Week 17 - Senet Game

 Games make getting back to work after the holidays much more palatable.

Ev could have played this over and over as with most board games.

Senet is an ancient game the Egyptians played using throwing sticks, a board and tokens. The original rules have been lost but experts have made guesses as to how it was played ( I personally think they just applied the rules of modern-day SORRY and guessed at the meaning of the hieroglyph spaces). We made two versions so everyone could play at the same time.

 Oh yeah- AND he won, of course.

The Library.........a peaceful, pleasant place for the Pam's

Something about the library. Sure, it's quiet, you think that's the reason I go there.....because it's never quiet around the house and when we go there, it's a guarantee?

Okay, busted, that's part of the reason. But, the main reason is, whenever I say we are going, the kids do their best  FLASH impression and are in the car ready before I have even found my keys. This is an exciting place to them, a place of possibility, a place of independence, a place of  purpose; to find and carry as many books as possible to the front desk without dropping them and disturbing the aforementioned peace and quiet.

Just a comment about  how great it is to preorder the books online before heading out. Our library will ship them from any of 8 libraries in their system and it's a rare day that I can't get at least 8 of 10 of the MFW recommendations. So easy and efficient, tada!

 Harper picking out some paperbacks

Can't even wait until we are home

Sorting and counting- Mackenzie often maxes-out her 25 book limit.

Tribes of Israel

Have I mentioned lately how much I love this learning/teaching/homeschool thing!

It's the best when I learn something for the first time as well ( and it happens ALOT). I think they can feel the excitement in my teaching when I alight upon something new and interesting.  

The Bible Story Series that we purchased several years ago has been a great resource for us this year as we go through the Old Testament. It looks like this:

Funny side note, I used to look at these in my pedriatician's office when I was little. Strange how I remember that so clearly.

Anywho......to the present moment,

Mackenzie's Land of Canaan drawing:

We have now left Egypt, wandered the desert for 40 years and are about to enter the Promised Land. Book 3 had a great drawing of the promised land after the Israelites settled in for good. 

I had all the kids trace the outline of the mapped areas, shade in the different tribe/family regions and label them with their symbols. It reminded them of the blessings that Jacob had bestowed upon his sons, from Reuben to Benjamin. Such a worthwhile activity to go with our curriculum.  

Tabernacle Wk 15

The tabernacle was first erected in the wilderness exactly one year after the Passover when the Israelites were freed from their Egyptian slavery (circa 1450 B.C.). It was a mobile tent with portable furniture that the people traveled with and set up wherever they pitched camp. The tabernacle would be in the center of the camp, and the 12 tribes of Israel would set up their tents around it according to tribe. The instruction on how to build the tabernacle was first given to Moses in the wilderness, who then gave the orders to the Israelites.

“…make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:8)

“Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them.” (Exodus 29:45-46)

And so God dwelled among His people in the tabernacle in the wilderness. He appeared as a pillar of cloud over the tabernacle by day and a pillar of fire by night in the sight of all Israel. The people would not set out on their journey unless the cloud lifted. 

It was an unmistakably powerful visual statement indicating God’s presence among them.

::OUR TABERNACLE::

My students decided to recycle a cardboard box from the all the Christmas shipments we received to make the model of the tablernacle. We figured it reminded us of how the Israelites recycled all of their jewelry and precious materials in order to gather the materials for the building of the tabernacle and all the furniture inside of it.

We found this model of the Tablernacle for inspiration. It would be cool to own the pieces to be able to put this together but it's not practical for us.

 We worked with what we had ( boxes, cutouts, felt, lego people, and fisher-price animals).  

You just have to close your eyes use your imagination!

The box is the surrounding tent; the milk carton is the tabernacle itself containing the Ark of the Covenant inside the Holy of Holies;  the Lampstand, Altar of Incense and the Table for Bread offering.

Every detail about the tabernacle has spiritual significance and points to Jesus.  BY studying the tabernacle, we can see how Jesus fulfilled each and every requirement that the tabernacle stood for therefore allowing us to be in the presence of God through his Son.

Harper (2nd grade) drew the Ark and wrote a little description of the more fascinating features according to her.

 First week back after Christmas break and we are getting deep into  the  significance of our faith in Christ!

Where is the Ark of the Covenant now you might ask. Oddly enough, according to Wikipedia.......

"The Ethiopian Orthodox Church claims to possess the Ark of the Covenant in Axum. The object is now kept under guard in a treasury near the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, and used occasionally in ritual processions. Noone has seen or can verify that it is the original as there are accounts of it leaving and traveling south from there."

Maybe while we are over there..........  

Winter "school" in Colorado

A week in Colorado to usher in the winter season. 

Strange for us Southern Californians to see soooo much snow but amazing fun memories for the kids. 

They didn't know what to do first and couldn't wait to do it ALL.  

As far as lessons go........

Our first lesson was that snow can be balled up and 

thrown at each other.

Objective #1 : build up your ammunition

Objective #2 :  annihilate the parents

 Everett and Dad were on the front lines

 Mackenzie was about done after a snowball went down the front of her jacket.

Next Lesson : Ice skating

Objective:  keep your booty off the ice.

Third lesson:  Ski School at Beaver Creek

Instructors: Mom and Dad

Objective: FUN FUN FUN and no broken bones!

 Making some 'pizza'. Of course, Harper preferred 'French fries'- she likes  to go fast!   

This is just before lunch on the first day. 

 I was so impressed with how brave and agile they were after 1/2 day on skis.