Week One - Basic Geography (June 13-17, 2011)
Monday –
Start with a prayer
Read scriptures together as a family
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
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:
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
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…
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
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)
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.
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:
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!!
Vocabulary: J, S, & B: Write definitions for each word using the computer or dictionary…help each other out!!
 |
| So I was too busy to stop and take pictures of pizzas...but I DID get my ice cream maker!! |
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)
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.
 |
| Our globes...drying in the sun... |
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.
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.
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