The children are learning about the
great Explorers in our Co-op Homeschool. We discussed how God confounded the language of the people of Babel, so that they spread out throughout the world. Brave souls decided years later to travel, seeking wealth or lands. We discussed what it would have been like to travel across seas and oceans in small ships, or through mountain passes on pack-horses. Danger would have been all around - sometimes real, sometimes perceived. There was no "edge of the world", there were no "sea monsters"...yet the explorers thought there might be. So, they were courageous as they travelled far from home.
We gave the children an assignment:
History - Explorers Project.
| Explorer | Researcher |
| Balboa | Critter |
| Frobisher | Justin |
| Cabot | Ethan |
| Alexander | Trenton |
| Columbus | Tiana |
| Drake | Quinlan |
| Vikings | Nathan |
| Marco Polo | Elena |
| Vespucci | Daniel |
| Magellan | Linda |
This is a research project. Go to the library, use encyclopaedia, or the internet (LAST!) to find out information about your explorer. Where did he live? When? What form of travel did he use? Where did he go? Did he claim any land for his liege? Were there any conflicts during his travels? Was his life in danger?
Find out some interesting facts about your explorer. Include a map of his travels.
Use the template to copy figures onto cardstock. Decorate the explorer to reflect something of his culture or character. (Sword, moustache, horse, uniform, equipment, etc.)
You will be giving a report on your explorer next week, and putting your guy up on the timeline. You could even include a page for the other students to fill in with facts about your explorer.
Around the World in Math
When we were finished with History, we played "Around the World". The children line up, and the first volunteer stands behind the first in line. I call out math facts, and the two of them compete to see who can be the first to call out the correct answer. The winner moves to the next person in line, and continues "around the world". The first one to get all the way around gets to sit down.
There's a lot of pressure to do well, and some of the kids like competition, while others feel upset when they get a wrong answer. But with plenty of encouragement, they persevered, and everybody had fun.
I'm sure they're going to practice their math before the next co-op day.
3 comments:
Mine are definitely going to practice! :) They need to keep their titles. ;)
I'll have you know that this morning Justin woke up, had an apple, and got out the encyclopaedia to look up Frobisher. ;) There was just a little blurb about him in ours, so he'll do more research on the internet. But, is that a first kid or what? ;)
How come the internet is last? We rely on our internet alot for school.
Just curious.
I want them to be able to do old-fashioned research at the library, in the encyclopedia, etc. The internet is fairly easy to use. Although, I do want to teach them to discern what sites are reliable and what sites aren't so great! I actually have a lesson prepared on that very subject.
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