Traveling Abroad

My husband and I were out to dinner one night after the horrific storm. As we were sitting there he posed a question to me that I am still unable to answer.
"Where do you want to go after we have repaired our home from this disaster?"
I sat there and contemplated all of the places in the world that I would like to visit. Many ideas came to my mind.
"Where is warm enough?"
"Who would I like to join us?"
"How long do I have?"
The choices were endless. There were so many place that I would like to go that I have never been before like, Spain, Turks and Caicos, Ireland, and even parts of the United States. Before children, my husband and I traveled often. We have been to Italy , Greece, and many of the Carribean islands. One idea that I realized is that, of all the places that I have been in Europe, what I find most facinating is visiting the many churches along the way. What I remembered is that from visiting thoses churches I found a sense of serenity and peacefulness that I had never felt before. Each church is distinct in its own way. Although I enjoy the many beaches and seerenity that that brings me, I knew that what I need after all is different. Growing up I always went to church with my grandparents and it almost felt forced. Now that I am older and wiser if you will it brings a different feeling.

Vocabulary
posed- brought to attention
contemplated-thought about
often- frequently
serenity- peaceful
distinct-different

Vocabulary activity

Create a "spinning wheel" using two cardboard circles of different sizes and a brass fastener. On the outer wheel write the vocabulay word; on the inner wheel write the definition. Punch holes in the center of each circle and fasten them together. Have your child spin the wheel to practice matching the vocaulary words with their definition.


Grammar point
Students will be able to identify multiple question words and change their town to fit asking a question.

Grammar activity
Students will create a series of questions to interview a classmate to learn more about them.

Alliteration poems for ids continues to be one of our most popular categories of creative children's poems. That's probably because they are so much fun to read, and even more fun to write. One of the reasons kids find this type of poetry so compelling is that the genre provides them with a tremendous challenge. Poems that fall into this category must use the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse. For example "Chuck is a champ at changing baby chimps." Remember, it is not the letter itself, but the sound of the letter that makes a poem alliterative. So, “gum” and “gigantic” do not alliterate, but “knee” and “nap” do.

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers How many pickled peppers did Peter Piper pick?




Vocabulary

creative- inventive
compelling-captivating
genre- type of writing
tremendous- huge
category- group
consonant- letter of the alphabet other than a e i o u

Vocabulaty activity
Students will create a vocabulary book identifying the definition of the word, a synonym, and an illustration that shows what the word means.


Grammar point
Students will be able to identify the alliteration of a given poem

Grammar activity
studenst will create an alliteration poem on a food of their choice.

Wine and Health

6 Reasons Why a Little Glass of Wine Each Day May Do You Good


While parousing the web I discovered this very fascinating article on the effects of wine and an individuals health. I was astounded at how many beneits wine has on the average individual. How nay times do we hear conflicting ideas over certain topics? It's worth taking a look at. Maybe we should all become wine drinkers.
http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20410287_1,00.html

Vocabulary
parousing- looking around
discovered- found
fascinating- great
astounded- surprised
benefits- positive effects
conflicting- opposing views

Vocabulary activity

Vocabulary Bingo -- Students can write their vocabulary words in a bingo sheet and you call out the words.

Grammar point

Since conflicting means opposite, children will be able to identify the antonyms of certain words.

Grammar activity

Students will play an online matching game in which they need to match the antonym to the correct oppopsite

Expresssion Through Poetry

A simile is an easy way to compare two things, so examples of simile poems include any poem that makes comparisons using the words "like," "as," or "than." As long as you compare one thing to another, whether or not the two things you are comparing are actually alike or not, you can consider it a simile poem.

Peering through the drape
Of my synthetic cell,
How I long to escape
This manufactured hell.
Like a bruised, little bird
Too confused to fly,
I’m trapped, in a word,
So confined am I.
A captive, collared lion
Alone in its pen,
I’m pacin’ and dyin’
In a manmade den.
For an eagle was not meant
To be locked in a cage,
Its life to be spent
Like a picture on a page.
And when a mighty lion,
In truth, is but a cat,
It will spend its time tryin’
To be greater than that.”


Vocabulary
escape- to get away from
confused- unclear
trapped- can not get away from
confined-restricted
captive-imprisioned

Vocabulary activity
Studnets will create a memory game on black flashcards using each vocabulary word and its synonym.


Grammar point
Students will be able to identify similes and metaphors within a given poem.


Grammar Activity
Students will be able to write similes and metaphors that describe an object from nature.




Example: Penguing are like men in tuxedos

40 Day Blessing

Approximately forty days after a child is born it is an Orthodox Church Tradition that a special service is offered in the Church which emulates the Old Testament custom in which the Blessed Virgin Mary brought Jesus into the Temple on the fortieth day after His birth and is commemorated on the Feast of the Presentation of Christ. The Forty Day Blessing essentially consists of prayers of joyful thanks for the safe delivery of mother and child. The service blesses the mother who has been absent from the sacramental life of the Church for forty days and formally presents the newborn child to the Church family for the first time as the priest formally brings the infant into the Sanctuary. This is an important tradition for parents to uphold. Parents must call the Church office at least one full week in advance to schedule the Forty Day Blessing service.
The Sunday after Thanksgiving I was able to witness this extaordinary experience. My niece and Godaughter was recieving this holy celebration. In the midst of all the tragedy that my family has endured over the past several weeks, this experience changed my outlook on certain things. It made me realize what is truly important and how important your faith really is. I was overwhelmed with emotion and truly blessed to be a part of such a special celebration.

Vocabulary
Custom- something in which a particular cultures does
commenorate-Recall and show respect for (someone or something) in a ceremony.
consist- include
tradition-an inherited action
extraordinary- special or amazing
emotion- strong feeling

Vocabulary activity
Children will play hangman using the provided sheets
SuperKids Hangman

Grammar point
studenst will use the correct form of verbs to describe particular actions

Grammar activity
Students will work in groups of three or four and play charades against another group to figure out what their teamates are acting out.