Homeschool W15: We're Really into Weather This Week!

What We Studied

We continued our study of weather and finished our reading of The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. We also slowed down a bit and let some thing go. And I spent some time planning our our second semester.

Literature and Poetry

We finished reading The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. I was super excited to finish my re-reading of this volume. On Saturday night, we watched the newer movie version. Arthur loved it, but was scared at a few parts. He’s very sensitive about movies and television shows right now. On Friday, we did a literature study of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in connection with our weather unit. Arthur loved comparing the book to the movie version.

• The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
• Pickles to Pittsburgh by Judi Barrett
• Planet of the Pies by Judi Barrett

Math

Another big review week for math. We played some math games, did some Khan Academy, and did some review sheets.

• Mummy Math by Cindy Neuschwander
• Math Potatoes by Greg Tang

Social Studies

We did a mini study of the Native groups of the Southeast with focus on the Cherokee and the Seminole. We also finished watching the PBS documentary Native America. It was such a great series. I was sad that we reached the end. We also did a mini study on the continent of Europe.

• The Southeast Indians Daily Life in the 1500s by Kathy Jo Slusher-Haas
• Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp
• Osceola by Santana Hunt
• The Cherokees by Michelle Levine
• The Cherokees by Anne M. Todd
• We are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
• We are Grateful by Traci Sorell
• Europe by Sandra Newman
• Europe by Mary Lindeen
• Introducing Europe by Chris Oxlade

Science

We carried over our weather study into this week. Specifically we studied extreme weather and a bit of climate change. We also watched an interesting NOVA episode about tornadoes and tornado prediction. Plus we watched a few Magic School Bus episodes about weather formation and weathering.

• Tornado or Dust Devil? by Josh Plattner
• Tornadoes! by Gail Gibbons
• Raindrop, Plop! by Wendy Cheyenne Lewison
• Little Cloud by Eric Carle
• Hurricane or Waterspout? by Josh Plattner
• What Makes a Blizzard? by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld
• Hurricanes! by Gail Gibbons
• Winter Storm or Blizzard? by Kelly Doudna
• I Don’t Like Rain! by Sarah Dillard
• Good Night, Wind by Linda Elovitz Marshall
• Rain by Sam Usher
• Snow by Sam Usher
• Worm Weather by Jean Taft
• Watch Out for Muddy Puddles! by Ben Faulks
• Storm by Sam Usher
• Raindrops All Around by Charles Ghigna
• Puddle by Richard Jackson
• Home in the Rain by Bob Graham
• Stormy Weather by Debi Gliori
• Like a Windy Day by Frank and Devon Asch

Art

None formal this week.

Music

Our composer was Johann Strauss Jr. I love his waltzes and Arthur enjoyed more of them. I think he liked the Tritsch-Tratsch Polka the most.

Unit Theme

Our theme was Thankfulness in anticipation of Thanksgiving. We we all also continue this theme into next week.

• It’s Thanksgiving Poems by Jack Pretlutsky
• Giving Thanks by Ellen Surrey
• The Can-Do Thanksgiving by Marion Hess Pomeranc
• Gobble Gobble Mr. Wobble by Becky Cummings
• Thanksgiving Rules by Laurie Friedman
• We Gather Together by Wendy Pfeffer
• Over the River by Derek Anderson
• Thanksgiving and Other Festivals of the Harvest by Betsy Richardson
• Thanksgiving Mice by Bethany Roberts
• Gobble Gobble by Cathryn Falwell
• ‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
• Gobble Gobble Crash by Julie Stiegemeyer
• Thanksgiving Day at Our House by Nancy White Carlstorm
• Thelonius Turkey Lives! by Lynn Rowe Reed

Misc. - Random picture books read

• Green on Green by Dianne White
• Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett
• Thomas and Friends: Thomas and the Piglets
• Little Taco Truck by Tanya Valentine and Jorge Martin
• Henry and Mudge: The First Book by Cynthia Rylant
• Encore, Opera Cat! by Tess Weaver
• Dino School: Peter Can Fly! by Bonnie Williams
• Why Should I Protect Nature by Jen Green
• Honk! Splat! Vroom! by Barry Gott (a Quentin favorite)

Highs

• Love Arthur’s enthusiasm for our weather unit (and science in general).
• Doing a math review week was definitely a good choice.

Lows

• I’m missing our history lessons.

Next Week

We are having an off-week in terms of scheduling and planning. I have a few small packets made up to do some math and language arts review. I also have some leftover Thanksgiving themed activities to do each day. So a bit of an informal week for Thanksgiving.

Next up on the TBR pile: