Third Quarterly Report, Fifth Grade

THIRD QUARTERLY REPORT


SCHOOL YEAR: 2014-2015
HOMESCHOOLING STUDENT: Mikro
GRADE LEVEL: Fifth
THIS QUARTER COVERS: 1/17/15 to 3/31/15
DATE SUBMITTED: April 1, 2015


Generally:


Mikro is progressing at a satisfactory level or above in all subject matter.
We have had instruction in all the following areas, as per Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education and Mikro’s Individual Home Instruction Plan (IHIP): Reading, Writing, Spelling, Language Arts, Math, History, Geography, Science, Health, Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, Patriotism and Citizenship, Fire Safety and Prevention, and Traffic, Bicycle and General Safety. Mikro had no absences from instruction this quarter, and has exceeded the required hours of instruction (225). Highlights for the Quarter include:


Reading/Language Arts:

Mikro continued to improve his spelling, grammar and composition skills by working on his Nanowrimo novel, and by writing a series of personal essays in support of his application for admission into the Science Alliance program for middle schoolers at the American Museum of Natural History. He also has a private blog, where he can journal his thoughts and experiences.

This quarter, he elected to take the National Mythology Exam in the Greek/Roman, Norse, Native American, African and Theseus categories. We are eagerly awaiting word on his results.

Mikro reads at a high school or college level. He devours books on mythology, folktales, science fiction and the sciences. His keyboarding skills continue to improve, though he is still a hunt and peck typist. He continues to work on his penmanship, especially in cursive. We also did a brief review for the Fifth Grade Language Arts test, using Barron’s New York State Grade 5 Elementary Level Language Arts Test by Hermon R. Card. Mikro also read a lot of the poetry compiled in What Your Fifth Grader Needs To Know by E.D. Hirsch, Jr..


Mikro participates in a book club at the Croton Free Library. Books read and discussed this quarter include: The Search for Wondla by Tony Di Terlizzi and Ulysses Moore, Book 1: The Door To Time by P.D. Baccalario.

Mikro is in the middle of a Great Courses class called Argumentation: The Study of Effective Reasoning, featuring Professor David Zarefsky of Northwestern University. Topics covered so far include: Introducing Argumentation and Rhetoric; Underlying Assumptions of Argumentation; Formal and Informal Argumentation; History of Argumentation Studies; Argument Analysis and Diagramming; Complex Structures of Argument; Case Construction—Requirements and Options; Stasis—The Heart of the Controversy; Attack and Defense I; Attack and Defense II; Language and Style in Argument; Evaluating Evidence.


Some of the books read independently by Mikro (in addition to those listed by subject matter in other categories below) include:

The Glass Sentence by S.E. Grove; Spy School and Spy Camp by Stuart Gibbs; The Genius Files: License to Thrill by Dan Gutman; The Dragon Circle by Stephen Krensky; Tin Tin in America, Cigars of the Pharaoh, The Blue Lotus and The Black Island, all by Herge; Wake Up Missing by Kate Messner; Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling; Dungeons and Dragons: Rules for Fantastic Medieval Role Playing Adventure Game Campaigns Playable With Paper and Pencil and Miniature Figures, by Gary Gygox and Dave Arneson; LEGO Architecture: The Visual Guide by Phillip Wilkinson and Adam Reed Tucker; The Art of 3D Computer Animation and Effects by Isaac V. Kerlow.


Math:


Our focus this quarter has been in reviewing material for the fifth grade standardized test in mathematics. Additionally, Mikro learned about the geometry of circles and triangles. He celebrated Pi Day, and learned to calculate the area of a circle. He is also learning about trigonometric functions and applied math in the area of Earth Science, such as calculating the eccentricity of a planet’s orbit. He is continuing to practice multi-digit multiplication, simple division, long division, percents, fractions, decimals, graphing, and money skills, including adding and subtracting monetary amounts and making change, using real life math, books, workbooks, games, drawings, original word problems and manipulatives. Mikro uses online math resources such as BrainPOP, and Khan Academy.


Books: Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse to Stay Up Late by Laura Overdeck.

Videos: Vi Hart’s Pi and Tau videos on YouTube.

Music: Multiplication Mountain by Hap Palmer; Division Unplugged.

Field Trips: National Museum of Mathematics.


Science:

Mikro continues to take an Earth Science Regents Lab class with Jen Seron, using the collections of the American Museum of Natural History. Topics this quarter included: early astronomy and the development of our current model of the solar system; Earth’s motion; and Earth’s hydrosphere.

In addition, he researched and completed a science project in connection with his application for the Science Alliance program for middle schoolers at AMNH. He designed a board game to teach the evolution of life over geologic time, which covered such topics as plate tectonics, climate change, biodiversity, and evolution. He presented his project at an interview with the education department at the museum.

He continues to explore his interests using BrainPOP, The Happy Scientist and Discovery Streaming Education, TED Talks, Ted Ed Talks, You Tube videos, World Science Festival Videos, etc., as well as his vast collection of science books.

He is currently working on an independent study project on natural satellites to present to his Earth Science class.

Mikro and his dad are continuing to learn to design and build 3D objects using software packages such as TinkerCad and Blender.

Books:

Prehistoric Life (DK); The Field Guide to Prehistoric Life by David Lambert; Seven Wonders of the Gas Giants and Their Moons by Ron Miller; 1001 Facts About Space by Carole Stott; Many Moons: The Myth, Magic and Fantasy of Our Nearest Heavenly Body by Diana Brueton; Falling Stars: A Guide to Meteors and Meteorites by Mikro D. Reynolds; Moonbase: First Colony in Space by Michal D. Cole; Thirty-two Moons: The Natural Satellites of Our Solar System by David C. Knight; What If We Lived on Another Planet by Olive MacDonald; DK Universe by Robin Kerrod; Living in Space by James Trefil; The Collector’s Guide to the Minerals of New York State by Steven Garg Chamberlin; Science for Kids: 39 Easy Astronomy Experiments by Robert W. Wood.


Textbook: Earth Science: The Physical Setting, by Edward J. Denecke, Jr.: Chapter 1: Early Astronomy and the Geocentric Model; Chapter 2: The Development of the Heliocentric Model; Chapter 3: Heliocentric Earth Motions and Their Effects; Chapter 5: Our System of Time; Chapter 12: The Origin and Nature of Earth’s Hydrosphere.


Videos: The Making of the Fittest (HHMI); Evolution: Fossils, Genes and Mousetraps (HHMI). Mikro has watched programming about and discussed the following topics this quarter, in addition to the above mentioned: Engineering and design of the Freedom Tower; nature programs featuring snowy owls, ducks, eels and coywolves; moral behavior in animals; nanorobots; the ecological benefits of whale excrement; the Amazon River; plant communication; the evolution of flight, convergent evolution.

Classes: Earth Science Regents Lab with Jen Seron .

Field trips: American Museum of Natural History: Hall of Biodiversity; Hall of Minerals; Spiral of Deep Time; Creativity and Education Innovation Fair at the 92nd Street Y’s 7 Days of Genius Festival; bird watching; many nature walks where Mikro has observed such things animal tracks in the snow; bald eagles fishing from ice floes in the Hudson River, red tailed hawks mating; stargazing.

Projects: designed a space ship for 3D printing using Blender software package; designed and built a game demonstrating evolution over the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras; ongoing project on natural satellites; examining interesting specimens under the microscope, such as hair, scabs, banana peels, leaves, etc.; maintained a compost heap, caring for and observing a collection of pets including two bearded dragons, a Chinese water dragon, and a turtle, maintaining a Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat.



History, Geography, Social Studies & Patriotism and Citizenship:

During this quarter we have concentrated on preparation for the National Mythology Exam. Mikro studied Greek/Roman, Norse, African and Native American myths and legends, and took the exam in early March.

We also continued our study of the Dark Ages and the Vikings. We are in the middle of a 36 lecture offering from The Great Courses called Vikings, featuring Professor Kenneth W. Harl of Tulane University . Topics covered to date include: The Vikings in Medieval History; Land and People of Medieval Scandinavia; Scandinavian Society in the Bronze Age; Scandinavia in the Celtic and Roman Ages; The Age of Migrations; The Norse Gods; Runes, Poetry, and Visual Arts; Legendary Kings and Heroes; A Revolution in Shipbuilding; Warfare and Society in the Viking Age; Merchants and Commerce in the Viking Age; Christendom on the Eve of the Viking Age.

We also completed Experiencing Rome, A Visual Exploration of Antiquity’s Greatest Empire (a 36 lecture offering from The Great Courses featuring Professor Steven L. Tuck of Miami University). Topics included: Roman Colonies—Small Romes; Local Baths and Roman Bathing Culture; Roman Harbors—Liminal Monuments; Putting It All Together I—A Day in Pompeii; Putting It All Together II—A Day in Rome; Conclusions and the Images of Empire.


In American History/New York History/Patriotism and Citizenship, we have discussed politics and current events, the Constitution, separation of powers, the Bill of Rights, rights and responsibilities of citizens, totalitarian governments and tyranny, immigration, slavery, racism and the Civil Rights movement, and current events in the Middle East and American foreign policy.

Mikro loves cartography and spends hours looking through atlases for fun. He particularly enjoyed looking up destinations from The Amazing Race (Season 1) on the map.

Books:

Mythology: Ingri and Edgar D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths and D’Aulaire’s Book of Norse Myths, both by Ingrid and Edgar Daulaire;; American Indian Myths and Legends by Richard Erdoes and Alfonso Ortiz; The Myths of Greece and Rome by H.A. Guerber; Tales from Africa by Kathleen Arnott.

Dark Age/Vikings: Step into the Viking World by Philip Steele; The Art of the Vikings by Shirley Glubok.

America: My History Is America’s History: 15 Things You Can Do to Save America’s Stories (National Endowment of the Arts).

Other: Past Worlds Atlas of Archaeology (Collins); World Atlas of the Past (Volumes 1-4) by John Haywood.



Music/Theater:

Mikro attended several performances at the New Victory Theater, including: Lion Boy, Cambuyon, and Pinocchio. He also attended a concert of Aaron Copeland’s Appalachian Spring, with dance performances by Dance Theater of Harlem. Mikro also enjoyed Broadway Playhouse productions called Celebrating Meredith Wilson and Celebrating Frank Loesser, which featured historical and biographical information about the featured composers, as well as songs and activities involving audience participation.


Art:

Mikro produced a game board for his science project that involved drawing representative fauna for 9 periods of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic, as well as painting maps of the world for each such era, and designing game pieces. He continues to explore his interest in photography, film making and special effects, and cartography. He draws constantly and experiments with various media, including clay, watercolors, pastels, markers, acrylic paints and collage/assemblage. He enjoys watching TED Talks on many art forms. He designs objects for 3D printing with a software package called Blender. He also builds fine scale plastic models with his dad.

Mikro completed a 36 lecture program from The Great Courses entitled 30 Masterpieces of the Ancient World, featuring Professor Diana K. McDonald of Boston University. Topics included: Where Do We Come From?; Ancient Cave Art—Chauvet, France; The Uruk Vase—Vision of an Ordered World; The Standard of Ur—Role of the King; “Ram Caught in a Thicket”; Great Ziggurat at Ur—Ancient Architecture; Victory Stela of Naram-Sin of Akkad; Neo-Assyrian Palace Reliefs; “Queen of the Night”—Babylonian Goddess; Ishtar Gate and Processional Way; The Ancient City of Persepolis; Palette of Narmer—The Conquering King; Statue of Khafre—Rebirth of a King; Tutankhamun’s Mask; Tomb Painting of Nefertari; Kritios Boy—Idealized Athletic Youth; Discobolus—Motion in Sculpture; Parthenon Marbles—Metopes and Frieze; Greek Vase Painting—“Death of Sarpedon”; Aphrodite of Knidos; Laocoön—Three-Dimensional Narrative; Column of Trajan; Bronzes of Ancient China; Great Stupa at Sanchi; Borobudur—Ancient Buddhist Stupa; Colossal Olmec Heads; Sarcophagus Cover of Pakal at Palenque; Carved Stone Lintels of Yaxchilán; Teotihuacán—Temple of the Feathered Serpent; Colossal Stone Statue of Coatlicue; Aztec Calendar Stone; Moche Earspools—Miniature Masterpieces; Ancient Andean Ceramics; Ancient Andean Textiles; What Can We Learn from Ancient Art?; How Ancient Art Reverberates

Field Trips:

Mikro enjoyed the special exhibit on Henri Matisse at the Museum of Modern Art and also enjoyed browsing the museum’s permanent collections.


Phys Ed:

Hiking, park days with homeschooled friends; beginning free weights.

Health:

We continue to discuss puberty, good nutrition, safety issues related to food allergies, basic human needs, vision and eye safety, maintaining adequate hydration, personal hygiene including dental hygiene, why drugs, alcohol and smoking are unhealthy, HIV and AIDS, and the perils of drunk driving. We discussed autism, and neurological differences, such as giftedness and sensory processing disorder.

Traffic, bicycle and general safety:

We discussed safe sledding and avoiding hypothermia We continue to discuss the importance of looking both ways before crossing the street, obeying traffic signals, watching cars for signals, safe and appropriate behavior on public transportation, seatbelts, car seats, not distracting the driver, what exit signs and emergency instructions (e.g. on the trains) mean; gun safety; strangers, staying where mom and dad can see you, what to do if lost or separated from family, how to avoid getting lost in the first place, and how to ask for help.

Fire Safety and Prevention:

We have discussed what to do in a fire emergency, including formulating a family escape plan, stop drop & roll, get low and go, exiting the house immediately and not returning, trying to wake family members, but leaving if unsuccessful, telling firefighters know if family and pets are still inside, using a cell phone or going to a neighbor to call 911, and waiting at a designated location for family members. We talked about fire prevention strategies.


Dated: April 1, 2015

[SIGNED]

Fifth Grade: Second Quarterly Report

SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT

SCHOOL YEAR: 2014-2015
HOMESCHOOLING STUDENT: Mikro
GRADE LEVEL: Fifth
THIS QUARTER COVERS: 10/17/14 to 1/16/15
DATE SUBMITTED: January 20, 2015


Generally:

Mikro is progressing at a satisfactory level or above in all subject matter.

We have had instruction in all the following areas, as per Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education and Mikro’s Individual Home Instruction Plan (IHIP): Reading, Writing, Spelling, Language Arts, Math, History, Geography, Science, Health, Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, Patriotism and Citizenship, Fire Safety and Prevention, and Traffic, Bicycle and General Safety.

Mikro had no absences from instruction this quarter, and has exceeded the required hours of instruction (225).

Highlights for the Quarter include:

Reading/Language Arts:

Mikro reads at a high school or college level. He is currently focusing on science fiction and fantasy and mythology and folktales. He participated in the National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) Young Writer’s Program again this year and met his word count goal, working on a sequel to a story he wrote in a prior round of Nanowrimo. He has more to write before it is finished.

Mikro is participating in the Book Club for 3rd to 5th Graders at the Croton Free Library. So far he has discussed Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer and Wonderstruck, by Brian Selznick.

In his debate and mock trial class, and at debate team practices, Mikro researched various topics for debate, including evolution vs. creationism, whether volcanoes caused the extinction of the dinosaurs, whether homeschoolers should be able to play on public school sports teams, etc., and delivered opening statements, rebuttals and closings. He researched logical fallacies and prepared examples to present in class. He also researched courtroom criminal procedure and common evidentiary objections. He prepared opening and closing statements for a simulated murder trial in which he acted as the prosecuting attorney. He continues to practice delivering the St. Crispin’s Day speech from Shakespeare’s Henry V, and other passages from Shakespeare.

We continue to work on grammar and spelling using a variety of workbooks and online lessons, and through journaling.

Some of the books read independently by Mikro (in addition to those listed by subject matter in other categories below) include:

Eager and the Mermaid by Helen Fox; The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson; Mister Max: Book 1: The Book of Lost Things and Book 2: The Book of Secrets, both by Cynthia Voigt; Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus, by Tom Angleberger; What We Found in the Sofa and How It Saved the World, by Henry Clark; The Place My Words Are Looking For: What Poets Say About and Through Their Work, poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko; A Foot in the Mouth: Poems to Speak, Sing and Shout, by Paul B. Janeczko; A Poke in the I: A Collection of Concrete Poems, by Paul B. Janeczko and Chris Raschka; City of Wind, Ring of Fire, Star of Stone, and Dragon of Seas, all by P.D. Baccalario; Tales of the Black Widows, by Isaac Asimov; Ulysses Moore: The Door of Time, The Lost Map, The House of Mirrors, and Isle of Masks, all by P.D. Baccalario; The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit; The Story of Dr. Dolittle, by Hugh Lofting; Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets compiled by Paul B. Janeczko; The Blood of Olympus and The Kane Chronicles Survival Guide by Rick Riordan; School’s Out Forever, Saving the World, The Final Warning and The Angel Experiment, all by James Patterson; The Search for Wondla, A Hero for Wondla, and The Battle for Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi; Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer; Dante’s Divine Comedy, adapted by Seymour Chwast; Seigfried, by Alex Alice; Melonhead and the Big Stink and Melonhead and the Vegelicious Disaster, both by Katy Kelly; The Slime That Would Not Die, by Laura Dower; Wonderstruck, by Brian Selznick; Have Spacesuit, Will Travel and Space Cadet, both by Robert Heinlein; An Illustrated Book of Bad Arguments: Learn the Lost Art of Making Sense by Ali Almossani; A is for Armageddon, by Richard Horne.


Math:

Mikro learned about sine, cosine and tangent and the geometry of triangles and used this in labs for Earth Science, where he calculated the height of various landscape features after measuring the horizontal distance and the hypotenuse with a 100 foot tape measure. He is learning to use a scientific calculator. He also worked on calculating the epicenter of an earthquake using triangulation, and time intervals between p and s waves, as well as reading charts, graphs and statistical tables related to earth science. Mikro also learned about exponents, and in particular, powers of ten. He continues to practice multi-digit multiplication and division, beginning algebra, percents, fractions, decimals, and money skills, using real life math, books, workbooks, games, drawings, original word problems and manipulatives. He is beginning to construct his own algorithms for solving problems when his recall of math facts is imperfect. Mikro uses online math resources such as BrainPOP, Khan Academy, Lesson Pathways, and Dreambox.

Books: Common Core Connections Math, Grade 5.

Videos: Vi Hart videos on YouTube; Khan Academy videos.

Music: Multiplication Mountain by Hap Palmer; Division Unplugged.

Field Trips: National Museum of Mathematics: Family Fridays: Creature Cuts program with computer science and math instructor Kevin Lee: the math of symmetry and tessellations, negative space, and creating an Escher-like tessellation of lizards; American Museum of Natural History: Scale of the Universe (powers of ten).


Science:

Mikro’s focus this year is Earth Science, at a high school level. He is taking an Earth Science Regents Lab Course and using Barron’s Let’s Review: Earth Science: The Physical Setting, as well as a Great Courses video lecture series, entitled How the Earth Works. He has explored the American Museum of Natural History’s extensive earth and space science related collections.

Mikro and his dad are learning to design and build 3D objects using software packages such as Tinkerbot and Blender.

Mikro is also doing The Great Courses: How the Earth Works, a 36 lecture course featuring Professor Michael E. Wysession of Washington University (St. Louis, MO). We are up to lecture 18. Topics covered included:
Geology's Impact on History; Geologic History—Dating the Earth; Earth's Structure—Journey to Earth's Center; Earth's Heat—Conduction and Convection; The Basics of Plate Tectonics; Making Matter—The Big Bang and Big Bangs; Creating Earth—Recipe for a Planet; The Rock Cycle—Matter in Motion; Minerals—The Building Blocks of Rocks; Magma—The Building Mush of Rocks; Crystallization—The Rock Cycle Starts; Volcanoes—Lava and Ash; Folding—Bending Blocks, Flowing Rocks; Earthquakes—Examining Earth's Faults; Plate Tectonics—Why Continents Move; The Ocean Seafloor—Unseen Lands; Rifts and Ridges—The Creation of Plates; Transform Faults—Tears of a Crust.

Mikro is also very interested in engineering, and we have been doing Understanding Greek and Roman Technology: From the Catapult to the Pantheon, (a 24 lecture engineering course featuring Professor Stephen Ressler of the United States Military Academy. (This course is also listed hereinafter under History, as the content is relevant to both subject matter disciplines.)
Technology in the Classical World; The Substance of Technology—Materials; From Quarry to Temple—Building in Stone; Stone Masonry Perfected—The Greek Temple; From Temple to Basilica—Timber Roof Systems; Construction Revolution—Arches and Concrete; Construction in Transition—The Colosseum; The Genesis of a New Imperial Architecture; The Most Celebrated Edifice—The Pantheon; Cities by Design—The Rise of Urban Planning; Connecting the Empire—Roads and Bridges; From Source to City—Water Supply Systems; Engineering a Roman Aqueduct; Go with the Flow—Urban Water Distribution; Paradigm and Paragon—Imperial Roman Baths; Harnessing Animal Power—Land Transportation; Leveraging Human Power—Construction Cranes; Lifting Water with Human Power; Milling Grain with Water Power; Machines at War—Siege Towers and Rams; Machines at War—Evolution of the Catapult; Machines at Sea—Ancient Ships; Reconstructing the Greek Trireme; The Modern Legacy of Ancient Technology


Mikro finished the Dinosaur 101: Introduction to Dinosaur Paleobiology class on Coursera that he was taking with his mother. (He is too young to have his own account, according to Coursera’s terms of service.) The course was offered by Professor Philip John Curie of the University of Alberta. Topics covered included:
Lesson 7: "What is a Species": the different ways of defining what a species is; Lesson 8: "Evolution": the basic theories of speciation, and how these different methods of speciation may have occurred, including both hypothetical and empirical examples; Lesson 9: "Stratigraphy and Geologic Time": basic stratigraphic concepts and the scale of earth history, understanding the evolution of dinosaurs through time, including which groups evolved when and where; Lesson 10: "Palaeogeography and Plate Tectonics": basic concepts in plate tectonics and the evolution of the earth’s surface; Lesson 11: "Dinosaur Origins": the evolution of dinosaurs from non-dinosaurian archosaurs; Lesson 12: "Dinosaur Extinction": the end-Cretaceous extinction event, and examples of vertebrate groups that both persisted and died out during the event.

Mikro also took Evolution: A Course for Educators, a Coursera offering from the American Museum of Natural History, taught by Ornithology curator Dr. Cracraft. Topics included:
Week One: Darwin’s First Great Idea: The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin’s revolutionary concept of a “tree of life” depicting the evolution of all life from a common ancestor; how evolutionary trees depict relationships among organisms; and how new species are formed; Week Two: Darwin’s Second Great Idea: Adaptation via Natural Selection:
Darwin’s second breakthrough: that adaptation via natural selection is the basic mechanism of evolution; how evolutionary biologists use the Museum’s collections; Week Three: The History of Life: the role of extinction in evolution, and what the relatedness of major groups of living things reveals about the history of life; Week Four: Human Evolution: the rich variety of hominids on the tree of life, along with how and when different human species - including Homo sapiens - migrated around the world.

Books: The Pterosaurs from Deep Time, by David M. Unwin; Fossils and “Deep Time” in New York, by Ed Landing; WTF Evolution?! A Theory of Unintelligible Design; by Mara Grunbaum.

Textbooks: Earth Science: The Physical Setting, by Edward J. Denecke, Jr.:

Chapter 4: Earth’s Coordinate System and Mapping; Chapter 10 Origins of Earth and Its Moon; Chapter 17: Volcanoes and Earth’s Internal Heat; Chapter 16: Earthquakes and Earth’s Interior; Chapter 9: Theories of the Origin of the Universe; Chapter 6: Tools of the Modern Astronomer; Chapter 7: Stars, Their Origin and Evolution; Chapter 8: The Solar System.


Videos:
Mikro uses Discovery Streaming Education Online’s extensive collection of science videos. Particular areas of study at the moment include geology and earth science topics, as well as evolution and marine biology. Mikro also watches TED Talks on scientific topics of interest and other scientific programming online, such as Bob Ballard’s Nautilus Live website, with live video from remotely operated submersible vehicles, videos and webinars from the American Chemical Society, Discovery Streaming Education Unlimited, and various websites including PBS, Project JASON, and Amazon Prime Instant Videos. He also has a subscription to science videos and experiments online by Robert Krampf, The Happy Scientist and Supercharged Science.

Classes: Earth Science Regents Lab with Jen Seron. Labs included rock identification, triangulation, finding the epicenter of an earthquake, identifying constellations and building peg board models thereof; and others.

Field trips: American Museum of Natural History: Hall of Planet Earth, Hall of Meteors, Hall of Minerals, Hall of Gems, Hayden Big Bang Theater, Heilbrunn Cosmic Pathway, Scales of the Universe, Hall of the Universe, Spitzer Hall of Human Origins, and the following special exhibits: Pterosaurs: Flight in the Age of Dinosaurs and Nature’s Fury: The Science of Natural Disasters.

Projects: monitoring bird feeders, maintaining a compost heap, caring for and observing a growing collection of pets including two bearded dragons, a Chinese water dragon, and a Red Eared Slider turtle; building simple Arduino circuits, building electronics kits, designing objects for 3D printing; maintaining a Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat.


History, Geography, Social Studies & Patriotism and Citizenship:

During this quarter we have continued our study of Ancient History and the Dark Ages and Middle Ages, focusing on “the Other Side of History”, i.e., the poor and otherwise marginalized people from prehistory through the middle ages, using The Great Courses , and other books and videos.

Mikro also took a One Day Seminar entitled Ancient Empires: Focus on Assyria, which was taught by Professor Wendy Raver of Hunter College, using the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the From Assyria to Iberia visiting exhibit,. Topics included the Assyrian Empire and its beginnings, its competition with other Mesopotamian nations, and its mysterious fall from power; understanding the Assyrian world, its Egyptian, Greek, Phoenician, Israelite and Urartu neighbors, and its fascination with violence and beauty.

In The Other Side of History: Daily Life in the Ancient World (a 48 lecture series, featuring Professor Robert Garland of Colgate University), topics covered included :

Taking on the Other Side of History; Being Paleolithic; Living in Mesopotamia; Being Egyptian; Belonging to an Egyptian Family; Practicing Egyptian Religion; Being a Dead Egyptian; Being an Egyptian Worker; Being Minoan and Mycenaean; Being Greek; Growing Up Greek; Being a Greek Slave; Being a Greek Soldier or Sailor; Being a Greek Woman; Relaxing Greek Style; Being a Greek Refugee; Being a Sick or Disabled Greek; Practicing Greek Religion; Being an Old Greek; Being a Dead Greek; Being Persian; Living in Hellenistic Egypt’ Being Roman; Being a Roman Slave; Being a Roman Soldier; Being a Roman Woman; Being a Poor Roman; Being a Rich Roman; Being a Roman Celebrity; Being a Roman Criminal; Relaxing Roman Style; Practicing Roman Religion; Being Jewish under Roman Rule; Being Christian under Roman Rule; Being a Celt in Ancient Britain; Being a Roman Briton; Being Anglo-Saxon; Being a Viking Raider; Living under Norman Rule; Being Medieval; Being Poor in the Middle Ages; Being a Medieval Woman; Being a Medieval Christian or Heretic; Being a Medieval Knight; Being a Crusader; Being a Pilgrim; Relaxing Medieval Style; Daily Life Matters.

In Experiencing Rome, A Visual Exploration of Antiquity’s Greatest Empire (we are over two thirds of the way through a 36 lecture course featuring Professor Steven L. Tuck of Miami University), topics included:
Rome—A Spectacular Civilization; A Brief Survey of the Roman Empire; Power, Conquest, and Romanization; Triumphal Processions—Victory Parades; Imperial Palaces; The Roman House—Space and Decoration; Roman Houses as Greek Palaces; Pompeian Houses and Greek Myth; Ritual, Sacrifice, Vows, and Prayers; Sanctuaries, Temples, and Religious Ritual; Roman Elite Funerals; Forum Romanum—The Core of the City; Death on Display I—Amphitheaters; Death on Display II—Gladiators; Death on Display III—Gladiatorial Combat; Death on Display IV—Animal Hunts; Death on Display V—Prisoner Executions; Death on Display VI—Christian Martyrdom; Small Town Spectacle—Games at Pompeii; Aquatic Displays; Roman Circuses—Arenas for Chariot Racing; A Day at the Races; Theaters and Plays; Emperors as Performers; Imperial Forums—Power and Policy in Rome; Imperial Arches, Columns, and Monuments; Imperial Baths in Rome—Spas for the Masses; Roman Engineering—Linking the World; Roman Military Forts and Fortifications; Images of Warfare—Roman Military Monuments.

Understanding Greek and Roman Technology: From the Catapult to the Pantheon (a 24 lecture engineering course featuring Professor Stephen Ressler of the United States Military Academy) covered the following topics:
Technology in the Classical World; The Substance of Technology—Materials; From Quarry to Temple—Building in Stone; Stone Masonry Perfected—The Greek Temple; From Temple to Basilica—Timber Roof Systems; Construction Revolution—Arches and Concrete; Construction in Transition—The Colosseum; The Genesis of a New Imperial Architecture; The Most Celebrated Edifice—The Pantheon; Cities by Design—The Rise of Urban Planning; Connecting the Empire—Roads and Bridges; From Source to City—Water Supply Systems; Engineering a Roman Aqueduct; Go with the Flow—Urban Water Distribution; Paradigm and Paragon—Imperial Roman Baths; Harnessing Animal Power—Land Transportation; Leveraging Human Power—Construction Cranes; Lifting Water with Human Power; Milling Grain with Water Power; Machines at War—Siege Towers and Rams; Machines at War—Evolution of the Catapult; Machines at Sea—Ancient Ships; Reconstructing the Greek Trireme; The Modern Legacy of Ancient Technology.

Mikro also took the Great Courses 15 lecture course entitled Discovering Your Roots: An Introduction to Genealogy, featuring Professor John Phillip Colletta of the Institute of Genealogy and Historical Research at Samford University. Topics included:
Interviewing Kin and Mining Home Sources; Genealogy Online—Gems and Junk; The Library—Shelves Full of Family History; Military Service and Homestead Records; How to Build Historical Context; Your Ancestors in Ship Passenger Lists; Your Ancestors in Naturalization Records; The Genealogical Proof Standard; Your Ancestors in the County Courthouse; Your Ancestors in State Records; How to Write Biography; Dos and Don’ts of Writing History; Searching in Your Ancestors’ Backyards; Assembling an Account of Your Discoveries; Extending Your Family Tree Overseas.

In American History/New York History/Patriotism and Citizenship, we have discussed Colonial America; the colonial economy; the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, the Constitution, the function of governments, the Bill of Rights, rights and responsibilities of citizens, immigration, slavery, racism and the Civil Rights movement, and current events involving constitutional questions.

In his Applied Social Sciences class, Mikro researched the federal judiciary system, and helped write a position paper advising the “President” on how to handle a hypothetical future scenario resembling the Cuban Missile Crisis. He wrote a speech for his character, the “Secretary of Energy”. He also acted as the “President” in responding to the ISIS crisis.

In Civics class, he debated the issue of women’s suffrage, and researched the Constitution, the structure of the federal government, and the system of checks and balances engineered by the Founders.

Field Trips:

Mikro accompanied his parents to the polls on Election Day . Mikro also visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Greek and Roman and Egyptian collections, as well as the Arms and Armor exhibit.

Books:
Rome: Roman Places by Sarah Howarth; The Buildings of Ancient Rome by Helen and Richard Leacroft; The Romans by Wil Mara.

America: For Home and Country: A Civil War Scrapbook by Norman Bolotin and Angela Herb; The Dark Game: True Spy Stories from Invisible Ink to CIA Moles, by Paul B. Janeczko.

Other: Usborne World History: Medieval World, by Jane Bingham.


Music:

Mikro continues to experiment with an electronic keyboard. He attended several musical performances, including Liberty! at the Theater 80 St. Marks and A Celebration of Charles Strouse by Broadway Playhouse, featuring information about Strouse’s career and music from his shows, including Annie and Bye Bye Birdie. He enjoyed an evening of Italian opera and a lecture about medieval Italian music manuscripts and the history of the development of musical notation at the NYCHEA Music Meeting.


Art:

Mikro’s artistic efforts are centered on his fascination with maps and outer space. He creates detailed maps of imaginary worlds, and draws their inhabitants. He also enjoys designing spaceships. He is working with his dad to design a spaceship in the Blender program, which they will print using a 3D printer. Mikro is also making a visual art journal and a journal of collages and drawings in keeping with the spirit of Keri Smith’s “The Imaginary World of ______.” He saw the Matisse: Cutouts show at the Museum of Modern Art.

Videos: Civilization: The Complete Series: A Personal View by Kenneth Clark.


Phys Ed:

Hiking, park days, jogging, mock combat as part of an ongoing role playing game created by Mikro and his friends from our homeschool group.


Health:

We have discussed puberty, good nutrition, safety issues related to food allergies, basic human needs, vision and eye safety, maintaining adequate hydration, personal hygiene including dental hygiene, why drugs, alcohol and smoking are unhealthy, HIV and AIDS, and the perils of drunk driving.



Traffic, bicycle and general safety:

We continue to discuss the importance of always wearing a bicycle helmet, of looking both ways before crossing the street, obeying traffic signals, watching cars for signals, safe and appropriate behavior on public transportation, seatbelts, car seats, not distracting the driver, what exit signs and emergency instructions (e.g. on the trains) mean; gun safety; strangers, staying where mom and dad can see you, what to do if lost or separated from family, how to avoid getting lost in the first place, how to ask for help. Mikro knows his name and address including zip code, and his parents' full names. Mikro has a cell phone and knows how to use it to call for help, or contact his parents, in the event that he becomes lost.

Videos: Eddie Eagle Gun Safety program.


Fire Safety and Prevention:

We have discussed what to do in a fire emergency, including formulating a family escape plan, stop drop & roll, get low and go, exiting the house immediately and not returning, trying to wake family members, but leaving if unsuccessful, telling firefighters if family and pets are still inside, using a cell phone or going to a neighbor to call 911, and waiting at a designated location for family members. We talked about fire prevention strategies.

First Quarterly Report, Fifth Grade

FIRST QUARTERLY REPORT
SCHOOL YEAR: 2014-2015
HOMESCHOOLING STUDENT: Mikro
GRADE LEVEL: Fifth
THIS QUARTER COVERS: 7/1/14 to 10/16/14
DATE SUBMITTED: October 20, 2014

Generally:

Mikro is progressing at a satisfactory level or above in all subject matter.

We have had instruction in all the following areas, as per Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education and Mikro’s Individual Home Instruction Plan (IHIP): Reading, Writing, Spelling, Language Arts, Math, History, Geography, Science, Health, Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, Patriotism and Citizenship, Fire Safety and Prevention, and Traffic, Bicycle and General Safety. Mikro had no absences from instruction this quarter, and has exceeded the required hours of instruction (225). Highlights for the Quarter include:

Reading/Language Arts:

Mikro reads fluently and at a very advanced level. At the moment, his favorites are in the science fiction and fantasy genre, although he still enjoys nonfiction, particularly in the biological sciences. He still enjoys making up rich and detailed stories, world building, and creating new mythologies.

He is taking a debate and mock trial class, for which he is required to research issues and prepare arguments, including opening statements, rebuttals and closing statements. Mikro is a member of our homeschool group’s newly formed competitive debate team, and hopes to be ready to compete during the 2015-16 school year. He is memorizing and reciting poetry and famous speeches, including the Gettysburg Address, the St. Crispin’s day speech from Henry V, and others.

Mikro is getting good practice in spelling, composition and grammar in connection with his fiction writing and cartography pursuits. He keeps notebooks of ideas for stories and games. He is slowly improving his keyboarding skills.

Some of the books read independently by Mikro (in addition to those listed by subject matter in other categories below) include:

Wildwood, Under Wildwood and Wildwood Imperium, all by Colin Meloy; Tunnels, Deeper and Freefall, all by Roderick Gordon; Eager and Eager’s Nephew by Helen Fox; Minn of the Mississippi by Holling C. Holling; Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements; Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham; Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia Voigt; Rules of the Road by Joan Bauer; The Book of Beasts by TH White; How to Write Poetry by Paul B. Janeczko; Effective Speeches by Valerie Bodden; Science Fiction (Stories Well Told) by Valerie Bodden; The Kids Outdoor Adventure Book: 448 Great Things to Do in Nature Before You Grow Up by Stacy Tornio and Ken Keffer; The Sierra Club Summer Book by Linda Allison; Percy Jackson’s Greek Gods by Rick Riordan; The Ring of Fire by P.D. Baccalariao; Ghost Hawk by Susan Cooper; Survivor II Field Guide by Mark Burnett; The Ninja Handbook by _Douglas Sarine and Kent Nichols; The Dragon Keeper’s Handbook by Shawn MacKenzie; The Vampire Book by Sally Regan; Vampires by Martin Jenkins; Unicorns and Other Magical Creatures by John Hamilton; The Singing and the Gold, poems selected by Elinor Parker; 2095 by Jon Scieszka; Count Draculations: Monster Riddles compiled by Charles Keller; The Funny Side of Science by Melvin Berger; Flash Gordon: On the Planet Mongo by Alex Raymond; Scary School: The Northern Frights by Derek the Ghost; Vampire Hound by Jim Kraft; Knuckleheads by Jon Scieszka; My Teacher is an Alien by Bruce Colville; Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand; Irish Fairy Tales, edited by Philip Smith; It’s Raining Pigs and Noodles, poems by Jack Prelutsky; Noah by Darren Aronofsky and Ari Handel; Emperor Pickletine Rides the Bus by Tom Angleberger; Wing Nuts: Screwy Haiku by Paul B. Janeczko and J. Patrick Lewis; A Poke in the I: a Collection of Concrete Poems selected by Paul B. Janeczko

Videos: Debate Can Change Your Life (TED Talk by Lucinda David); Where Does Creativity Hide? (TED Talk by Amy Tan); Four Lessons in Creativity (TED Talk by Julie Burstein); Taking Imagination Seriously (TED Talk by Janet Echelman); Tales of Creativity and Play (TED Talk by Tim Brown.)


Math:

This quarter, we have practiced multiplication, division, percents, fractions, and decimals, including adding and subtracting fractions and decimals, using real life math, books, workbooks, games, drawings, original word problems and manipulatives. Mikro uses online math resources such as BrainPOP, Khan Academy, and Lesson Pathways He also uses Teaching Textbooks 5.


Books: On the Job Math Mysteries: Real Life Math From Exciting Careers by Marya Washington Tyler; Fractions, Decimals and Percents by David A. Adler. Life of Fred E, F, and G.

Videos: Math Challenge: Equivalent fractions and Mixed Numbers (Sclessinger Media); Solving for X: Pre Algebra Volume 1 (Bill Nye). Donald in Mathmagic Land; Bill Nye: Probability; Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips: The Amazing Trade Shop Math Race (circle math, area and perimeter, multiplication and division, budgeting).

Music: Multiplication Mountain by Hap Palmer; Division Unplugged.


Science:

Mikro remains fascinated with geology, astronomy and biology, and has been taking Coursera classes with his mother (because he is too young to have his own account), including: Emergence of Life; Dinosaur 101; Introduction to Forensic Science: Learning How to Learn Math and Science; and Dynamic Earth.

Topics covered included: Emergence of Life: Geological Time, Nature of Science, The Tree of Life, Early Earth Environments, Fossilization, Precambrian Life-Earth Interaction, Paleozoic Life After the Advent of Skeletons; Paleozoic Plants, Reptiles, and the Transition to Land, Mesozoic Reign of Dinosaurs, Development of Flight, Cenozoic Mammals, Global Environmental Change, Astrobiology and the Search for Life in the Cosmos; Introduction to the Science of Forensics: Introduction to Forensic Science, Locard’s Exchange Principle, Chromatography and Spectroscopy, Fingerprinting, Polymers and Fibers, Ballistics and Gun Shot Residue, DNA analysis, including gel electrophoresis, PCR, and STR analysis, Narcotics and Toxicology; Dinosaur 101: the diversity in dinosaur appearances, how fossils form, how we interpret the taphonomy of skeletons and bonebeds, possible biases taphonomic events may create in the fossil record, the variety of food types, feeding habits, and feeding adaptations amongst the major groups of dinosaurs, the general modes and styles of locomotion in the major dinosaur groups, a generalized life history of a dinosaur, from birth through adulthood, including reproduction, behaviors and structures that may have served for attack or defense through the lifetime of a dinosaur; Dynamic Earth: Radiometric Dating; Reading Rocks; Writing Lab Reports; Formation of Earth’s Atmosphere; Banded Iron Formations, Stromatolites; Learning How to Learn: Focused versus Diffuse Thinking, Chunking, Procrastination and Memory, Renaissance Learning and Unlocking Your Potential.

He is also taking an Earth Science Regents Lab class, and is interested in possibly taking the Earth Science Regents test this year.

Field trips: Mikro spent a full weekend at Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science. He participated in several workshops offered by Cognizant, including building a mechanical hand, making a diorama with a cam shaft to provide movement, making an assemblage, and making a light up pillow with LEDs. He attended lectures on topics including Young Makers and Maker Educational Initiatives. He also explored the Physics Bus, made a light-up finger knit bracelet, tried a 3d printing pen, made a tiny drawing under a microscope, played a Mars Rover game, learned about automated evolution, designed a tote bag, and did a design challenge.

He also enjoyed a full day of marine science at Submerge, hosted by the New York Hall of Science, at Pier 26. He handled the controls of a submersible robot ROV, designed new species of plankton, learned about buoyancy by constructing a 3 dimensional plankton model that did not sink or rise to the surface, but floated in the middle depths, He measured the salinity of water samples taken from various locations along the Hudson River, using a refractometer, and found that the levels dropped as the samples moved further from the harbor. He observed plankton under the microscope, learned about the hazards of marine debris, saw a solar cooker in action, and did countless other fun, science-related activities.

We have made several family trips to the American Museum of Natural History, concentrating on exploring the Earth Science related material in the Hall of Planet Earth and the Hall of Minerals. We also did the Astronomy Grand Tour, and enjoyed the Poisons special exhibit (where Mikro assisted in the toxicology demonstration.) We have also made several visits to the special exhibit on Pterosaurs.

Mikro also attended the Animal Embassy Zoology Program at the Croton Free Library, featuring turtles, lizards, frogs, snakes and a chinchilla, and the Paper Airplane Workshop at the library.

Books: Let’s Review Earth Science by Edward J. Denecke, Jr. (chapters 13, 14, 15); The Mad Scientist’s Notebook: Warning! Dangerously Wacky Experiments Inside! by Elizabeth Snoke Harris and Rain Newcomb; The Technology Behind Robots and Artificial Intelligence by Nicholas Brasch; Cool Science: Robotics by Helena Domaine; Rise of the Thinking Machines: The Science of Robotics by Jennifer Fretland Van Voorst; Robotics: Robots Through History by Jeri Freedman;
Videos: Bill Nye the Science Guy: Architecture; Probability; the Science of Music; Rocks and Minerals; Earth’s Crust; Safety Smart Science: Renewable Energy. Environmental Science for Children series (Schlessinger Media): Air Quality; Water Quality; Green Energy; Sustainability in the 21st Century; Global Climate Change; Howard Hughes Medical Institute: The Beak of the Finch: Speciation of Finches in the Galapagos; We Hear With the Bones that Reptiles Eat With; Speciation in Anoles; Lizard Olympics; BBC Animated History of Physics; World Science Festival: Einstein Hated Quantum Mechanics.

Mikro watches TED Talks on scientific topics of interest and other scientific programming online, such as Bob Ballard’s Nautilus Live website, with live video from remotely operated submersible vehicles, videos and webinars from the America Chemical Society, Discovery Streaming Education Unlimited, and various websites including PBS, Project JASON, and Amazon Prime Instant Videos. He also has a subscription to science videos and experiments online by Robert Krampf, The Happy Scientist and Supercharged Science.

Classes: Earth Science Regents Lab class.

Projects: collecting and observing bugs, monitoring nest boxes and bird feeders, maintaining a compost heap, caring for and observing a growing collection of pets including two bearded dragons, a Chinese water dragon, an Italian Wall Lizard, a hermit crab, and various insects; building simple Arduino circuits, building electronics kits, maintaining a Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat.


History, Geography, Social Studies & Patriotism and Citizenship:

During this first quarter we have begun our study of the Dark Ages and the Age of the Vikings, using Susan Wise Bauer's The Story of the World as a spine, as well as maps, videos, nonfiction and fiction concerning the cultures studied.

Mikro is also taking a Coursera class called A Brief History of Humankind, which tracks our species’ development from the cognitive revolution, through the agricultural, industrial and socio-political revolutionary eras.

Mikro is taking a class in Applied Social Science. In the first module, the students developed a society in a scenario involving being stranded on an uninhabited tropical island. They brainstormed and agreed on necessary tasks, division of labor, and a rudimentary government consisting of a President and an Island Council. They drew maps, designed shelters, developed a security plan, and designed a flag for their “Island Republic.” Afterwards, they presented their plans and organizational scheme to their parents and teacher.

In American History/New York History/Patriotism and Citizenship, we have discussed Colonial America, including the triangle trade, the colonial economy; colonial currency; the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War, the Constitution, the function of governments, the Bill of Rights, rights and responsibilities of citizens, legal systems, courts, lawsuits, service of process, commencing suit, defending a suit; immigration, slavery, racism and the Civil Rights movement. Mikro can draw an accurate (but not to scale) map of the United States from memory.

Books:

Vikings/Dark Ages: The Real Vikings: Craftsmen, Traders and Fearsome Raiders by Melvin and Gilda Berger; Step into the Celtic World by Fiona MacDonald; Great Medieval Projects You Can Build Yourself by Kris Bordessa; The Hammer of the North by Magnus Magnusson; Usborne Illustrated Guide to Norse Myth and Legends by Cheryl Evans and Anne Millard.

Other: People You Gotta Meet Before You Grow Up: Get to Know the Movers and Shakers, Heroes and Hotshots in Your Hometown by Joe Rhatigan; The Golden Age of Maritime Maps: When Europe Discovered the World by Catherine Hofmann, Richard and Emmanuelle Vagnon; Candy Bomber: The Story of the Berlin Airlift’s “Chocolate Pilot” by Michael D. Tunnell; The Orphan of Ellis Island by Elvira Woodruff; M is for Majestic: A National Parks Alphabet by David Domeniconi.

Videos: Colonial Life for Children series (Schlessinger Media): The French and Colonial Quebec; Jamestown; Plimoth Plantation; Roger Williams and Rhode Island; William Penn and Pennsylvania; The Dutch and New Amsterdam; The Spanish and Colonial Santa FE; Settling the New World; St. Augustine The Vikings (Schlessinger Media); A History of the Middle Ages (Schlessinger Media); Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips: The Amazing Trade Shop Math Race (provisioning the Continental Army); The Bill of Rights; The War of 1812; Harsh World, This World (slavery); Women of the Revolution; Balance of Power; Civil War Ironclads.

Field Trips: Pierpont Morgan Library, Mythical Creatures program (exploring the history, geography and mythology of ancient Mesopotamia, cuneiform and cylinder seals); Ellis Island (immigration); National Archives in New York (using primary source documents to understand the immigration experience); Tenement Museum, Victoria Confino program; Walking Tour of the Lower East Side; City of Water Day (New York maritime history; sailing on the Clipper City and a tugboat ride aboard the Pegasus); Boston Tea Party Opera; New York City Transit Museum: Transportation of the Future exhibit; Croton Friends of History lectures on The Mighty Hudson and Lost Amusement Parks of New York City at the Croton Free Library.


Music and Drama:

Mikro learned about the lives and music of several opera composers, Bizet and Mozart, and enjoyed a full dress rehearsal performance of The Marriage of Figaro at the Metropolitan Opera. He also enjoyed Seegerfest’s Pete and Toshi Seeger Memorial Concert at Lincoln Center Outdoors, as well as Bash the Trash (recycled instruments) at the Croton Free Library and The Old Man and The Old Moon, a musical featuring a combination of live actors and puppetry, at the New Victory Theater. Mikro is experimenting with playing a 44 key electronic keyboard.

Mikro also was inspired by the visual storytelling of iLuminate, and is working on creating a dramatic rendition of the myth of Prometheus and Fire. Mikro and his father looked at the many ways to tell the same basic story by comparing a series of films: Seven Samurai, The Magnificent Seven and Battle Beyond the Stars, and discussed other instances of this phenomena.

Mikro watched the videos for his mother’s online music classes: Fundamentals of Music Theory; Developing Your Musicianship, and Songwriting, and was introduced to concepts such as melody, harmony, bass and treble clefs, major and minor scales, modes, intervals, notes, rests and values.

Mikro was introduced to the basic frailing stroke on banjo and watched some banjo instructional videos by Patrick Costello.

TED Talks: Music and Emotion Through Time by Michael Tilson Thomas; Music and the Brain by Jessica Grahn.


Art:

Mikro took a class exploring the architecture of New York City, in which he visited the Chrysler Building, the Chanin Building, Grand Central Terminal, the Flatiron Building, the Appellate Division Courthouse, Madison Square Park, the New York Life Building, the Washington Square Arch, Judson Church, the Morris Jumel Mansion, and the Guggenheim Museum, learned about the architects who designed them, and sketched the buildings and various architectural details.

Mikro has continued his drawing and experiments with various media, including clay, watercolors, pastels, markers, acrylic paints and collage/assemblage.. He enjoys watching TED Talks on sculpture, architecture, and other art forms.

Books: Dreaming UP: A Celebration of Building by Christy Hale; Noisy Paint Box: The Colors and Sounds of Kandinsky’s Abstract Art by Barb Rosenstock; Gargoyles, Girders and Glass Houses: Magnificent Master Buildings y Bo Zaunders;Arches to Zigzags: An Architecture ABC by Michael J. Crosbie; Skyscraper by Lynn Curlee; Frank O. Gehry: Outside In by Jan Greenberg; Earth Friendly Buildings by Miriam Coleman; Simply Wright: A Journey into the Ideas of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architecture by Diane Bresnan Fleming.

Mikro also enjoyed the Italian Futurism exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum, and the Palaces for the People exhibit on Guastavino tile vaults and City as Canvas (graffiti) exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York.


Phys Ed:

Hiking, park days with homeschooled friends; playing catch, soccer and basketball informally with friends and family; running, mock combat ninja battles.


Health:

We have discussed puberty, family planning, good nutrition, the basic food groups, the food pyramid, safety issues related to food allergies, basic human needs, vision and eye safety, laboratory safety, maintaining adequate hydration, personal hygiene including dental hygiene, why drugs, alcohol and smoking are unhealthy, HIV and AIDS, and the perils of drunk driving.


Traffic, bicycle and general safety:

We discussed lightning and storm safety, including the dangers of flash floods. We continue to discuss the importance of always wearing a bicycle helmet, of looking both ways before crossing the street, obeying traffic signals, watching cars for signals, safe and appropriate behavior on public transportation, seatbelts, car seats, not distracting the driver, what exit signs and emergency instructions (e.g. on the trains) mean; water safety; boating safety; strangers, staying where mom and dad can see you, what to do if lost or separated from family, how to avoid getting lost in the first place, how to ask for help. Mikro knows his name and address including zip code, and his parents' full names. Mikro has a cell phone and knows how to use it to call for help, or contact his parents, in the event that he becomes lost.


Fire Safety and Prevention:

We have discussed what to do in a fire emergency, including formulating a family escape plan, stop drop & roll, get low and go, exiting the house immediately and not returning, trying to wake family members, but leaving if unsuccessful, telling firefighters if family and pets are still inside, using a cell phone or going to a neighbor to call 911, and waiting at a designated location for family members. We talked about fire prevention strategies.

[SIGNED & DATED]

Second Quarterly Report

{DATE}
{DISTRICT SUPT. ADDRESS}

SECOND QUARTERLY REPORT

SCHOOL YEAR: 2013-2014
HOMESCHOOLING STUDENT: Mikro
GRADE LEVEL: Fourth
THIS QUARTER COVERS: 10/16/14 to 1/15/14
DATE SUBMITTED: January 16, 2014

Generally:

Mikro is progressing at a satisfactory level or above in all subject matter.

We have had instruction in all the following areas, as per Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education and Mikro’s Individual Home Instruction Plan (IHIP): Reading, Writing, Spelling, Language Arts, Math, History, Geography, Science, Health, Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, Patriotism and Citizenship, Fire Safety and Prevention, and Traffic, Bicycle and General Safety.

Mikro had no absences from instruction this quarter, and has exceeded the required hours of instruction (225).

Highlights for the Quarter include:

Reading/Language Arts:

Mikro reads at a high school or college level. He is currently reading university level resources in Comparative Religions for a course for homeschooled teens taught by a college professor. At the moment, his favorite books concern mythology and folktales, though he still enjoys nonfiction, particularly in the biological sciences. He enjoys making up rich and detailed stories, world building, and creating new mythologies. He participated in the National Novel Writing Month (Nanowrimo) Young Writer’s Program again this year and composed an original story which exceeded his word count goal. He is working on expanding his Nanowrimo project into a full length middle grade novel. His keyboarding skills are improving slowly, though he is still a hunt and peck typist. He is beginning to learn to write in cursive.

Mikro’s Comparative Religions course requires typewritten homework essays, through which he is getting good practice in spelling, composition and grammar, as well as improving his keyboarding skills. We continue to work on grammar and spelling using a variety of workbooks and online lessons, and through journaling.

Some of the books read independently by Mikro (in addition to those listed by subject matter in other categories below) include:

Pete Seeger’s Storytelling Book, composed by Pete Seeger and Paul Dubois Jacobs; Snoopy’s Guide to the Writing Life, edited by Barnaby Conrad and Monte Schulz; The Magic Thief and The Magic Thief Lost by Sara Prineas; The Troll With No Heart in His Body and Other Tales of Trolls from Norway by Lise Lunge-Larsen; Skullduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy; The Dragonology Chronicles series: The Dragon’s Eye, The Dragon Diary, The Dragon’s Apprentice and The Dragon Prophecy by Dugald A. Steer;
Jake and the Gingerbread Wars by E.G. Foley; Max Finder Mystery Collected Casebooks, Volumes 6 and 7 by Liam O’Donnell; N.E.R.D.S. Book 5: Attack of the B.U.L.L.I.E.S. by Michael Buckley; Bone 1: Out From Boneville and Bone 2: Great Cow Race, both by Jeff Smith; Doodle Soup: poems by John Ciardi; Eragon and Eragon’s Guide to Algesia by Christopher Paolini; Arthur Spiderwick’s Guide to the Fantastical World Around You and the Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles series: The Nixie’s Song, A Giant Problem and The Wyrm King, all by Terry DiTerlizzi and Holly Black; The Oak Lord by Catherine Cooper; Lost in Babylon by Peter Lerangis; Sarah and the Magic Mayonnaise Jar by Meira Pentermann; Wright on Time Series Books 1-6: Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota; all by Lisa M. Cottrell Bentley; The Felix O’Shea Collection: Felix and the Incredible Transporting Machine, Felix and the Land of Dreams, Felix and the Mystery of the Golden Monkey and Felix and the Amazing Shrinking Machine, all by A.R. Gajraj; Where the Fairies Dwell by Miranda Simon; In a Glass Grimmly; A Tale Dark and Grimm and The Grimm Conclusion, all by Adam Gidwitz; The Evil Pond: Legend of the Golden Warrior by Papa G; Whale Shines: An Artistic Tale by Fiona Robinson; Dinosaurology: The Search for A Lost World by Emily Hawkins; A Practical Guide to Dragon Riding by Lisa Trutkoff Trumbauer; Monsterology Handbook by Dr. Earnest Drake; Alienology by Dugald A. Steer; Oceanology Handbook by Pierre Aronnax.

Math:

Mikro learned about the metric system and the US system of weights and measures. In connection with his ancient history studies, he learned about Mayan math and the base 20 system and did simple addition problems using this method and symbol set. He is continuing to practice single digit and two digit multiplication, simple division, long division, percents, fractions, decimals, and money skills, including adding and subtracting monetary amounts and making change, using real life math, books, workbooks, games, drawings, original word problems and manipulatives. Mikro uses online math resources such as BrainPOP, Khan Academy, Lesson Pathways, Dreambox, and BigIQKids. He also is making good progress through Teaching Textbooks 4, and will be moving to Teaching Textbooks 5 thereafter.

Books: Patterns in Peru by Cindy Neuschwander.

Videos: Math Challenge: Equivalent fractions and Mixed Numbers (Sclessinger Media); Solving for X: Pre Algebra Volume 1 (Bill Nye); NOVA: Fractals: Hunting the Hidden Dimension (PBS); Vi Hart’s Logarithms video and several Mayan Math videos on YouTube.

Music: Multiplication Mountain by Hap Palmer; Division Unplugged.

Science:

Mikro is fascinated with geology, astronomy and biology, and asked to spend time studying them this school year. He has watched several more college level lectures from The Great Courses’ Biology: The Science of Life and Our Night Sky series.
Mikro and his dad are learning to design and build 3D objects using software packages such as Tinkerbot and Blender.

Books:
Sneed B. Collard III’s Most Fun Book Ever About Lizards; Older Than the Stars by Karen C. Fox; Geology Rocks series by Rebecca Faulkner: Sedimentary Rock; Igneous Rock; Metamorphic Rock; Crystals; Fossils; Ocean Detectives: Solving the Mysteries of the Sea , Sea Soup: Phytoplankton; Sea Soup: Zooplankton, Under the Ice, and Shipwrecks: Exploring Sunken Cities Beneath the Sea, all by Mary M. Cerullo; Survivor’s Science in the Ocean by Peter D. Riley; Secret Lives of Deep Sea Creatures by Sara Swan Miller; Scorpions: Strange and Wonderful by Laurence Pringle; Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery From Your Own Backyard, by Loree Griffin Burns; The Sandwalk Adventures and Clan Apis byJay Hosler; The Kid Who Named Pluto and Other Stories of Extraordinary Young People in Science by Marc McCutcheon; Ocean Drifters: A Secret World Beneath the Waves by Dr. Richard Kirby;

Videos: Mikro uses Discovery Streaming Education Online’s extensive collection of science videos. Particular areas of study at the moment include geology and earth science topics, as well as evolution and marine biology. Mikro also watches TED Talks on scientific topics of interest and other scientific programming online, such as Bob Ballard’s Nautilus Live website, with live video from remotely operated submersible vehicles, videos and webinars from the America Chemical Society, Discovery Streaming Education Unlimited, and various websites including PBS, Project JASON, and Amazon Prime Instant Videos. He also has a subscription to science videos and experiments online by Robert Krampf, The Happy Scientist and Supercharged Science. Mikro has watched programming about The DARPA Robotics Challenge; The Unfixed Brain, The Unfixed Spinal Chord ; What’s Inside The Earth: An Introduction to Earth’s Interior, Crust, and Mineral Resources; Plate Tectonics; the Rock Cycle; Geysers; Glaciers; River Deltas; Hot Springs; Volcanoes; Earthquakes; Crystal Formation; Precious Minerals; Weathering and Erosion; Crime Scene Investigations and Forensics; Reverse Engineering the Wright Brother’s Flyer; The Scientific Method; The Metric System; Measuring Volume, Weight, Mass and Distance, and many others.

Classes: Mikro finished up his series of classes at Science Museum of Long Island on a combination of topics including earthquakes, tsunamis, and plant biology.

Field trips: American Museum of Natural History special exhibit: Whales: Giants of the Deep; Bonham Auction House previews for Dueling Dinosaurs auction; many nature walks where Mikro has observed such things animal tracks in the snow; bald eagles fishing from ice floes in the Hudson River, and examined a dead sturgeon on the beach, stargazing with a telescope.

Projects: monitoring bird feeders, maintaining a compost heap, caring for and observing a growing collection of pets including two bearded dragons, a Chinese water dragon, a pair of Italian Wall Lizards, a hermit crab, a snail and various insects; building simple Arduino circuits, building electronics kits, maintaining a Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

History, Geography, Social Studies & Patriotism and Citizenship:

During this quarter we have continued our study of Ancient History, focusing primarily on the pre-Columbian civilizations of the Ancient Americas, including the Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs, Incas and Mayans. We have used Susan Wise Bauer's The Story of the World as a spine, as well as maps, videos, nonfiction and fiction concerning the cultures studied.

Mikro is also taking a Comparative Religions course for teens, taught by [NAME] College Professor [NAME]. The class took a field trip to the American Museum of Natural History and looked at native American, pre-Columbian and African religious artifacts. This quarter, they have covered the following topics: initiation ceremonies and rites of passage, magic and the use of rituals and sacrifices, polytheistic religions of Ancient Greece and Rome, the interplay of religion, philosophy and ethics, the rise of monotheistic religions in the middle east (Judaism, Christianity and Islam); the Old Testament; prophets and prophesies.

In American History/New York History/Patriotism and Citizenship, we have discussed Colonial America, including William Penn and the Pennsylvania Colony; the colonial economy; the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, the Constitution, the function of governments, the Bill of Rights, rights and responsibilities of citizens, immigration, slavery, racism and the Civil Rights movement, and current events involving constitutional questions.

Field Trips:

Mikro accompanied his parents to the polls on Election Day . Mikro participated in the New York City Home Educators’ Alliance’s annual History Fair and presented on William Penn. He also recited the Gettysburg Address from memory on stage. He spent Veteran’s Day visiting the U.S.S. New York, learning about life aboard a Navy ship, and thanking military personnel for their service to our country. Mikro also participated in a holiday event bringing good cheer to hospitalized veterans at the Bronx Veterans Administration Hospital.

Books:

Aztecs/Incas/Mayans: How Did They Do That in The Mayan Civilization by Elizabeth Scholl; The Secret Legacy by Rigoberta Menchu; Secrets of Lost Cultures: The Maya: Activities and Crafts from a Mysterious Land by Arlette M. Braman; Calendars of Native Americans: Timekeeping Methods of Ancient North America by Lynn George; The Fifth and Final Sun: An Ancient Aztec Myth of the Sun’s Origin retold by C. Shana Greger; Days of the Dead by Carrie Gleason; Paper Crafts for Day of the Dead by Randel McGee; Day of the Dead: A Latino Celebration of Family and Life by Carol Gnojewski; Inca Town by Fiona Macdonald;

America: William Penn: Founder of Pennsylvania by Ryan Jacobsen; Let Freedom Ring: William Pen, Founder of the Pennsylvania Colony by Bernadette L. Baczynski; Pennsylvania by Ann Heinrichs; The Pennsylvania Dutch: Craftsmen and Farmers by Eva Deutsch Costabel; Haym Saloman: Patriot Banker of the American Revolution by Shirley Milgrim; Haym Saloman, American Patriot by Susan Goldman Rubin; The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln; All About America: Colonists and Independence by Saly Seznell Isaacs; O Say Can You See: America’s Symbols , Landmarks and Inspiring Words by Sheila Keenan; When the Moon is Full: Supernatural Stories from the Pennsylvania Mountains by Robin Moore;

Other: The Romans: Gods, Emperors and Dormice by Marcia Williams; Hera: The Goddess and her Glory by George O’ Connor; Johann Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press by Bruce Koscielniak; The House Baba Built: An Artist’s Childhood in China by Ed Young; Everyday Life in Prehistory by Neil Morris; Everyday Life in the Bible Lands by Cath Senker; What Is Religion by Bobbie Kalman; ; Kids Book of World Religions by Jennifer Glossop; What Do You Believe (DK); Early Peoples: Australian Aborigines (World Book); What Made Tiddilak Laugh retold by Joanna Troughton; selected readings handed out or assigned by Professor [NAME] for Comparative Religions (including passages from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, and from the Koran).

Music:

Mikro enjoyed a performance by percussion group STOMP. He also learned to sing several Christmas carols and listened to CDs of Handel’s Messiah and Christmas music and hymns.

Art:

Mikro has continued his drawing and experiments with various media, including clay, watercolors, pastels, markers, acrylic paints and collage/assemblage. He is participating in the Sketch Tuesday art challenge online He is taking a Crafty Kids class at the Croton Free Library. He enjoys watching TED Talks on sculpture, architecture, and other art forms. We watch FaceOff (Syfy Channel) together as a family, and often design our own characters to fit the various challenges presented therein.

Field Trips: Mikro enjoyed the special exhibit on Rene Magritte at the Museum of Modern Art, as well as browsing the permanent collections. He especially likes the surrealists. He also enjoyed a field trip to the Brooklyn Museum with our homeschool group, where he participated in a program on Transformation in the Americas, which dovetailed nicely with his studies of pre-Columbian civilizations in ancient history, and his study of comparative religions. He also enjoyed the American Museum of Natural History’s anthropology collections, which he toured with Professor [NAME]’s Comparative Religions class, focusing on Eastern Woodlands, Plains Indian, Pre-Columbian and African religious art and artifacts. Mikro also enjoyed seeing his beloved LEGOs used to create amazing replicas of famous works of art which he has seen in area museums and in books, as well as original sculptures by Nathan Sawaya, in the LEGO: Art of the Brick exhibit at Discovery Times Square Exposition Center.

Phys Ed:

Hiking, park days with homeschooled friends; mock combat ninja battles in the woods as part of an ongoing role playing game created by Mikro and his friends from our homeschool group.

Health:

We have discussed puberty, good nutrition, safety issues related to food allergies, basic human needs, vision and eye safety, maintaining adequate hydration, personal hygiene including dental hygiene, why drugs, alcohol and smoking are unhealthy, HIV and AIDS, and the perils of drunk driving.

Traffic, bicycle and general safety:

We continue to discuss the importance of always wearing a bicycle helmet, of looking both ways before crossing the street, obeying traffic signals, watching cars for signals, safe and appropriate behavior on public transportation, seatbelts, car seats, not distracting the driver, what exit signs and emergency instructions (e.g. on the trains) mean; gun safety; strangers, staying where mom and dad can see you, what to do if lost or separated from family, how to avoid getting lost in the first place, how to ask for help. Mikro knows his name and address including zip code, and his parents' full names. Mikro has a cell phone and knows how to use it to call for help, or contact his parents, in the event that he becomes lost. Videos: Eddie Eagle Gun Safety program.

Fire Safety and Prevention:

We have discussed what to do in a fire emergency, including formulating a family escape plan, stop drop & roll, get low and go, exiting the house immediately and not returning, trying to wake family members, but leaving if unsuccessful, telling firefighters if family and pets are still inside, using a cell phone or going to a neighbor to call 911, and waiting at a designated location for family members. We talked about fire prevention strategies.

Dated: January 16, 2014
[SIGNED]

First Quarterly Report - 4th Grade

FIRST QUARTERLY REPORT

SCHOOL YEAR: 2013-2014
HOMESCHOOLING STUDENT: Mikro
GRADE LEVEL: Fourth
THIS QUARTER COVERS: 7/1/13 to 10/15/13
DATE SUBMITTED: October 16, 2013


Generally:

Mikro is progressing at a satisfactory level or above in all subject matter.

We have had instruction in all the following areas, as per Section 100.10 of the Regulations of the New York State Commissioner of Education and Mikro’s Individual Home Instruction Plan (IHIP): Reading, Writing, Spelling, Language Arts, Math, History, Geography, Science, Health, Physical Education, Music, Visual Arts, Patriotism and Citizenship, Fire Safety and Prevention, and Traffic, Bicycle and General Safety.

Mikro had no absences from instruction this quarter, and has exceeded the required hours of instruction (225).

Highlights for the Quarter include:

Reading/Language Arts:

Mikro reads fluently and at a very advanced level. At the moment, his favorite books concern mythology and folktales, though he still enjoys nonfiction, particularly in the biological sciences. He enjoys making up rich and detailed stories, world building, and creating new mythologies.

He is taking a Comparative Religions course which requires typewritten homework essays, and is getting good practice in spelling, composition and grammar in connection therewith, as well as improving his keyboarding skills. We continue to work on grammar and spelling using a variety of workbooks and online lessons, and through journaling.

Some of the books read independently by Mikro (in addition to those listed by subject matter in other categories below) include:

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, both by J.K. Rowling; The Monsters of Morley Manor by Bruce Covillle; The Menagerie by Tui T. Sutherland; Heroes of Olympus: The House of Hades by Rick Riordan; The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, both by Douglas Adams; The Lost Heir and Jake and the Giant, both by E.G. Foley; Hide and Seek by Kate Messner; Dragon Rider by Cornelia Funke; The Secrets of Dripping Fang series : Book 1: The Onts; Book 2: Treachery and Betrayal at Jolly Days; Book 3: The Vampire’s Curse; Book 4: The Fall of the House of Mandible; Book 5: The Schluffmuffin Boy is History; Book 6: Attack of the Giant Octopus; Book 7: Please Don’t Eat the Children; and Book 8: When Bad Snakes Attack Good Children, all by Dan Greenburg; The 39 Clues series: Book 1: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan; Book 2: One False Note by Gordon Korman; Book 3: The Sword Thief by Peter Lerangis; Book 4: Beyond the Grave by Jude Watson; Book 5: The Black Circle by Patrick Carman; Book 6: In Too Deep by Jude Watson; Book 7: The Viper’s Nest by Peter Lerangis; and Book 8: The Emperor’s Code by Gordon Korman; Esio Trot by Roald Dahl; Zoo Doings: Animal Poems by Jack Prelutsky; The Dragon That Lived Under Manhattan by E.W. Hildick; Gift Horse by Betty Levin; What’s in the Garden by Marianne Berkes; Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Sidalis; Water , Weed and Wait by Edith Hope Fine; The Dandelion Seed by Joseph Anthony; First Peas to the Table: How Thomas Jefferson Inspired a School Garden, by Susan Grigsby; First Garden: The White House Garden and How It Grew by Robin Gourley; The Flower Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta; Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie: A Story About Edna Lewis by Robbin Gourley; The Great Frog Race and Other Poems by Kristine O’Connell George; Fantasy Chronicles: Wizards and Witches by Ann Kerns; The Matchbox Diary by Paul Fleishman; The Glass Mountain, retold by Diane Wolkstein; A Book of Fairies by Patricia Sexton; The Secret History of Mermaids and Creatures of the Deep or the Liber Aquaticum, by Ari Berk; A Flower Fairy Alphabet by Cicely Mary Barker; Bustle in the Bushes by Giles Andreae; A Gopher in the Garden and Other Animal Poems by Jack Prelutsky; I Heard It From Alice Zucchini: Poems About the Garden by Juanita Havill; The Rainbow Orchid, Volumes 1-3, by Garen Ewing; The Knight in Rusty Armor by Robert Fisher; The Book of Fairies by Michael Hague; Tree of Dreams: Ten Tales From the Garden of Night by Laurence Yep; The Nixie’s Song by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black; A Book of Charms and Changelings by Ruth Manning Sanders; The Jaguar Stones, Book 1: Middleworld by J&P Voelkel; Shoots of Green: Poems for Young Gardeners by Ella Ramblett; Write Your Own Fairy Tale by Natalie M. Rosinsky. Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O’Neill; Sea Dream: Poems from Under the Waves compiled by Nikki Siegen-Smith; An Egret’s Day, poems by Jane Yolen; Max Finder Mystery Collected Casebooks, Volumes 1, 4 and 5 by Liam O’Donnell; Chicagoland Detective Agency: Vol. 2: The Maltese Mummy, Volume 4: The Big Flush and Vol. 5: The Bark in Space, all by Trina Robbins.

Math:

This quarter, we have introduced the concepts of equivalent fractions, ratios, and mixed numbers. We have also looked at solving simple single variable algebraic equations, and are continuing to practice two and three digit addition and subtraction with regrouping, and single digit and two digit multiplication, simple division, percents, fractions, decimals, and money skills, including adding and subtracting monetary amounts and making change, using real life math, books, workbooks, games, drawings, original word problems and manipulatives. Mikro uses online math resources such as BrainPOP, Khan Academy, Lesson Pathways, Dreambox, and BigIQKids. He also is making good progress through Teaching Textbooks 4, and will be moving to Teaching Textbooks 5 thereafter.

Books: Fractions, Decimals and Percents by David A. Adler.

Videos: Math Challenge: Equivalent fractions and Mixed Numbers (Sclessinger Media); Solving for X: Pre Algebra Volume 1 (Bill Nye).

Music: Multiplication Mountain by Hap Palmer; Division Unplugged.

Games: Timez Attack; The Number Devil computer game; various games on Dreambox math online.

Science:

Mikro is fascinated with geology, astronomy and biology, and asked to spend time studying them this school year. He has watched a number of college level lectures from The Great Courses from their Biology: The Science of Life and Our Night Sky series.

Mikro and his dad are extremely interested in 3D printing, and are learning to design and build 3D objects using software packages such as Tinkerbot and Blender.

We participated in World Wide Water Monitoring Day by taking and analyzing several water samples from the Croton River at Silver Lake. Mikro is an avid amateur naturalist and catches, studies and releases specimens from nature. Highlights this quarter included a walking stick insect and a praying mantis. He is also studying, collecting and identifying insect galls.
He attended Hackademia, at Alpha One Labs in Brooklyn, at which he participated in science experiments and workshops, including extracting DNA from strawberries, microscopic observation of samples from nature, learning to solder, building “squishy circuits”, etc. Another highlight of the quarter was spending the weekend at Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science. Mikro participated in several workshops offered by Cognizant, including Hack A Toy, where he disassembled a remote control car and learned how to change the control system, and a Solar Lanterns building project. He attended lectures on topics including Raspberry Pi microcontrollers, citizen science EEG devices, brain hacking; citizen science projects using weather balloons for aerial photography; the history of the New York Worlds Fairs and similarities with Maker Faire, and Making and Inspiring Science with Science Bob. He also built and fired off an air pressure rocket. Another greatly enjoyable and educational event which Mikro attended was the Reptile Encounters Program hosted by Saw Mill River Audubon at the Croton Free Library, featuring turtles, lizards, a baby alligator and a snake.

Books:

Lunch at the Zoo: What Zoo Animals Eat and Why by Joyce Altman; Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe; In the Garden With Doctor Carver by Susan Grigsby; Dumbcane and Daffodils: Poisonous Plants in the House and Garden by Carol Lerner; The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Brian Mealer; Salamanders by Emery and Durga Bernhard; Walking Sticks by Kristin Petrie; Stick Insect by Diane A. Kelly; Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau and On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein, both by Jennifer Berne; Track That Scat! by Lisa Morlock; When Dinos Dawned, Mammals Got Munched and Pterodactyls Took Flight: A Cartoon Prehistory of Life in the Triassic by Hannah Bonner; A Strange Place to Call Home: The World’s Most Dangerous Habitats and the Animals That Call Them Home by Marilyn Singer and Ed Young; Luis Alvarez, Wild Idea Man; Lise Meitner Had the Right Vision About Fission; Rachel Carson: Clearing the Way for Environmental Protection and Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak: Geek Heroes Who Put the Personal in Computers, all by Mike Venezia; What to Expect When You’re Expecting Larvae: A Guide for Insect Parents (and Curious Kids) by Bridget Heos; Wisdom the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Disasters for Over Sixty Years, by Kitty Harvill; Volcano Rising by Elizabeth Rusch; Geckos by Katie Marsico; Planet Ark: Preserving Earth’s Biodiversity by Adrienne Mason; Marvels in the Muck: Life in the Salt Marshes by Doug Wechsler; Crystals by Rebecca Faulkner; Experiments with Rocks and Minerals by Salvatore Tocci; The Incredible Story of Skyscrapers by Greg Roza; Summer Camp Science Mysteries: The Whispering Lake Ghosts by Lynda Beauregard; So You Want to Be An Inventor? by Judith St. George; Is This Panama? A Migration Story by Jan Thornhill; The Mystery of Darwin’s Frog by Marty Crump.

Magazines: National Geographic Exploring Space (Special Issue); Dig, Ranger Rick, National Geographic Kids, Kids Discover and Zoobooks. Time Magazine Special Edition: Rise of the Robots.

Videos: Mikro watches TED Talks on scientific topics of interest and other scientific programming online, such as Bob Ballard’s Nautilus Live website, with live video from remotely operated submersible vehicles, videos and webinars from the America Chemical Society, Discovery Streaming Education Unlimited, and various websites including PBS, Project JASON, and Amazon Prime Instant Videos. He also has a subscription to science videos and experiments online by Robert Krampf, The Happy Scientist and Supercharged Science. Mikro has watched programming about Camouflage and Defense in the Insect World, Ladybirds, Fire Bugs and Leaf Hoppers, Bugs and Other Hemipterans, Dragonflies: A Complete Insect Lifecycle; Bees: One Big Fmily; Bees and Other Hymenopterans; Spiders and Other Arachnids; Garden Spiders and Crab Spiders: Similarities and Differences; Paper Wasps: The Life Cycle of a Colony; Ant Lions and Ants: Predators and Prey; Processionary Caterpillars and Peacock Butterflies; Cras and Other Crustaceans; Sand and Spider Wasps; Caterpillars, Butterflies and Moths; Trapdoor vs, Agelena Spider: Comparing Behaviors; Damselflies; Green Bush Crickets and Locusts; Ground Wasps; Praying Mantis: Insect Predator; Bees: Social or Solitary Insect; Aquatic Insects: Larvae to Adults; Insect Adaptations for Water; Heteropterans (True Bugs); Homopterans; Ants and Aphids: A Symbiotic Relationship; Garden Travels: San Francisco Insect Zoo; Genes and Geniuses: The Lost Human Story Buried in Our DNA (ACS webinar); The Disappearing Spoon: Strange Tales From the Periodic Table of the Elements (ACS webinar); Masin Wasps: Insect Builders; Rose Chafer and Carabid and Tiger Beetles; Dung Beetles: Nature’s Cleaners; Flies and Cicadas; Planet Earth: Deep Ocean; Dinosaur Sex podcast from NY Academy of Sciences; Torroidal Vortices; Jet Pack Rocket Science; and many others.
Classes: Mikro is taking a ten session series of classes on a combination of topics including biology, chemistry, physics and robotics at Science Museum of Long Island. Recent topics included the physics of toys, survival science, sound and magnetism.

Field trips: Maker Faire, a weekend of hands on science activities, robotics, lectures on robotics and hands-on craft activities; Hackademia at Alpha One Labs; World Wide Water Monitoring Day sample collection and analysis; night time bug and spider safaris, many nature walks where Mikro has observed such things as great blue herons feeding (Mikro is doing a “heron count” of sightings along the Hudson River and will be graphing his results), birds caring for their young, hummingbirds feeding, butterflies pollinating flowers, dragonflies mating; beachcombing for treasures such as seashells, stargazing with a telescope, following NASA's scheduled sighting opportunities for the International Space Station; and watching meteor showers.
Projects: collecting and observing bugs, monitoring nest boxes and bird feeders, maintaining a compost heap, caring for and observing a growing collection of pets including two bearded dragons, a Chinese water dragon, a pair of Italian Wall Lizards, a hermit crab, snails and various insects; building simple Arduino circuits, building electronics kits, maintaining a Certified Backyard Wildlife Habitat.

History, Geography, Social Studies & Patriotism and Citizenship:

During this first quarter we have continued our study of Ancient History, focusing primarily on the pre-Columbian civilizations of the Ancient Americas, including the Olmecs, Toltecs, Aztecs, Incas and Mayans. We have used Susan Wise Bauer's The Story of the World as a spine, as well as maps, videos, nonfiction and fiction concerning the cultures studied.

Mikro is also taking a Comparative Religions course for teens, taught by Hunter College Professor Wendy Raver. The class took a field trip to the Rubin Museum and looked at Hindu, Buddhist and tribal religious art. So far they have covered the following topics: what makes a religion a religion, prehistoric religions including animism, totemism, shamanism, and anthropomorphism; tribal religions; sacred space and sacred time, and creation myths.

In American History/New York History/Patriotism and Citizenship, we have discussed Colonial America, including the triangle trade, the colonial economy; the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, the Constitution, the function of governments, the Bill of Rights, rights and responsibilities of citizens, immigration, slavery, racism and the Civil Rights movement. Mikro attended the Theaterworks musical production Civil War at the Louise Lortel Theater in Manhattan, and saw the Shipwrecks exhibit at the Discovery Times Square Exposition Center. He also listened to Native American speakers at the Two Row Wampum festival event at Croton Point Park.

Books:
Aztecs/Incas/Mayans: The Word Of Mythology: Mayan and Aztec Mythology by Jim Olhoff; Life During the Great Civilizations: The Aztec Empire by Sheila Wyborny; Mayan and Aztec Mythology by Michael A. Schuman; Musicians of the Sun by Gerald McDermott; Investigating Machu Picchu: An Isabel Soto Archaeology Adventure by Emily Sohn, You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Mayan Soothsayer: Fortunes You’d Rather Not Tell by Rupert Matthews; You Wouldn’t Want to Be an Aztec Sacrifice: Gruesome Things You’d Rather Not Know by Fiona Macdonald; You Wouldn’t Want to Be an Incan Mummy: A One Way Journey You’d Rather Not Make by Colin Hynson; How Did They Do That in The Aztec Empire by William Noble; Hail! Aztecs by Jen Green; Exploring the World of the Aztecs with Elaine Landau by Elaine Landau; The Aztecs: Life in Tenochtitlan by Matt Doeden; Myths of the World: The Ancient Maya by Virginia Schomp; Hands of the Maya: Villagers at Work and Play by Rachell Crandell; Spirit of the Maya: A Boy Explores His People’s Mysterious Past by Guy Garcia; The Two Mountains: An Aztec Legend retold by Eric A. Kimmel; The Chocolate Tree: A Mayan Folktale by Linda Lowery and Richard Keep; The Night the Moon Fell: A Maya Myth retold by Pat Mora; The Boy Who Wouldn’t Obey: A Mayan Legend by Anne Rockwell; White Flower: A Maya Princess by Victor Montejo; The Eagle and the Rainbow: Timeless Tales From Mexico by Antonio Hernandez Madrigal; The Poet King of Tezcoco: A Great Leader of Ancient Mexico by Francisco Serrano; Aztec Times by Anthony Mason; Secret of the Andes by Ann Nolan Clark; Life Among the Aztecs by Eleanor J. Hall; The Honey Jar by Rigoberta Menchu; The People of Mexico by Colleen Madonna Flood Williams; Hispanic American Crafts Kids Can Do by Fay Robinson; Ballplayers and Bonesetters: One Hundred Ancient Aztec and Maya Jobs You Might Have Adored or Abhorred by Laurie Coulter; Aztecs: Facts, Things to Make, Activities by Ruth Thomson; Ivy’s Journal: A Trip to the Yucatan by Judith Herbst; Secrets in Stone: All About Maya Hieroglyphs by Laurie Coulter; Lost Temple of the Aztecs: What It Was Like When the Spaniards Invaded Mexico by Shelley Tanaka; The Lama’s Secret: A Peruvian Legend adapted by Argentina Palacios; Up and Down the Andes: A Peruvian Festival Tale by Laurie Krebs; Maya’s Children: The Legend of La Llorona by Rudolfo Anaya; Rain Player by David Wisniewski.

America: Noah Webster and His Words by Jeri Chase.

Other: The Good Garden: How One Family Went From Hunger to Having Enough and Mimi’s Village and How Basic Healthcare Transformed It, both by Kate Smith Milway; Painters of the Caves by Patricia Lauber; selected readings handed out by Professor Raver for Comparative Religions.

Videos: Ancient Civilizations for Children: Ancient Aztec Empire (Schlessinger Media); Ancient Civilizations for Children: Ancient Aztecs: Fall of the Empire (Schlessinger Media); Ancient Civilizations for Children: Ancient Maya (Schlessinger Media); Ancient Civilizations for Children: Ancient Inca(Schlessinger Media); Families of the World: Mexico, Families of the World: Mexico: More Families; Families of Guatemala; New Dimensions Media Films (via Amazon Prime Instant Video): Rosario in Argentina; Frederico in Argentina; Julia in Mexico; Rosita in Mexico; Mexico; Mexican Indian Civilizations: Olmecs to Aztecs; Mexican Indian Civilizations: The Maya; Global Treasures: Teotihuacan; Global Treasures: Uxmal; Global Treasures: Palenque; Travel With Kids: Peru: The Inca World: Machu Picchu and Cuzco; Secrets of the Ancient Olmecs (BBC); Lost Civilization of Peru: The Moche (Horizon); The Mysterious Cities of Gold (complete series); Crash Course in US History: The Black Legend, Native Americans and Spaniards; When Is Thanksgiving; Natives and The English; The Quakers, The Dutch and the Ladies; The Seven Years War and the Great Awakening; Taxes and Smuggling: Prelude to Revolution; Where US Politics Came From; American Revolution; The Constitution, The Articles and Federalism; Thomas Jefferson and His Democracy; The War of 1812; The Market Revolution; Slavery.

Colonial Williamsburg Electronic Field Trips: Research Rescue Squad (primary, secondary and tertiary sources, reliable vs. unreliable sources); Slavery; Global Economy (international trade including the triangle trade, shipping); The Industrious Tradesmen (apprenticeship, journeyman and master stages of craftsmanship); Colonial Idol; The Will of the People.

Websites: Colonial Williamsburg; Mariner’s Museum (including Merchants of the Great Exchange and Whose Lunch Is It Anyway).

Music:

Mikro learned about the lives and music of several composers, including Bach, Beethoven, and Strauss. He enjoyed a live performance of classical music by Sphinx Virtuosi at Carnegie Hall, and a wonderful program, Percussion Instruments with Simon Boyar, at the Croton Free Library. Books: Cool Classical Music by Mary Lindeen.

Art:

Mikro has continued his drawing and experiments with various media, including clay, watercolors, pastels, markers, acrylic paints and collage/assemblage. He is participating in the Sketch Tuesday art challenge online. Mikro’s favorite subjects for drawing are insect larvae and mythological creatures, especially dragons He is taking a Crafty Kids class at the Croton Free Library, and also enjoyed a LEGO Building Workshop there. He enjoys watching TED Talks on sculpture, architecture, and other art forms. We watch FaceOff (Syfy Channel) together as a family, and often design our own characters to fit the various challenges presented therein. Books: Dreaming UP: A Celebration of Building by Christy Hale; The Yellow House: Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gaugin Side by Side by Susan Goldman Rubin; Uncle Andy’s: A Faabbbulous Visit with Andy Warhol by James Warhola; The East-West House: Noguchi’s Childhood in Japan by Christy Hale; Building on Nature: The Life of Antoni Gaudi by Rachel Rodriguez; Paul Klee, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Marc Chagall, Alexander Calder, Rene Magritte, Paul Cezanne, Paul Gaugin, Roy Lichtenstein, and Grandma Moses, all by Mike Venezia; 13 Art Inventions Children Should Know by Florian Heine.

Phys Ed:

Swimming at Silver Lake; hiking, park days with homeschooled friends; soccer and basketball informally with friends and family; trampoline, mock combat ninja battles in the woods as part of an ongoing role playing game created by Mikro and his friends from our homeschool group.

Health:

We have discussed puberty, good nutrition, the basic food groups, the food pyramid, safety issues related to food allergies, basic human needs, vision and eye safety, laboratory safety, maintaining adequate hydration, personal hygiene including dental hygiene, why drugs, alcohol and smoking are unhealthy, HIV and AIDS, and the perils of drunk driving. Videos: Puberty for Boys: Amazing Changes Inside and Out (Discovery Streaming).

Traffic, bicycle and general safety:

We continue to discuss the importance of always wearing a bicycle helmet, of looking both ways before crossing the street, obeying traffic signals, watching cars for signals, safe and appropriate behavior on public transportation, seatbelts, car seats, not distracting the driver, what exit signs and emergency instructions (e.g. on the trains) mean; water safety; boating safety; strangers, staying where mom and dad can see you, what to do if lost or separated from family, how to avoid getting lost in the first place, how to ask for help. Mikro knows his name and address including zip code, and his parents' full names. Mikro has a cell phone and knows how to use it to call for help, or contact his parents, in the event that he becomes lost.

Fire Safety and Prevention:

We have discussed what to do in a fire emergency, including formulating a family escape plan, stop drop & roll, get low and go, exiting the house immediately and not returning, trying to wake family members, but leaving if unsuccessful, telling firefighters if family and pets are still inside, using a cell phone or going to a neighbor to call 911, and waiting at a designated location for family members. We talked about fire prevention strategies.

Dated:

Signed: