This blog is a way to examine my many adventures as I try to make the most of this life, and teach my boys how truly magical every moment can be. We may have ups and downs, but either way we are learning through exploration. My job is to try to make learning enjoyable so they always have a thirst for it.
I don't know how but "A" saw some clips of a Narnia movie and has been begging me to watch them. On top of that, he knows I love the Harry Potter, so that is the other request. At 5 years old there is no way I am ready to introduce Harry Potter (I'm thinking around 7 years old). I tend to have a strong believe that one should read a story first before watching the movie. After reading some chapter books as read-alouds to see if he could comprehend them and also have the attention span to sit still... I made the decision to read The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. The fact, that our local science museum is doing a Narnia traveling exhibit helped cement my plans. It took us about 5 weeks to read the 17 chapters and every night it was "just one more chapter" from my little book-lover. I found a lapbook from Homeschool Share, so every three chapters I would make sure we stopped and answered the reading comprehension questions. The questions were great for a young child because it was simple question and answer, and it was a good way to gauge "A's" understanding. As a teacher, I really wish there was some more critical thinking and text-to-self connection type questions. Also, the lapbook does a lot of connecting the story to Christian values and makes connections to Bible verses. I kept some of those in (like the comparison to Aslan to Jesus) but a lot of it was beyond "A's" understanding and more than I wanted to introduce, so I just omitted those questions.
"A's" drawing of Lucy with the lamppost in snowy Narnia
There is quite a few questions of the course of the book!
Other reading comprehension activities:
Making Strawberry Turkish Delight (recipe in lapbook)
Candy-making was a lot of harder than I expected
I started calling "A" Edmund because all he did was try to sneak more Turkish Delight!
Pretty yummy if I say so myself!
Got Picture with the White Witch (during library opening)
Watched the 2005 movie and did a Venn Diagram (stored on back of lapbook)
Went to OMSI to see exhibit. Couldn't take pics inside but mostly movie props.
Continuing on with our water/ocean theme of study this week, I thought we should examine "A's" extensive seashell collection. Many of the seashells my family or I have collected over the years at the Oregon Coast or traveling. Some of the more exotic shells have been gifts. I thought we should start by sorting them to get a better look. Plus sorting items is teaches great problem solving and analytical skills.
Smooth
Bumpy
Cone Shaped
Clam Shells
"B" wanted to help sort too!
I then told "A" about the two types of seashells: gastropods and bivalves. Bivalve seashells are shells that have hinges to hold them together. Gastropods don't have hinges. I then had "A" sort into the two categories.
Then we did some research in books to see if we could find what animals would have lived in "A's" seashells. The books we read (all I recommend):
What we discovered in our readings: mostly that we had clam, mollusk, sea snail, and hermit crab shells. It was so exciting to find a picture in a book that matched a shell in "A's" collection!
I couldn't resist following up the learning with some crafting. Pink and Green Mama thought up the idea to have her little one paint some of her white clam shells. Anyone who has a seashell collection knows that you can have TONS of the same white clam shell. It can get pretty boring, so why not liven them up a bit. In her blog she had them paint with watercolors. We tried it, and although it was fun, the shells turned out really light. Pink and Green Mama must have special watercolors because ours just didn't have the colors her's did. So I decided why not also take some of my permanent markers and decorate them that way as well. Now we have some special colorful clam shells to brighten up the collection!
Beautiful but hoping for more vibrant colors (they even dried lighter than this)
Permanent Marker is so much messier than watercolors
Permanent Marker Shells on Top/Watercolor Shells on Bottom
This summer we have been going to Michael's Craft Store every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday for a free craft. They have a passport with different countries and a world map. Each day we get to do two crafts from a country, learn some facts, and stamp our passport. The books have instructions for each craft along with one to do at home. My mother-in-law told me about it halfway through summer, so sadly we missed the first few weeks. Luckily, I have the book with the instructions so I can create those country crafts later on.
The passport and map of countries we are doing crafts of
This week we have been studying water/ocean/beaches, so I was excited to see that we would be doing sand paintings with our study of China. Last winter we were lucky to have a group of Tibetan Monks visit our library to do a mandala sand ceremony, that lasted for three days. It was truly inspiring, and I was so happy they included it as an art form in the passport. Of course, they did not have the children make mandalas but they had four different sticky designs to choose from, which when you peel the paper away you could add colored sand. "A" chose the octopus to stick with our ocean theme. He loved it and I think it is his favorite craft we have done at Michael's so far.
Ancient Art Form of Sand Mandalas that represent peace
Drepung Loseling Phukhang Monks from South India
Our China Passport Page
"A" with his two China Crafts: Sand Painting and Tangram
I know this is awful to admit but I hate ABC books. How many "A is for Apple" do they expect a person to read. The always seem so simple and boring. Even "A" feels like I am treating him like a baby when I read most of them. However, I know that children need those concept books to help facilitate reading. After much painful research, I have compiled my list of top ten ABC books that aren't nauseating to read.
Picture found on web at Thomas Davis Group
1) Apple Pie ABC by Alison Murray: I just read this book this summer and I loved it. "A" made me read it multiple times. It is the story of a dog who watches his owner make an apple pie and each letter is his desperate attempt to get a taste.
2) I Stink by Kate McMullan: I have two boys so having an ABC book that talks about puppy poo and dirty diapers is a must. The best way to read this book about a garbage truck is with a New York accent, acting real tough. Better yet get the scholastic video of the reading. I always do dramatic pauses with the ABC page and give some really exasperated "OooOOOooo YUCK" for the gross things, but that is just me!
3) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr: Okay, pretty much everyone loves this book about the letters in the coconut tree. It's a classic, pure and simple. To be honest, it took me hearing the song being sung on the Scholastic Video to truly appreciate it. Dang, now that song is in my head!
cuz everyone should hear the song...
4) Al Pha Bet by Amy Krouse Rosenthal: This is another new discovery. It is a fun creative look at how and why the alphabet may have been created, something I have always wondered. This would be a great writing activity for older kids to think about why they think the letters were chosen in that order.
5) Dr. Suess ABC-An Amazing Alphabet Book: Honestly, who could go wrong with Dr. Suess. He was a creative genius! Plus it's just darn fun to say Fiffer Feffer Feff!!! I also like the book On Beyond Zebra about how words are just symbols and to not be afraid to make up some symbols of your own. Turned out well for Suess!
6) The Z is Zapped by Van Allsburg: Another favorite author of mine who leaves so much for the imagination. This book is set up like a play in 26 acts. There is a pencil illustration of each letter and on the back of that page is an explanation ("Z was Zapped"/"U was being Uprooted"). It is a great introduction to alliteration as well. There is one letter that doesn't follow alliteration and sometime I change the words so it does. I never understood that one letter...
7) The Alphabet Tree by Leo Lionni: When you see my author lineup these top ten are a no brainer. There are some great writers here! This story is about letters that live in a tree and get together to form words. It is great to show your child how letters for words, and maybe you can even get them to read a few!
8) AlphaOops- The Day Z Went First by Alethea Kontis: Why should Z have to always go last. He is sick of it, but when he tries to go first letters get out of order. Bickering and chaos ensue. Too Funny!
9) Alphabet Adventure, Alphabet Mystery, and Alphabet Rescue by Audrey Wood: I love the Wood family and everything they produce. The Napping House is my house every afternoon! Anyway these three books are a fabulous look at the letters (big and small) as they go on adventures. The illustrations are phenomenal! My son especially likes the Rescue one because it has a fire truck!
10) Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod: This book takes a comic book approach to introducing ABCs (keep in mind I have boys). Comics are intriguing to boy readers and -contrary to belief- help stimulate a love for reading, vocabulary, and fluency. The illustrations are so rich and vibrant anyone would be drawn into this book.
This week in summer challenge is water /ocean week. I would love to go to the beach and the aquarium this week, but I don't think it will be in the cards and for us. This has me trying to find creative ways to bring the ocean to us. To get the ball rolling I decided to make a beach theme sensory bin. This is a plastic storage bin with lid that I put different items for the little ones to run there hands through, dig, play and set up little play lands. I took some play sand and filled the bin up about 1/3 of the way. Then "A" and I went on a search of beach items to put in. Luckily, we have lots of shells and rocks from our collections. We also found some palm trees, sea animal figurines/bath toys, foam sea animal shapes, a treasure chest, and pirate cut-outs from a book "A" has. It turned out so awesome I almost don't feel so sad about not being able to go to the real beach-ALMOST!
Ever since those I Spy bottles came out in the market (sold at places like Barnes and Noble) creative parents have successfully found ways to make them for a fraction of the cost. On the web there hundreds of themes and ideas on how to make them. The ideas are truly endless. My first one I just used a recycled water bottle, small toys, buttons, rocks, etc and leftover sand from "A's" sand collection (more on that on a later post). It was a great game to bring on a recent road trip, but now he has promptly lost it. Today I had decided to make another bottle using leftover rainbow colored rice. I had colored the rice using food coloring and rubbing alcohol in Ziplock backs (about 4 squirts of alcohol and enough food coloring for color you want). Next time I will make the sand a little more vibrant! At the end of the school year I had a 5th grade class make mandalas using the rainbow rice instead of colored sand as a way to save money. Although I love the students creations I wish I would have splurged on the sand.
5th Grade Mandala Project
For awhile, I had the colored sand in a storage bin with a lid for sensory play for "A", but it was time for a change. I had "A" find twenty items that would fit in a bottle that fit a rainbow theme. I took a picture of the items and will print it out on cardstock so he remembers what he is searching for. When he can read I will write out the items to search for. Then fill it up with rice. You can glue the cap down if you think your little one will open it up and make a mess. I can't wait to make an ABC one for "A" to search for.
What we chose to search for (it's hard to find miniature stuff)
Fill up with sand partially then place items. Keep repeating process
Finished bottle. Every thing is hidden waiting to be spied!
The summer has been cruddy this year, with it being one of the most wet and humid ones that I can remember. Today was the first day finally above 85 degrees, and I had to take advantage by taking the boys to one of our favorite hot day activities: parks with water features. These parks are great because they have playgrounds for dry play and water for wet play. I also like it because it is just splashing about, so your little one doesn't need to know how to swim and can have safe water play. Did I mention they are free! Portland, OR has a ton of community parks and there are quite a few that have water features. I wanted to highlight my two favorites: Irving Park and Peninsula Park.
Irving Park on 7th and Fremont in North Portland: This is my favorite with a fire hydrant, shower, numerous fountains, and a cool new playground. There are tons of area for picnicking as well.
Peninsula Park on Rosa Park Way and Albina: This park has so much to offer. It has a community center, outdoor pool ($2.50 for kids) and was the original rose garden for Portland, OR. I highly recommend coming in late June/early July. The garden has a Alice and Wonderland feel that is great for picnics. The playground is pretty cool too. Plus it has a cute froggy and flower water feature that is fun for those hot days!
