Co-op in Review: November 7, 2013

Before our classes , our co-op had the privilege of serving the community by putting together Blessing Bags.  These bags are filled with necessities such as water, snacks, toiletries, and socks.  They are to be kept in our cars and given to homeless or needy people that we run into around town.  What a great way to serve the community and be the hands and feet of Jesus!

This week, we are in the midst of studying World War II.  The history classes all focused on the military advances that both sides achieved during this time.  It was a period of great innovation and production.  The classes also discussed the event that led the US to enter the war,  the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor Hawaii.  Before this event on December 7, 1941,  America was officially neutral.  But, the bombing awoke a sleeping giant.  Both the Dialectic and Upper Grammar classes were very busy constructing and painting tanks, like those used by the allies and axis powers during World War II.  The Lower Grammar class made cool suitcases out of cereal boxes.  They then discussed what they would pack if they were in Pearl Harbor when it was attacked and had to make an emergency evacuation.  The Five in a Row class read the book, "A New Coat for Anna."  This story takes place after World War II.  Anna's family has no money, but Anna needs a new coat.  Her resourceful mother trades her few valuables for the services of a spinner,  a weaver and a tailor to get Anna the coat she needs.  The kids then made a cute sheep craft,  because the sheep gave Anna the wool for her new coat.

Co-op in Review: October 31, 2013

This week, our older Tapestry kids studied the beginnings of World War II.  They learned about some world leaders who were gaining more and more power and becoming more and more evil.  Namely, Adolf Hitler in Germany.  The Lower Grammar kids studied the life and achievements of female aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, whose doomed flight around the world still remains shrouded in mystery.  The Dialectic class made World War II notebooking pages and timelines, to help them get an overview of the war.  The Upper Grammar class worked on making sets for a fireside chat.  President Roosevelt used these chats to communicate with the American people, giving them information and gaining their trust.  They will be performing their fireside chat skit at the upcoming end of unit celebration.  The Lower Grammar class made airplanes out of styrofoam, in the style of Amelia Earhart's plane.  The Fife in a Row class read the book, "The Little Red Lighthouse."   The little Red Lighthouse is tucked under the great George Washington bridge in New York.  He learns that even though he is small, he is mighty and does important work!  The kids then made adorable little red lighthouses out of cups!

Co-op in Review: October 24, 2013

This week, our Tapestry classes focused on the life and early years of Franklin Roosevelt's presidency.  Roosevelt had a fairy tale-like childhood.  Growing up as an only child in a prominent and wealthy New York family.  He had the best education money could buy and traveled the world.  He knew three languages.  He married his distant cousin, Eleanor, and at their wedding, she was given away by her uncle and former president, Theodore Roosevelt.  But, things weren't always rosy for Roosevelt.  He was crippled by a painful and debilitating disease called Polio.  And, when he became president, he inherited a disaster known as the Great Depression.  Roosevelt went to work, and with the help of Congress, passed more legislation in his first 100 days of office than most presidents pass in eight years!  Most Americans had faith in Roosevelt and thought he was putting the country back on the right track.  The Five in a Row class read the story, "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel." Mike and his steam shove, Maryann make a great team, but they have a lot to prove when gas powered steam shovels start taking all the jobs.  But, Mike and Maryann prove with hard work and creativity that they are as useful as ever!

Co-op in Review: October 3, 2013

The 1920's were roaring, but the good times were about to end.  They actually came to a screeching halt at the end of the century, as the economy began to collapse, most notably with the stock market crash of October 1929.  Banks closed, factories closed, jobs were lost, people became homeless and hungry.  We are on the brink of a depression--The Great Depression.  The Dialectic class studied the Stock Market.  Guest speaker, Pastor Bill Meiter did a great job teaching the lesson on stocks, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and principles of investing.  The kids are excited to begin their own pretend stock investment simulation, where they will invest pretend money in real stocks and watch them grow (or not!).   The Upper Grammar class and Lower Grammar classes both studied the life of Walt Disney and the development of animation techniques.  They both made cartoon flip books, which was a lot more work than they thought it would be!  The Lower Grammar kids also made adorable Mickey Mouse ears.  The Five in a Row class read the book, "The Little Island."  It's a book about a little island that changes with the seasons and over time.  Different creatures visit the island and it is hit by storms, too.  The kids made an adorable and delicious craft!  They made islands out of fruit and other food.  They loved making their islands, and they really loved eating them!

End of Unit One Celebration

On Tuesday night, October 1, our co-op gathered to celebrate the end of a great unit of History Study!  Unit One of Year Four is complete!  The kids loved getting a chance to show off their memory work and the work they did throughout the year, both at co-op and at home.  The Dialectic kids also performed a reenactment of a pivotal scene from the Scopes Monkey Trial, where attorney William Jennings Bryan takes the stand and Clarence Darrow questions him about his faith in God and belief in the Bible.  What a great night, what fantastic kids and families!