Jamestown & Pocahontas

We spent some extra time on Captain John Smith and his influence with the settlement of Jamestown, named after King James, and his friendship with Pocahontas.  A favorite fact:  Pocahontas is a nickname from her father meaning "naughty one", when she was baptized in England they named her Rebecca.  (Lilly loved this!)  Lilly is our Rebecca/Pocahontas.  hehe!
Micah read The True Story of Pocahontas by Lucille Recht Penner and I read What's So Great About ...? Pocahontas by Susan Sales Harkins & William H. Harkins.

We are now beginning Squanto Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla.  This will transition us into our week of Native Americans.  He also meets Captain John Smith.

Sailing the seas

For two weeks we have been learning the dates & routes of various 'early explorers' - from Leif Ericsson 'the Viking' to Henry Hudson from England.  In between were Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, Ponce de Leon, Hernando de Soto, Ferdinand Magellan, Pedro Menendez, Vasco Balboa, Sir Walter Raleigh and John Smith.
We read a couple of fun chapter books:

• Pedro's Journal by Pam Conrad.  It was about a young boy hired on as Christopher Columbus' ship boy and the journey from August 3, 1492 - February 14, 1493.
• Who Was Ferdinand Magellan? by Sydelle Kramer.  This goes through the struggles of being given the opportunity to pursue his God-given dreams to find a route around the world.

During this time we created ships and sailed them across the Atlantic Ocean.  It was also fun to tell the kids I had been to St. Augustine, Florida where the very first settlement was built.

Barton House

Today was our first day back to the Barton House after taking the summer months off.  The kids did the majority of our lesson based on our Bible Study we did this summer 'All We Like Sheep'.  (Isaiah 53:6)  They took their stuffed animal sheep, their cotton ball sheep, and their sheep characteristic drawings.  Lilly told them all of the reasons why sheep need full-time supervision and Micah explained each characteristic from the sheep and shepherd view.
Micah played the piano and we met several new residents.  It was a wonderful time reconnecting with the residents and staff.

Falcons - 1st game coming up

Micah's flag football team is underway and ready to start their season of games.  His team name is the FALCONS.  Coach Marty, told Micah last week that he will be starting quarterback for the team's 1st game on Saturday (28th).  He is so excited, and yet he is so nervous.  Every night (and every morning) he asks for prayers for his game.  They got their jerseys last night.  They are reversible!  (Is the Neihardt side laughing?!)

More butterflies

We had just been to the Butterfly Wonderland where thousands of butterflies were living happily for their 14-day lifespan (most of them).  This morning we had two butterflies caught in our herb garden net.  We were so sad.  Then we decided that God had given us these butterflies, maybe on their final day, to observe.  He knew we had just learned a lot about them and now we could touch them, inspect them, and learn from them in our own home.  So, we did ... and we thanked God for them (along with a few shed tears ... from all of us).  It was neat to 'see' the individual scales, and more, that we had learned about just 4 days ago.

Butterfly Wonderland

We have a new museum in Scottsdale - the Butterfly Wonderland.  Some of our friends, in another homeschool co-op, got a great group rate and gave us the opportunity to go with them on Thursday.  It was beautiful!

Our favorite parts:
Lilly - 15 minute video of the butterfly migration
Jodie - watching butterflies come out of their chrysalis; being in the 'steam room' with all the butterflies
Micah - the bees, ants, scorpions, and tarantula

When Micah was talking about it later he said "the butterflies were very pretty, but ... there were so many of them ... they were creeping me out."

Eastside Explorers - Kick-Off

Our homeschool co-op, Eastside Explorers, hosted their Kick-Off this weekend.  On Saturday night a large turnout of families got together for a fun evening of playing, school photos being taken, and socializing.  There are many new families to get to know and many families that we have grown in great relationships with.  Looking ahead at the events and field trips offered - it's going to be another great year!  Can you find Micah & Lilly in this group photo?

EE Kids at Kick-Off

Beginning 'My Father's World' - Adventures!

This is our first year to have a purchased curriculum.  We will be traveling through the history of the United States and learning about the Christian foundation of our forefathers.  This first week we are reviewing our map skills, and breaking apart the Pledge of Allegiance to fully understand it's meaning.
A great book for the pledge is:  I Pledge Allegiance by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson.
Here is a link to My Father's World curriculum.  Included are Bible lessons.  We are adding our own Math and Language Arts.

Flag Football

Micah has joined his first flag football team.  His baseball coach owns the Gridiron league and has created an interest in Micah.  We are not on Scott's team, but we are practicing closer to home.
Micah's first practice, with his team 'FALCONS' was last night.  There are 10 boys under Head Coach Marty.  For these first few weeks practices will be on Tuesday and Friday evenings 5-6:30pm.

First Day of School

The rain pounded all morning and the temperature was only 70 degrees.  The kids had a blast going outside and playing in it!  We started our Adventures In My Father's World curriculum.  This is our first year to purchase a curriculum.  We are very excited about what we will be learning.

Piano begins

Thursdays at 1:30pm will be our new piano time with Mrs. Amy Cline.  Micah began this week, after taking the summer off.  One of his new songs is "The Entertainer" (A ragtime two-step) by Scott Joplin.

Ben Avery Shooting Range

Before going gun shooting we had a knowledgeable neighbor, Dave, give us a 'Gun 101' course.  Our number 1 lesson:  a gun is ready to fire, unless you have checked it - twice.  Dave had his kitchen island full of artillery.  We went through each gun, checked it, held it, and aimed it.  That was August 29th.


On Wednesday September 3rd, Dave, Matt, Jodie & Micah went to Ben Avery to shoot those same guns - loaded.  They are each unique in ammunition, holding style, aiming, firing, and recoil.  This was a great experience.

We shot the following: rifles & pistols

• 308 Remington semi automatic rifle
• ak47 automatic rifle
• M4 (223) automatic rifle
• 22 semi automatic rifle
• 357 magnum Smith & Wesson
• 38 special Smith & Wesson
• 9 mm KEL TEC automatic
• 32 colt automatic

 

Indoor Skydiving

Last year, for Micah's 9th birthday, G&G Rich got him a gift card to Arizona Indoor Skydiving.  So, during grandpa & grandma's visit, over Labor Day weekend, we took a drive to Eloy, AZ and let Micah have his 2 minutes of "fly time".  Wow!  How very cool.  He struggled keeping his legs straight, but had a very good time and would do it again.