FIAR - Madeline

Madeline, by Ludwig Bemelmans, was not one of our favorite books :(  My 7 yo DS just could not get into it at all.  He kept saying it didn't make sense, and he couldn't understand WHY the other little girls would want surgery too.  How do you argue with that kind of logic? We spent two weeks on the book, but it was a looooong two weeks!  If anyone has any suggestions that might make it more interesting, I would LOVE to hear them, as I still have two younger children, with a third on the way!

Week 1:
- Read book daily
- Studied France
- Made a paper daisy arrangement
- Planted flower seeds and bulbs
- Made a list of ways we can help others
- Looked at the rhyming and repetition in the book
- Discussed clocks
- Went for a walk at 0930 :)
- Looked at grouping

Week 2:
- Read book daily
- Looked at sizes - smallest to biggest
- Made Madeline craft
- Colored two copies of the Eiffel Tower - one monochromatic and the other full color palette
- Looked at symmetry
- Looked at healthy habits
- Studied simple anatomy/body parts

New Years Eve Traditions

Our family tries to find traditions for most everything!  We love being together as a family and doing things together!  For New Years Eve Day, we make and eat appetizers, go to the Festival of Lights, and then come home for dinner.  Get ready to be inundated with LOTS of pictures!  If anyone wants any of the recipes, let me know!  (That goes for all my posts).

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Cranberry Chicken Salad

Chili Cheese Dip

Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Crab Dip

Cheese Ball

And now for the Festival of Lights - this is a three mile drive through the lights, not to mention three different areas you can walk through (with more lights), giant Christmas cards made by local schools, roasting pits to roast marshmallows, a giant sand sculpture, and so much more.

BFIAR - I Am an Artist

I Am an Artist, by Pat L. Collins, is one of the best books EVER!  We truly enjoyed this book!!!!

Week 1:
- Read book daily
- Looked at the colors throughout the book
- Colored a book about leaves from www.enchantedlearning.com
- Read The Cloud Book and then went outside to see the clouds over our own home
- On a piece of blue card stock, painted white clouds using paint on a cotton ball
- Learned about the phases of the moon
- Studied animal tracks
- Field trip to the park to collect nature "stuff" and made a sensory tub with it
- Looked at the stars at night
- Drew/painted a picture of stars at night

Week 2:
- Read book daily
- Field trip to beach to collect sea shells

- Examine a sand dollar and read "legend"

The Legend of a Sand Dollar

There's a lovely little legend

that I would like to tell,

of the birth and death of Jesus,

found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely,

you'll see that you find here,

four nail holes and a fifth one,

made by a Roman's spear.

On one side the Easter Lily,

its center is the star,

that appeared unto the shepherds

and led them from afar.

The Christmas poinsettia

etched on the other side,

reminds us of His birthday,

our happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open,

and here you will release,

the five white doves awaiting,

to spread Good Will and Peace.

This simple little symbol,

Christ left for you and me,

to help us spread His Gospel,

through all eternity.

- Made a seashell wind chime (scroll down a little on this link to find directions)

- Examined shapes of cut up fruit - apples = stars, strawberries = hearts

- Made whipped cream = clouds

- Made fruit salad with the "clouds," stars, and hearts

- Did bark rubbings