The Learning Continues...

Although it seems as if all we do is have fun around here, we are able to get to our studies. Okay, who am I kidding, that's fun too!

History: After Shakespeare we "flew" over to France as Henry the Huguenot fights for Paris and wins ending a five year war. A famous artist, El Greco (The Greek), comes to Spain and promptly becomes well known because of a court hearing concerning his artwork. In the meantime, Sir Walter Raleigh is eager to search for El Dorado and Queen Elizabeth allows him to. He does not find it, but returns to England to write a book about his travels.

Geography: Finished up our map study of Europe and found South America and the proposed region of El Dorado.

Science: Went out on a limb and explored two concepts: color and force/motion. Prez was learning about primary and secondary colors due to the study of El Greco's artwork, while Bubbles started what will be a lengthy discovery of force and motion. The stretch is because we were talking about the war in France and how Henry IV tried to starve people in Paris in order to force them turn over the city. Also the court trial was an issue where the defendants were forced to pay El Greco (the plaintiff) monies promised for a commissioned piece of artwork. So, different type of force, but it was a good jumping off point.

Art: With El Greco in the forefront, we explored his unique technique of floating, distorted figures with pale, bluish, eerie colors. I should have had them experiment with this technique, but instead I decided to have them try painting on canvas, since this is what he painted on. It all started with one solitary, long, thin piece of wood that needed to be formed into our frame.
Bubbles is measuring her angles needed for each cut.
We started with a hacksaw.
It wasn't long before we moved to the scroll saw, which because of it's size was much easier to handle and move to a good location.
It was also less reliable as far as the durability of the blade (yikes) and the accuracy of the cuts. Oh well. Experience is priceless.
Bubbles began hammering the pieces together, however that beautiful smile soon turned upside down.
We moved to the ever easy staple gun. Don't you just love how perfectly our pieces fit together?
Two frames and two pieces of canvas. We are ready to create masterpieces.
Prez and his soon to be spider. I drew the outline for him.
Bubbles and her new plaque in all of it's trendy glory. You'll see what I mean below.

Memorization: No long poems or prayers, just one thing....The Edict of Nantes. This was the law put into place by Henry IV which allowed the beginnings of religious freedom in France and gave hope to other nations struggling with religious constraint.

Writing: Write an editorial from either a Protestant or Catholic view of Henry IV's conversion in order to gain the throne of France. OR Describe your own fictitious adventure of the discovery of a place similar to El Dorado, but not made of gold, made of anything else.