1st Grade, Rome to Reformation Week 4: Herod, Battle of Actium, Siege of Jerusalem

BIBLE

We finished memorizing the NT books this week. The kids had to work quite a bit but I was very proud of them completing the memorization in Mandarin.

Lil Sis memorized Prov 3:5-6. It was funny because she memorized it from "Hide 'em in your heart" CD (Steve Green) It made me think that I have to let her memorize in the version she is used to.

HISTORY

We learnt about Herod, his background and how he worked hard to curry favor with those in power. It is a very interesting history background for me! We learnt about Octavia's wedding to Antony (and subsequent divorce) and also Octavian's marriage to Livia. The children could not believe marriages were so messed up during Roman times.

We also talked about the battle in Actium and deaths of Antony and Cleopatra. The kids got wide-eyed often when we read Augustus Caesar's World. "Is it a fictional story?" they would ask, unable to believe such "drama" really happened. =)

We started on the Bronze Bow. It began tough for our kids. Long chapters and many "questions", but as we got to the third chapter, Big Bro is thoroughly enjoying it (so am I). Big Sis still needs some help explaining though. I think it's a fascinating book with a nice fiction with a true historical background.

LANGUAGE

The older kids continued on Rod and Staff English.

Lil Sis started on long vowels

I can never stop marveling at how a child learns to read. Now that she is going on to long vowels, there will be many more words she can read! Lil Sis is my first child to read slowly (the first two picked up really quickly) and so it is very fulfilling for me to see her learn.

Lil Sis learnt more bopomofo and the older ones started Lesson 4 康軒一下 for Mandarin Chinese.

We learnt the Latin numbers up to eight (octo) this week.

From last week, we started Spelling Power for the older two. On Monday we did a review for all the words they got wrong the week before.

MATH

Lil Sis did more practice on Number Bonds this week.

SCIENCE

We learnt about the senses this week.

I like the Body Book a lot. We got into a discussion of how thoughtful God was to give us a "covering" on our faces, or we would have looked HIDEOUS!!! =)

We also talked about the nose and how we smell things. The kids could not stand the vanilla sniffing test.

ART

We drew some people in perspective this week.

HOMESCHOOLING Tidbits

Mommy got sick this week for one day. We are grateful that this does not happen a lot in our family. We are also grateful for a father who takes care of us by making sure mommy gets the rest, buying food back for dinner etc. I took medicine on that day and school went on; but without the support of my husband, it would have been really tough. I am so thankful for him!

Pinterest Page for 1st Grade

Pinterest Page for RtR

Booklog for RtR

Booklog for 1st Grade

Booklog for 5th Grader (books for leisure)

Booklog for 3rd Grader (books for leisure)