reading, art activities & counting backwards

Drew learned about a new genre yesterday, historical fiction, when I began reading aloud Sarah Whitcher's Story. The genre was a little difficult to explain...some of it is true (time period, certain events) but all the other details, characters, and events can be fictional. It's good to be back with HOD, we're reading a book we probably wouldn't have chosen on our own. I'm glad Drew's getting to hear a lot of genres this year!

He is a reading machine and I LOVE it! He's been reading an hour (8-9 p.m.) the past few nights on his own in his room. He used to do just one picture book (10 min. or so) but it's now it's become a longer amount of time with longer books. I know he enjoys getting to stay up "late" but he is also reading his books & enjoying them! He's been reading fiction chapter books, non-fiction books, historical books, etc. He's now begun the 1st book in The Magic Tree House series. He told me the other night that I need to buy more of them. We have a few random numbers and I assured him I'll keep looking for them at thrift shops & yard sales...where 97% of our books come from, but we can also get them from the library. :o)

For Drew's history, we read about the pilgrims going ashore today and that tied into Drew's science reading about starfish, sand dollars and jellyfish. For his art activity, he made a starfish...brown paper, half glue/water mixture brushed over and crushed oatmeal squares sprinkled on top. It will "feel" kind of like a real starfish when it's dry. :o)
His memory verse this week is Col. 3:23, "Whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, not for men." We've had interesting discussions about what it means and how he can apply it to his life right now...doing the jobs he enjoys and the ones he doesn't enjoy with a happy heart attitude because he's not doing them for daddy and mommy, but for God! I've been able to apply it to my life, too...doing my "jobs" as unto the Lord, not unto my kids or husband. When we think about this verse, it changes our attitude every time! ;o)

Kate begged for an "art" activity today. I suggested the dot pens - she loves to color with them. She chose a picture to print from this website to color & dot.
She also wrote her name in white crayon and then dotted over it. Her letters were really light, so I wrote her name using a lot of pressure with the crayon. She dotted over the letters I wrote and revealed her name...

For Kate's math, she continued counting 1-10 forwards and backwards. As a fun activity before she did her paper, we were pretend rockets counting down before blasting off.

"10, 9, 8, 7..."

"Blast-off!!!!"

Her outfit in the pictures above is 2nd one of the day and is what she chose to wear from the dress-up tub. When I asked her who she was today, she told she's Word Girl in a skirt! Ha! :o)