Monthly Archives: December 2018

Geography: Central Asia

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Weeks 15 and 16 of school we learned about central Asia (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) using Layers of Learning, year 3 unit 10. We did both week’s worth of lesson in one week so we could have an extra week of Christmas vacation.

We found the three countries on the big map on the wall.

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We made launch pads for a space shuttle.

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We colored the Turkmenistan flag.

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We tried a drink made of plain yogurt, water, salt, and mint extract. And by we, I mean Fritz, my mother, and me. The other two boys refused to even take a sip. It was gross.

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We watched several YouTube videos about life in Uzbekistan.

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We did mapwork.

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We had Palov for dinner (it was really good!).

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History: Russia and Prussia

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Weeks 15 and 16 of school we learned about Russia and Prussia using Layers of Learning, year 3 unit 10. We did both week’s worth of lesson in one week so we could have an extra week of Christmas vacation.

We found Russia on the big wall map.

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We added to our timeline.

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We did mapwork.

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We watched YouTube videos about Napoleon’s attack on Russia.

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We drew pictures of our idea of a great getaway palace.
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We ate Chicken Kiev for dinner.

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Science: Science of Color

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Weeks 13 and 14 of school we learned about the science of color using Layers of Learning, year 3 unit 9.

We used tonic water with quinine to see ultraviolet light.

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We watched a Vsauce video that questioned whether everyone sees the same red.

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We made a Benham Top. I told Cameron it was up to him to figure out how to spin it and he decided to use a power tool.

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We made sun rainbows.

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We watched some YouTube videos.

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We blended colors by spinning a color wheel.

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We separated colors in markers.

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Geography: Korea

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Weeks 13 and 14 of school we learned about Korea using Layers of Learning, year 3 unit 9.

We found the Korean peninsula on the big wall map.

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We looked at the Korean characters on Fritz’s black belt (they are upside-down in the picture since they were facing the boys across the table from me).

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We did mapwork.

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We played a game of Yut.

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We watched a YouTube video of a fan dance.

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And then we made our own fans.

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We watched several videos on why people do or do not defect from DPRK.

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We made Ddakji discs, or as Adrian pronounces it, “ormigami.”

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We had Bibimbap for dinner.

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History: Enlightenment

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Weeks 13 and 14 of school we learned about the Enlightenment using Layers of Learning, year 3 unit 9.

We added to our timeline. Some pages are totally filled and others are just getting things glued on for the first time.

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We watched a couple YouTube videos.

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We made our own Enlightenment Encyclopedias.

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We had an enlightenment era coffeehouse. We pretended we were in Williamsburg about 1775 and talked about all sorts of things of the time. We had hot chocolate and snacks and turned the lights down like we only had candles. It was so fun.

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We picked where we would go on a tour of Europe.

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We discussed a painting.

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We watched a YouTube video of a 1930s auto assembly line.

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We put together minifigures completely individually and then in an assembly line to show how an assembly line helps things go faster.

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We made finger puppets of and discussed several men from the enlightenment era.

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The Arts: Baroque Art I & II

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Weeks 11 and 12 of school we learned about Baroque Art using Layers of Learning, year 3 units 7 and 8.

We took pictures of ordinary life

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We played a sort of charades with emotions.

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We went on a tour of a painting.

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We drew self-portraits with shadows.

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We played with shadows.

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We drew an apple as it really looks, bruises, spots, and all.

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We learned how to draw tulips.

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We matched what things represented in still lifes during the Baroque period.

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We drew still lifes that represent us (Cameron, of course, drew his black belt).

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Science: Bending Light

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Week 12 of school we learned about bending light using Layers of Learning, year 3 unit 8. Cameron did not join us because he had a work meeting he needed to be at.

We learned that the angle the light of a laser pointer is aimed at a mirror is not exactly the same as the angle at which the light is reflected (though it is very close).

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We stood where we could not see a coin in a bowl and then added water until the light bent enough that we could see the coin.

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We put a straw in a glass of water and saw that the light bending made the straw look bent.

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We watched some YouTube videos on bending light.

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We made light bend with water.

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We played with Jell-o Jigglers to see how light going through it changed depending on thickness and shape.

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