First Grade: Week 10

October 18-24

MFW Days 43-47

Bible: Our Proverb for the week:

"A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke." Proverbs 13:1

• I read about the 2nd and 3rd Days of Creation, Davin read it independently in the MFW Bible Reader, then illustrated the days in his Bible Notebook.

• I introduced the "Books of the Bible" chart and we will learn the name and a brief description each day of a book of the Bible.
• He continued to do some independent reading in his Bible and worked on some memory verses for Sparks.

Math:

• Completed 5 pages in Saxon 1 
• Seed Counting chart activity: we cut open several pieces of fruit and made a chart to compare the amount of seeds each fruit contained.

Ambleside Literature:

• Paddle-to-the-Sea Chapter 1 Narration:

• Paddle-to-the-Sea Chapter 2 Drawing Narration:

• 50 Famous Stories Retold: “Damon and Pythias” Narration:

Once there was a man named Pythias who did something that the tyrant, Dionysius, did not like. He had to be put to jail and have a day set that he had to die. He missed his family, though. He said, “Oh, King, can I go back to my family? I have missed them so much!” Dionysius said, “How can I know that you will come back? You just want to save yourself.” Then, somebody named Damon said, “I will go to jail in place of Pythias. I know he's a true person and he always does what he says.” But if he does not come back on the day, I will die in his place.” “I agree,” said the tyrant. Then Pythias was set free. When the day was ready, Pythias did not come back at the right hour. The jailer was about to lead him to his death just as Pythias opened the door. He was late by a ship delay. The tyrant was not so bad and said, “I will not kill you because you have such faith in each other.”

• 50 Famous Stories Retold: “A Laconic Answer” Narration:

There once was a land named Greece. The people in the south part of it were called Spartans. The people in the northern part of it were called Macedons. One of the strange rules about the Spartans, also known as Lacons, was that they should never say more words than they needed. The ruler of Macedon once was Philip. He wanted to ruler over all of Greece, so he battled other people.One day,he sent a letter to the spartans.''if''' was in it,so the spartans replied ''if''which means we are not afraid if the little word ''if'' stands in your way.''

• Read Trial and Triumph Chapter 1: "Polycarp Witness in the Arena"

Geography: A Child's Geography: pages 9-13

• Postcard Narration:

A Lesson in Faith

Here's a narration of "A Lesson in Faith" from Parables From Nature, from my 6 year old son. I stopped after each page to let him retell what he remembered from the story, but will gradually read longer chunks before asking for his "telling".

A butterfly had baby butterflies. She saw a caterpillar. She was about to die, so she said, “Caterpillar, will you watch my baby butterflies? You must not give them the food you eat. You must give them dew.  I do not have time to look for another babysitter.” She handed the caterpillar some gold dust as a reward. “I'm getting dizzy!” the butterfly said. As soon as she stopped saying it, she closed her eyes and died.

Before the caterpillar could answer yes or no, she was stuck with “yes”. “What a silly thing to choose a poor little creature like me! But I guess that I'll have to do. I'll need some help by another creature.” But there was a problem. Which animal would be wisest? She started with the dog, but he was to fierce. Next, she went with the cat, but she was selfish. Finally, she went with the lark. The lark went up, way up to the sky. It took a couple hours til he came back down, though.

When the lark came back down, he said, “Unbelievable news, friend! Guess what they are to be fed?” “Honey and drops of dew from the flowers,” said the caterpillar. “No, guess something different,” said the lark. “All I can think of is cabbage leaves.” “That's exactly it,” said the lark, “cabbage leaves!” “But their hopeless dying mother requested....” “Do you even know what these eggs will grow into?” asked the lark. “Butterflies,” said the caterpillar. “No, caterpillars!” said the Lark. “And some day,” said the Lark, “you yourself will grow into a butterfly.” “Extremely impossible!” said the caterpillar.

As soon as the fighting stopped, the caterpillar heard something. She looked around. Green little caterpillars were out of the eggs. One day the caterpillar was going to turn into a butterfly. In her chrysalis she said, “I now am going to turn into a butterfly.” She began to tell everyone that she once was a caterpillar, but no one believed her.

I'm not sure he fully got the meaning of the story, but I'm very happy that he was willing to narrate and enjoyed doing so!  He was so proud of his work that we printed it and he showed Daddy.  I think we may fully convert to a more Charlotte Mason method around here, rather than the Charlotte Mason/Classical bent we began with.  I just love the books we've begun from Ambleside Online Year 1!  My son is so excited about them as well, and being a voracious reader, he is thrilled to have new material that is challenging to his mind and satisfying to his soul.  He didn't say that, of course, but I can see it!