Tropical Rainforests

Rainforest Animals Puppet Show

This month we drew Central America and South America in our mapping class.  Our class discussions were about tropical rainforests: climate, structure (floor, understory, canopy, and emergent), and flora/fauna.  We also learned about ecosystems, habitats, and how terrestrial biodiversity increases closer to the equator.

Books:  Let's Look at Sloths by Piel

Reference Books:  Animals of the Rainforest by Savage

Videos: Animals of the Rainforest by Schlessinger Media

Spanish Class

Eric is learning colors in Spanish.

A few months ago our Monday homeschool co-op found a new Spanish teacher who recently moved here from Peru.  We are learning introductions, greetings, family members, colors, shapes, counting, the alphabet, days of the week, and days of the month.  At home, Ian and Eric like to ask for food in Spanish. 

Books:  Un Lazo a la Luna/ Moon Rope by Ehlert; Cincuenta en la Cebra: Contando con los Animales by Tabor;  My First Book of Spanish Words by Kudela;  Oso pardo, oso pardo, que ves ahi? by Martin 

Learning to Read

Ian reading a book (Frog Cops by Gaydos) to Eric.

Ian is reading!!  Currently Ian's favorite books are from the Now I'm Reading series by Gaydos.  Ian also enjoys the Starfall website which includes on-line games and books.  Other fun reading games include sight word BINGO (made using this Bingo Card Generator) and Learning Resources Word for Word game. 

This alphabet eating game we made up always results in laughs.  A puppet asks for a certain letter, sound, or word.  If the correct food is given, the puppet eats it.  If the incorrect food is given, the puppet spits it out.

My favorite teaching resource is the Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading by Wise.  We especially like the "Old Macdonald's Vowels" song and the mix and match subjects and actions game from this guide. 

Books:  Abadaba Alphabet: Learning Letter Sounds by Moore

Reference Books:  Phonics from A to Z: A Practical Guide by Blevins