Thanksgiving Lapbook

I did the unthinkable in my classical, Charlotte Mason world. I did a semi-unit study. I decided to try something different because I knew my kids would love it.

This week we chose a light load and focused on putting together a lapbook. This is something that has always appealed to the "want-to-be-a-fun-mommy" side of me. I decided I would research the internet and put together my own. I used this YouTube video to learn how to use file folders to make a lapbook. I then used mainly these two blog articles to find my resources.

Refined Metals Academy

Oney Family Adventures

 

We labeled the Mayflower.

We mapped the Mayflower's journey and discussed the Mayflower Compact.

 

We read and colored a mini-book and compared Pilgrims and Native Americans.

 

The following pictures are J.J's. He pretty much did the same thing with a little extra help.

 

We discussed how Squanto helped the Pilgrims.

Of course, I couldn't leave good books out of the equation. To prepare us for our lapbooks, we read the following books.

Squanto: Indian Adventure
Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving
N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims
If you sailed on the Mayflower in 1620

In the end, I would definitely do a lapbook again. Both Lily and JJ really enjoyed the activity. Next time, I'll buy one  and save myself the time of putting it together myself.

The Making of a Home Library

Since we intend to use living books for home education, I've been spending a lot of time hitting up yard sales and used bookstores to build our own library. We also take advantage of a private lending library in our town full of wonderful living books.

Today's finds were great despite the overwhelming size of the store. Many of these will be useful to us when we use Truthquest History for the first time this year. I found some just for fun and Little Bear for an early reader.

I am so thankful for Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education and homeschooling. I have always loved books, but I now have a whole new view on a good book and how a book is able tc teach character, morals, and truth.