What 5th Grade Looks Like

We started the year with a little follow-up to our Harry Potter Schooling from last year. The curriculum we were using included several 6-week units that covered a variety of subjects as classes from Hogwarts. We did the Owl Study and Herbology last year, but still have a lot of mini-classes to complete, so Peanut picked a couple he wants to do this year and Care of Magical Creatures was the first one we tackled.

Along with reading a lot of books about mythical creatures, he did several writing projects. For a couple of them, he used the Myth Match book to create new creatures and then wrote up a thorough description of their various traits. He also took notes on a few of his favorite creatures that he read about in some of the other books.

And then he started getting creative. He wanted to come up with his own activities to do for this unit, so he invented the Phoenix pasta recipe and made it for dinner one night.

Doesn't it look like phoenix fire? It was very tasty, too.

And then he came up with edible dragon eggs. Chocolate covered peanut butter eggs.

These were an even bigger hit!

We also made a magnet of another creature he invented--the wildeflyce (flying wildebeast like creature.) All of these ideas, and a couple more, can be found in the Magical Creature Art booklet that he typed up. This boy is never satisfied to just do the projects that are given to him. Everything he reads or hears gets his mind turning and he has to invent his own projects, too. The hardest part is keeping up with all his ideas. We probably only do about 10% of the things that he comes up with, but I think he is finally realizing that that is okay--half the fun is thinking of the idea. Not every single one needs to be brought to fruition. 

In other school news--Peanut started piano lessons this year. We were going to begin last year, but with everything being virtual, we decided it would be better to wait until he could go in person. The virtual lessons worked okay for Bug, but it would be hard to start off a beginner like that.

So far, he's liking it okay. His teacher offers a small candy treat for 5 days' worth of practice, so that helps with the motivation a little.

Science class has been going well. Lots of new students in Peanut's class especially, and I think he's had fun getting to know them. He definitely has fun with the science. And he's been helping out with my youngest class, too. He loves getting to be the "TA" and even made himself a nametag.

Along with being back in the art studio with his fabulous teacher, Mrs. G, we did a little fall art at home. He painted a corn maze with a pumpkin on the path while I did a chalk pastel of a fall tree.

There's been some solo game playing. Being the only kid home all day means a lot of time to fill and I can't be there for all of it. He's doing pretty well keeping himself entertained most days.

There's been a LOT of backyard schooling--at the table, in the hammock, or on a quilt. It just feels good to get outside for awhile each day.

This was our first read aloud novel of the year and we did the Bravewriter Arrow guide to go with it. It was a really great book with some very fun writing.

One activity we did had us pairing random nouns and verbs to see what we could come up with as creative descriptions--Sky swimming, blood moving, and book smelling were my favorites.

Outside time means the animals can get out as well, and they love that. Or, at least, Poppy loves getting out to run and stretch her legs. The guinea pigs like to eat grass, but also seem a little terrified of the whole process each time. They don't love getting picked up, ever, don't love being exposed, don't love being chased by the rabbit, and really don't love being chased to bring back in the house. They spend most of the time hiding in the pink little house, eating grass as fast as they can chew.

We've also started a new program for history. I ordered the CA history curriculum from Beautiful Feet Books which uses novels and picture books to teach about history, and lays out lessons for notebooking about what we learn. We've been really enjoying it and I love the idea of having a notebook full of pictures and maps and summaries of the highlights from CA history.

And, even though I didn't get many pictures at all, our first couple weeks of school involved a lot of games with Rara and Unkie. They spent the first half of September in Livermore at an AirBNB just a few blocks away so they could watch the high school water polo games and hang out with us every afternoon and evening. Peanut and I would finish most of his school by lunch time or so and then they would show up to play games and hear all about what he'd been doing and hang out until bedtime.

I'd say it's been a really great start to the school year. Not that we haven't had some rough days, but for the most part, we're getting a pretty good routine going and finding ways to have some fun with our learning. 

Last Bits of January Fun

Other random fun from the month. . . 

We did a couple hikes with friends on Fridays this month. While the older two don't have water polo or swim, we thought it would be fun to get a little exercise and see people once a week. We had a pretty wet day for our first one.

Rara gave us this awesome subscription box for Christmas--a selection of treats from a different country each month. First one was from the Netherlands and we had so much fun sampling everything and rating them. And this subscription is all used up so there isn't a bunch of stuff to store--another win!

Finally, Peanut had another virtual piano recital. Not the same as doing this in person, but glad that we get to see these performances, and it is nice that Rara was able to join in to watch--one of the benefits of things being online.

Here are clips from his two pieces.

Moonlight Sonata

Chasing Waterfalls

 

One-on-One Time

Bug and I got to go on a hiking date this morning. As the only two morning people in our house, we figured we could go out for a few miles before things really got going at home. 

We hiked 6 miles on the Bay Area Ridge Trail in Castro Valley, and at the peak, had this amazing view. The hills we climbed were the steepest I've done, maybe ever, definitely during this quest to do the whole ridge trail.

Our turn around point. Beautiful fields.

We saw a few lizards, lots of rabbits, a flock of quail, and tons of other birds as well.

Walking and talking with Bug reminded me of what a cool kid he is. I'm so glad that I've been able to be so involved with his life these past few years and have a front row seat for his learning and growth. I don't claim to have taught him much, but I get to hang out with him while he figures things out and then teaches me. Whatever he decides to do, he's going to be great at it.

We made it back in time for an appointment at the post office to submit the kids' passport applications, and then a birthday parade for Peanut's friend. Bean had written on our car for her friend, and I think we'll just leave it until this whole thing is open so we can go drive by all our friends for their birthdays.

We had a busy afternoon. I hung out with friends again in our social distancing square in the church parking lot. It does me so much good to have a couple hours off-duty and talking with people in person. Then, we had a virtual talent show with our church congregation. There were the traditional entries--piano pieces and quilting and art work, and then a few people took advantage of the recorded format and did musical pieces where they sang all the parts, or played multiple instruments--very fun!

Bean and Peanut submitted artwork, and Bug played the piano.:

Bean shared a few of her Star Wars watercolors.

Peanut wanted to share his earth chalk pastel.

And Bug played Pachelbel's Canon.

It's weird that so much about this is becoming normal. It makes sense that we'll adapt and figure out ways to celebrate things, but at the same time, having a busy Saturday full of friends and social activities under the current circumstances is odd. Just a few weeks ago, all of this would have been unimaginable, but here we are.

Piano Debut

These two kids got to play the piano at the Community Nativity Festival tonight and they did so great! They've only been taking lessons since mid-summer, so when their new teacher suggested they play, I wasn't sure they were really ready for this, but they both were excited (and nervous, too).

Bean started off because she was nervous and really wanted to get it over with (and I caught the first verse before I realized my camera battery wasn't going to make it through the whole thing, so I had to switch to the phone).

 

 

Here's the rest of hers and then  Abe's 3 songs. He was a little nervous beforehand, and then he said he lost track of where he was playing partway through, which threw him off, but we were so proud of him that he picked it back up and kept going.

 

 

And then they sang with their Daddy-o in Spanish. Ignore Peanut in the background making distracting laughs. I was having a hard time deciding if I should be going up there to stop him, or keep videoing--the camera won.

These kids always impress me with their willingness to perform in front of people. They most certainly didn't get that from me!