Week 21

What a great class! We missed two of our regulars but enjoyed our visitor today. I love how accepting the students are of visitors - helping them get adjusted, finding a seat, letting them join in with this group or that. These young ones really do have the gift of hospitality at such a young age. I pray they are able to keep that!

We started on a new adventure this week - no more timeline cards (although please continue to practice at home - the more you practice, the easier they will be for next year!). Instead, for the remainder of this cycle, we will be learning the U.S. Presidents (in order). I don't know about you, but I didn't even remember HEARING some of these names, much less that they were presidents! For this class, I wrote each president's last name on a card. Each person (student and adult) held one card. We sang the presidents song several times. The first time, everyone had to find their proper place in line. After that, we held our name up as we came to it in the song. It is going to take practice and repetition, but I think they can get it!

History Sentence - Tell Me about the end of the Cold War
I think everyone has been waiting for this one - it's a favorite, for sure.
In the 1980's (flash 9, then 8)
ooh-ooh (alternate shoulders going up/down)
British Prime Minister (drink tea)
Margaret Thatcher (shoulders up/down)
and the U.S. President (hand over heart)
Ronald Reagan (shoulders up/down)
worked together (clasp hands)
to end the Cold War (shiver)
lessen big government (hands at sides, push down toward ground)
& strengthen (muscle arms)
the conservative (straighten necktie)
movement (shoulders up/down)

English Grammar - A CONJUNCTION is a word used to connect words, phrases, or clauses together.
We used a VERY Southern accent to say this, while connecting with our friends at the elbow (similar to a square dance). Very corny, very annoying - and very catchy. :)

Math - We introduced the Associative Law for addition and multiplication by using jelly bellies. We were mainly covering how one side equals the other side, along with the main terms such as adding, equals, and multiplication. They were so cute and much better sports at this than expected. Of course, the promise of jelly bellies when finished can bring out the best in most of us :)

Science - We used hand motions to teach the 3rd Law of Thermodynamics
It is impossible (arms crossed in front, then expanded out to both sides, as in "no way!")
to reach a state of absolute zero temperature (both hands meet to make a large zero, get really close to someone)

Geography - to the tune of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" & with Jamaican accent (or as best as this Southern gal can make it)
These are the Caribbean/West InDIEEEEES
Cuba
Jamaica
and Haiti
and the Dominican (pause) REpublic

Latin - we sang the song. After Science Lab, we moved to the circle in the gym and reviewed three conjugations while skipping, marching, and tip-toeing. We've gotten a little lax - need to practice more!

Science Lab - we finished building our bridges out of marshmallows and toothpicks today. We will not test these until Week 24 (Sorry to those who took theirs home last week!) The novelty wore off quickly, so we spent the last ten minutes of science lab doing review racing in the gym. They seemed to enjoy the freedom to really MOVE!

Orchestra - I was IMPRESSED by BOTH of our musicians today. Lucy was not only a talented violinist but a wonderful teacher as well. Jim demonstrated the true spirit of Classical Conversations - that we are all learning together. After only ten hours of practice, he taught us basic parts of the flute and played it as well. The children were very interested. I know some of the children were frightened by the wolf in our Peter and the Wolf story today. I do hope they don't have nightmares. I tried to downplay it and focus on the musical part of things, but I'm not sure it worked. Of course, I don't think the boys were bothered. They were fascinated with the idea of hunting the wolf!

I can not believe we only have THREE more meetings. I will miss all my students and the CC community so much. What a great year it has been! Please remember that we are planning SOMETHING fun for the week after our final week (consider it Week 25). Details are not finalized, but please keep that date open.

See you Tuesday!