Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2: Week 6

Catholic Schoolhouse Tour 2: Week 6

Look we’re already at the last week of the first quarter! How has it been going? It’s our last week to focus on percussion in music, Egyptian Art, and Botany in Science.  History is moving right along with Bible stories carrying us most of the way.  Keep going- you’re doing great!


Memory Work

Write a memory work sentence on notecards. Each word is on its own card. Then hide them around the room.  Have your students hunt for the cards and then arrange them in the correct order! Once they have it in the correct order (and only when they have it correct) they get to shout the memory sentence as loud as they can! (Because what kid doesn’t love a reason to shout?)


Religion

Finish up your David Fun Pack with the week 6 activities!

David Fun Pack

  • Practice your handwriting on the last part of the Bread of Life Discourse this week. Then say all three parts together.

Bread of Life Discourse Handwriting- part 3


Math

  • I mentioned eggs and donuts in the Year 1 Week 6 post, which can be great for practicing skip counting.  This year you could try baking lots of cookies!  Many parishes have a prison ministry, and while it may be difficult for you or your students to practice the corporal work of mercy by visiting prisoners, you could participate in the ministry by baking cookies for the priests to bring to the prison.  Get together with your friends or other CSH families and bake cookies- pack them by the dozen.  When you’re finished have each student skip count the plastic zip bags to see how many you all made!

Language Arts

  • I still think figuring out types of verbs is tricky.  Plus some verbs can be linking and helping (but maybe not at the same time).  I think this is a pretty good slide show describing the differences and similarities in the types of verbs.
  • A Catholic Schoolhouse family sent us this great sound clip of a song that helps keep the types of verbs strait.  I love user submitted ideas (and sound clips)! Thanks!
  • Another activity you could do is print this list of verbs and types of verb labels.  Put each label on it’s own container (whatever you have: boxes, tupperware, baskets- it doesn’t matter). Then have your students take turns drawing a verb at random.  Use the verb in a sentence (either say it out loud or write it on a board), and then sort it correctly.  They don’t neccessarily  have to use the verb as it’s written.  For example if it says ‘view’ they could make the sentence, “Our class viewed a movie about trees in the jungle.” A lot of verbs depend on how you use them as to what type they are!

Verb sorting Printable


Art

  • It’s the last week of learning about Egyptian Art.  Why not have a review of the different aspects of Egyptian Art you’ve learned so far?  Go outside with some sidewalk chalk and have each student draw something they have learned- it could be a profile of a person with their shoulders facing forward and head sideways, it could be hieroglyphics, or it could even be pictures of the jewelry the ancient Egyptians wore.  If the weather is uncooperative, simply have them illustrate their favorite part of Egyptian Art on paper.
  • If you want to do another lesson on Egyptian Art, check out this ArtHistoryMom post.  She shows a picture of ancient Egyptian art and has a lesson  based around the image.

Music

  •  This week when you teach about percussion instruments – specifically, the Timpani show this video of a guy discussing the timpani and playing it a little.  He plays the timpani all by itself, so you can get an idea of what it sounds like as an instrument alone.
  • After you’ve heard a timpani by itself, check out this performance of Carmina Burana by the Raliegh Symphony . You don’t have to watch the whole thing- really just the first  minute or two gives you an idea of the use of the timpani in an symphony.  Another great piece that would be totally different without the Timpani is Strauss’ sprach Zarathustra – the opening “Sunrise”  (which I know you’ll recognize). The camera is focused on them timpani, and you can hear how it makes a huge difference in the tone and mood of both pieces.
  • Sorry to inundate you with videos, but I also found this video on how to make your own timpani using recycled plastic bottles and chopsticks.

History

  • We continue in the Bible history this week, so pull out that Bible or Children’s bible for stories on the Judges and Hebrew Kings.  Have some read aloud time and then you can try any of these ideas:
    • Have your students write what they learned during the read aloud or illustrate it.
    • Have your students write their own play or skit using a bible story from this week.  It can be as long or as short as you want, it’s just a great way for students to show what they learned.
    • Have your students choose one character from a bible story to write a report. Have them draw a picture, describe the person and what he/she did.
  • Solomon could have asked God for anything, but he asked for wisdom instead.  Have a writing exercise based on Solomon.  The prompt would be, “If I could ask God for something, it would be ….”  Then tell the story of Solomon asking for wisdom.
  • Here is a site with lots of easy and simple worksheets/quizzes about bible stories.
  • You could have your older students read the whole book of Judges, or you can just choose one or two stories to tell about them.  These are some of the more interesting ones and some ideas to make them fun!
  • Gideon: Judges 6-8: this is pretty cool lesson plan and activity for teaching about Gideon, or you could do this one that also has a worksheet
  • Samson: Judges 13-16: print this template and you can glue on some hair!  Or make the hair grow-able by hole punching at the top of his head.  Thread some yarn through the hole and tie it in a knot in the back.  Pull the knot in the back to make his hair short, pull his hair in the front to make it grow. To make it more durable, laminate it or contact paper it to a piece of cardboard.
samson long hair
samson short hair
  • The Phoenicians were great sailors, traveling all over in the boats they made from the cedars of Lebanon. Make some paper boats this week as you learn about the Phoenicans! This site shows a cool origami one with sail, or you could try this one which looks a little simpler.
  • Make an Israel-Banana Split for dessert!  Pick two colors of sprinkles and make a banana split.  Put one color on one side of your banana split and the other color on the other side of the split.  Then color this map of Israel to match!  Make sure you make the connection for your students- banana split- Israel split into two different nations: a north and a south.

North and South Israel Map


Geography

  •  Finish up the little book on Eastern Europe in your Europe lapbook!
  • Rick Steves has two videos for the Czech Republic, one on Prague the capital, and one titled “Beyond Prague.”
  • This week try this recipe for Borscht, which is a common dish in Russia.  As you are cooking/eating, discuss some of the ingredients- do you notice a lot of root and cold weather vegetables? Why do you think that is?

Science

  • This week we focus on the difference between evergreen trees and deciduous trees.  Go in your own backyard and walk around discussing which trees are evergreen and which are deciduous.  If you live here on the eastern side of the country, you may even have some trees changing colors when you get to this week of school.  Be sure to bring your nature journals and color pencils so your students can capture some the beauty.
  • Finish up the Botany Lapbook this week, and review the other interesting things you’ve learned about Botany during the last six weeks.
  • Do a small report on your state’s tree.  Is it deciduous or evergreen? Print a picture of it, color a picture and describe it as detailed as you can! What is the tree’s name? Scientific name? Deciduous or evergreen? What type of leaves does it have? What is the venation of the leaves? Does it flower? What do the flowers look like? Does it grow nuts? How are it’s seeds distributed? This could be a great activity to review all you’ve learned so far!

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