Field Trip Bonanza

Ok, so I am so very tired. So. Very. Tired. It always happens this way, this time of year. There are just too many good things out there for homeschoolers. I mean too many like if I told you a giant has a hearty appetite :) Yesterday we had our Roots and Shoots club meeting Today we went to the Aquarium, then we went to Molly's drama practice for her role in Alice in Wonderland. Tomorrow we are going to listen to a holocaust survivor speak, Thursday we have Classics Club, Friday thankfully Specials Day is cancelled, but Friday evening we have our astronomy club meeting. Every week is like this. Museums, concerts, zoos, on and on. And we turn tons of stuff down! Now I'm not really complaining, fact is, I love it this way, and yes, this is my choice. I just think its funny that the public's perception of homeschooling fixates on the word HOME, like the kids are secluded and isolated. Not so, not so!

Perfect Pancakes

I mix up this pancake mix and store it in the fridge. We eat a lot of pancakes, and this will last about a month's worth.
3 Cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon sugar
2 cups whole wheat or oat flour
1 cup seven whole grain cereal
1 cup cornmeal
4 tablespoons wheat germ

Store all in airtight container and store in the fridge.
to use for pancakes:
1 egg
1/2 cup yogurt or sour cream or milk (we like sour cream the best, its the thickest, makes really fat pancakes)
1/2 cup pancake mix
I usually triple this recipe.

Granola

This recipe is for granola to be used in granola bar recipe below, or for plain snacking. From FamilyFun

3 Cups rolled oats (can use mixture of oats, wheat, rye or barley flakes)
1/3 cup unprocessed coarse bran
1/3 cup sesame seeds
1/3 cup raw hulled sunflower seeds
1/2 cup honey or maple syrup., or a mixture of the two
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
2 cups mixture of dried fruit (cherries, apricots etc)1/2 cup toasted wheat germ

Preheat oven to 350
Spread the oats, bran and seeds on shallow pan and bake for 15 min or until golden brown. Meanwhile, put the honey, nuts and spices in a large bowl. Stir in the hot grain mixture when its ready. Return the mixture to the pan, spreading out evenly. Toast in the oven, turning occasionally, until its evenly browned about 10 min. Granola burns easily so watch it. Toss the mixture with the dried fruit and wheat germ. Cool completely, store in plastic bag or container, makes 9 cups.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

These bars are really yummy. The recipe is from the FamilyFun Cookbook.

3/4 Cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 Cup plus 2 tablespoons honey
2 Cups granola (sometimes I make my own, I'll post that recipe later, otherwise buy prepared granola)
1 Cup old fashioned oatmeal
1 Cup raisins or other dried fruit
1/2 Cup sunflower seeds
1/2 Cup chopped nuts (I usually omit this)
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 Cups crispy rice cereal

Preheat oven to 325. Grease a 13 by 9 by 2 inch baking pan. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the peanut butter and honey together. Let cool. In a large bowl, mix the granola, oatmeal, raisins, sunflower seeds and nuts. Stir in the peanut butter and honey mixture to coat. Slowly mix in the eggs. Gently stir in the rice cereal. Press the mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until lightly browned on the edges. Cool and cut into squares. Store in refrigerator.

Sometimes I omit the sunflower seeds, and add in one cup of chocolate chips.

Family Fun at the BMA

Fun at the Baltimore Museum of Art!

Every Sunday at 2p.m., the BMA has free hands-on art workshops for kids and adults. This past Sunday we went. The class was A Circus Family, Picasso to Leger. The kids made 3-D imaginary circus creatures. We also explored the circus art exhibit which was incredible. I never realized how much circus themed art there was. Seeing the numerous works by Picasso was really exciting. The kids got to try on circus costumes too, which added to the fun.

Upcoming schedule:

Mar 29 Make circus prints

Apr 5 Create magical containers

Apr 19 Construct imaginative rooms

Apr 26 Build fanciful furniture

The lady who leads the tours and workshops is incredible. Very knowledgeable and entertaining. Remember the BMA is free for all!

Walters Art Museum

We went to the Walters today. They have workshops designed for home schooled students from kindergarten through 7th grade. Today's workshop was Rejoice , Celebrate and Commemorate. Studying the diverse celebrations and ceremonies of Japan, Africa, Iran and Europe. Workshops include studio time and a guided tour. The home school series includes 4 workshops for the school year. Check them out at www thewalters.org

Next month we will be seeing the Saint John's Bible exhibit and examining amazing medieval manuscripts. I'm really looking forward to this one, as molly is studying the middle ages, and one of her favorite characters in Inkdeath by Cornelia Funke is a medieval illuminator. She should really enjoy seeing some of these manuscripts.

Homeschooling Today

Here is a list of what we did today!

Molly:
Reading- First Test,a historical fiction novel set in the middle ages
Spanish- on the computer, today's lesson was on subject verb agreement
Math- dividing fractions
English- diagramming sentences
History- Kingfisher History Encyclopedia , arts and architecture 500- 1000 a.d.
Sketch an illuminated manuscript
Write 2 summaries
Read History in Art- Middle Ages
Geography- Label blank wipe off map of United States
Listen to geography songs CD of US
Latin- Translate English sentences to Latin
Review pronoun forms

Sophia:
Math- practice writing 4's and 5's
tell time to hour and half past
days of the week in terms of first,second, third etc
Reading- Spell 3 letter words in reading reflex journal
Read 2 word phrases that rhyme like fat cat
Read 3 Bob Books
Read Josefina with Mom
Science- Astronomy: Play card game
Using cards, recognize sun, moon, planets, asteroids and comets.
Talk about the Hubble Space Telescope
Science journal entry- The Sun
Arts/Crafts- Make butterflies out of coffee filters, using watercolors and pipe cleaners etc
Writing- Write letter to soldier stationed in Iraq

Benny also participated by drawing a picture of the sun and all the planets , and making a card for the American soldier we are corresponding with.

St Patricks Day Playdough

BSO Concert

Today I took Sophia and Benny to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for a concert. Music and dance from around the world was the theme. Irish dancers, an African folktale, and Spanish Flamenco dancers. Wow!

These concerts are great. There are about 3 different ones a year for each age group, and the tickets are only $6 a piece.

Sewing

Today Sophia and Benny wanted to make their own stuffies. Sophia made an elephant and Benny made a brontosaurus. Sophia sewed hers completely on her own. She wouldn't try to thread the needle though. Benny had a lot of help :)

SNOW DAY!

We finally got a decent amount of snow! The kids went sledding earlier, but here's some pics from the backyard.