Bigger Hearts - Unit 3

Third Grade Grub

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Bible:

We studied boldness and how it can be used to honor yourself or to honor God.  We need to be bold for the Lord so we can glorify Him and not ourselves.  We studied about Hezekiah in 2 Kings and how his boldness did not honor God.

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English:  

One of the things we worked on in this unit was commanding sentences and how to diagram them with (you) being implied.

Irelynn uses Cheerful Cursive this year, as well.

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Poetry:

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DITHOR:

Irelynn finished up Amelia Earhart.  We worked on the Godly character trait *responsibility*.  At the end of the unit, Irelynn was given 3 tasks of responsibility to carry out on her own.  She was given 5 beans per completed task.  She had the potential to earn 75.  If she completed her week, she got a prize.  She drew pictures of her tasks and put them somewhere she knew she would see them - on the mirror at the bottom of the staircase.  She had a task card written out on the refrigerator and checked the tasks as she did them.  Then she collected her beans for each day.

RESPONSIBEANS!

Irelynn did not have to be told one time to complete her tasks.  She chose silly putty for her prize. :)

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more DITHOR

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History:

We learned about explorers and adventurers.  

We learned how to follow a compass.  We made a compass rose.

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We made a map. (Mommy is never sure if anything is labeled correctly. :/)

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We added to our timeline.

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Science:

 We learned about sea creatures that live on a rocky shore and in a shower.

We learned about the sun shining in a tide pool, causing water to evaporate, leaving the salt.  We compared evaporation with fresh water and seawater.  The fresh water evaporated faster than the sea water.

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salt left behind by evaporation

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Music:

I recorded Irelynn singing the first verse of Holy! Holy! Holy!  I don't know how to upload it here!

We also started learning the recorder.  Eammon was REALLY into helping his big sister and finds this super interesting. :)

**Mommy note**
I have a bit of a problem with Irelynn learning the recorder.  My dad teaches guitar and piano.  He has been a musician for a LONG time.  He isn't just good, but amazing!  So why did I buy this and choose this? 

1. Irelynn had a recorder given to her and showed an interest.  
2. I spent less than $10 for a new recorder and book.  It wasn't an investment.  
3. I've been lazy and haven't gotten around to thinking about other lessons much.  :/

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Math:

We have been taking a LONG time to do math. We had to switch it up.  We moved to Math Mammoth.  Irelynn has been enjoying that a lot more than Abeka. We also use online games, xtramath.org, and flashcards.

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Spelling:

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Storytime:

We are still reading Ben and Me.

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-Unrelated to Bigger-

Health - we learned safety and rules for being on a playground.

PA History - We read about our state being our nation's keystone.  We also looked for hidden symbols of PA in a picture.  We found them all!

The Liberty Bell
The Betsy Ross Flag
An Amish Straw Hat
The State Dog (A Great Dane)
The State Animal (A Deer)
A Quill Pen
The State Tree (A Hemlock Pine Tree)
A Three Corner Hat
We the People (First Words of the Constitution)
A Pretzel
Benjamin Franklin
The State Flower (A Mountain Laurel)

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This week we also organized our learning space.  It took 11 hours!  What a job!

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Thanks for tagging along with us!  We hope you have a great week!

Bigger Hearts - Unit 2

Third Grade Grub

Here is a recap of Unit 2 in Heart of Dakota's *Bigger Hearts for His Glory*.

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Bible: 

Proverbs 11:2

When pride comes, then comes shame. But with the humble is wisdom.

On the second day in our unit, the (almost) 4 year old said this verse by himself.  When you think your little ones are paying no attention, they most likely are!

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DITHOR:

Turkey is still reading about Amelia Earhart.  

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Science:

We are learning about the different types of sea animals that live between high and low tide.  We worked on narration.

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Artistic Expression:

We were supposed to use wax paper on top of our paper, trace a fish, then paint over it and the outline of the fish would be visible.  It didn't work.  So, T tried again with a white crayon instead of the wax paper.

The drawing below has nothing to do with Bigger, but T loves to draw.  She also loves My Little Pony.  She drew this from memory.

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History: 

We are learning about Columbus and Cabot.  We added them to our timeline and traced their routes on our globe. 

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Cursive:

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Math:

We continued with Abeka but we are thinking about switching to Math Mammoth, which we already have.  During one of our Life of Fred lessons, Iree was instructed to create a comic strip.  Mommy thought it turned cute, although a tad scary. :)

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Storytime: 

 Continuing with Ben and Me, T was instructed to create a timeline that correlates with the book.

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Bigger Hearts - Unit 1

Third Grade Grub

Third grade is here!  We took a four week break and started to go a little crazy, so Mommy decided we should begin working.  We just really started a box at a time doing whatever we felt like getting done in one day.

  Our curriculum choice for 2013-2014 is Heart of Dakota's "Bigger Hearts for His Glory", which can be found here.

Mommy put everything we needed in one place for easy access.  It's right inside the cabinet of her computer desk in a borrowed toy box.

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POETRY:

Four by the Clock

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Four by the clock! and yet not day;

But the great world rolls and wheels away,

With its cities on land, and its ships at sea,

Into the dawn that is to be!

Only the lamp in the anchored bark

Sends its glimmer across the dark,

And the heavy breathing of the sea

Is the only sound that comes to me.

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STORYTIME:

***Cute little video about Benjamin Franklin and his mouse Amos.***

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Turkey used clay to create Ben and Amos.

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HISTORY:

We did notebooking, but I didn't take a picture of it.  We are learning about Columbus.

We also started our timeline...

...and placed the seven *continents* where they belong on our *globe* which was just a piece of paper with an oval drawn on it, like a world map.  (Mommy forgot to take a picture of that, too.)

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Science: 

We learned about the tide, what causes waves, and learned about different animal life on the seashore.

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Bible Study:

We are learning Godly character traits.  This Unit we learned persistence.

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Artistic Expression:

Ocean waves

T mixed blue and red paint to make different shades of purple for the ocean waves.

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Reading:

We ARE doing DITHOR, I just haven't taken enough pictures. ;)

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Spelling:

We are using Spelling Workout this year.  In lieu of some written work, Mommy has chosen to have T use magnet letters to spell her words.

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English:

We are using Rod and Staff English 3 this year and learning more about using a dictionary.

Our vocabulary words this unit were:  imposter, lamentation and stranded

(We notice we need to work more neatly.)

We are using Cheerful Cursive to learn cursive this year.

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PA History:

We colored bookmarks and learned the Pennsylvania Pledge.

T also wrote down why Pennsylvania would be a good place to visit.  

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Health:

We learned about good and bad habits and safety on the road.  We learned we are to walk on the left side of a road and get off the road when we see a car coming.  Mommy was always taught to walk on the right. :/

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Math:

We use Abeka grade 3, Life of Fred, a little Math Mammoth once in a while, xtramath.org and morestarfall.com for math fact practice.

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Music:

We are learning Holy, Holy, Holy! and T loves following along in the hymnal.  Mommy discovered T's beautiful voice!  B, almost 4, also likes to sing along.  When we first started learning the song he would go around the house singing, "Holy, holy, holy, that's the book for me", mixing The B-I-B-L-E along with it, which Mommy thought was super cute!

BIGGER BOX

I have spent months gathering materials, as we could afford them, for Irelynn's 3rd grade year.  As 2nd grade starts to wind down, we have our *box* of curriculum ready for our new year. :) 

  We chose to continue with Heart of Dakota because it was where God led us.  We will be using Bigger Hearts for His Glory for 3rd grade.  The age range for this guide is 7-9 and I honestly felt Irelynn places perfectly in this guide for third grade.  She is 8 years old. 

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If you would like to learn more about Heart of Dakota curriculum, click here. 
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This year our subjects are as follows:

In the *Bigger* guide:
*BIBLE STUDY - to include devotions, Godly character trait study and Bible verse memorization from Proverbs
*HISTORY -  to include Geography, Timeline, Vocabulary, Narration and
ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
*SCIENCE
*LANGUAGE ARTS - to include Cursive, Spelling, Dictation and Writing
*MATH
*POETRY - (possibly) to include Copywork and Vocabulary
*STORYTIME
*MUSIC
*READING - to include Genre study, Godly character element lessons and Story element lessons

Non-required *Bigger* subjects, but required for our state:

Health
Fire Safety
Pennsylvania History

 

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Below is our teacher manual, History spines, and Bible devotional.

 

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I wrote a letter to our state's Governor asking for materials that would help me teach state history and this is what he sent us for free!




We are also going to study The Pennsylvania Reader for PA History. I found a curriculum to go with it for free.

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We are using DITHOR (Drawn Into the Heart of Reading) for our Reading program.  This is a picture of the guide and all Reading selections.
 

We are also using Cheerful Cursive.

 

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Music

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Storytime selections:

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Although they offer Singapore, and a schedule for this recommended math is listed in the Bigger guide, Singapore math is not a requirement for HOD, but a choice.  We chose what we have already been using for the past two years. 

We are continuing with A Beka for math. 

 

We also have 4 Life of Fred books and Math Mammoth to supplement with, not purchased for this school year.

 

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Extras borrowed from big brother.  (not required for Bigger)

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Science:

 

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English:

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Health:
 

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We will also be learning Fire Safety.  I already had a book, but I ordered a Sesame Street coloring book, another coloring book and a door hanger from FEMA.  I was allowed one of each sent to me for free from the FEMA website.  You can also download the coloring books and print them directly from the site.  You can find lesson plans for fire safety, as well.

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We borrowed a dictionary from big brother.  He's had this since he was 7! (he's almost 21)

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And of course our Bible - one of many.

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We will be using notebooking pages someone from the Heart of Dakota Yahoo group so lovingly created and graciously shared.

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Here is our reading list for the year, with genres.  (update 12-30-13, crossed out what we've already completed.)

*Irelynn's DITHOR list*:

Amelia Earhart - Biography

Hannah - Historical Fiction

Here Comes McBroom - Folk Tale

One Small Square:  Backyard - Nonfiction

Toliver's Secret - Adventure

Matchlock Gun - Historical Fiction

Catwings - Fantasy

A Mouse Called Wolf - Fantasy

The Mystery of Pelican Cove - Mystery

A Penny's Worth of Character - Folk Tale

Owls in the Family - Humor

The Year of Miss Agnes - Realistic Fiction

 Extra - In Grandma's Attic - Folk Tale

*Read Aloud List*:

Ben and Me:  An Astonishing Life of Benjamin Franklin by His Good Mouse Amos - Biography

Farmer Boy - Historical Fiction

Charlotte's Web - Fantasy

The Balloon Boy of San Francisco - Nonfiction

King of the Wind - Adventure

Homer Price - Humor

More Stories from Grandma's Attic - Folk Tale

A Little Princess - Realistic Fiction

The Case of the Dognapped Cat - Mystery

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We will also be using math apps for the iPhone, math games on the computer, apps for the Kindle, math wraps, DVDs and YouTube.

Irelynn and Mommy are very excited about continuing with HOD and can't wait for grade 3!

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Update 6/3/13 - Link to HOD blog roll!  (Thanks Dusty!)