Classical Conversations Archives - Small Things Are Big Things

We started homeschooling last year and we are loving every minute. Our curriculum is called Classical Conversations and it is fantastic. I wanted to share this printable DIY CC Geography Maps for weeks 1 and 2. All you need is a glue stick, one piece of blue, green, brown and red construction paper and the free printables I have below!

Even if you don’t use Classical Conversations, you may want to make these maps at home – one for the Fertile Crescent (CC week 1) and one for the Assyrian Empire (CC week 2).

Fertile Crescent Map:

-Print the Seas on blue paper.
-I used dry erase markers on the CC Trivium table to show the kids the area on the map we were making.
-Cut out the section of the Mediterranean Sea from the and paste to the left of the map.
-Use pencil to draw where the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers run.
-Rip small pieces of blue paper and paste down the flow of the Rivers. We talked about how the water in the river is always choppy, moving, and flowing along the landscape.
-Cut 2 small circles (about 1″ in diameter) to represent Mesopotamia and Sumer.
-Use black marker to draw a big downward crescent (just like the shape of the fertile crescent) in the blank area of the map and write the word “fertile” inside.

Assyrian Empire Map:

-Print the Seas on blue paper.
-Print this page of Assyrian Empire symbols. (This really is a symbol found in Assyrian Empire art. It has a warrior using a bow and arrow, just like the sign in the Timeline song!)
-Us dry erase markers on the CC Trivium table to show the kids the area on the map we were making.
-Cut out the section of the Red Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf from the Seas printout, then paste them where they are on the section of map
-Cut out one Assyrian Empire symbol and paste to the top of the map.
-Cut 1 small circle (about 1″ in diameter) to represent Babylon.
-Use black pencil to write Assyrian Empire to the bottom of the map.

(Quick printable reference: Click here for the Assyrian Empire symbol. Click here for the Sea outlines)

And for all my local homeschooling friends, looks what’s coming to The Cube!
Here are all the Hot Wheels exhibit details!
We can’t wait to check science off for the month after a trip to the exhibit.

Thank you for the most encouraging words about our decision to homeschool.
That was rad. Truly.
Now that we have been “outted” as homeschoolers, the next question is, what do you actually do during the week with Classical Conversations?
Well, here ya go…

Classical Conversations Cycle 3, Week 1:

Monday we go to the Classical Conversations meeting from 9am to noon. One of the main reasons we chose Classical Conversations, is the weekly class with a tutor. The kids formally learn the week’s lessons in the same class every week, with their trained tutor. Everyday we do the Memory Work we learned at the CC class (explained on Wednesday below), in addition to what I’m breaking down by week. (I really can’t stand the name though, Classical Conversations. Can I say that without being mean? Not really. Oh well, it’s my blog. It just sounds like a retired persons online dating site. Am I right??!?!)

Tuesday we did copy work for Latin, English, and Fine Arts (the OiLs acronym along with what each letter represents). And an activity using the 5 Basic Elements of Shape. Memory work.

We practiced using the 5 Basic Elements of Shape with this fun game from Expressive Monkey. I had them build 5 monsters using the dice, then they each got to build their own from their imagination. We pointed out the elements on each drawing (circles, dots, lines, angles and curves).

Eli’s monster looks like the devil.
Maybe its good we moved toward a faith-based education… ha!

Wednesday was a busy day for our family so we only did the memory work.
Memory work is all the facts you are learning in each category – Timeline, History, Geography, English, Latin, Math, Science, Fine Arts. I used this youtube video for the Classical Conversations timeline and this video for the English grammar. Every week we build on the previous week, for week 1 we are just doing the first 7 events in the timeline, and the first grammar rule. We repeat the each category 7 times. To keep track of how many times we have already repeated a fact, I use colored pencils in a mini mason jar. Obviously. Don’t they look pretty? Small Things make me happy.
We were done quickly, then we (mostly me) spent the rest of the morning cleaning, then we went to a water park with friends. The flexibility of homeschool is pretty neat-o.

Thursday we did copy work for History and Math. We discussed even and odd numbers. Memory work.
(Yes, I did notice he was missing 46, It was corrected. But I had taken the pic already. I’m that lazy.)

Then we did a guided drawing activity to go along with the History sentence copy work. I talked them through a picture of Columbus and the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa Maria using the 5 Basic Elements of Shape.

Friday we did copy work for Science, Geography, and Latin. We used a map to make a color coded key for the states and capitals we learned this week. Then we drew pictures to illustrate the Latin prepositions we learned this week and made silly sentences using the prepositions. The sentences are in English but we would substitute the Latin word for the English word. Memory work.

Cora Jane’s sentence is “There was a cat in (in) a box with (apud) a toy, who went though (per) a door without (sine) water. She thought it was hysterical. Seriously, making a silly sentence was such a Small Thing and it made her day… she had the giggles for 10 minutes and the kids couldn’t wait to share their sentences with Brad when he got home from work. (And I was laughing too, because I can’t think of anything “in a box” without thinking of that SNL skit. You know the one!)

There you have it, our first week of Classical Conversation cycle 3. It was fun. More fun than I ever thought it would be. I’ve always been one of those moms who does fun activities and crafts with her kids*. But not everyday, just when I had the time. With homeschool I have to MAKE the time, and I love that accountability!
This week was also extremely productive. Eli and Cora Jane have memorized everything they were taught. And I learned so much too. I don’t know the state capitols. Never have. That’s sad. But now I know five, and by the end of the year, I’ll know them all. That’s happy. Classical Conversations covers the subjects I’ve mentioned but you need other curriculum for Math and Reading. I’m still waiting for that to come in from our charter school. I’ll let you know when I start.

*Don’t think I’m extra cool and have everything together for one second. I’m one of “those” moms that will shirk responsibilities for the fun easy stuff.

I can’t wait to share the projects we are doing this week! Since Monday was a holiday, we didn’t have our CC lessons. But since we are with a public charter school, we need to do schoolwork everyday, so I’ve come up with some great stuff.

DIY CC Geography Maps {week 1 and 2}

Oh hey, we homeschool now! {Classical Conversations Cycle 3 Week 1}