Summer School 2011: Week Two - Basic Mapping Skills

 
Week Two - Basic Mapping Activities (June 20-24)

Websites: http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/teachers-packets/mapshow/

Monday –

Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family

Opening exercise: In order to properly study geography…we have to be familiar with maps. After all, we have to know where we are going!!! We’re going to need the help of our trusty explorer friend, Columbus, again…

Make clues to locate Columbus…either as a Treasure Hunt, or with cardinal directions.

1.      Stand at tree with the rope swing. Turn to face East. Take 10 steps and look for a rock with a strange symbol.

2.      Turn towards the south  and go 20 paces. Turn to face West and walk until you reach something that is against the law to park in front of.

3.      Face North. Look for a flower the same color as the fire hydrant. 

4.      Turn East and locate a portal. Pass through the portal and into the dwelling. Continue North until you reach something on your right that ascends. Take the ascension until you reach higher ground. Look for a marker to give you further instructions.

(at the top of the stairs, lay out an arrow on the floor made of sticks pointing into the boys room. Make another arrow just inside the boys room pointing to a dresser. Hide Columbus in one of the drawers)

Vocabulary: Map, North, South, East, West, Compass, Key, Mile, Globe, Scale, Legend

J, S, B: Write each word 5x each      N: picture match w/words

Craft: http://members.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/box/treasurechest/

Mapping Activity: Give each child a small treasure to hide within the house. On a sheet of white paper, have each child draw a map of the house and to mark the location of the treasure with an “X”. Also, have everyone write directions for how to find the treasure near the bottom or on the back of his map. Collect the maps, the redistribute them to the kids. Let them find each others treasures and keep them!!

Fun Snack: We’re going to decorate sugar cookies like Compass Roses today and eat them!!

Journal: If you could travel anywhere is the world…where would you go…and why?

At this point, we should be just about done for the day with our “lesson”. However…we are going to walk to the library, and when we get back, we will probably go swimming at the pool or have lunch first and THEN go swimming. After swimming, when it’s time to “wind-down” in the afternoon, we can have a time set aside to read…and watch the movie for the day. Then, if the kids want, they can practice Spanish. This will usually take place during a time of day that it is storming…so they will be good indoor activities to keep kids busy and engaged. I’m always trying to avoid the: “Momma, what can I doooooo?” .

Library: Walk to the library and have kids sign out books…everyone getting AT LEAST one on geography, traveling, or a country they are interested in.

Swimming

Reading : read books from library. Or read from books on geography at home. Introduce Book Report activity for the week…the kids will have to create a “Story Treasure Map”…a map that looks like a treasure map and takes kids from point to point in the plot…

Movie: National Treasure

Computer : Everyone gets to study Spanish for their lesson

Tuesday –

Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family

Opening Exercise:  Beach Day!! (no lessons today)

Movie (For Later in the Day): National Treasure 2

Wednesday –

Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family

On Wednesdays, we’ll be cooking food from the countries we are learning about. Everyone will get a chance to help. Since there isn’t a specific country we’re studying this week, we’re going to just make a family favorite that goes along with today’s theme.

Opening exercise: Today we’re going to “pretend” to travel to Yaya and Papas house. To start, we’re going to play “Yaya Says”…make signs for outside that have all 4 cardinal directions. Have kids “travel” to Yaya’s by moving according to the oral directions given by Yaya. 

Mapping Activity: Complete Worksheets 1 and 3 in The Mailbox Theme Series Map Skills: Primary Edition. After Worksheet 3, present them with their own “map” of the kitchen. Have a clue for each child where they have to follow directions and the map to locate items needed to make Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

Make cookies together.

1.      Enter kitchen from the North. Travel South until you see 4 plastic containers. Open the one that is the farthest East.

2.      One ingredient is kept in the only appliance on the North wall. The ingredient is oval, and breaks easy.

3.      Leave the kitchen and turn West. Go to the third storage unit, on the 4^th compartment. Find 2 kinds of sugar, white flour, and Crisco butter sticks.

4.      Enter the kitchen again and travel South. Locate a cupboard above the counter. In the East side is a bottle of good-smelling liquid that tastes really bad.

5.      Turn West. Find an appliance that gets things hot. Inside you’ll find the BEST ingredient of all.

6.      Enter the kitchen from the North. Turn West and travel forward until you cannot walk any further. Look for a big, shiny bowl to mix everything in.

7.      Stand in the middle of the kitchen. Turn and face North. Walk forward about 8 steps and turn West. Find a shelf with cookbooks. Locate a paper with writing on it.

Cooking: Chocolate Chip Cookies

Vocabulary: J, S, & B: Write definitions for each word using the computer or dictionary…help each other out!! 

N: Write each word in your best handwriting

Journal: What is your favorite thing to do when visiting Yaya and Papa? Tell a story about it.

Movie: Today is Dollar Movie Day at Regal…go to the movies!!

Ramona & Beezus or Yogi Bear

Swimming

Reading: Special reading time…either individually or as a family

MORE Movies: Treasure Planet

Computer: Spanish Lessons

Thursday –

Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family

Opening Exercise: Today we’re going to be PIRATES!!! Pirates were masters at reading maps…

We’re going to start by doing a series of activities from my Map Skills book…all about One-Eyed Charlie, the pirate. The activities are easy and fun…maybe challenging for Nicolette and Brigham, but WAY BELOW what Joseph and Savannah can do…that’s okay, because they can help their younger siblings with the work…

Worksheet Practice: Worksheets 1-5 on pages 43-48 in The Mailbox Theme Series Map Skills: Primary Edition

Language and Grammer: This is a fun activity from Family Fun…have the kids read the text and unscramble the words/correct the spelling, and copy it correctly into their binders.

http://familyfun.go.com/playtime/read-the-curesed-text-708511/

Vocabulary: J, S, & B: write a fully structured and grammatically correct sentence using the vocabulary words. Be creative!!

N: draw a picture for each word on a 10-frame paper

Read How I Became A Pirate, and then…Journal: If you were kidnapped by pirates, how would you escape?

Swimming

Reading : Special time set aside for reading, either individually or as a family.

Special Snack:  Make Pirate Treasure Trail Mix

• ¼  cup Hard Tack (Life or Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal)
• 10  Creatures of the Deep (Swedish Fish)
• 10 Peg Legs (small rod pretzels)
• 5 Shipwrecked Bones (dried bananas)
• 1 TBS Dried Scurvy Eyeballs (Golden Raisins)
• ¼ cup Pirate Treasure (M & M's)
• 10 pieces salted meat (chopped up Slim Jims)
• 1 TBS Parrot Poo (peanuts)

Movie:  Pirates of the Caribbean

Computer :  Spanish lessons

Friday –

Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family

Opening Exercise: I’m going to show you a word…and I want you to guess what it means:

(have this written on a large piece of paper) Cartography.

(give kids a chance to guess, and then tell them…)

Cartography is the science of reproducing all or part of the earth with as little distortion as possible. Since the earth is nearly spherical, a globe is the most accurate representation of the surface of the earth. Maps, however, are more practical since they are flat, portable, and less expensive to produce. Maps can also show a representation of the entire earth at one time.

A variety of different maps exists to serve specific needs. Political maps show the boundaries of governmental units such as countries, states, and provinces. Topographical maps (physical maps) show the shapes of landforms such as mountains and valleys. Transportation maps show highways, railroads, and airports, in addition to cities and points of interest. Economic or produce maps show the distribution of mining, manufacturing, and agriculture for a specific area.

Worksheet Practice: Miner Worksheets 1-5 on pages 35-39 in The Mailbox Theme Series Map Skills: Primary Edition

Vocabulary Test Today With Prizes For Correct Answers!!

Special Activity: Make a map for the kids to follow and have them go out and “dig” for jewels (Ring Pops) in the yard.

Swimming

Reading: Special time set aside for reading, either individually or as a family.  

Movie: Titan A.E.

Computer: Spanish lessons

Book Reports: Present Book Report activity for the week…the kids will have to create a “Story Treasure Map”…a map that looks like a treasure map and takes kids from point to point in the plot…

Summer School 2011: Week One - Basic Geography

Week One - Basic Geography (June 13-17, 2011)

Monday –

Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family

Opening exercise: This summer, we’re going to study Geography. We are going to “travel” to different countries. 

In order to help us, we’re going to host a special guest. He is a great explorer, and has been all around the world. He’s going to be our own personal travel guide. The only thing is…he’s kinda forgetful, and sometimes, he gets so excited about what he’s doing that he forgets where he is.

That means we’ve got to find him. Luckily, he leaves clues…so if we are very clever, we can figure out the clues to find where he is.

Make clues to locate Columbus…either as a Treasure Hunt, or with cardinal directions.

CLUES:

Look under something that you sit on and is long and soft.(couch)

---

Look under something that has 88 keys. (piano)

---

For the next clue, find Harry Potters favorite method of travel. (broom)

---

Look under the living room fcoefe blate (unscramble these words). (coffee table)

---

Look under a _____ (this word rhymes with dare) in the biggest room in the house. (chair)

---

Look on the back of the television.

---

Look near the old-fashioned clock. (hour glass)

---

Look under the cushion of a seat that loves you. (love seat)

---

For the next clue, decode the message using this key:
A  B  C  D E  F  G  H  I  J   K   L  M   N   O    P   Q   R    S   T    U   V   W   X   Y    Z
1   2   3   4  5  6  7   8  9 10 11 12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22   23  24  25  26

12 15 15 11 21 14 4 5 18 20 8 5 11 9 20 3 8 5 14 19 9 13 11

(Look under the kitchen sink)

---

Go to the laundry room. Find the spray starch.

---

Look on an object in the living room that you would use on a rainy day. (umbrella)

---

Are you sure that you really want the treasure? Outside, look near the xalmiobs (unscramble this word). (mailboxes)

---

The next clue is in the flowers from Hawaii. (plumeria)

---

If you dare to continue, look on something that has two-tires. (bicycle)

---

Go play Tarzan and see what you find. (Columbus is in the tree on the rope swing)

Vocabulary: River, Mountain, Ocean, Lake, Island, Country, Continent, Desert, Plateau, Regions, Continent, Country

J, S, B: Write each word 5x each      N: picture match w/words

Today we are using excerpts from a lesson on Discovery Education: 

(http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/exploring-the-worlds-geography.cfm)

The lesson is geared around their 3-part DVD series, which they sell for $59.95. Since I can in no way afford that, I am improvising (it’s what I do best!!)

Craft: We are going to learn about our Earth and different landforms…and to do that, we need to make a big model of the Earth...

Make papier-mache globes…these will take quite a while to dry…so the goal is to just get the paste paper on the balloon today, and let them dry a couple days…

 Fun Snack: Rice Krispie Earths

1/4 cup margarine

40 regular marshmallows

1/2 tsp. vanilla

6 cups rice krispies

green and blue food coloring

Melt margarine and marshmallows over medium heat in a large pot, stir in vanilla and rice rispies. Divide into two bowls. Add green food coloring to one bowl and blue food coloring to the second. Stir.

Allow the children to take a scoop from the blue bowl and a scoop from the green bowl and mash them together in a ball (the earth). Set the balls aside until completely cool.

Journal: Imagine you could create your own country. Think about what it would look like, and where it would be located. Brainstorm some ideas in your journals about the location of your country (by the sea? In the North?), it’s size (is it a big country, with lots of borders, or a small island?), and geographic features it would have (Mountain ranges? Grassy Plains? Sticky Swamps?). Write these ideas down in your journal for later use…

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/02/lp287-01.shtml

At this point, we should be just about done for the day with our “lesson”. However…we are going to walk to the library, and when we get back, we will probably go swimming at the pool or have lunch first and THEN go swimming. After swimming, when it’s time to “wind-down” in the afternoon, we can have a time set aside to read…and watch the movie for the day. Then, if the kids want, they can practice Spanish. This will usually take place during a time of day that it is storming…so they will be good indoor activities to keep kids busy and engaged. I’m always trying to avoid the: “Momma, what can I doooooo?” .

Library: Walk to the library and have kids sign out books…everyone getting AT LEAST one on geography, traveling, or a country they are interested in.

Swimming

Reading : read books from library. Or read from books on geography at home.

Introduce Book Report activity for the week… Since the books we’re reading this week will most likely be non-fiction and educational, our book reports will be:

Each child creates a "Ten Facts About [book title]" sheet that lists ten facts he or she learned from reading the book. The facts, written in complete sentences, must include details they didn't know before reading the book.

Movie: National Geographic: Amazing Planet (in Instant Queue)

Computer : Everyone gets to study Spanish for their lesson

Tuesday –

Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family

Opening Exercise:  Beach Day!! (no lessons today)

Movie (for later in the day): National Geographic: Amazing Planet (in Instant Queue)

 

Wednesday –

Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family

On Wednesdays, we’ll be cooking food from the countries we are learning about. Everyone will get a chance to help. Since there isn’t a specific country we’re studying this week, we’re actually going to do a food-related activity.

Opening exercise: Today we’re going to take ideas from a National Geographic lesson:

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/03/g35/pizza.html

and have the kids do the activities to locate all the pizzerias in our area by using phone books and local maps. Then, after the activity, we’ll watch to Publix and get ingredients to make our own pizzas. Then we'll probably make homemade ice cream...just for kicks!!

So I was too busy to stop and take pictures of pizzas...but I DID get my ice cream maker!!

Vocabulary: J, S, & B: Write definitions for each word using the computer or dictionary…help each other out!! 

N: Write each word in your best handwriting

Craft: Have the kids paint their globes blue, and draw on the equator and the prime meridian (explaining what these mean to geography)

Our globes...drying in the sun...

 Journal: Review all your thoughts and notes about your imaginary country from the day before. Using a large piece of construction paper, draw your countries borders. Include all the features you would like it to have…mountains, coastlines, rivers, etc. Color it nicely.

Movie: Today is Dollar Movie Day at Regal…go to the movies!!

             Astro Boy or Tales of Desperaux

Swimming

Reading: Special reading time…either individually or as a family

MORE Movies: Planet Earth

Computer: Spanish Lessons

Thursday –

Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family

Opening Exercise: Today we are going to work more on our globes.

Craft: Have kids use geography texts, maps, library materials, and the Internet to research the seven continents. Have them look at several examples of maps that resemble the size of the continents they should be drawing. Have them draw an outline of each continent on construction paper. Remind them that Earth's continents are not all the same size and that they should try to keep the relative sizes of the continents in mind. 

After outlining each continent, they need to use their research materials to label the geographic features.

Vocabulary: J, S, & B: write a fully structured and grammatically correct sentence using the vocabulary words. Be creative!!

N: draw a picture for each word on a 10-frame paper

Journal: Now that you have your country all drawn out, and it’s features clearly labeled, it’s time to give it an identity. What is the name of your country? What does its’ flag look like? Is it a democracy, a monarchy,  a dictatorship, a theocracy, or parliamentary? What is the predominate religion (or is there one?)? Does your country specialize in any export (do you have lots of agriculture, make automobiles, or do you import all your goods?)? Tell me all about your country, it’s people, it’s economy, it’s cuisine, and it’s government…

Draw a picture of your countries flag…

Swimming

Reading : Special time set aside for reading, either individually or as a family.

Movie:  Planet Earth

Computer :  Spanish lessons

Friday –

Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family

Opening Exercise: Today we finish our globes AND our imaginary countries

Craft: Show kids a map of the world and discuss the locations of the continents on the globe. Ask them related questions (Is North America above or below the equator? Is Europe anywhere near South America?). Once they understand how to place their continents, have them cut out their paper continents, glue them to the globe, and label the oceans. Find where we live and mark it with a red star. Put yellow dots on each place we HAVE lived.

Vocabulary Test Today With Prizes For Correct Answers!!

Journal: Make a travel brochure highlighting your imaginary country. Be sure to feature all it’s points of interests, and include pertinent information on local customs and cuisine!!

Swimming

Reading: Special time set aside for reading, either individually or as a family.  

Movie: Planet Earth

Computer: Spanish lessons

Book Reports: Since the books we’re reading this week will most likely be non-fiction and educational, our book reports will be:

Each child creates a "Ten Facts About [book title]" sheet that lists ten facts he or she learned from reading the book. The facts, written in complete sentences, must include details they didn't know before reading the book.

Summer School 2011 Kick-Off!!!

It's time for the annual Johnson Family Summer School!! 

School gets out today, and I am putting the finishing touches on the first couple weeks lessons as we speak. 

I'm really excited AND trepidacious about Summer School this year...and I'll tell you why...

This year Summer School was a challenge because all my children are getting so much bigger…and the cutie little “Gospel-themed” lessons just won’t cut it anymore.  Nicolette will probably still enjoy counting goldfish and learning about pioneers…but the other kids have gotten older, and have this “been there – done that” mentality. I wanted to be able to challenge everyone…but I’m not qualified to teach higher math and science concepts.  I also wanted it to be fun and engaging…for the older kids AND the littles.

Not only that, but we have the additional challenge of a dwindling budget…meaning that I can’t spend a lot of money on supplies and field trips. I have to meet everyone’s needs AND do it economically. That means walking to the pool and library, and doing more activities at home.

Finally, I wanted to shorten our lesson time. In past summers, we sometimes worked all day…but this year, I wanted to be done by lunch. That means that I couldn’t have all these grand activities planned…everything had to be short and sweet.

I am pretty daunted by the task.

I decided the easiest way to solve my dilemma was to pick a subject we could study all summer long that everyone loved. 

I settled on “Geography”. Our family loves to travel, but we have never been able to take big family vacations. Geography seemed like an easy theme to work with that I could adjust to fit the many different learning levels and attitudes in our home. I would have the first couple weeks be about actual geography, and then focus on a different country every week after that, skipping the week Jason is on vacation.

Each child will have a “travel binder” with dividers in it. We can keep our work and progress in the binders.

The kids will have Reading Logs and worksheets and all kinds of stuff in their binders...

 I also wanted to have a “mascot”…someone that would “help” our studies all summer long…I really wanted a parrot, and I wanted to name him “Rio”. But then a movie came out about a parrot with the same name, so I decided against it, and instead used a giant stuffed monkey that I already had hiding in my closet. I named him “Columbus”…

It's true that many things will be below Josephs level...but I am hoping he will step in and take a more "leadership role"...helping the little kids complete their tasks. I do have activities that are geared more for the older kids, but what I really want is for Joseph to be a "teachers aide". I will also be working with him on several merit badges this summer...so that will DEFINITELY keep him busy is he needs a little extra boost.

Kaitlyn has her own on-line courses this year, a new part-time job, summer activities to get ready for the new school year (like choir practice), AND has her non-profit to work with...plus she's taking off 3 weeks to visit her Dad in California...so although she'll participate and help with the lessons, she's really going to have her own stuff to do.

So anyway...this is my plan. Next week, I'll start posting the lessons. I make sure to list the links where I pulled and adapted ideas, so if someone else is interested in what I do and where I got the inspiration, they can go to the source. It's also because a lot of these ideas are NOT mine...they are created by other people...far more talented people who I am sure want some credit for their very hard work. Therefore...if I have borrowed an idea...or even if I've used an idea as a platform from which to jump and spin my own little lesson...I include the link.

Here's to a successful and fun Summer School in 2011!!!