Texas Royalty

Brigitta has been studying Texas history, specifically where she and her family came from. Her Momo was nice enough to bring some of the genealogical records to share (proving that she is a 7th generation Texan).

Here is a link about Brigitta's GGGGGGGreat-Grandfather who was one of Stephen F. Austin's 300.

Alexander Hodge Old 300
http://www.texasdar.org/chapters/Tejas/Hodge.html

We are also in the process of reading the book "Two Glass Buttons" by Marguerite Starr Crain which is about the Hodge family and Clarinda Pevehouse who was Alexander Hodge's grand-daughter.

http://www.amazon.com/Two-glass-buttons-runaway-scrape/dp/B0006ESGU6/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330982085&sr=1-1-spell

When we went to see the Nina and Pinta in Freeport we got to drive through some of the countryside where part of the story takes place (Oyster Creek, Velasco, and Brazoria). Hopefully we will have time to stop by the cemetary in Fort Bend the next time we have to go up to Sugarland to see Alexander Hodge's gravesite.

January: China Study

This month we have been spending time exploring Chinese culture and learning about the Chinese New Year. This is the year of the dragon.

We have read many books including:  "The Emperor and the Kite" by Jane Yolen, "The Runaway Wok" by Ying Chang Compestine, and "The Enchanted Tapestry" retold by Robert D. Dan Souci. These stories have offered many vocabulary building opportunities. Some of the words of focus are: international, gorge, sorceress, province, plateau, communist, mortal, widow, terrace, tapestry, stroll, culture, crocus, sprout, cinema, bustled, athiest, constitution, judge, endangered, magic, surveyed. Brigitta has both defined and put these words in alphabetical order.

Our grammar lessons have included study of nouns (proper & common, singular, possessive, and plural), capitalization, and punctuation.

Brigitta has also been learning the locations of the following places in Asia: Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Macao, Japan, Mongolia, North Korea, and South Korea through the use of maps and the "Geography Songs" CD.

For the remainder of the month we are going to be learning about pandas and endangered animals, Chinese writing using the book "Long is a Dragon Chinese Writings for Children" by Peggy Goldstein, Chinese art using an article/lesson by Mary Parks titled "Brush Up on chinese Landscapes", alliterations, similies, acrostic poems, as well as the comparison of China to the United States using a Venn Diagram.

In Little School we have touched on some of the Cultural stories and customs of China as well. Piper has enjoyed making a kite, reading stories, making a Chinese Dragon, and eating Chinese food.

The New World: Christopher Columbus

We have started our Unit on explorers and Christopher Columbus. Here is a link to a game called "Walk the Plank" where you answer a series of questions about Christopher Columbus. http://www.schoolhistory.co.uk/games/walk/walk_columbus.html

If anyone has any information, resources, or ideas for our unit we would GREATLY appreciate it!

Updates and photos to follow...

Math U See

This is a math program that our dear friend, Meredith, loaned to us. We are using the 1st grade lessons as a review and to get used to the program before moving on to more on-level material. So far I really like it. The video explains math in a new and refreshing way. For hands-on learners like Gita and I this is a great program!

Sea World Adventure

Sea Lion and Otter Show

Coral Reef with Giant Clams!

Flying Dolphins

Beluga Whale Show

The kids

PJ, Gita, and Mommy enjoyed the day at Sea World. Brigitta did get to ask one of the trainers what she had to do to become a dolphin trainer. He said work hard in school, go to college, and study biology. Her other two questions were: How long is Shamu and how much does he weigh. And, how cold does the ice and water have to be for the penguins. I guess we'll be finding out those answers for ourselves!

Brigitta's diary entry from the Oregon Trail

On October 14 was  my  birthday  and  we  were  going  to California to pan for Gold. The sun was sihing and the birds wher singing but thin the sun whas cuverd whit clods adn the birds stoped singing. I started to rain. The whind then the whind started to pas by. We started to the pas by the desrt desrt and it was dry rilly dry. it took 6 months to Get ther.

(I kept all of her punctuation and spelling. We will use this writing passage for future lessons on spelling. We have also attached pictures of the covered wagon she made this week. She did is all by herself. The only thing I did was give her the supplies! Turned out pretty good if you ask me!)

Land predators at the homeschool coop

My science class

Learned about the dog family.

My new friend Jillian