Another Boxcar Finished

Okay, so we are devouring Boxcar Children books. I know devouring books is not normal fare, but a steady appetite for read aloud time is an appetite I want to feed.

Our most recent read was The Mystery of Peacock Hall. It was packed with fascinating information about Thomas Jefferson and Monticello. Timely as well. We had read, earlier in the day, The White House by Jennifer Silate. Another fascinating selection highlighting the chronological history of the White House and its residents. Though we are finished with The Mystery of Peacock Hall, what we learned about Thomas Jefferson remains. In fact, I'm quite sure our next adventure to the library (maybe later today!) will involve a catalog check for resources like the ones below:

• A Picture Book of Thomas Jefferson, David A. Adler

• Meet Thomas Jefferson, Marvin Barrett (Landmark)

• Tom Jefferson: Third President of the United States, Helen Ablee Monsell (Childhood of Famous Americans)

• Thomas Jefferson's Feast, Frank Murphy

• Thomas Jefferson: A Picture Book Biography, James Cross Giblin

• Will You Sign Here, John Hancock?, Jean Fritz

• Thomas Jefferson: Voice of Liberty, Andrew Santella

• Meet Thomas Jefferson, Patricia Pingry

Helpful links:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/thomasjefferson/

http://www.monticello.org/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/pres/jefferson/

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/games/concentration2/

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/presidents-day/thomas-jefferson/

http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/P/tj3/writings/brf/jeflxx.htm

President Study, Groundhog Day and More!

February is loaded with opportunities to learn from the stories of others, from life. Last week we started our presidential unit study. We continue to work through the unit, reading about the lives of the men who lead our country. Today we also started our February calendar (math). This month we chose a heart shape in three colors and a silhouette of George Washington for our calendar pieces. We laid the pieces out along the kitchen floor, creating a pattern (math) and then writing one number (more math) per piece for each of the days in February. In addition to starting our February calendar and learning about the presidents (social studies), we talked about Groundhog Day (more social studies) and folklore (language arts). Folklore, often passed from generation to generation, is based on traditions, customs or beliefs and can include legends, fairy tales, myths and songs. We found two books we enjoyed. Perhaps there are more in your local library.

Groundhog Day! by Gail Gibbons
Groundhog Day by Michelle Aki Becker

Math in Our Presidental Study

Today our presidential study quickly changed to a math study. Of course! I should have figured as much; I should have taken notice to the foreshadowing in the day's unfolding story. Enter a book about presidents, a printable book from http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/pres/washington/books/tab/ and four girls who really wanted to play store rather than school.

As we began reading our president book for the day, an inquisitive young one asked, "Where have I seen him before?" Not two seconds passed and another young one announced, "On the money!" She was indeed, on the money with her answer. George Washington was on the money. This discussion landed us right back to the store request. Okay, I give.

We read the president story and then, at the request of our oldest daughter, headed to the Internet to print money, play money that is, at http://www.moneyinstructor.com/play.asp. We didn't have enough real dollar bills to play store, so we printed our own and had a discussion about counterfeiting. Minutes later, we had a bank vault full of cash: $1, $5, $10, $20 and $50 dollar bills. And now... as I write, a country store has developed in our living room. Not only that, but there is a fair amount of adding, subtracting, multiplying and change making happening without me even having to ask! Hummm...wonder where this will go...wonder how the story will end.

President's Day Is Just Around the Corner

We read some great stories today; so great I had to share them with you! Having watched the 44th President of the United States take the oath of office and now getting ready to celebrate President's Day, we have embarked on an impromptu unit study.

The first adventure in our unit study was to make a visit to the public library. The trip was successful, just like the many before. We hurried home and began reading. We learned heart-warming stories about the amazing men who have served our great nation. Here is a sampling of the books we checked out:

The Legend of the Teddy Bear by Frank Murphy (one of our favorites!)

Abe Lincoln's Hat by Martha Brenner

Bully For You, Teddy Roosevelt by Jean Fritz

Presidents' Day by Anne Rockwell

A Picture Book of Abraham Lincoln by David Adler

Young John Quincy by Cheryl Harness

William Henry Harrison: Young Tippecanoe by Howard Peckham