We finished the first semester!
In this recap, I am going to share what we did at home for more hands-on learning related to Classical Conversations Cycle 3 Week 12: Bible, History, Geography, and Science memory work. I will also link our favorite picture books.
Let's dive right into what we did for Week 12!
Bible:
Resource: Foundations of the Bible vol.3 | Bible Memory Songs | Hymnology Cards
We finished learning about all 66 books of the Bible this week! Many of you are taking your time through the lessons, which I think is so great because there’s tons of info to learn and dive deeper into.
Something I’ve been doing to help my oldest read the Bible out loud, is trading off every other verse with him. For example, I’ll read the odd #s and he’ll read the evens. It’s been a nice way to have him help with the Bible reading.
Note: This study pairs with each week of the CC optional Bible memory work, but you can go at your own pace because there is SO much to learn. You can also jump in at any time — it’s not too late. Anyone can do this study, not just CC families.
History:
Resource: Story of the World Book (Match Up List)
Activity: Make hardtack snack
We’ve really enjoyed our time learning about the Civil War. We made the hardtack snack that was recommended in the CC Sandbox file. This was a food the soldiers had to eat during the war. They’d get nine squares a day. I couldn’t imagine having to eat that. We also read from Story of the World and colored the related sandbox pictures.
Science:
Resources: Learning with Friends Year 3 Bundle | CC Connected Sandbox File
Activity: Blood model by CC Sandbox File
We did the CC Sandbox activity to make a model of blood. You need corn syrup (plasma), red sprinkles (red blood cells), lima beans (white blood cells), white rice (platelets), and an empty spice container. I used a food scale to put the right ratios in the container. My daughter used this for her presentation as well.
Geography:
Resources: CC Sandbox Geography page | Drawing the USA | Eat Your Way Through the USA Cookbook
To help find the mountains, I like to show them on the state's side of our maps. It makes it a little easier to identify where they are located. We’re memorizing our mountains by singing them to the tune “She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain.” Also, a kid in my class pointed out that Maine to New York looks like a dinosaur and now I can’t unsee it haha.
Library Books:
Here are some books we enjoyed this week. Some relate to this week's memory work, and some relate to past. It's great to read books that relate to any week so we are continually reviewing.
- Boom Town by Sonia Levitin — A little girl becomes an entrepreneur during the gold rush by making pies.
- Voices of the Alamo by Sherry Garland — Through poetry and art, this picture book captures the many voices--Spanish, Tejano, Texan, Mexican, and American--of the people who lived on the land that is now Texas.
- River by Elisha Cooper — Follow a traveler's trek down the Hudson River as she and her canoe explore the wildlife, flora and fauna, and urban landscape at the river's edge. This would be great for future geography weeks when we memorize the US rivers.
- William Still and his freedom stories: the father of the underground railroad by Don Tate — The incredible, true story of William Still, a man who dedicated his life to recording the stories of enslaved people fleeing to freedom.
- Step right up: how Doc and Jim Key taught the world about kindness by Donna Janell Bowman — An inspiring story of one man and one horse who showed the world the power of kindness.
- Great Smoky Mountains by Sara Gilbert
- Hope's Gift by Kelly Starling Lyons — Tell the story of a little girl's father who ran away from slavery to join the Civil War so he could fight for their freedom.
- Wagons Ho! by George Hallowell — Compares the life of two girls moving from Missouri to Oregon a century apart. Shows how different their lives would have been.
YouTube: Week 12 Playlist
I created my first YouTube channel to record all the songs and hand motions I want to use with the kids. I've compiled each subject's songs into a weekly playlist. I create this primarily to help the parents in my class review the motions with their kids at home. I also think this is a great resource for other tutors to use to build their plans for the week.
If you are a parent and not tutoring, the "best practice" for CC is to let the tutor introduce the memory work in class for the first time on community day. You then review the week's memory work with your child until the next CC community day. You ideally use the methods you saw the tutor use in class at home with your child.
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