School Summary - Dividing Africa Up, Potato Woes in Ireland, and War in Cuba

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Liberian and American flags

A Summary of November 16 - December 4
We had a week of regular work and then our fall break for the week of Thanksgiving. Break week came right after my annual trip to the beach with my girlfriends. Having a week off after a busy weekend was perfectly timed. I should remember that for next year.
After our holiday break, we completed another full week.

Here's what we did:

Things that were scheduled:

Math

Language Arts (Grammar with Writing and Literature for both; Spelling for Soprano

Electives:

Greek and Computer Science (Tenor), American Sign Language, Photography, and Sewing (Soprano)

My Father's World 1850 to Modern Times
Weeks 13 and 14 focused a lot on Europe scrabbling over Africa. I marvel again at families who choose to focus solely on American history. We look at events happening our country today and can easily feel overwhelmed. Yet, if you know history, world history, you can see the same patterns playing themselves out over the past thousands of years. "There's nothing new under the sun." (Ecc.)
We looked at Brazil becoming a republic and the Spanish-American War, which was between the American and Spanish but not fought in either Spain or America.

Bible: This year we will be learning (reviewing) basic Christian beliefs and memorizing key Bible passages. We learned Luke 6:27-28 and Psalm 119:105.

 

History and Geography: 

I know the TM says that the activities are optional but I always have a sense of homeschool mom guilt if we don't all of them. These weeks though had some that just did not appeal, and then we ran out of time. We only colored the African map and didn't add any texture.

We made a telephone (which was scheduled 7 days later so that might show just how much we skipped activity-wise.)

Outlining, timeline, and maps got done though.

 

Science:

We're also using the World of Science reading assignments to review what we learned this summer.

Other MFW: 

Music:  They colored a page with John Philip Sousa info while we listened to two of his marches.

Art: We dove into Impressionism and painted like Monet and then drew like Degas.

Extras:

Web:

You can see them all in my Youtube playlist for weeks 1-16.

Videos:

The Presidents by The History Channel

Monet by Devine Entertainment

The Miracle Worker

Degas by Devine Entertainment

Favorite Books: 

B is for Big Sky Country (Montana) by Sneed Collard
Kirsten books from American Girl
Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork
Mailing May (Idaho) by Michael Tunnell
The Long Way to a New Land by Joan Sandin
Alexander Graham Bell by Mike Venezia
William McKinley by Mike Venezia