Mexico!

As a part of "My Father's World" curriculum, the kids were issued passports to record "entries" and "departures" from different countries. We are having fun with our first "trip" to Mexico! We have been reading about the country and culture, listening to music appropriate for that country (even a Mariachi band!), planning art activities, and cooking authentic Mexican meals! So far, we have made burritos with guacamole sauce and chopped tomatillos, quesadilla casserole, and homemade tamales with cornbread! Today we are planning on making homemade tortillas and chicken fajitas! It has been easy to integrate so much cooking into this week, since I didn't schedule our "regular" online school, so that the kids would have more time to spend with their Grandpa who is visiting from Oregon. What a fun week!
Hasta Luego! ;-)

Sciota Schoolhouse

We were out driving around the countryside by our house, when I spotted this old town hall that used to be the schoolhouse for the Lewiston School District...way back in the 1860's. The building is still in really good shape, and I'm thinking about submitting the photo to "The Old Schoolhouse" magazine, since they use these kind of images for the front cover of their homeschool publication. I'll have to dig up some history about the area and the building before I submit the information. It will be fun, if I can find the spare time! ;-)

Construction Paper and Glue Sticks

Here are some fun pages that the girls created for their "Science Portfolios":

Columbus Day Craft

Today is Columbus Day, so we read "COLUMBUS" by Ingri & Edgar Parin D'Aulaire. It was a wonderful story! I love these books so much, and I really appreciate the fact that the lessons include a time of "narration" from my children so that I can know for certain that they understand what we are learning. The books help to stimulate deeper thinking, and we can reflect on each character's strengths and weaknesses. Of course, we end the lesson by tying all that we have learned to what God did through that person to shape the beginnings of our great nation! I am eagerly anticipating the next set of books to guide us through America's Providential History!

Creative Creatures

Here are some fun creations that the girls made for our last activity of the Summer homeschool semester. Becca made "chairs" and a ball for her people and their dog. Christy made beds, pillows, and food for her animals. I really don't know what the other things are, and it's too late to ask them, since they are in bed. I guess I should get into bed also. It's almost 11:30!

End of Summer Homeschool

Most of you know that we homeschool our kids. We have been teaching them since birth, and we feel that it is one of the most important tasks that God has called us to do. We are "in school" year-round, but the Summer semester is a little bit easier than the Fall and Winter semesters. This Summer, we kept up on Reading, Writing, and Math skills. We learned some fun facts in Social Studies and Science, with hands-on activities to make it more fun. We read some great Charlotte Mason-style books that were absolutely captivating! It has been fun, but now we must take a little "break" from all that "hard work". We start back up in September with a full schedule, and I am excited to dig in and learn some more with my children!