Computer troubles

Emma dropped my laptop the other night so until I can get a new one (repairing it would cost $300+!)   I will not be blogging as trying to type a lot on my iPhone is too difficult and our very old, very slow laptop is too frustrating to use for this purpose. So hopefully by next week I will be back with some interesting posts. I plan to review the Little Passport and Magic School bus monthly kits that Emma has now been getting for a few months.

Snow, snow, and more snow

Like most of the east coast we got hit by a big snowstorm.  14 inches in our part of Delaware!  And a chance of more snow tomorrow!  There has been more than enough snow this winter and I am so ready for spring to arrive.

Our poor dogs have to hop through the snow and our boxer has to be pushed outside since he really hates the cold and snow.

 

Since we were snowed in yesterday I made the girls a sensory bin.  I filled a plastic container with rice, then found things around the house to make different categories.  So far I have shapes, colors, spring (including Easter), winter (including Christmas and Valentine's day), and Fall (including Halloween and Thanksgiving).  It was a huge hit with the girls, although an extra mess for me to clean up.  I recommend doing it on a tablecloth that you can just shake off outside.

                                                      Color category

                                                    Shapes, fall, and spring

                                                       Winter

Story of the World

We just started using Story of the World Volume 1 for our history curriculum this week.  It came highly recommended to me by several moms at our homeschool coop.  We read the first chapter this week and I really like it.  Even Emma seems to like it as she sat still and listened to the whole chapter and asked questions about it.  We then read a few other books from their suggested list and did some of the crafts and projects in the activity guide.  I also got the CD so we can listen to it in the car.

There is a facebook group for SOTW and some websites that list additional activities and links to go along with Volume 1.

Here's my favorite that I have found so far: The Ultimate Guide to Resources and Activities for SOTW volume 1.
If I find anymore I particularly like I will add them here too.

You can buy a separate student activities package with just the activity pages (no crafts, etc.) but I'm just copying the pages we plan to use so I can reuse the activity book for Abby.  SOTW is a good curriculum for multiple ages and when Abby gets older I'll be able to use it with both girls at the same time.  I think there are currently 4 volumes available.

Chapter 1 is the Introduction.
We read Me and my Family Tree and I can be an Archaeologist. 
We have started the family history book and the timeline.
I will set up an archaeologist dig so they can find buried "treasure".
I am planning to break a clay pot, hide the pieces, and then have Emma try to put it back together.