Banksias & Bilbies - A book review

The other day my daughter, my mother & I went on an op shop brawl in our local township. Browsing through the 50c special on books, I discovered the above book 

'Banksias & Bilbies'.

The book on top I took from my laptop camera, hence the backward writing, and the next photo is one I found in google images, just so you my readers can view this delightful cover properly, because I love you.

The illustrations are delectable. 

Have a look-

Sorry about the backwards writing!

This marvelous nature book I personally wouldn't class as a 'living book' but more like an Australian yearly time line. 

The naturalist gives a brief weekly overview of just some of the happenings in nature during the specific month.

There is also room for your very own naturalist to draw and add their own discoveries for the month.

I am thrilled to be adding this to our Australian Natural History shelf for AO year 4 next year.

All for 50c! 

WOW!

You can find a copy here and here  

:)

Inspired by Burke & Wills

For our Australian history this year we have been reading aloud H.E Marshall's - Australasia's story.

Marshall expresses herself so clearly with wonderful words from our English language which makes this book a delight to read aloud and to listen to.

Today we have been following the journey of Burke & Wills and their expedition leaving from Melbourne into the harsh conditions of the Australian outback. The story is quite a sad one mainly due to mans lack of wisdom and not listening to fellow comrades. 

You may know the story or may not but I really cannot see what came from such an expedition except loss of life. These stories we never read about in school and I am learning the truth of all that really took place those many years ago. 


I do admire the courage, bravery and passion that encompassed these first explorers, even just reading about their drive for adventure really inspires me to look beyond what is in reach and delve into the unknown, to keep learning more about God's world and step more and more into what I am destined for.


I'm also reminded of one of the very important reasons why we chose to home school our children, one of the foundations that we are building upon and that is the belief that our children are destined, the bible says that God has a plan and a purpose for each generation. 


I am so thankful for this reminder today as some days I just lose my vision due to grumpy and bickering children, or simply feeling unappreciated. I know feelings are deceitful sometimes but they can drag you down if you let them. 


But coming back to simple stories about our Australian explorers has truly lifted my spirits and I am reminded that I am giving my children the best education possible and I have the very power in my tongue to make a difference by encouraging them to reach new heights, to explore Gods creation and to become all that God intended them to be.

P.S We were all stoked to find this wonderful Irish folksong above, we all have and by 'we' I mean hubby, Joshua, Gracie and myself have been having a jig and a sing along. 

P.S.S I have my MOJO back, I was beginning to think I had seriously lost my mojo to write. YAY (-:
 

Schedule 2012

"The children should have the joy of living in far lands, in other persons, in other times--a delightful double existence; and this joy they will find, for the most part, in their story books." ~ Charlotte Mason
(Vol. 1 Part IV- , p.153)

Daily Instruction & Practice~

Language Arts~

Joshua AO4~

Phonics- Learn to Read, Write & Spell- Complete book 6

Writing Tales  (English, Grammar)

All about Spelling

Modern Cursive Handwriting- Book 5

McGuffey's Readers

Gracie AO2~

Phonics- Learn to Read, Write & Spell- finish book 3 start book 4

Copywork- Mother Goose

Modern cursive Handwriting- finish book 1 start book 2

McGuffey's Readers

Note: Both of my children love to write, so I have provided more writing practice than what a Charlotte Mason Education requires. Every family and child is different and that is what makes home schooling so exceptional.


MEP Maths~
Joshua to complete Yr 3A ready to begin Yr 3B
Gracie to complete Yr 1B ready to begin Yr 2A


Foreign Language~
We continue with Spanish by listening to a lot of Spanish music on our iPods, in the car, you tube and I have just installed some wonderful programs from the APP store for additional practice - very excited indeed.
I plan on introducing Latin slowly this year, hopefully 2-3 days a week.

Musical Instrument Practice~
Joshua to continue Violin and to start the basics for Acoustic guitar
Gracie to begin the basics for Acoustic guitar

Weekly Instruction or Practice~    
*= Term 1 **= Term 2  ***= Term 3


History Tales/ Biography~
*Squanto~ Joshua to read
* ** The Little Duke~ Together
*** Poor Richard~ Joshua


History~
Australasia's Story (All terms)
An Island Story (All terms)
** ***George Washington's World~  Joshua
Finish SOTW 1 and start A Child's History of the World ( All terms)
Use time lines as much as possible (that's my plan anyhow:D)

Geography~
Australasia's Story (All terms) we will follow on our maps
* Tree in the Trail
** Minn of the Mississippi 
I would like to cover Marco Polo sometime this year, I have a lovely book, but we'll see.

Natural History/Science
The Wonderland of Nature (All terms)
C.K Thompson' Australian Animal stories including~
Blackie the Brumby 
Wild Canary
Tiger Cat
Warrigal the Warrior
Red Emperor - Here is a little excerpt-

With gentle fingers, the rosy hand of dawn parted the curtains of night and then withdrew so that the glorious face of the rising sun could dart glances of the softest gold over the silent bushland. For one long instant the world was an open album, filled with priceless etchings and then, in a flash, the heavens were all aglow and the tired old earth, stirring restlessly for a moment, awakened to continue the daily round.

 

It Couldn't just happen

Science lab in a supermarket 

The Story book of Science

Poetry~
*The animals Noah forgot (Banjo Paterson)
** Walter de la Mare 
*** Emily Dickinson


Literature~
Joshua:

*The Jungle Book

**Robinson Crusoe

***Kidnapped

Gracie:

*The Wind in the Willows

**Seven little Australians

***Understood Betsy 

Art & Art Appreciation/ Composer
Finish Artistic Pursuits Book 1
Look at the works of:
*Frederick McCubbin (19th century Australian Artist)
**Emily Kngwarreye (Indigenous Artist)
***Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902) 


We will follow Ambleside Online's selection of Composers
for each term. 
Listening to classical in our home and car is just a way of life, we all love this style of music.

Folksongs & Hymns
*Aiken Drum
**The Ash Grove
***The Lion Sleeps tonight
We also have a very large selection of Australian & Spanish folksongs that we play throughout our home, the car and on our iPods.
Everyday in our home we listen to a lot of praise music, I don't like to make it a subject, we follow Ephesians 5:19 -  "addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart".

We will try to study one life from Plutarch and A Shakespeare play as Ambleside Online require for Joshua's AO4.


Additional free reading-

Gracie~

The Little Black Princess (Aussie Lit)
The Story of Kurri Kurri the Kookaburra (Aussie Lit)
Heidi
Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales (currently reading)
Along Came a Dog
Mr. Poppers Penguins
Five Little Peppers and How They Grew
Around the World in Eighty Days
Pollyanna

Joshua~

Storm boy (Aussie Lit)
A little Bush Maid (Aussie Lit)
Lassie Come Home
Kidnapped
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh
The Borrowers
Little House in the big Woods (Currently reading)
Farmer Boy
The Twits