Merry Christmas

The month of December is just a blur. It was one of those months when I wonder why we call it homeschooling because we were hardly home.
I believe that each of the following pictures could be a post by themselves, but really, who has the time?

So here is a glimpse of our month.

After watching a Christmas Carol, DS5 dressed up as Jacob Marley.

Visiting the annual Wreath Festival in Westminster, Md. While there, we got to see a free screening of the foreign film Joyuex Noel - a movie about the World War I Christmas Eve truce in 1914.

DD12 and two friends serving lunch at an area soup kitchen.

DD11 Singing a solo at our homeschool group's Christmas Pageant.

Making Addy's mini- sweet potato pies during the week-long American Girl Christmas class I taught from my home.

Receiving a box of fruit from my aunt in Florida.

DD12 and friend at the Christmas pageant. They were also the narrators reading the story of Christ's birth from scripture.

Our homeschool group's Christmas party. I got tons of pictures, but not a single picture of anyone in my family.

We had to go to Wal Mart to get needed groceries the day before a blizzard dumped 18 inches of snow on us. When we went to check out, the lines seemed to go half way to the back of the store. My husband started asking people in line if this was the bread line or the toilet paper line. We were in line to check out for over 45 minutes. (Glad that day is over with.)

Passing the Christmas star to put on top of the tree. I have had this star since 1972.

Hymn sing and dinner at the church we attend. Another event where I got lots of pictures of other people, but none of my family.

DD11 and her good friend making cookies at the Baking Book Club.

In between all of these events, we baked and baked and baked. I baked so many cookies this year it's unbelievable. The house smelled great and it was fun making plates of cookies to give away to friends as gifts.

I am looking forward to having a quiet New Year's.

Hannukah Party

We were unvited to our first Hannukah party ever.

Our host read the story of Hannukah to us, taught us the symbolism of the menorah, and taught us some traditional songs. It was fun and we learned so much.
From a homeschooling perspective, we covered history, literature, world cultures, music, fine arts and math. Yes - math! The kids were asked to figure out how many candles were needed total for the 8 nights of Hannukah.

Traditional latkes were prepared by our hostess and served with sour cream and applesauce. One of the guests asked about the significance of the sour cream and applesause and was told that they have no signigicance except as toppings for the latkes. By the way - the food was delicious!

Our hostess also made sure there were enough menorahs so that each guest had an opportunity to light a candle or two. As we lit the candles, her daughter recited a blessing in Hebrew then in English. It was the 6th night of Hannukah.

Learning the dreidle game.

An American Girl Christmas - Day #4

An American Girl Christmas
based on the books from Pleasant Company Publications.

This past week (Monday to Thursday), I taught a class called "An American Girl Christmas". The plan was to focus on a different American Girl each day. We learned a little about the time period, did writing activities, studied paintings from the time period, sang a couple of songs, and completed some handicrafts. The youngest girl in my class was 7 years old, while the oldest was 12.

Most of the activities that I used were from books published by Pleasant Company. I was able to find some at my local library and others were found at Amazon. At the bottom of this post I will put links for all of the books I used.

Here is a summary for today.

Thursday - Molly 1944

Copywork

"They had their traditional Christmas Eve supper of scrambled eggs, bacon, hot chocolate, and cinnamon toast before they hung their stockings on the mantle. Mom read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" just as Dad read it every year."

Music Study

I'll Be Home for Christmas

Picture Study

Christmas Homecoming by Norman Rockwell 1948

Snack

Popcorn (made the old fashioned way on top of the stove - not in a microwave)

Movie

We watched "Molly- An American Girl on the Homefront"

We talked about what a big deal it was for a girl like Molly to go to the movies.

Although we didn't watch the whole movie, my goal was for the girls to see the Christmas section of the movie. They did get to see part of the movie, but we ran out of time.

An American Girl Christmas - Day #3

An American Girl Christmas
based on the books from Pleasant Company Publications.

This past week (Monday to Thursday), I taught a class called "An American Girl Christmas". The plan was to focus on a different American Girl each day. We learned a little about the time period, did writing activities, studied paintings from the time period, sang a couple of songs, and completed some handicrafts. The youngest girl in my class was 7 years old, while the oldest was 12.

Most of the activities that I used were from books published by Pleasant Company. I was able to find some at my local library and others were found at Amazon. At the bottom of this post I will put links for all of the books I used.

Here is a summary of today.

Wednesday - Addy 1874

Copywork

"When it was time to go back for dessert, Addy ignored all the cakes and pies and headed straight for Momma's sweet-potato pudding in the shining black skillet. As she savored each smooth sweet bite, she thought about Poppa, Sam and Esther."

Picture Study

The Underground Railroad by Charles T Webber; 1893

Craft - Picture Quilt

We looked at picture a picture quilt made by Harriet Powers in 1886. We discussed who she was and tried to identify as many Bible stories as we could from her quilt. Then the girls designed a quilt block using construction paper. The older girls did a great job with this, but I think the younger girls had a hard time understanding what to do. I should have finished one myself so they could see what the assingment was.

Cooking activity

Addy's Mini Sweet Potato Pies

Taken from the American Girls Party Book

Music study
Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

One of the advantages of homeschooling is that all ages can participate. My son who is 5 came into the room off and on to see what we were doing. Sometimes he would sit and do the activity with us. The nice part is that he was invited in - not by me, but by the girls who were participating. They pulled up a chair and asked him to be a part of what we were doing.

An American Girl Christmas - Day #2

An American Girl Christmas
based on the books from Pleasant Company Publications.

This past week (Monday to Thursday), I taught a class called "An American Girl Christmas". The plan was to focus on a different American Girl each day. We learned a little about the time period, did writing activities, studied paintings from the time period, sang a couple of songs, and completed some handicrafts. The youngest girl in my class was 7 years old, while the oldest was 12.

Most of the activities that I used were from books published by Pleasant Company. I was able to find some at my local library and others were found at Amazon. At the bottom of this post I will put links for all of the books I used.

Here is a summary of today.

Tuesday - Josefina 1824

Copywork - "Christmas Eve was called "la Noche buena" - the good night. And this Christmas Eve felt like a very good night to Josefina. Nina was hers to love and care for at last."

Picture Study -Las Posadas 2000 by Carmen Lomas Garza

We discussed Las Posadas and what happens. This picture was especially nice because it is so colorful and is modern.

Craft

Decorated a hair comb with rinestone jewels. This idea came from Just Call Me Jammin. She has some great ideas of activities to do with the American Girls books.

Made a memory book as explained in the American Girls Club Handbook.

Music Study

We listened to the songs from Josefina's time from the American Girls Christmas CD.

Snack

Hot chocolate and cookies

An American Girl Christmas - Day #1

An American Girl Christmas
based on the books from Pleasant Company Publications.

This past week (Monday to Thursday), I taught a class called "An American Girl Christmas". The plan was to focus on a different American Girl each day. We learned a little about the time period, did writing activities, studied paintings from the time period, sang a couple of songs, and completed some handicrafts. The youngest girl in my class was 7 years old, while the oldest was 12.

Most of the activities that I used were from books published by Pleasant Company. I was able to find some at my local library and others were found at Amazon. At the bottom of this post I will put links for all of the books I used.

Here is a summary of today.

Monday Feliticy - 1774

Copywork - "Felicity stood on a stool to lift the ark down from its high shelf. The ark was a special toy they brougnt down only at Christmastide. All three children loved to play with the wooden boat and the small painted animals that went inside. Now they sat at mother's feet, happily lining the animals up in pairs."

Picture Study

Sewing project - Pincusion (Found in Felicity's Craft Book)

This was a worthwhile project. It took a long time to finish, but the pincusions came out beautifully and the girls really enjoyed working on them.

Music Study

Deck the Halls

Snack

I made a pound cake ahead of time and called it a Twelfth Night Cake. I did bake a bean into it and we had a girl who was "Queen of the Day".

Resources for today:

Serving Others

Through love, serve one another. Galatians 5:13

Something I have wanted to do for years was to serve at a soup kitchen.
Last night, I told the kids we would be going to serve others in the morning. At that time, I couldn't tell how they felt about it.

This morning when it was time to go, they all seemed eager.

I did prep them on the way there about the type of people they might see and that we are to serve everyone there with love - no matter what. They seemed to understand.

There was something for all of us to do. (Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures until close to the end.)

I served soup. (My basic life philosophy is that food equals love. What better way to show love than through a hot bowl of soup on a chilly day.)
DD12 served sandwiches and applesauce, and she dried dishes and wiped down tables and chairs.
DD11 mainly helped with dishes.
DS5 stacked crackers for me. It surprises me sometimes how someone so young is so eager and willing to serve. The task I gave him was to count out 4 crackers to a stack and set them on the table next to me so all I had to do was to reach over and grab a stack to set on people's trays. He was attentive to the task and stuck with me the entire 45 minutes. After lunch was served and everyone left, he helped to wipe down tables and chairs and he squeegied the dish washing area.

It was a joy to me to have the opportunity to serve others and to give the opportunity to my children.











Later this afternoon, DD11 told me that she can't wait to go back and do it again.

I encourage others to seek out such opportunities for their families. The rewards are great.

According to Pennsylvania homeschool law, we are required to cover civics. Part of civics is volunteerism. A side benefit of an activity like this is that you can place it in your portfolio under civics. We aren't just learning about what a volunteer is, we are actually doing it. What could be better?