Friday, September 30, 2011

Our Week with FIAR: Papa Piccolo

We started rowing the book Papa Piccolo by Carol Talley this week. I decided I wanted to pick books for the next few rows that take place in the countries that we were introduced to in How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World. (Hopefully soon I will finish the post on our weeks with that book.) The first place the baker visited while gathering the ingredients for her pie was Italy, which is where Papa Piccolo takes place.

Unfortunately, it was a busy week (doctor appt, etc.) and we didn't get near as much done as I wanted to . Here is what we were able to accomplish this week:

Social Studies
We reviewed where we can find Italy. I printed out an Italy Shutterfold book from Homeschool Share.
They cut them out and found Italy, coloring it orange. (Hannah just colored)


(She does love gluing.)

Amelia's


 Tabitha's
Even though I have been teaching her lower case since the beginning and we practice writing upper and lower case in the BrainQuest workbooks, she insists on writing all upper case (I even wrote it properly on the paper I gave her to copy).

Hannah's

And we put our story disk on the globe. We traveled across the Atlantic Ocean, found Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. The first day they had trouble finding the boot shaped country. Today, Amelia found it!


We discussed the canals of Venice, which are very prominent in the book. Then we made our own city. I drew lines to represents the canals on brown paper.


The girls were told to trace the canals with blue paint.




They did an awesome job.

Amelia's

Tabitha's

 Hannah's
We said her canals are flooding.

 Then I went outside, gathered some rocks and we made canals in cookie sheets.



She was using one of the rocks as a person.

The floor did get a little wet.

Of course we had our muffin tin. We focused on Italy and I added a cat cutout of cheese to represent Papa Piccolo.
 
Then they requested a second muffin tin  on Wednesday.
Leftover pizza, leftover spaghetti, leftover pizza, 
Cat shaped bread and butter
Green beans, white shredded mozzarella cheese, red grapes (to represent the flag)

Language Arts

When we reread the book today I had the girls listening for words/phrases describing what Piccolo and the kittens were doing. We also listed what Piccolo taught the kittens. 


Daddy helped the girls understand some of the words by acting them out. He strutted, he wheeled and he begged for food.  Daddy became Papa Piccolo and the girls became the kittens. 

Here they are following him up the steep steps.



And curling up to sleep.


Then we finished our week with the How Kittens Grow Activity card that I found the link to over at Homeschool Share




They cut them out then Tabitha read the words in each box and they glued the correct picture in the boxes.


Next week we will be continuing Papa Piccolo.
If you are interested in a little summary and review of the book you can check out my "This Week We are Reading" post.


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No Ordinary Blog Hop

Giveaway Opportunity at Mellissa Rose: Scrapbooking Supplies

I just found a new blog and a new giveaway over at the blog Mellissa Rose:My World in a Blog. This giveaway is for Scrapbooking supplies. Head on over to check out what she is offering, it's quite the generous list. 
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Winner is to be drawn Monday Oct 3rd

Friday Blog Hops: Sept 30, 2011

I'm looking forward to making some new friends. I hope you can take the time to check out my blog, if you like what you see I would love for you to follow my blog. I also have a Facebook page and a Twitter account you could follow (I will follow back).

Looking forward to visiting some new blogs this week. Have a blessed day. Here are the Friday Blog Hops I have found, there are a few new ones this week.


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young and restless




Stalk Hop Friday













Thrifty Ninja Follow Me Friday


And a Facebook Hop








Thursday, September 29, 2011

This Week We are Reading: Papa Piccolo (FIAR)

I have decided to share the books we are reading each week in a separate post before the week in review post, that way my review post is not so long. Just trying out something new.

This week we are rowing the book Papa Piccolo by Carol Talley.
Papa Piccolo Families, Fatherhood Children's Book)

Piccolo is a tomcat who lives for adventure in the city of Venice, Italy.  He has no cares in the world as he explores the city. While out exploring one night he comes across a cardboard box that contains two abandoned kittens.  Not knowing where the mother is he sings them a lullaby to help them fall asleep and then heads on his way with a friend. The next morning the kittens show up, steal some food and will not leave his side. This obviously is not a very thrilling turn of events for the adventurous cat. Unfortunately he can't shake them or find anyone to watch them. When they go off on their own he discovers he is lonely and he becomes melancholy, not heading out for his adventures. Where are they? Will they return? What will he do about them if they do come back?

We are enjoying reading this book. We are learning about the canals in the city of Venice and how the people travel by different kinds of boats. Of course the girls love the cats and kittens too. The mischievous little kittens slowly find a place in Piccolo's heart as they insinuate themselves into his life. I like the way the author has used several Italian phrases for us to learn. Now the children are asking for more words in Italian. Gotta love the internet.

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