December 2015 Term: Week One

"The Adoration of the Shepherds" by Rembrandt van Rijn

Our family is loving our time together each day, learning using Charlotte Mason principles. I do have to spend time planning each term, so that I can use a customized plan just for our family.

Planning ahead for each term helps me sooo much on a day to day basis. It makes our learning time flow smoothly, yet gives me lots of wiggle room to still be spontaneous within those plans.

Our first term of the school year just ended as we took a break for Thanksgiving, and now we are really having FUN with our special "December term" of homeschool. For years, I have hoped that we would spend all of December learning more about Christmas, the Savior, doing service, baking, and doing Christmas crafts.

But most Decembers have just flown by, with us running hither and yon, and we have done next to nothing for our homeschool learning in December. But not this year!!! I am excited on this December first to share our first ever December Homeschool Plan! I thought I would post our schedule each week, just in case  anyone wants to take advantage of all my planning. Here we go! (NO affiliate links are included in the list below.)

WEEK ONE

• Scripture Memorization- Isaiah 9:6 "For unto us a child is born..."
• Read Aloud Book- "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens
• Singing- "O Come, O Come Immanuel" (vocals) {Gorgeous instrumental only version here.}
• Daily Focus-
• Monday: Poetry
• "The Holy Night" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
• Tuesday: Music Study
• Learn about the origins of the old Christmas carol "O Come, O Come Immanuel"
• Wednesday: Art Study
• "The Adoration of the Shepherds" by Rembrandt
• Thursday: Shakespeare
• "A Winter's Tale" retelling from "Shakespeare's Stories for Children" by Edith Nesbit 
• Family Evening Activities- 
• Tuesday, December 1st: Make cookies and take them to the missionaries serving in our ward.
• Wednesday, December 2nd: Watch a Christmas movie and eat popcorn.
• Thursday, December 3rd: Put together a puzzle as a family, while listening to Christmas music
• Friday, December 4th: Have a Birthday celebration with cake and ice cream and presents for our sweet Avalon Noelle, who is turning 7 years old!

Merry Christmastide to all!

With joy,

Rachel