Animal Classification

We finished up our bird unit over the weekend - mainly because they were so excited to do it! As a special surprise, Daddy produced an old birds nest that he had found in a tree he was taking down at work. It was the highlight of the unit I think!

I've changed gears a lot this year when it comes to schooling. We have tossed almost all our textbooks / workbooks and are doing more literature based learning. Basically, everything we study comes from whatever book we are reading. So, for example, our geography, science, and art lessons come from whatever is being talked about in the book. Ben is really enjoying this and I've found he has become very receptive to his L.A  lessons because it is equally balanced with time away from a pencil. Same goes with math. You'll see more detail on this in future blogs.

Today Ben had his second L.A. quiz. When he gave it to me to grade (today he wanted it graded in black) he was soo hoping for a 100. Well, I took a picture when I told him that he did, indeed, get a perfect score.

First thing he wanted to do was call his dad.

We now begin our very long study of animal classification. We spent today going over the basics and making some sort of classification folder. This way, every book we read or unit we study, we will classify the animals that are mentioned into its scientific group. This will be something we carry through for many years and grow / expand as they get older.

Here they are working on their organizers

Nathan is doing his classification by: fins, feathers, fur, skin or scales. And, yes, Nicholas is WAY to young for this, but you try to tell him that he isn't making one! He participates to the level and length of time he choose. It keeps us all sane and happy. He also decides which pocket the photo goes in. In Nicholas' world, alligators have fur and gorillas have fins. Guess I need to work on that!

Two very proud boys

Ben is classifying by Vertebrate and Invertebrate for right now. We will break it down within the two groups through out the year. It's a lot to take in for a six year old.  Since he has more sub-groups and will have even MORE subgroups next year, he is using a box organizer. I said he could do whatever he wanted to it and he chose to make a tree to put on top. He says he plans to make a funny animal tomorrow.

And I believe that is all for today! More to follow!

A few side notes:
- If you look in the background of a lot of the photos you'll see the BEAUTIFUL classroom that Sam built for us downstairs. It is so wonderful to have all my stuff organized!

- If your thinking Ben is look like Shaggy, well, your right! He wants to grow his hair long like Nicholas. What have I done!!!