Wrapping up in Greece

We finished up Tapestry of Grace: Year 1: Unit 3 (for the second time, our third time through ancient history, using Story of the World the first time): the Ancient Greeks!

One more unit this year (Romans), before I have TWO high schoolers!?!

Things we’ve done as we learned...

Nate made coins for the city state of Sparta

Ellie colored a picture of Alexander the Heartless the Great & his horse (SOW Activity book)

Ellie colored a map of the land Alexander the Great conquered (SOW Activity book)

Gabby made a mosaic (Ocean at Sunset)

I free hand our maps on the board, which is a fun reference for us.

Ellie made a theater mask.

Katie built a Greek home

Ellie drew about a book we read together.

Nate created both a Greek shield and Poseidon’s trident.

We also wrote about the differences and similarities of specific city states, the benefits of a monarchy versus a democracy, the arts, the wars, and great leaders.  Hopefully we’ve made some lasting memories!

Half Way Through the TOG Year

 ...not to be confused with halfway through the school year.

We are in Tapestry of Grace year one, for the second time.  If you aren’t familiar with classical education, there is a four year cycle of roughly: ancients, Middle Ages, early modern, and modern.  Then children are divided by grade/ability in Lower Grammar, Upper Grammar, Dialectic, and Rhetoric.  Each child would, if beginning in first grade, make their way through each rotation three times at different levels, gaining more depth each time.

I’ve found we could combine a couple of the weeks this time to give us more flexibility in our schedule for field trip or project days later.  So last week we reached the end of TOG week 18.   87 days of school, then.

In high school we’ve read Egyptian literature, the Iliad, and the Odyssey.  They’ve all read Greek myths, studied the ancient cultures of Sumer, Egypt, The Maya, China, Israel, and Greece.  We’ve written poetry, labeled maps, and learned to write reports of various types.  Katie studied essay tests, Nate studied outlines, and Gabby covered persuasive essays.

Poetry Tea

With their own poems to read.

Drama masks

Overseen by Gabby & created by Nate and Ellie

A salt map of the Near East by Ellie & Gabby (FYI, while it might look like icing as it dries, it doesn’t taste like icing)

Gabby & Ellie reading about King Solomon

I do love ancients!!

“Back” to School

 We had an odd summer, with a few weeks of school worked in, but today we are starting with our normal five day a week schedule.  Well, as normal as a week with a new puppy can be.

We are so grateful that learning at home is already our routine, that the library is at least open for pick up, and that we get to learn together again.

Ellie says spelling is her favorite.

Gabby is excited to study and teach mythology.

Nate likes The Physics of Superheroes.

Katie has always loved Egyptian history, so that’s her favorite of this year.

Of course our mascots needed to join us for a photo.  I’m not sure Bellum has been outside the house without a carrier before!  Big day for the guinea pig.

These are *most* of our books for the year.  We still use the library of course, but these are quite a few of our books for Tapestry of Grace and some math and science.

Happy School Year!!