Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics

Phew!!! I made it.

This is absolutely not my style of reading, but I promised myself that I would read it, and I did it. Hooray for me!

Knowing and Teaching Elementary Mathematics was originally written as a graduate paper by Liping Ma, and it reads as such, Dry. Dry. Dry. But - it is revealing, and worth wallowing through.

My kids are just beginning their journey into the world of math, so I'll focus there, although the book discusses much more.

Undertaking the task of teaching young children sounds easy: 1 + 1, great, got it! ABC, okay, what's next? Oh, how very wrong that thought is. Simple concepts are the building blocks for bigger, more complex concepts. The sturdiness of the foundation is absolutely key to a great education.

As a kid, I was a good student, but honestly, never developed a great understanding of math. Sure, I passed algebra, calculus, and trigonometry, but I never knew why the procedures worked. I simply memorized formulas, plugged in the right numbers and spit out an answer. Now, years down the road, I neither remember the formulas, nor the purpose that they were designed to perform. I want something better for my own kids. Enter Ma's book.

In essence, the author urges teachers to develop a profound understanding of fundamental mathematics, not just knowing the surface of the procedures that they teach, but deeply understanding the theory behind mathematical actions. "It is not enough to know how, one must also know why."

What I took away from this book was a greater dedication to speak the truth to my children in regards to math. Statements such as "We can't subtract a bigger number from a smaller one" or "Just borrow a one from the next column," slip easily off my tongue, and I need to break these habits. It is easier to teach the truth once, and to teach it well. In the best case scenario, each lesson will reinforce my kids' previous learning, rather than causing them to have to start over with a new concept.

The reasons behind facts are more powerful than individual procedures. Period. My goal is to intentionally make these connections tangible and obvious for my kids, so that they can fully understand how all of their math lessons are related and how/why they work in real life.

So, despite its difficult writing style, my copy of Knowing and Understanding Elementary Mathematics has been underlined, highlighted, and written all over. It is full of excellent information, and is sure to be re-read.

Submitted to 52 books.

My next "12 Challenging Books" goal is to read Gone with the Wind. After my tedious but rewarding slog through Ma's work, I need something much more readable. This one will be challenging simply because of its length. 1048 pages of drama. I think this is going to be a fun month.

Flying Books

If you haven't yet seen The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, then you are in for a treat. This adorable short is similar to Up stylistically, and the score puts Pop Goes the Weasel in an entirely new genre ... you just have to see it for yourself.

Run time is about 15 min. so grab a cup of coffee and enjoy

Hmm... The old link isn't working anymore. Try this one instead:

My kids all grabbed their journals immediately after watching this show and spent the next 30 minutes happily scribbling away. They even broke out the fountain pens so that they could write just like the character in the book.

Beautiful!

Finally Snowing Again

After the devastation of the October snowstorms I wasn't sure if I wanted to see any more snow, but having made it through all of November and December without a flake, I fully admit that I changed my tune.

Today, I woke up to "Hey! Snow!" from my husband, and not long after "It's Snowing, It's Snowing. IT'S SNOWING" from my little ones. Instant happiness. We love snow in our family. A lot.

The kids were outside playing before I even got breakfast on the table.

Snow angels, forts, snowmen,

and lots of snowball fights.

We even almost got the steps shoveled off ... almost. Well, we thought about it anyway.

With such an exciting start to the day, I knew that school would be out of the question unless I switched priorities fast, so we made the day into a snow focused party. We read books about snow (Snowflake Bentley being the favorite of the big kids, and The Snowy Day won high accolades from Little Miss), did snow crafts, wrote snow poems, and did everything else "snow" that we could think of.

My floors are still littered with mittens and boots, snow-pants and soggy socks. Proof that we played hard.

It's funny what a difference a snow day can make.

A A A A A!!!

Guess which 2 year old figured out how to write the first letter of her name? ... Unsupervised and on carpet of all things.

It was adorable to hear her yelling "Did it! Look Momma, A! Hooray... clap Momma. A. A. A!!"

So we spent the next hour writing one A on each of a thousand little slips of paper and clapping at her great achievement.

I wonder if the rest of the letters are going to be this exciting?

Should, but Not

It is Friday, and I should be:

• Washing the floor
• Assembling portfolios
• Cooking freezer meals
• Folding Laundry
• Calling about my mixed-up computer
• Cleaning up Christmas decorations
• Bathing the dog
• Paying bills
• Lots, lots more

But instead I have been doing this:

I love my life!

By the way, Molly Bang (creator of the book we are reading in that photo) is one of my absolute favorite children's book authors. The Yellow Ball, with all of its 12 or so words and its beautiful soft chalk illustrations, won my heart the first time we flipped through it during our Five In A Row studies. It is just so gently paced. Mrs. Bang is one very talented woman. If you haven't seen her books, I encourage you to take a look.

Learning to see

Vision is something I take for granted. I can see. I don't think about it, I just do it.

Things aren't quite as easy for my daughter. We found out a few months ago that she has several vision problems, none of which involve poor eyesight. Her eyesight itself is actually rather good, as is her comprehension of what she reads, but the process of making her eyes work together is what she struggles with. She crosses her eyes a tiny bit (just like her Grandpa), has trouble tracking (following from one letter to the next), struggles with quickly discerning one shape from another, and a bunch of other issues to a lesser degree. The good news is that she is getting better, much better.

When we started vision therapy I didn't expect much, but I was desperate to find a way to make reading easier for her. Her frustration at "simple" tasks was obvious, and painful to watch.
But now look at this little lady! She is voluntarily picking up tasks that require those vision skills we have been working so hard to help her develop.

I'm a proud momma!

The best toys I never bought

Banging on pots & pans.

It's fun! It's cheap! It's already in the house!

Most importantly, it holds my little girl's attention long enough to keep her from climbing into the oven while Momma tries to cook dinner, grade math, and prevent world war 3 from igniting between siblings.

It is so important to have those super easy/super distracting activities ready for the crazy moments, especially if your house is anything like mine. Around here all those crazy moments seem to happen on top of each other at exactly 5:00, making me one loopy and frustrated lady by the time dinner gets on the table.

A coffee-can & clothespins, scissors & junkmail, chalk markers & a low window - these simple things can save your life, or at least your sanity as a mom.

I recently coordinated a great swap among a few FIAR moms and received a dozen new insta-distraction kits to keep Little-Miss-Into-Everything occupied. Don't they look like fun! I had the hardest time convincing my big kids not to pounce on the mailman each time he walked up to deliver a new box.

The ideas all came from Preschool Activities In A Bag. They are super simple projects (along the lines of pots & pans, but with a bit more style), but the not-so-secret key to success that they share is to work with other moms and plan for the crazy times. We all know that those moments are coming, so take a few minutes and put JUST ONE activity together, but create multiples of that activity and then swap with other moms for their one activity. When the crazy chaos begins you can whip out your stash of pre-made distractions and peace quickly returns to your house.

Plan ahead - genius!

Maybe I should apply this to the rest of my life

. . . hmmm

. . . interesting thought.

Benjamin Franklin tour of Boston

We have been studying Benjamin Franklin as part of our recent study of The Hatmaker's Sign. (Lots of resources at THSM, btw) He is a really fascinating guy. Anyone who can invent the lightning rod, convince the French to help the US defeat England in the Revolutionary war, and write Poor Richard's Almanack is amazing. We won't even mention the zillion other accomplishments over his lifetime.

So, having been blessed to live so close to Ben Franklin's birthplace, I thought I'd take the kids for a quick educational trip on our way to the Aquarium. None of the original sites are still standing, but the markers were fun to see and talk about anyway.

First his birthplace on Milk Street,

Then his statue on School street commemorating his attendance at Boston Latin, the first public school (from which he dropped out after only 2 years),

And finally, the site of his brother's printing press on Court street where he was apprenticed and wrote the Silence Dogood letters before running away.

Okay, those were the close up shots. Now, for a dose of reality.

I have this funny idealistic part of my brain that says these sites should remain somehow stuck in colonial times. None should have burned down or demolished for commercial reasons. I envision them slightly dusty, yet preserved for all posterity. Not so. The reality of what my kids saw was more focused on Tow Zones and Printing Centers than history.

Strange - the printing businesses are oddly fitting.
What do you think old Ben would say if he could see his stomping grounds now?

Seriously, things just ain't what they used to be.

Filing aka. Hiding the Mess

This time of year always finds me filing. I love to be organized, although you wouldn't know it by looking at my kitchen counters on most days.

I like the newness of taking all of last years bills and financial statements, boxing them up and having them ready and waiting for tax day. More than that, I like to put all of our school documents back in order. It gives me time to look at our accomplishments and know that really, we have made progress - it is easier to see it in hindsight. It also gives me a chance to compare where we are to my original goals for the year and tweak things as needed.

This year I decided that we need more handwriting practice and fun games to help with my daughter's visual processing problems. Easy fix.

I have some serious organizational challenges though. I know, I know - join the club right?

• First - We are home almost ALL of the time, pulling things out, using them, and simply doing life. I can tidy, but things won't stay that way for long.
• Second - We need to do school from here, which means that we have many books and supplies that need to be accessed every day, but they are plain ugly to look at and need to be kept hidden away.
• Third - We have a toddler in the house. Enough said.

In a perfect world, I would have empty floors, countertops and desks. I don't even really like most decorations. I'm not technically a minimalist because it is just too modern for me, but empty surfaces are my preference, even if they aren't my reality.

So, with 3 kids I am finding myself needing to find ways to organize myself and keep all of our supplies hidden at the same time. Here are a few of my favorite tools:

My kitchen - I know, the kitchen isn't a tool, it is a room, but in our house it functions as our school room on most days. We have a real school room upstairs, but it is just too far removed from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives. My husband was thoughtful enough to add a few hidden spaces for our kids, which are almost as fun as his MacGyver Cabinet. A chalkboard is under a decorative cabinet door (on the non-functional end of my counter) and a magnet board is under another. These will be something we outgrow eventually, but for now they keep "treasures" handy but out of sight.

I keep my calendar inside an upper cabinet door, and a clipboard holding my grocery list and other to-do items inside another, so we can simply close the door on lots of our mess. In addition, I decided to sacrifice some cabinet space to my schooling sanity. Canned goods and any specialty dishes were all moved to the basement. In their place I keep the kids books (math, phonics) and the manuals that I will need every day. Our audiobooks and CD player are hidden in a lower cabinet, right beside my laminator and paper cutter. Neat and easy access.

Ottomans - Yeah, I know these aren't technically filing tools either, but they are great for hiding messes and they function as extra seating at the same time. I have 3 and they are all full of our supplies. One contains our binders and books, another has math manipulatives, and the third contains files for our upcoming units with lap-book elements, project supplies and any printouts that I need, all organized theme. In fact, one of these ottomans is right by our front door and I've never had a single person peek inside. (Okay now that I posted that I know some of you are dying to open up all of the ottomans in my house - go for it. Why not.)

Binders - Workbook pages (you know, the dreaded math and language arts) are all pulled out of their bindings, 3 hole punched, and put into a binder. I hand the kids the top page, and when they return it I put it immediately in the back of the book. In January I cull the excess and then at the end of the school year I have them help me choose their best work and we toss all but a few samples. I try really hard to not allow myself to have a "to be filed" category anywhere. It either has a home at the end of the day, or I toss it. Period.

So it isn't unusual to find me in a pile of papers, binders, and files during the month of January, attempting to make my life a bit more organized, but this ... well this is ridiculous:

I swear I didn't stage this photo. The dog just jumped in all by herself, spun in a circle and looked as if she was ready to settle in for a long nap. I don't know why. She is a strange little thing - cute but strange. Seriously, why would I file the dog with our homeschool materials?

Everyone knows that dogs go in the personal files!

Nature study for non-artists

Recently, I've been reading Pocketful of Pinecones (great book BTW) and mulling over the whole Charlotte Mason style emphasis on Nature Study.

Nature is fun. It is interesting.

So, why do so many of us avoid teaching it? Okay, to be more real, why do we (we meaning "I") avoid nature all-together? Why do we sit snug in our warm homes thinking that it is just too much of a bother?

I think I've made nature too complicated. I can't even tell you how many times have I decided to be "intentional" about enjoying nature with the kids. I've bought books about it, collected art supplies & backpacks, packed lunches, and tromped the little ones an hour into the woods just to hear "I need to go potty!"

Enough!

I somehow have created this idea that NATURE is only located far away from home and we need to be actively pursuing it. How ludicrous!

Whatever happened to kids playing in the rain?

Or

Catching bugs?

Or

Pulling the bark off of a tree branch?

Or

Just sitting outside doing nothing at all?

Nature shouldn't be made boring by over scheduling.

Nature shouldn't be made difficult by forcing kids to examine details when they are uninspired, write when they aren't able, or draw when they struggle with dexterity.

At the beginning of this school year I decided that I wanted to find a way to make nature study a joy for my kids, rather than another task to be done (and grumbled about), so nature study looks really different at my house now. It is intentionally tailored to my kids passions & strengths (photography for my boy and creative writing for my girl), avoiding our weaknesses (handwriting & drawing).

This is what I have found to work for us:

Day 1 - Enjoy nature

• Hike, look through a collection, observe the back yard, play in a mud puddle AKA - send the kids outside to play and don't tell them what to do (they love this part), but be diligent about asking questions about what/where they were playing when they come back in and make a mental note of their answer
• Allow kids to photograph items of interest, even if it is a poorly composed picture of mud

Day 2 - Research

• Based on their observations on Day 1, choose a photo and print it in Black & White for each child (we use sticker paper, but regular copy paper works great too). Google images is a great source if the kids aren't in a picture taking mood or the photos are too fuzzy
• Encourage kids to identify the subject themselves
• While kids color the photo (colored pencils work best), mom reads aloud about the subject from the internet, guide books, etc. but only while the kids are still interested - when they tune out, I stop. If they stay interested for 2 hours, we keep going for 2 hours (or at least until the baby wakes from her nap). We love using the FIAR digital nature studies . It is one of the highlights of our homeschool.

Day 3 - Write (or more specifically, Talk)

• Allow child to dictate a story about the subject they chose, using it as a character or setting. Whimsey and fiction are not only allowed in our house, but encouraged. (Burgess style - fiction with lots of accurate detail about nature) Mom types while the child talks.

Day 4 - Assemble Nature Journal

• Print dictation
• Ask child to copy as much as is age appropriate (sometimes we skip this, depending on the workload that week)
• Allow child to paste into their journal: dictation, copy-work, & photograph, - Usually the topic that they choose is something of interest to them so they will have a random assortment drawings, magazine clippings, leaves, notes, coloring pages, & internet images that they want to add too.

*I had photos of our journals to include, but I accidentally deleted them (blah). I'll try to add them again later.

We don't do this every week, simply because of time constraints, but it is a system that my family has been able to not only stick to, but enjoy and look forward to.

~ Got a good mud puddle near your house?

Destination School

This morning I woke up late (thanks to a very considerate husband) and didn't want to get out of bed. Pure laziness had me in its grasp. I wanted to have fun rather than teach lessons. ~ Picture a stubborn 2 year old crossing his arms and stiffening his back so that you can't pull the pajamas off. That was me.

Reality pushed it's know-it-all head into my tantrum. Skipping class was out of the question. BUT that didn't mean that I had to settle for a yucky day. I decided to create a good day.

I called the kids together and in a very conspiratorial stage whisper I told them that they need to get dressed and ready to leave. Fast! Their eyes lit up and they started running around whooping and jumping on their way to brush their teeth and make their beds. They knew what I was up to - My favorite trick: Destination School.

Every so often, I like to shake up our school routine and take the kids to a new place to do our lessons. Sometimes we bring everything to a local park, the library, a picnic table in an apple orchard or the kitchen at my husband's office, but our favorite is to visit local restaurants.

Squeals and hugs, everyone smiling and working together. Oh yeah, THIS is going to be a good day.

We arrived at Panera Bread armed with a bag containing a clipboard for each kid with their work attached, several fun books to read aloud, our chemistry text - cuz' I couldn't get around doing that one, lots of pencils and paper, and a few quiet toys for the baby.

The next several hours were spent lazily munching on muffins and going through our normal routine. No complaints, no hassle. The newness of a different location seems to do magic on all of our attitudes. We even had time and energy to go apple picking and do our grocery shopping when all of our work was finished.

I think I smiled all day.

I've always thought that Grandma's house might be a good spot for Destination School, and I haven't tried out the museum cafe' where we are members. I'll save those up for another "I don't wanna'" kind of day.

Maybe, soon.

The Door in the Wall - literature adventure lesson plans

"Can we read it again tomorrow? Please!"

Success! Anytime my kids leave a book searching for more, I know that our reading has been effective.

(Caution: Extraordinarily long post.

If you aren't a teacher and you are reading my blog just cuz' you love me,

feel free to ignore everything below.

It is long enough to make your eyes bleed.)

The kids' book group studied "The Door in the Wall" by Marguerite D'Angeli this summer. A fictional tale set in the middle ages, this was a different kind of

story for my little ones. Metaphorical and heavy with classic european dialect, it was certainly a stretch for young readers, but the historical setting made it very approachable and fun. Below is the (slightly messy, grammatically incorrect, and poorly organized) outline of fun activities, lesson ideas, and field trips that I came up with. It is certainly not pretty, but it is chock-full of ideas, games, crafts, and links that we enjoyed.

“The Door in the Wall”

by Marguerite de Angeli

10 week Summer Literature Adventure Group

book available free online at

http://gyanpedia.in/tft/Resources/books/doorwall.pdf

Lego castle kits: 7948 and 7946 Kingdoms series.

Feel free to print the memory verse cards, timeline figures, etc.

- just double click on the icon then hit print.

Week 1 HERALDRY & SYMBOLISM

At Home -

Examine the cover & predict what the book may be about

Look at vocabulary & memory verse (wk 1-5 = Mt. 7:7)

Read Chapter 1

Discuss Robin’s attitude & Create your own thankfulness list

Watch beginning of “Newsies” (example of church helping the poor)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KelP211VomY

Listen to cockney accent

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijr9lU2J2Wk&feature=player_embedded

Begin Lego castle - 7948 bag 2 (tower) - plus 2 people for Robin & Luke

Group Discussion -

Memory verse review & prayer

Discuss Se

tting = England (London & Thames river)

map of medieval england at http://files.homeschoolshare.com/docs54478/robin_hood/01%20Medieval%20Britain%20Map.pdf

locate on map & compare to US - locate London & Thames River

place Edward III on timeline 1312-1377

play heraldry game online at

http://www.yourchildlearns.com/heraldrygame/index.html

Diagram Robin’s attitude (p 22 “novel unit”)

Symbols: heart = love, flag = country, door in the wall = opportunity

view coat of arms artifacts (in use) online at http://www.tudorbritain.org/joust/heraldry.asp

Group Activity -

England lapbook elements at

http://files.homeschoolshare.com/docs54478/knights_pk/map_shutterfold.pdf

Read “Harold the Herald: A book about Heraldry” by Dana Fradon

Read shield section of Treasure Chest

Create own Coat of Arms (symbol for a family)

Template on SOTW2 AG p72

heraldry lapbook element at

http://files.homeschoolshare.com/docs54478/knight3/heraldry.pdf

create coat of arms online at this site http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/microsites/british_galleries/designa/coat_of_arms/coat_of_arms.html

Week 2 - PLAGUE

At Home -

Look at vocabulary & memory verse

Read Chapter 2

Listen to Story of the World 2 ch25 (the plague)

Listen to Story of the World 2 ch 37

Compare kinds of wood

Begin small carving project using plastic ware & soap if not ready for knives & wood yet

Continue Lego castle - 7946 bag 2 (drawbridge & portcullis)

Group Discussion -

Memory verse review & prayer

Surnames & name meanings

Plague video at http://videos.howstuffworks.com/hsw/12188-the-medieval-era-europes-bubonic-plague-video.htm

Medicinal use of herbs

Bookmaking (v. briefly - ctd. next week)

Chanting

Group Activity -

Memory verse review & prayer

Read “The Plague and Medicine in the Middle Ages”

by Fiona MacDonald

Make edible poltice & other “medicines” (Story of the World 2 AB p.223)

Myo. “Ward off the Plague” necklace

Begin making parchment for next week. Directions at http://www.allsands.com/home/crafts/papermakingcra_azk_gn.htm

Listen to chanting “Chant Wars” or “Medieval Monks & Trubadors”

Plague craft (Story of the World 2 AB p.25)

plague cycle p 147 student p 104 on cardstock

“find the fleas” game (raisins in eggs)

lapbook element at http://files.homeschoolshare.com/docs54478/robin_hood/14%20healing%20tab%20book.pdf

Week 3 - BOOKMAKING

At Home -

Look at vocabulary & memory verse

Read Chapter 3

Listen to Story of the World 2 ch3

Dictate a letter using correct format

Continue Lego castle - 7946 bag 3

Group Discussion -

Read “Marguerite Makes a Book” by Bruce Robertson

“Make Your Own Book” kit by Matthew Liddle

Memory verse review & prayer

Patience & Anger (Ecc 7:8-9)

Bookmaking -

Watch bookmaking video

(3min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKBJkf2xbqI

also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldVk6ZhFmhQ&feature=related

photos of process at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhQ8Um221Eo&feature=related

Group Activity -

Make quills from turkey feathers

Make brown and blue ink (Story of the World 2 AB p14)

Write Robin’s daily schedule on parchment using quills & ink

Illumination activity p 13 or 144 - copy poem p 199

Week 4 - MONKS & RELIGION

At Home -

Look at vocabulary & memory verse

Read Chapter 4

Listen to SOTW2 ch 3 (monks)& 18(crusades)

Continue carving project & ask kids to consider giving it as a gift

Continue Lego castle - 7946 bag 1 (people)

Group Discussion -

Read “Sir Gwain and the Green Knight” by Michael Morpurgo

“A Medieval Cathedral” by Fiona MacDonald

“A Medieval Monk” by Giovanni Casell

Memory verse review & prayer

Guilds & craftsmen - feudal system

Monks - Making History - hard life of monks video

Church - http://www.youtube.com/user/MrZoller#p/u/8/tdA8DMISJ1o

Edward III - info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_III_of_England

History of Romans in Britain (Hadrian’s Wall)

Map Holy Land

Group Activity -

Use legos to set up feudal town

servants game (Story of the World 2 AB ch.16 also p.137)

Vow of silence

Sew robe (McCalls pattern 2854 view F)

Make clay Cross necklace

Select topics for presentation at next meeting - “what do you wonder about” “what is the best part” “are you curious about something in this book?”

Outing -

go fishing

Week 5 - THE ARTS

At Home -

Look at vocabulary & memory verse

Read Chapter 5

listen to medieval instruments online at http://www.music.iastate.edu/antiqua/instrumt.html

experiment with recorders & medieval songs

listen to songs and study types of medieval music at http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/mike/capmusic/medieval/medieval.htm

Continue Lego castle - 7946 bag 4

research disabled athletes (or better, volunteer w special olympics)

Group Discussion -

Memory verse review & prayer

AUTHOR/illustrator, her choices, her research

Research the author using http://www.deangeli.lapeer.org/lessons/webquest/index.htm and

http://www.deangeli.lapeer.org/Books/Door_in_the_Wall.html

Chanting & Medieval Music

hunger

Activity -

Listen to “Love a garland is” and “Lament of a Lass”

Write a poem about medieval times and sing it to “green sleeves”

music available online at http://www.empire.k12.ca.us/capistrano/mike/capmusic/renaissance/renaissa.htm

Create sketches in the same style as the author/illustrator

view illustration at http://newberryproject.blogspot.com/2008/06/door-in-wall.html

Drawing instruction (start at minute 5)- part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OwezLgGvaI&feature=watch_response_rev

part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_6BFf1-xeA&NR=1

(if have more time, the entire series is excellent!)

Outing -

go on a hike with lunch/snack “food tastes particularly good”

Week 6 - CRUSADES/KNIGHTS

At Home -

Look at vocabulary & memory verse (wk 6-10 Revelation 3:20)

Read Chapter 6

Discuss choices “novel units” p 25

Write diary entry about the men at White Hart from Robin’s point of view

view knights armor at http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/knights/title.html

dress knight online at http://www.ictgames.com/knightinarmour.html

read about the crusades at http://jeru.huji.ac.il/ef1.htm

Listen to Story of the World 2 ch 17

Continue Lego castle - 7946 bag 5

Group Discussion -

Read “You Wouldn’t Want to Live in a Medieval Castle!”

by Jacqueline Morley AND/OR

“You Wouldn’t Want to Be a medieval Knight” by Fiona MacDonald

“Lift the Lid on Knights” activity box by Straum Reid

“The Making of Knight” (paige - knighthood) by Patrick O’Brien

“Sir Cumference and the 1st Round Table” by Cindy Neuschwander

“Knights: usborne internet linked” by Rachel Firth

Memory verse review & prayer

Bravery

Psalm 121:5-8

Were the English really the “good guys?” - Welsh vs. Scottish

Would you want to live in the middle ages? (p. 3&4 “novel units”)

watch crusade origins at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae8GSOUjOYw or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu2UG2IRu0o

best one for the very young - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgVDGdexXvY&feature=related

Activity-

Crusades page (Story of the World 2 AB ch.18)

Knights (Story of the World 2 AB p.17)

myo golden spurs p 99

Week 7 - ENTERTAINMENT / FAIR

At Home -

Look at vocabulary & memory verse

Read Chapter 7

Lapbook elements - horses

jousting game online at http://www.tudorbritain.org/joust/index.asp

read about jousting at http://www.nationaljousting.com/howto/learnto.htm

Continue Lego castle - 7946 bag 6

Group Discussion -

Memory verse review & prayer

Watch Punch & Judy video - this one is clean

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCGcIwCSCjg

Contrast the friendly welcome to the castle by Sir Peter

with the behavior of Punch

Romans 12:4-8 “place in this world”

1 Cor 12:14 - 26

Group Activity -

Make puppets

Make foam swords & spears & pretend to host a jousting tournament

illustrate interior castle rooms

Week 8 - CASTLES

At Home -

Look at vocabulary & memory verse

Read Chapter 8

Read Story of the World 2 ch16

Continue Lego castle - 7946 bag 7

Group Discussion -

Memory verse review & prayer

Read “Castle” by David Macaulay

“A 3 Dimensional Medieval Castle” by William Tong

“Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess, Paige” by Richard Platt

discuss “crooked legs vs. crooked spirit”

discuss why the townspeople ran to the castle - protection

Listen to: “My Brother, The Knight” -Tumble Book audio

Castle Terminology: http://www.castlewales.com/casterms.html Pick one area to focus on (we chose the keep)

Photos of Castles: http://www.electric-image.co.uk/castles.html

Label a Real Castle: http://www.heritageexplorer.org.uk/web/he/interactivesdetail.aspx?crit=&ctid=68&id=1216

Bake a Bannock - http://www.dltk-kids.com/recipesdb/view.asp?rid=35

Watch NOVA Building a Trebuchet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9lhcjupnzk&feature=related

Group Activity -

Build a simplified catapult

http://www.e-scoutcraft.com/moving/catapult.htm

Fog experiment

continue illustrating castle -

keep, tower, turret, dungeon, bailey, moat, portcullis, drawbridge, gatehouse, inner wart, outer ward, courtyard

Build castle out of edible marshmallow clay (or cereal treats)

Outing - swimming

Week 9 - SIEGE

At Home -

Look at vocabulary & memory verse

Read Chapter 9

reinact the battle of hastings online at http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/normans/launch_gms_battle_hastings.shtml

build catapult online at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/trebuchet/destroy.html

Continue Lego castle - 7948 bag 1 (catapult)

Group Discussion -

Memory verse review & prayer

Read “Siege! Can you Capture a Castle?” by Julia Bruce

what is a siege?

Hardships & Trials change us

Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 8:28

James 1:3, 4, 12

Romans 5:3

Group Activity -

Plan Medieval Feast menu for next week

Plan entertainment for feast

Week 10 - FEAST

At Home -

Look at vocabulary & memory verse

Read Chapter 10

Lapbook phases of the moon

Label British isles

Finish Lego castle - 7946 bag 8

Group Discussion -

Memory verse review & prayer

Read “A Medieval Feast” by Aliki

Discuss significance of “the door in the wall”

Discuss symbolism of bells

Discuss how the story would have been different if Robin was a girl

Write the next chapter - what will Robin do next?

Make timeline for the book

Group Activity -

Watch “Castle” PBS DVD by David Macaulay

Enjoy Medieval Feast (recipes p 15 of SOTW2 AG)

Lentil Soup

Crusty Bread

Cheddar Cheese

Apples & Pears

Bannock

Apple Cider

Outing -

picnic on grounds of local “castle” (We happen to be near several, but an imposing library or university building would do)

Phew . . . not done yet. Below is the vocabulary list for The Door in the Wall. It is daunting. I chose only a few each week and allowed the rest to just roll on by. The kids understand most words by hearing them in context. Oh, you will notice that the list is in varying degrees of completion. That is because it is cobbled together from many, many, many sources. My original intention was to fill in all the blanks, but it got the best of me. For what it is worth, here is the list:

Chapter 1

coverlet (7) - bedspread; outer covering for a bed

Nones (7) - a religious service said at 3:00 p.m.

clamoring (7) - a loud noise

vexation (7) - annoyance

gentil (7) - well-bred; refined

liege (7) - faithful; loyal

mailed (7) - flexible armor made of interlinked rings

solar (7) - private or upper chamber in an English house

plague (8) - this disease is caused by a germ that fleas transmit from rats to humans

fletcher (8) - arrow-maker

joust (9) - combat with lances between two knights on horseback as part of a tournament

shire reeve (9) - a mayor of a town or district

putrid ( 9) - decayed; rotten

coif (9) - cap worn by women covering the sides of the head like a small hood

Cockney (9) - a kind of English spoken by certain people

Norman (10) - a person born in Normandy in France

wheedling (10) - persuading, cajoling, coaxing someone to do something

victuals (11) - food fit for human consumption

grotesque (11) - odd or unnatural in shape or appearance

fishmonger

bosses (11) - a raised ornament of silver, ivory or other material on a flat surface

corbels (11) - short horizontal timbers supporting a wall or doorway

embrasure (11) - inner sides of a window

carters (11) - a person whose work is driving a cart

retainer (12) - a person who works for someone else

Vespers (12) - a religious service said at sunset

friar (12) - a monk who goes outside the monastery to bring religion to people

hospice (12) - a building where travelers can obtain rest and food

cloisters (15) - a covered walkway running along the inside walls of a building

pallets (15) - a bed of straw or any small bed

woefully (15) - sad; sorrowful

tethered (16) - a rope fastening an animal so it can only move within certain limits

jennet (16) a small horse

dost (16) - to do

hosen (16) - close-fitting garment, like tights that covers the body from

the feet to the waist

frock (16) - a robe worn by a clergyman

sedately (17) - quiet and calm

curfew (17) - specific time after which people cannot go outside

habit (17) - to always act in a certain way

habit (clothing)

postern (17) - a back or side entrance

malady

Chapter 2

hawthorn (18) - a hedge of roses

clamored (18) - a loud noise

procession (18) - persons marching or riding

devotions (18) - private worship or prayer

breviary (18) - a book containing hymns and prayers

chanting

pilgrims (19) - are people that goes on a special religious journey

minstrels (19) - musical entertainers

almonry (19) - church building set aside for food and shelter to the poor

whittle (20) - to carve

barged

sopped

Garlands

despised

gait

mutton (20) - the meat of a sheep

seethed (20) - to be soaked

awry (21) - to be twisted or slanted

pruning

bowsprit - (21) ropes attached to a ship to help steady sails and masts

pennant (21) - a flag

retainers (22) - a person who works for someone else

weathered (22) - worn or stained seasoned by the weather

keepsake (22) - a souvenir or memento you keep forever

proportioned (22) - equal size

pumice (23) - a light porous rock used as an abrasive and polish

scriptorium (23) - a room set aside for writing and copying of important documents

psalteries (23) - ancient musical instruments

parchment (23) - the skin a sheep prepared for use as a writing material

illumined (23) - to bring light

crookshank (24) - someone with crooked legs

impertinent (24) - to show disrespect

conduit (24) - a pipe which transports water from a river

Chapter 3

abated (26) - to make less

cloisters

pallets

refectory (26) - a large dining area

fret

chapel (26) - a place set aside for worshiping God

trundle cart (26) - low wheeled cart

chisel (27) - a tool with a sharp cutting edge

slivers (27)

litter (27)

acrid (27)

plane (27)

mason (28)

evaporated (28)

reassured (29)

quill (30)

parchment (30)

minstrel (30)

attend (31)

Orion

tonsured (31) - the shaved part of the head of a monk

minced words (31) - to speak in a way that tries to hide the truth (not straight forward)

Chapter 4

hovel (32) - a small house

crusaders (35) - people who fight a battle to protect their religion

brook

droned (36) - to make a humming or buzzing sound like that of insects

urchins

garment

fasting (36) - not eating

jerkin (37) - close-fitting jacket or short coat, usually sleeveless

habit (37) - clothes worn by a priest or monk

hosen (37) - close-fitting garment, like tights, that covers the body from the feet to the waist

lectern (38) - a reading desk in a church

missal (38) - a book of prayers or songs

staves

chantry (38) - the part of a church where the choir gathers to sing the hymns of the mass

weir (39) - very high diving board

fervently (40) - a warm feeling

fennel

guild (41) - a group of people who are involved in a special craft or trade of making things

Chapter 5

cassock (42) - loose long coat or gown that reaches to the feet, worn by people who sing in a choir

cotta (42) - short white vestment worn by people who sing in a choir

verger (42) - usher in a church (somebody who shows you where to sit and collects money)

haste

pasty

saffron

faggots

alternating (42) first one and then the other

saddler (46) - one who makes or repairs saddles and other equipment for horses

rein

plodded

scudded

tethered

ironmonger (46) - seller of iron and objects made from iron (like horseshoes)

quench (46) - to stop a thirst

pilgrimage (47) - a religious journey to a holy place

refuge (47) - a shelter or protection from danger

lay (47) - a song sung by a minstrel

cutpurse (48) - a pickpocket, thief

roisterer(48) - a noisy person

crook (48) - a shepherd staff (much like the Bishop has)

cowl (50) - a monk's cloak with a hood

galled (51) - made sore by rubbing

fuller (51) - a person who cleans and works with cloth

crop (52) - to cut the grass

brocaded (52) - a heavy curtain with a woven design

punky (52) - dry spongy rotten wood used to start a fire

tinder (52) - material that catches fire easily

Chapter 6

intervals (53)

heartily (54)

ale (54)

thatch (55)

yonder

host

manor

peasants

ruffians

slatternly (55)

noggins (56) - a small cup or mug

unyielding (56)

hefty

befuddled

scornfully (59)

louts (59)

scuffling (60)

granary (61) - a building for storing grain

oafs

farthing

Chapter 7

spires

punts

barge

cavalcade

particolored (62) - many colors

caparison (62) - decorative horse covering

linger

flitted

abbey

abbot

marauding

lombards (63) - sellers of goods or trader of goods

hospitality (64) - friendly

flagon (65)- large drinking bottle

hearth

serf (66) - a worker or farmer of the land

ingrate (66) - an ungrateful person (someone who doesn't say thank you or always complains)

pease porridge (66) - thick cereal or soup

emissaries (68) - someone sent on a mission or errand to do a good deed

ruefully

coveted

domain

armory

heath

keep (71) - the most secure part of a castle (for locking up treasures or protecting people)

bannock (73) - oatmeal cake

newel (73) - pillar at top of winding stairs

belfry

Percheron (73) - large and strong horses originally from France

yeoman (74) - a poor farmer of lower class (a freeloader who depends on others to live)

Chapter 8

bowman (76)

tracery (77)

turret (78)

lingering

billowing

tapestries

retreive

flageolet (79) - a small flute with four finer holes

mimicking

fording

bannock

commotion

slain

treacherous

breached

swarmed

largess (79) - a generous gift or gifts

farrier (79) - a blacksmith (works with iron) - makes horseshoes and metal tools

tapered (79)

bailey (80) - courtyard within the walls of a castle

flambeaux (82) - flaming torches

fripperies (82) - colorful ornaments

trestles (82) - a wooden structure used to support a tabletop

portcullis (85) - iron grate that hangs over the entrance of a castle which is lowered to prevent entrance or exit

Chapter 9

yeomam

catapulting (86) - to throw something

lathe

bastion

larder

dwindled

refuge

mutton

drought

retainers

smock

fidget

forge

pikes

sentry

clod

meek

hedgerow

bracken

coaxed

famished

siege

garrison (87) - a group of soldiers defending a fort

sally port (90) - entrance to a fort

benedicite (91) - a word which means Bless You

lancers (99) - soldiers armed with lances (a knife at the end of a gun)

drovers (99) - people who herd sheep

cumber (99) - something that is difficult to carry and weighs you down (cumbersome)

priory (100) - a religious house run by a monk or priest

jig

pikestaff (103) - a wooden staff with a metal point

windlass (103) - a wheel with a rope used for pulling things

Chapter 10

sanctuary

sacristan (104) - a person in charge of the property in a monastery or church

pickaback

hail

belfry (105) - part of a tower in which a bell is hung

turrets (105) - towers or rounded peaks of a castle

deliverance (106) - to be set free

routed (107) - a road or path to take you some place

peal

portcullis

cavity

yule

timid

tumult

viol (111) - a musical instrument similar to a violin

banners (115) - a type of flag or sign

dais (118) - a raised platform or stage set up in a large room

tutor

boar

doublet (118) - a man's close fitting jacket

realm (119) - a kingdom or region ruled by a king

See - I told you it was a long post. :o)