1979 Airstream

This week started on Monday the same as most with outdoor play time, walk, circle time with seasonal songs and verses, math review using a bean bag toss and rolling of the math dice, and and penny whistle lesson. 

After all of this, we took advantage of the nice weather and I read Grant the extended version of The Slender Reed and the Olive Tree in our Usborne book of fables, outside.

Here is one short version of the fable: 

"Well, little one," said a Tree to a Reed that was growing at its foot, "why do you not plant your feet deeply in the ground, and raise your head boldly in the air as I do?"

"I am contented with my lot," said the Reed. "I may not be so grand, but I think I am safer."

"Safe!" sneered the Tree. "Who shall pluck me up by the roots or bow my head to the ground?" But it soon had to repent of its boasting, for a hurricane arose which tore it up from its roots, and cast it a useless log on the ground, while the little Reed, bending to the force of the wind, soon stood upright again when the storm had passed over. "

This is a story that I have to remember, as I tend to like things done in a certain way, and resist if things do not go as planned. This should be my new daily mantra, "be the reed, be the reed, be the reed....."

After I finished reading the story, Grant and I drew a picture using our red, blue and yellow block crayons.

Mom's Picture

 Grant's Picture (He thought his should have an octopus in the stream.)

Last week the kids and I collected acorns on one of the walks to make an acorn wreath.  Grant was helping me, and being very careful with the hot glue and keeping it away from his fingers.  He reached over to get an acorn out the bag and his arm hit the very hot tip of the glue gun, and he was done.  I had to finish the rest myself.

I thought it turned out pretty good.

On Tuesday morning, Grant and Johanna drew this maze on the driveway before we took our walk.

After our walk, the school schedule was interrupted a little by a 1979 Airstream, and two guys from Australia. 

The above beauty belongs to one of Cory's good friends, Matt, who lives in Australia.  He was in St. Louis last weekend for a chiropractic technique seminar.  He stayed with us on Sunday and Cory took him to the airport Monday morning so he could fly to Ohio to pick up the Airstream.  He also met back up with his friend who flew over with him from Australia and who had been visiting his family in New York.  The two were passing through again on Tuesday on their way from Ohio to California to see Matt's Mom before flying back to Australia next week.  The silver beauty will be shipped by boat.

The kids had a lot of fun getting inside and looking around.  This will definitely be a project for Matt.  It needs some serious TLC on the inside.

Even with our visitors, we managed to get the main part of our lesson done.  Grant re-told the story of The Reed and The Oak, we summarized it, and then he copied the summary.

I had Grant read the summary a few times and then we did some LA exercises on the chalkboard.  I had Grant circle the words with "ee" and underline the words that started with a "b".

On Wednesday, we reviewed skip counting while Grant was jumping rope, and we reviewed math operations by playing the board game, Sum Swamp. 

This was a nice change for everyone.  Even the girls wanted to get in on fun.

After that I read Grant the story of The Donkey and The Wolf from our Usborne book.  Moral:  Beware of unexpected favours.

After I read the story, Grant and I drew our pictures.  Grant really enjoyed drawing this picture, and it turned out well.  He was very happy with it.

 Mom's Picture

Grant's Picture

In the afternoon, Grant and I worked on our knitting projects.  His penny whistle case is almost done.  A few more rows and I think it will be big enough.

Grant also practiced the form drawing for the week on the chalkboard a couple times before drawing it in his MLB.

On Thursday, Grant was very excited to show Dad the work in his MLB, and tell him the story of The Donkey and the Wolf.  After that Grant and I came up with a short summary, Grant copied it in his MLB and then we did some LA exercises on the board.  This time I had him circle all the words that ended with the "ee" sound of y, and underline the words that started with the "th" sound.

In the afternoon, I read the kids this book:

Then we went out onto the driveway and the kids made some of their own tracks using all different kinds of things. 

Julia's favorite was the toothbrush, Grant's was the monster truck, and Johanna's was a little astronaut.

On Friday, the kids has a lot of free playtime, and then I read them this book:

After I read the book we painted our first set of harvest quilt squares.  Last week we drew our designs in pencil on squares of muslin fabric, then we went over the pencil with Elmer's blue gel glue.  Today we painted the squares with watered down permanent acrylic paints in fall colors. 

Once they are dry, I will wash off the glue and heat set the colors with an iron.  We will do 3 sets of these squares.  One for September (which is the month these are for, just a little late), one set for October, and one set for November.  Once they are done, we will sew them together into a harvest quilt.

Next week we will be changing it up and doing some fun activities for Halloween and All Souls Day.