It is entirely possible that the leaf was simply due to die through the natural life-cycle of the plant. We won't mention that to the kids, though!
And apparently this plant is opposed to pictures that are in focus...
Thursday, March 3, 2011
We finished plants, FINALLY!
This week we finished our plant study. Oh, you thought we had already done that? Before we moved on to birds, amphibians, and reptiles? Well, almost. We had one lab that was not cooperating. Remember when we covered leaves with foil to see what happens when leaves are deprived of light? Well, removing the foil after one week did not yield results. Two weeks, no results. Three weeks, nothing. Finally, at four weeks, we saw results. Well, on one leaf. Out of three. Darn healthy plants.
It is entirely possible that the leaf was simply due to die through the natural life-cycle of the plant. We won't mention that to the kids, though!
And apparently this plant is opposed to pictures that are in focus...
It is entirely possible that the leaf was simply due to die through the natural life-cycle of the plant. We won't mention that to the kids, though!
And apparently this plant is opposed to pictures that are in focus...
New wall decor
Even though we read the Story of the World chapter on Greek Gods a bit ago, the library was a bit slow getting us a copy of The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus by Aliki. We got it last week while Kutey was sick. I read it to Kiddo while Kutey was napping. We were planning to read part of the book because Kiddo wanted to play outside. Kiddo was enthralled, however, so we finished the whole thing.
After we read the book, we made a chart. It took the place of making a family tree, at least for the time being. I typed up blurbs about all of the gods and goddesses featured in the book--some of which we knew about, some of which we didn't. Once they were typed up, I cut them out. I did a lot of the preliminary work. Once that was done, however, it was all up to Kiddo. We started with two large sheets of construction paper, but it became apparent that would not be large enough. So I pulled out a piece of poster board my sister had found and donated to our school. Much better. I helped Kiddo lay everything out, but he decided where things were going to go. There were lines talked about, but he never drew any of them in. Instead, once it was laid out, he got out the glue stick and glued everything in place. When it was dry, we mounted it on the wall in the dining room, where it has been entertaining us during meals. It has been a great memory tool!
After we read the book, we made a chart. It took the place of making a family tree, at least for the time being. I typed up blurbs about all of the gods and goddesses featured in the book--some of which we knew about, some of which we didn't. Once they were typed up, I cut them out. I did a lot of the preliminary work. Once that was done, however, it was all up to Kiddo. We started with two large sheets of construction paper, but it became apparent that would not be large enough. So I pulled out a piece of poster board my sister had found and donated to our school. Much better. I helped Kiddo lay everything out, but he decided where things were going to go. There were lines talked about, but he never drew any of them in. Instead, once it was laid out, he got out the glue stick and glued everything in place. When it was dry, we mounted it on the wall in the dining room, where it has been entertaining us during meals. It has been a great memory tool!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Creative Seuss-esque Works
In addition to the Dr. Seuss food lunch and reading and reading (and reading!) Dr. Seuss books, Kiddo created some Seuss-esque works.
The first was a book he sat down and wrote and illustrated of his own accord after we read "There's a Wocket in my Pocket." He created his own characters, like a fook on the book. Page after page, whipped out like it was nothing. No, the drawings aren't his highest quality. Yes, the spelling is terrible. But that matters less than the fact that once he started the project, he followed through with it all the way to the end. In fact, the back of the last picture says "The End." Very fun!
The second thing was something I requested he do. After we read so many Dr. Seuss books, I asked both Kiddo and Kutey to draw: A new kind of fish for McElligot's Pool, a new creature There's a Wocket in my Pocket, and a new sleeper for The Sleep Book. I asked that he color them, too. He whipped these out. And he made an entirely different character for the Wocket. Kutey was still feeling a bit tired and did not do the drawings. She has been drawing up a storm lately, too. Just not Seuss-esque.
The first was a book he sat down and wrote and illustrated of his own accord after we read "There's a Wocket in my Pocket." He created his own characters, like a fook on the book. Page after page, whipped out like it was nothing. No, the drawings aren't his highest quality. Yes, the spelling is terrible. But that matters less than the fact that once he started the project, he followed through with it all the way to the end. In fact, the back of the last picture says "The End." Very fun!
The second thing was something I requested he do. After we read so many Dr. Seuss books, I asked both Kiddo and Kutey to draw: A new kind of fish for McElligot's Pool, a new creature There's a Wocket in my Pocket, and a new sleeper for The Sleep Book. I asked that he color them, too. He whipped these out. And he made an entirely different character for the Wocket. Kutey was still feeling a bit tired and did not do the drawings. She has been drawing up a storm lately, too. Just not Seuss-esque.
Odyseuss' Ship
We have been listening to Mary Pope Osborne's Tales from the Odyssey read by James Simmons. It is a fabulous listen. Kiddo loves it.
While he was listening the other day, while Kutey was napping (she has been doing that a lot since she was sick), and after he had finished his school work, he began building a ship. Odysseus's ship.
And what replica would be complete without the people!
One of them is Odysseus. I have no idea which one. The chains go to a raft, another part of the story.
I love how LEGOS allow Kiddo to process what he is learning. He is constantly building, often things like this that go along with what we are studying. And it absolutely helps him to retain the information better. I have a hard time believing he would retain half as much if he was sitting in a desk listening to this. Guess it is just one more reason to love homeschooling!
While he was listening the other day, while Kutey was napping (she has been doing that a lot since she was sick), and after he had finished his school work, he began building a ship. Odysseus's ship.
And what replica would be complete without the people!
One of them is Odysseus. I have no idea which one. The chains go to a raft, another part of the story.
I love how LEGOS allow Kiddo to process what he is learning. He is constantly building, often things like this that go along with what we are studying. And it absolutely helps him to retain the information better. I have a hard time believing he would retain half as much if he was sitting in a desk listening to this. Guess it is just one more reason to love homeschooling!
Carving like the Ancient Greeks...almost
When we read Chapter 24: The Wars of the Greeks in Story of the World, Vol. 1, one of the things we discussed was the peace time advances the Greeks made, particularly the advances they made in art and architecture. We talked about carvings that looked real: muscles in arms, folds in fabric, etc.
Then Kiddo tried his hand at carving. Using a bar of Ivory soap, a butter knife, a skewer, and a stick from those crazy silly scratch off craft things.
He made a robe, cauldron, and wand from Harry Potter. Obviously the scale is a bit off, but it was the process that mattered...
Then Kiddo tried his hand at carving. Using a bar of Ivory soap, a butter knife, a skewer, and a stick from those crazy silly scratch off craft things.
He made a robe, cauldron, and wand from Harry Potter. Obviously the scale is a bit off, but it was the process that mattered...
Dr. Seuss's Birthday!
Today is Dr. Seuss's birthday, and we are celebrating. We actually started yesterday. Do you know how many Dr. Seuss books there are? We don't own them all, but I told the kids we would read the ones we own. That is still a lot of books! Reading them over 2 days is best for all involved!
I love Dr. Seuss. I love that he managed to write books that are not only fun, but send some great messages, too. Kutey's current favorite books happen to be Dr. Seuss books--The Sleep Book and McElligot's Pool. McElligot's Pool is actually a favorite of mine, too. Imagination, faith, and hope. All things that are so important.
The Sleep Book is pure fun. You know how sometimes you get songs stuck in your head? That happens to me with The Sleep Book. I am considering attempting to commit the whole thing to memory. I already have large chunks of it unintentionally from pure repetition. Kutey does, too. She can sometimes fill in gaps for me when I can't remember. It has been a fun driving past-time lately!
In addition to reading the books, we had a special lunch.
I picked out some of the foods, but Kiddo always has creative additions. My mind does not work like his!
Can you guess which foods came from which books? Some of them are very, very easy. Those are likely mine. Some are much trickier. Those are likely Kiddo's. At least one food represents two books, too.
The books represented are: Sneetches, Ten Apples up on Top, Green Eggs and Ham, The Lorax, There's a Wocket in my Pocket, And to Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street, and The Sleep Book.
Foods used: eggs, ham, cheese stars, apples, grapes, noodles, and water. The last three are a stretch.
Did you celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday? Any great activities?
I love Dr. Seuss. I love that he managed to write books that are not only fun, but send some great messages, too. Kutey's current favorite books happen to be Dr. Seuss books--The Sleep Book and McElligot's Pool. McElligot's Pool is actually a favorite of mine, too. Imagination, faith, and hope. All things that are so important.
The Sleep Book is pure fun. You know how sometimes you get songs stuck in your head? That happens to me with The Sleep Book. I am considering attempting to commit the whole thing to memory. I already have large chunks of it unintentionally from pure repetition. Kutey does, too. She can sometimes fill in gaps for me when I can't remember. It has been a fun driving past-time lately!
In addition to reading the books, we had a special lunch.
I picked out some of the foods, but Kiddo always has creative additions. My mind does not work like his!
Can you guess which foods came from which books? Some of them are very, very easy. Those are likely mine. Some are much trickier. Those are likely Kiddo's. At least one food represents two books, too.
The books represented are: Sneetches, Ten Apples up on Top, Green Eggs and Ham, The Lorax, There's a Wocket in my Pocket, And to Think that I Saw it on Mulberry Street, and The Sleep Book.
Foods used: eggs, ham, cheese stars, apples, grapes, noodles, and water. The last three are a stretch.
Did you celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday? Any great activities?
What about this one...
Would you rather your child watched Sp*nge Bob or Arthur (you know, the PBS Kids show?)
And yes, this is another serious question! I am trying to figure out exactly how out of touch I am...
And yes, this is another serious question! I am trying to figure out exactly how out of touch I am...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)