8

First I should say that last Friday we still had some time so we sorted out the animal classification cards, first into Backbone/No Backbone, then the Backbones into Mammal, Reptile, Amphibian, Fish and Bird. The kids both seemed to enjoy the activity, and we may do the Invertebrates sometime this week if they want to. I want to finish up with Taxonomy this week and start the human body next week.

Today we started with narration: Aesop's fable of The Maid and the Milk Jug, from the Hirsch book. I didn't know this was the source of "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched"! I think I'm learning more than she is some days. It's been 3 days since she did a narration and you could tell: she was pretty rusty. But not too bad.

Next I read Africa by Petersen, since we're starting Egypt today, and we wrote some things about Africa in her notebook. Then I read the Introduction and first chapter of What's the Difference: a Guide to Some Familiar Animal Look-Alikes by Elizabeth A. Lacey. The first chapter deals with the crocodilians, and we listed some of the differences between crocodiles, alligators, and gharials in her notebook. Then we called Georgia and she came over for recess.

A terrible thing happened during recess. The kids were playing up at the top of the yard with (I thought) the play hoe. Turns out they had Alan's big rusty shovel, which he had left up there when he built the cave. I should have checked. But I was hanging up the laundry and I didn't. Georgia hit her foot really hard with the shovel, and now her parents have taken her to the doctor because she's losing the toenail. I don't know if they'll ever forgive us. And what will this do to her swimming and soccer? I feel so miserable. What a stupid thing to let happen. If things were reversed I would be livid at the irresponsibility of the other parent. Anyway, still waiting to hear from them after the doctor trip. Had it been an accident with the play tools, I would feel bad about it, but these things happen. But that Alan left the shovel out, and that I didn't check to see what they were doing, was unconscionable.

Well, after that we did go back to school, after a prayer for Georgia's health. Emma did a math lesson, and I read Rotten Ralph Helps Out by Jack Gantos and Nicole Rubel, which is a silly little story that kind of introduces some of the things the Ancient Egyptians invented, like pancakes (!)
Then after lunch I read Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Ancient Egypt by Joanna Cole. There's alot in the illustrations to this book that I passed over but I expect E will be going over it again with her fine toothed comb this afternoon. Now she is labeling a blank outline map of Africa I printed up from this site, and then she can play play doh with her brother.

He sat through all the readings today, though he was playing with the loop loom when we started and I half hoped he might just do that for a while. But he was a good boy and listened well. Last night we were talking about school and he said "E has school tomorrow?" and I said "Yes and you do too" and you should just have seen his little face light up like a million Christmas trees: " I have school TOO?" It was so precious.

4

Another pretty good day! Narration: "The Ant and the Grasshopper"--she did great, even quoting some lines from the book! Then Geography: we read about Europe (by David Petersen). I decided based on our conversation last night, to ease back on the math work, so we did about half of what I would have done, following the lesson plans that came with the books. She was very happy and did very well. Then I read Wild and Woolly Mammoths by Aliki and If You Lived in the Days of the Wild Mammoth Hunters by Mary Elting and Franklin Folsom, interrupted by a half hour "recess" with Georgia (they showed off their cave that Daddy made this weekend). Then I read Benny's Animals and How He Put Them in Order a really excellent introduction to Animal Classification by Millicent Selsam. Tomorrow we'll play with the cards I printed out from this site, and maybe view this video--it's geared toward 5th graders but is simple enough I think she'll get some use out of it.

T was happy as long as I stopped to listen to his comments, and in between Aesop's Fables and _Europe_ I read _Treats from a Tree_ to him. Then while E was doing math, I got out the play-doh which was a big hit (I think E did her math more quickly so she could have a little break to play with it too!)