Penguin Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
April 29, 2008

History

Today is “penguin day” Do some research about penguins and complete this report: http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/worksheets/penguin_worksheet.htm

Vocabulary

Practice your penguin vocabulary here: http://www.edhelper.com/penguins2826.htm

Language Arts

Have fun with anagrams here: http://www.dltk-kids.com/t_template.asp?t=http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/image/worksheets/b-anagram-penguins.gif

Science

Learn more about penguins with this worksheet: http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/penguins/ws9.htm

Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/homeschool-math-challenge-april-29.html

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Homeschool Math Challenge April 29

On land, emperor penguins tip up their feet and rest their entire weight on their heels and tails. That reduces the amount of contact they have with the icy surface. They also huddle together to conserve heat. If there are three hundred eighty-six emperor penguins huddled together and 43.52% are female, how many are male?


Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!

Kelly

James Monroe Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
April 28, 2008

History

On this day in 1758, our 5^th President, James Monroe was born.

Do some research about President Monroe with this worksheet: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/soc_studies/president/bio/

Writing Prompt

What would you do if you were president? Write about it here: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/soc_studies/president/running/

Vocabulary

Learn some Presidential vocabulary here: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/soc_studies/president/vocab/

Then see what you remember with this quiz: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/soc_studies/president/quiz/

Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/homeschool-math-challenge-april-28.html

For more Free Homeschool Lesson Plans

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Homeschool Math Challenge April 28

James Monroe was born in 1758. What is 1758 rounded to the nearest hundred?

Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!

Kelly

Arbor Day Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
April 25, 2008

History

Today is Arbor day! Read more about it here: http://www.arborday.org/arborday/history.cfm

Writing Prompt

Write some alliterations with a tree theme in this tree shape. http://www.abcteach.com/trees/alliteratons.htm

Vocabulary

Study the tree related words here:

http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/science/arborday/vocab/index.html

Then try this quiz: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/science/arborday/quiz/index.html

Spelling

Circle the words that are spelled correctly here: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/science/arborday/spell/index.html

Science

Learn more about trees around your home here: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/03/lp309-01.shtml

Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/homeschool-math-challenge-april-25.html

For more Free Homeschool Lesson Plans

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HomeschoolteacherlessonplansKto3/ (k-3)

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Homeschool Math Challenge April 25

Tyler planted 31 trees on Arbor Day, but he forgot what kind of tree he planted by his window. He knew he planted 9 maple trees, 2 elm trees, and 20 oak trees. He guessed that the tree by his window was a maple tree. What is the probability that he is right?

Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!

Kelly

Baseball Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
April 23, 2008

History

Today is Home Run Day in Honor of Hank Aaron hitting his first home run on this day in 1954. Read more about Hank Aaron here: http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=aaronha01

Vocabulary

Don’t strike out with this fun word search: http://www.teachersfirst.com/autoframe.htm?http://www.thepotters.com/puzzles/baseball.html

Reading

Fact or Fiction? Use the information here: http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/index.html

To decide if these statements about baseball are true or false: http://www.education-world.com/a_tsl/archives/00-2/tslbballTchart.shtml

Science

Learn about the science of baseball here: http://www.exploratorium.edu/baseball/

Math

Learn how to compute batting averages here: http://web.buddyproject.org/web012/web012/averages.htm

Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/homeschool-math-challenge-april-23.html

For more Free Homeschool Lesson Plans

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HomeschoolteacherlessonplansKto3/ (k-3)

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Homeschool Math Challenge April 23

Cody played baseball last spring. He was up for bat 120 times and hit the ball 80 times. What is his batting average?

Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!

Kelly

Bonus Math Challenge

This is not a trick question. This is a real math problem so don't say that a bus has no legs.

There are 7 girls in a bus.
Each girl has 7 backpacks.
In each backpack, there are 7 big cats.
For every big cat there are 7 little cats.
Question: How many legs are there in the bus?

Earth Day Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & NewsletterApril 22, 2008


History

Today is Earth Day.
Reading

Read more about Earth Day here: http://www.abcteach.com/free/r/rc_earthday_upperelem.pdf

Vocabulary

Define each of these words, then find them in the word search:
http://www.abcteach.com/wordpuzzles/WordSearches/environment.htm


Science

Are you a water waster? Find out with this experiment: http://www.eduplace.com/hac/recycle/water.html

Art

Make a paper mache model of the Earth: http://www.planetpals.com/pdfimages/papermacheearth.pdf

Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/homeschool-math-challenge-april-22.html



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Homeschool Math Challenge April 22

Of 1,000 tons of glass that was collected, 80 tons were recycled. To the nearest whole percent, what percentage of glass was recycled?

Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!

Kelly

Queen Elizabeth II Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
April 21, 2008

History

On this day in 1926, Queen Elizabeth (Queen of England was born. Read more about her here: http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/refarticle.aspx?refid=761556932

Reading

Learn more about Queen Elizabeth here: http://www.insideout.net/elessons/worksheets/june/IO249S-queen%20elizabeth-II.pdf

Geography

Queen Elizabeth is the monarch of England (also known as Great Britain).

Use this map of the World to answer the following questions about England:

http://www.mapsofindia.com/worldmap/world-map.gif

• Which country -- England or the United States -- is farther north of the equator?
• Which country is closer to Africa -- England or the United States?
• Which country is located closer to South America?
• If you were to fly from England to the United States, in which direction would you fly?
• Which country is located at 60 degrees North latitude?
• Which country is located closer to the Tropic of Cancer?
• Which country is located south of Canada?
• Which country is found a 120 degrees West longitude?
• Which country is located closer to the Arctic Circle?

Math

The math challenge today involves finding averages. Learn about averages here: http://www.math-worksheets.info/The_Average.html

Then practice here: http://www.math-worksheets.info/Math_worksheets_on_the_Average.html

Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/homeschool-math-challenge-april-21.html

For more Free Homeschool Lesson Plans

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Homeschool Math Challenge April 21

Since 1901 there have been 6 Monarchs of England. Their reigns are as follows"

Queen Victoria (64 years)
Edward VII (9 years)
George V (26 years)
Edward VIII ( almost 1 year) - use 1 year to solve the problem
George VI (16 years)
Elizabeth II (56 years so far)

What is the average reign?

Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!

Kelly

Civil War Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & NewsletterApril 9, 2008


History

On this day in 1865, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant. Shortly after, the Civil War came to an end.

Do some research about the Civil War using this worksheet: http://www.homercenter.org/hcelem/CIVIL%20WAR.htm

Find the answers here: http://www.homercenter.org/hcelem/CivilWar.htm


Vocabulary

Define the following words : slavery, abolish, Civil War, Secession

Writing Prompt

Pretend you are living during the Civil War. Write a letter telling why you think slavery should be abolished.


Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!
http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/math-challenge-april-9.html



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Math Challenge April 9

Almost 2,500,000 troops served in the Union army during the Civil War. About 186,000 of these troops were African Americans. What percentage of the total number of troops were African American?

Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!

Kelly

Volcano Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & NewsletterApril 7, 2008


History

On this day in 1906, Italian Volcano Mt. Vesuvius erupted.

Vocabulary

Find the definitions of these volcano related words: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/science/volcano/quiz/

Language Arts

Write an acrostic poem about volcanoes here: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/science/volcano/poem/

Do the research about volcanoes here: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/science/volcano/research/

Reading

Read more about volcanoes here: http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/science/volcano/read/

Geography

Use the information here: http://www.volcanolive.com/lesson.html

To fill out the map here: http://abcteach.com/Maps/world.htm

Science

Study this diagram of a volcano: http://www.edhelper.com/volcanodiagram3.htm

Then take this quiz to see what you remember: http://www.edhelper.com/volcanodiagram4.htm

Try this fun experiment: http://www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/GelVol.html



Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/homeschool-math-challenge-april-7.html



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Homeschool Math Challenge April 7

If Mount Vesuvius left the following measures of ash around Pompei, what is the average measure of the layer of ash? point A: 23 cm, point B: 42 cm, point C: 57 cm, point D: 30 cm, and point E: 13cm?

Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!

Kelly

Hans Christian Anderson Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & NewsletterApril 2, 2008


History

On this day, in 1805, Hans Christian Anderson was born. Read more about him here: http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/index_e.html


Writing Prompt

Write your own fairy tale.
Reading

Read one of Hans Christian Anderson’s stories here: http://www.classicreader.com/booktoc.php/sid.3/bookid.109/

Language Arts

Write your own fairy tale alliterations here: http://www.abcteach.com/FairyTales/alliterations.htm

Some words sound alike but have different spellings and meanings, they are called homophones. Learn more about them here: http://www.abcteach.com/FairyTales/tale.htm


Science

Grow a beanstalk like Jack in the beanstalk: http://www.abcteach.com/FairyTales/beans.htm

Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/homeschool-math-challenge-april-2.html



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Homeschool Math Challenge April 2

Rapunzel lived in a tower that was 454 feet tall. She was imprisoned on April 1, 2008. If her hair grows 7 inches each month, and her hair is currently 27 inches long, when will the prince be able to rescue her?

Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!

Kelly

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & NewsletterApril1, 2008


History

Today is April fools’ Day! Read more about it here: http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/april-fools-day.html

Write down 3 facts you learned about April Fools.

Writing Prompt

Write and create your own myth for how April Fools' Day came about.

Language Arts

What country did April Fools’ Day originate? Find out with this word scramble: http://www.surfnetkids.com/games/aprilfools-pp.htm

Brush up your researching skills with this web hunt: http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/hunt/hunt029.shtml


Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/2008/04/homeschool-math-challenge.html



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Homeschool Math Challenge

Mr. Pranksters practical joke shop's sales soar 75% on April Fool's Day. If his daily sales are normally $1,250, how much are his sales on April Fool's Day?

Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Good Luck!
Kelly

April Fool's Day

The origin of April Fools' Day is not known exactly. There have been many guesses and explanations for its origin. Some believe the celebration of April Fool's Day began many years ago in France. People believe that this day perhaps relates back to an ancient New Year's festival held on the vernal Equinox, March 21. This was the beginning of the new year according to the pre-Gregorian calendar. In France when the implementation of the Gregorian calendar was changed, by Charles IX in 1564, the beginning of the new year was changed and celebrated on January first, those people who still celebrated the day on the first of April were know as April
Fools'. Prior to the change of the date it was customary to give gifts on the first day of the year therefore when the date was changed people began sending mock gifts to other people on April first making them April fools. In France a person who resisted in changing the date of the new year was victimized by pranksters who played practical jokes on him, this person became to be know as a poisson d'avril otherwise known as an April Fish.

The custom made its way around to other nations as well. Some time later England and Scotland decided to adopt the custom of playing jokes on people. In Scotland the favorite April fool's joke is to send someone on a cuckoo hunt. The word gowk is derived from the word geck, which means "someone who is easily imposed upon. The prank of sending someone out on a cuckoo hunt became so common that in Scotland April Fools' Day is know as April Gowk Day. This is considered to be a prank because there is no such thing as a cuckoo.

Most believe April Fools' Day was derived by the change of the calendar. Some believe the origin comes from the timing of the year during the vernal equinox. The weather fools all mankind. In many countries April Fools' Day is celebrated on other days besides the first of April. In Mexico April Fools' Day is celebrated on the 28th of December. In ancient Rome the day was celebrated on the 25th of March. Also in India they observe the day on the 31st of March. In America the day is mostly observed by young people and practical jokers who want to get a laugh at someone else's expense.

One other theory of how the day came about was derived from the remnant of the festival of Cerelia. This was an ancient Roman feast which celebrated the story of Proserpina. According to the legend, Proserpina was abducted by Pluto the Roman God while she was gathering lilies in the valley. Proserpina's mother Ceres was so distressed to hear about the abduction of her daughter that she began to make a futile search for her. Because of the hopelessness of Ceres mission her quest to find her daughter has been known to be called the "fool's errand." Many different kinds of tricks are played on April Fools' Day. Some of which are the hunt for the cuckoo in Scotland, or the April fool's letter. It is important to remember however that
the jokes one plays should be all in good fun for both sides. April Fools' Day should not be a day to play nasty jokes on unsuspecting victims. One must remember the difference between a good joke and a bad one.

Overall April Fools' Day is a day in which everyone can have a lot of fun pulling pranks. The day most probably began because of the change in the calendar and the day now lives on as a day of fun and practical jokes.

References:

Henrig, Cohen,&Tristram. (1987) The Folklore of American Holidays: All Fools' Day. Potter, Coffin, Detroit.Mich.

No Author, (1993) April Fools' Day, In Collier's Encyclopedia Vol 2. PP 128, New York, Toronto, Sydney

No Author, (1994) April Fools' Day, In Encyclopedia Americana Vol 2. PP 496, Danbury, Connecticut.