We live in a semi-suburban, rural area. My children are very involved in multiple activities. This translates into a lot of time in the car! Any activity requires at least 25 minutes, sometimes an hour, drive each way. All this running around is exhausting for me great for the kids, but it was making completing all our work difficult. The solution, school in the car! Now during these drives we could just try to ignore the "He's touching me!" "She's bothering me!" struggles enjoy quality family time, or we can use some educational distractions enrichments to help pass the time. Here is our school on the road plan for this year.
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I really wanted to introduce the children to the great composers of history, but how and with what time? Then I found a selection of these on cassette tape for a steal on Cathswap. We tried them out and my kids were entranced. I purchased the entire set for this year. What I like best about this series is that is retells the story of each composer's life interspersed with their works from each time period. At the end there is a "Mini concert" of each composer's best works.
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This is another gem that I picked up second hand. We have the original series on cassette tape. Although the Cd or DVD sets are close to $50, they are worth every penny. Sr John Vianney has such a gentle way of presenting the Faith in a loving tone. It is completely mesmerizing.
We are continuing our study of Latin with Song School Latin. We have a portable DVD/Mp3 player to watch the videos once of twice a week on the go. We try to listen to the accompanying CD at least three times a week to help get that vocabulary stuck in our head!
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My children really enjoy read alouds and audio books. In addition to our Morning Meeting read alouds, and Unit Study read alouds, my husband reads to them for forty minutes every night from selections of his own choosing. However, that isn't enough for this literature hungry family. We have exhausted the audiobooks at our local library, so I have been happy to find numerous free downloads online. With the help of an MP3 player and this speaker case, we now have more books to listen to than we have hours in the day. My plan is to listen to at least 6 books over the course of the year. Here are my selections Five Little Peppers and How They Grew,Eight Cousins, The Red Badge of Courage,The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,Anne of Avonleaand Peter Pan.
Lastly, comes science, which I hope to find a way to explore more deeply on the road. We will be listening to the following books, The Burgess Bird Book, The Burgess Animal Book, and The Insect Folk. I also found all these wonderful episodes of Mr. Wizard's World on Youtube. I am trying to find a way to download them to my Kindle so that we can take it on the road.
Buddy is so interested in Farmer Boy. My children truly love the Ingalls family and remind me constantly that they are cousins. So, I decided to create a unit study for him.
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Farmer Boy inspired science- I have the following science activities planned to correlate with the book, we will complete them when we reach that section of the book.
Ice experiment- Over at Raising the Barrs there is an interesting activity to teach children about storing ice, reminiscent of Almanzo cutting ice and storing it in the ice house for summer.
Milk and popcorn experiment- How much popcorn can you fit in a full glass of milk? Find out the way Almanzo did by following this activity by Homeschool in the Hills.
Soap Making- I am very afraid of lye, but I want to try our hand at making soap like the Wilders' did. Country Farm Lifestyles has so many soap recipes. I plan on us starting with the Honey soap recipe and if I can muster my resolve in the spring, try the beginner soap with lye. This is an exercise in stretching myself, so we will both be learning.
Molasses Candy Pull- A little food science is fitting for studying Almanzo, a boy with an appetite the size of Texas. In the dead of winter, when we are stuck inside with multiple feet of snow all around, I plan on following this activity from All Things Beautiful.
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Reading and Listening- A large part of this unit is reading. I will be reading aloudFarmer Boy and Farmer Boy Heads West.From the library, we are going to use the My First Little House Books that tell the Little House stories but break them down for newer readers. These Buddy will read himself. My plan is at least two books per a week.
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Almanzo loved to eat, a man after Buddy's own stomach heart. Buddy also really enjoys cooking and wants to learn more recipes. We are going to cook a selection of recipes from the Little House Cookbook together, including planning a Little House feast from which even Almanzo would walk away full. In addition, I found the recipes for Vinegar Pie; and Apples and Onions--can't wait to try them. (If I can figure out how to make a gluten and milk free version as well)
Life on the Prairie- So you want to live on the prairie? Well, here are some books to show you what life there is really like. The first, The Prairie Traveler, is actually a period book that has been reprinted. It was originally written as a guide for those heading west to homestead. The e-version is available at the Gutenberg Project for free.Diary of an Early American Boy is partially based on the diary of Noah Blake. It provides another view of the world Almanzo experienced. Lastly, Pioneer Girl: Growing up on the Prairie is a true story of one of Laura's contemporaries that provides a deeper glimpse into everyday chores and activities.
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Farm Animals- What Farmer Boy unit would be complete without learning more about animals on the farm. While Buddy has been saving his money to buy a team of oxen, I suggested we start a little smaller and work our way up. I signed him up for The Bunny Bunch, a 4-H group that teaches children how to care for rabbits. Within the next couple of months, he will get a rabbit of his own, that we will care for and get to show in the county fair--very Almanzo indeed! We have also been helping to care for friends' chickens and learning more about what them online. Buddy wants an entire flock--we may be getting a few in the spring, God willing.
From Currclick*, I downloaded the following free items to enhance our animal study, since I cannot buy every farm animal to experience them first hand. OHC Farming unit, Down on the Farm Notebooking Pages, and The Critters of Wind Haven Farm. To help with the notebooking pages, I am setting up a visiting to a new(er) farm in our town that is currently raising chickens, pigs, and cows all in pastures, the old fashioned way. Noah the Farmer always offers for people to visit, so we are taking him up on the offer.
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Field Trips- In addition to our trip to the farm, I have a few hands on experiences so that Buddy can live like Almanzo, not just read about him. The first is going on as I type, Buddy is doing a Hands on History Camp put on by our local historical society. They are learning and living the early 19th century lifestyles all week. He is having a blast! He told me that doing laundry is so much fun, all he wants for his birthday is a washboard, metal wash tub, and a bar of soap and he will do all the laundry there is to wash....hmmm.
We have always talked about taking the kids maple sugaring, but it has yet to happen. SO, I am including it in our lesson plans for this year. Once we learn the process of making the syrup, I hope we have enough clean snow to make the famed maple snow candy from the sugaring dance.
Lastly, I am taking the kids on a road trip to see the actual Wilder farm. It is a long drive and will definitely be an overnight trip, but it will be worth it. I'm saving my pennies and hoping we can make it happen this spring.
This unit is read aloud heavy, as is all our curriculum this year (I told Hubby he needs to buy me some good reading glasses and a large reusable water bottle if I am to make it through :) However, i will not be reading every book, every day. I am going to divide the books up into daily chunks so that we can complete them within a year. So on a given day, we may read 15 pages of Farmer Boy, 10 pages of Laura Ingalls Wilder's biography, and 10 pages of The Prairie Traveler. This way it is more manageable and will keep us on track. I will be posting additional resources on my Pinterest board, be sure to check it out!
*These are affiliate links, though the resources are free, if you purchase any other curriculum, I will receive a small percentage of the purchase price in the form of a credit to provide new curriculum for my homeschool. Thank you!
Cowgirl, as her nickname suggests, is a horse lover. She eats, sleeps, breathes horses. We have read about them and learned about them, but this year, I decided to design an entire curriculum. Cowgirl is entering middle school, but this curriculum could be adapted for younger students, as well.
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Horse Literature- This part of the curriculum I am leaving open ended. There is so much out there to read. We have read a number of Margurite Henry books--although, quite honestly, she wrote enough books to fill a couple school years of reading--and I would like Cowgirl to re-read some of our favorites and explore a few additional titles by Ms. Henry. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell has always been a favorite in our home, and we will revisit it for other parts of this unit study. Ii am focusing on two other authors as well, Kathleen Duey for her historical fiction Hoofbeats series and Patricia Hermes Horse Diaries series. Historical fiction is a family favorite genre, but I think it also adds richness to the horse studies. All of these are available at our local library, although I plan on purchasing a few as audiobooks. The literature component supports all the other components of this unit study. We will keep a log of books read. I am hoping to cover quite a bit of ground through the literature but I am allowing this section to be self-paced.
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Horse Anatomy- I purchased Horse Anatomy: A Coloring Atlas. It was expensive, and I apparently purchased it without realizing that it cost over $30. However, this will be an ongoing project. It is not a coloring book designed for children but a real in-depth study of horse anatomy presented as a coloring project. If you are looking for a significantly cheaper coloring book designed for younger people, check out Dover Horse Anatomy. (I think that was the one I really planned to order, this is what happens when I over multi-task!)
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Equine Science- We purchased this book second hand for $5. Which is a real bargain. I like that it is comprehensive, yet accessible to young learners. I would definitely place this as a middle school level book, however it could be completed with assistance by younger students. The 4-H mall carries very nice equine science workbooks. They were my original plan, until we found this beautiful book. You can get both books for less than half the price of the book above.
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The Role of Horses in History- The legacy of the horse spans centuries and continents. Horses were an integral part of history for generation, long before they became pets and competitors. I think to truly appreciate the horse's nature, we need to study what it has contributed to mankind as one of God's most beautiful creatures. I purchased this e-book for $2.99. I was unable to find it in print anywhere. I also have several books about the Pony Express. Learn about Horses has a nice little summary of the horse's role in history. Horse Talk has an extensive list of articles about different horses through history, as well. We can't forget the role that race horses have played in recent history, check out The Top Tens for short biographies of the top ten greatest race horses of all time.
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In-depth Breed Study- Cowgirl will be choosing two horse breeds to research. She is familiar with many breeds, but I want her to dig a bit deeper. This will count as her research and writing portion of the unit study. For each breed, she will be writing a 3-5 paragraph essay (based on the system she learned from IEW Writing Intensive). Topics to be covered in the essay:
Origin of the breed including country of origin
Strengths of the breed
Breed weaknesses
Markings and characteristics
Modern uses for the breed
Historical uses for the breed
Any special care or maintenance that is specific to each breed
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Barn Management and Safety- Cowgirl will be completing the Youth Safety course through My Horse University. It is a free on-line course that includes a certificate of completion. We are also using the resources at Think Like a Horse. In addition, we found a local 4-H horse club and I plan to set up a "shadow" day at the barn where Cowgirl rides so that she can experience an entire day of running a barn and caring for horses.
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Currclick Resources- Have you tried Currclick? It is an online source for curriculum, clubs, and classes. The prices range start from free, and right now there is a huge back to homeschool sale going on with up to 60% off. I had already planned on using a number of resources from them, but picked up even more through the sale. Here is a list of what we are using.{These are affiliate links}
I have been using Currclick for as long as I have been homeschooling. They have amazing, low cost resources. I like them so much, I decided to become an affiliate, which means that if you click on any of my Currclick links and purchase any item, I receive a small percentage back in credit to purchase more curriculum for my homeschool. Thanks.
I will be posting additional resources on my Pinterest boards, please check them out soon!
God bless!
I'm linking up with Kelly who is just wrapping up an amazing series on SMA, please click over and show her some love! She says she isn't a superhero, but I have met Kelly and she is one special person and an incredible mom!
It's been awhile since I have posted one of these because I hit a road block when seeing that the next one was visit the sick. Part of it was because I have done so much visiting of the sick that it became an emotional topic for me. Another part was that I had a lot of ideas of what visiting the sick should and shouldn't be but not a lot of ideas of where or how to do it. So, I am changing my format slightly and giving four tips on what the sick and their caretakers need most in a visit, and then a list of ideas of how to visit those who are sick and may not get many, if any, visits.
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Keep visits short and timely. My mother, as many of you know, had brain cancer for six and a half years. She was a teacher and avid volunteer around town, that meant she had a lot of friends and connections. This proved to be a blessing during the difficult time. Any given day, at least one person had stopped in to say hello and "shoot the breeze" with my mom--she loved to talk! However, as much as we appreciated the love and support, it was difficult to constantly have people stopping in and some times staying for hours. Towards the end, my mom was really only "up and ready" for about an hour or two a day, but people still wanted to visit. The visitors meant well and were acting out of love. My first suggestion, though, in being a helpful visitor is keep your visit brief unless requested to stay longer. Illnesses, especially serious ones, are very draining on the patient and the family. While, we were always happy to see those who loved us stop by, there were times when we really just wanted to be left alone. In addition, entertaining people for long stretches of time while caring for my mother was difficult to say the least. So, please ask the family or caregiver when is best to visit, and plan on it just being a short stop in, not full day visit.
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Bring nutritious foods and snacks. All those lovely friends that stopped by supplied us with a steady stream of cake, pie, cookies, and pastries. Chocolate is a delicious distraction, however it is also not a healthy one. In those early years when I was there daily with two young children in tow, my health declined as my weight soared. I was busy cleaning and helping, especially entertaining guests with coffee and a scrubbed kitchen. I had no time to sit and eat a meal, so I grabbed what was easy to find--namely junk food. My children developed a serious sweet tooth and my mom also rapidly gained weight, making caring for her more difficult. We appreciated the sentiment and enjoyed the bounty but really it didn't help our situation to keep filling up on sugary carbs. If you would like to bring a treat to the person infirmed, choose a healthy treat like a fruit basket or veggies and dip. Let the sweetness come from a lovely visit, not just a sugary treat.
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Bring something to share. Especially toward the end, when my mom was home bound, she appreciated people bringing news and photos to share. Sometimes it was their grandchild's latest photo, or a clipping from the magazine about the school where my mom had worked. On occasion, someone would bring a video or CD to listen to. It became increasingly difficult for her to focus, but she always appreciated the thought. Bringing something happy to talk about helps cut through the isolation and loneliness of being stuck home sick. After all, who wants to spend their days just discussing doctors, tests, and medicines.
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Remember the family and caregiver need visits, too.Caring for a loved one can be very isolating for the family. Your life revolves around what is best for the person in need. It was always nice, although rare, when someone would go out of their way to stop by my house or give me a call. I needed support and cheering up, too. I felt guilty asking for help, though. So, make a little time to cheer up the caregivers. If they live in the same home, take time to talk to them about themselves. Ask how they are doing, not just how their sick relative is. Serious illness affects the entire family.
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If you are blessed to not have a sick loved one of friend in your life right now, here are some other options for your famliy to live this work of mercy:
Happy Mail: Send a cheerful message and some distractions to a chronically ill child. Help brighten up their world and help them forget about the worries no child should face.
Bring Flowers to a Nursing Home: We have done this with centerpieces from events. Bring the flowers to a local nursing home and ask for them to be given to a patient who hasn't had a visitor in a long time. We have also dropped off candy and cards with the same request.
Remember Hospitalized and Sick Religious: Priests, brothers, and nuns are always the first to pray for the sick or visit the lonely. However when they are hurting, they are often forgotten. Organize a card shower for a religious in your community in need of support. Ask church groups and friends to send a card, and then invite three other people to do the same. A shower of cards will surely lift their hearts and remind them that they are loved.
Do you remember my friend, Sarah? She was the angel when I needed a helping hand. Well, she could really use your prayers right now. Her family is facing the unspeakable loss of her sweet, little nephew, Sebastian. The tiny boy with light in his eyes, has caught many people's attention. It is so sad to let him go, and his parents did so in the most grace-filled, amazing way. His sweetness and light lingers on those who have not even met him. However, his famliy is living a anguish that we cannot understand. Please pray for them, for peace and hope and faith and love to flood their very beings and sustain them through the tough, dark moments of learning to live without the love of their lives. Thank you. Tiny St Sebastian, pray for us!
I have been trying to blog, but quite honestly, I have been reeling from the recent videos released about Planned Parenthood. I've watched undercover videos of them before, but these are the most raw and troubling ever. I had so much to say, yet no words to share it. Last night, as I was getting my little guy to bed, this article came to me. It is not a debate of the abortion issue but why we cannot let this drop, we cannot let it be forgotten, we cannot throw up our hands and accept perceived defeat.
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There are many who say this is just more right wing extremist reactionary to nothing. Get over it and move on, it means nothing. However, the most significant development for me, is that Congress convened to debate this issue and vote in late July. That is prime time for summer recess. They were not just hanging around working on more important issues and squeezed this incidental item in to appease the right wing. In all likelihood, most if not all members were in their home states. They came back specifically FOR this vote, not inspite of it. If it didn't matter, if it weren't significant, it could have waited or been ignored.
In addition, while the motion didn't pass, it received a majority of votes. When was the last time that a president was elected with even close to half the votes, let alone a clear majority? Yet, they are considered landslides. The motion did not pass, but this is not an absolute defeat. The majority of our legislators believe what PP is doing is wrong. We are not in the minority, a strange fringe group. We have a significant voice and it is time we use it.
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Planned Parenthood is not the only option. The campaign goes that without PP, thousands will be without healthcare. However, there is an entire network of free mammography clinics, community health clinics, and crisis pregnancy center. In fact out of 8, 735 centers providing mammography, none of them are run by PP. In addition, there are only 820 PP clinics nationwide, however, in New York alone, the most liberal abortion state, there are well over 110 crisis pregnancy centers. Who is filling the greater need?
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Planned Parenthood is not the only option. For better or worse, Obamacare has been ratified as the law of the land. It requires every person to carry health insurance. As part of the program, all providers, save a very select few employers, must provide contraception and abortion coverage. In addition, annual well checkup/physicals are provided for free or a very minimal cost for any testing done. Gone are the days of the poor uninsured having no choice but falling on the mercy of whatever clinic sets up shop in the neighborhood. Either Obamacare fails to deliver it's promises, or Planned Parenthood is just pulling the wool further over our eyes.
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Fetal stem cell research is big business, but not big innovation. While the reasoning goes that the sale and or trade of fetal parts is critical for medical advances, the truth does not support it. However, despite all the lauded promise of fetal stem cell cures, none have been reached. Conversely, hundreds, if not thousands of patients have been treated and cured with adult stem cells. In addition, the harvesting of adult stem cells is painless and would actually save hospitals money on disposal. The greatest source of adult stem cells is cord blood, drained from an umbilical cord just after birth. The options for cord blood banking have increased while outlets for donation have exponentially shrunk. This rich resource is routinely disposed on a daily basis across the country. Why not pursue research with a readily available, ethically obtained source, instead of literally tearing the unborn limb from limb for a hoped for cure that may never be despite millions of dollars and millions more lives being sacrificed for the cause.
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Back office deals for profits create a conflict of interest. Unlike crisis pregnancy centers that operate on shoestring budgets and through the generous support of volunteers, Planned Parenthood is a multi-million dollar organization. On top of the flow of cash from government subsidies and corporate sponsors, PP is increasing its profits through selling fetal organs and body parts. Signing contracts for large researching corporations creates a desire to obtain quotas of "line items." When counseling a woman on their options, PP stands to lose everything or gain big depending upon the choice she makes. A conflict of interests for sure. Crisis pregnancy centers have no gain either way, in fact they give more when a woman chooses life, their preferred outcome. This includes prenatal screening and check ups, vitamins and nutritional support, baby gear, diapers and wipes, clothing, formula, and more.
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Once someone becomes a commodity they cease to have dignity. Throughout history, the destruction of a class of people has been preceded by deeming them sub human or non human. Slavery, genocide, the Holocaust, persecution...all stem from seeing another as unworthy of dignity, devoid of humanity. Abortion is built on the same premise and the selling of "harvested" parts raises the dehumanization to a new level. The abortion industry is a hungry giant thirsty for continual bloodshed. The hunting of pregnant animals is considered reprehensible, yet we refuse to acknowledge the inherent value and sanctity of our own race. Unlike other forms of oppression aimed at a single group, abortion seeks to destroy the value of every life.
By basing a person's personhood upon their abilities, usefulness, and convenience, no person is sacred, we are all dispensible. Worse still, by viewing the unborn as a source to harvest and sell commodities creates an "ends justifies the means" form of healthcare. We may anticipate and hope for the ends, but who would want to be sacrificed as the means. Even if you would choose to give your body to science, would you want an outsider to arbitrarily decide for you, to remove your voice and all power of choice?
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Lastly, is our failing of the women most in need of our care. As Ann write, every abortion is a failure of the woman receiving it and the human aborted. We are failing our girls, failing our families, failing our nation, failing our future. In a more global approach, we are failing the most vulnerable of our planet. Great riches come with great responsibility, however we are squandering our riches on the idols of progress and possessions, casting our pearls before the deities of greed and self centeredness. We must give of ourselves and give until it hurts, with no strings attached, no justification, no "Tsk, tsk, why didn't you know better?"
Pregnancy is not a product of failure nor stupidity, it is a success of intrinsic biology. When we treat it as a choice, a sin, a disease we are projecting an anti-life philosophy. To stop abortion we must love mothers deeper. We must see the dignity, sanctity, and value of every pregnant woman no matter her circumstances, before we can have every woman see that in their unborn. In fighting for the protection of the unborn we must fight for better counseling, education, job preparedness, and emotional support for every woman. Those who choose abortion do so because they have been fed the lies that it is the only way, it is their only option, they are forgotten and unlovable. Without human dignity for the mother, how do we save the child?
Deeper still, life saving international aide must cease to be tied to reproductive restrictions and abortion programs. We can dig deeper, we can give more. Promising help only to those willing to embrace the culture of death starves those even more deeply than famine, drought, and disease. They are all children of God, they are humans as worthy as you and I to live, love, and dream. They have been robbed of everything, often even their homeland, do we have rights to robbing their children, their future? There are better ways, just look at my favorite charity, Mary's Meals. Food and education can be provided for so little while building up the hope, strength, and pride of a starving community.
The only question left is how will you change the course of even one mother's path in the direction of love and life, no matter the cost to you?
Linking up with Kelly who is running a beautiful series on the joy and value of every child, no matter the ability or disability.
![States & Capitals [Music Download] - By: Twin Sisters Productions](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uwO9vC42hq9JjfxeuoY328o1ryafVDVXddhiSifbSzyrMklYoGiytDoi7Ev00RInFQRrOv_2fRNrK0Q_EKRtw86HBZ6WJ70Yv1hBq4lDc8ykKKYYOquMq27A76cAUK-AWC=s0-d "States & Capitals [Music Download] - By: Twin Sisters Productions")
