Crayons' Grade Five: Focus on the Underground Railroad, Week 2

Week 1 is here.

Crayons, as I could have guessed ahead of time, is already a bit Underground-Railroaded out.  We don't usually put so much focus on just one topic during the week.  I had also intended on having her do some independent reading on Harriet Tubman, Levi Coffin, or someone like that, but we seem to be getting a bit of information about all those people just "by the by" as we read the other books, so I'm not sure how worthwhile that is.

But we will carry on.  Towards the end of the week the focus shifts to a quick look at the U.S. Civil War.  I said a quick look.  This is Canada, people; yes, this country (as it existed then--Confederation was still a couple of years off) was affected, but it's not something elementary students here learn about in any great detail.  As Gladys Kravitz said to Abner, "The North won."

I'm thinking about incorporating Janet Lunn's novel The Root Cellar, a time-slip story about the Civil War.  This book has been fairly popular, I think, with teachers and homeschoolers studying this time period; but I remember it as being a bit dark for a fifth grader.  Any opinions there?

Anyway, here's the plan for this week:

MONDAY

Bible
Poem: "Mother to Son," by Langston Hughes



Copywork (poem or quote)
Underground to Canada
Math
(A break here to go outside and skip, since the ground is dry and it's unusually sunny and warm for February)
History:  pages 88-93 in The Last Safe House, including information about Alexander Milton Ross
Workbook (unit study pages):  more information about Ross
French
Chapter from Silas Marner (nothing to do with this topic, it's just what we're reading anyway)

TUESDAY

Bible:  chapter from Matthew
Poem: "Dream Deferred" by Langston Hughes
Copywork (poem or quote)
Underground to Canada
Math
History: pages 110-114 in The Last Safe House
Draw something from this time period in the sketchbook

Watch part of the Homestead Blessings DVD on Crafts

Lunch break, and telephone technology (with Dad)

French
Plutarch's Life of Dion, Lesson 7

WEDNESDAY

Bible
Poem: "Let America Be America Again" by Langston Hughes
Underground to Canada
Workbook:  math problems (distance travelled to Canada, etc.)
French (computer games)
Science
Draw something from this time period in the sketchbook
Probably start reading The Root Cellar together

Afternoon: volunteering at the thrift store

THURSDAY

Bible
Poem: "I know why the caged bird sings" and "Touched by an angel" by Maya Angelou
Copywork (poem or quote)
Underground to Canada
Workbook:  map exercise
Math
History:  Canadian history textbook, two pages about the Civil War
Draw something in the sketchbook
French
Two short chapters from Silas Marner, written narration

FRIDAY  

Bible
Poem: "Life Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson
Copywork (poem or quote)
Finish Underground to Canada.
Math
History:  Canadian history textbook, finish the section on the Civil War
Creative narration project:  to be decided. 

Weekend reading assignment:  continue reading The Root Cellar, or choose another book set in the same time period (Little Women etc.).