Co-op in Review: January 30, 2014

This week, our history studies take us to the tumultuous decade of the 1960's.  Gone are the blissful 50's, and now it's time to shake things up.  In the first presidential election where the debates were televised, charismatic John F. Kennedy narrowly defeated Vice President Richard Nixon to win the presidency.  Kennedy was busy in his mere two and a half years in office.  He dealt with crises in Cuba, relations with Russia, a war beginning in Vietnam, not to mention serious trouble in the American South where a fight for Civil Rights was beginning to really heat up.  The Dialectic class began a three week study of the Civil Rights movement this week.  They each were assigned a Civil Rights figure to research and make a presentation on.  They also are working on timelines and doing some pretty extensive research as well.  The Upper Grammar class made rubber band helicopters, as they are learning about the very beginnings of a conflict in a faraway land, Vietnam.  The Lower Grammar class learned about why all people are created equal, and that skin color doesn't matter.  They made cute hand garlands, using hands with a variety of different skin colors, to show that we are all united.  The Five in a Row class read the book, "Madeline".  It's the story of an adorable little girl who lives in France.  They then took a journey to France by making paper models of the lovely city of Paris.

Field Trip to the Challenger Space Center!

On Thursday, January 23, the Tapestry of the Desert Co-op had a fun field trip to the Challenger Space Center, in Peoria AZ.  We gathered together in the morning and had an educational and fun couple of hours exploring the center and learning more about the amazing world God created.  Our first stop was a lesson on energy and prisms.  The kids loved learning how electricity flows through matter--especially our own bodies.  We then went into a super cool room with gigantic foam building blocks.  There the kids were able to create their own space stations.  They were creative and did a great job cooperating with one another to build something pretty remarkable.  Finally the kids were taken to the meteorite room where they were able to learn more about space rocks and they were even able to hold a real meteorite.  It was a fun day and we learned a lot!

Co-op in Review: January 16, 2014

This week, our studies keep us in Asia, however now we are studying China!  The kids reviewed China's long, long history, yet their studies focused on the end of the Imperial age and the struggles for power that began as the Dynasties ended.  The main struggle after World War 2 was between Communist forces and those that were not communist.  Communist Mao Zedong, backed by Stalin and Communist Russia ended up winning after many years of struggle.  This left Chaing Kai-Shek and his Nationalist party to start a new nation in what we know as Taiwan.  The Dialectic kids put their artistic skills to work making grid drawings of popular Chinese characters.  The Upper Grammar kids made Chinese dragons out of colorful plastic cups.  While the Lower Grammar class went back in time to study India, making geometric designs on lovely silver serving platters.  The Five in a Row class read the book, "A Pair of Red Clogs."  It's the story of a Japanese girl who breaks her beautiful new red clogs and is tempted, yet resists, being dishonest.  The kids then made adorable Japanese Kokeshi dolls, that they are sure to enjoy playing with and little red clogs that they will love wearing!

Co-op in Review: January 9, 2014

Happy New Year!  This was our first gathering of 2014 and in all the Tapestry classes, it was a celebration of India.  The kids all read about the turmoil in India after World War 2, where India won it's independence from Britain, which had ruled it as a royal colony for decades.  They also read about the life and philosophy of India's revered leader, Gandhi.  Gandhi encouraged his people to protest peacefully, that more could be won with peace than with war and violence.  The Dialectic class made posters comparing the life and beliefs of Gandhi and Jesus.  They then had a feast of vegetarian Indian food:  lentils and curry rice.  The Upper Grammar kids were busy making batik t-shirts.  They learned about this Indian painting style and then were able to create their own original batik designs.  The Lower Grammar class actually spent their time previewing the next week's lessons by making Chinese lanterns and envelopes.  These kids will be prepared to learn about China, next!  The Five in a Row class read the book, "The Story About Ping."  This spirited little duck has an adventure on the Yangtze River in China, getting lost from his family.  Fortunately, all ends well for little Ping and he is reunited with those he loves by the end of the book!  The kids made adorable paper plate ducks, to remind them of Ping!