Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Studying Africa

O has been studying Africa at school, so we've been focusing on Africa with several of our activities at home.  I checked out several cds from the library...AFRICAN PLAYGROUND, WOMEN OF AFRICA (this one was my favorite),  North African Groove, and  South Africa.  We LOVE the Putumayo Presents cds...my all time favorite is ISLANDS , and we also really like Dreamland: World Lullabies & Soothing Songs.  (in the interest of full disclosure...these links to amazon are all affiliate links!)  Luckily, we have been able to find most of these cds at the library!


In addition to listening to African music, we've looked at lots of pics of Africa on the ipad.  O was really impressed by a picture of a women who was carrying many loaves of bread in a large basket that she had balanced on her head, so we practiced balancing baskets and bread on our heads. 

We've also finger walked from our house to Africa using the google earth app on the ipad...it is truly amazing!






We've read the Magic Tree House books that take place in Africa, Magic Tree House #26: Good Morning, Gorillas and  Mummies & Pyramids (Magic Tree House Research Guide).   We both really enjoy the research guides...more than the books.   I think I've learned as much as O by reading them!  E is into repeating lately, so she's been repeating words like "mummy, tomb, and Pharoah!"

We've also read a few picture books about Africa, and we've listened to stories and music on the ipad via the Tales 2 Go app (our all time FAVORITE app!).   In addition to playing with our African musical instruments (a thumb drum and shaker from Epcot's Africa), we have played a thumb drum on the ipad. 

I also printed pics of African children from Activity Village for O to color.  She's started to enjoy coloring more lately, but she was only interested in coloring the girl in the picture. 

While I don't like for the girls to have too much screen time and technology in their lives, I am continually amazed by the things we can do on the ipad.  I especially love the Montessori apps, and I'll review a few when I can find a minute :)

I can't wait until O is in 1st grade and is homeschooled full time!  We are going to have so much fun!!!
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4 comments:

  1. StephanieFebruary 23, 2011 at 7:39 PM

    Wow! we are studing Africa too! :) I made Bunny a Kanga Knot dress today, and she loved it!!!! It was super easy, I just took a light weight cotton material that was about 3 ft. by 4-5ft long. I put the middle of it around her back, then pulled the ends around her front, crossed them, and tied them behind her back! It took 2 seconds and she stayed in it all morning! I will be posting more on it later if you want to stop by! I love kids! :) Happy learning!

    http://discoverydaysandmontessorimoments.blogspot.com/

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  2. UnknownFebruary 23, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    Hi, Melissa. That is so awesome that you are extending O's learning from school to home. I am so excited for you that you are going to homeschool next year. Guess what? Me too! I am going to homeschool my oldest son this fall. I haven't formally announced this on my blog yet, but expect many homeschool-related posts starting this summer. Can't wait to hear more about your plans!

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  3. AnonymousFebruary 24, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    You may have already read these, but two fabulous kids books about Africa are Hush and Mama Panya's pancakes.

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  4. AilsaFebruary 24, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    Check out the Anna Hibiscus books by Atinuke. She is a Nigerian born author and story teller of brilliant children's books set in Africa. I hope you like them as much as I did! Ailsa

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