While I subbed for Charlie's social studies teacher, Charlie explained what he learned about guns, steel, and germs as it relates to the Spanish colonizing places around the world in the 1500s.
Today Jayne researched several regions of Mexico and specifically Mexico City for travel destinations and culture! She loved referencing different Mexican cultural aspects that reminded her of Coco!
She spent time journaling and we reviewed map facts.
Charlie and I read about polychromy today and how archaeologists and historians are finding clues to colors on ancient sculptures and art. We read about the importance of colorization and how this teaches us more. We also read about how whiteness was valued in the past and that may have done us a disservice. We looked to maps to review geographic terms. Charlie practiced check-writing on blank checks. Finally, Charlie was interested in the lost city of Atlantis. We researched and watched video on History.com and on The Discovery Channel to formulate our own opinions. Plato's writings, coupled with geographical studies present different theories as to whether this civilization actually existed and where it might be located. We will continue in our next class.
Arianna and I reviewed states and their capitals - Florida and Missouri - and learned three more today - California, New York and Texas. We reviewed longitude and latitude, the continents and oceans, regions, and natural resources. We discussed again the gold rush of 1849 and the changes that occurred in California as a result. We created a colorful geographic reminder/model so Arianna could understand the size of each and remind her of: our continent, our country, our state, our county, and our city. We did the same for both Missouri and Florida. We read a Newsela article about moving the treasures from ancient Egyptian tombs to a new, larger home. Finally, we revisited the U.S. Constitution and practiced using new vocabulary to understand the content and structure of the document.
Craig and I explored news updates on another possible volcanic eruption/explosion in Hawaii and discussed its effects. We looked to "Everyday Economics: Globalization" by The Federal Reserve Bank and discussed globalization relative to the themes of geography. We worked through a lesson about the Barbary Wars, looking to maps, letters, engravings and treaties. We discussed foreign diplomacy and we continued to read together in the book. We have just met Stephen Decateur.
Henry continued learning about the American Revolution today. We discussed the Declaration of Independence and how it was written by Thomas Jefferson because John Adams and Ben Franklin did not want to write it. We also talked about how the Germans helped the British fight and the French helped on the American side. He watched a Liberty's Kids episode on the First Fourth of July.
This morning we continued our study of economics. We finished our project on goods by writing about buying goods like vegetables at the farmers market and that a farmer produces goods like wheat. We then cut out our flip activity about services. We wrote about babysitting, washing the dog, cleaning, and mowing the lawn. We then read a Florida Studies Weekly paper called Goods and Services. We read about various items we buy and services provided in our community. We then began the activities and follow-up packet. Danny then sequenced pictures of an orange from farm to table. We discussed and practiced using the vocabulary in fill in the blank sentences and a word search. This included terms such as consumer, goods, services, and producers. Danny completed an activity in which he labeled the pictures good or service, scoring 12/12 on this activity. We had fun discussing goods and services through a board game activity.
Today Jayne completed the "Environment" section of her Stanford 1st grade test. After, we completed a small Mother's Day project and researched the next place we want to travel (between China and Ireland)! We also learned travel safety tips and how to avoid pickpocketers!
Craig and I looked at a follow-up news article listing interesting facts about the Hawaiin volcano. We looked to the most recent news footage and video as well. Craig completed questions that required looking at the map of the Barbary Coast, reading a map, and navigating the Mediterranean. We read a New York Times article "Lessons From the Barbary Pirate Wars" that allowed us to see how history really does repeat itself, and how modern-day Somali piracy is very much like the Barbary Wars. Both are forms of terrorism. We read about tributes, blackmail, war and solutions to this problem. We began reading again from "Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates." This section allowed us to revisit the roles of the legislative and executive branches - the power to declare war and the power to act as Commander in Chief of the military.
