Weekly Wrap UP

We are still on our summer schedule for school so our weeks are filled in the morning with school and the afternoons are free time for the kids at home we haven't really gone anywhere this week!  Next week we have several days filled with fun things to do!

The kids participated in the Mid Atlantic Music Festival this past weekend and both performed piano solo pieces.  This is our first time doing this and both kids were pleased to find out they made Superior ratings in their piano performances!  Our Music teacher informed us that there were over 740 piano performers and in order to make the superior rating the kids had to be in the top 5% in their piano level.

Firedrake getting her trophy

MarioFan getting his trophy

We stayed to watch the Festival's recital of the top performers prior to the award ceremony which I hope will motivate the kids to practice more:)  Both are good but could be so much better if they just practice more...a common dilemma I am told:)


We are continuing to work on understanding the many reasons for the Civil War, as it is much more complicated than most people think.  Right now we are discussing the Fugitive slave act and while my husband took our son out for the evening I sat down with my daughter and watched the movie "12 years a Slave".   I did not think my sensitive son would manage the movie so I had him skip the movie but his is reading a book about Solomon Northrup and we are discussing his story.  The movie had quite a impact on my Daughter and we are continuing to discuss what she saw and what we are reading in our books!   Currently we are reading and discussing issues, cases, and people of importance prior to the start of the civil war, to name a few we have touch on so far,  Harriet Tubman, Dred Scott, Frederick Douglas, Solomon Northup, and Kansas-Nebraska act.

Here is just a sampling of some of the book the kids will be reading in our History lesson..I do have the Red Badge of courage just couldn't find it for the photo:)

Some books we have read or are going to read to better understand the causes of the Civil War!  I haven't even listed the books we plan to use when discussing the actual war. 

We will also be reading about Abraham Lincoln and understanding his position on slavery.  While he is credited  with abolishing slavery, his views on the issue were very complex. 

This weekend we are taking a journey to visit Lincoln's New Salem which is a 1800's reconstruction village where it is reported Lincoln once worked.  I thought it would also give the kids a chance to see and experience what life was like in the 1800's.  We are also going to stop by Lincoln's Home.  which is in the same general area.  I imagine we will reworking on the years prior to the civil war for a few more weeks before moving on to the war itself.  Other things we are doing is watching movies and documentaries of this time period, just to name a few on our list :America-The Story of U.S., Ken Burns Civil War documentary, Glory, Gettysburg, God and Generals, Lincoln, and Red Badge of Courage.

I now understand why it is so hard to find good Homeschool blogs for middle school and high school, as you aren't doing as much fun artsy/crafty/things to show people.  Both my kids are middle school with one on the cusp of high school so it is more book work and discussion on topics.  While I love the discussions the kids have with my husband and I, it doesn't make for excellent blog posts:).  I am not one to post on controversial topics or I am going to keep going with my little blog (maybe someone is reading it) as it is a way to document a little of what we do while we continue our homeschool journey!