Journal

Mondy Nov. 12 - picture study Giotti "The Raising of Lazarus"

Monday Nov. 26 2012 - overview of Dark Ages, picture study Giotti "Washing of the feet"

Tuesday Nov. 27, 2012 - Main lesson Rise and Spread of Christianity. Covered persecution of early Christians, catacombs, Christianity as a religion for the poor and outcast, Constantine, Council of Nicea, Nicene Creed

Wed. Nov. 28, 2012 - PE jogged one mile, Main lesson on Sui Dynasty and Tang Dynasty, Golden Age of China, Chinese cultural influences in Japan and Korea.  Maori migration to New Zealand.  Located China, Korean Peninsula, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand on a world map.

Thurs. Nov 29, 2012 - review invasions of the fifth century, mapwork labeling Spain, France, Germany, Italy, UK and Ireland.  Math worksheet. Documentary film: "The Dust Bowl" PBS by Ken Burns.

Friday Nov, 30, 2012 - attended Families Flock Together, "Keeping a Balance," at Emerson Point Preserve

Monday Dec. 3 - Thursday December 6 Liam went on a vacation to Georgia to Andersonville Prison, Stone Mountain, and Juliette, GA where Fried Green Tomatoes was filmed.  Upon return, some discussion on life in the Middle Ages, legends of the time, Robin Hood.  Film: Ivanhoe 1982.

Week of Dec 10 - The Rise and Spread of Islam, the five pillars of Islam, documentary: "PBS: Islam, Empire of Faith" Narrated by Sir Ben Kingsley,

Week of Dec. 17 - the sinking of the White Ship, the war between Stephen and Matilda, Henry II, math review work, continued reading My Side of the Mountain

Week of Jan. 7, 2013 - reading and finishing Richard The Lion Heart,  math via Khan Academy, work, examing map of King Richard's route to Jerusalem, Star Gazing at Robinson's Preserve, "Nova: Building The Great Cathedrals," map review of Europe

Week of Jan. 14, 2013 -  I battled the flu this week as did Liam's little sister.  Liam's studies focused on the Civil War.  He saw the movie "Lincoln" and reviewed some his Civil War books.  He also started the book The Magna Charta and worked on math review work.

Week of Jan. 21 - Presidential Inauguration, reading The Magna Charta,  map work, Stelliferous Live Presentation at Bishop Planetarium, film: PBS "The Abolitionists"covering William Lloyd Garrison, Angelina Grimke and Frederick Douglass, reading My Side of the Mountain, "Where's My Buttons" Photography class at Johnson's Photo Imaging (2 hours 1/25/2013)

Friday Feb. 8, 2012 - Homeschool Day at Mote Marine

Week of Jan. 28, 2013 - documentary on The Civil War, continued reading The Magna Charta, and My Side of the Mountain, attended presentation on Coral at The Bishop Planetarium.

Week of March 3 - Marco Polo, Vasco da Gama in Journeys of the Great Explorers

March 18, 2013 -  reading The Magna Charta,  multiplication review using "wrap ups"

March 23, 2013 - reading The Magna Charta, math review with "wrap ups."  Writing practice from The Magna Charta.

March 25, 2013 - read Marco Polo (Ladybird Classics, reading The Magna Charta, reading from My Side of the Mountain, worked on math skills using multiplication wrap-ups.

March 26, 2013 - reading Oceans book, read comic books: one from 1963 "Horus: Lord of Light," one from 1995 "Wolverine: Gambit":, six from 1993 "Superman", one from 1996 "Spawn"

March 28, 2013 - Liam finished the book The Magna Charta.  He continued reading My Side of the Mountain.  Liam and his friend set up a tent in the back yard.

March 29, 2013 - I haven't written much about socialization or physical ed here, but today is perfect for that.  Liam walked two miles to go from his grandma's house to his friend's house.  He and said friend later walked a mile to pick up another friend.  The boys hung out and worked on a tent in the backyard

April 1, 2013 - walked one mile, read My Side of the Mountain, read and finished Henry II and Thomas Becket

April 2, 2013 - read and finished Ancient Civilizations: The Vikings, watched History Channel documentary on The Last Days of WW2.

April 5, 2013 - finished the book My Side of The Mountain! Read chapter on Martin Luther in SOTW 2.

April 6, 2013 - attended Comic Con Tampa 2013!

April 8, 2013 - homeschool trip to see replicas of The Nina and The Pinta in Palmetto.  walked 2 miles, math review on wrap-ups

April 9, 2013 -  reading In Freedom's Cause

April 10, 2013 - attended a presentation on the Battle of Gettysburg, math wrap-ups

April 11, 2013 -  reading In Freedom's Cause

April 12, 2013 - attended homeschool day at Mote Marine: the topic was ocean acidification, PE skate park for 2 hours, took photos at Mote Marine

April 14, 2013 - went to skate park in Bradenton for several hours with his friends, read In Freedom's Cause

April 15, 2013 - discussion and looking at books covering history of the British Kings and Queens, reviewed  Saxon and Viking invasions to Norman invasion.  We also discussed the movie Saving Private Ryan.  I told Liam the true story of the Sullivan Brothers.  The conversation came about because Liam asked where the Normans were from. I explained that they were from Normandy, France, which led to me mentioning the Normandy Invasion.  We also discussed how the film Saving Private Ryan used hand-held camera techniques to film the landing at Normandy Beach.  Liam has not yet seen the movie Saving Private Ryan.  Liam asked me today who wrote the Greek Myths and Norman Myths. I mentioned the legend of Homer.  We also talked about the role of storytellers who used to memorize stories and legends.  Liam said that he felt that comic artist Stan Lee is the modern creator of our myths. helped little sister at building with blocks.  Math: Positives and Negatives. Picture Study: Viewed The Mourning of Christ by Giotto

April 16, 2013 - went to teen night at Selby Library and made a background scene on a canvass using chalk, paint, and magazine collage.  Read In Freedom's Cause. Read The Book of England's Kings and Queens book I.

April 18, 2013 - read In Freedom's Cause, discussion on postives and negatives for math using owing money as examples

April 19, 2013 - read Chp.6 of In Freedom's Cause, swimming at GT Bray, practicing on skateboard, multiplication review

April 20, 2013 - swam laps at swimming pool, looked after 9 yr old cousin, read Chps. 7-9 of In Freedom's Cause

April 22, 2013 - helped out a lot around the house, watched videos from Nasa's website on the International Space Station, read about coral and the formation of coral from homeschool supplement from The Florida Aquarium, practiced on skateboard, chapters 10 and 11 of In Freedom's Cause

April 24, 2013 - finished reading "Coral Chemistry," referenced book Oceans by McMillan and Musick, looked up footage of 2004 Tsunami, 2011 Tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina, watched video on Ocean Acidification by The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), attended Stelliferous Live presentation at The Bishop Planetarium

April 29, 2013 - read Chp. 12 of In Freedom's Cause, watched "The Making of The Hobbit," Geometry free-hand drawing, helped out around the house.

May 1, 2013 - read Chps. 13 and 14 of In Freedom's Cause, watched a dcoumentary on JRR Tolkien, played broom hockey, helped out around the house.

May 4, 2013 - read Chps. 15 and 16 of In Freedom's Cause, swimming at the beach, shooting at gun range

May 8, 2013 - finished chapters 17 and 18 of In Freedom's Cause, watched documentary "Reluctant Revolutionary" on Martin Luther, math workbook pages 1-4

May 9, 2013 - finished chapters 19 and 20 of In Freedom's Cause, math workbook pages 5-10

May 12, 2013 - Beach Day, swimming, social time with friends and family

May 16, 2013 - finished chapter 22 of In Freedom's Cause, math workbook page 11, movie: "The King's Speech"

May 19, 2013 - helped out around the house, Beach Day

May 20, 2013 - read chapters 23 and 24 of In Freedom's Cause, math workbook pages 13 and 14, read  Comic Books,

May 21, 2013 - read chapters 25 and 26 of In Freedom's Cause, reviwed and worked in math workbook

May 22, 2013 - finished In Freedom's Cause!

May 25, 2013 - spent most of the day at Anna Maria Pier.  Liam and two of his friends bought bait using money he earned from mowing lawns.  They also brought Liam's nine year old cousin along.  The older kids spent the day fishing while I took Liam's little sister swimming along the pier.

May 29, 2013 - decided Liam should focus on an Astronomy Block ala Waldorf. He watched two videos on the birth of a star from Khan Academy and did some copywork from astronomy flashcards into his notebook.  He also completed two pages in his math workbook.

May 30, 2013 - watched a video from Khan Academy on White and Black Dwarfs, did some copywork from Astronomy flashcards on Dwarf Stars, pages 16 and 17

June 2, 2013 - copywork on The Milky Way from Astronomy flaschcards, math workbook page 18, Liam watched Superman when it aired on tv.  He became interested in the cast and looked up Christopher Reeve.  Liam learned about Reeve's injury and paralysis, which he had not previously known about.

June 3, 2013 - watched Star Nebula on Khan Academy, math workbook pages 19 and 20. Liam looked up more videos on Christopher Reeve and noted that Reeve supported stem-cell research. Liam found on youtube and watched the documentary "Christopher Reeve: Choosing Hope."

June 5, 2013 - walked one mile.  worked on math in workbook.  not feeling today.  took allergy medicine.

June 7, 2013 - Liam read and wrote about Black Holes for Astronomy.  He walked four miles throughout th day.

June 8, 2013 - Liam and his friends walked over two miles and made money mowing a lawn for a man in the neighborhood.  The boys then went swimming for a couple of hours.

June 10, 2013 - Astronomy: The origins of the Universe, math practice

June 14, 2013 - Liam and his friend mowed two lawns to earn money to see Superman: Man of Steel, which they did tonight. Liam helped to babysit his four year old cousin.

June 21, 2013 - Liam helped out his great grandmother by doing some chores at her house, read an article from NASA

June 24, 2013 - read Robert The Bruce Ladybird Series
June 26, 2013 - read Chapter 1 on Along Came Galileo by Jeanne Bendick
 June 27, 2013 - read chapter 2 in Along Came Galileo by Jeanne Bendick
June 28, 2013 - read chapter 3 in Along Came Galileo, math workbook page 25
June 29, 2013 - read chapter 4 in Along Came Galileo, made corrections to page 25 in Math workbook
June 30, 2013 - read chapter 5 in Along Came Galileo math workbook pages 26 and 27
July 1, 2013 - sleepover at a friend's house
July 2, 2013 - read chapter 6 in Along Came Galileo, math workbook page 29, walked one mile
July 3, 2013 - read chapter 7 in Along Came Galileo
July 5, 2013 - read chapter 8 in Along Came Galileo, helped clean the living room

July 14, 2013-Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
July 15, 2013 -Betsy Ross House
July 17, 2013 NYC
July 18, 2013-Valley Forge

July 21, 2013 - finished Along Came Galileo by Jeanne Bendick
July 22, 2013 - walked a mile and mowed a lawn, helped clean the living room, babysat little sister, watched "Deadliest Warrior: Joan of Arc vs William the Conqueror"

August 22, 2013- workout with uncle at Robinson's Preserve
August 23, 2013 - workout with uncle at Robinson't Preserve
August 24 - 2013 - reading An Eye For Glory, math workbook, attended comic con
August 25, 2013 -  reading An Eye For Glory followed by narration, math workbook,

August 27, 2013 - worked in his math workbook with his grandpa

Sept. 3, 2013 - reading Ulysses S Grant biography, reading An Eye For Glory
Sept 4 2013 - interviewed his great-grandmother, took a couple of pictures while out walking
Sept. 12, 2013 - South Florida Museum, "Ultimate Universe"

A Lesson on Scapegoating

  Yesterday was a great natural learning day.  Liam was watching the miniseries Holocaust (with Meryl Streep and Michael Moriarity).  He then came over to me asking about how something like the Holocaust could happen.  We then had a discussion on the role of scapegoating.  I explained to him how scapegoating is used throughout history to maintain or achieve power.  I used the current example of how many Americans are scapegoating illegal immigrants.  For that matter, some are scapegoating all immigrants/foreigners. 
   I also discussed the role of economics when it comes to war. For example, my father kept asking himself what does Afghanistan have that we want? He knew very well that the Taliban and Al-Qaida were just the perfect excuse to invade, but what did America want?  Then, he said he read about the oil pipeline in Afghanistan and he got it instantly.  I told my son this anecdote in a hope to really help him absorb the lesson "follow the money."  I kept repeating, and even wrote on the chalkboard, "scapegoating" and "economics."
       We then went into a conversation about how Iraq and Saddam Hussein were blamed for 9/11 when they had nothing to with it.  Again, we see scapegoating (they are Muslims, from the Middle East, etc.), and we see economics...OIL. 
     Later in the day, he read a chapter on feudalism in the Middle Ages.  This portion of the day was not part of his self-directed learning, but rather what I assigned for him to complete.

Sidewalk Astronomy

  I have been getting email updates about events for a local sidewalk astronomy group, but I have never been able to attend any of the events.  Well, this past Saturday, we finally went to one.  I told Liam and his friends that we were going to X Beach City Hall. Of course, they heard "beach."  So, we decided to make it a beach day followed by planet gazing.  Best laid plans though.....   In any event, by the time we got everyone (Liam, three of his friends, Seneca, and I) ready to go, it was just about sunset and I wanted to get to Sidewalk Astronomy right at sunset.  So, we skipped the beach (for the time being.)
    So many generous people set up beautiful telescopes and allowed other people there to look through. The kids saw the gasses surrounding the sun. They saw Venus in one telescope. Venus looked like a crescent moon. The kids and I got to see the moon in several different telescopes. The moon is either in light or in dark, no in between.  And the kids and I got to see Saturn in one telescope!  Afterwards, the boys said to me that they were disappointed about not going to the beach, but the sidewalk astrononmy thing was awesome.  "Can we go again in May?"
      From now on, I will certainly make an effort to attend the X Beach City Hall set ups.  There are other set ups around town, but this one is the closest to us. 
   After leaving, we did stop at the beach for about thirty minutes.  No going in the water, but the kids dug in the sand and I did get my feet wet. :)

Library Book

Impromptu games of Improv and Duck Duck Goose

"Deadliest Warriors" Spike TV

 "Deadliest Warriors" on Spike TV
Crazy Horse vs Pancho Villa
Napoleon Bonaparte vs George Washington
US Army Rangers vs North Korean Special Ops
Joan of Arc vs William the Conqueror
Hannibal vs Genghis Khan - Liam saw this episode as unfair as Khan was hundreds of years later and had more advanced weaponry.
French Foreign Legions vs Gurkas
Ming Warriors vs Musketeers
Saddam Hussein vs Pol Pot
Spartans vs Ninjas
Persian Immortals vs The Celts
US Navy Seals vs Israeli Commandos

   Liam noticed the bias of the show and that the American, when an American is featured, always seems to win.  The show pits two historical figures against each other in battle.  Through a study of weapons of the time, injuries caused by said weapons, and knowledge of each historical person or group, a panel of experts determines who would have won.  The adversaries are pitted against each other in a computer simulation five thousand times. 
   I am sure many people would object to the war nature of this series.  I belong to a congregation that helps young adults fill out Conscientious Objector forms and believes in non-military solutions.  Why then, would I not object to my son watching a program featuring confrontation and battles?  Well, my answer is that because my children have been raised in a family and congregation that teaches non-violence, they can easily watch programs that have violence in them and feel no need to absorb that violence into their soul.  They can easily distinguish that this is a simulation and it is NOT REAL.  I'm not trying to suggest that all other children raised in mainstream households cannot distinguish between real and fantasy. I am suggesting that since no glorification of violence of ANY kind is around my kids, then what they see on the screen remains on the screen.  
   

Civil War Websites

Civil War Websites
civilwar.org
http://www.nps.gov/civilwar/index.htm

Math Art Day March 2012

Civil War Trip Journal November 2011

Tuesday November 8, 2011Stopped at Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor’s Center. Saw a short film on Battle of Gettysburg Saw the cyclorama painting of the Battle of Gettysburg Became a member of The Friends of Gettysburg Took a preliminary ride around the battlefield Stopped at the Virginia State Monument; on top of the monument is a statue of Robert E. Lee on his horse, Traveler.  The lower part of the monument features statues of Virginia soldiers.  Looked across the field toward the Northern side and tried to imagine the southern troops as they marched across that field while being bombarded by cannon shots.

Stopped at Pennsulvania State Monument.  It is the largest state Monument at Gettysburg.  On the monument are listed the names of all the Soldiers from Pennsylvania who fought at Gettysburg. Listed by regiment. Saw great-great-great grandfather’s name A. Dierenbach listed in the 73^rd Regiment.  There was not enough space for his first name, Andrew Wednesday November 9, 2011 Went to Harpers Ferry, WVA, a small town on a hillside overlooking where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet.  Three states meet here:  Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia  Saw Fire House where John Brown was captured.  The U.S. troops were led by Colonel Robert E. Lee.  Serving with him was JEB Stuart.
Visited John Brown Museum and Wax Museum

Toured Antietam Battlefield.  Antietam was the scene of the bloodiest day in American History.  23,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or missing.  Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, risked her life to help the wounded On the battlefield.

Thursday November 10 Took a free bus ride around the Battlefield. Saw the Gettysburg Diorama, a scale model version of the entire three day Battle.  It is the largest military diorama in the U.S.
Friday November 11   R&R
Saturday November 12 R&R

Sunday November 13 Visited the Eisenhower Farm.  This was the first home that Eisenhower owned.  It is a National Historic Site.  He used it as a getaway during his Presidency and used it as a meeting place for world leaders because of its peaceful setting.

Photos from Civil War Trip November 2011

Below: Liam at Burnside Bridge Antietam Battlefield, MD


Below: Liam at the 73rd Pennsylvania Monument. His ancestor was a member of this regiment.

Liam at Eisenhower Farm

Liam with his Grandma at Harper's Ferry