Book: The Red Carpet

1. Book: The Red Carpet

This book has been out of print, we had to search the last few copies left for sale.

This is  a fun book, so we re-enacted the scene with whatever we have at home.

2. The Story

Add words to your child's vocabulary, and know about means of communication before telephone or cellphone was invented.

As they roll the red carpet, it rolled out of the hotel

..and continued to roll

Chaos at the street

Street peddler selling pretzel got out of sorts

        Street peddler selling pretzel got out of sorts

Pets chasing after the red carpet

Road block did not stop the carpet from rolling

Police are on the chase.

Chaos as the red carpet rolled around town, police trying to put it on a halt

Carpet reached the ferry and the Duke arrived

Police escort to town hotel

3. Further discussion

-Know about jobs in the hospitality industry.

-Talk about people in authority and how they uphold the law.

-Know more about street food and the origin of pretzel.

Enjoy a pretzel with your child.

-Talk about pets having their walk, how do they behave in unusual environment.

-Discuss means of travel, one is thru a ferry.

-Discuss special events and what a red carpet treatment means.

3. Field Trip

Go to a Hotel or places where red carpet is laid.

Bundle your books with activities and they'll always keep the story in their hearts.

Book: Cranberry Thanksgiving

1. Book: Cranberry Thanksgiving

We have now moved up to a new curriculum, Five in a Row, age brackets 4-8. 

First to row, (to read five days in a row) is this book, since Thanksgiving is this week.

We do not celebrate Thanksgiving here but we are grateful for many things, and because of that we give thanks.

2. Bible & Virtues

We match the book with readings about giving thanks and forgiveness.

3. Geography, Vocabulary, Art

We locate the setting on the map with disks (which we drew and colored )and made a lap folder to view our activities easily.

4. Science

We made and compared starched laundry.

5. Sensory, Color, Science 

Before we started our story, we lighted lavender scents, looked at the flowers, gathered colors of lavender, and talked about where it is mixedsuch as soap and oil.

6.  Experience

Though we were not able to make homemade turkey or bread, but having them to eat has been a memorable experience.

Before the day ends, do an act of kindness, and say a word of praise and a loadful of thanks to God!

Book: The Big Green Pocketbook

We are almost done in our Before Five in a Row Curriculum (a Literature based home school guide).

We are about to start Five in a Row (this is the continuation wherein age group is 4 years old up). We intend to continue doing this even combined with formal schooling. Why? Because it is so much fun and we learn a lot.

1. Book: Big Green Pocketbook
A mother and daughter day out.

2. Field Trip: Go to the Actual Places
We rode a Jeepney.

art by Robert Alejandro

We went to a Bank, Laundry and a Bookstore.

3. Arts 
Drawing, cutting, pasting, we are making the stores they visited.

Doing the Bookstore

4. Typing and Writing her name
Same with the story, since we do not have a typewriter, we are improvising with a tablet.

5.Craft
Cutting, Punching and Lacing activity, Make your own green pocketbook

6. Make Believe
Bus riding , to shop visits and souvenirs, we were the characters in the book

7. Memory Game
Arrange in sequence the places they went in the story

8. Materials and Texture
Being an architect, we always discuss different building materials and finishes, now it's a great opportunity to discuss with my daughter.

 Marble top, Wood Floor, Leather seats, Furniture


We ended the week with an ice cream! :)
Go out and have fun. 

Night Creatures: Bats

Bats are always associated with Vampires, it's time to get to know them a little more.

1. Book: Stella Luna

This book has been overlooked in bookstores, but this is one of our favorite books, a story about a fruit bat, a mother's love and friendship with other animals, birds in particular.

2. Field Trip: A Visit to the Zoo

Shown below are fruit bats, mango is among the menu.

3. Video & Book: Magic School. Bus, Going Batty

Our favorite book and tv series.

4. Science & Vocabulary

Research on Fruit Bats and Vampire Bats:
-They hang upside down.
-Some bats can see clearly at night, some use echolocation.
-They are nocturnal. Darkness protects them from predators like owls.
-They are mammals.
-Vampire bats don't kill for blood, they drink a few from cattle and livestock, usually.
-The risk for humans from a bat's bite is rabies.
-We have to protect them, natural habitats such as caves are being exploited by humans.

Words to encounter: Echolocation, Nocturnal

5. Geography

Locate  Transylvania, Romania in your map

Point out where Fruit bats can be found, one of them is here in the Philippines

6. Toys for easy recall of the discussion

Hope you get to see bats in new light.

When a Child asks about Cancer, Do you answer Truthfully?

1. Breast Cancer

What is it? My mom had a full mastectomy more than 15 years ago, my daughter couldn't help but notice the scar. We had to explain what happened in the most basic way that would inform but not scare a child.

2. Awareness and Prevention

Information is vital, it saves lives. All my answers were replied with a 'Why?' Try to explain the possible causes and what are the precautionary measures, what are the risk in the family.

For older children, especially ladies, teach the self breast exam.

Go to a support group if needed. One group my mom is involved in is the Bosom Buddies, where activities, assistance and group discussions happen regularly.

3. Food Groups and Preparation

Discuss what comprises a balanced diet. Which vegetables are best for the body.

Cook and show different food preparation, best if baked or grilled not fried.

4. Family support and Faith

When my daughter was trying to understand what being sick means, I had to explain that each part of our body has a function. It's like a toy, when the mechanism breaks, we have to repair it, else it will not run or function well.

  It is the web of support that will hold you together and cushion each fall, until you are ready to spring back and be whole again.

5. Attend Seminars and Activities

For us parents, to be able to shed light to our little ones, we should be informed ourselves. Makati Med had a film showing, Decoding Annie Parker, (this is for mature audience).

It is about the life of a breast cancer survivor in the 70s and the medical development of BRCA gene mutation , stating that cancer can be in the genes, what a patient goes through, how different it was back then.

If you choose to fight cancer, your goal is winning, if you give up before the fight started, then the battle is lost. To friends, families and patients, take courage because this is a battle to be won.

A Wedding and a Wedding Anniversary

October so far has the most wedding anniversaries I know of (based on my circle of friends).  This month my daughter is chosen to be one of the flower girls in my nephew’s wedding, as every mother, I am excited!

Weddings in the Philippines are a big event. Guests could range from 200-800, this one is close to 400.

For this joyous event we did several activities to make it more memorable.

1.       Vocabulary: Wedding, Vow, Family , Ceremony, Reception

What happens during the ceremony? To answer that, we watched our wedding video.

(This brought tears on our eyes J)

2.       Movement: Practice Walking

Walking the line is another Montessori inspired activity.

Shown below is the wedding march.

3.      Virtue Development: Patience

Waiting for your turn, falling in line

4.       Book: Planting a Rainbow

We talked about flowers, colors and arrangement.

5.       Culture: Dining, Lauriat, Chinese Traditions

6.       Activity: Care for the Flowers

Spray and watering plants, cleaning up the mess

Celebrating our 6^th Anniversary and looking at our children, it has been a busy, crazy, happy, frustrating, fulfilling year for us. I knew two kids will be a handful, yes it is a handful of fun and a pocketful of kisses!

Spooky to Geeky- Mummies, Pyramid, Egypt & Pharaohs

1. Book: I am the Mummy Heb Nefert

We view mummies as what they are, wrapped dead bodies, haunting. The book speaks of the life she once led, how all things pass. I like the way it spoke, it touches the soul. I didn't expect death would be a topic the next day we read it. My daughter was asking how come she speaks when she has passed away?

2. Toys: 

To better get the idea, an actual toy is presented in a humorous way, we couldn't talk too serious about death to a three year old, could we? Hands on play and dancing like an Egyptian.

3. Crafts Ideas:

Mummify this cardboard guy with tissue.

4. Further reading:

We learned about Pyramid's purpose, way of living, how to make a Papyrus (first paper), and a lot about ancient Egypt.

5. Math Shapes: Pyramid

We did 3d drawing, hand drawing, clay making, paper pyramid.

6. Costume Day

Last day of Kindermusik class is Halloween dress-up (Trick or Treat). Reading and learning about Egypt made her appreciate our choice of character, Cleopatra.

Our greatest thanks to my mom who did all the sewing of the whole outfit and prepared the accessories. My participation would only be sourcing the crown.:)

Happy Halloween to all!