Upper School Science Class

The Importance of Nature Study, Part II

2012-02-04T16:52:00.000-08:00

From Charlotte Mason's writings:
"A love of nature, implanted so early that it will seem to them hereafter to have been born in them, will enrich their lives with pure interests, absorbing pursuits, health, and good humour." (Volume 1, p. 71)

Stop by our Nature Room and visit with our Bearded Dragon, Firetta Dragnora.
Mrs.Roy

The Importance of Nature Study

2012-01-20T20:03:00.000-08:00

As taken from Charlotte Mason's writings,
"Nature Study lays the foundation for formal science studies." (Vol. 3, p. 281)

For this reason, our school incorporates the study of nature as a part of our Charlotte Mason education. Equipped with field guides, colored pencils, binoculars and their nature journals, the students spend time outdoors observing the created wonders of our world and then writing them into their nature journals along with sketching what they have observed. The students look forward to our time outdoors each week as do I. Mrs. Roy

Weeks 7-12

2011-12-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

Physics
The physics students have completed modules 2-4 using Apologia's Exploring Creation with Physics during the past academic period. In module 2, the students continued their study of one-dimensional motion relating velocity, acceleration, time, and displacement through solving equations. The students also tested the earth's gravitational pull as it relates to the acceleration rate of all objects with mass. In experiment 2.1, the students compared how quickly a heavy book versus a piece of paper fell to the ground when held at the same height and released at exactly the same time. Of course, the book hit the ground first but once the air resistance was removed, the book and paper hit the ground simultaneously. The students then determined their reaction times in Experiment 2.2. Working in partners, one student would release a ruler and the other student would try to catch it before it fell through his/her fingers. It was fun to calculate who had the fastest reaction time in each class! In module 3, two-dimensional vectors were introduced. The students used the Cartesian coordinate plane to map coordinates given in different scenarios such as a hiker who walks 2 miles south and then 1.5 miles west. Drawing an arrow across the x and y graph, the students used the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate the magnitude of the vector and a protractor to measure the direction. In Experiment 3.1, each student measured three-dimensional vectors using Play-doh, a ruler, paper and a very large protractor. In module 4, the students studied parabolic motion: motion that occurs when an object moves in two dimensions but has zero acceleration in one of those dimensions and a constant, non-zero acceleration in the other. To understand the beginnings of parabolic motion, module four included a reading from John Tiner's book Exploring the World of Physics. Galileo studied the motion of cannonballs blasted from a cannon. He established that a projectile would travel its greatest distance when launched at a 45 degree angle. The students put his parabolic curve theory to the test by dividing into teams and then launching projectiles at a specified target. Galileo was indeed correct! In fact, athletes still use this scientific information to their advantage today! The students have also continued to read Einstein and Infeld's book The Evolution of Physics. Most recently, the authors have discussed the great mystery that is science comparing it to Doyle's Sherlock Holmes however the mystery of science remains unsolved at the end of the book. To begin unraveling its clues, Einstein and Infeld study Newton's Laws of Motion. Along with our formal studies, the students were given their first building challenge based solely on mechanical physics. Divided into groups and only able to use Legos, rubber bands, and rulers, the students were challenged to build a slingshot. Whichever group could successfully launch a projectile the farthest were the winners of a small prize. There were many creative designs and it was great fun to watch the students work steadfastly to build their slingshots. Each Thursday is spent either outdoors observing the changes in the atmosphere or watching a science movie related to physics or astronomy. When outdoors, the students write down observations and sketch a picture in their nature journals. As Henry David Thoreau states, “We can never have enough of nature. We must be refreshed by the sight of its inexhaustible vigor, vast and titanic features, the sea-coast with its wrecks, the wilderness with its living and decaying trees, the thunder-clouds and the rain.”

General Science
Using Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science, the class completed their study of the history of science from its ancient roots to modern day. They studied Kepler, Galileo, Pascal, Newton, Boyle, Leeuwenhoek, Linnaeus, Lavoisier, Dalton, Darwin, Pasteur, Lyell, Mendel, Faraday, Maxwell, Planck, Einstein, and Bohr. The students mapped the paths of the planets in Experiment 1.4 demonstrating the elliptical pathways of the planets around the sun. Having completed the history of science, the class began Module 2 “Scientific Inquiry.” It is a study of the scientific method: its purpose, strengths, and limitations. They studied the following vocabulary terms: counter example, hypothesis, theory, and scientific law. They also drew, labeled, and color-coded the step by step process of the scientific method on a piece of sketch paper. They applied the scientific method to two experiments. In Experiment 2.1, the students compared the rate at which a book, piece of notebook paper, rock, and paperclip would hit the ground if released from the same height and at the same time. Though everything with mass falls at the same acceleration rate, the students had to account for another force at work, air resistance. In experiment 2.2, the class was divided into two groups and then given a broken flashlight. Each group had to take apart their flashlight to discover what was amiss and then develop their hypothesis. They then put their hypothesis to the test. Using the process of elimination, the students were able to understand how to fix the broken flashlight. The students have also continued reading The Sower Series book Johannes Kepler by John Tiner. Each Thursday is spent either outdoors observing the changes in the atmosphere or watching a science movie related to physics or astronomy. When outdoors, the students write down observations and sketch a picture in their nature journals. As Henry David Thoreau states, “We can never have enough of nature. We must be refreshed by the sight of its inexhaustible vigor, vast and titanic features, the sea-coast with its wrecks, the wilderness with its living and decaying trees, the thunder-clouds and the rain.”

Enjoy the Holidays! Mrs. Roy

The First Six Weeks of School

2011-10-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

Physics

The past six weeks in physics, the students have used Apologia's Exploring Creation with Physics to learn about what the Nobel Prize winning scientist Ernest Rutherford calls the "fundamental science." In Module 1, the students have learned the following vocabulary terms related to motion in one direction: accuracy, precision, position, velocity, acceleration, displacement, vector quantity, scalar quantity, speed, instantaneous velocity, average velocity, and slope. They have learned the System Internationale set of units: meters, kilograms, and seconds. They have also determined the factors for significant figures. They have calculated both an object's distance and displacement. And, they have learned and applied the following equations: velocity, speed, acceleration, and slope. Along with their formal science studies, the students are reading Einstein and Infeld's book The Evolution of Physics. Published in 1938, it explains Einstein's realism: his belief in an "objective reality" in which spacetime exists in one continuum within the constructs of determinism and causality. Their studies have also included that of nature. Using Peterson's A Field Guide to the Atmosphere, a set of binoculars, colored pencils, and their journals, the students spent an afternoon at both Veteran's Park and Dalworthington Garden's city park. At each, they wrote down observations about the sky, wind, temperature, and barometric pressure in their nature journals as well as sketching the sky.

General Science

Using Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science, the students began this school year by simply defining the word “science.” Though the word itself is rooted in the Latin word “scientia”, which means “to have knowledge”, it is generally understood as an endeavor to accumulate and classify that which can be observed as to formulate general laws about the natural world. Along with the word “science”, the students have studied the following vocabulary terms in Module 1: papyrus, atoms, spontaneous generation, geocentric system, evolution, alchemy, chemical reaction, constellations, supernova, nebula, heliocentric view, and encyclopedia. Next, the students studied ancient scientists and their lasting contributions to the field of science. They have studied the following people: Imhotep, Thales, Anaximander, Anaximenes, Leucippus, Democritus, Aristotle, Archimedes, Ptolemy, Grosseteste, Bacon, Bradwardine, Nicholas of Cusa, Copernicus and Kepler. To help the students gain a clearer understanding of the differences between the geocentric and heliocentric views, they each drew, labeled and color-coded both theories on sketch paper. Also, the class has completed three experiments this academic period. The first experiment required the students to drop a piece of cork, grape, ice cube, and rock into a mixture of water, oil, and syrup to determine how atoms are packed together in different substances. The second experiment involved only the use of food coloring, two canning jars, and water. By observing how the food coloring was distributed in cold water versus hot water, the students were able to better understand atomic motion. Our third experiment was a blast, almost literally! After learning about the Romans use of alchemy to create gold, the students combined vinegar, baking soda and the liquid from boiled cabbage inside a bottle topped with a balloon. Once the chemicals mixed, the balloon expanded. It was so much fun that the students asked to do the experiment again! Along with the Apologia text, our class is reading the Sower Series book Giant of Science and Faith, Johannes Kepler by John Tiner. It is a wonderful story about Kepler's life from a young boy all the way through his career as an astronomer. Here is a portion of his personal creed, “I believe that our Creator has given us a spirit in addition to the senses, for another reason than merely to provide a living for ourselves...Man's soul is something quite different from the other parts of man, and the soul is kept alive, enriched and grows by the food called knowledge.” Like that of the physics class, the middle school students also participate in nature study.

It has been such a wonderful first few weeks of school! Mrs. Roy

A New School Year Begins!

2011-09-02T21:14:00.001-07:00

I am looking forward to a wonderful school year! There are so many exciting things planned for the Upper School students but I will begin by sharing my syllabi with each of you for the following classes: morning devotional (for the junior class), rhetoric (for those students signed up for this elective), general science (for all middle school students) and physics (for all ninth thru twelfth grade students). Mrs. Roy

Syllabus for Morning Devotional

Primary Text: The book of Proverbs

Supplemental Text: C.S. Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet

Each morning, the junior class gathers together for devotional time. The students begin this time with the recitation of a prayer and then copy a passage from Proverbs into their composition books. The book of Proverbs is one of the books in the Bible referred to as “Wisdom Literature.” In such, the writer discusses the human condition in relationship to moral order achieved only by serving the one true God. It is a relevant study for our juniors as they prepare for their adult life. After the students complete their copywork, we will read a portion of C.S. Lewis' book Out of the Silent Planet. C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) is remembered as a novelist, academic, theologian and Christian apologist who served as a leading mind in the English department of Oxford University. Published in 1938, Out of the Silent Planet is the first book in Lewis' science fiction trilogy. Though it is a fictional work, Lewis retells the story of the struggle between life and death as given by God the Father, Jesus, the angels and Satan. The students will be challenged to understand this eternal struggle through the experiences of the main character Ransom. Each student will be required to give an oral and written narration of the text.

September:
Prayer: St. Augustine's Prayer of the Holy Spirit
Copywork: Title, Prologue and the Discourses through Chapter 4

October:
Prayer: St. Augustine's Lord Jesus, Let Me Know Myself
Copywork: the Discourses, chapters 5-8

November:
Prayer: St. Thomas Aquinas' Prayer for Guidance
Copywork: complete the Discourses and begin Proverbial Sayings through chapter 12

December:
Prayer: a prayer for peace by George Appleton taken from The Oxford Book of Prayer
Copywork: Proverbial Sayings through chapter 14

January:
Prayer: St. Francis of Assisi's Lord Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace
Copywork: Proverbial Sayings through chapter 18

February:
Prayer: an excerpt from St. Therese's Story of a Soul
Copywork: Proverbial Sayings through chapter 22

March:
Prayer: the Lord's Prayer as given in the Gospel of Matthew
Copywork: All of the “Sayings of the Wise” and Begin the proverbs copied by the men of Hezekiah through chapter 26

April:
Prayer: St. Alphonsus Liguori's Only One Thing is Necessary
Copywork: Complete the proverbs copied by the men of Hezekiah

May:
Prayer: St. Augustine's Ever Ancient, Ever New
Copywork: All of the sayings of King Agur and King Lemuel

Syllabus for Rhetoric

Primary Text: Carol Marr's The Complete Book of Speech Communication

Supplemental Text: Keith and Lundberg's The Essential Guide to Rhetoric

Additional Materials: The Nostalgia Company's The Greatest Speeches of All-Time

The primary text is divided into a nine-week study which includes intrapersonal and interpersonal communication, visual-aid speeches, partner speeches, “methods of delivery” speeches, storytelling, acting and dramatics, research speeches, impromptu speeches and oral reading. During the tenth and last week of the elective period, the students will study and practice the art of debate. Additionally, each Thursday, the students will watch famous speeches given by distinguished historical figures to observe what made their speeches unforgettable.

Week 1:
Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Communication-Along with learning vocabulary terms such as self-esteem and stereotype as well as practicing the skill of rhetoric, the students will watch Franklin D. Roosevelt's State of the Union address following the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Week 2:
Visual-Aid Speeches-Along with learning the vocabulary terms such as stage fright and slogan as well as practicing the skill of rhetoric, the students will watch one of Winston Churchill's speeches given during WWII.

Week 3:
Partner Speeches-Along with learning vocabulary terms such as role playing and acceptance speech as well as practicing the skill of rhetoric, the students will watch General Douglas MacArthur's speech given before a joint session of congress.

Week 4:
“Method of Delivery” Speeches-Along with learning vocabulary terms such as inflection and articulation as well as practicing the skill of rhetoric, the students will watch Harry S. Truman's speech full of fiery political rhetoric.

Week 5:
Storytelling-Along with learning vocabulary terms such as dialog and animation as well as practicing the skill of rhetoric, the students will watch John F. Kennedy's well-known inauguration speech.

Week 6:
Acting & Dramatics-Along with learning vocabulary terms such as monolog and pantomime as well as practicing the skill of rhetoric, the students will watch two of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s memorable speeches.

Week 7:
Researched Speeches-Along with learning vocabulary terms such as statistic and narrative as well as practicing the skill of rhetoric, the students will watch Malcolm X's controversial speech given in Harlem.

Week 8:
Impromptu Speeches-Along with learning vocabulary terms such as improvisation and ad-lib as well as practicing the skill of rhetoric, the students will watch Richard M. Nixon's resignation speech.

Week 9:
Oral Reading-Along with learning vocabulary terms such as prose and lyric poetry as well as practicing the skill of rhetoric, the students will watch two speeches given by Ronald Reagan during his presidency.

Week 10
Debate-Using issues from the 2012 presidential election, the students will be divided into teams to defend their position.

Syllabus For General Science

Text: Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science, 2nd Edition

Supplemental Text: John Tiner's Johannes Kepler from the Sower Series

Nature Study Focus: the atmosphere with the help of Peterson's A Field Guide to the Atmosphere

Field Trips: the planetarium at the University of Arlington and Six Flag's Physics Day

Though the text includes 16 modules, this year's study will focus on the first 8 modules of the textbook. The second half of the text is dedicated to human anatomy and physiology which the students will cover in depth in their upper school Biology II class. Our portion of study in Exploring Creation with General Science includes the following topics: the history of science, the scientific method, simple machines, geology and paleontology. Each module includes exciting hands-on experiments such as mapping the paths of the planets and the simulation of multiple pulleys.

September:
Module 1: A Brief History of Science

October:
Module 2: Scientific Inquiry

November:
Module 3: How to Analyze and Interpret Experiments

December:
Module 4: Science, Applied Science, and Technology

January:
Module 5: The History of Life-Archeology, Geology and Paleontology

February:
Module 6: Foundations of Geology

March:
Module 7: The Fossil Recovered

April:
Module 8: Uniformitarianism and Catastrophism

May:
the year in review

Syllabus for Physics

Text: Apologia's Exploring Creation with Physics

Supplemental Text: Einstein and Infeld's The Evolution of Physics

Nature Study Focus: the atmosphere with the help of Peterson's A Field Guide to the Atmosphere

Field Trips: the planetarium at the University of Arlington and Six Flag's Physics Day

The primary text is divided into 16 modules. It begins with the study of the metric system and ends with magnetism. Each module also includes exciting hands-on experiments such as building a sample circuit to turn on a light bulb. Often referred to as the “fundamental science”, this college-preparatory study of physics will help the students to understand how everything in the universe interacts with everything else.

September:
Module 1: Motion in One Direction
Module 2: One-Dimensional Motion Equations and Free Fall

October:
Module 3: Two-Dimensional Vectors
Module 4: Motion In Two Dimensions

November:
Module 5: Newton's Laws
Module 6: Applications of Newton's Second Law

December:
Semester in Review and the Semester I Final Examination

January:
Module 7: Uniform Circular Motion and Gravity
Module 8: Work and Energy

February:
Module 9: Momentum
Module 10: Periodic Motion

March:
Module 11: Waves
Module 12: Geometric Options
Semester II Midterm Examination

April:
Module 13: Coulomb's Law and the Electric Field
Module 14: Electric Potential
Module 15: Electric Circuits

May:
Module 16: Magnetism
Semester in Review and Semester II Final Examination

Dallas World Aquarium

2011-05-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

Downtown Dallas, amidst the hustle and bustle of city traffic, one can find a gigantic spider crab, two Antillean manatees, numerous loggerhead sea turtles and countless reptiles and amphibians. All of these animals call the Dallas World Aquarium their home. Our year's zoology studies naturally culminated in a trip to the aquarium. The students just had to see, not just read about, animals such as the rare Leafy Sea Dragon and the scary Orinoco crocodile. For some, the Green anaconda was the most fascinating. As it is the heaviest of snake species, its size alone was marvelous to behold. For others, it was pure delight and a bit of a fright to sit in the shark tunnel surrounded by mystical sawfish and massive brown sharks . Myself, I thought the anteaters were adorable. And, I've also decided that we must immediately purchase a tank big enough to hold a manatee so that it can live in our school's nature room! All of the students and one very silly science teacher thoroughly enjoyed their time at the aquarium!

Class Reptilia, Order Squamata

2011-03-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

Following our spring break, the zoology students began their study of snakes and lizards. But, before uncovering the secrets of these creepy creatures, they were given a basic overview of the characteristics of animals in class Reptilia as well as the four orders it includes: Squamata, Testudines, Crocodilia and Rynchocephalia. The students were then asked how they felt about snakes. Most students responded that they were fascinated by them from afar but terrified of them up close. One student responded, "I heart snakes." So far, in our study of snakes, the students have learned about a snakes's ability to taste and smell using its tongue and to hear by feeling vibrations. To truly understand what it must be like for a snake to use its tongue as such a versatile tool, each of the students had to eat three different types of peanuts using only their tongues and then determine the flavor of each peanut. They actually did quite well as snakes though they weren't made to eat a rodent or frog! They also learned that America has only four types of venomous snakes whereas Australia has 21 different types of venomous snakes which includes the terrifying Black Adder! Though the continued study of snakes and lizards is sure to make some students squirm, a world without them would be a real fright! Snakes help to keep the rodent population from destroying crops and spreading disease. Mrs. Roy

Izzy the Iguana

2011-03-07T20:14:00.000-08:00

The Nature Room recently added a beautiful female Green Iguana to our amazing collection of creatures. She is two years old and nearly 3 feet long. She is an herbivore who really likes broccoli and really dislikes bananas. She spends most of her day basking under her special reptile lights similar to the way that her wild cousins bathe themselves in sunlight. Though she was bred in captivity, her species originates from Central and South America. They are arboreal animals that live close to the water's edge. When swimming, iguanas use their long tails to propel them through the water while their hands and feet dangle at their sides. Though there is evidence that some iguanas eat little snails and grasshoppers in the wild, their diet consists mostly of fresh fruits and vegetables. Come by and visit with Izzy! Mrs. Roy

The Study of the Nervous System

2011-02-27T16:47:00.000-08:00

The Upper School Biology II class has begun their anatomy and physiology study of the nervous system. We began the study learning interesting facts about the brain such as the fact that humans store millions of memories and make billions of computations each day. It was difficult for the students to "wrap their head around" these amazing truths of the human brain! Forgive my science teacher humor... Whether traveling a slow 5 mph or coursing along a speedy myelinated sheath at 250 mph, each neuron endlessly communicates important messages to our brain, glands, organs and muscles, most without any conscious effort on our part. We are truly "wonderfully made" as spoken by the psalmist. We will complete our lessons of the basic components of the nervous system this week and then focus solely on the anatomy and physiology of the brain. We will end our study of the nervous system with the dissection of a mammalian eye. Mrs. Roy

Dissection

2011-02-13T20:07:00.000-08:00

This week in both zoology and biology class, the students will be dissecting perch. With the help of their dissection kits and guides, the students will be able to correctly identify the organ systems of these fish. Perch, though they come in three different species, are from the Order Perciformes which comes from the Greek word "perke" meaning "spotted" and the Latin word "forma" meaning "shape". Mrs. Roy

Open House

2011-01-30T18:20:00.001-08:00

The Flint Academy is hosting an Open House this Saturday, February 3, from 1-3 in the afternoon. Come and hear Dr. Flint speak about our unique approach to education! Also, you can tour the building and visit with the amazing teachers and staff of our school. You can also meet the wonderful critters that live in our Nature Room. See you there! Mrs. Roy

January 3, 2011

2011-01-02T17:26:00.001-08:00

The zoology students will be studying aquatic animals the first part of this semester. To go along with our study, the Nature Room has added a male Betta fish named Bubbles. Betta fish originate from the rice patties of Thailand but have found their way to numerous pet stores across the United States. The people of Thailand refer to these fish as "Fighting Fish" because they aggressively attack and kill other small fish. Because of this, Betta fish are typically kept in small fish tanks by themselves except when spawning. During and after spawning, the male Betta fish gathers the eggs and carefully places them in bubbles on the water's surface. He watches over his young during their 18-24 hour incubation period. Once hatched, the little fry leave their nursery behind in search of food. They eat such delectable treats as crickets, grasshoppers, mosquito larvae, zooplankton and crustaceans.

Nature Study at the Fort Worth Zoo

2010-10-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day at the zoo! What a joy to be among all of God's creatures, great and small. Mrs. Roy

A Bug Hunt!

2010-10-07T20:26:00.001-07:00

All of the Upper School Students went on a Bug Hunt today! The students searched for and discovered crickets, beetles, pill bugs, grasshoppers, ants, spiders, centipedes and more. The students thoroughly enjoyed their time outdoors! It was also a great way to start the Middle School students' study of insects.

The First Day of School 2010

2010-09-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

The first day of school was wonderful! In all of the science classes, the students were introduced to this year's studies along with a tour of the animals in the Nature Room. Over the past summer, our school added a Syrian Hamster, Fire-Bellied Toad, Winter-White Hamster and a Leopard Gecko to the Nature Room. In Zoology, the students will begin the year reading Apologia's Exploring Creation with Zoology 1: Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day. Our studies will focus on insects and birds. Accordingly, our Nature Studies will include bug hunts and bird watching. In Biology II, the students will be reading Apologia's The Human Body, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!. We will be learning about the 11 organ systems of the body. I will leave you with this quote from the Psalmist,"I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are thy works; and my soul knoweth right well." Mrs. Roy

A Back To School Picnic

2010-08-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

It was a wonderful day spent in the sun and water. We enjoyed good food and great company. Our school year is off to a splendid start!

Earth Day

2010-04-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

In celebration of Earth Day, the Upper School students spent the day at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens. While at the Gardens, the students attended a class called "Do the Rot Thing" in which they learned all about recycling and composting. Enjoy the pictures!

Stitching the Flag

2010-03-08T18:02:00.000-08:00

Following a study of Betsy Ross and her historic creation of our American flag, the Middle School class began stitching together their own flags using latch hooks, yarn and color-coded patterns.

A Round-Table Discussion

2010-02-10T22:10:00.000-08:00

Using the Christian magazines Top Story and World, the Upper School students discuss current events issues from a Biblical perspective. We begin our discussion by choosing an article of interest to read together. After we finish reading the article, our Socratic-style discussion begins in which the students take turns both sharing and listening to each other's opinions. We have discussed some of the following issues: protecting the environment, terrorism and new discoveries in science.

Handicrafts

2010-01-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

This is a summarized portion of Charlotte Mason's book "Home Education" on the subject of Handicrafts...Four succinct points should be kept in mind when selecting handicrafts and life skills: the end product should be useful, teach the students slowly and carefully what they ought to do, emphasize the habit of best work and select handicrafts that challenge but do not frustrate the student.
Mrs. Roy

Christmas Festivities

2009-12-26T20:31:00.000-08:00

Christmas is truly a time of celebration at the Flint Academy! Here is a list of some of the ways the Upper School celebrated: painting ornaments to give to a family at Mission Arlington, reading and writing poems about Christmas, watching the classic cartoon "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" while drinking hot chocolate, listening to Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker", decorating gingerbread houses, watching the Dallas Theater Center's "A Christmas Carol", exchanging gifts and spending a day at Main Event. Have a delightful Christmas break! Mrs. Roy

Nature Study

2009-11-28T18:34:00.000-08:00

An important component of our Science curriculum is Nature Study. During this time, the student is encouraged to spend time observing nature, the wonders of creation. Following this time of discovery, he will write down such observations in his Nature Notebook. Lastly, the student draws a detailed sketch of his nature selection into his Nature Notebook. Charlotte Mason writes, "From the flower in the crannied wall to the glorious firmament on high, all the things of Nature proclaim without ceasing, 'Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God almighty.'" (Vol. 4, Book 2, P.100)

Melting Chocolate & the Biological Key

2009-10-20T16:45:00.000-07:00

In the Middle School class, the students are learning about the sun. They have learned about the sun's enormous size, its' distance away from our planet, each planet's rotation around the sun, solar flares, sun spots and thermonuclear fusion.

In the Upper School classes, the students are classifying species according to the Biological Key into their Kingdom, Phylum, Class and Order.

Our Nature Walk at Veteran's Park

2009-10-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

2009-09-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

(Emily leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance)

We had a wonderful week of learning at Flint Academy! The middle school continued their study of astronomy. They memorized the names of the planets in our solar system using silly acronyms! This will be helpful for them as they recreate the solar system this week using balloons, thread and yardsticks. For Nature Study, the students helped to clean the hermit crab and tortoise cages in the Nature Center. It was a great way for them to learn about the habitat requirements of cold-blooded animals, such as the tortoise's need for places to hibernate in her terrarium. In our upper school biology classes, the students explored energy conversion in answering the question "What is life?". They learned terms such as metabolism, anabolism and catabolism. They also drew a chart showing nature's cycle of producers, consumers and decomposers. Next week, the middle and upper school classes will go on a nature hike at a local park. Have a great day! Mrs. Roy

Bible Class Notes

2009-09-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

During this school year all of the Upper School classes will be studying the book of John. During the month of September, we are reading J. MacArthur's chapter on the apostle John from his book Twelve Ordinary Men. MacArthur creates a vivid picture of this "son of thunder" which is in stark contrast to the way John is portrayed in medieval paintings. The apostle was explosive and impetuous yet came to be transformed by Christ's teachings. We have also learned that the apostle writes using antithetical language, such as the contrast between darkness and light. I challenged the students to think of an issue they think of in antithetical terms and then explain their reasoning. It was a wonderful discussion for each class. Apart from our text, each student is challenged to memorize the Psalms or at least a portion of each Psalm. The last ten minutes of class is devoted to recitation work. It will be a great year in Bible class! Mrs. Roy

2009-09-12T19:28:00.000-07:00

A New School Year
I am so glad to be back in the classroom again with my much missed students! We are already off to an exciting start with a few changes to the Upper School. For starters, we have a new Latin and History teacher, "Chef Nathan". The students have all enjoyed getting to be in his classes this week! Also, everybody moves around more this year. The students now leave their homeroom class for five subjects each day. One of the places each class comes twice weekly is the new Nature Study room! It is a place dedicated to our study of both nature and science. Enjoy the pictures! Mrs. Roy

Field Day

2009-05-26T19:01:00.000-07:00

A Wonderful Time was had by All! Mrs. Roy

The End of April

2009-05-04T21:26:00.000-07:00

For the love of great literature! Our Thursday Drama Group has been such fun as the girls have acted out the parts of Romeo and Juliet. As our school year comes to a quick close, the girls continue to be steadfast in their studies. In our Humanities class, we have most recently studied the Salem Witch Trials. In doing so, I gave a formal reading in which the girls were to listen and takes notes as I read. I did this as a preparation for the type of lectures they would receive in college in which they would be required to take notes and then use them as a study guide for exams. This week, I will have each of them use their notes to write a summary of what they have learned so far from the reading. Following the Salem Witch Trials, we will study the Thirteen Colonies. The class will be divided into partners that are assigned specific colonies that they will be required to research and make a presentation of for the class. On a side note-our first Upper School Talent Show was a success! Families and friends filled the audience as a great show of support! Each participant did a wonderful job and the desserts were delicious too! May the Lord bless you and keep you, Mrs. Roy

April 13th-16th

2009-04-13T16:14:00.000-07:00

The week before the Easter holiday was a wonderful one! In Bible, each class watched the movie "The Other Side of Heaven" or "The End of the Spear" which portrays the true life stories of missionaries who were willing to give their lives unto death in service of God. On Thursday, the girls went on a small egg hunt in the front yard of the school. Following our egg hunt, my room mom and I took the girls to Bethany's chinese restaurant to enjoy a fine asian meal and some Bobo tea. We were blessed! In History, we spent the week reading and discussing Winthrop's sermon of puritan ideals to be upheld in the formation of the "city on a hill". This week, we are reading about Anne Bradstreet's poetic works. Our reading will be followed with each student writing a poem of her own using iambic pentameter. In Geography, we have marked the major geographical locations, the early settlements and the influence of the London and Plymouth joint-stock companies to our maps of the United States. Our next step in Geography will be mapping out the names and locations of the Native American tribes before colonial settlements were formed and colonial expansion took hold of America. In Literature, the girls have enjoyed reading Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" especially the scenes in which Romeo declares his love for Juliet. We are also two chapters away from the wonderful conclusion of "Jane Eyre". The class is excited to watch the 1983 version of this classic! In Nature Study, we will be adding a dove to our Nature Notebooks and discussing its' symbolic representation as the Holy Spirit in scripture. Have a great week! Mrs. Roy

March 23rd-26th

2009-03-26T17:04:00.000-07:00

It was so wonderful to see all of my students return to school following our Spring Break! One of my students spent her Spring Break doing mission work in Costa Rica while others traveled to see family and friends. After our Monday chapel service, it was time to begin our week of classical studies. In Nature Study, we studied J. Audubon's "Great-Horned Owl" painting and then the students added their own drawings of the owl to their Nature Notebooks. In Humanities, we continued the study of the culture and historical impact of the Plymouth Colony. We learned such terms as: joint-stock companies, Puritans, Separatists and "bubble and squeak" stew. It was interesting to compare and contrast their culture and customs with our modern-day way of life. In doing so, the girls unanimously chose to not travel back in time if given the choice! We will begin to learn about the Massachussets Bay Colony next week. The girls will also place the colonies on a blank map of America along with marking the geographical influence of both the London and Plymouth Companies. In Literature, we have thoroughly enjoyed reading Master Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". Each student takes turns signing up for her role of choice and then reads it in both shakespearian and modern-day english. On Thursdays, for Drama Group, the readers must also act out their parts at the front of the classroom. In their individual literature work, the students have read the first thirty chapters of "Jane Eyre". It is truly a blessing to share the love of great literature with my students! Have a blessed week, Mrs. Roy

March 9th-12th

2009-03-08T15:45:00.000-07:00

This week will mark the beginning of our reading of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". I look forward to the girls reading the different parts of the play in their literature groups and then acting out those scenes on Thursdays. In Humanities, we will be studying the colonial life of Plymouth Plantation such as their religious and cultural practices. In Bible, we will be reading and working in the latter part of Romans chapter 6 and into chapter 7. In Chemistry, the classes will be studying acids and bases along with testing for the Ph levels of different liquids. This past week, we had a wonderful time at Dalworthington Garden's city park on Thursday afternoon. The weather was perfect! The students enjoyed painting nature scenes using blueberry and tea paint made by Ms. Brown. This is our last week of studies before Spring Break and so I want to wish everyone a wonderful and safe week away from school! Also, even though our Basketball and Cheerleading seasons have ended, we will be having a charity game this Tuesday! Come out and play! God be with you-Mrs. Roy

March 2nd-5th

2009-03-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

This week, we will review the historical importance of the Year 1619 in American History as well as studying other influential factors in the creation of the Plymouth Plantation. We will also attempt to add the finishing touches on our North American topographical maps. During the Humanities block, the girls also practice Spencerian Penmanship. Many of them have mastered Principles 1, 2, and 3 and consequently are learning the analysis of letters. It is a wonderful discipline of the mind and hand. In our reading of "Robinson Crusoe", Crusoe has sailed home to England! I must admit that I will miss reading about his island adventures. In "Jane Eyre", the week's required reading came from chapters 19-21. These chapters are full of mystery in that Jane meets with a gypsy and then hears someone yelling for help in the middle of the night. Classics are such fun! On Thursday, our class along with Ms. Brown's class will be going to Dalworthington Gardens Park for Nature Study. I will have the girls observe and draw a bird to add to their Nature Journals. In Chemistry, the class is going to be studying polymers along with doing a very gooey lab! In Writing class, the girls have been reading the biography of Benjamin Franklin in preparation for writing their own biographies. In Bible, they are putting the finishing touches on their Rembrandt Picture Studies and will begin the study of Romans 7. In Latin, they played a game involving the vocabulary from chapters 6-11. I look forward to another wonderful week of learning! May God be with you, Mrs. Roy

February 23rd-26th

2009-02-21T20:26:00.000-08:00

I look forward to a great week of studies! The class will complete their small-scale models of Jamestown on Monday and then begin our studies of Plymouth Plantation. We will be reading from William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation" along with studying one of America's most important documents, The Mayflower Compact. In Bible, the class will be reading Romans chapter 6 in which Paul makes the point that we do not keep on sinning so that grace may increase. Along with this reading, the students will be doing a picture study of Rembrandt's portrayal of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In English, the girls are continuing to make progress in their vocabulary workbooks and spelling notebooks. In Chemistry, the class is committing the Period Table of Elements to memory. As for classic literature, "Jane Eyre" continues to be a thrilling read! As we prepare to begin Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet", we look forward to a performance of Hamlet from one of our fellow students. Have a wonderful week, Mrs. Roy

February 17th-19th

2009-02-16T20:24:00.000-08:00

We shared a special week together at the Flint Academy! All of the classes had Valentine's Day celebrations on Thursday which were marked with valentine card exchanges, festive balloons, cupcakes, flowers and chocolates. The Upper School girls were treated to an afternoon of either ice skating or a movie at the Parks Mall. With our Room Mom hosting some of the girls at the movie theatre, I got to watch the others at the ice rink. It was such fun! Along with our Valentine celebration, progress reports were sent home on Thursday. It is difficult to believe that our school year is passing by so quickly. This week, we also had the joy of delivering our first completed "Knit with Love" gift, a blue and white scarf for a little boy who has a terminal illness. His family was very appreciative of our small token of love. In our Humanities block, the class has completed our readings of Jamestown and are ready to begin their Jamestown project on Tuesday. Next, we will be studying the Plymouth Colony and the Mayflower Compact. May God bless you, Mrs. Roy

February 2nd-5th

2009-02-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

With the ice and snow of last week cutting short our school week, I was eager for my class to return to their desks, books and knitting needles. Our Handicraft, knitting, has been a fun project for the girls as they are making washcloths that will be combined with soaps and lotions to give as gifts at the local women's shelter. So far, the girls have done a beautiful job knitting their washcloths! In addition to knitting, we will spend this week continuing our study of Jamestown. In Bible, it is time to begin our Valentine's movie, "One Night With the King" which is the Old Testament story of Queen Esther. The movie will help the class better understand the Jewish life that Paul writes of in Romans. Along with Bible class, the girls continue to have great success in their Latin studies getting nearly perfect scores on all their quizzes. In English, the girls continue to assimilate their vocabulary from their Wordly Wise studies into their everyday language. It is so wonderful to listen to my students use their new words with success and confidence! Don't forget our Open House this Saturday! May God be with you this week, Mrs. Roy

January 26th-29th

2009-01-23T19:31:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful Grandparent's Day we had at the Flint Academy! The entire upper school participated in a spelling bee which was exciting for both the participants and audience members. I was so proud of my class as they did well in the competition. Jourdan Sargent won first place and Anna Teichroew won second place! Along with our spelling bee, each of the girls painted a small picture to give to their grandparents as a token of their love. The paintings were beautifully done. On Wednesday, our room mom and I took the girls on our "Survivor Day" field trip. Each student did well finding a shirt, pants and shoes that were within their budget so as to afford both their outfits and a modest lunch. It was such a rewarding experience for them. Our week was shorter than usual due to Martin Luther King, Jr. day however we were able to fit in a good measure of our studies. In Writing, the girls are tackling issues of the environment. In Bible, they have studied more of Paul's letter to the Romans as he shares that Abraham is the father of both the jews and gentiles. This week, the class will be reading President Obama's Inaugural Address. We will also continue knitting so as to complete our "Knit with Love" project. May your week be blessed by God-Mrs. Roy

January 12-15

2009-01-14T20:09:00.000-08:00

Our class has begun a study of the colonists at Jamestown. Along with our readings from H.E. Marshall's "This Country of Ours", the girls have entered beautiful and historic pictures of Pocahontus and John Smith's map of Virginia into their copybooks. To help the girls understand the impact of living with limited resources, similar to the colonists, we will be going on a field trip next week in which each girl will be given a limited amount of money to buy both a complete outfit and lunch. It will be quite an adventure! Thankfully, we will not suffer the same fate as many in Jamestown but rather will have a wonderful learning experience. We are quickly wrapping up our reading of "Robinson Crusoe" and will begin Shakepeare's "Romeo and Juliet". This will be a dramatic shift for our Thursday drama group! For our individual novel, the girls have assigned reading from "Jane Eyre". What a beautiful story! I look forward to the discussions our class will have that stem from this rich piece of literature. In chemisty, the class made orange soda from freshly squeezed oranges and baking soda. It was a delicious lab! Don't forget-Grandparent's Day is next Thursday. Also, we will not be in school this coming Monday in order to observe Martin Luther King, Jr. day. May God be with you this week-Mrs. Roy

January 5th-8th

2009-01-07T17:34:00.000-08:00

Welcome Back! What a joy it was to see my girls again and have them share their holiday experiences with me and their classmates. God was faithful in keeping us all safe and in good health upon our return to school. In which, it was time to return to our studies! With an additional twenty minutes given to our Mathematics class each morning, the students started their week recalling such things as formulas and conversions. The two class periods that follow Mathematics were each shortened by ten minutes so as to compensate for the earlier change. These classes include: Writing, Bible, Chemistry and Latin. In Bible, we are continuing our study of God's Righteousness in the book of Romans. In English class, the girls have diligently been studying their new vocabulary and spelling words, practicing grammar and reading "Jane Eyre" (their individual novel). In History, we began a topographical map study of North America as well as a reading of Raleigh. Because Raleigh was a poet, each student was given a different poem to read and then asked to write a poem of her own. They will be presenting each on Monday. I look forward to a wonderful reading! Mrs. Roy

December 2008

2008-12-15T20:06:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas! We have had a busy and wonderful December. For starters, our classroom was transformed into a winter wonderland with christmas trees decorated with twinkling lights and dazzling ornaments. We enjoyed reading Dicken's "Christmas Carol" by the lights of the christmas trees as we sipped steaming cups of hot cocoa and apple cider. We followed the reading with a theatrical performance of the "Christmas Carol" at a Dallas theatre. For our Picture Study, we added a drawing of a cardinal to our Nature Study Notebooks. In the spirit of Christmas, we added a sprinkle of red glitter to our cardinals. For our Handicraft, we made beautiful and delicious gingerbread houses. For Music Study, our class learned about and listened to Handel's "Messiah". In Bible class, we watched the movie, "The Nativity Story", and read the story of Christ's birth from the book of Luke. We ended the semester with a luncheon at a local tearoom and a small shopping spree so as to have gifts for a gift exchange at our Christmas party. The joy of the season was felt by all! Mrs. Roy

November 10-13

2008-11-11T20:10:00.000-08:00

Because next week will be our Thanksgiving celebration at school, the girls and I are going to spend the next few days learning about the history of this great holiday! The entire Upper School will gather together to enjoy a feast of such foods as boiled onions and play games similar to those of our ancestors of 1621. It will be a great day together... Last week, we finished our study of Cortes and the corresponding mapwork. In our field study of North American birds, the girls completed a picture study of a beautiful bluejay feather that was found by one of my students. Along with drawing and adding color to the feather, they each wrote down the region that this bird inhabits. In Literature, Crusoe is now sailing away from his island and leading us on many new adventures! The class is doing a wonderful job of narrating back the important details of his journey. We also had our second debate on Monday afternoon. The topic being dating vs. courtship. The class, as a whole, did well in the debate! Mrs. Roy

October 20-23

2008-10-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful week! The girls began their picture study of Durer's Hare and Tuft of Grass. Like any great artist, we began the study with practicing lines and introduced the art of tone. This is especially important because the Venetian artists introduced the beauty of light into their paintings using oils. In Bible class, the girls finished their study of Paul's Plan and Theme and then finished the week with a great game of Bible Gestures! It continues to be difficult for us to put down Robinson Crusoe as Defoe keeps us a very captive audience. As a class, we discussed Crusoe's repentence towards God as we see him realize through a dream and a time of sickness that he has been sinful in his pride. As always, on Thursdays, the girls act out scenes from our weekly readings. Flint had a great Fall Fest on Saturday! It was a blessing to see my students and their families come out for such a splendid time. The dunking booth was a hit! This week, we will be carving pumpkins and enjoying a Fall Party! Mrs. Roy

October 13-16

2008-10-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

It was a short week however we filled it full of fun and learning! I thought this would be a great time to study Renaissance art happening in Venice. We are beginning a picture study of Albrecht Durer this next week who was influenced by his time spent at a Venetian school of art. We studied beautiful paintings by Titian, Bellini, and others. In Bible, we began to read the Plan and Theme of Romans in chapter 1, verses 8-17. The girls also watched a music video performed by the group Building 429 called "Fearless". It is a song about two missionaries and their fearlessness in sharing their faith with others all over the world. Our week came to an end with a lunch trip to Campo Verde sponsored by our room mom followed by a bird observation at Veteran's Park. We saw bluejays and ducks. The girls sketched the ducks and then added the pictures to their nature notebooks. Enjoy the picture! Mrs. Roy

October 6-October 9

2008-10-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

Thank you to all the parents and visitors that came to our Open House! It was great to see each of you and share information about how your daughter has been filling her school days. This week, the girls are studying election events from World magazine to prepare for a class debate on Thursday during our history period. Each student had to draw one candidate's name from a vase and then educate themselves on their candidate's viewpoints on the key issues of this year's election. What fun! We also made "earth apples" in our study of Behaim and Magellan. The girls covered red apples in caramel and blue and green sprinkles in an attempt to duplicate history's first globe. In reading Robinson Crusoe, the girls read an account of Crusoe's living quarters and then had to draw them as the text described. In Bible, they have studied the greeting portion of Paul's letter to the Romans(chapter 1:1-7). We defined vocabulary words such as grace and servant. The girls have been doing very well in their recitation work! Writing class has also been keeping them busy. They wrote about all the pros and cons of eating vegetables! The Lost Tools of Writing curriculum is a very useful tool in teaching them the art of writing-even if they have to discuss the cons of eating vegetables! Have a blessed week,

Mrs. Roy

September 29th-October 2

2008-09-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

We have been busily working on our Nature Journals this week. We will fill them with drawings and paintings of North American birds along with a few interesting facts about each of the birds. We have continued in our reading of Robinson Crusoe this week. This past Thursday, the girls did a wonderful dramatic interpretation of the text. The scene included a shipwreck which made it quite fun to act out and even more delightful to watch! We have finished our 3 hour long movie, "Paul the Apostle", in Bible class. It was an amazing depiction of the life of Paul. The girls really enjoyed it. In history, we will do a review of Henry the Navigator and Columbus before introducing our next explorer. Along with our review, we are going to learn about Michelangelo, a famous artist of the time period, as well as sculpting the Madonna. Don't forget Open House on Saturday! I will see you there...

September 22-25

2008-09-21T20:46:00.000-07:00

What a busy few weeks we have had at the Flint Academy! The girls have delved into each of their subjects wholeheartedly. Each day begins with math class. The girls split into their respective classes for instruction. Following math, the girls study science and Bible on Mondays and Tuesdays and then writing and latin on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Before lunch, we feast on a well-written book! It is a great opportunity to learn new vocabulary words and share in class discussions. Following our lunch break, we spend the afternoon in a humanities block. We are beginning our study of history at the time of the renaissance, reformation and season of great exploration. We began this year's history lessons with Prince Henry the Navigator and Columbus. The girls practiced their cartography skills by mapping the distance and direction to a treasure located on the Flint Academy campus. It was quite exciting to go on a small exploration! This week we will finish up our study of Columbus. The girls will complete a picture study of a map of his journey as I read to them from the log of the Santa Maria. In the spirit of Columbus, I will end my entry with words from
the ninety-first Psalm,

"He who dwells in the shadow of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

Mrs. Roy