End of Unit 3 Celebration

On March 20, our co-op held it's third End of Unit Celebration of the year!  Since we studied Plymouth and the very first Thanksgiving this quarter, we decided to make this Unit Celebration a Thanksgiving Feast!  And, wow, did we ever have a feast!!  Turkey, ham, potatoes, yams, stuffing, cranberries, rolls and many yummy desserts filled the buffet table.  After feasting together, the kids performed their memory work for the quarter--the older kids recited a quotation from William Bradford, while the FIAR class showed off the Bible verses they had memorized.  Then the Upper Grammar class took center stage.  All quarter long, they have been working on a play about Jamestown called, "Who Wants to Be a Colonist."  It was a hilarious game show where two contestants competed with their knowledge of the Jamestown colony.  Finally, the kids had a chance to show off the work they have completed all quarter long, as the families visited with the kids at their tables filled with projects, books and completed assignments.

Co-op in Review: March 1, 2012

Hooray!  It's the last week of co-op before Spring Break!!  And, while we all love our time together at Co-op, nobody has any objections to the upcoming 2 week break!  This week, both the Upper and Lower Grammar classes studied a mixed bag of topics relating to Colonial America.   They learned about the French colonies and how they differed and conflicted with the British Colonies.  They also learned about a specific colony, Georgia and it's founder, James Oglethorpe.  Oglethorpe requested a charter for a new colony from King George II to form a charitable colony.  The colony, which would be controlled by trustees, would provide farms and a new start for poor Englishmen and persecuted Protestant Christians from throughout Europe.  The charter was granted and the colony was then named for the King.  Idealism in Georgia didn't last long and the colony was soon a failure.  Soon, Georgia became the land of large plantations and was home to much slave labor.  Last week, the Lower Grammar kids made tomahawks, like the Iroquois Indians would have used.  This week, it was time for the Upper Grammar kids to get in on the tomahawk action by making their own!  The Lower Grammar kids made a variety of Colonial Games.  They made a board game called Nine Mens' Morris, a Cup and Ball tossing game and an Ox Yolk brainteaser puzzle.  Downstairs, the FIAR class read the book, "Just in Case You Ever Wonder."  It's a wonderful bed time story that communicates not just how much parents love their children, but how much God loves them!  The kids then made adorable mobiles with a verse on them exclaiming how God created the sun, moon, stars and THEM!

Co-op in Review: February 23, 2012

This week, both of the Tapestry classes learned about the Iroquois Confederacy.  The Iroquois Confederacy was a six nation league of Native America tribes.  They inhabited the land in what is now upper New York State and parts of Canada.  The Iroquois were known as the "people of the longhouse" as the longhouse was a unique living arrangement amongst the native peoples.  The Iroquois Confederacy was very well organized and became well equipped to fight battles with the European settlers, primarily forming strong alliances with the British against the French.  The Upper Grammar kids worked hard at beading beautiful Wampum Bead belts.  The first sketched out patterns for their beads and then began the tedious work of threading each bead onto the belt in just the right place.  They did a great job!!  The Lower Grammar kids made fierce tomahawks.  They laced them together, decorated them and then had fun pretending to battle each other.  They also made beaded arrowhead necklaces.  Downstairs, the FIAR class read the book, "The Valentine Bears."  In this story, Mrs. Bear surprises Mr. Bear by waking up from hibernation just in time to celebrate Valentine's Day together.  The kids made adorable painted handprint Valentines and did some awesome candy heart graphing.

Rainy Renaissance!

On Tuesday, February 12, our co-op had a field trip to the Renaissance Festival in Gold Canyon.  And, to make it feel more like Europe--it was a cold, rainy, gloomy, muddy day!  But, a rainy day doesn't stop the Renaissance Festival, and it didn't stop us!! We visited the many shops, watched a medieval cooking demonstration, watched some performers then flied into the arena for to watch some jousting.  What a day, what an adventure.  We definitely made some memories!!

Co-op in Review: February 9, 2012

This week, Co-op started out in a very loving way--we had a Valentine's Day party!!  The kids exchanged valentines, ate cupcakes and cookies and then played a super fun Valentine's BINGO game!  After getting sugared up, it was time to go to their individual classes!!  The Upper Grammar class studied the French influences in the colonization of North America.  In their reading, they learned about Samuel De Champlain.  He was a French explorer, mapmaker and soldier who is credited with founding the first French colony in the New World,  which is now known as Quebec. The kids then did some very cool weaving on monk's cloth--much like the style of weaving that would have been done in New France.  The Lower Grammar class focused on what life was like for children during the Colonial period.   They talked about the clothing and manners that were expected of children.  Most agreed that they'd rather be living now!!  Life was pretty strict and hard for kids back then!  Then the kids made a game that was popular in Colonial America:  horseshoes!  Downstairs, the FIAR kids read the book, "I Love You As Much."  It's a warm and touching lullaby that celebrates the love between a mother and her child.  The kids then made a sweet Valentine's heart craft and played a Valentine's version of musical chairs!