Planning for the Second Half of the School Year

After revisiting my ambitious plan for this school year, created over the summer, I've decided on our final main lesson blocks for the year.

Note: N and L are doing a non-traditional scope & sequence since Natalie was transitioning into Waldorf and then back out again and Leah is transitioning into Waldorf and staying there. So it's not precisely 6th and 8th grades.

We follow a main lesson block rotation of Cultural / Mathematics / Language / Science, with three full rotations occurring during the course of the year.

Here is what we will be finishing the year with:

Science 2
Natalie - finish 7th/8th grade Human Physiology
Leah - finish 4th/5th grade Man and Animal

Cultural 3
Natalie - U.S. Gov't/History by way of a study of 12 Supreme Court Justices
Leah - 6th grade Middle Ages

Mathematics 3
Natalie - 7th/8th grade Geometry, using Making Math Meaningful : A Middle School Math Curriculum for Teachers and Parents by Jamie York

Leah - 3rd grade Linear Measurement / Housebuilding / Native Americans

Language 3
Natalie - Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet, Much Ado About Nothing, sonnets)
Leah - finish 4th grade Norse Mythology, using D'Aulaires' Book of Norse Myths

Science 3
both girls will do as much Physics as possible, using the notes from School as a Journey: The Eight-Year Odyssey of a Waldorf Teacher and His Class by Torin Finser and Physics is Fun: A Sourcebook for Teachersby Roberto Trostli

I got to do some shopping yesterday. I've decided to go ahead and get The Human Being and the Animal World: Waldorf Education Resourcesfor Leah. For Natalie I bought Brown Paper School book: Blood and Gutssince we have been using it as our main text for the human body, and I hate having to keep giving it back to the library. I also bought The Body Book: Easy-to-Make Hands-on Models That Teachsight unseen so I hope it's worthwhile. We check out Easy Genius Science Projects with the Human Body: Great Experiments and Ideasand THE HUMAN BODY: 25 FANTASTIC PROJECTS Illuminate How the Body Worksfrom the library for our hands-on activities.

Two Waldorf-specific Human Physiology items on my wish list are Muscles and Bones: Waldorf Education Resourcesby Charles Kovacs and the Rick Tan cross-hatching anatomy drawing lesson on Etsy ($12.00).

For Leah's upcoming Middle Ages block I read some blog posts online and got a recommendation for a great book. It's expensive on Amazon but it's supposed to be the best one out there: World of Wallsby Polly Schoyer Brooks. The Giant at the Ford and Other Legends of the Saintsby Ursula Synge is like that; you know it's very highly recommended so you watch and watch for a copy to come on Amazon at a reasonable price! Actually, I found a book of Saint stories which I think I like even better although it's not well known. So if you can't find The Giant at the Ford and Other Legends of the SaintsI suggest Saints Among the Animalsby Cynthia Zarin.

Speaking of lovely and delicious books, I am in such a mood for FOOD right now. And the recipes in Meatless: More Than 200 of the Very Best Vegetarian Recipeslook so scrumptious that my mouth was watering while I planned the weekly menu. I choose a week's worth of dinners and throw in some things for the girls to bake or make for snacks, create a grocery shopping list for Adam (divided into produce, bakery, pantry, dairy, meat, and household), and write up all the recipes we have ingredients for on a large chalkboard in the laundry room. When we are hungry we just go see what we can make! Anyway, here is the mouthwatering delectable list of vegetarian meals, with two meat ones for my husband there at the end.

Avocado, Beet, and Orange Salad - p.219

Fatoush with Crumbled Feta - p.192

Bulgur and Chickpea Salad with Carrot-Pistachio Dressing - p.196

Broccoli with Chickpeas and Ricotta - p.215

Lentils with Caramelized Celery Root and Parsley - p.211

Raw Kale Salad with Pomegranate and Toasted Walnuts - p.208

Sweet Potato and Cauliflower Gratin - p.164

Roasted Eggplant and Chickpea Soup - p.137

Potato and Zucchini Hash - p.73

Kale, Apple, and Beet Salad - p.224

Easy Crockpot Venison Roast

Potato Sausage Casserole