Challenge A Dissection Night

Last night B participated in her Challenge A Dissection Night!  If you know me, then you know that I love dissections.  I think they are truly fascinating and there is so much to learn.  Like A last year, B dissected a sheep's pluck which includes the heart, lungs and fully attached trachea.

Warning - dissection photos ahead so if you are squeamish prepare yourself.

Bucket of sheep plucks

B discussing the dissection with her tutor.

Answering questions

First, B and her partner dissected the trachea.

They opened it up.


Then, they used a hand pump inserted into the trachea to manually inflate the lungs.  This part is always awesome.  See the short video below.

Watching the lungs inflate

Another view

They looked at the lungs next but I don't think I have any pictures of that.

Looking at the heart.

Dissecting into the heart.

Another view

If you have never done dissections, it's a great hands-on learning experience.

Memoria Press First Form Latin Review

I love Memoria Press so I was super excited to receive First Form Latin: Complete Set for review.  This extensive set includes a Teacher Manual, Teacher Key, Student Text, Student Workbook, Quizzes & Tests, Pronunciation CD, Flashcards and DVDs.  This really is everything you need to give your kids a solid Latin foundation.

First Form Latin:  Complete Set

Teacher Manual

The Teacher Manual is fabulous.  It has everything you need.  It even includes the Student Text as in inset, extensive teaching notes and colored answers.  It really is chock-full of great information.

Table of Contents for the Teacher Manual

The suggested lesson plans are really helpful.

Instructional DVDs - this is a 5 disc set.

I truly love having these, they take the pressure off of me!  The kids Latin Instructor (or Magistra), Jessica Watson, does a great job explaining Latin.  I have been watching the lessons with the kids and I appreciate how she lays out the material.  The DVDs include helpful notes, illustrations, diagrams, and recitations.

Watching lesson 1

 Jessica Watson teaching lesson 1

 Showing the First Conjugation - Present Tense

 I loved that she showed the kids derivatives.

Student Text

Looking at the text during the video instruction.

A look inside the text

This set came with a Student Workbook.  I bought extra books since I wanted to use this program with A, B and C.  Each lesson has 4-6 pages of exercises that help teach concepts through practice to help learn mastery.  You need a separate workbook for each student in this program.

B working on her workbook

Here you can see her working on her assignment.

Inside Student Workbook

 Quizzes and Tests booklet with reproducible weekly quizzes and unit tests.  

Teacher Key - has answers to the workbook exercises, quizzes and tests

 First Form Latin Flashcards

 Here are the flashcards for lesson 1.

Backside of the cards for lesson 1.

The flashcards contain the vocabulary, Latin sayings and grammar forms.  I love that they include the lesson number that they correspond with on the cards.  This makes it easy to organize them.

Pronunciation CD 

The Pronunciation CD is a great resource as it contains a pronunciation guide for all vocabulary and grammar forms for every lesson.  This along with the Instructional DVDs are great if you feel lost.

This curriculum (written by Cheryl Lowe) is designed for all beginners, grades 5 and up (or as a follow-up for those that completed Latina Christiana).  A and B have both had some experience with Latin through their Challenge A classes.  C has had no previous Latin instruction.  If you are looking for a Latin program to begin with, this is a great one to use.  It introduces Latin at a gentle pace and gives the students the tools for mastery.  It also has a unique systematic approach to teaching grammar.  Not sure how to pronounce the words - you have the pronunciation CD.  Intimidated by teaching the lessons - you have the instructional DVDs.  Not sure you will know the answers - you have the teacher key.  Memoria Press's First Form Latin: Complete Set really is complete!

Be sure to click on the banner below to visit the Homeschool Review Crew blog to read more reviews of Memoria Press.


I look forward to seeing how much Latin A, B and C master when they have completed this program.  I'm also really enjoying learning about the Latin language myself.  I'm learning right alongside them.

 

Dumbo Releases March 29th

I'm so excited for the release of Disney's Dumbo!  The all-new grand live-action adventure movie expands on the beloved classic story that celebrates differences.  In Dumbo, family is treasured and dreams really take flight!

Me with the movie poster

Synopsis:  In this film, Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins) to care for a newborn elephant whose oversized ears make him a laughingstock in an already struggling circus.  But when they discover that Dumbo can fly, the circus makes an incredible comeback, attracting persuasive entrepreneur V.A. Vandevere (Michael Keaton), who recruits the peculiar pachyderm for his newest, larger-than-life entertainment venture, Dreamland.  Dumbo soars to new heights alongside a charming and spectacular aerial artist, Colette Marchant (Eva Green), until Holt learns that beneath its shiny veneer, Dreamland is full of dark secrets.  Dumbo soars into theaters on March 29th.

This release makes me wonder what I would do If I joined the circus.  I think I would definitely want to care for animals like Dumbo and since I used to be full-time veterinary technician, I think I would be pretty good at it!  I'm more of a backstage kind of person (not center stage) and I would love to help take care of some of the most amazing animals.  Doesn't that sound fun?

Find out more about Dumbo and check out the trailer below.

Disclosure:  Thanks so much to Grace Hill Media for selecting me to participate in this campaign.  By sharing this information with you I will receive a gift card.  All opinions are my own.

Timberdoodle's Crayon Rocks Review

You can see the color selection on the color wheel attached to the drawstring bag.

I have a super fun item to share with you from Timberdoodle, Crayon Rocks!  Crayon Rocks are exactly what they sound like, crayons that look like rocks.  Friends, these are so fun!

They are easy to grasp and hold and their special rock shape allows small fingers to color in large, wide strokes.  Because they are thicker and shorter, they are also harder to break - score.  They are geared towards preschoolers 3+ but I think the age range is fairly wide as everyone can enjoy them.  Seriously, even hard to please teenagers! They are made from natural waxes and tinted with non-toxic mineral powders.  I really like the color selection.

This set comes with 32 different colors and the drawstring pouch making clean up easy peasy.  Just put them in the pouch and store them at room temperature or cooler to prevent possible melting.

Having fun playing with our crayon rocks!

Our Crayon Rocks in nature


Getting ready to use our new rock crayons!


G wanted to color a cement truck.


Using the rock crayons


A closer view of his grip...


G's masterpiece


F also chose a cement mixer.


F coloring his cement mixer rainbow.


I think he did a great job!


E worked on a princess picture.


D usually has trouble with her grip when working on handwriting.  I loved that I didn't have to talk with her at all about her grip when using our rock crayons!

 D's masterpiece.


The back of F's cement mixer page had an activity page that he just wanted to color.  You can see his grip again.

 Finished work

I think you could put these in an Easter basket as a fun item, use them as a stocking stuffer during the holidays or pair them with a fun coloring book or sketch journal for a truly unique gift idea.  The possibilities are endless.  The Crayon Rocks are a part of Timberdoodle's Preschool Curriculum Kit.

Disclosure:  Huge shout out to Timberdoodle for selecting me as a Timberdoodle Blogger.  Timberdoodle sent my family the Crayon Rocks for a discounted price in exchange for our honest review.  All opinions are my own.