Music- Navigators

The Navigators delved deep into their young minds, and began to think about what music is, and what it was meant to be. They had already written their own definitions of music which we discussed further in class. And then we looked at a quote from Plato-"Music is..wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." After drawing little pictures of what came to mind from those phrases, they went a little deeper and started thinking about how those word pictures really do relate to music. They began to talk about how important music is to our everyday lives, and how it affects us. Music reaches into so many areas of our lives, many more than we even realize. Many conversations were opened up about music's affect on us, and God's intent for it. And hopefully we will continue those conversations through the rest of the year, as we follow the progression of music through this time period.

Music- Pathfinders

We took a look at the definitions that the students brought in today, paying attention to the common denominators between the similar definitions. They decided that music should be described as combinations of sound that are pleasing to listen to, rather than just noise. They also realized that both sound and silence are needed to create music.
We took a look at a quote from Plato-"Music is..wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything." The kids drew pictures illustrating what those word pictures brought to mind.
And then they got creative making rain sticks. I gave them the initial instruction, and then they experimented by adding/modifying until they had the sound they were looking for.

Explorers/ Trailblazers Music

     Today's class was an introduction to music, where we explored what music is. The children shared the definitions of music that they had found. And then they came up with their own one-word descriptions of what music is to them.
     After that we took some time to play with some dynamics. We took a simple, familiar tune (Yankee Doodle) and changed the feel and sound of the song by changing the dynamics, singing it loud and soft, even shouting and whispering.
     And then we finished decorating our shakers, and used them to play some rhythm games. The kids enjoyed creating their own rhythms as well as mimicking others.

Monroe Doctrine

Only 40 years after the US gained its independence, the Monroe Doctrine fearlessly marked all of North and South America as a territory independent from Europe. According to Monroe, the US would no longer tolerate future European colonization or intervention in newly independent countries of the Americas, promising to retaliate if pushed.  

Interestingly, this message wasn’t found in a statement to other countries, but buried deep in a State of the Union speech that President James Monroe made to the US Congress. 

“The American continents … are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by any European powers.  We … should consider any attempt on their part to extend their system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to our peace and safety.” 

In class activities:

• Reviewed US path to independence
• Discussed the similarities between animals marking their territory, and the Monroe Doctrine
• Made handprint dogs
• Discussed our own ideas of territory and defense

Optional lesson extension activities:

• Monroe information and coloring pages - usa-printables
• Listen to the entirety of the Monroe Doctrine - librivox

In preparation for next week's class:

• read timeline cards #2-3

History 1&2 - Introduction

FAITH Parents,

I am so excited to be working with the kids in history class again this year as we explore the modern time period.  Please be aware that there will be a small amount of homework every week.  By ensuring that your student comes prepared, you allow our class to delve deeper into fun projects and discussions.  Class summaries, reading assignments (feel free to read these aloud to your student), timeline review videos, and optional lesson extension activities will be sent to you weekly in e-mail form, and will also be posted here.  

You should have already received your Veritas Press history cards at orientation.  If not, make sure that you pick yours up this week.  On the back of each card is a reading list.  These books are not required, but you may find that you already have a few on your shelves, and any additional reading that the kids do at home will deepen their understanding of the subject.

Below is the class syllabus.  You will notice that, due to time constraints, our course is focused almost entirely on American modern history.  If you wish to include world history in your studies, I  highly suggest that you allow your student to listen to a resource such as Story of the World volume 4 at home.  

If you have any questions at all, please feel free to get in touch with me.  

Sheryl G.

Date	History level 1 & 2 topic	Timeline Events	Year	In preparation for class read Veritas Card
9/9	End of colonization	Monroe Doctrine	1823	1
9/16	Manifest Destiny	Erie Canal	1825	2
		Jacksonian Democracy	1828-1836	3
9/23	Expanding demand for slaves	Cotton Gin	1830	4
		Slavery	1780-1865	5
9/30	Indian Removal Act	Trail of Tears	1830	6
10/7	Texas War of Independence	Alamo	1836	7
		Westward Expansion	1841	8
		War with Mexico	1846-1848	9
10/14	Westward migration	Gold Rush	1849	10
		Oregon Terretory	1850	11
10/21	Civil War	Lincoln	1861-1865	12
		Civil War	1861-1865	13
		Gettysburg	1863	14
		Civil War Generals	1861-1865	15
10/28	Reconstruction	Transcontinental Railroad	1869	16
		Reconstructing the South	1865-1870	17
		Black Leadership	1870	18
11/4	Industrial Revolution	Age of Industry	1870-1900	19
11/11	End of the Native American way of life	Battle of Little Big Horn	1876	20
		Cowboys and the West	1870-1890	21
		Spanish American War	1896	22
11/18	Progressive Era	Teddy Roosevelt	1901-1909	23
		Immigration	1900	24
		Wright Brothers & Inventions	1903	25
11/25	No class - Thanksgiving
12/2	WWI	World War I	1914-1918	26
		Roaring 20s	1920-1929	27
		Great Depression	1933-1945	28
12/9	Christmas presentation
12/16, 23, & 30	no class - Christmas
1/6	WWII	World War II	1939-1945	29
1/13	Cold War	Cold War, Korea, & Vietnam	1945-1989	30
1/20	Information Age	Space Race	1957-1969	31
		Modern America Fall of Berlin Wall, & Sept 11	1970-Present	32

Instructor Biography - Joni C.

Art Class; Trailblazers and Explorers (levels 1 and 2)
Joni C.

 Hello! I am excited to have an opportunity to teach two of the Art classes this tear. I have homeschooled all of my nine children these last 22 years or so. Some years before that, I attended Mass. College of Art. I have taught art in another co-op, had a stained glass class at my home for teens, and had a week long Art camp for kids also. I believe that using Art to express oneself is a gift from our creative "Creator  God". I am hoping to use the Suzuki model of looking at Fine Art  work through history(1850-modern times), and learning from them. I spend most of my time working with and enjoying my children and, now, eight grandchildren. We have a small farm, where we raise sheep, goats, chickens, and a large garden for canning and freezing. I enjoy reading and doing artwork.

Clean-up

Each of our families is responsible for helping with clean-up once per year.  Supplies are kept in the janitor's closet between the history classroom and the bathroom upstairs, and there is generally a spray bottle in each classroom.

The process is quick and easy:

• Begin upstairs in the art room & follow the teacher's instructions
• Sweep or vacuum each room as needed
• Check to make sure all tables are wiped clean and white boards are tidy
• Turn off lights as rooms are completed
• Bathrooms - check to ensure all toilets are flushed and faucets are off.  Tidy floors as needed.

Our goal is to leave the building as nice as, or better than we found it.  Thank you for your help!