What we've been up to...

School is now back in full swing!  A couple of weeks ago, we started the week out with a day off on Monday in celebration of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King.  Instead of wasting the day away, we learned more about Dr. King.  I reminded the children of our visit to his home in Atlanta a couple of summers ago.  Of course my youngest didn't remember, but I showed him photos.  We spoke about segregation and the civil rights movement in America.  The children had many questions to ask on these subjects and the older two were eager to share what they've learned from books they've read.

This month for art we are focusing on the artist Claude Monet.  We talked about how Monet was an impressionist artist at the turn of the 19th century and how he painted in dabs and short strokes instead of long strokes.  We spoke about the difference between impressionism and and idealism.  We used the video Art History In A hurry as a brief introduction to Monet.  Click here for the video. I think the video was excellent as an introduction and would recommend it as a good unit starter.    We've done three art projects so far, one a wax resist/water color, another with oil pastels, and the latest using chalk.  We've talked about the benefits and drawbacks of using each medium.

Our impression of Water Lilies using oil pastels

Water Lilies using chalk 

This month I introduced multiplication to my littlest one by way of the Montessori multiplication board.  He enjoys this work and doesn't  whine as much as he did for the snake game.  I am also going beyond the fraction skittles with him this month.  I found a free Montessori math resource/ album.  So we've moved beyond naming the fractions to writing them (knowing numerator/

denominator) and addition of fractions, next week we will get into subtraction of fractions.  Click here for the link to that resource.

My littlest one using the multiplication board for the four tables.

Labeling fractions

Writing fractions

Adding Fractions: As you can see, when asked to make his own addition problem, from his own curiosity he choose 0/4 + 4/4, he has figured out that any fraction with the same numerator and denominator is equal to one.  We used our  DIY fraction circles to illustrate all the addition problems.

In other news, we went to see our first movie in Kenya over the holidays.  We saw Moana  If you are here in Kenya, let me suggest you make that a frequent family outing!  Why?  You might ask.  Well they practically give away the tickets.  I love seeing movies in the theater.  But, we rarely did in States because for a family of five, it was so expensive!  The theater at West Gate Mall has so many deals!  First, the eleven o'clock movie is 300 Ksh.  That is equivalent to a bit less than $3 USD.  Then at other times during the week, you can get a movie with a meal for less than 700Ksh ($7).  Where I lived, you'd pay no less than $15 for a ticket.  No extras.   With that said, later today I plan to take the kids to see Sing, one of the newer kid's movies out.
Besides the movie, we will spend the afternoon learning about the Chinese New Year and I have planned several activities around that.  The children remembered celebrating the Chinese New Year at their other school and insisted that we celebrate this year. The year of the rooster has finally come after a daily countdown since the first of the month!

So, that's it in a nutshell, this is what we've been up to! More news to come!


 

Back In The Swing of Things!

We started school again last week.  Some of us struggled to get back in the swing of things while others dived right in head first.  By the end of the week we were all back on track.  For the girls we started  the year with a quick review of the Revolutionary War and now on to the War of 1812.  The four books we are currently reading integrate well into the curriculum and the girls are enjoying them.

                             

 Their curriculum, Trail guide to Learning  (Paths of Settlement)  is inclusive of all subjects except foreign language and math.  It's really nice because everything they are learning ties in and relates to one another.  For example, while they were learning about The Revolutionary War, they did copywork and dictation from the Constitution and Patrick Henry's famous "Give me freedom or give me death " speech.  They read books about John Adams, Abigail Adams, and George Washington to name a few.  I found a nice add on book at a trunk sale during coop that nicely showed King George's perspective during that tumultuous time.  For those of you who may be covering the Revolutionary War, the book is titled "Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?" by Jean Fritz.

   They learned about the different branches of government and their roles by way of the Constitution.  They are learning about each of the 50 states.  As battles and events are taking place in the books they are reading, they learn about the geography of where these things occurred and how the geography may have shaped the outcome of events.  Spelling and vocabulary words largely come from the books we are reading.  For art they are exploring water color.  They've painted landscapes depicting the vast expanses of the developing US at the time.  They have also cooked recipes of popular dishes from the states they have studied.  I can go on and on, but I'll save that for a review of the curriculum which I will do at the end of this school year.

  For the little one, I've continued with a work plan system that I nabbed from What DID we do all day? Click here to see her post.  I believe she found it by way of another homeschooler.  The system allows my little one to visualize what work he has done for the day and what he still needs to do.  It also allows him to see the bigger picture as far as what I expect him to cover throughout the week. Each time he completes a task, he can move the corresponding paper clip from the left side to the right side of the work plan.   I like this system so much, that I even created one for each of the girls for things that I expect them to do daily and weekly that are not included in their curriculum.  All three enjoy the visual aid and the fact that they need to physically move the paperclip.  I imagine there is a sense of accomplishment that they feel when all the paperclips have been moved.

All in all it has been a great start to a new year.  We are back in the swing of things and enjoying

Holidays Away From Home

       The holiday season in the US starts with Thanksgiving.  It is one of my favorite holidays.  A special time to spend with family and for us, with friends as well.  We'd cook lots, eat well, and then usually we'd spend an evening playing games, laughing and really having a great time.

       Wonderful to say,  this year was no different.  In fact, I've never had a fuller house!  We had at least 25 of our friends and family over for our first Thanksgiving in Kenya.  Of course Thanksgiving is not a holiday normally celebrated in Kenya, but alas, after a wild turkey chase through Nairobi, a turkey was found!  We followed our family tradition and everyone in attendance got to mention one thing they are most thankful for this year.  The holiday was really embraced by all.

       Next, we headed into the Christmas season!  This is a time my family usually heads farther north to PA and NJ to visit family and spend the holiday there.  There were many things that I missed about our normal Christmas traditions.   Above all else I really missed family and friends in the US.  I actually missed the winter chill in the air (not the snow).   I missed the sounds of Christmas that I just didn't hear here in Nairobi (sleigh bells, Christmas carols).  We actually ended up going to the mall  and I noticed they were playing Christmas songs, so I'd accepted that this would be my Christmas carol fix then to top that, some friends from our co-op came over to our place and carolled for us.  It was such a wonderful gesture!  I can only describe as awesome,  and unexpected!!!

       I missed seeing houses beautifully decorated with outdoor Christmas lights this is not done here in Nairobi.  First, most of the homes are behind large natural or stone fences so you would not see the lights even if they were up and also electricity costs are sky high so it would not be practical.  I also just think that culturally it's not done.

Our Christmas tree all decorated by the kids and I

Our Elf on the Shelf  "Peppermint" found us in Kenya and decided to take a flight

       I also missed Christmas shopping.  I love the idea of shopping for others.  Finding that perfect gift that would put a smile on the face of loved ones.   There are many, many, many malls here in Nairobi. Ummm .... did I mention there are many malls in Nairobi?  There is no shortage of shops.  The problem is there is little variety at these shops and the prices will make you cry especially if you are knowledgeable about the true costs of these items.  On average toys, clothes, and shoes are about three times the cost of the same items in the US.   This is partially because these items are manufactured outside of the country and the government places large import duties on them.    So, on principle, I refuse to buy them.  There were also a few trunk sales during Co-op where people came to sale used items, but I also felt that for used items, they were too pricey.   I passed on those as well.  So up until a few days before Christmas, I had done zero Christmas shopping.

        The children ended up with one gift each; My oldest got a book, the middle child a hoola hoop, and the youngest a toy car.  No one complained, and they were totally satisfied.  I 'd tried to scale back on Christmas shopping several times in the US during the holiday season, but because things are so easily accessible, and the sales are unbelievable, I never could.  I am so thrilled with this years outcome!

       So, although I missed the shopping, it turned out not be such a bad thing.  This lack of material items really allowed us all to enjoy what this season is all about.  Rejoicing in the birth of our saviour!  We spent this Christmas being thankful for all that we do have, and we have indeed been blessed with so much!  We really are truly grateful to have this opportunity here in Kenya.  Never would I have ever thought I'd get to live in a different country and experience a different culture.  Never would I have thought I'd get to spend so much time with my children and even my spouse for that matter. For, this we feel truly blessed!  We are grateful for new friendships and strengthening old ones!  We are grateful for the support of some great people here in Kenya and those in the US.  So, we spent this holiday with these people celebrating and truly having a great time.

          After a busy Christmas holiday with one gathering after another, we topped it off  with a kid free getaway for the New Year.  While the kids tipped their cups of sparkling cider with their grandmother, we enjoyed fireworks on Lake Naivasha!  Naivasha, is a town in the Great Rift Valley located north west of Nairobi.  We rented a five bedroom home on the lake with a group of other folks.  There was a cook and a house keeper on site.  The house grounds boasted beautiful gardens and spectacular views of the lake.   The combination of the serene environ, great food, and the perfect combination of people made this truly the icing on the cake that topped off a perfect holiday season!  Happy New Year to All!!!

The Children toasting the new year at their grandmother's house

The house we rented in Naivasha

A view from one of the balconies

One of the properties gardens

Our view of Lake Naivasha