Mid Year Brain Dump

We are halfway through our school year so I thought another Brain Dump was in order.  I've taken a bit of time this July school holidays to have a good look at what we've done so far, what I had planned at the beginning of the year, and it is thus giving me ideas on where to go from here.

This is likely to be a long post as I'm going to incorporate all three boys into this post which I hope will be easier than trying to write a separate blog post for each of them.

MONSTER: YEAR 6

MATH ~

• We will continue to work (together) through his Cambridge Yr 7 math textbook.  In looking at the content I am hoping we can get through three chapters during Term 3.

ENGLISH ~

• We will continue with handwriting, grammar and spelling as we have the first half of the year.
• Monster has seven more Premier's Reading Challenge books to read before the event ends on the 25th of August so those books will be his "assigned" silent reading for the time being.  
• I have chosen some literature for group read alouds that should be enjoyable for all three boys. They include, but are not limited to, Oliver Twist, Beatrix Potter Collection, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
• Monster will continue to use the IEW curriculum to write paragraphs and reports. Topics will incorporate other subjects of study and topics of interest. Thus far we have done two units but I'm thinking we might branch into a third unit.  If not during Term 3 than certainly in Term 4

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ~

• Look at a variety of slides using the microscope
• Read "Journey Into the Invisible: The World from Under the Microscope"
• Natural Disasters Unit Study
• Read "Weather in 30 Seconds"
• Dangerous Animals Unit Study
• Learn about Various Scientists and Their Contributions
• Read "Scientists and Discoveries
• Unit Study on Electrical Circuits
• Unit Study on Energy Sources
• Unit Study on Light
• Unit Study on Products (paper and rubber)
• Read "How is it Made? - Paper", "Material World: Paper", "How We Use Rubber", "Material World: Rubber"
• Watch YouTube videos to see how paper and rubber are made
• Begin learning how to use Power Point program
• Create a Power Point Presentation
• Watch "Wild Ones: Four Fascinating Australian Wildlife Documentaries" DVD
• Watch "Brain Games 2" DVD

HSIE ~

HISTORY:

• Begin a Government Unit Study
• Read "Australia's Government", "Australia's Democratic System", "Government in Australia: Federal Government", "Government in Australia: Local Government", "Australian Citizenship", "So You Want to be Prime Minister?", and "Who's In Charge?"
• Write IEW paragraphs/reports of topics studied in Government Unity Study
• Watch "Journey to Nationhood: Federation" DVD
• Watch "Building Australia: Uncovering the Hidden History of Australia's Houses" DVD
• Complete Vikings Unit Study
• Begin Ancient China Unit Study
• Celebrations Unit Study
• Read "Indigenous Celebrations" - and other books currently placed on reserve at our local library focusing on national, international, and religious celebrations

GEOGRAPHY:

• Unit Study on Australian River Systems - specifically the Murray-Darling
• Read "The Murray-Darling River System", "Dryland Rivers"
• Watch and Discuss "Out of the Ashes: Nature's Rebirth Following the Black Saturday Bushfires" DVD

PDHPE ~

• Continue working through Year 6 Health Textbook
• Source and Read books about puberty and reproduction
• Spend more time outdoors as weather warms up
• Source yoga videos on YouTube
• Begin stretching routine with dad

CREATIVE ARTS ~

• Conduct an Artist Study
• Conduct a Composer Study
• Possibly Visit the Art Museum
• Continue Participating in weekly craft activities pertaining to Letter of the Week Program for Munchkin

MONKEY: YEAR 3

MATHS ~

• We will continue to work through Monkey's Year 3 math textbook.  One page a day will complete his Term 3 section with ease.

ENGLISH ~

• We will continue with handwriting, grammar and spelling as we have the first half of the year.
• Monkey has finished Premier's Reading Challenge for this school year.  Since he will be in Year 4 next year I will expect all his PRC books to be chapter books, so I will start assigning him one chapter book per week from the beginning of September so he doesn't get bogged down next year.  
• I have chosen some literature for group read alouds that should be enjoyable for all three boys. They include, but are not limited to, Oliver Twist, Beatrix Potter Collection, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie
• Monkey will continue to use the IEW curriculum to write paragraphs and reports. Topics will incorporate other subjects of study and topics of interest. Thus far we have done only one unit and I think I will stick with this and just focus on adding more dress ups to his writing as the year progresses.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY ~

• In Depth Unit Study on Endangered Animals
• Read "Animals Under Threat: Killer Whale"
• Read "Endangered Animals of Australia"
• Read "Last Chance to See Endangered Animals"

• In Depth Unit Study on Dangerous Animals/Predators
• Read "National Geographic: Everything Predators"
• Read "Wild Predators: Killer Cats"
• Read "Wild Predators: Deadly Snakes"
• Read "Wild Predators: Wolves and Other Dogs"
• Read "Wild Predators: Killer Fish"
• Read "Knowledge Masters: Monster Animals"
• Read "The Australian Animal Atlas"
• Read "Knowledge Encyclopedia Animal"
• Read " Disgusting and Dreadful Science: Slimy Spawn and Other Gruesome Life Cycles"
• Read "To the Limit: Weird Creatures"

• Read "Ultimate Oceanpedia"
• This book is HUGE and will probably lend itself to some sort of ocean study

• Continue our Natural Disasters Unity Study
• Read "Nature's Fury: Tsunami"
• Read "Natural Disasters: Hurricanes and Tornadoes"
• Read "Volcanoes"
• Read "Disasters in Nature: Volcanoes"
• Read "Eye Wonder: Volcano"
• Read "Witness to Disaster: Volcanoes"
• Read "Natural Disasters: Fire & Flood ~ Bush Fires in Australia Floods in Bangladesh"
• Read "Fire"
• Read "Disaster Watch: Extreme Storms"
• Read "Witness to Disaster: Tsunamis"
• Build and Erupt a Model Volcano (with kit)
• Watch YouTube videos of 1980 Mt St Helens eruption
• Watch DVD of Black Saturday fires

• Read "Geysers"

• Read "Space: Visual Encyclopedia"
• Read "Knowledge Encyclopedia Space"
• These two books (both by DK) will likely send us down some interesting paths

HSIE ~ 

HISTORY:

• Australian History Series Book 3: Community and Remembrance

This is not a stand alone curriculum but I will use it (specifically Section 4) to kick of a "Special Days, Symbols and Emblems" unit study.  Within that we will study festivals and celebrations within Australia and around the world, and we will learn about the Australian flags.  From there I hope to dig a little deeper and start looking at the flags from other countries as well.

• Read "The Travel Book" by Lonely Planet Kids

Using this book and some simple notebooking pages I want to give Monkey a basic introduction to other countries in the world. We will focus mainly on each countries flag and the festivals and celebrations that are most important to them, to tie in to the studies in the Australian History book mentioned above.

GEOGRAPHY:

• Australian Geography Series Book 3: Places Are Similar and Different

Similar to the history series mentioned above, this is not a stand alone curriculum.  I will focus on section 2 of this book (Understanding Maps) and use it to kick off a unit study on continents and countries and map reading skills.

• Mapping and Atlas Skills Upper by R.I.C Publications

This book is meant for Year 6 but I think I'll be able to adapt it well for both Monster and Monkey.  Again, not everything in this book will be useful for us, but it will be a starting place.

PDHPE:

We will continue to focus on physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices through the year.  This is one of the learning areas that is most easily combined for all three boys UNTIL they are ready to talk about more sensitive and mature topics like puberty.

CREATIVE ARTS:

• Conduct an Artist Study
• Conduct a Composer Study
• Possibly Visit the Art Museum
• Continue Participating in weekly craft activities pertaining to Letter of the Week Program for Munchkin

MUNCHKIN: KINDERGARTEN

MATH ~

Munchkin will continue to work through his Year 1 math book at his own pace.

ENGLISH ~

Munchkin will continue to have quality literature read aloud to him daily

Munchkin will continue his Letter of the Week program

Munchkin will continue working through his handwriting book - one letter per week

SCIENCE ~

Much of the science Munchkin learns is directly from the subjects his brothers are studying. He sits in on all the read alouds and works through the science experiments that are appropriate and safe for him to participate in.

HSIE ~ 

HISTORY:

I will use the Australian History Series as he shows interest.  I will cherry pick pages from the Kindergarten and Year 1 workbooks that he shows particular interest in

GEOGRAPHY:

I will use the Australian Geography Series as he shows interest.  I will cherry pick pages from the Kindergarten and Year 1 workbooks that he shows particular interest in.

PDHPE:

See comments in the older boys sections.

CREATIVE ARTS:

Craft activities pertaining to his Letter of the Week program will be his main focus for the remainder of the year, though he will participate in some of the activities the older boys do as well.