Learning Log 21

For science this week the kids had a fun time learning about the Northeastern Siberian Taiga.  We learned about the animals that live there, like the great grey owl, lynx, and reindeer.  We learned about the coal, oil, and natural gas that are found there and how they are formed.  We also learned how global warming is melting the permafrost in the soil, and it is causing gases to build up.  This causes huge mounds to form as well as huge, deep craters.  The biggest of these is the Batagaika crater.  There are craters formed overnight, and sometimes lakes that disappear as well.  We learned that prehistoric mammal fossils and bones are being found due to the melting permafrost as well.
For math Kimball took the test for chapter 20, started and finished chapter 21, took the test, and then took the unit test.  He learned about how to estimate to help one figure out the rough answer to a problem before one actually attacks the problem.  Adam worked on chapter 2 of his Alpha workbook and took the test.  He is learning how to write while counting to 20.  He practiced this a lot as well as reviewed how to build and say 3 digit numbers.  Anna worked on subtracting using doubles math facts for chapter 23 of her math book.  She also reviewed her addition doubles math facts as well as other subtraction problems she has already learned.  Elsie took a unit test and started chapter 17 where she is learning to add mixed numbers with the same denominator. 
For language arts I had a fun time reading stories to the children.  We studied stories from Sweden, and so I read several stories by Hans Christian Anderson (The Fir Tree, The Ugly Duckling, and The Little Match Girl), a Beauty and the Beast Tale from Sweden, and I read the stories of Beowolf and Frioloff.  I also read the American Girl Book Meet Kirsten.  Kimball did three journal entries.  He copied 2 stanzas of a poem he really likes (titled I Am a Child of Royal Birth).  He also wrote a short article for our family newspaper about the board game club he joined this week.  He read 62 pages of Viking Adventures by Bulla.  Anna read 3 pages of a book called Snipp Snapp and Snurr.  She read some out of her hooked on phonics as well.  She learned about the ing, ang, ong, and ung sounds and read the book Chick Chick the Ping Pong Champ.  She had a fun time at our first American Girl Club!  We reviewed the book, packed our own trunk of precious things we would bring if we had to move like Kirsten, ate some dried food, and the girls made their own rag dolls.  They had a lot of fun with them!  Adam reviewed the sounds of letters and practiced some of their blends, such as "en", "od", and "at".  We played lots of games that incorporated reading small words, and he read a short hooked on phonics book.  Anna and Adam also did some handwriting worksheets.  Elsie read the book The Light Princess and went to her bookclub.  She discussed the book and worked on a sampler they are making to remind them of their divine worth.  She also read a little from The Boy who Harnessed the Wind and Princess Academy.  She wrote an article for our family newsletter and wrote a reflective piece in her journal.  She also copied a poem called "Only One Mother" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 
For Minecraft Kimball wrote out a menu plan for his restaurant he is going to build in Minecraft.  Elsie found out she was 6 assignments behind in Minecraft!  We made up a plan for her to catch up and she almost finished building her room in Minecraft.  Anna is working on formating our next family newsletter with everyone's articles.
Kimball, Elsie, and Anna started up Bows and Bridges again.  They went to their personal lesson and group lesson. Kimball is working on the song Allegretto right now.  Elsie is working on the Chorus from Judas Machabees, and Anna is working on Oh Come Little Children.