History

This week in history we read about the Rus people, for whom Russia was named. We read a Russian version of the Cinderella story called “Baba Yaga and Vasilisa the Brave,” and the illustrations of the creepy old witch lady were extremely creepy. I was a bit worried it would give Poppy nightmares, but so far so good on that front. (Pete didn’t even want to look at the book after he heard me say the pictures were creepy.) Our craft activity this week is supposed to be a traditional hat called a kokoshnik, but we haven’t quite gotten to it yet.

Last week, though, we did do an activity! We were talking about the Silk Road, so I set up a little path through the backyard that led the kids through the desert to a couple of oasis settlements (complete with Oreo cookies) and ultimately to a trading post. They spent a good part of the afternoon journeying to and from Peking with a variety of treasures.

Reading

Poppy has been on an American Girl kick lately. She read two books about Kit last week, she’s read through the most recent issue of American Girl magazine at least a dozen times and she picked up the entire Molly series at the library this week.

Speaking of the library, every time we go there Pete checks out as many “Arthur” books as he can carry. Usually he leafs through them, I read one or two to him and then we take them all back for a new armful. This week, though, we sat down and read all 537 of them in a row.

We finished “Gone-Away Lake” early this week, and the kids immediately asked if there was a follow-up. And there is! It’s called “Return to Gone-Away,” and we’ll be starting it as soon as I pick it (and 400 more “Arthur” books) up from the library.

Science

Our caterpillars finally arrived, so the science lessons have resumed! Poppy and Pete drew some lovely pictures of the ‘pillars this week. I’m looking forward to seeing their illustrations as the project moves forward.

Extracurricular

Pete started tae kwon do last Friday. The kids have to get six stripes on their belts before they’re eligible to test for the next level, and yesterday his instructor gave him his first stripe. It was, he said, for “being a very good listener in class.” I really like their system because two of their stripes will come from me, as his mom and his teacher. Their classes for 4- and 5-year-olds emphasize Courtesy; Doing Your Best; Not Whining; and Keeping Your Room Clean. All things of which I am in favor.

Wanna read more about homeschooling? Check out the Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers weekly linky thing!