Vexillology

   This morning I read a post from another blog called Common Cents, about an 8th grade test from Kentucky schools in 1912. I realized how much I didn't know, in looking over this test. So I set out to find answers. In the process of finding the answers I ran a bit of a rabbit trail. Home school Moms tend to do this sometimes.
   Any way, I was reading about the Commonwealth States. There are four of them Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Massachusetts. Which led to looking at their flags. Which brings me to the title of this post. Vexillology  -( Vexillology is the "scientific study of the history, symbolism and usage of flags or, by extension, any interest in flags in general" (Smith 31) The word is a synthesis of the Latin word vexillum ("flag") and the Greek suffix -logia ("study"). It is formally defined by the International Federation of Vexillological Associations (known by its French acronym FIAV) constitution as "the creation and development of a body of knowledge about flags of all types, their forms and functions, and of scientific theories and principles based on that knowledge." ) 
  Amazing the things that you find out when you look at a states flag!  Some things I knew from earlier studies of flags and states. Like, each color means something. But then I started digging a little deeper, what did the symbols mean. Why St. Andrews cross on the Alabama flag? Why the motto: Sic semper tyrannis on the flag of Virginia? Fascinating! 
   If you are studying state history or American History this year I encourage you to throw in a little of the study of the flag(s). They really tell a lot about our forefathers and what was going on during the time that each state became a member or was ratified as a state.
   As always have fun teaching and learning with your kids! Enthusiasm is contagious. If you love learning so will your kids. 
  Blessings to All ~S~

Writing

  I still get pretty excited when I order books and they come in the mail. I love books! Always have, guess I always will. When I was a teenager, I designed a room for myself with floor to ceiling bookshelves on three of the four walls. I don't have that room / library, but I do have a ton of books.
   Over the years I have learned to be a bit more particular about the books that I put on my shelves. And I have even gotten rid of a few of them. Really just a few. My Husband will tell you that I didn't get rid of any since I usually go to 2nd and Charles to replace any that leave. I have craft books, and many classics and special children's books that I read to my kids when they were young. Now I read them to children that come to visit. Also are favorite curriculum books that I have used over the years that my children loved so much that I was told I'd better not get rid of them because they wanted to use them when they had children.
    With that said, I ordered Writers INC earlier this week to go with our curriculum "Where the Brook and River Meet". I was so excited today when it came in three days earlier than Amazon tracking said that it would!
   So, Aimee and I opened it up and did a quick browse through it. I think that we are going to LOVE this book! Since it is our last year to home school there will be a lot of writing going on.
  Now we can start school next week like I wanted to, just because all of our curriculum is here!
 Blessings to All ~S~

Free Curriculum Links

K - 12  I've used the Government and Economics
 They worked very well with my girls.
http://www.puritans.net/curriculum/

Free Lapbook Templates
Great for younger kids.
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/lapbooking_resources.php

Our Curriculum

     So our curriculum for this year is: Where the Brook and River Meet by: Margie Gray

We used this curriculum several years ago, but my youngest then was about 6th or 7th grade. So I didn't make her do as much at the time since it is written for High School level. We are so excited to be doing this study of "Anne of Green Gables" once again. 

     If you have high school aged daughters I encourage you to check this unit study out. If you have younger children check out the other unit studies atCadron Creek using "The Chronicles of Narnia" and  "Little House on the Prairie". I've used them all and love them. 

   Blessings to All ~S~

Bowling

   This past Tuesday we had a bowling field trip for our school group. This was great fun and Aimee and I both bowled four games, Jessica bowled two.
    Now, you must understand that it's been over a year since we've been bowling. I used to bowl all of the time, but now there is hardly time for it. Any way, none of us are really great at it but, we did laugh a lot!
    The last two days though I've felt muscles that I had pretty much forgotten were in my body. ^+^ They have most assuredly let me know that they are there now!
    Even with the soreness and the achy knees, I think that I want to go back again next week. I mean after all I can only improve, I hope, and it sure wouldn't hurt to use these muscles and let them get toned up. So, maybe this might become a fun thing for my family to start doing once a week for awhile. hmmm...

here we go!

great Throw!

                                                                 

lining up

didn't get a strike :(

 

Ewww Science

   We've been studying our Biology. This past week we've been doing the dissecting that we've read about this year. We saved the dissecting for warm weather so that we could take the preserved and somewhat smelly, OK STINKY! specimens on the back deck where they wouldn't make the house smell. So far the girls have dissected a perch, a frog, a clam, and a grasshopper. I think we need a sharper scalpel though. The one we have would probably have a hard time cutting through melted butter. We have managed though.
    We've discovered a few things along the way.

       1. God's creation is Amazing!

       2. Everything was designed with a purpose

       3. Everything, including us has been given everything we need by God.

       4. Finally forensics is fascinating!

Well, we already knew 1-3  from our Bible study, but it's great to see it first hand.
 Here are a few of the pictures that we took while we dissected.

Our small frog

Oh Wow! 

playing with the crayfish, Ewwww

Blessings ~ S
The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. Psalm 145:9