Co-op in Review: November 10, 2016

G'Day Mate!  This week, our Grammar classes and Dialectic class studied all things Australia!  They learned about the geography, flora, fauna and lifestyle of those who live "down under". They also read about the early history of Australia and New Zealand.  The Rhetoric students continued exploring everyday life in Victorian England--this week learning about social life, education, leisure pursuits, courtships, life expectancies and funeral practices of the Victorians.  The Lower Grammar class made awesome Australian boomerangs and did boomerang experiments.  The Upper Grammar class made Australian dot art projects.  The Dialectic kids made boomerangs as well.  And, the Rhetoric class started making Victorian Christmas wreaths.  The Five in a Row class read the book, "Jamberry."  In this book, a small boy and a bear go on a berry picking extravaganza together!  

Co-op in Review: November 3, 2016

This week, in most of our classes, the topic was Victorian England!  The kids learned about life as a Victorian servant, the styles of Victorian houses and about Queen Victoria's life and reign.  Our kids drank tea, ate cookies and crumpets and learned the manners that would be expected of young people during this era.  The Lower Grammar class made pomanders out of oranges and cloves.  Their homes will sure be fragrant!  The Upper Grammar class made Victorian calling cards.  The Dialectic kids made beautiful Victorian floral bouquets, with homemade paper flowers.  The Rhetoric class continued to discuss the election, and they made more campaign signs too!  The Five in a Row class read the book, "The Day the Crayons Quit."  Then they made crafts and did activities exploring the colors of the rainbow!

Co-op in Review: October 27, 2016

Our Lower Grammar, Upper Grammar and Dialectic classes all studied the Alamo this week!  They learned about daily life of Americans living in the Mexican territory of Texas.  They also learned about the bloody battle of the Alamo and how this American loss paved the way for Texan independence.  They studied characters such as Davy Crockett, Sam Houston and Santa Anna.  Meanwhile, the Rhetoric class studied various revolutions in Europe, analyzing their causes and results.  The Lower Grammar class made Texas flags and played a pretty awesome looking Alamo siege game!  The Upper Grammar class made models of the Alamo out of cereal boxes and corn meal.  They look great!  The Five in a Row class read the book, "Miss Rumphius".  It's the timeless tale of a girl who lives by the sea and wants to make the world a more beautiful place!

Co-op in Review: October 20, 2016

This week in co-op, we studied the life and presidency of Andrew Jackson.  Jackson was our first "frontier" president, born in a log cabin.  And, just as he was a different kind of president, he was a different kind of person!  He ushered in a new era of governing, known now as Jacksonian Democracy.  And, his legacy also includes the passage of the Indian Removal Act-a sad chapter in American History.  The Lower Grammar kids played Cherokee games and learned about their written language.  The Upper Grammar class did some Cherokee style weaving.  The Dialectic kids made a Cherokee game--with a ball, string and cup.  The Rhetoric class studied the election as well as Jacksonian democracy.  They had fun making campaign signs for our upcoming Election Night Party. The Five in a Row class read the book, "Owl Moon."  Then they made adorable owl puppets out of paper bags!