Friday, March 14, 2014

Year - Week 21 - Spies and Russian Salt Dough Map

This week it seemed fitting, since there is so much going on with current events and Russia, to zone in on our history sentence for our projects and dress up this week!  So, we dressed up as spies from the cold war!  We also did a salt dough map of Russia.  This theme couldn't escape one of our Moms who came through with a fantastic themed snack and review game.



We started out like we always do with our "spies" doing their lapbooks and working through our memory work for the week.



Once the memory work was completed, then we moved into our first project.  I talked about spies and had a book that I referenced regarding what spies do.  They were then given agent folders, magazines, scissors, glue and told their first mission was to "write" a secret message to another spy in their agent folders.  We discussed the most famous "spies" in the Bible as well, since this lends itself to that discussion nicely!
They each did a great job of coming up with their own unique ways of "coding" their messages.  Some used backwards lettering, others used every other letter and some had number codes, to name a few.  They did a great job being creative and thinking up their own secret messages.
Once that project was completed, we set out to make our salt dough maps of Russia!  I had taken a map of Russia and enlarged it to 11"x17", then cut out the map.  This would be used to trace onto our empty pizza boxes they would use to build their maps out of salt dough.

Salt Dough Recipe:
  • 2 Cups of Flour
  • 1 Cup of Salt
  • Water to correct consistency (about 3/4 cup or more as needed)
Mix the flour and salt with 3/4 cup of water to start out.  This works best if you use your hands to mix the dough.  I had nursing gloves and we used those because the salt will sting if you have dry hands or have a cut on them, so be aware if you are having the kids mix their own.  We mixed it well then adding a little water at a time until the consistency was that of play dough.

We first took the cut out map of Russia as seen below and placed it on the pizza boxes to trace - this was our outline map.  Once the map was traced, then they could begin to use their salt dough to put over the map and press it out, to follow the penciled map edges.  It works best to use big chunks of dough and press and push it out, rather than little pieces at a time.  Once the shape is how they want it, then you can set them aside to dry.  It takes about 24 hours before you can begin to paint them.
Each person would take theirs home to paint the next day.  We painted our map the next day, labeling it and this is our completed map project!


Once maps were done, then the real fun began - the kids were told to have a seat for their snack.  They were then given supplies for their next assignment.  They were each received their top secret packages.
Inside their packages (which was their snack) were; truth serum, mini tranquilizer darts, edible cookie bugs and a coded message for them to figure out. 
 Once each child figured out their code, they had to put them all together for the message to be understood.
They were then sent on their mission to compete to be chosen as the next spy for NATO.  They first had to work their way through the laser beam booby trap to the gym where they had to diffuse "bombs"!  They broke into two teams to begin.  The "bombs" were black balloons which they would pop one at a time and inside was either a review subject (science, math, history etc.) or the word "BAM!".  If they got a subject and answered right, then they earned a point for their team.  If however, they got a BAM! they lost points for their team because they didn't successful diffuse their "bomb"!


It was a Wonderful Wednesday!!
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18 comments:

  1. just curious...is this your entire CC group? Does your group meet another day each week other than Wednesday or is all your CC work completed on the same day?

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    1. Hi Leslie - This is not my CC Group. We attend our CC Community on Mondays. This is a core group of close friends who all do CC and we meet once a week on Wednesday's to review and explore deeper, the memory work for that week. You can read more about it http://www.solagratiamom.com/2013/06/teaching-plan-explained.html Have a blessed day and thank you for the question. :) Colleen

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  2. My boys would love to be in your group. *sigh* They love spy stuff...Quentin had a spy party for his birthday. I love the Russian spy outfits. Salt dough maps are always fun and educational. What a wonderful week you guys had.

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    1. Thank you Phyllis! I wish I could let everyone in my group! I'm so glad you stopped by! Have a blessed week! Colleen

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  3. What a wonderful, and creative, week! I always enjoy reading your posts.

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    1. Thank you Chrystal! I'm so glad you have stopped by! Blessings - Colleen

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  4. I LOVE all of the little spies!!

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  5. AWW! The kids look so cute in their costumes! I love the crepe paper laser beams! Looks like so much fun!

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    1. It definitely was one of the more fun WW's! Thanks for stopping over to view! :)

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  6. My daughter loves secret codes. When she was around 6 yrs old I picked up a Lu & Clancy Secret Code book. There are examples of how to create many different codes. Looks like you had a fun co-op. I'm amazed by the costumes the kids wear every week.

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    1. Thank you Julie! I put out a list on my Wonderful Wednesdays to my group over the start of the summer so they can look for costume supplies at places like Goodwill and Amazon for the coming year. It helps with being able to pull off week by week costumes. It's such a fun element for the kids - almost all of them have been into theatre - so it's a beloved piece of the week's day! We also have that code book and I had it out that day for the kids to view when coming up with their codes! So fun! Have a blessed day, friend!

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  7. Wow, that looks like a lot of fun! I'm going to check out that code book, I bet my kids will love it. (I'm hoping over from A mama's story)

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    1. Welcome Casey! Thanks for stopping by! We like to have fun and learn lots at Wonderful Wednesdays! Blessings - Colleen

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  8. Seriously you never cease to amaze me! I love the balloon idea for review. It's so awesome that you have a core group of friends who all homeschool in a similar manner so you can do this together!

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    1. Thank you Amy - I consider it a huge blessing from God and answer to prayer from years before. Thank you for stopping by!

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  9. That looks like SO much fun, I am featuring on the kids coop

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    1. I appreciate it! It was so much fun! Thank you again! Blessings - Colleen

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