Attack of the Bubble Wands

This post is part of a series about ONE THING that we did in our homeschool this week that I loved.

See Listening Map, K. Edwards

Our Second Week of School is in the books! This week, my One Thing is the music appreciation activity we did on the Finale of the William Tell Overture, by Gioachino Rossetti.

Using the materials found at ClassicsForKids as a guide, first I told the story of the life of Rossini, then of Guillaume Tell. I had pictures of a flute and an English horn, and we did some eyes-closed imagining of pastoral countrysides in the mountains. Then I introduced the listening map.

Cue the music! We pretended to be the breeze, birds, and butterflies in the first section, dancing with abandon. At the call-to-arms of the trumpet fanfare, we grabbed our swords (bubble wands) and prepared to fight occupying soldiers. Needless to say, we were victorious, on the floor, and laughing when it was all over.

They asked to do it again. So we did.

And it is on the list of things to show Daddy this weekend!


Lesson: Music Appreciation
Age/Grade: K-2
Time: 20 Minutes
Materials: Guide from Classic for Kids has all the links and printables + tons of ideas.
http://www.classicsforkids.com/teachers/lessonplans/#rossini

Lent Prayer Chain

[Draft: I will write more about our prayer chain and family Lenten observances, but for now, please make use of my prayer chain documents if you like. Blessings upon you this lent!]

I printed the activity charts on different construction paper, 9 x 12 trimmed to 8 1/2 x 12 so that it fit in my printer. Dark blue = Ash Wednesday and all Fridays, Purple = M-Th, Light Blue = Saturdays and Holy Week M-Th, White = Sundays, Gold = Easter. You need to laminate the top banner, and hole-punch at top and bottom.

I stapled the chains. You may glue if you wish.

Et voilá!

In the morning we read the one for the current day but leave it on. We do our night prayers around the chain and tear off that day's link.

Here is the doc. Use and share as you like!

Lent Prayer Chain

Pax!

What to do when you have a hankering for apples and cheese cake, but it needs to be something you can share? A recent MOPS meeting was the perfect opportunity to bake up this goodness. Enjoy!

Cream Cheese Apple Crumble

Lisa-Marie Duffield

Yield: 24 Apple Cheesecake Crumble Bars

Ingredients:

Crisp Crust and Topping:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups regular oatmeal
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped nuts
• 6 ounces butter, melted

Cheesecake Layer:

• 1 (8-ounce) package softened cream cheese
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 large egg

Apple Topping:

·         3/4 cup light brown sugar

·         1/4 cup all-purpose flour

·         1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for sprinkling

·         6 medium apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced

·         1 lemon, zested and juiced, or equivalent lemon juice

Preparation:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13x9-inch glass pan.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, oats, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and nuts. Stir in butter until finely crumbled. Pat 3 cups of mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, pressing to make an even layer. (Reserve at least 1 cup for topping.) Bake for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. 
3. Meanwhile, make the cheesecake filling by beating together cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, vanilla and egg until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over partially baked and cooled crust. 
4. Sprinkle apples with the juice of 1 lemon and stir. Gently spread the other ingredients over the apples. Stir evenly to coat the apples. Spread apple topping evenly over cream cheese mixture and sprinkle with reserved crust mixture.
5. Bake 40 to 50 minutes or until apple filling is bubbly and topping is golden. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before cutting into 24 bars and serving.