WW1, Albert Einstein, and Europe

I like to link my science, history, geography, handwriting, and soon grammar by timeline.

What this means is that I look for scientific discoveries that go with the time period we are studying for history.

In this case we were in the early 1900’s.

So World War 1(history), Albert Einstein(science), and Europe(geography).

The boys write sentences of poetry that were written during that time, something from one of their history books, or they write reports on what they are learning.

I am going to be trying out Brave Writer for handwriting and grammar when we study WW2 next month.

abooksDSC_8599

Sometimes they use our Draw and Write through History book for handwriting.

aschoolDSC_2792 aschoolDSC_2802
abooksDSC_8602

I am really liking these workbooks for an overview.

I bought the same kind for our study of World War 2 also.

abooksDSC_8603

Sometimes they just answer questions about the paragraphs they just read but my favorite thing is when they ask for their opinions.

I like reading what my 11 & 9yr olds thoughts about war are.

Definitely something I plan on keeping and looking back on.


abooksDSC_8607

These book above are the ones I own for WW1.

I bought the Flying Aces of World War 1 for the study but owned the others already.

I also bought a few ebooks.

Spies of World War 1, One of Ours, and Sergeant York.

abooksDSC_8612

I included many books about animals for my second oldest.

He really likes animals.


abooksDSC_8620

I read the really easy picture books out loud to my three youngest.

abooksDSC_8621 abooksDSC_8622

It was actually pretty difficult to find recourse on the Red Baron.

I thought that was odd considering it is the RED BARON.

Ha

Thankfully our library had a few things the boys could use though.

abooksDSC_8623

Warning; Silver Threads will make you cry…

It was a beautiful but sad book that shows a side of the war not talked about often.

abooksDSC_8624

I used Robert Frost for the boys copywork and to make the girls handwriting practice pages.

I thought I would use the World War 1 Speeches book also but did not end up liking it very much.

abooksDSC_8625

I always include some historical fiction in our study.

My oldest seems to read more of these then my second oldest though.

abooksDSC_8627

We have been learning about a president to go with each time period.

These “Getting to Know the US Presidents” books have been an awesome way to learn about the presidents.

abooksDSC_8628

These books like “World War 1 for kids” have great activities.

At this point I am not able to pick them out and set them up though.

I keep getting them and pushing the boys to do a project each week but they don’t always choose it from these books.

Maybe one day I will be able to do more projects with the kids again.

They do read the information in them though.

aschoolDSC_5603

I did get the Albert Einstein for Kids book and we did several of those activities.

Like making towers with a deck of cards and finding magnets around the house using a compass.

abooksDSC_8629

My boys poured over these Usborne books.

They are great reference books.


abooksDSC_8631

abooksDSC_8632
abooksDSC_8636

I like the “I am” series for my younger three.

It gives a little bit of information that is easy to understand.

I have really been liking books made into movies like “On a beam of light(the link is just for the book)” also.

Sometimes it is really nice to put a movie in on a drive somewhere and cover more of what we are learning.

And for some reason some of my kids will listen to a book being read on a movie more than if I read in real life.

Ha


abooksDSC_8643

As always my kids really like to listen to the Magic Tree House books.

This one was on Florence Nightingale.

1st Day Hike! ~2018

Because it was cold, I ended up only taking one hiking with me this year for the first hike.

We went to the Washington Irving Scenic Trail at Washington Irving South Recreation Area.

ahikeDSC_9297

The recreation area does have a $5 day use fee.

ahikeDSC_9298

This swimming beach looks beautiful.

We did run into some sand burs while walking around though so you would want to be careful near the grass at all.

ahikeDSC_9308 ahikeDSC_9310Ice!
ahikeDSC_9316 ahikeDSC_9317

The trail was located on the north side of the park.

It was a little hard for us to find but it is a pretty small park so not too bad.

There is a parking lot right next to the trail.

ahikeDSC_9319

Some of the trail markers might be hard to find.

ahikeDSC_9321

I liked reading the little bits of history along the trail.

ahikeDSC_9322 ahikeDSC_9326 ahikeDSC_9330

Taking along another photographer was so fun!

ahikeDSC_9342 ahikeDSC_9348 ahikeDSC_9351 ahikeDSC_9353 ahikeDSC_9354 ahikeDSC_9359 ahikeDSC_9366 ahikeDSC_9372 ahikeDSC_9385 ahikeDSC_9389

It was hard to read this sign but it said something about treasure hidden in a cave that is now under Lake Keystone.

I tried to convince my son to brave the freezing temps and find the money for his Dad’s retirement…

ahikeDSC_9393

He did not care about his parents happiness apparently.

ahikeDSC_9397

The ice probably helps insulate it so that if he dove down it would be warm…

ahikeDSC_9404 ahikeDSC_9406

We lost the trail at this point.

I had already heard from someone else that it kind of disappears.

We ended up turning around so round trip was just over a mile.

ahikeDSC_9409 ahikeDSC_9418

I am so used to hiking with 5 kids.

This hike was so QUIET.

It was a nice way to start the year.

ahikeDSC_9420 ahikeDSC_9423

We saw a lot of deer!

ahikeDSC_9425

Do you participate in the 1st day hike?

If not do you have another fun tradition for the 1st day of the year?

You can check out my video to see what the trail is like.

Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge ~Rochert, MN

amnDSC_0200

I am convinced that everything is pretty in Minnesota.

Especially in the fall.

amnDSC_0221

The Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge is another favorite stop when up there.

amnDSC_0229

amnDSC_0231

I am not sure of the name of the hike but it is a pretty one, out to a spillway.

It is between Blackbird Lake and South Chippewa Lake.

amnDSC_0240 amnDSC_0248

Nick’s dad is a bit of a survivalist and knows what things you can eat in the woods.

amnDSC_0257 amnDSC_0269 amnDSC_0283

There were so many swans!

amnDSC_0294 amnDSC_0320 amnDSC_0324 amnDSC_0328 amnDSC_0334 amnDSC_0336 amnDSC_0342

This last trail was pretty funny.

We went on the trail it looped back to the road.

We basically doubled back to our vehicle to get to the platform.

Ha

amnDSC_0344

We headed to Itasca State Park from here!