tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76391743969279121342024-03-12T17:35:05.593-07:00Apples and JammiesA source for educational ideas and activities designed for homeschoolingBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09658498412486586653noreply@blogger.comBlogger205125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7639174396927912134.post-7542222783716641882011-03-18T08:46:00.000-07:002011-03-18T08:46:40.012-07:00What I've been up to<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aLdw4DNMUU0/TYN3fTkHDFI/AAAAAAAAA3A/uKQ4D6bJ4n4/s1600/100_3544.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" r6="true" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aLdw4DNMUU0/TYN3fTkHDFI/AAAAAAAAA3A/uKQ4D6bJ4n4/s320/100_3544.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
We welcomed Charlie Jonah to our family on February 17 at 9:59 am. His due date was February 10th, and is already living up to his disobedient namesake by not coming out, even when we asked politely. So he had to be induced. He weighed 9 pounds, 1 ounce and was 21 inches long. Thanks to the wonderful anesthesiologist and the epidural, labor and delivery went smoothly and was complication-free!<br />
<br />
Some interesting trends:<br />
All my children and my husband have birthdays that fall on the same day of the week.<br />
It rained every time I was in the hospital to give birth. Pretty amazing for Southern California babies!<br />
Baby #1 = 8lbs, baby #2 = 9lbs, baby #3 = 10 lbs. Thankfully, baby #4 was NOT 11 lbs. <br />
<br />
Since Charlie arrived life has been a bit hectic. As we adjust to life as a family of 4 kiddos, I hope to return to blogging gradually, so don't unsubscribe just yet! And come this fall, I'll have a brand new kindergartener, whcih means lots of fun theme units to share! <div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
At first I thought I could live without it, but it didn't take me long to figure out just how much I really did rely on my printer, especially the copier mode. Apparently I love making copies! <br />
<br />
After holding off for a while and shopping around, I finally decided to make a dent in my Amazon balance that I've been saving through <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/bethb">Swagbucks</a>. My plan <em>had</em> been to save up for Christmas, which I've been doing faithfully all year. And since we've made a tradition of giving homemade photo calendars of the kids for all the grandparents, a new printer would be a necessary thing for our Christmas plans. <br />
<br />
I finally decided on <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canon-MG5220-Wireless-Inkjet-4502B017/dp/B003VQR1RA?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">this beauty</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B003VQR1RA" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span>: <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNHo8XKBI-I/AAAAAAAAA20/XmiWvl5Mxxk/s1600/100_3298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNHo8XKBI-I/AAAAAAAAA20/XmiWvl5Mxxk/s320/100_3298.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It is such a wonderful thing to be able to replace an important item in your home for absolutely nothing! From the Amazon gift cards that I've earned and saved through <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/bethb">Swagbucks</a>, this printer did not cost me one single penny. And we still have a bit left over to splurge on Christmas gifts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I don't post about <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/bethb">Swagbucks</a> lightly. It really is a website I believe in and use regularly. If you are not familiar with <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/bethb">Swagbucks</a>, it is primarily a search engine that randomly awards "Swagbucks" which can be redeemed for prizes, one of the best deals being a $5 Amazon gift card for 450 Swagbucks. These cards can be saved in your Amazon account and used whenever you want to spend them. There are other ways to earn Swagbucks: completing special offers, watching videos, finding Swagcodes, and getting referrals. I have found that just using Swagbucks as a search engine will result in about 2 $5 Amazon cards a month. So by next Christmas you could have an extra $120 toward your Christmas shopping!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Any other <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/bethb">Swagbucks</a> fans out there?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Disclaimer: the above post does contain affiliate links.</em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNHKm_WzEfI/AAAAAAAAA2k/Qvq2Xk4UXMo/s1600/100_3277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNHKm_WzEfI/AAAAAAAAA2k/Qvq2Xk4UXMo/s320/100_3277.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And this:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNHO5g6Y6zI/AAAAAAAAA2w/hRTLF99XmR0/s1600/100_3274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNHO5g6Y6zI/AAAAAAAAA2w/hRTLF99XmR0/s320/100_3274.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And was very excited to pull this out of a bag of hand-me-downs:</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNF46_qkaTI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/90rh2PCYtBE/s1600/100_3278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNF46_qkaTI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/90rh2PCYtBE/s320/100_3278.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And we were all ready for a trip down the yellow brick road with Dorothy, Glinda, the Good Witch, and the not-so Cowardly Lion.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNF7OlroI7I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/TH4VKdSfFpo/s1600/100_3280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNF7OlroI7I/AAAAAAAAA2Y/TH4VKdSfFpo/s320/100_3280.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We had a blast at our church's HUGE Halloween Carnival and hung out with friends at a Halloween party the next night. But then disaster struck...</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNHKxhqpCyI/AAAAAAAAA2o/W-9B_jKSE8o/s1600/100_3295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNHKxhqpCyI/AAAAAAAAA2o/W-9B_jKSE8o/s320/100_3295.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Fabric paint for a craft and brand new homemade halloween costumes do NOT mix.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNF7EDtn3_I/AAAAAAAAA2U/LJX7Q2ItWlA/s1600/100_3293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TNF7EDtn3_I/AAAAAAAAA2U/LJX7Q2ItWlA/s320/100_3293.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Maybe somewhere over the rainbow there's a land where no stain is permanent. You think?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Young-People-Emily-Dickinson/dp/1402754736?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1402754736&tag=gbellinder" /></a></span><br />
<span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Young-People-Emily-Dickinson/dp/1402754736?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1402754736" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span></span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Emily-Michael-Bedard/dp/0385306970?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Emily" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0385306970&tag=gbellinder" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0385306970" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Emily-Michael-Bedard/dp/0385306970?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Emily</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0385306970" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><br />
<span></span><br />
<span><span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mouse-Amherst-Elizabeth-Spires/dp/0374454116?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="The Mouse of Amherst" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0374454116&tag=gbellinder" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0374454116" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></span><br />
<span><span></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mouse-Amherst-Elizabeth-Spires/dp/0374454116?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Mouse of Amherst</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0374454116" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
Three weeks of school have already raced by. We're jumping right into things and have already gotten through quite a bit. <br />
<br />
In science we're studying weather. Why I chose to do a weather unit at this time of year in southern California, I don't know! Gracie's homemade rain gauge is feeling feeling <em>very</em> purposeless. Fortunately we've had a few cooler days that brought a bit of meteorological diversity at least temperature-wise.<br />
<br />
Social studies has been all about the fall of Rome, and the Celts and the Anglo-Saxons. We've borrowed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Favorite-Medieval-Tales-Mary-Osborne/dp/0439141346?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Favorite Medieval Tales</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0439141346" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> from the library read a version of Beowulf. There's lots of great stories in this book that go along so nicely with what we're studying this year. Sir Gawain and the Green knight is next. Did you know that it was written as an allegory representing the conflict in Britain between Christianity (Sir Gawain) and paganism (the Green Knight)? The faux pas of the year (so far) was our fallen column made of cookie dough. Sound simple enough, right? Well, Gracie's column looked rather like a part of the male anatomy. Enough said. Sorry, I will not be posting pictures of it, thank you very much!<br />
<br />
Language Arts has been here and there. I'm still waiting for a few books I ordered before we really get started. In the meantime we're learning about verbs and syllabication, and even starting cursive! I'm very proud of my little reader, though. Over Labor Day weekend, she started <em>and</em> finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Witch-Wardrobe-Essential-Modern-Classics/dp/0006716873?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0006716873" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />.<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0006716873" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (I will tuck this away as a bit of happy reassurance during those homeschool mom self-doubting moments.) <br />
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In math we jumped right into the middle of Saxon 2, and have been working on regrouping/carrying in 2-digit addition. So far it's been fairly painless! I just hope that multiplication will be, too.<br />
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So far we've been doing great in our <a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/memorysys/">Charlotte Mason memory verse system</a>. We've reviewed the verses we learned last year (not so many) and have done it just about every day. I'm really excited that this system is working so easily! In Bible we're in Ezra and Nehemiah and the rebuilding of the temple, which has not been the easiest, but we're getting through it, hopefully with some retention!<br />
<br />
The biggest change we're implementing this year is the switch from an all afternoon schedule (<a href="http://applesandjammies.blogspot.com/2009/08/preschoolers-and-homeschooling-my.html">to make the most of nap time</a>) to staring with Bible, memory verse, and math in the morning and finishing with everything else in afternoon. That transition has gone surprisingly smoothly as well. The 2 younger kids have been occupying themselves playing together, finishing up breakfast, or going outside.<br />
<br />
There's been lots of other things going on: trips to the DMV, visits from the plumber and a new toilet, meeting with our new teacher, starting ballet, and a few doctor's appointments. The very first thing we did on the very first day of school was go to my ob appointment, which is probably symbolic of the focus of this year, since baby #4 is expected in February! <br />
<br />
I hope your beginning of the year has been good, and I hope you've been able to blog more frequently than me!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TIqxXnFxriI/AAAAAAAAA1w/hpyxargS5BY/s1600/weekly_wrap-up.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TIqxXnFxriI/AAAAAAAAA1w/hpyxargS5BY/s320/weekly_wrap-up.png" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/2010/09/weekly-wrap-up-one-with-ducksor-geese.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WeirdUnsocializedHomeschoolers+%28Weird%2C+Unsocialized+Homeschoolers%29">Weekly Wrap-Up</a> is hosted by <a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/">Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
(This post is also acting as my excuse note for the poor blogging this summer. Please accept it with my apologies.) <br />
<br />
Summer is a great time (if there is a great time for it) to have that first trimester fatigue, especially as a homeschooler, but I am soooo ready for it to be over! School starts Monday and I'm praying for the energy to make it through! "I can do all things..."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What is your back-to-school supply weakness?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
<span style="color: black;">I've come to realize that without a set plan, these subjects often get neglected and go by the wayside, so this year I'm being very deliberate about them. </span>I've divided ths school year into 6 six-week terms during which we'll have a focus topic in each subject. I only plan on covering each subject once every two weeks, so it's really not a lot of time in each area. Here's what this part of our school year will look like (The numbers indicate the term.)<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Nature Study:</strong></span><br />
1. Clouds<br />
2. Apple trees<br />
3. Rocks<br />
4. Ladybugs<br />
5. California Poppy<br />
6. Constellations<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/HANDBOOK-NATURE-STUDY-BOTSFORD-COMSTOCK/dp/1409227944?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Handbook of Nature Study</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1409227944" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Southern-California-Nature-Guide-McCloskey/dp/9768200553?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Southern California Nature Guide</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=9768200553" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Artists:</strong></span><br />
1. Vincent Van Gogh<br />
2. Winslow Homer<br />
3. Georgia O'Keefe<br />
4. Michelangelo<br />
5. Ansel Adams<br />
6. Leonardo da Vinci<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Discovering-Great-Artists-Hands-Children/dp/0935607099?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Discovering Great Artists (Kohl)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0935607099" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/">Art Projects for Kids</a>, <a href="http://deepspacesparkle.blogspot.com/">Deep Space Sparkle</a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Composers:</strong></span><br />
1. Mendelssohn<br />
2. Rossini<br />
3. Beethoven<br />
4. Handel<br />
5. Dvorak<br />
6. Copland<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.classicsforkids.com/">Classics for Kids</a>, CDs from the library<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Hymns:</strong></span><br />
1. My Father's World<br />
2. Amazing Grace<br />
3. O Little Town of Bethlehem<br />
4. The Lord is My Shepherd<br />
5. America the Beautiful<br />
6. A Mighty Fortress<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hymns-Kids-Heart-Vol-1/dp/1581345054?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hymns for a Kid's Heart, Vol. 1</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1581345054" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Carols-Kids-Heart-Hymns/dp/1581346263?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Christmas Carols for Kid's Heart (Hymns for a Kid's Heart, Vol. 3)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1581346263" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Poets:</span></strong><br />
1 & 2. Emily Dickinson<br />
3 & 4. Robert Frost<br />
5 & 6. Christina Rossetti<br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Young-People-Emily-Dickinson/dp/1402754736?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Poetry for Young People: Emily Dickinson</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1402754736" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poetry-Young-People-Robert-Frost/dp/1402754752?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1402754752" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Shakespeare:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">1-6. Romeo & Juliet</span><br />
Resources: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Stories-Shakespeare-Edith-Nesbit/dp/1161423621?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Beautiful Stories From Shakespeare</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1161423621" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Handicrafts/ Life Skills:</strong></span><br />
1. Latch Hook<br />
2. Setting the table<br />
3. Embroidery<br />
4. Loading the dishwasher<br />
5. Photography<br />
6. Weeding<br />
<br />
So how do I choose the topics? It's pretty random. Some of our nature study topics (clouds, rocks, and constellations) will align with our earth science curriculum this year. Some of the artist (Michelangelo, da Vinci) are from the time periods we'll be studying in history. Other than that, I simply choose topics that I have resources for, or they sound fun and interesting. I think the key is just having a plan. Choosing <em>something</em> is better than choosing nothing! <br />
<br />
So how's your planning going?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<a href="http://children.calvarychapel.com/site/curriculum.htm">Calvary Chapel Bible Curriculum</a><br />
We left off in the middle of 2 Kings and should make it to the middle of Acts.<br />
<a href="http://simplycharlottemason.com/timesavers/memorysys/">Simply Charlotte Mason's Scripture Memory System</a><br />
I <em>will</em> be consistent about this this year.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Math:</span></strong><br />
<a href="http://www.mcdougallittell.com/store/ProductCatalogController;jsessionid=MHLzXSdpXvyjJ2DPQ7B1J2DyyvH15ljBjThRnrJdvWHD20kV1zBm!278142803?cmd=ProductDetail&recordReference=1254996&nextPage=McDougal%2FProduct.jsp&division=M01&frontOrBack=F&sortEntriesBy=SEQ_NAME&sortProductsBy=SEQ_TITLE&hierarchyID=1007500000077002">Saxon Math 2</a> and <a href="http://www.mcdougallittell.com/store/ProductCatalogController?cmd=ProductDetail&recordReference=1254999&nextPage=McDougal%2FProduct.jsp&division=M01&frontOrBack=F&sortEntriesBy=SEQ_NAME&sortProductsBy=SEQ_TITLE&hierarchyID=1007500000077004">3</a><br />
We are midway through Math 2, so we should begin Math 3 sometime during the year.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daily-Word-Problems-Grade-2/dp/1557998140?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Daily Word Problems, Grade 2</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1557998140" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
We used this last year, and it proved to be a good supplement for solving word problems.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Language Arts:</strong></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Independent Reading</span><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Explode-Code-Book-Seven-Nancy/dp/0838816460?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Explode the Code/Book Seven</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0838816460" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> & <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Explode-Code-Book-Eight-Nancy/dp/0838816479?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Explode the Code/Book Eight</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0838816479" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
While the series has been great, I'll be glad when we've finished these last 2 books and move on to other things.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/First-Language-Lessons-Well-Trained-Levels/dp/0971412928?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind (Vol. Levels 1 & 2) </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0971412928" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
Love this book!<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wordly-Wise-3000-Grade-Student/dp/0838828205?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Wordly Wise 3000 Grade 2 </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0838828205" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
We'll start this when we're finished with Explode the Code.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Strands-Level-Ser/dp/1888344121?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Writing Strands Level 2 </a><a href="http://www.rainbowresource.com/search.php?sid=1279724867-2010316"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1888344121" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></a><br />
We haven't really focused very much on writing yet, just a bit of copywork. I hope this curriculum will work well for us. Anyone have experience with it?<br />
<a href="http://www.rainbowresource.com/search.php?sid=1279724867-2010316">Cursive Writing</a><br />
Peer pressure has motivated my daughter to want to learn cursive, which I am more than happy to oblige.<br />
<a href="http://www.rainbowresource.com/search.php?sid=1279724867-2010316">Dictionary Skills</a><br />
This should be a light supplement we'll use occassionally.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/English-Roots-Up-Vol-T/dp/0964321033?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">English from the Roots Up, Vol. 1</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0964321033" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
Am I biting off more than I can chew? Maybe...<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Science:</span></strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/R-E-Science-Earth-Space-Level/dp/0976605732?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">R.E.A.L. Science Earth and Space (Level One)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0976605732" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
I'm excited about this! And I've gotten so many supplemental resources like rock kits, field guides, books, and scopes that it should be impossible not to have fun while learning science this year!<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Social Studies:</span></strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Story-World-Classical-Activity-Renaissance/dp/1933339136?ie=UTF8&tag=widgetsamazon-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Story of the World 2: The Middle Ages: From the Fall of Rome to the Rise of the Renaissance</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=widgetsamazon-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1933339136" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
Gracie loved volume 1, so I think volume 2 will be a hit as well.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><strong>Nature, Artist, Composer, Hymn, Poetry, and Handicrafts</strong></span>:<br />
We'll focus on one area/person per 6 week term, covering 6 of each (but only 3 poets) during the year. I'm planning to schedule each subject once every two weeks. Come back on Monday for more specifics on who and what we're studying in these areas.<br />
<br />
For lots more curriculum and planning posts, go to today's <a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/2010/07/weekly-wrap-up-curriculum-sharing.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WeirdUnsocializedHomeschoolers+%28Weird%2C+Unsocialized+Homeschoolers%29">Weekly Wrap-Up</a> post at <a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/">Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
So what did I do?<br />
<br />
Unfortunately I'll have to tell you rather than show you, since we're having some technical difficulties with cameras and computers (although the solution is in the mail even now). <br />
<br />
Our days have been busy with camping, VBS, trips to the beach, lazy days at home and lastly a few days at <a href="http://www.cheaofca.org/">CHEA</a>, our area homeschool convention. CHEA was just what I needed to give me some motivation and break out the book lists and planners again. Less than 5 weeks left. Still enough time for some more summer fun in between planning session!<br />
<br />
On another note, if you're new to or just considering the Charlotte Mason or are just trying to make heads or tails out of narration and copywork, you absolutely must read <a href="http://wildflowersandmarbles.blogspot.com/search/label/Language%20Arts">Wildflowers and Marbles' series on Charlotte Mason Language Arts</a>. It is chock full of great information. I still need to reread it a few more times so everything sinks in. Those posts are definitely going into my favorites so I can refer back to them when I need a little inspiration.<br />
<br />
Oh, and I've finally got a new look! I've been wanting to do something different to my blog for forever. Click through and tell me what you think!<br />
<br />
Enjoy those last few weeks of summer!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
To keep you and your kiddos entertained while I'm gone, I found some <a href="http://tpettit.best.vwh.net/dolls/pd_scans/scan_index_val_codb.html">fabulous printable paper dolls</a> that I though I'd share with you. In fact I'm pretty sure I had this set of <a href="http://tpettit.best.vwh.net/dolls/pd_scans/ginghams/index.html">Gingham paper dolls</a> when I was little. I think I'm more excited about them than my girls are! Paper dolls sadly seem to be coming a lost art, don't you think? <br />
<br />
Have a great summer and I'll be back in July!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Admission is free, but parking costs $15 and you must <a href="http://www.getty.edu/visit/hours/index.html">make a reservation</a> beforehand. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We saw lots of amazing artifacts that added a new dimension to our history study. It was so neat to see Gracie get excited about seeing things that we had learned about: a bust of Augustus Caesar, the gallery numbers written in roman numerals, ancient Roman coins (she had made her own version out of clay), a Greco-Roman mummy (which was "older than you, mommy!"), and a tiny fragment of an ancient manuscript of The Odyssey. We read <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wanderings-Odysseus-Odyssey-WANDERINGS-ODYSSEUS/dp/B001TK6XFG?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">this version</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001TK6XFG" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span> during the school year.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApawerc0fI/AAAAAAAAA1A/RJRs3TxFWsw/s1600/100_2972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApawerc0fI/AAAAAAAAA1A/RJRs3TxFWsw/s320/100_2972.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">She also developed a new appreciation for the art of mosaic. She worked for <em>weeks</em> on a small 6 inch square mosaic. This one was at least 4 feet long!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApbKI_MajI/AAAAAAAAA1I/gC_azMnblzI/s1600/100_2970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApbKI_MajI/AAAAAAAAA1I/gC_azMnblzI/s320/100_2970.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Like the Getty Center, the Getty Villa has a wonderful room devoted to hands on activites called the <a href="http://www.getty.edu/education/kids_families/programs/family_forum.html">Family Forum</a>. We were able to decorate our own Greek vases by making rubbings on paper or drawing on huge reproductions with dry-erase markers. (That's my art on the right. I'm a woman of many talents, I know.)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApXPdEPBgI/AAAAAAAAA0w/RAXP1kE3gQQ/s1600/100_2965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApXPdEPBgI/AAAAAAAAA0w/RAXP1kE3gQQ/s320/100_2965.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApW5_xyIAI/AAAAAAAAA0o/CDS8GbFx3Bo/s1600/100_2960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApW5_xyIAI/AAAAAAAAA0o/CDS8GbFx3Bo/s320/100_2960.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite feature was the big screen where you could become part of the image on a vase. There was a wall of props to choose from, so you could fit right in to the scene, which changed every so often. Isn't that fun?!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApWs99uTFI/AAAAAAAAA0g/Xp6ef7D9WwU/s1600/100_2957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApWs99uTFI/AAAAAAAAA0g/Xp6ef7D9WwU/s320/100_2957.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApkCgdZU1I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/xr9U5O333Eg/s1600/100_2956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApkCgdZU1I/AAAAAAAAA1Y/xr9U5O333Eg/s320/100_2956.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Warning: In gallery 209, there were a few vases with scenes NOT appropriate for children. Fortunately I saw them first and easily distracted Gracie into another gallery. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApSjIAzu3I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/_T2YFb94kIw/s1600/100_2938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApSjIAzu3I/AAAAAAAAA0Y/_T2YFb94kIw/s320/100_2938.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Plates and silverware are strictly forbidden. Sitting on the floor is encouraged.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApSL-ud29I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/zAnRQUjns7A/s1600/100_2942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApSL-ud29I/AAAAAAAAA0Q/zAnRQUjns7A/s320/100_2942.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Don't forget to wear your laurel (or, er... ceanothus) wreath!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApR2acLOzI/AAAAAAAAA0A/ib4sJ2-T9Hk/s1600/100_2945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/TApR2acLOzI/AAAAAAAAA0A/ib4sJ2-T9Hk/s320/100_2945.JPG" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
<a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/bethb">Swagbucks</a> is primarily a search engine that randomly rewards you with points for your searches. You can exchange these points for items in the Swag Store, such as Amazon gift cards, Starbucks gift cards, and others. The $5 Amazon gift cards are the best deal for 450 Swagbucks. You can use multiple gift cards towards a purchase.<br />
<br />
My experience with Swagbucks has been great! I've been a member since last summer and have earned exactly $105 in gift cards in less than a year! You can bank your cards in your Amazon account and they will never expire. Instead of using Swagbucks for homeschooling supplies, I've decided to use Swagbucks as a Christmas fund. Last year I was able to buy <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811860019?ie=UTF8&tag=applesandjamm-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0811860019">these</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=applesandjamm-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0811860019" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BCEJ9A?ie=UTF8&tag=applesandjamm-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000BCEJ9A">this</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=applesandjamm-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000BCEJ9A" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px;" width="1" />, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0007Y4DLG?ie=UTF8&tag=applesandjamm-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0007Y4DLG">this</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=applesandjamm-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B0007Y4DLG" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /> paid for entirely with Swagbucks!<br />
<br />
I know it sounds too good to be true, but it's absolutely legitimate. There is no cost involved, I haven't received spam from Swagbucks, and I've never had a problem with any of the gift cards I've ordered. The search engine doesn't offer results that are as extensive as Google, but I almost always find what I'm looking for. Search "Apples and Jammies" and it's on the first page. Not too shabby!<br />
<br />
I usually don't like to do "shameless plug" types of posts. But I honestly do think <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/bethb">Swagbucks</a> is great and hope you will, too!<br />
<br />
Disclaimer: Referral links are included in this post.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://mthopeacademy.blogspot.com/2010/05/around-world-chapter-at-time.html">This list of chapter books</a> and this <a href="http://simplehomeschool.net/around-the-world-one-picture-book-at-a-time/?doing_wp_cron">list of picture books</a> are great for incorporating some intentional geography in your child's reading.<br />
<br />
Putting together some <a href="http://www.hsclassroom.net/2010/05/summer-adventure-boxes/">summer adventure boxes</a> is definitely on my to-do list.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2010/05/summer-rolls.html">These</a> will definitely be making their way onto our table this summer for a cool, no-cook meal.<br />
<br />
These look like fun crafts: <a href="http://www.skiptomylou.org/2010/05/11/a-first-sewing-project/">one for preschoolers</a>, <a href="http://manualscanigo.blogspot.com/2009/02/telers_25.html">one for bigger kids</a>, and <a href="http://whipup.net/2010/05/09/on-the-go-art-satchel/">one for mom</a>!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
<object height="405" width="660"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u6XAPnuFjJc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u6XAPnuFjJc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="660" height="405"></embed></object><br />
<br />
Do you have problems keeping your kids motivated? What motivates your kids?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">we are celebrating the end of our second year of homeschooling! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Whether you are at the beginning, middle or end of your homeschool year, I pray you can rejoice and be satisfied in your labors! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Colossians 3:23-24</em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">When I <a href="http://applesandjammies.blogspot.com/2009/07/one-of-my-goals-for-homeschooling-is-to.html">first heard about </a>the kid's membership at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art I was very excited, but a little skeptical. Free trips to the museum as long as my kids were under 18? It sounded too good to be true! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">We recently made our first trip using our Nexgen membership cards and I can't stress enough how great <a href="http://www.lacma.org/programs/NexGenKids.aspx">LACMA's Nexgen</a> program is! I highly recommend that anyone in the Southern California area take advantage of this free museum membership for kids. In addition to one free adult admission with your Nexgen kid, there is a children's art gallery, where kids can create their own art. Free art totes and children's audio tours are available to check out as well. We hope to check these out on our next visit. This time we were too busy exploring!</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">On our recent trip, we went on a scavenger hunt to find the artists we studied this year. We were able to see work from three of them: <a href="http://applesandjammies.blogspot.com/2010/03/joan-miro-resources.html">Miro</a>, <a href="http://applesandjammies.blogspot.com/2009/11/artist-study-piet-mondrian.html">Mondrian</a>, and <a href="http://applesandjammies.blogspot.com/2010/05/paul-klee-resources.html">Klee</a>. My kids love to sketch at art museums. It's a great way to make the experience a little more hands-on and lets kids practice their art skills just like real artists.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.lacma.org/programs/pdfs/homeschool.pdf">Homeschool Day</a> at LACMA is May 27th. Sounds like a fun end of the year field trip!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zd_abPlJI/AAAAAAAAAzE/xODDrPGduYw/s1600/100_2869.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zd_abPlJI/AAAAAAAAAzE/xODDrPGduYw/s200/100_2869.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zdtdI7aAI/AAAAAAAAAy0/juVjc2Zwn30/s1600/100_2868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zdtdI7aAI/AAAAAAAAAy0/juVjc2Zwn30/s200/100_2868.jpg" width="150" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zd3mzqdCI/AAAAAAAAAy8/uj2LXwkFfAE/s1600/100_2870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zd3mzqdCI/AAAAAAAAAy8/uj2LXwkFfAE/s200/100_2870.jpg" width="200" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We had four of Klee's works on our art wall:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zT2uM56UI/AAAAAAAAAyc/kQsptvu9Umw/s1600/100_2861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zT2uM56UI/AAAAAAAAAyc/kQsptvu9Umw/s320/100_2861.jpg" wt="true" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zUBjo9DJI/AAAAAAAAAyk/880i0gmG-KM/s1600/100_2863.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zUBjo9DJI/AAAAAAAAAyk/880i0gmG-KM/s320/100_2863.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://msjuliesartschool.blogspot.com/2009/04/klees-castle.html">Miss Julie</a> helped us create a Klee castle.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zTeIpsVhI/AAAAAAAAAyM/Tpu7bDakwjU/s320/100_2820.jpg" wt="true" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This project, a one-line drawing, came from <span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Discovering-Great-Artists-Hands-Children/dp/0935607099?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Discovering Great Artists</a>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zTrcT0ASI/AAAAAAAAAyU/1Pfess6OVYQ/s1600/100_2823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zTrcT0ASI/AAAAAAAAAyU/1Pfess6OVYQ/s320/100_2823.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><br />
The real highlight of our Klee study was going to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and seeing <a href="http://collectionsonline.lacma.org/mwebcgi/mweb.exe?request=record;id=159101;type=101">some of his work</a> in person. To go to a<em> real</em> museum and see <em>real</em> art from a <em>real</em> artist that you've studied truly brings art education to another level and brings an excitement that little else can compare to.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
So why am I doing this?<br />
<br />
1. To make her an independent learner. <br />
2. To guide her reading selection. <br />
3. To teach her responsibility.<br />
4. It's something she is excited to do.<br />
<br />
What will she read?<br />
<br />
I'm still narrowing it down. I want to preview each book to make sure it will be a good fit and doesn't have any surprises! The books that she doesn't have assigned as independent reading will still probably find their from the library to our mantel.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Middle Ages Literature</strong> </span><br />
(aligned with chapters of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Story-World-History-Classical-Renaissance/dp/1933339098?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Story of the World Vol. 2</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1933339098" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" />)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Tree-Trophy-Chapter-Book/dp/0064421325?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Sword in the Tree</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064421325" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (2)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Marguerite-Makes-Book-Bruce-Robertson/dp/089236372X?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Marguerite Makes a Book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=089236372X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (3,11)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Viking-Adventure-Clyde-Robert-Bulla/dp/B000GDDKI0?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Viking Adventure</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000GDDKI0" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (14)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Minstrel-Tower-Stepping-Stone-paper/dp/0394895983?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Minstrel In The Tower</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0394895983" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (16)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Medieval-Feast-Aliki/dp/0064460509?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Medieval Feast</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064460509" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (16)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Castle-Diary-Journal-Tobias-Burgess/dp/0763621641?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Castle Diary: The Journal of Tobias Burgess</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0763621641" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (16, 19)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Making-Knight-James-Earned-Armor/dp/088106355X?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Making of a Knight: How Sir James Earned His Armor</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=088106355X" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (17)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Door-Wall-Books-Young-Readers/dp/0440227798?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Door in the Wall</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0440227798" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (19)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Joan-Arc-Diane-Stanley/dp/0064437485?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Joan of Arc</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064437485" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (26)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Columbus-Edgar-Parin-DAulaire/dp/0964380331?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Columbus</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0964380331" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (31)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Leonardo-Davinci-Diane-Stanley/dp/B001C7OR2W?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Leonardo Davinci</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001C7OR2W" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (35)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Leonardo-Flying-Anholts-Artists-Children/dp/0764138510?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Leonardo and the Flying Boy</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0764138510" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (35)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Good-Queen-Bess-Elizabeth-England/dp/0688179614?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Good Queen Bess : The Story of Elizabeth I of England</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0688179614" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (38,42)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/William-Shakespeare-Globe-Trophy-Picture/dp/0064437221?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">William Shakespeare & the Globe</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064437221" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (39)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pirates-Reading-Railroad-Dina-Anastasio/dp/0448414945?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Pirates (Reading Railroad)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0448414945" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (42)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Earth Science Literature</strong> </span><br />
(aligned with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Science-level-Science-Explore-Absorb/dp/0976605708?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">R.E.A.L. Science- Life<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0976605708" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /></a>)<br />
<br />
<strong>Weather/Water</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cloud-Book-Tomie-dePaola/dp/0823405311?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Cloud Book</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0823405311" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0823405311" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Drop-Water-Walter-Wick/dp/0590221973?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">A Drop Of Water</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0590221973" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Water-Dance-Thomas-Locker/dp/0152163964?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Water Dance</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0152163964" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<strong>Earth's Surface</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hill-Fire-Can-Read-Book/dp/0064440400?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Hill of Fire </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0064440400" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Magic-School-Bus-Blows-Its/dp/0590508350?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Magic School Bus Blows Its Top: A Book About Volcanoes</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0590508350" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hole-Other-Side-World-OTHER/dp/B001T3L0XS?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B001T3L0XS" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <br />
<strong>Rocks & Minerals</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rocks-Head-Carol-Otis-Hurst/dp/0060294035?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Rocks in His Head</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0060294035" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rocks-Smooth-Rough-Amazing-Science/dp/1404803343?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Rocks: Hard, Soft, Smooth, and Rough </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1404803343" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<strong>Solar System</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Starry-Messenger-Galileo-Peter-Sis/dp/0374470278?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0374470278" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Footprints-Moon-Alexandra-Siy/dp/1570914095?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Footprints on the Moon</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1570914095" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Decide-Booklist-Editors-Choice-Awards/dp/0590483595?ie=UTF8&tag=gbellinder&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">If You Decide To Go To The Moon </a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gbellinder&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0590483595" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-left: 0px !important; padding-right: 0px !important; padding-top: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<br />
I love finding relevant booklists, so I hope this is helpful. I will post the finalized list as I make my way through previewing these books. Anything you would add?<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Really. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I have a library card. My daughter has a library card. The limit on each card is 30 books. There are times when we can't check any more books out.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Do you realize what that means?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I love books.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I also have a two-year old. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zNhsrAl2I/AAAAAAAAAyE/8WwtHc3Kt2U/s1600/100_1913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zNhsrAl2I/AAAAAAAAAyE/8WwtHc3Kt2U/s320/100_1913.jpg" width="320" wt="true" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">He also loves books, but he loves books in a different way than I do. He loves to walk on them and throw them, and sometimes lick them. Why else do they put pictures of food in books? He's learning. But I still don't necessarily trust him around <strike>60</strike> a lot of library books.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Many of the books we borrow are specifically for "school" so I want them to visible and accessible rather than shoved away in a drawer, protected, but unused.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My solution to this dilemma will never make it into Better Homes and Garden or the Decorating Hall of Fame. I use my fireplace mantel as a book display. It keeps the books up and inaccessible to a 2-year old, but visible, accessible,and even appealing for a 6-year old and sometimes a 4-year old.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zLCx-7PAI/AAAAAAAAAx0/8n5omGAbOU8/s1600/100_2573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5Nejw4YX8Lc/S-zLCx-7PAI/AAAAAAAAAx0/8n5omGAbOU8/s320/100_2573.jpg" wt="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">And really, is decorating with books so bad?</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript">
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