday (viernes), Saturday (sabado), Sunday (domingo)

Church: church (la iglesia), saints (los santos), Jesus Christ (Jesuchristo)

Fruits: appla (la manzana), lemon (el limon), banana (platano)

Vegetables: lettuce (la lechuga), carrot (la zanahoria), spinach (la espinaca)

Rooms of the house: bathroom (el baño), kitchen (la cocina), bedroom (al dormitorio)

Animals: animals (los animales), dog (el perro), cat (el gato)

Product Review: Hap Palmer Learn In Two Languages

I recently received Hap Palmer's brand new, educational CD: Learning In Two Languages / Aprendiendo en dos idiomas to review. It arrived the day before we headed out on a 6 hour mini-roadtrip so I thought it would be perfect to listen to while driving. My kids do a lot of learning in the van anyway, so this was perfect.

Hap Palmer is an American musician who writes educational songs that integrate music and movement. His music helps develop motor skills, improve language acquisition, encourage creativity, and develop reading readiness and math concepts. He has been well loved by schools and day-care centers for over 3 decades and helped write songs for the best-selling Baby Songs
video series. Other CD's of his include: Multiplication Mountain, Rhythms on Parade, and Learning Basic Skills Through Music.

His newest CD, Learning In Two Languages / Aprendiendo en dos idiomas was just released in May 2010. It is designed to help children ages 4 to 9 build vocabulary in both English and Spanish. The songs play first in ENglish and then in Spanish and at the end, are all the songs music soundtracks. Each song encourages the listener to participate in music and movement activities to help with the learning and enjoyment of the music. Palmer worked with several people, including certified ESL and Spanish teachers, a Spanish language educational expert, and in a bilingual classroom to develop these songs. The music introduces children to a wide range of "true" (as opposed to synthesized" musical instumnets including: piano, bass, drums, guitar, trumpet, trombone, saxophone, flute, piccolo, violin, viola, cello, marimba, bongos, congas, tambourine and maracas. The listener is also exposed to variety of musical styles including jazz and mariachi. They cover a wide range of introductory vocabulary as well as early childhood educational topics such as: days of the week, animal sounds, opposites, clothing, and prepositions.

We enjoyed listening to the CD on our road trip, but the kids enjoyed it more when they were able to actually move around in our living room. For example, it was difficult to actively participate in the "What Are You Wearing?" song where the child is encouraged to stand up if they are wearing a certain article of clothing, while riding in the van. We did end up adapting the song to "raise your hand" instead, but they enjoyed it much more when they could really stand up. However, they loved looking all around in the van while listening to "Percival the Parrot". I also like that I can go to the Hap Palmer website and find all the lyrics and ideas for corresponding activities for each song, allowing me to further expound on the learning concept. This is actually available for all of Hap Palmer's CDs along with coloring pages for various songs, sheet music for many of the songs, and even instructions for making teaching aides such as scarves, hoops, and bean bags.

Do I recommend this product? Absolutely, and it is ideal for families as it helps even the youngest children learn basic skills while teaching those of all ages basic Spanish vocabulary. On the flip side, it would also be a great tool for those learning English as a second language. The CD itself is great, but the treasure trove of additional activities and information on the website, add to the value of this CD.

***Disclaimer***
I received a free copy of this CD for review. No monetary compensation was received. My opinions are my own and were not influenced by any outside source.