Something neat!!!

I've been making a habit of studying the life of Musa (as) on Thursdays with the boys. As I mentioned some posts back I decided to do this very long project in a notebook style. Printing out the pages is not the most economical way of working. An ordinary exercise book, or ordinary A4 lined paper would do the job just as well. But, somehow, the printed pages, and the fancy ex-tourist board book to put them in brings out a far better standard of handwriting and presentation in the writers. (free pages from Notebooking Pages)
I've added another post to Always Learning Resources. This time it is a literacy lapbook, beautifully presented, maashAllah, by a friend's son.

Senses Lapbook

Ia finished this off today. Once again I used some ready mades, from Enchanted Learning and Primary resources. This started off as a science project, but it became a piece of language work too, when I decided to make pockets of words for each of the senses. Those are the red pockets, inside are yellow cards with sound words (quiet, loud...), taste words (sour, sweet...) and so on.

What looks like plain papers on the left are folded worksheets (printed from Enchanted Learning).

I tried to give the project an Islamic side too, by including ways in which we use our senses aspart of Islam. This was easy for hearing, (azaan, salaam, Quran), and for sight, (reading Quran, Islamic books), but kind of tricky for smell...I only came up with attar! But at least it got us thinking about it!

I could have extended the project further to include thankfulness to Allah for the use of our senses, but I'm planning another project which will include that theme, so I left it out this time.

Patterns

Yesterday evening Ia decided to get these things out and copy patterns. She continued this morning.

U got this out, but R made a pattern.

R has a bad cold today, so I let them take it easier. I read to the boys, they watched a documentary from Teacher's tv, did one sheet of maths and Quran. They also finished reading a book about the heart, and did their own reading too.
Ia had a friend to play, and they did some lapbook work together too.

Calm on Monday

Much as I would like to be bringing you something zingy and new today, the reality is that outside it is very cold and we are at home, getting on with things.
Actually, today has been very calm, alhamdulillah. Yesterday evening I cleared away some of the clutter from the top of the filing cabinets, and cleared the floor in the room in which we work. (Technically it is called the dining room, but this is not an accurate description of how it is actually used.)
I am generally quite good at clutter, as in not having it. Yes, there are toys about, but clutter to me means useless things, so toys don't necessarily count. But it is hard to draw the line at what is no longer needed when it comes to old work. And by now we have a lot of old work. Lots of old work is kept in a pile of box files on one of the filing cabinets. Some of it is definately useful, like old workbooks that can be rubbed out and rewritten in. Other items can revive ideas that I may otherwise forget about. It is also useful to look back at what the boys were doing age 5, and compare that to what I'm doing with Ia. But I can't keep everything, and reducing the amount is a good exercise to go through from time to time. A long work in progress.
Over on Always Learning Resources I have posted a picture of a great table manners poster, made by a friend and her family. A really nice activity to do with younger children.
(I should make an effort to take a picture which does not feature Ia's hand holding a pen.)

Over the weekend

U has said that she would like to be a "libraryer"when she is bigger. She has mentioned that it will be hard to find a library to live in, and that stamping the books will be the best part. Ia and U decided to play at having a library, but as I disapproved the idea of them stamping marks all over the real books, they decided to make books for the game.
Also this weekend R has found out that he can bowl at 37 mph, and J at 40 mph.
I have found out that I can make Dundee cake.

Flustered on Friday

Some days are like this, for no identifiable reason they just don't work out as expected. Today felt very end of weekish to me. Maybe the mess in our work room was just too off putting! The children were co-operative, so I can't blame them at all! The boys got through their morning work. I've gone back to doing a bit of French with them again. I bought a text book from Galore Park, to give me a bit of reassuring structure. I would like for them to learn Arabic, but this is not realistic in present circumstances. French we can do, so French it is then.

Ia and U mostly played and drew. Ia got a bit concerned that she hadn't done any work! The boys did four day weeks when they were her age, but she likes to keep up! It really does help, maashAllah, that she has taken up this attitude. Helps me to keep on top of everything, inshAllah.

In the afternoon we went out to visit friends and I'm sure a couple of hours of playing outside did the boys lots of good, alhamdulillah.

Time for a weekend recharge I think.

Quick round up

Ia has started work on place value.

We've also been working on the topic of the 5 senses, today making use of some interactive resources found here.

The boys have been working on perimeter in maths. In English it is back to the textbook, after our literature project and today they were happy to do their favourite educational activity, writing an imaginative story. Funny how I can see the Enid Blytonisms coming out, especially in dialogue...Meg chimed in .....etc.

Ia and U have both been producing plenty more pictures, maashAllah. Today they drew, then cut out and stuck into a scene.