Early Girlie Homeschool


Kindergarten Ideas

I began homeschooling in the middle of the year, due to illness. I started by using what we already had on our shelves for inspiration. From there, I drew inspiration from online.

Subjects & Activities (Educational Objectives)

Language Arts: Making Valentines * Printing Names (Hand Over Hand) * Parts Of An Envelope * How To Compose A Greeting Card * Composing E-Card & Slideshows For Eco-Conscious Greetings.

Spelling, Sight Words, Vocabulary.

Math: Calendar, Sequencing, Cardinal Numbers, Grouping, Addition / Subtraction.

Science: Water, Snow, Ice. Melting With Heat And Salt. Weather, Seasons, Winter. Hibernation. Apple Seeds, Core, Stem, Fruit.

Health: Immune System, Cold Viruses, Symptoms, And Cures (rest, Fluid Intake, Nutrition). Muscles - pulling and healing (because my back was in spasm & I had to rest with ice/heat).

Physical Education: Indoor Exercise - Cycling, Drumming, Marching, Yoga. Outdoor Sledding and Resistance walking in snow. Olympic sports: figure skating, skiing, snow boarding.

Art-making: Using A Reference (photo to complete a painting). COLOR Study (red + blue = purple). Painting an overwhelming experience (choice: #1: Parade, #2 Crying). PERSPECTIVE (how to depict something large and high in the sky). Nesting dolls on paper (choice: Yo Gabba Gabba friends as a theme).

Snow Sculptures - Figuring Out Tools/Materials Such As Scoops And Molds (bowls & Shapes). Nature/Impermanent Art. 

Art History: Guy Carleton Wiggins (1883-1962) American Impressionist. "Washington's Birthday-Wall Street Winter" oil on canvas. Russian Matryoshkas (nesting dolls).

Music: 4/4 Time Signature, Beats Per Measure (bpm). Learning different rhythms on drum. Strum patterns on Ukulele (down & up).

US History / Geography / Civics: Photojournalism as a way to discover, experience and evaluate history. Native Americans Today- Project 562 By Matika Wilbur. Photojournalism & Videography Of U.S. National Holidays & Family Events (Parades & Holiday Celebrations). George Washington's Birthday * Hawaii's tropical climate and dominant industries (sandalwood, ukulele, pineapples, sugarcane, coconuts), ukulele & arts. {Can you tell I like to study opposites?}

World Culture : Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Division Of Countries and States (map). Russian Currency Vs. Us Currency. Nesting Dolls (Matroyshka).

FEBRUARY READING LIST {Illustrated Children's Books}

Bubble Guppies: The Doctor is In

Doc McStuffins: Chilly Catches a Cold

Dora the Explorer: Dora's Chilly Day

Mouse's First Valentine 

Over and Under the Snow

Pete the Cat: Valentines Day is Cool

Plant a Kiss

The Mitten 

The Snowball (STEP INTO READING)

The Snowbelly Family of Chillyville Inn

Snowmen All Year

Stranger in the Woods

Video Resources

{Feb 2014 Lessons}

Winter Olympics 2014 Sochi, Russia - YOLO Flip

"A failure isn't a failure if it prepares you for success tomorrow."

We kind of live by this idea!

Studying Hawaii (because we're freezing here!)

Earlie Girlie found these ukulele tutorials herself.

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This boy has a classical music theory background, in addition to his own tutoring style. Being able to pause, rewind, and repeat lessons is a huge advantage for video recordings. In a classroom, either you caught it, or you didn't.

We've watched dozens of videos and documentaries about the pahu and ipu (gourd) drums and hula dancing. The pahu drum family made from coconut trees. Hula Pahu is used to accompany dances and songs.  Heiau Pahu which is a prayer drum. "Hana Lima: Making a Hawaiian Drum" has several episodes. Hawaii has no rivers, which means no clay, so they use gourds for everything! The drums are called Ipu hale (single gourd) and Ipu heke (double gourd). Earlie Girlie was enthralled. Linked here are her favorite of the drum videos. She's can play all of the simple beats.

What is a fractal? MIT explains it! (P.S. Pineapples are fractals).

Earlie Girlie loves learning about other people.


She plays instruments and sings every day.

We do most of her education through the arts. I suppose it's what I know best.


How Music helps speech:

Conditions vocal chords by singing & learning lyrics helps build vocabularly. It aids memory, understanding of patterns. And, it's self-expressive and reflective by nature.

Rhythm helps young children clap out syllables and helps the body sync up better. Time signatures break down info into small blocks of learning - 4/4 time. That may be why it's so easy to learn, phrase at a time, through music.

Call & repeat exercises aid with listening & responding. You can use a drum for a fun nonverbal conversation, or one with words. 

Music is a universal language. Lyrics can be sung in native languages, but it seems easy to appreciate the gist of what is being expressed.

 

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