Califoregon Living

(I just pulled this up from my archives.  We began working through this list early August, 2006.  Here is how far along we are.)

I am slowly implementing different elements of the Charlotte Mason structure into our homeschool environment.  The first element is to read from the booklist from Ambleside Online.  Here is the list.  The ones that are bolded are the ones that we have read.  The ones that are red are the books the boys really enjoyed.

Winnie the Pooh series by AA Milne and Ernest H. Shepard

The Little House by Virginia Burton

The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack

The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper

Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey

Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey

One Morning in Maine by Robert McCloskey

Ferdinand by Munro Leaf

Ox-Cart Man by Barbara Cooney

Stone Soup by Marcia Brown

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

The Story of Little Babaji by Helen Bannerman

Brer Rabbit books by Joel Chandler Harris

A Child’s Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Little Red Hen

The Gingerbread Man

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

The Three Billy Goats Gruff

Aesop’s Fables

The Real Mother Goose

The Oxford Book of Children’s Verse edited by Peter Opie

The World Treasury of Children’s Literature selected by Clifton Fadiman.

The Church Mice by Graham Oakley

Hiawatha by Longfellow, illustrated by Susan Jeffers

Paul Revere’s Ride by Longfellow, illustrated by Ted Rand

My Shadow by Robert Louis Stevenson, illustrated by Ted Rand

Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling

Roxaboxen by Barbara Cooney

The Tale of Three Trees illustrated by Angela Elwell Hunt

Wynken, Blynken and Nod illustrated by either Susan Jeffers or Barbara Cooney
Books illustrated by Beatrix Potter (Meet Peter Rabbit and others)
My Little Book About God illustrated by Eloise Wilkin
Prayer for a Child by Rachel Field, illustrated by Elizabeth Orton Jones
The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown
Poems to Read to the Very Young pictures by Eloise Wilkin
Frog and Toad readers by Arnold Lobel (Audio CD in the car)
Little Bear readers by Else Holmelund Minarek
George and Martha series by James Marshall
Frances books by Russell Hoban
Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant
Free online beginning readers by Harriette Taylor Treadwell  
Catch Me and Kiss Me and Say It Again by Clyde and Wendy Watson (nursery rhymes)
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Picture books by Maud and Miska Petersham (The American ABC and The Box with Red Wheels)
Each Peach Pear Plum Janet and Allan Ahlberg
Amie and Anika by Terry Stafford (a La Leche League book)
On Market Street by Arnold Lobel
Picture books by Lucy Micklethwait
Brown Angels by Walter Dean Myers–poetry, we skip two poems, I believe.
I’m Listening, God, Psalm 19 for Children by Elspeth Campbell Murphy
Flossie and the Fox by Patricia McKissack
The King with Six Friends by Jay Williams
Miss Suzy by Miriam Young
Books by Tomie dePaola
In the Night Kitchen (slight nudity) by Maurice Sendak
Jump series by Van Dyke Parks, Malcolm Jones (adaptations of Brer Rabbit)
Year at Maple Hill Farm and others by Alice and Martin Provensen
When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant
Babar books (the originals by Laurent De Brunhoff, not the TV spin-offs)
What Do You Do, Dear, and What Do You Say, Dear by Sesyle Joslin–comical books about manners.
Rose in My Garden by Arnold Lobel
The Man Who Loved Books by Jean Fritz
Ivy Cottage and sequels by E. J. Taylor

The Princess and the Admiral by Charlotte Pomerantz

The Story of Holly and Ivy and others by Rumer Godden

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

The Plain Princess by Phyllis McGinley

Alfie series by Shirley Hughes (very sweet and family friendly)

A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman

Fool of the World and the Flying Ship by Ransome/Shulevitz

OR The King with Six Friends by Williams (they’re similar)

Crictor by Tomi Ungerer

Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain by Edward Ardizzone

The Jumblies and Other Nonsense Verses by Edward Lear (esp one illustrated by Brooke)

Doctor Desoto by William Steig (the best dentist story ever)

Lonely Doll series by Dare Wright

The Sugar Mouse Cake by Gene Zion

Umbrella (about a little Japanese girl in New York City

The Crane Maiden by Miyoko, Matsutani

Two by Two by Barbara Reid (plasticine illustrated Noah’s Ark)

Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Simms Taback

Yellow and Pink by William Steig (a good argument for creationism)

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Read Aloud Bible Stories by Ella K. Lindvall Volumes 1-4

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

Least of All by Carol Purdy

The Real Pretend by Joan Donaldson, illustrated by Tasha Tudor

Miss Spider’s Tea Party by David Kirk

A House is a House for Me by Mary Ann Hoberman

How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman

You Are Special by Max Lucado

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

Down, Down the Mountain by Ellis Credle

All the Places To Love by Patricia MacLachlan

Sophie & Rose by Kathryn Lasky

Jan Brett books, particularly The Mitten, The Hat, and The Gingerbread Boy

On Mother’s Lap by Ann Herbert Scott

The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant

Laurie and the Yellow Curtains (an early reader)

Billy and Blaze by C. W. Anderson

I Love You the Purplest by Barbara M. Joosse

Fireflies for Nathan by Shulamith Levey Oppenheim

The Rainbabies by Laura Krauss Melmed

Miss Fannie’s Hat by Jan Karon

With You All the Way by Max Lucado

No More Singing by Norman Bonner

The Little Fur Family by Margaret Wise Brown

The Color Kittens by Margaret Wise Brown
Mommy Hugs (also Daddy Kisses) by Anne Gutman and Georg Hallensleben
Angus series by Marjorie Flack

The Three Little Kittens illustrated by Paul Galdone

The Poky Little Puppy by Gustaf Tenggren

Jesse Bear What Will You Wear? by Nancy White Carlstrom

Millions of Cats by Wanda Gag

Andy and the Lion by James Daugherty

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Burton

Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina

The Biggest Bear by Lynd Ward

Billy and Blaze books by C.W. Anderson

Scuffy the Tugboat by Golden Books

Seven Little Rabbits by John Becker (a repetitive counting/rhyming book)

We had friends visit us at 'Riverbend Prep' today!  C1, age 4, and C2, age 2!

Fingerplay

“David will be King”

Bible Story

1Samuel 20:31-33, 42

Children's Bible: Johnathan and David

Active Exploration

I started a chain by whispering a word or sentence ot one boy, who passes it on to another, and so on, until it got back to me.  We were never able to get anything through the whole chain, but we sure had fun trying!

Letter Activity

The boys glued cotton ball on a letter 'K'

Bible Activity

We talked about the friendship that David and Johnathan had.  We talked about what it is like to be friends.  I had each boy pick out a stuffed animal and act out the following in order to be a good friend:

• 
  
  sharing toys (the block was the toy)


• 
  
  taking turns


• 
  
  saying nice things


• 
  
  forgiving each ther


• 
  
  asking each other's opinion


• 
  
  asking to use things before taking them


• 
  
  offering the best to their friend first

Devotional

C1 had Awana this night, so we practiced these two memory verses…

John 3:16 “For God so love dthe world that He gave His only Son…”

Luke 5:20 “He said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven…”

Music

Danced to the song “David”

Art Activity

The boys did a craft for Christmas

Fun Times

Fingerplay: “David will be King”

Bible Story

1 Samuel 17:45-49

Chilrden's Bible: David killed Goliath

Math Activity

I picked a small crock and placed it on the floor.  It was the boy's job to fing an item larger than the crock, then an item larger than the previous item.  Here is what we ended up with:

Letter Activity

I placed a masking tape 'K' on the floor and the boys ran cars over it, saying 'K'.

Bible Activity

I gave each boy a piece of paper and they had to follow one direction at at time.  First, they had to draw a shepherd's staff on the left side of the page.  Then, they drew five stones on the right side.  Then, an arrow below the stones.  This picture represents Goliath dropping from stones that the shepherd David threw.

Music

Played and sang to “David”

Bonus Picture

I captured this (sorry, it's a little dark) and I am so excited to say that this is something that I am seeing more in this household.  The boys (especially 'R') will find the general family books (not the children's books) and will spend time looking through them.  When I realize it's a little too quiet and I go to investigate, this is what I find! ('R' is “reading” a beautiful Bible that my Grandma 'G' gave us before passing away, and 'A' is “reading” a book about the planet Earth that Grandpa 'A' gave us.)

Fingerplay:

“David will be king”

Bible Story

1Samuel 16:1 11-13, 17-18

Children's Bible: Story of David playing his harp

Dramatic Play

I took a cotton ball and dubbed it a “sheep”  As I read Psalm 23 out loud, the boys tossed the “sheep” to each other.  When I would stop, whoever had the “sheep”, would pet it and say, “The Lord is always with you.”

Letter Activity

Hide and Seek 'K' worksheet.  the boys had to find both upper and lowercase 'k' and circle them.  'A' got 10 out of 11, and 'R' got 8 out of 11.

Math Activity

'Count on Me' worksheet.

The boys drew two musical notes in each box.  We then counted by 2's.  I assisted 'R' with his drawing and numbers, and 'A' with his numbers.

Music

Listened to and sang, “Psalm 23”

Fingerplay

“David will be King.”

Bible Story

1 Samuel 17:34-36

Children's Bible: David was a shepherd.

Art Activity

The boys created a pastural scene, like something David would have witnessed.  The took torn paper and glued them  for clouds. (for some reason, both boys are 'afraid' to tear the paper.  I had to do it.)

The drew a river, flowers, then glued cotton balls for sheep.

'A' also drew David on his.  It's the black drawing by the sheep.

I helped 'R' with his sheep legs and a flower.

Bible Activity

We acted out the Bible story.  The boys were David.  I was the lion coming to attack the flock of sheep.  They took their slingshot and shot me.  I fell down and pretended to die.

The boys went to look for the “sheep” and brought them back.  I then pretended to be a bear attacking the flock.  They got me again!

Music

Played and sang to 'Psalm 23″

Fingerplay

“God Sends Samuel”

Bible Story

1Samuel 9:15-16 10:1

Children's Bible: Saul becomes king.

Art Activity

I cut out an oval shape for a face.  The boys followed my direction by making eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, hair.  They made 'Saul'.  Then, they dipped their finger in oil an anointed their 'Saul'.

Letter Activity

I placed the letter 'J' in masking tape on the rug.  The boys placed blocks on the letter, each time saying 'J' as they placed a block.

Bible Activity

We acted out the Bible story of Samuel anointing Saul.  We took turns being Samuel and Saul.

-Saul kneels in front of Samuel.

-Samuel: “The Lord God had chosen you to be king of Israel.”

(“Samuel” pretends to pour oil over “Saul's” head)

-Samuel:  “This oil shows everyone you are God's chosen king, and you will answer to God.”

('Samuel' anointing 'Saul')

Music

Played and sang to “God Gave Them Saul.”

Spanish

Continue review of current vocabulary

Fingerplay

“God Sends Samuel”

Bible Story

1Samuel 3:11-13, 4:17-18

Children's Bible: Israel turned away from God and list God's ark.

Dramatic Play

We played, “Capture the ark”.  I placed a block under a cup and switched three cups around.  The boys were the “Philistines” and had to guess which cup had the “ark”.  They loved this game, and continued to play this on their own.

Letter Activity

'A' practiced writing the letter 'J'.  I thought I caught a picture of it, but I guess not.  He can write it well, except that it is backwards.  He makes the straight line, then stops and it seems like he wants and knows what direction to make the 'hook', but his hand does the opposite.  The second he completes it, he knows it's backwards.  It will be neat to see how he remedies this.

Bible Activity

We talked about how the Israelites lost the ark to the Philistines.  When I asked the boys what had happened in the story we read earlier, 'A' said, “The Einsteins were being bad.”

I asked them about sad things that have happened to them.

'A': “When 'R' pushes me.”

'R': “When 'A' pushes me.”

(We then talked how nice it would be if nobody pushed anyone, and how we would not be sad because we treat each other with kindness.)

'A': “When I bump into something and hurt myself.”

'A': “When you get sick.”

'R': “Chelan bites me…”  (Our cat)

'A': “…and scratches.”

I talked to them about God always being with us even we are sad, and that praying to Him will help keep us close to God.

Spanish

Reviewing the vocabulary we have used to date.