Week Six--Letter "Ff", Fish

Joe is 4 years, one week old

This week's letter was the letter "Ff". Our theme was fish. We started our Get Ready for the Code lessons this week. I'm very happy to say they went super! Joe and I both really enjoyed each day of the lessons. This will be a "keeper" for us. I like the way each lesson is set up and what and how things are presented and covered. I like the repetition too. Joe was not at all overwhelmed or bored by these lessons. He actually looked forward to each day of them. In addition to the lessons and writing practice in "The Code" Joe also wrote on his chalkboard and played the Pumpkin Alpha file file folder game some more.

Books
We enjoyed reading lots of books about fish, sea creatures and ocean life this week. It surprises me each week to see Joe choose more of the books I get that are nonfiction rather than the fictional "story" books. He soaks up all of the information we read and waits to hear more throughout the week. His favorite this week was, A Swim Through the Sea, by Kristin Joy Pratt (listed in widget below), a book that was nonfiction but told in a storylike manner. Very nice illustrations and lots of information!

Math
We continued with our Abeka math lessons this week. Joe has learned how to recognize numbers 1-30 now and count to thirty also without hesitation, mistakes or prompting from me. This was frustrating to him just a couple of weeks ago, so this is an accomplishment:-).

Craft
This week Joe made his very own "rainbow fish" after we read one of our favorites, The Rainbow Fish book. Joe made this using painted cardstock, assorted colored tissue paper, tin foil and a googly eye. He really enjoyed making this craft! He was very proud of it when he finished. This was his favorite of all the ones he's made so far.



Science
We used the Usborne Encyclopedia of Oceans and Seas, several nonfiction books about fish and ocean life and took a trip to the zoo to visit the aquarium complex for our science lessons this week.




We did a science experiment this week to make your own "fish tank" complete with "swimming fish". Hanna helped Joe do this experiment. Joe made some seaweed and attached it to a 2 liter bottle filled about 3/4 with water. Hanna helped him add 1/2 cup baking soda and 1T vinegar. Next, they took turns putting raisins (the fish) into the bottle and put the lid back on very tightly. After about 20 or 30 minutes the fish (raisins) were swimming around in the "tank". Joe thought it was really cool! The "fish" were moving alot faster than I'd expected. They really were zooming and not just floating.







We had a really fun week. We will be moving on to a study of bears next week. Look for it soon!