My last post was the end of September! Wow~ Talk about being behind a little bit! School is almost over.

In just one short month we FINALLY get to graduate Aaron. I say finally because he was supposed to actually graduate LAST year but I was talked into giving him one more year of school and sports. I am very glad I did!

More on Home School graduation and the process a person has to go through in order to accomplish this feat with perfection!

On to some of the awesome things I didn't share over the last few months!

Here we are... Studying for SOTW again... Chapter 9 if your following along.

In 1883, the Krakota volcano erupted in Indonesia. The explosion was the loudest sound ever recorded. People all the way in Australia heard the eruption. The eruption caused tsunamis as for as South Africa. The tsunamis were catastrophic as they wiped out Telok Batong, Sumatra, Sirik and Semarang in Java. We decided to create our own volcano.

Next up: Some brilliant illustrations that my kids are doing with their Art teacher Danna York. This woman is absolutely amazing. Each of my kids have walked away from a drawing amazed that they actually created it!

Next up...
Every year a group of us insane females get together for about 12 hours of Black Friday Shopping Madness!  We took a couple of hours and created these darling little planners for a couple of friends. They are intended to use for 2012. Inside are all kinds of lists and envelopes for receipts. There is a great website  that you can print off your own copies. I have been using organizedchristmas.com for several years now and it has helped me stay on track and well organized for the holiday.

Story of the World Week One

The co-op I joined this year is doing Story of the World (SOTW) volume 4. It covers from Victoria's Empire to the end of the USSR. It's my job to teach it.


My class varies in age and grade level. What I share with you is my attempt to teach to all of these children. My hope is that each one of them will learn to love history as much as I do.


I have read many reviews about SOTW, scouted blogs and researched all summer. I have had a difficult time finding any examples of the fourth volume. You will also find that I have supplemented the hands on activities because several units are lacking anything that will hold my classes attention. In most cases I have resorted to Geography lessons, cultural lessons and hands on activities.

Week 1: Victoria's England

The week before classes began I sent a message to all of my students and then met with them to discuss what my class would be like. I announced we were going to hold our own Great Exhibition just like Queen Victoria and Prince Albert did in 1851. Each student was to bring something from their family's country of origin. Artwork, style of music, popular foods, inventions or products were acceptable. This was a good way for us to get to know one another and also learn a bit about where our families came from.

 

Stein and Country flag. Can you guess which country is represented?

 And old writing desk full of treasures from days past

 Original immigration papers where Queen Victoria was renounced. This was an amazing treasure and I personally have never seen anything like this before.

  German Artwork

 Another stein

 Coat of Arms


We also enjoyed listening to Irish folk songs that one of my students brought while we worked on our time lines. It was wonderful!

 The teacher brought something too!

Krautkookahs


We did a few other fun activities and one of those was to recreate our own crystal palace.

• Was built May 1, 1851
• Over 1 Million feet of glass was used
• Prince Albert rejected over 245 plans

 
 

Our Crystal Palace didn't take nearly as long...