Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 1: Week 19
Religion
- Print out the fun pack about Saint Katharine Drexel. Read about her life and color the first page!
Saint Katharine Drexel Fun Pack
- This week we also discuss the Immaculate Conception. There are so many people who confuse this with the conception of Christ, but the Immaculate Conception is about Mary’s conception!
- Catholic Icing has a couple of great resources for teaching about Saint Anne including this coloring page.
- Also if you want to keep going, Saint Anne is the first in the Alphabet of Saints, and she’s a cool 3-D ornament in the Advent Saints pack. I love that baby Mary is inside Saint Anne in the ornament. (I guess I’m partial- I designed it!) Even if it’s not Christmas time, these could be a fun craft to do anyway.
Math
- For sure this would be a great week to pull out all your measuring devices (rulers, tape measure, yardsticks), and show off where you can see 12 inches and 1 ft in the same spot.
- Then go and measure objects in your house, see how many you can find that are exactly 1 ft or 12 inches!
Language Arts
- I’ve seen this great idea on Pinterest to use paint chips to make foldable contractions. But in reality, I’m never going to make it to the store to get paint chips. And I thought if I don’t have time for that, maybe you don’t have time for that either, so I made a printable that serves the same purpose. Cut out each ROW (don’t cut on the columns) and then zig-zag fold the last 3 segments. This way the new contraction ending overlaps the second word. Cool huh!? I filled in some on the first page for you and left the second page blank. Print the blank page as many times as you like, and have fun filling them with contractions!
- Challenge your students to make up a sentence for each contraction you’ve made!
Music
- Listen to Scott Joplin’s Maple Leaf Rag this week and have a discussion. Do you like/dislike it? Why? How is it different from the music we’ve learned about in the past? Does it make you want to sit quietly or get up and dance?
History
- Read Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” this week. Then discuss some of those famous words. What does it mean to “not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”
- Have your students write their own “I Have a Dream” speech. Write about a future without abortions or choose a topic that is appropriate for the age of your student, or allow them to choose their own topic close to their heart. Have your student practice their speech, then present it to the rest of the family.
- Teach your youngest students about diversity this week. A fun demonstration I once saw used two eggs: one brown egg and one white egg. Open them up and they’re the same on the inside! Have a discussion with your little ones about diversity in appearance. What are the ways that we all look different? How do you feel when you are judged by your appearance?
- For your older students (middle school, or mature enough elementary students) have a discussion or write an essay to compare and contrast the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s to the recent Ferguson Shooting. What are some ways they are similar and what are some ways in which they are different? One point to stress is that Martin Luther King stressed non-violence and a passive resistance method to achieve change.
- There is plenty to learn about JFK. Choose one story from his presidency that peaks your student’s interest to focus on and dive deeper into. They’ll remember more about something they are interested in, than if you were to give them a long list of various achievements of JFK. For example, I would focus on the space race since my daughter loves space right now. We would discuss the pressure to get to space first. Why we (the US) cared, who the competition was, what the goals were, how JFK was involved/led, and how it ended or concluded.
- If you have been reading this blog all year, you’ll know I’m a fan of these Childhood of Famous Americans Books. The one about JFK doesn’t disappoint either. Check it out at your library or add it to your collection for $7 from Amazon. If you can’t decide what to focus on, or don’t want to plan anything specific, read this book, have a discussion, and cross him off your history to-do list.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy: America’s Youngest President (Childhood of Famous Americans)
(Using this affiliate link to make a purchase helps CSH continue its mission!)
- Martin Luther King Jr. also has a book in this series!
Martin Luther King, Jr.: Young Man with a Dream (Childhood of Famous Americans)
(Using this affiliate link to make a purchase helps CSH continue its mission!)
- Teaching about the Cold War can be tricky. It wasn’t a ‘war’ as we know it like World War I or other various conflicts in the timeline before this. This could be a good opportunity to explain what Communism is to your students. Then explain why the US has had rocky relationships with Communist countries throughout history and list a few of those countries. Dive deeper into this subject with your older students who may be able to understand political tension better.
Geography
- The first part of a new lapbook is ready for you! Check out the Pacific and Southwest States Lapbook Part 1!
Science
- This quarter we begin learning about electricity. If it’s something you’ve never done, this week would be an excellent time to discuss safety around electricity. Electricity is all around us and makes life so much easier, but it can also be very dangerous if not used safely. Review the electrical safety rules this week. Tour your house WITH your students to discuss where the hazards are and ways to improve safety in your home.
Here’s a link to a TVA Power Safety website with some great tips!
Thanks for reading!
Did you miss week 18? Check it out here!
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