Life Cycle: Organisms

 

We started our Organisms Unit early this week and it was a joy Mavi had a great time learning about the living organisms and the different forms of life. I like that we will only have a few activities here. Focus on the quality, making sure that the child truly understands the concept behind the activity.

The key concept of this unit is for the child to learn that there are other organisms besides human and animals. That these organisms thrive and reproduce for survival. The following are the activities that we performed for the unit:

LIVING AND NON-LIVING

Objectives: To be able to sort the living and the non-living objects.

Task:

1. Describe the characteristics that makes an object a living organism.
2. Distinguish objects that are non-living but have been created from living objects (wooden cabinet).
3. What are the three important requirements of a living organism to thrive or grow?

Vocabulary: animal, living, non-living, organism

 

ANIMAL FAMILIES

Objective: Classification and sorting of objects, in order to group them into larger groups (Families)

Task:

1. Discuss the families of the animals, what do you call the father, the mother and the baby and their group.
2. Comparing the animal tracks. Those with round shape, hoofs or prints with toes.
3. Classifying animals whether they live in land, water or sky.

Vocabulary: family, group, classification

   

ANIMAL HABITATS

Objective: Comparing where animals live.

Mid this year, we have conducted a study of the different habitats of animals around the world.  You can view our lesson here and here.

Next week, my son and I will work on the human body.  Still part of the Life Cycle theme… that evolves around organisms. 

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Home + School = Afterschool!

Calendar: October Schedule

I printed this calendar and posted it in Mavi’s room.  He loves looking at schedules and is looking forward for me to put a star on it once we’ve accomplished something.  So in October our lessons would be:

• Math:  shapes, ordinal numbers, number and shape patterning
• Grammar:  First Language Lessons (we will be using Montessori Grammar Symbol for this)
• ART:  artist study, crafting, random painting activities
• History:  SOTW
• Science:  Human body (organs, skeletal system, teeth), plants, natural environment

Our Science Curriculum (K-6, Kindergarten to Grade 6)

For a change, I made plans/curriculum for Mavi’s after school lessons.  I think I need this for I am about to start schooling Vito as well.  What happens here is that we discuss the topic and he will work on the tasks or lab experiments. Finally, he answers the activity sheets.  The tasks should be done with minimal help from Mommy.  This will encourage him to think for himself, work on his own and start to make decisions.

Note that even if Mavi’s knowledge in Science is way beyond his age, I started with the K lessons so as not to miss the little things.  Anyway if we’re done ahead of time because he knows it already, we will proceed to Year 1 level even before the school year ends.  So here are the things we need to accomplish for this year :

Life Cycle

• Living and Non-living things
• The Human Body
• All About Plants
• Nature and Environment

Water

• Water Cycle
• Oceans
• The Weather

Earth’s Crust

• States of Matter
• Minerals
• Rocks
• Discovering Dinosaurs (Dinosaurs, Geological Times)

Earth’s Moving Force

• Volcanoes
• Earthquakes
• Continents and Oceans
• Hazards

The Story of the Universe

• Universe
• Solar System
• Earth
• Land and Water Forms

Applied Science

• Science and Math, Tools of Discovery
• Physics, Observation, Electricity, Magnets
• Technology, Machines, Inventions
• Natural and Man Made Environment

Source:  The curriculum is based on Math/Science Nucleus

Math Curriculum 2014-2015

Sharing Mavi’s Math curriculum for this school year.  In our home math is done as a supplemental study after school.  We don’t exactly do it everyday but I have weekly goals for each scope noand I am making that Mavi accomplish that task per week.  This post also serves as a reminder for me, in case I will look back 5 years from now for Vito’s Math curriculum as well :D

We are still using our Montessori Math materials and still adapting the philosophy.  But I just feel that need that Mavi needs to more forward.  As what Susan Stephenson said in her book Child of the World

“This child nearing the age of six or seven is passing beyond what is known as the sensory-motor developmental stage, when movement and exploration through the senses is a basic need in all learning.  Now he will gradually move to a cerebral exploration, giving up the manipulative materials according to his personal timetable. The years 6-12 are relatively stable, and the main academic work can now be done.”

With Math, I allow Mavi to use manipulative materials (Montessori and other learning materials) if he wishes to.  But I want him to learn how to do mental counting as well. 

• Number Patterns
• Number Bonds
• Addition within 10

• Subtraction within 10
• Shapes and Patterns
• Ordinal Numbers and Position
• Number to 20
• Addition and Subtraction within 20
• Length
• Mass
• Graphs
• Number to 40
• Multiplication
• Division
• Time
• Number to 100
• Money

If you have been following my blog, you know that we’ve done some of it in the past few years though play.  Right now, we’re working on it with workbooks and lots of additional activity sheets(homemade).  

So in times that we don’t work on Geography and Science, Mavi and I are definitely working on serious Math. Oh and yes, we’re using Singapore Maths… literally :D  I ordered a few workbooks used by students in Singapore from Popular Bookstore. Remember that we used to life there so I’m a little bit aware of what kind of books to purchase. And I have relatives living there as well.

Will post more as progress.