American Girls Finale

I had such a wonderful experience with your girls!! I LOVED the American Girls class. Was it because the class was full of girls? I think that had a lot to do with it! It was such great fun to hear them talking and giggling over all the girly things we got to do.

Our last class was spent talking about all the wonderful traditions brought to America from the huge influx of immigrants during the 1850's through the early 1900's. I hope they incorporate some of the fun traditions we learned about during your next Christmas party. One requires all the single ladies to throw their shoes.

We then had a short quiz about our lovely field-trip to the Midway School House. They have such good memories!

Lastly, for all their hard work in class over the semester, they were rewarded with a Smencil (a pencil that smells delicious) and a small journal to start writing their own American Girl story!

I wish you all a happy summer!!
Thanks for all the wonderful memories and experiences this semester!

Sent from my iPad

Pioneer School Girls

Quilting Challenge

On Thursday, we delved into the American Girl character, Kirsten. She is a young girl from Sweden that comes to America with her family. After a rough journey they settle on a farm in Minnesota. Kirsten lived during the pioneer times (hence our upcoming field trip.)
We talked about what life was probably like for Kirsten. And we agreed it was not EASY!
We then worked on individual lap quilts. We learned that quilts have 3 layers and that the quilting stitches keep the layers bound together.
We learned a simple tie stitch with yarn. The girls worked terribly hard to complete their quilts enough for me to sew the edges (with a modern day sewing machine.)
I only finished three, but hope to finish the remainder this week and deliver them on Thursday.


Don't forget our field-trip this upcoming Thursday!!!

1). We need to leave by 9:30!! Set those alarms early!
2) Dress in pioneer garb if you've got it!
3) Pack a lunch (pioneer lunch is preferred. ). - We talked about this in class
4) If you haven't turned in your permission slip, BRING IT ON THURSDAY!
5) Don't forget to pay $8.25.
6) We will be back by the end of FILA.

7) GET EXCITED!! This is going to be so FUN and educational.

Sent from my iPad

A Quiet, Fancy Party

> Oh, why can't we have a tea party every Thursday? I think we need a tea party class next semester! Who is on board?!
>
> Today it was great fun to learn tea time etiquette while quietly sipping our peppermint tea and delicately eating delicious finger sandwiches, scones and desserts. Teacher Mary even spoiled us with chocolate covered strawberries!!
> Hopefully, the manners we learned today will extend to our everyday eating. Remember, please, thank you and you're welcome! And don't forget our rhyme that reminds us not to put our elbows on the table. So many great hints today. Remind your family about them as you sit down for a meal. I'm sure they will love you to correct their manners ; ).

Ride'em Cowgirl

Our horse field-trip was SO MUCH FUN!  Everyone did a great job listening, brushing, riding and saying thank you.  Thanks for being such great participants.

Merry taught us so much about horses.  She clearly loves them, especially since she is willing to put so much daily work into taking care of them.

I hope you all enjoyed your rides on Angel, Lucky and Chevy.  And maybe the trip struck a passion in your inner selves that was dying to get out.  Maybe Merry unleashed the inner horse lover in each of us!

This Thursday, come dressed in your best tea party outfits.  You are welcome to bring along your favorite doll or stuffed friend.  We are going to have a great time learning the ins and outs of a tea party.  Be ready to put your manners to use.  We will be just like Felicity!

Caroline's Courage - A Theatrical Production

Last Thursday, we learned about the War of 1812.  Caroline's family lived near the shore of Lake Erie in New York's Sacket's Harbor.

Her father was a shipbuilder.  He was taken prisoner by the British while out on the lake sailing one day.  Caroline saw firsthand how the War of 1812 affected the US citizens.

To really understand Caroline's story, we read a play based on the first book in the Caroline series.  In the book, Caroline displays great, unselfish courage.

All the girls played a part in our script table reading while we enjoyed food of the time period - gingerbread cookies and biscuits and honey.

Great voice acting, ladies.

Next week, we will be heading out to meet the Dials' horses in Port Orchard.  Please be on time.  I will have permission slips to sign.  Please have the $1.25 for the bridge fee.  We will leave at 10 a.m. and return for lunch.  Please pray for a sunny day : )!  

Bow, Stern and Keel

> The weather was on our side, last Thursday, as we headed to Gig Harbor for some nautical fun.
> First, we visited Tim Donahue. He told us about boats, took us aboard one of his land-docked boats, and answered all our tough questions.
> We then headed to the dock in Gig Harbor. Before settling dockside for our picnic, we took a walk to see the Gig Harbor Lighthouse.
> After working up an appetite we settled down for our picnic and ended our adventure with a photo at the end of the pier.
> This week we will learn all about Caroline and her love of ships.
>
> Also, the horse field trip has been rescheduled for April 14. But I also am scheduled for jury duty that week. Let's hope they don't need me!
>
> See you Thursday.

Felicity: Loyalist or Patriot

On Thursday, we continued our look into the colonial life of Felicity.  We learned about the Proclamation of 1763, the Sugar Act, Quartering Act, Stamp Act, Tea Act, Boston Tea Party and the Intolerable Acts. We tried to understand the concerns of the British colonists in the 13 colonies.  We identified the different players of the time period, namely, the loyalists, Redcoats, patriots, minutemen, continental soldiers, etc.

We then started watching the movie, Felicity.  It was so fun to see the colonial period clothes, homes, and traditions.  We were able to observe and hopefully understand the frustrations of the loyalists and the patriots as we watched the characters interact with each other.  This should help us complete our who's who worksheet.  Remember if you complete it, bring it back for a treat!

Also, this week try to finish your stitch art.  You were all off to a great start on Thursday, keep it going. I can't wait to see how they all turn out!!

And finally, study for the 13 colonies quiz.  You will be given a blank map and the colony names to place correctly.  Piece of cake, right?!

The week's weather is looking quite bleak in terms of drying out the mud and puddles.  But we are still hoping for a turnaround.  Cross your fingers that next week we will be riding carefree on the back of a beautiful horse : )!!

13 Colonies and Stitch Art

Benjamin and Gabriel gladly stepped in to teach class this week.  They started out by helping everyone fill out the map of the 13 colonies.  Practice these at home, in two weeks we will have a quiz.

Next up, you each chose a stitch art project to complete.  A couple of you were able to get started while the rest of you headed out to serenade our sweet veterans.  That's right, seven out of nine of you left class early and were unable to watch the video about the Boston Tea Party.  I hope Benjamin did a good job reviewing the history that led up to this event.  Don't worry we will review it in two weeks as we resume our Felicity studies.

But let's talk about NEXT WEEK!  It is our horse field trip!!  Remember to be as early as you can.  We want to be pulling out of the parking lot at 10 a.m.

I believe I have permission slips from everyone except Tayler and Avery (I will have extra copies that morning.)

And Lacey, Tayler, and Bella have paid the $1.25 fee.  (Remind me if you have paid and were not mentioned.)

Also, bring a bike helmet.  

I am so excited.  We are going to discover why Kaya and the Nez Perce loved and valued their horses so much.

See you Thursday.

Felicity - water duty

On Thursday, we entrenched ourselves into understanding the colonial period. We learned about the houses they lived in, the food they ate, how they prepared their food, their jobs, light sources, clothes, the way they decorated their homes, and lack of sanitation-- to name just a few.

We compared our lives today to their lives.  We are so spoiled!!

We also practiced filling water buckets and carrying them long distances because kids did this multiple times a day to provide their families with water.  This was quite the challenge.  It was easy to follow our path because there were lots of puddles of spilled water.  Oops!

We also received our next challenges.  The first requires us to memorize the original 13 colonies.  We can do this!!!

And the second challenge is to complete a stitch art wall hanging for decoration. These will be started on Thursday.

Also, don't forget our horse field trip has been rescheduled for March 3, 2016.  Make sure to turn in a permission slip if you haven't already and pay the $1.25 fee - for the bridge fee.

Thank YOU!!  Feel free to study up on the 13 colonies.  They were included in your info packet from the first class.

Kaya

This week we read the story of Kaya and learned all about her character traits, family, most treasured possession, and her unfortunate habit of boasting.  We learned all about how the Nez Perce lived including the whipwoman!  Maybe we should bring this tradition back : ).  We also learned about how the Nez Perce chose whom they would court.  It involved a stick!

While we listened to Kaya's adventures, we made leather cuffs.  I think they turned out pretty amazing.  

Also, speaking of amazing, the dioramas WERE to die for!  AWESOME job, everyone.  I was so impressed with your creativity in using all the items in the bag.  

And also good job on your oral story telling assignment.  If you have not finished either assignment, bring it in next week.  I'm always up for viewing a diorama.

Finally, next Thursday is our big HORSE FIELD TRIP!  I cannot wait.  

If you have not turned in your permission slip or fee, please have it in hand on Thursday morning at 9:50 SHARP!!!  Do not be late! We need to make it back for lunch, but also want to spend a lot of time with Merry and her horses.

And don't forget to bring a bike helmet.

If you no longer have the permission slip, I will have extras on hand.

Thank YOU!!

Kaya: Dioramas to die for

This class is such a delightful group!  I predict each week will get better and better.

Today we learned all about the Nez Perce Native Americans.  This is the tribe of Kaya, our first American Girl.  

We started out by filling in some info on our timeline, including Jamestown, Pocahontas's trip to England, and then the date Kaya lived.

We marked on a map where her home was located. (WA, OR, and ID)

Then we dove in to figure out just what her life was like.  We discovered it was a lot like ours.

We talked about the food she ate, clothes she wore, chores she did, homes she lived in, and the tradition of storytelling.

This aligns perfectly with our first project.  The task is to make a diorama all about the life of Kaya and the Nez Perce.  We looked at an example of a diorama and I could definitely sense excitement in the air about this project!

Everyone received a cardboard box to use as a base.  You also received a paper bag full of supplies.  Just as the Nez Perce used every inch of the buffalo they killed, you are tasked with using everything INSIDE of the bag and the bag itself!  If you do, you will be rewarded. I can't wait to see your creativity.  Please bring your dioramas back next Thursday.  And be ready to explain what you made.  You are free to use any additional supplies you find as well!  Take a walk outside and use the resources around you, just like Kaya!

You also received your first memorization assignment.  You are to read the story about the Nez Perce and then retell it in your own words (oral storytelling) to someone that you think is awesome.  Then that someone can sign the back of your paper to prove your assignment is complete!  Bring these back to class and show me.

Next week we will talk about the character of Kaya.  She learns a very valuable lesson.  We are also going to talk about a couple of the Nez Perce traditions that I think you will like.

Also, in two weeks we will be taught by Merry Dial all about horses.  I passed out the field trip permission slips today.  Please bring them back next week.  

Thank you for all of your great behavior and discussion in class today.  It was such a treat to share the morning with you.

1) Nez Perce diorama

2) Memorization

3) Field trip permission slip

Also, if you want to do some more research about Kaya, here are some links:

Nez Perce Facts for Kids | eHow

				Nez Perce Facts for Kids | eHow The Nez Perce people got their name from a French Canadian translator who accompanied the 1805 Lewis and Clark exploration. It means "pierced nose," but that pra...
				View on www.ehow.com	Preview by Yahoo

Facts for Kids: Nez Perce Indians (Nez Perces)

				Facts for Kids: Nez Perce Indians (Nez Perces) Information about the Nez Perce Indians for students and teachers. Covers food, homes, arts and crafts, weapons, culture, and daily life of the Nez Perces.
				View on www.bigorrin.org	Preview by Yahoo

Have a great week full of research and crafting!