Week 7

I missed you guys on Tuesday. I am just now able to sit upright for any length of time, so I've posted your Chapter 6 Test and the Africa Outline Map for copying.

Just to make sure we're on the same page for homework this week, here are your assignments:

• Read Lessons 21, 22 and 23.
• Answer Review Questions in complete sentences.
• Write and define Vocabulary Words.
• Memorize the African countries Swaziland through Burkina Faso and be able to label them on your map.
• Continue perfecting your freehand map of the countries you've memorized.

If you have any questions about your assignments, please let me know. I apologize again for missing Tuesday's class, but it couldn't be avoided. I'm looking forward to seeing you next week!

Week 6

Two quizzes in one day. Whew! You guys did just fine. Hope you're all having a great week.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  The blog is now public. You shouldn't have to sign in with an ID or password anymore. It was just too much trouble. The blog should remain mostly private, though, since it is not included in any search engines.

I intended to scan copies of the Africa map for you, but I am having serious computer issues. My keyboard won't work! I'm on Claire's laptop, which isn't connected to a printer. You will, however, find copies of this week's test on the blog.

Homework for this week:

1. Take Chapter 5 Test.
2. Read Lessons 18, 19, and 20.
3. Write answers to Review Questions in complete sentences.
4. Write and define Vocabulary Words.
5. Memorize the countries Morocco through Madagascar on the Africa map. Use your Student Activity Workbook pgs. 14-23 to help you study. Make copies of the outline map page 109 to write on.
6. Begin trying to freehand draw the countries you memorize this week. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Week 5

I enjoyed watching Lost At Sea with you guys. Too bad we forgot the popcorn. While I realize that the search for longitude is not foremost on your minds, I hope you can appreciate God's providence in its discovery. Pay close attention to the things that "obsess" you. These may be the very activities that God uses to bring Himself glory, but I digress...

Here are the last two segments of Lost At Sea. I hope you'll take the time to watch them.



Homework for this week:

1. Read Lessons 14-17.
2. Answer Review Questions in complete sentences.
3. Write Vocabulary Words and definitions.
4. Take Chapter 4 Test.
5. Work on perfecting your "Blobs" map. From memory, draw the great circles with labels, the seven continents with labels, the five oceans with labels. QUIZ TUESDAY.
6. Review your notes from Lost At Sea. If you need help, YouTube has all the segments available. Also, you can find the transcript here. QUIZ TUESDAY.

Have a great time studying the lithosphere this week. See you Tuesday.

Week 4

I just realized I didn't post homework for Week 4. Sorry! Here it is:

1. Take Chapter 3 Test.
2. Read Lessons 11-13.
3. Answer Review Questions from Lessons 11-13 in complete sentences.
4. Write Vocabulary words and their definitions from Lessons 11-13.
5. Do Critical Thinking Activity p. 61.
6. Add the 5 oceans to your freehand map. Continue drawing from memory.

On Tuesday, we'll watch Lost At Sea: The Search for Longitude in class. Don't be late!

Week 3

Your students are doing well in class! They surprise me with how much they already know in many cases.

This week in class, we discussed the need for maps and the challenges cartographers face when producing maps. We also practiced some metric conversions and calculated the cost of taking a road trip across the U.S. using map scales.

For homework this week,
1. Read Chapter 3.
2. Answer Review Questions in complete sentences.
3. Write Vocabulary Words and definitions.
4. Practice drawing the "Continental Blobs" map until you can draw it from memory.
5. Do the "Hands On" activity on page 45.

Begin thinking about what kind of project you might like to do for our "Rivers Project". These will be presented before we take our Christmas break.

I haven't graded the Chapter 1 tests yet. I'll try to have them back to you in next week's class. As always, if you have any questions, leave a comment here for me. I'll answer you as soon as possible. Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Week 2

Class went well today. I didn't hear too much complaining about the homework assignment. That's good. We talked briefly today about the Chapter 1 material and reviewed the planets, seven continents, and five oceans. We continued with our mapping practice and placed all the continents in their proper location, along with cardinal directions, five great circles, and Prime Meridian.

Homework this week:

1. Take Chapter 1 test. I sent the test home with the students. If you lose it somehow, there's a link on the right-hand side of the page to print another copy.
2. Read Lessons 5-7 (Chapter 2).
3. Answer all Review Questions in complete sentences.
4. Write and define all Vocabulary words.
5. Do Hands-On activity pg. 23.
6. Continue drawing the five great circles map and include Africa on your map this week.

We discussed the Gulf Stream in class. I found a PBS documentary on the Gulf Stream and its importance. Enjoy!

Go into all the world...

Here's a bonus post for this week. I was just reading an entry by Ann Voskamp on her blog, A Holy Experience. She writes about teaching Geography with compassion to our children.

I know how difficult it is to become "really involved" in our children's classes. One of the reasons I come to Berean is so that I'm not responsible for all the work. However, I hope you'll give this post from Ann some consideration in your home. I am considering it as well. Hope you're having a great week!