Skip to main content

Emergent Layer

This week we finished learning about the fourth and final layer of the rainforest, the Emergent Layer. This is also our fourth and final week of learning about the rainforest with Mother Goose Time before venturing into the Arctic next month. We learned about Blue Morpho Butterflies, Kapok Trees, Hummingbirds, Mangos, and Strangler Fig Trees. We have learned so much about each layer and how it all works together to make an ecosystem. I loved the Rainforest Friends game that was included this week. It was supposed to be a matching game but when I saw the cards and the little strip that labeled the four layers I decided to use it a little differently.


We used it as a review of all we have learned this month about the different layers of the rainforest and the animals that live there. First I took down the topic poster and we pointed out the four layers and recalled any information that we had learned. My son knew all the bugs lived on the forest floor, and my daughter remembered that the canopy was the most active layer of the rainforest. After having a chance to remember facts about each layer I set out the long thin card that labeled each layer and put the animal cards under that. Then I had them take each card and discuss where they thought it should go and why. They then agreed on which layer to place the card. They worked together so well on this project. It was fun to see how much they remembered. My daughter who is older remembered a lot and it helped my son to hear it and discuss it with her. I was able to see that they retained a lot of information about the rainforest by doing this activity like this and I also really liked how it encouraged working together and remembering facts. 

Another fun project this week was the Mango color blending Invitation to create activity. I really wanted to make sure that we got to this one because I haven't done much color mixing with my son. He is usually not to into painting but I have noticed that he has been enjoying it a little more lately. I set out the inspiration photo along with some red, yellow, and green paint. He made the mango similar to the one in the picture and really got excited when he found out how to make orange by mixing the red and yellow. He also tried other colors on some paper I gave him and quickly found out that not every color that is mixed together produces pretty colors, and he was not happy when he made brown several times. It was good for him to see what happens with those colors though, and I made sure to guide him to try other colors that I knew would work. 




We also had another would you rather game. We love this activity and again it provides us with great conversation starters and a way to gage how much they have retained by the answers they give. This activity is always fun and gives us lots of laughs. 


As we are nearing the end of November we are leaving the warm rainforest behind and getting ready to learn about the cold Arctic Tundra next month. We are also getting ready to take a trip soon and I'm pretty sure Mother Goose Time will be going on the plane with us!



*Mother Goose Time has generously provided this curriculum to us in exchange for our stories and honest opinions*







Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Filling in the Gaps

This is our second month using the  Mother Goose Time More Math and More Literacy workbooks. I have really noticed a change in my 4 year old son since using these workbooks. He will be 5 in just a few more months and I thought that it might benefit him to have a little more in the way of practice pages and reinforcement so when I was given the opportunity to try these out I jumped on it. He was really excited to have his own workbook and I noticed that he started to try a little harder to do his work. I focused on the More Math workbook this month because I already know he needs work on his letters and letter sounds. I was curious about his math skills. He is stronger in his math skills right now and I wanted to find out what areas needed more reinforcement and what areas are pretty much mastered. The pages in the workbook go along with the months theme and have great pictures. They are fun and inviting and he feels like he is doing big boy work, which he is so its win...
Post a Comment
Read more

More Literacy: Alphabet Island

We have learned so much this month with the  Mother Goose Time Alphabet Island theme. This has been sort of a wrap up month for the curriculum, we have reviewed numbers, letters, and colors that we have learned all through the year. We gotten to be pirates going on treasure hunts, ship captains discovering new islands, and cave explores searching for beautiful and amazing natural treasures. This curriculum comes with everything you need to have a well rounded and fun month of learning. And while all this is great they also offer add ons to help make this curriculum work for babies and toddlers or all the way up to about age 5 or 6. We have been receiving the More Literacy and More Math workbooks for a few months now and are really enjoying the added practice with the skills and concepts being taught. We don't use the books everyday right now, but I do see us using them more next year as part of our school day. The workbooks match the months theme and are r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mother Goose Time Our Way

When I first started homeschooling I wrote out schedules and times for when we would do certain subjects and activities. I pretty much drove myself crazy trying to keep up with our strict schedule. I felt stressed and most of all I felt like I was failing. I've come a long way since then. Our homeschool is so much more relaxed and homey feeling. I think the biggest change I made is going by a routine instead of a schedule. A schedule is so rigid and gives you this feeling that you can't stray from the schedule. A routine, for me anyway, is so much more flexible, and  Mother Goose Time has fit in so seamlessly with our routine. In fact I will be a little sad when my kids are to old for this program because I love the way Mother Goose Time enhances what we do each day. Our morning routine pretty much starts off the same each day. We start with what I like to call Breakfast and books. This is the time that I introduce the Daily Topic for the day. Mother Goose Time provides a Da...
Post a Comment
Read more