Jan-March 2011

January

We had a wonderful 3 months vacation overseas, and just returned back to the US safe and sound, alhamdulillah. It's not too hard adjusting to the cold weather, and kids are looking forward to get back to the activities of our homeschool journey.

• January 6th Becoming Girl Scout Member

Although it's only a few months left until the group bid farewell for Summer, we decided to join anyway. The kids are very excited and blended immediately to the new pack of sweet Brownie troop # 2341.
____________________________________________
February

Week 2:

• February 11th Elephant Lapbook

As part of Animal In Quran program, we did the presentation for the Manassas Mosque Home Study school. There were about twelve Third Graders total that actually participate in lapbooking but there were also about 10 kids of PreK and K students who stayed with us and listened to the story of King Abraha and Army of Elephants. A and K did a wonderful team job in presenting and finding out all about elephants. They probably read about 20 books total on the subject. They also went to search on the net and helped cutting and finding clippings from magazine. As usual, I enticed them with the chance to decorate and write a few pieces to go on the boards.

Week 4:





What I wear in Yemen





Swap Time


• February 26th International Thinking Day with Girl Scout

Troop #2341

Went out early morning to be at the Elementary School, and K was a bit nervous to the fact that it's a drop off program. Alhamdulillah one of the mom did not make it, so I got to replace her and stayed to take picture of the event. There were probably about 100 scouts and 50 mom leaders. A and K went onstage to represent the fashion in Yemen. This is their first time on stage and they loved it. However, according to them, the most enjoyable moment was the swap time. See video

Topic covered:
-Nepal (Role of Women in Nepal and country facts)
-Yemen (Yemen Fashion and country facts)
____________________________________________
March
Week 1:

• March 1st Natural Museum Butterfly Pavillion

It's been about a week that I promised A to take her to the NMNH in DC. Tuesday is free exhibition day, so I thought that this will be a great day to go and explore. Turned out, we got more than what we came for! There were a lot of other free exhibition on site. A and K got to hold caterpillars and of course took a few pics on the butterfly hijab 'hitchhikers'. Yup, everytime we visit the pavilion there were at least 5 buterflies that landed on my head scarf and stayed there. This time though, they had to be brushed off me. They just wont let go. Alhamdulillah, I have that affect on one of the prettiest creature on earth! :)

•  Assemble Free Lego Bird

Yes, this was insane. To go right away from a museum straight to the mall. We came in about 5 minutes after the door is open, and were 100th in line. Kids stayed a while to paly with the Lego box and did about 5 minutes building the bird. So much for the 45 min wait!

Week 2:

• March 7th Forensic Anthropology

We came with our friend Isabel and her mom, Jaymie. What a neat experience! This class is for 5th graders but A and K was totally involved in this. I'm giving recognition to Jaymie, as usual, she managed to break it down in kiddy language and get them to solve the problem. The class was about solving a case on which a skeleton was found burried underground. The remain was all we got to find out what happened. There were 6 stations total, and we spent about 20 minutes each finding out what, who, where and how. It was a great experience. More about it here.

Week 3:

• March 14th Brain Awareness Week at the NMNH




63yo Real Human Brain

 

Animal Brain Comparison

Humpty Dumpty Break

This was an excellent trip, A and I got to hold a REAL human brain of  63 year old man. K got to do a few volunteer. She was the  youngest in the program which was geared for fifth grader. The program started with an introduction about BRAIN. On the podium, the director throw a black rubber ball to the children as they answer his quiz. K squirmed in her seat and told me that she doesn't know anything about brain and that she didnt want him to asked her. I assured her to not worry because he only throw the ball to those who raise their hands. She was contect with my answer.Then we went to designated stations that hosted by real scientists and doctors of the Walter Reed Army Hospital Facility. First they went to a table which has jello brain. They learned the function of the 4 division. And poke a bamboo stick on that jello brain. Next, we went to learn about Nervous system. They were divided into 2 groups and play a game that represent the nervous system. What a great idea! Next, it's Brain Comparison. There were a few pictures of different animal brains and the children played guessing game. Afterwards it was the Humpty Dumpty room that talks about head injury, trauma and how to protect your head. K got to volunteer dropping an egg as she was the youngest in the class. Coming out of the room, we were greeted with cases of deformed fetus and babies skeleton. Last, it was the human brain! K said there is no way that she would touch that, so she missed it. A almost declined as well but when she saw me holding it, she wanted to hold it too. I will post picture soon, inshAllah. See the website here.

• March 15th Art Class wt Jean McTigue, Cascade Library AFRICA PEACE

A and K was reluctant to come when they heard that it will be a structure class. Little do they know that they teacher is an unschooling homeschool mom too. After the class, they couldnt stop telling me what happened in there. Non. Stop. As if they swallowed a radio. They learnt about the Tree Of Life of the Mozambican. It's probably a great time to do Africa mapping now.

• March 16th Lego Building Burke Library

This event was arranged by Lauren with her two boys. We car pooled to Burke Library with Shari, Emily and her friend, Grace. Since we were early, we stopped by at a nearby plaza and found a nice educational toy store. They had a lot of arts and crafts items along with science projects in a pack. We definetely need to come back there again. Upon arrival to the library meeting room, we met a few familiar faces. Not for long, the kids burried themselves with the tons of lego that Lauren had. My,what a site. There were at least 20 kids there and each one of them had a good collection of Lego to build themselves a town! It was hard to bid farewell, but again, the enticement of something sweet and cold, aka ice cream sandwhich, always get the job done!

Helping out



Pretend Play



Building

• March 18th Show Your Diorama Lorton Library
Friday morning has always been a blessing for us. This time, we met two new friends from the homeschool groups. I hit myself in the head for leaving my camera and not charging the video cam I brought with me. Luckily, Shari took hers and was kind enough to take video of the whole event. There were diorama about the tallest building, spring time, giraffe, backyard birds, Egypt and of course, our T-Rex and sabertooth tiger. A was so excited to show off her diorama and she actually got the most viewers. The volcano erruption effect she had on her diorama was a winner. Each of the participant got to pour a few drops of stinky apple vinegar inside the volcan that had scoops of baking soda in it. Langston said, " I do this every single day, but I still love it!." Too cute. It was a short but great event. We played outside for a while before going back home. On the way, I stopped by the mall and took kids for lunch at our fave Vietnamese restaurant. We've been going there for 3 years now, but still cant remember the name.We had veggie Pho Soup and some veggie spring rolls, yum! When we were back in the car, I had to throw away the diorama box due to the stench. I was glad that A easily agreed. I guess, like me, she was also toxicated by the smell (smile).

 Week 4:

This week was supposed to be our Solar System Week. Field Trip was included on Tuesday. Allah wills a different plan for us. Alhamdulillah. Karina had strep throat and just completely bedridden. We are taking the days of formal homeschooling enjoying the beautiful weather and some family time learning Bahasa. I also managed to get a lot of things done including organizing events for the homeschool groups all the way until June. YEAY!

We also got in touch with PWC Soil and conservation presentor that is nice enough to lend us kits on Trees and Natural Resources. Although it was originated for 1st grader, they have a lot of neat things that would interest older grades too. A few of them are: How a pencil is made, stories about acorn from drop to death. We also did some leaf stencils and learnt about the rings on the various trees.The kit came complete with CD and video to watch along with teachers resources and instruction. I got to keep this for a week for free. The drive was a bit of a hike, but all worthed. The personnel made a date with our HS group to do a presentation in a local library and a visit to their farm will follow a month later. Neat!

Daddy bought them a set of plaster project to make and it came out really fun and so we put another set on our wishlist. We also made another contract with him to finish up the Math Facts by May. They'll earn a reward if they pass his test. We are also getting ready for our family to come visit this week. Aside from the illness, (K got strep and an allergy reaction to amoxicillin while K got a bad case of cold and cough) the spirit of learning and having fun remains high in this household.

• March 22nd Journey To Sky Albert Einstein Planetarium 10am CANCELLED
• Solar System Lapbook
• Finishing the Tree of Life project
• All about Trees


• Made a HORSE and DINO cast plaster project

________________________________________________________________
Learn about

Book List

See individual blog:
here
and here

Math

Multiplication Facts
3 digits addition and subtraction
More on Money
Contract on Math Facts must finish by May

Language Art

Writing blog
Read Book Contract
Introduction to Poem : Shel Silverstein (awesome Audio CD)
Making cards to family every Saturday

Science
Sabertooth Diorama
Dinosaurs Diorama
Excavation Kit

Robot Brush Kit
Plaster Cast Dino
Plaster Cast Horse
Make Jello Brain

Social Study

• History: Cleopatra, review Egypt
• Geography : Continent: Asia, Country: Nepal, Yemen Review Africa and Egypt
• Life skill : Banking

Art

Tree of Life Mozambique part1
Cross Stitch Butterfly (still on the works)
Leaves stencil and watercolor Painting
Elephant Army Story from The Quran (Read together)
Sticth Felt and design Tote Bag






Music
English
My Mother Is Amazing by Zain Bikha
Safety Smart By Puma and Timba
Bahasa:
Head Should Knees and Toes
Days of the week
Rainbows
Arabic
Numbers

Islamic Study and Quran

1. Chapter: Al Fiil
2. Copywork: Al Fiil
3. Prophet: Musa AS
4. Moral: Lying is a sin 
5. History: Battle of Badr
6. Famous People: Khadija RA
7. Dua: Innalilahi Wa Innailaihi Rojiun
8. Hadith: Whenever a group of people sit together remembering Allah, the angels surround them, Allah’s mercy envelopes them, and Allah mentions them in a better company.
9. Allah's Attributes: Ar Raziq (The Sustainer) 

Foreign Language :Bahasa

Greetings, Numbers, Days of the Week, Names of the months, Body Parts, Colors, Expressions