Half-Baked Lessons submitted by Wende

Chapter 1

Math

The lighthouse keeper asked Mrs. Morse to watch the lighthouse for a fortnight. He says he will be back on December 15^th. When would Mrs. Morse begin to watch the lighthouse, if she will be watching it for a fortnight?

Social Studies

Occupations (Lighthouse Keeper) –

During the time this story was set, lighthouse keepers were very important to the safety of sailors and their ships. A lighthouse keeper had to be dedicated, brave, and not mind being alone. They knew the importance of remembering to light the lamps each evening. The lighthouse keeper also had the job of keeping wicks trimmed, keeping the lamps clean, and keeping them filled with oil. To be a lighthouse keeper, you would have not minded isolation as you would not have many visitors and could not leave the lighthouse for any length of time. Today, the maintenance of lighthouses is the responsibility of the U.S. Coastguard. Ask your child if he would enjoy being a lighthouse keeper. Why or why not?

A good go-along book about a lighthouse keeper in the 1850’s is Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie by Peter Roop.

Chapter 2

Science

Light and Lenses –

This book presents the perfect opportunity to learn about light and lighthouses. We will address lighthouses in a future chapter.

Light travels in straight lines, called rays, which come from a light source. Have your child think of all the light sources he can. Some sources of light are natural, such as the sun, or a fire. Other sources are man-made, such as a flashlight, light bulb, or car headlight. Light rays, moving at 186,451 miles a second, are the fastest things in the universe. As the light rays move towards an object they spread out, so objects farther away are less brightly lit than closer objects. As light hits an object, different things can happen. If light hits a transparent object, such as glass, the light will bend, or “refract” as it moves through it. If light hits an opaque object, such as a wood door, the light will not go through, but instead will bounce back, carrying a picture to your eyes. When light rays hit something that is flat, shiny, and smooth, the rays will bounce off it and into your eyes, showing you a reflection.

There are many different kinds of lenses, such as a magnifying glass, telescope, microscope, and the kind of lenses used in lighthouses, called Fresnel lenses. Lenses can change the way you see light. Learn about the different kinds of lenses.

Concave lens – a lens that curves inward, like a bowl, and makes things appear smaller than they are.

Convex lens – a lens that curves outward and makes things appear larger than they are.

Compound lens – made up of two or more lenses

Chapter 3

Writing – List Making
Have you made any gifts and cards to give to your family for Christmas this year? Make a list of who you want to make cards for and who you want to make gifts for.

Science

Lighthouses –

Lighthouses have been used to guide ships for thousands of years. The earliest lighthouses, such as those in the Mediterranean Sea, were simple structures with fires built atop. Lighthouses are strategically placed to warn sailors of sharp points in the coastline, jutting rocks, and entrances to harbors.

Burning oil illuminated the lighthouse in this story. The flame shines through lenses, which are curved pieces of glass that make light bend. Lighthouses have different flash patterns, which are produced by the movement of the lens. Do you remember how the lenses moved in The Light at Tern Rock? They moved by wind-up gears, like a clock.

Michael Faraday (1791-1867), an English scientist, was the first person to use electricity to illuminate lighthouses. Most lighthouses today are powered by electricity. The light rays are produced by incandescent and/or halogen lamps. The concentrated light is projected through a series of lenses, and in many lighthouses, the Fresnel lens is still used today.

If possible, visit a lighthouse while sharing this unit. 

Rabies –

Aunt Martha mentioned that dogs go out of their minds if they stay at the lighthouse, as if they had rabies. Does your child know what rabies is? Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that enters the body of any warm-blooded animal through the bite of an animal with the disease. Dogs, cats, horses, cattle, foxes, wolves, coyotes, and skunks are most commonly infected. Over 90% of the cases in men are caused by the bite of an infected dog. The symptoms of rabies in a dog include running amuck, and biting at anything and everything in its path. This is called the “mad dog” stage. The dog will also get a fever, vomit, and secrete foamy mucus from its mouth. The last stage is paralysis, and then death. While this disease is very deadly, in 1884 Louis Pasteur developed a vaccine to fight against rabies. If a known rabid dog bites a person, the person will receive a series of rabies shots over a period of three weeks.  The invention of Pasteur’s rabies vaccine has reduced the mortality rate from rabies in humans to less than one half of one percent.

Bible/Character

Broken Promises -

Byron Flagg gave his word that he would return by December 15th.  When we tell someone that we will do something, we need to follow through.  If we don’t keep our word, we will disappoint people and they won’t trust us in the future. Has anyone ever broken his or her word to you? How did that make you feel? If people trust and believe you they will have more respect for you and will be more likely to do things for you in the future. Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.

Chapter 4

Bible

Jesus’ Birth

Tern Rock is the loveliest place to spend his birthday says Ronnie. p.62

Read about Jesus’ birthday

Luke 2

Jesus' Birth in Bethlehem

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth.  This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city.  Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.  While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.  And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."  When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, "Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us."  So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger.  When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child.  And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds.  But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.  The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.