Five in a Row- Another Celebrated Dancing Bear.

I loved this story.  We rowed it when my daughter was taking a homeschool ballet class.

For Social Studies we talked about  Geography and Culture.  I have a book called Children Just like Me.  Its a fun way for your child to see what life is like for other children around the world and the country your studying in FIAR.  She learned about Russian Ballet, music, and authors.  She learned the country of Russia and about some of their history,  We watched a story on the Czar Nicholas and the fate of his family.  We watched the story about people thinking his daughter  Anastasia  escaped.  We talked about Occupations, Hospitality, and relationships.

We moved onto the Language and learned some new vocabulary, descriptive language, characterization, drama in writing and titles of books. How good titles will bring a person to want to read the book.  

We talked about Art and how the artist illustrated the book.  They used a method called Etchings. It makes for a very unique picture.  Here is how they use this method....  In traditional pure etching, a metal (usually copper, zinc or steel) plate is covered with a waxy ground which is resistant to acid. The artist then scratches off the ground with a point etching needle where he or she wants a line to appear in the finshed piece, so exposing the bare metal.

We also discussed the colors the artist used to create the warm feelings through out the book.

We moved onto Architecture.  What the Russian skyline looked like.  How the tops of their buildings were called onion turrets.  Here is Samantha's drawing of it...

We did some science about boiling point and freezing point. My daughter dug deeper and researched bears.  

We had fun with this row.  We watched a few documentaries and shows on Russia, Here are some links to different things we learned about throughout this row...

Babushkas Christmas Story

Russian Folk Tales

Paper Nesting Dolls

We listened to Russian music, we watched Russian dancers and we looked at Russian Art.  

We didn't do much for cooking for this row. I found some tea cakes and we drank tea.  

Our attempt at artwork

our very own Nesting Dolls.  Daddy even got into the action and painted one.  

Five in a Row sad times

I am so sad to say our time rowing Five In a Row is coming to an end.  My daughter has done 

almost every book in FIAR.  Plus she is getting much older.  

Its time to move onto Beyond Five in a Row. 

 I am excited to start a new chapter in our homeschooling but at the same time

 sad to leave our treasured memories behind.  I have purchased the ones we really loved and some of the other books as week. So they wont be forgotten. 

So coming in the Fall a whole new chapter to our learning.  BEYOND FIVE IN A ROW

If you are looking for an amazing way to teach your child look into Five in a Row.  Its an amazing curriculum.  It teaches the child how to learn and to love books.  I can't say enough good about it.  I recommend this to everyone who questions me about homeschooling. 

 It is one of the best investments you can make in your homeschool journey.

I will still be posting about some of our FIAR rows.  I have been very behind on blogging about it.  So for a little while enjoy the rest of our FIAR journey  

Extra Fun, Classes, get together and so much more

although the majority of Samantha's learning happens with me at home here are some of the fun things she did outside of our classroom this school year....

• choir
• homeschool ballet and creative dance class
• once a month class at Oak Knowl Sanctuary
• Book club/ creative writing class
• coop science class
• She was in a play with the Calvary Bible Homeschoolers
• States and Presidents class
• The muscle class (how are muscles work and what we need to to keep them healthy)
• Art Class with friends
• Artsy Smartsy
• Stem classes
• Green Light for Girls (one day stem classes)
• baton classes
• Plays at the Ziterian Theater 
• She visits with her great great Aunt in the nursing home a couple times a month
• nature walks
• homeschool ice skating.  
• zoo trips
• visiting down south to be with Mike and his kids
• water obstacle course with friends
• cake decorating contest with a friend
• sledding during school time
• homeschool park meet ups
• she even helped the local public school with their car wash 
• we went to a Christian Concert right here in my city together along with out church
• making jewelry with a friend and her mom
• and so much more

There is so much more we do.  Many question us on socializing.  Yet seems to me many homeschoolers get out in public a lot. 

Enjoy the pictures of all she does....

Nature

I love nature, I grew up exploring nature, Kids have it different today, you need to be intentional living in the city to add nature into their lives.  My solution.. start a nature class.  Join in others when they are going into nature.  Find small and big ways to just enjoy nature.  

My class is called nature in the city, Plus we have joined others on nature walks. Take a class at a nature preserve.  We go to nature and explore and just be.  Sometimes in nature all you need to do is be there.  

Here are pictures of our nature explorations.

This has got to be the fattest pigeon I ever saw.