He took a test on all the vocabulary learned during the first and second quarters.

Today's lesson focused on Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Mercer reviewed material about Howard Carter, the man who actually unwrapped King Tut's mummy. Mercer discussed material he reviewed that detailed how Pharaohs who disliked their predecessors would often destroy any statues, writings, and pictures they created during their reign. Mercer spent the remainder of the class learning fun facts about geography.

Today's lesson focused on Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Mercer reviewed material about the archaeologist that found King Tut's mummy. He read details of how he was laid in a series of nested containers—three golden coffins, a granite sarcophagus, and four gilded wooden shrines. Mercer discussed why he was buried with so many things.

We worked on a word game activity.

We worked on understanding the difference between prime numbers and composite numbers. We made a Christmas ornament using factors.

We warmed up with some basic strokes, and then played through Solo #3 from Alfred's Snare Drum Method. This solo incorporates everything we have learned so far: quarter notes and rests, eighth notes and rests, sixteenth notes, eighth note and sixteenth note combinations, dotted notes, and many musical notations, dynamics, and directions.

We read and discussed Chapter 2 of, "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler," discussing plot, story detail, and vocabulary words.

We worked on a math word game activity.

Today's lesson focused on monuments built by Egyptians. Mercer reviewed material that detailed information about the pyramids and the Great Sphinx. Mercer watched videos and answered questions about ancient monuments and how they have lasted in modern times. He participated in a discussion about the Seven Wonders of the World and why Egyptian artifacts contribute to these phenomenon in the history of the world.

Mercer joined the holiday festivities by playing themed bingo with the other students.

We then played a game of chess. During this game Mercer was asked questions. He was asked to theorize his opponents next move(s) based on his proposed move. At specific points in the game, he was shown different strategies that his opponent was to use against him if he were to make other moves.

He was specifically told about the knight's fork. We discussed how it can be particularly effective if one of the pieces being forked is the king or queen.