Research Science Journal

During first semester and the first part of second semester, Challenge A students learn how to research various elements of creation and write a corresponding paragraph from their research. Instead of using the recommended science journal book which is available for sale, I prefer to use a 1/2 inch binder with paper and page protectors. This provides more room and space for the paragraph with a picture on the facing page. Another benefit is that in the page protector, students can place their keyword outline, their rough draft, and their bibliography. This keeps everything all in one place and at the end of the year they will have a nice binder with all of their research, outlines, bibliographies, and final drafts. Here is an example of one student's science notebook...

As you can see, this science journal entry is handwritten. The parent decides if they want these typed or written, and if it will be one paragraph or two. The picture should always be a hand-drawn diagram, not a photocopy or printed picture from the internet. The diagram should be labeled by the student from his or her research. There are several great websites to use to research that are safe. Please find these on the list of links on the right side of this blog. I recommend for the two required sources that at least one be a book or encyclopedia. I handed out an example of a bibliography in the parent packet, and there is a sample biblio also on this blog under the label "science". There are two sample bibliographies in the links to the right.

Latin flashcards

Latin flashcards

Note: master vocabulary list is the first item in the list of links on the right side of this blog.

An easy way to learn vocabulary for a new language is by using flashcards. My kids are also using them this summer to try and learn their multiplication tables a little faster.  Even ten minutes per day of reading through a stack will really make a difference. I have found that by having them read the card OUT LOUD actually works better because they are hearing and seeing the connection. By engaging more than one of the senses, the material is more quickly learned. Here is the flashcard method that we use...

Nouns:
PINK cards for 1st declension
BLUE cards for 2nd declension
YELLOW cards for 3rd declension
RED cards for 4th declension
PURPLE cards for 5th declension

front of card: terra, terrae

back of card:     earth, land   (feminine  1st)
                                terra           terrae
                                terrae         terrārum              
                                terram       terrīs
                                terrae         terrās
                                terrā           terrīs


Adjectives: NEON GREEN

front of card: magnus, magna, magnum

back of card:                               great, large       (1st type)
              magnus       magnī              magna       magnae          magnum     magna
              magnī          magnōrum     magnae     magnārum    magnī          magnōrum
              magnō         magnīs            magnae     magnīs            magnō         magnīs
              magnum     magnōs           magnam   magnās           magnum    magna
              magnō         magnīs            magnā       magnīs            magnō         magnīs

Verbs: GREEN

front of card: laudo, laudare, laudavi, laudatum

back of card:                     to praise       (PRESENT TENSE)

                                  singular               plural

1st person              laudo                    laudamus

2nd person            laudas                  laudatis

3rd person             laudat                  laudant

Prepositions, adverbs, conjunctions, other: ORANGE

Some students prefer to put them all on a big ring. Others use a file box to store them in. If you can't find colored index cards, another option is to just highlight the top of the card in the right color or draw a border in the right color on the card.

The above will be thoroughly explained in class, but I am posting it so parents and students can refer to this example later on and have it in writing. It shouldn't make any sense until you are already in the second week of our year.

Geography Dictionary

Along with drawing the whole world and memorizing all 215 countries, Challenge A students create a Geography Dictionary of geography terms. Each week, 5 terms are assigned and students write the term, definition, and draw a picture to go with it. It looks like this:

I have students write the term at the top, the definition at the bottom, and the picture covering the bulk of the space. They can use blank white paper, divide into fourths using a ruler and a pencil, and then fill in the squares as they go along. This is not mandatory, but I also recommend that they draw a REAL EXISTING feature from the world. For example, instead of just writing CANAL and its definition with a generic picture, this student found there was a Grand Canal in Venice, Italy. So her generic picture now has a specific label of a real place.

To find the definition: students should search in a dictionary, encyclopedia, or on the internet. IF ON THE INTERNET, please use caution and consider having a parent present with you. Type 'geography term ___" in the search box to get tailored results. For example, search for "geography term canal", not just "canal" in order to find the definition. To find a specific example to label your picture, try typing in "famous geo term canal in world" and see what happens. As always, parents have the final say on which websites to search in. Please use caution because there is a lot of ungodly material on the internet.

I will be handing out these blank folders at Student Orientation night on August 8th. Parents and students supply the paper and page protectors. 

Dissections in Research

After researching and drawing animals and memorizing systems of the body, it is always fun to do a dissection in class of said animal/body organ. It is a great review to find all the specific parts that match our diagrams. This year, we dissected a lobster (aquatic invertebrate week), cow eyeball, sheep heart, frog, and shark.

Top 3 Skills Gained in Challenge A

I found this great blog article on Challenge A and I totally agree with the writer's observations! Check it out...
http://familystyleschooling.com/2015/05/19/top-3-skills-gained-in-challenge-a/

Overview of Challenge A

Here's a general article covering the Challenge A level in Classical Conversations. It has frequently asked questions listed at the end. The only fact in the article that has changed is the total amount of time spent per day. For 2016-2017, the recommended time spent is 1 hour per class for Latin, Math, Geography, Science, and Writing. For Rhetoric (It Couldn't Just Happen) the recommendation is 15 or 20 minutes per day. So the total time spent on school each day should be approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes. This will vary from day to day, but it's a good benchmark!
https://www.classicalconversations.com/classical/programs/challenge/challenge-a