Dear Readers, I apologize for my absence! I’ve had three days of appointments, lab work, school fun, and then today we had another awesome co-op day with our Five In A Row group. With Five In A Row, for those of you who don’t know about it, you study a specific and usually award-winning treasure of a picture book over a period of one week, or in the case of Volume 4, sometimes two weeks, and even though Charlotte Mason might not have been a huge fan of unit study per se, I think she would have loved Five In A Row. Five In A Row is just rich in lessons about God’s hand in major events throughout time, history, nature study, art and music appreciation, and relationships.
Our co-ops are taught in teams — two moms putting their heads together and coming up with learning activities to go along with the particular book. This co-op it was my turn again! The mom I was working with this week opened our morning with prayer and then I read Hanna’s Cold Winter to the group of children.
Hanna’s Cold Winter – Let me take a moment here to point you to Purple House Press, a publishing company whose mission it is to bring back into print, wonderful, “lost” children’s books. They have brought Hanna’s Cold Winter back to lots of children!
One of the things I love about this co-op is that we get to see each other’s homes. Exciting! The kids love getting together and playing afterwards, the moms love oooohing and aaaahing over other homes’ interiors, gardens, etc. It’s a win-win situation. 
We were in a gorgeous home today! It was old (something I love), and full of interesting and bright art and some amazing furniture!
My co-teacher taught the children about animal groups and animal characteristics and played a fun guessing game where each child was a mystery animal and then others had to try and guess what animal they were, based on clues. They learned about biomes as well.
Here are the children asking questions and giving clues.
Next the children moved to a board game I made called Budapest Zoo. Uh, you know me and Mod Podge. 
The board game is made from a piece of plywood decoupaged with thumbnail pictures of Budapest Zoo, some of its animals, and landmarks around Budapest and Hungary. You throw the dice, move, draw a card and read it; it’s either just a fact about Hungary that you’ll read, or something to do, i.e. A hippo ate your flip-flops, go back 3 spaces.
Next it was on to a painting project that my lovely co-teacher had set up based on how feelings and thoughts made their way into the arts based on what people went through during World War II. We also learned about Hungarian composer, Bartok, and the children listened to classical music while they worked on abstract art techniques.
After the class was over, there were snacks to enjoy. The snack menu was planned based on scenes in Hanna’s Cold Winter: eggs (turned into deviled eggs and sprinkled with Hungarian paprika) and cheese from the market, snowflake crackers for the cold winter, tart apples to offset the sweet cheese, a bit of candy (with mom’s permission) – also a market item, and water.
One of my favorite parts of the co-op is seeing my friend Daniel. We were both pretty impressed by the large nutcracker soldier on the hearth, so we stood guard with him for awhile, with our most serious faces. Do we look protective and like good guards?
Can anyone say zip line? This home had a zip line in the backyard and there were screams of joy when the children were turned loose to play once the co-op was done.
It was a very lovely day and I am so thankful for the friendship and opportunity this group of wonderful ladies offers.
for you to leave a comment, but you can also e-mail me at lynn AT thehealthyhomeschool.com
And a fun day was had by all!!
Off to check our Purple House Press. Thanks for the link! Hannah’s Cold Winter looks delightful.
What an enjoyable day!
I also liked teaching unit studies ~ they were fun for me and for the children
I hope you are feeling better.
blessings,
maria
I’ve been debating about using Five in a Row, or not. You make it sound tempting…we might have to try it. I had decided since this was our first year homeschooling, I was just going to use free stuff (like Ambleside), but we’ll just have to see. Your co-op group sounds like a lot of fun.
LOV LOVE LOVE Fiar! My children’s fondest memories of homeschooling is FIAR.
Lynn, I just have to finally ask. Does your bunny have 2 ears? I always wonder when I see that picture and thought I would finally ask. smile
becky
Your co-op looks like so much fun, Lynn. I’m sure the kids are learning soo much. That game you made is cool.
First of all, Lynn, I am so refreshed after a visit with you. Thank you. I used to ROW when the kids were younger. I should do it again. It would be a great way to start the new year. I’ve been praying about what to do next semester. Thank you for the Purple Press link, too. Your co-op sounds like a blessed group indeed. The co-ops I have been part of have been so school-like and very expensive, not to mention too hectic for me. I appreciated your sweet comment the other day. I need all the encouragement I can get to keep going!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Jenn
What a delightful day you all had! The co-ops I’ve been a part of had sooo many people, it was a bit too much. Keeping it small seems like a good idea. We used FIAR for a bit when my son (now 22) was little, but I’m mostly using the Ambleside Online with my daughter. Hope you’re feeling better.
Dear Lynn,
How adorable! The children look so well-behaved, and like they’re just so absorbed in the learning process. Here’s to Mod Podge!
I love the jumper and shiny shirt, too.
Love,
Marqueta
p.s. We’ve been a.w.o.l. the last three days, since our pipes froze up and we’ve been spending the days at my mom’s house. Hopefully tomorrow they’ll defrost, and we’ll get on those letters to you gals!
What a wonderful fun day. Thanks for sharing the link, I am off to check it now.
Blessings
diane
I love the FIAR. I wish I could find some moms to do a co-op like this!
Jeanne, it is a great book, full of points from which to launch many great studies!
Maria, thank you. I feel much better on my current regimen, and I’m hoping to get better and better. I think FIAR is the perfect unit study approach.
Susan, the co-op group is such a wonderful resource. I love FIAR. In the early days, I obsessed about everything. I felt I had to be all or none with everything. Right now I am taking all we love from Ambleside and sticking with that, but I feel FIAR will always be the heart of our homeschool. It’s just so easy.
Becky, I know! Doesn’t FIAR just make the best memories? And you are NOT the first person who asked about Coco. It makes me smile. I guess I should change the picture. I answered your question in today’s post.
Kisha, it is so nice. I really appreciate this group. I do think the children learn a lot and it reinforces what we do at home.
Jenn, thank you! I hope you are doing well. I have worked today and yesterday so I need to catch up on my blog reading. I think our co-op is so great because of those involved. It is just a pleasure to be involved with them.
Emily, I am really enjoying the Ambleside. This is our first year with Ambleside, though not my first exposure to Charlotte Mason, so we are taking it slow. I don’t want to be overwhelmed and give up. AO is a lot of reading, so we will do all we can this year and then dive in again next year! FIAR is wonderful. It really is. Thank you for your comment.
Marqueta, I’m sorry about your pipes! We have had that happen here once, years ago. Hubby had to go under the house and unfreeze them with a heater or torch or something. I don’t remember what he used by now.
The children in the group are very well behaved and some are just brilliant! Well, they all are brilliant. 
Diane, I think you’ll like Purple House Press. If you’re looking for good books, they’ve got ‘em!
Oh, Suzanne, I wish you could too. Could you start one? If you visit the FIAR boards, I wonder if there are people in your general location who would want to do this. We have one lady in our group, my friend Leslie, and I think she just had a vision of what this could be and she just did it and stuck to it!
Lynn
your co-op seems so wonderful for both the students and the teachers. everyone looks like they’re having fun and are happy to all be together.
i’ll admit i’m a little jealous! my kids are in various activities, but not a co-op. good for all of you, though!
Connie, I feel so very fortunate to be a part of this group. I hope you can find something like it if you want to, but I am sure you have wonderful things going on as well! My work keeps us from doing some of the activities I want, so I guess we all have a bit of give and take going on.