I love when books lend themselves to big life activities, and that’s exactly what Emily Ecton’s The Ambrose Deception does that in a very big way! The book is kind of a cross between Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and The Book Scavenger, both books that we’ve done in book club, and so I was very excited to… Continue reading Book Club, Durham Edition: “The Ambrose Deception”
Tag: geography
Book Club: “All Four Stars” by Tara Dairman
I’ve had trouble keeping up with our book club sharing, but we’ve been having loads of fun with books this year! All Four Stars was one of those books. Meet Gladys Gatsby: New York’s toughest restaurant critic. (Just don’t tell anyone that she’s in sixth grade.) Gladys Gatsby has been cooking gourmet dishes since the… Continue reading Book Club: “All Four Stars” by Tara Dairman
Book Clubbing in the Wild West: Climbing Mountains
I love being able to make hands-on plans for book club. I love that we’re not only about books and discussion but about really getting into the books with all of our senses. That’s why I was so excited for the kids to read Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach this month, and just… Continue reading Book Clubbing in the Wild West: Climbing Mountains
Touring Penn State University
A few months ago we traveled to Pennsylvania to visit my grandmother, a natural-born teacher. Although she was quite sick at the time, she sent us on several field trips while we were there – and one of them was to her alma mater, Penn State University. Penn State is a huge, land grant… Continue reading Touring Penn State University
Getting Colonial with Patrick Henry
I love history. I love field trips. I really love when I can combine the two. That’s why I was extra excited to find out that Patrick Henry’s final home was within an hour of our home. Due to a busy and stressful week and the forecast of thunderstorms, I wasn’t in the greatest frame… Continue reading Getting Colonial with Patrick Henry
“Favorite Flavors of Ireland” by Margaret Johnson
Favorite Flavors of Ireland is a scenic foodie tour of this hypnotic island country. The pictures are gorgeous, and there are stories to accompany them. Many of the pages also include histories of the dishes and how they’ve evolved over time or are particularly relevant to a certain region. I learned a lot just from… Continue reading “Favorite Flavors of Ireland” by Margaret Johnson
1 Easy Way to Teach about the American Southwest
Recently my Little Man asked to read Elise Broach’s book Missing on Superstition Mountain. I knew he would love it – it’s packed full of adventure, danger, and treasure hunting – but I hesitated. This book is perfect for teaching about the American Southwest. There are many, many threads that can be tugged to build… Continue reading 1 Easy Way to Teach about the American Southwest
Touring NC: Sliding Rock State ParkS
While on our trip to the mountains a few weeks ago, we decided it was important to explore the mountains. To find out what makes North Carolina unique. Sliding Rock State Park seemed like the perfect example. Sliding Rock itself is a natural waterslide deep in the mountains. It’s in a creekbed… Continue reading Touring NC: Sliding Rock State ParkS
History in Action: Gem Mining in NC
We’ve been studying North Carolina – our home state – this year in school, and I was shocked to learn that this state was the site of our nation’s first gold rush back in the early 1800s! That opened my eyes to the long history of mining that this state has – which thrilled My… Continue reading History in Action: Gem Mining in NC
Field Work Friday – Exploring Mt. Mitchell
This past school year we studied our home state of North Carolina. We learned about the three regions of the state – the coast, the Piedmont, and the mountains -and we studied the pre-colonial history of North Carolina, too. (Find out more about our trips to Shackleford Island, pirate book club plans, and pirate history.… Continue reading Field Work Friday – Exploring Mt. Mitchell
