Learning Log 22

For Language Arts this week Elsie read 100 pages of Princess Academy and 10 pages of The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.  She is also enjoying listening to Little Women online.  She wrote 2 letters to her cousin and another letter to an old friend.  Elsie also wrote a small newspaper she wants to distribute at her book-club.  Kimball finished his book Viking Adventures by Bulla and read about 30 pages from a book called 8 Class Pets=1 Squirrel / 1 Dog = Chaos.  He wrote in his journal 5 times during the week.  Anna did a little bit of copy work, and began copying down a poem about Columbus.  She also did several worksheets of handwriting.  Adam played games where he tried putting sounds of different words together to form the word.  We also played Bingo for letter sounds and we read several books together where he read the words he was familiar with and I read the rest.  Anna read lots of Bob books on her own.  She also read several units to me from Hooked on Phonics and the short stories that follow them.  She reviewed several blends sounds.   All the children worked hard on memorizing part of a poem or an entire poem to recite at poetry and tea.  We enjoyed listening to all the different poems.  I had a fun time reading aloud as well.  I read Kirsten Learns a Lesson, and several short stories from Australia and other islands.
For Science we learned about the Himalayan Mountains and the different lifeforms that live at the various elevations.  We started an animal chart on our wall where we identified the Kingdom/Phyllum/Class/Order/Family/Genus/Species of the different animals we learn about.  We studied the Red Panda, Tigers, and the Snow Leopard.  We also made another trip to Hardware Ranch with our Nonny and Poppy and watched and learned about the Elk.  Adam especially had lots of questions.  Elsie saw a baby elk call out to and find its mama.
For Math Elsie finished chapter 17 and took the test.  She started on chapter 18 where she is learning to multiply and divide mixed numbers.  She reviewed finding the volume of a square and did lots of story problems.  Adam worked at learning what each number coordinated with each manipulative.  He also learned to add by 0s and practiced with some story problems.  He also practiced writing to 20.  Anna took the test for chapter 23 and did a crossword problem.  She practiced reviewing her addition and subtraction problems.  Kimball started chapter 22.  This chapter was a challenge, but he is learning how to divide a two digit number into a 3 digit number.  He is learning the importance of estimating and staying organized in his handwritten work. 
For Tech Elsie worked really hard on Minecraft.  She caught up on all her assignments.  She built houses, started her menu for a restaurant, read about Eric's story to name a few.  Kimball helped Elsie and played on Minecraft.  He learned how to build new things from his next door neighbor friend. 
For music Elsie, Kimball and Anna started up on their piano lessons again.  They each received new challenges and are excited to learn their new pieces.  Elsie earned a Symphony bar by getting all the note flashcards in record time!  They also went to their individual and group lessons for their string instruments.  They were given practice challenges that they are working hard to finish.
For PE Adam went to two of his older brother's wrestling matches.  He is learning about the sport: how to score points and different moves.  He also enjoyed running lots and lots of laps with his older sister, Anna, around the indoor track of the high school during the duals as well.