The Story About Ping-day 3

Today we watche a video about people fishing with comerants on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7l6Pe0CKsg&feature=fvw  it was interesting and great for the little short attention spans. Then we discussed it and watched another one showing how comarants really expand their throats to swallow very large fish.Pitty-pat also noticed how the boats were made of bamboo poles in the first video.

Dollar store find

I found a "Tales of Peter Rabbit" book at Dollar Daze for $2.00 since I plan to use the FIAR this is a great find for me. It has reposable stickers on each page with heavy pages which makes it more durable for my wild bunch to use. My note book system for keeping each Fiar book in a ziploc bag in my three ring binder with the worsheets and go alongs is working out great. So far I have searched the house and found four more books I already own. ( I would have all of them if my older kids children's books hadn't been stolen out of moms attic after she died!!!!!!Thanks"Big Bro"!)

The Story About Ping-Day 1

All 3 of the little ones listened to the book today. They were quite excited to find the sink or float experiment set up on the table without the water at breakfast this morning. I told them we would add the water after Daddy got back home today. He went out to help at his parents. Today for lunch we ate my version of chinese minus the duck-ha ha! I served white rice cooked in chicken broth with parsley. I then made some mixed vegetables in the microwave and let the kids scoop out what they would eat over the rice in their bowls. Surprising since last year they didn't eat vegetables! Little man got his everywhere in the dining room including his pockets.I don't know how the chinese do it-- feeding rice to two year olds sometimes three times a day. To go alond with the story we colored a chinese flag (Geography)and counted the ducks in the story on our 100s board(Math). Pitty-pat did well counting this way but Tippy-toe was stuck on how to make an x right.

Tammy's Chinese Lunch Recipe
Boil 6 cups water in large pan with tight cover. When water boils add 2 chicken bouillon cubes, 3 Tblsp Parsley, and 2 cups rice. Boil 5 minuets then turn heat to low or off and let set until rice is done about 10-15 minuets.
While rice is cooking put broccoli, greenbeans, corn, carrots, and potaotes from can or frozen into microwave and cook 5-10 minuets until hot.
Let the kids serve themselves so they can't complain about which veggies are in their bowl.

We did a pushpin activity for the first time today. I gave Pitty-pat and Tippy-toe each a cork board mat and an apple picture and the pin. Pitty-pat was able to complete it but Tippy-toe got frustrated and didn't finish. He really needs to work on fine motor skills. He is still a little delayed in this area. They have both came a long way since they came to live with us three years ago. I love the montessori activites for motor skills. I just stumbled on pushpin activities or maybe just ignored them since a year ago I wouldn't have given either of them a sharp object!

After lunch they each picked out a book to read to themselves. Kung-fu Panda for Pitty-pat she recognized the china theme thing and batman for Tippy-toe. Not a bad day at the homeschool today. Tonight we go over to my daughter Aimee's house for cake and icecream since tommorro is her Birthday. I have to work tommorro so tonight works much  better for us to go so far away.

The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack, FIAR

I am putting together a unit study on The story about Ping, a FIAR book. The little boys will do this together but Pitty-Pat may join in if she wishes. I have been rowing with the boys and it is going rather well we did Corduroy last week so Ping is next. I think one BFIAR then one FIAR will be nice for both.There are so many resources out there for Five in A Row books I have printed a list and will be hunting the used bookstores and garage sales for the books  I am missing. I will update this post as I find resources to list.

Johny Appleseed Day

Today we had apples for lunch and put Johny Appleseed on our time line. Pitty-pat did a worksheet from enchantedlearning.com Today September 26th is his birthday. We did the map activity to go along with the worksheet. The kids got to use an apple cutter for the first time. The picture is Pitty-pat trying to cut an apple. Sorry it is so blurry i used my phone for a quick picture.
Pitty-pat is also reviewing place value and did a thousands place worksheet for her math today.A+ to Trent who worked with her on counting by tens Friday night.he got the white board out and taught her so very patiently. Patience is hard when Pitty-pat plays dumb and mute and Trent is dyslexic. His difficulties in school make him very patient with her. Not many 19 year old stepbrothers would spent time on a Friday night to teach their 7 year old stepsister math.Thank You Trent.

A Pocket for Corduroy

We are reading "A Pocket for Corduroy"  by Don Freeman this week. I started it for Little-man but Tippy-toe couldn't stay away.  I found  at homeschoolshare.com  some activities that go along with the Corduroy books. Little-man can point to the bear on each page and Tippy-toe loves to pretend he is reading the pages to me. Some books are good for all ages Tippy-toe is 6 and Little-man just turned two.
 (update: I found a bear that looks like Corduroy and I am making clothes for him.)

FIAR volume 1 reading list

Here is the book list for FIAR Volume 1 -


The Story about Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese( found free online)

Lentil by Robert McCloskey

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans(already had a copy)

A Pair of Red Clogs by Masako Matsuno

The Rag Coat by Lauren Mills

Who Owns the Sun? by Stacy Chbosky

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton

The Glorious Flight by Alice and Martin Provensen

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman

Grandfather's Journey by Allen Say

Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlin (bought for 3.95 at used book store)

Another Celebrated Dancing Bear by Gladys Scheffrin-Falk

Papa Piccolo by Carol Talley

Very Last First Time by Jan Andrews

Clown of God by Tomie dePaola

Storm in the Night by Mary Stolz

Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton ( we have a copyalready)

Night of the Moonjellies by Mark Shasha

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost (Susan Jeffers' Illustration) (Public Library has a copy--- we read last winter 2009)