Thursday 21 May 2015

Popsicle Stick Puppets {Virtual Fridge}

This Week
A few weeks ago Nathaniel and his friends made some popsicle stick puppets from a kit I purchased from our local Big W.  I love the creativity of these ideas and the simplicity was even better.  All you need are some popsicle sticks, wiggly eyes, pipe cleaners, coloured paper and glue.






This Month's Theme
Welcome to the Virtual Fridge for the month of May. If you are after some inspiration our theme is FLOWERS.

This weeks Feature
This weeks feature is a tutorial from over at Royal Little Lambs: Star Wars Angry Birds Egg Carton Craft.



Your Turn

I invite you to take some photo's of your children's artistic pursuits put them in a post and link up with me I would love to come over and see the wonderful art your children have enjoyed doing.
Virtual Fridge Link Up

Blessings
Chareen

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The Virtual Fridge a weekly art meme where we can hang our children's art on a virtual fridge. This meme was started by Jennifer over at A Glimpse of our Life who kindly invited three other bloggers to co-host this weekly meme.

Your hosts are




Wednesday 20 May 2015

Knights & Nobles Once a Week Unit Study {Review}

When you enter the wonderful world of homeschooling many different words get tossed around.  Words like eclectic, boxed curriculum and unit studies.  A unit study involves a topic and studying all the aspects of life around that specific topic. They can be subject or topically focused.

Homeschool Legacy is a company that specializes in unit studies.  When you have boys in the house one of their favourite topics is Knights and Castles.  Homeschool Legacy recently gave us the opportunity of studying this topic with their Knights and Nobles Unit Study.

What we received
The book contains
  • Week 1 Castles
  • Week 2 Kings & Queens
  • Week 3 Knights
  • Week 4 Life on the Manor
Weekly Format
Each week in the book follows a similar format
  • Library reading choices.  These are read aloud and personal reading lists
  • Video lists. These lists cover both physical videos and Netflix streaming options.
  • Hands on activities
  • Daily activities
  • Once-a-week activities
  • Art & Craft activities
  • Family Devotions
  • History Timeline aplications
  • Math
  • Field Trip suggestions
  • Games
How we used it
For the purpose of this review I will focus on Knights and Castles as these two areas were of particular interest to Nathaniel.


Our adventure started out in week one with exploring castles. One of the recommended projects was to build a castle using LEGO. Nathaniel has spent hours and hours on this castle. Each time we learned something new he would add in a new detail to his castle.

Knight approaching the castle portcullis.

Knights jousting and practicing archery

Castle cat hunting on the walls

The Knights attire

I spent an easy time at the library with the list, and discovered some wonderful living books to share with Nathaniel.



I had these two read alouds on the shelf from when I homeschooled Timothy and Jane and it's been so much fun to read them again.

Stained Glass Window
Nathaniel was so inspired by Knights that he made himself this shield.


For the Parent
  • With the Once-A-Week approach to unit studies there is no prep work required other than sourcing a few items from the comprehensive list of recommendations.  All the book titles along with their library Dewey decimal numbers are provided for you. The complete system is totally flexible.  You choose how you would like to use them.  
  • The beauty of the system is that it covers the whole family from Grade 2 to 12 and incorporates up to twelve different subject areas.
  • The book begins with a concise write up on how to schedule your unit study times.  You choose if you would like to do a little every day or take one day a week to fully immerse yourselves in the topic.
  • The recommendations are short and concise.
Cost of Knights and Nobles
  • Paperback $18.95 + postage
  • Grab and Go digital download $14.00
Recommended Age Range
  • Grades 2 - 12
Connect with Homeschool Legacy

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Nathaniel and I have both being enjoying this in depth delight directed, living book approach to studying Knights and Castles.  I highly recommend this product from Homeschool Legacy as it is twaddle free hands on biblical minded approach to learning which is fun and all the planning work is already done for you.  All you need to do is jump on board for a wonderful journey of learning.

If you would like more information on unit studies with Homeschool Legacy You can watch a YouTube clip of Sharon Gibson explaining how their products work and why she created them for you.

Blessings
Chareen


Click to read Crew Reviews

Saturday 16 May 2015

It's been a long week but a good one {HSMJ}


 In my life this week…
  • I am tired this week and am really looking forward to us going away in a months time for a whole week of rest.
  • I really enjoyed reading this letter What I wish I knew before getting married it's so true.  I really wish I had had this list when we got married 20+ years ago.  It's worth reading no matter how long you have been married.
  • Did you know: The Earliest confirmed 3D film shown to an out-of-house audience was The Power of Love which premiered at the Ambassador Hotel Theater in Los Angeles on 27 September 1922.  That was 93 years ago!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…


Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…
  • Monday We took a drive down to Queenscliff to attend a Marine and Fresh Water excursion.  We spent a couple of hours on the sea shore.  Shared a picnic lunch with home school friends then proceeded to the Marine Discovery Center.  It was an interesting day :)
  • Tuesday began a new adventure for us.  Nathaniel now has two plates he has to wear in his mouth.  We are trying a conservative approach to some orthodontic work that he needs.  Please pray that this will be successful and he will not need any further treatment.  From here we proceeded to the Melbourne Museum where we spent a good four hours exploring the Discovery Center and the Indigenous People exhibition. In the evening it was bring a friend night at Boys Brigade.  The boys spent the evening working on their marching skills, bible study and making a go-kart.
  • Wednesday Today I drove to Drysdale which is over an hour away to take a young teenage friend to work.  Nathaniel stayed with a friend and together they designed and produced their own personal version of Monopoly.  After school at home we spent an hour of fellowship with two other home educating families.
  • Thursday We drove to Geelong to attend a small workshop on Bees by after which we enjoyed a few hours of free play at a local park.
  • Friday Grateful to have a day at home. 


My favourite thing this week was…

 Things I’m working on…
  • It's been one of those weeks where I feel like I'm constantly behind myself.  I'm looking forward to the new week ahead.
 On the WWW I’m reading…
 I’m cooking…

 A photo, video, link, or quote to share…
Family in Cambodia reunites after 40 years have your tissues handy.

Blessings
Chareen


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Photo collages made with: Photoscape a FREE photo editor


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