Week 15 – December 11 – December 17



The James Family is enjoying getting ready for Christmas!  They are listening to and reading Christmas books and stories, watching Christmas movies and shows, listening to Christmas music, baking, decorating, doing crafts, and doing many outdoor activities.



Week 14 – December 4 – December 10

Language Arts:

Nathan continues to read LOTS of Hardy Boys books.  He is keeping track of the books he has read and he places holds at the library for the books he wants to read.  He used his handwriting skills to complete the books of the New Testament in the Bible.  He continued learning about some Christmas Carols from Christmas Carols for a Kids’ Heart by Joni.  He learned about The First Noel, Away in a Manger, While Shepherd’s watched their Flocks by Night, and Silent Night, Holy Night.  He heard the information and sang the carols.  He watched some Christmas movies including Mickey’s Once upon a Christmas and Mickey’s Christmas Carol.  He listened to the beginning of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (original version).  Nate really enjoyed the detailed descriptions and the story! 

Math:

Nathan did lessons 9D, 9E, and 9F.  He watched the DVD for lesson 10 and did some examples of division of fractions.

Science:

Nathan spent lots of time with his dad this week.  He got to help look after the cattle and horses.  He helped feed, water, and care for them.  He also helped work on a fence to keep them in the pasture.

Social Studies:

Nathan is enjoying seeing all the Christmas decorations and recalling our family’s Christmas traditions.  He enjoyed seeing his Christmas music again!  He played Good King Wenceslas, Jingle Bells, and We Wish You a Merry Christmas on the piano.  He is learning Joy to the World.  He is also enjoying learning to play the recorder and is working on The First Noel.

Other Stuff:

Nathan attended home church with family and enjoyed singing some Christmas Carols, Hymns, and fun songs. 

He made a gingerbread man garland with his mom for Christmas.  He helped decorate the living room with the nativity scene and other decorations.

Nathan went to his final swimming lesson for the session.  He will continue in Red Cross Level 7 in the New Year.  He needs to work on his long swim and his front crawl stroke.

Nate got to go to Kamloops with his dad and take cattle to the sale. 

Nathan got LOTS of outside exercise helping his dad with chores and fencing!



Week 13 - Novmeber 27 - December 3 - Term 2 Starts

Language Arts:

Nathan went to the library and took out many books and some DVDs.  He read LOTS of Hardy Boys books this week!  He is really enjoying them.  He watched some Looney Tunes cartoons.  He started listening to Christmas music and watched some Christmas DVDs including The Christmas Shoes, The Christmas Blessing, and The Christmas Hope.  He is enjoying Joni’s Christmas Carols for a Kid’s Heart.  He sang Angels We Have Heard on High, Joy to the World, Hark!  The Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem, and heard information about them.  Joy to the World’s music was written by Handel who we have been studying this week.  Nathan listened to a CD about Handel’s life and music selections.  So…we listened to For unto Us a Child is Born and the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s Messiah.  We also let The Messiah play while he did his math pages.

Math:

WOW!  A wonderful math week!  Nathan completed Lessons 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, and 8F.  He watched Lesson 9 and completed Lessons 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, and 9F.  He learned about multiplying fractions.

Science:

Nathan faithfully does his animal chores which is very important in this cold weather.  He makes sure the animals have food, water, and shelter.  He looked up information about Sir Alexander Fleming who discovered penicillin.

Social Studies:

Nathan worked on his Book of Centuries.  He added some Christmas people.  He added Handel, Tchaikovsky, and Dickens.  He listened to a CD with music selections and information about Handel.  He also listened to some selections from The Messiah including For unto Us a Child is Born, and The Hallelujah Chorus.   He also added Sir Alexander Fleming to the book.

Other Stuff:

Nathan had a fever on Thursday night when he got home from swimming lessons so he spent Friday reading Hardy Boys books and watching Christmas DVDs How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Horton Hears a Who, Arthur’s Perfect Christmas, How the Toys Saved Christmas, Prancer, and Avonlea Christmas.

Nathan went to swimming lessons.  He went early and did his laps so the pool would be a little quieter.  He is working diligently on Red Cross Swimming Level 7!

Nate went to Public Skating at the arena and had fun skating with other homeschoolers.  On the way to skating we saw a truck in the ditch.  The roads must have been very slippery in the morning.  We took some pictures of it on our way home.

Nate played some games with his mom and siblings.  He especially enjoyed Sorry, Rack-O, and Dutch Blitz.

Nate really loves music and he received a recorder from a friend.  He quickly learned the notes.  He first learned Do a Deer (from the Sound of Music) and then he learned to play The First Noel.  He plays a duet on the recorder with his mom!
Nate was feeling better on Saturday so he helped mom get out some Christmas decorations!  It's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas!!!

Week 12 - Novmeber 20 - November 26

Language Arts:

Nate continues to read LOTS of Hardy Boys books. He is keeping record of the books he reads and then he places library holds on five more books each week.

Math:

Nate played some Hooda Math Games on the computer.  He did Lessons 7E, and 7F.  He watched the DVD lesson 8.  He did lessons 8A and 8E (Review lesson).

Science:

Nate is working on a mold experiment so he read some information about fungi from Brain Pop, penicillin, and yeast.

Social Studies:

Nate worked on his Book of Centuries and got “caught up” on some Canadian people and information including Lois Riel and the Northwest Rebellion.

Other Stuff:

Nate went to his swimming lesson and did very well.  He really enjoys learning to swim and he LOVES his teacher, Claire!!!!  He also stacked wood.

Nate listened to a CD about Beethoven which plays some selected music and also tells information about his life.  He also listened to a CD called Immortal Beethoven that had all his most well-known music on it.

Nate started playing the recorder this week!  He learned the notes very fast!  I’m sure piano lessons helped because he knows the notes and the timing.  He learned to play Do a Deer (from the Sound of Music).

Nate got a haircut in preparation for the wedding he attended on Saturday.  He enjoyed watching the bride and groom get married, the reception, the food, and the cake! 

Nate enjoyed playing some games with his mom and siblings.  He especially enjoyed playing Clue, Dutch Blitz, and Sorry!

Week 11 - November 13 - November 19

It's report card time for me so Nate got to spend time with his dad!  He went to the cabin, helped load cattle, and took cattle to the sale in Kamloops!  He read many Hardy Boys books.  Nate and mom played a game with the pattern blocks! 

He didn't go to swimming lessons because he was sick.  He played darts, MasterMind, Sorry, and Clue.