Our Tuesday

Yesterday and today have been good days here at the homeschool. Here are a list of what we have been doing:

We started our Greek and Latin notecard books. The kids write the Greek or Latin root at the top of the page and then words that contain it at the bottom. For example: Metron-to measure (thats on top) .. then under it they write any words they can come up with that have metron in it.. such as Thermometer. .. (meter is a form of metron).. as they days/weeks go by the kids will add other words to that page that contains metron..

In our history we have gone from the Mediterranean to the Ancient Americas. We learned about Nazcas, a group of ancient people who lived in what is now called Peru. They discovered, in the 1920s, some HUGE carvings in the earth. (Called Geoglyphs -Geo meaning Earth and Glyph meaning Carving).. They have found many they have made but have no idea how they did it cause they are not noticeable images on the ground it is only when you are in the air that they are seen. (Interesting huh)..

Math we have been having flash card races. The addition facts Kaleb is QUICK! .. he helped Catherine practice today and she is improving. Catherine is better at the Multiplication that Addition on Flash cards.

Reading-Joseph, Nathan and Taylor are doing flash card work on sight words. The boys have also been playing a matching game everyday. Today some of the kids played on a website called storyplace.org Joseph really liked it.

Kerry brought wheat and oat seeds to plant and they should germinate in 12 days. The kids planted them this afternoon. They did some in egg cartons and some in the garden. We will see which do better.

We have been loving Alexander the Great and the things we can learn from ancient Greece. Today on the history channel they had a series of shows called "Ancient Discoveries" it is a great series but is rated PG so I dont let the kids watch any unless I have proof-watched it :) .. Today they watch a series of shows about Heron, which I had recorded. Heron was an inventor and mathematician from Alexandria.. He used weights, ropes, levers, spindles, and other mechanical things and invented amazing contraptions that were used in the temples, like automatic opening and closing doors and a coin operated water dispenser. He also did things for Theater and had a 20 min self-automated show complete with sound effects, he also made advances in weapons with the first rapid fire arrow "gun". The most amazing thing is that he developed a kind of "toy" that harnessed the power of steam and they say he was just one step away from inventing the steam engine.. AMAZING! ..

I love the connections the kids are able to make through history. ...
Joseph connected the word Heron and remembered the story of Abraham's father moving his family to Haran the city, and that his father died there. (Of course I had to explain they are spelled differently although sometimes the two names might sound the same.

While watching the show the narrator said that the opening and closing of doors was considered a miracle.. The kids started saying it wasnt.. even Nathan said "That's not a MIRACLE!" Catherine said.. "Nathan.. you dont even know what a miracle is!!!" Nathan.. with all the passion of the youngest in the family.. said "YES I DO!.. It is like when Jesus turned water into wine.. THATS a miracle!!" ......

I am hoping tomorrow we will get to play some spelling games and have time to go to the zoo if the weather is nice.