More on Ancient China

Taliesin and Nathanael have been doing so well on their ancient China study. Their lapbook is now four file-folders big. LOL We began our study with Ping. Then we moved into the importance of obedience. We've also been studying the culture of ancient China. Today, we specifically got into dynasties. Nathanael had a blast studying place values as we wrote the years of each dynasty. He's my little mathematician and scientist. Taliesin, of course, loved studying the history and culture. He is my thinker.

Lapbooks help Taliesin so much with his reading. He has an awesome comprehension, but he does struggle with the mechanics of reading. But reading what he has written and thought-out helps him so much.

We are supposed to be getting our tax refund next week, so we will be picking out new lapbooking kits. Taliesin is excited! And I am going to be investing in a new digital camera as well to take some pictures of all their hard work!

Kandy

A long time

I realize it has been a long time since I have updated this blog. This past year has been one of ups and downs and struggles. We have done a lot of natural learning combined with the art activities, lapbooks, and other things that Taliesin and Nathanael love.

Starting again today, I am wanting to update this blog more with Taliesin's and Nathanael's activities. For the past week or so, they have been studying ancient China - thanks to an interest in the Disney movie Mulan. We've been going back through our Ping study as well as throwing in information from the History Channel's website and other historical websites (and even information from the Voice of the Martyrs) for information about China itself.

Looking forward to blogging more!

God bless.

Kandy

First Day of Not Back to School

The school kids all went back to school today; so we decided to make today our first day of NOt BaCK tO sCHOol! We've been having fun. We have made Chinese dragon puppets and studied Chinese dynasties. Taliesin has been sewing up a storm today. We have read books. This evening, we are going to bake a cake to celebrate our not back to school freedom! Oh, and Taliesin wants to get started on learning more about ancient Greece (thanks to Percy Jackson). It's so much fun to not go back to school!

Kandy

Our Day of Rest

Taliesin's snowy picture

Nathanael's lines and shapes

Today we had a real day of rest. We slept too late for church, so we decided to just enjoy. We went bike riding this morning, got McDonald's and went to the neighborhood park. We spent the morning playing, exploring, and reading. When we came home, we played Thomas trains, and Taliesin and Nathanael doodled with the Paint program we have on the computer. It's been a nice day. Sometimes we really do need a day with just each other.

Kandy

Creation Science lapbooks

For the past week, we have been working on creation science lapbooks and unit study from In the Hands of a Child. Taliesin and Nathanael have been having fun with them! I was surprised that Nathanael wrote the words in the last two pictures by himself ("No Fear" and "Do Not Be Afraid"). He was writing about the behemoth and leviathan.

Kandy

Learn Nothing Day

Well, we failed miserably at this year's Learn Nothing Day. Darn it... we learned things. How could we? First thing this morning, Taliesin and Nathanael learned how to build a UFO at Lowe's. Then they had the nerve to build new inventions with their mini Legos and erector sets. It was just a failure.... Sigh... Guess it just goes to show learning happens whether we try or not. Oh, yes. Now I remember. That's what unschooling is all about. ;^)

This wasn't today. This was actually a beetle that Nathanael insisted we rescue from Wal-Mart's parking lot yesterday evening. He didn't want it to get squished. So we took him home so he could fly in our yard.

Kandy

Organic Learning

Kandy