Our Latest Audio Book ~ Peter Pan

I use our time in the van for music appreciation and also for books on CD.   It's such a great way to learn while we're on the road.   I must say that my children don't know what it is like to watch movies in the van, and I'd like to keep it that way!   (OK, I admit we do watch movies on very long car trips, but that's it!) 

This week we chose Peter Pan from our library's extensive book on CD collection.  Selfishly, I picked this one because I've never read the book, and neither have my children.  I know we've all seen the movie, but in truth the Disney-fied version doesn't begin to do the original any justice!   The narrator of the book is Jim Dale, who also narrated all of the Harry Potter books.   Listening to this performance is such a treat!


I'm debating whether or not to extend our learning beyond just listening to the CDs... and I've been  investigating some literature guides and activities.  We'll just have to wait and see how everyone is doing by the time the book ends.   


I really wish I still had a preschooler, because if I did we would be doing the Peter Pan Preschool Pack from Homeschool Creations.  There is a great literature unit study and lapbook offered at Currclick which I might get for my 10 year old to work through (I'm thinking about our workboxes and some activities for those.) during the first few weeks of school.


My trouble is I digress A LOT!   We listen to a wonderful book and then I feel like I need to extend the learning - maybe it's ok to just listen and then leave it there.  What do you think?  


I'm happy to be linking up with Dawn at 5 Kids and a Dog for the ABCs of Homeschooling.   P is for Peter Pan!  

Read-Aloud Thursday: Five In A Row

We're spending time this summer with our beloved Five in a Row titles.   They lend themselves to relaxing summer reading, and it's a compact unit study that can be completed in just a week (or two, if you have to squeeze it in between swim lessons and playing with friends!)  You can NEVER go wrong with a FIAR book.    Since I have an almost ten year old and a six year old, I decided to choose a title from FIAR Volume 1, and also a title from Beyond FIAR.    The beautiful thing is that both children are doing both books!   

Grandfather's Journey is a beautiful story about the author's grandfather and his journey from Japan to America and back again (many years later).   Through beautiful illustrations and seemingly limited text, Allen Say writes about feelings we've all had at one time or another.   

These small thumbnail illustrations don't really do the actual book justice, but to see a preview, check out the book through Google books.... it's a treasure. 

The book is a Caldecott Medal winner for excellent artwork.  We have just scratched the surface in the past two days with activities to go along with the book.  The lapbooking elements from Homeschool Share are printed and we've cut them out - now to start assembling our book!   Once we finish, I will be writing a full post to put on my Five in a Row page!  

Thomas A. Edison, Young Inventor, is the title we are working on with Miss B.    My parents live very close to Thomas Edison's winter home in Ft. Myers, FL, so the memories of visiting his home last year are fresh in her mind!   We also traveled to some areas in NY (specifically the Erie Canal and some of the Great Lakes) last summer that are talked about in the book as well. 

As I read each chapter aloud, we follow the study guide carefully and read about any possible science, art, history (etc..) connections.   Today we learned all about the steam locomotive in the mid 1800s.   We're also learning about how inquisitive young Tom Edison was and perhaps this curiosity led him to become one of America's greatest inventors.  

This book also has a lapbook available through Homeschool Share, which Miss B is working on and I'll share with you in another post! 

 
What are you reading aloud this week?  I'm joining Amy, at Hope is The Word, for Read Aloud Thursday ~ you can get some wonderful reading ideas by reading through her blog and then looking at the Read-Aloud Thursday posts! 

Spring Reading Thing

I am joining the Spring Reading Thing at Callapidder Days. I'm including a list of the books I would like to read between now and June 20th.... on June 20th I'll post again and we'll see how I did. Recently my husband and I have been on a reading kick - we're always reading, but lately we've been purchasing more books for our iPad Kindle app. and just seeking out more good reads in general.

You should really see some of the other participants' lists, too - I need to get reading, that's for sure! If you'd like to join me, just link up at Callapidder Days. Remember, our kids learn from what they see us DOING! (I'm keeping it to six books, because I know my reading style. I can always add more, right?)

While you're at it, check out our family's book list, too!

Mary's Book List
March 20-June 20, 2011

The New Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Honey for a Child's Heart by Gladys Hunt
Pocketful of Pinecones by Karen Andreola
The Power of a Positive Mom by Karol Ladd
Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

Happy Reading!