I am so inspired. I think we may make rock candy next. Some crystals we can eat!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Growing Crystals
We got a Wild Goose Co. Growing Crystals kit and the other day we started fooling around with it. We mixed the solution, food coloring, water, table salt and laundry bluing in a tiny little cup and went to bed. The next day we woke up to this. Pretty cool!
I am so inspired. I think we may make rock candy next. Some crystals we can eat!
I am so inspired. I think we may make rock candy next. Some crystals we can eat!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Elemental Science Today
Today we learned about the three main types of Sedimentary rocks. We read a two page spread in our Kingfisher Rocks and Fossils book, followed by a short narration.
I had gotten this rock collection at a homeschool sale years ago and it really comes in handy. Similair kits are easy to find around the web, like at rainbow resource, my absolute fave place to shop all things home ed. There are a few types of sedimentary rock in the kit, like limestone, sandstone and gypsum. It was great for the kids to be able to see them in real life, not just a photo in a book.
We did a short experiment to test seashells for limestone by adding them to a cup of vinegar. When limestone comes in contact with an acid, like vinegar, bubbles form. Carbon dioxide is created. The kids thought this was really cool. We tested our limestone rock from our kit, and it bubbled like crazy. Other rocks didn't. They wrote the experiment up in their student books.
Finally, they took their test for this week's work since we only do science 2x's a week and this was our 2nd day this week.
I had gotten this rock collection at a homeschool sale years ago and it really comes in handy. Similair kits are easy to find around the web, like at rainbow resource, my absolute fave place to shop all things home ed. There are a few types of sedimentary rock in the kit, like limestone, sandstone and gypsum. It was great for the kids to be able to see them in real life, not just a photo in a book.
We did a short experiment to test seashells for limestone by adding them to a cup of vinegar. When limestone comes in contact with an acid, like vinegar, bubbles form. Carbon dioxide is created. The kids thought this was really cool. We tested our limestone rock from our kit, and it bubbled like crazy. Other rocks didn't. They wrote the experiment up in their student books.
Finally, they took their test for this week's work since we only do science 2x's a week and this was our 2nd day this week.
Learning Language Arts Through Literature
Both Sophia and Ben are using Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL). Ben is using the red, 2nd grade book. The reading level is light for him, but the activities and writing required are right on target.
Today we learned about how apostrophes can show ownership and be used in contractions. Ben pasted word pairs onto paper and wrote the related contraction. The activity called for him to do 12 of these, he did five. He also had to fill in a page in the workbook with an appropriate contraction.
He then finished the LLATL activity with a handwriting and coloring page based on an assigned story he had finished reading.
In addition to LLATL, we use Evan Moor Daily Language Review, Handwriting Without Tears and Explode the Code.
Ben also reads a selection from his McGuffey reader out loud to me, and reads a chapter on his own in his Pathway Reader. These are the best readers in my opinion. Later on, he'll read something of his choice for fun. His faves have been the Wimpy Kid series, Magic Tree House series and Horrible Harry
Today we learned about how apostrophes can show ownership and be used in contractions. Ben pasted word pairs onto paper and wrote the related contraction. The activity called for him to do 12 of these, he did five. He also had to fill in a page in the workbook with an appropriate contraction.
He then finished the LLATL activity with a handwriting and coloring page based on an assigned story he had finished reading.
In addition to LLATL, we use Evan Moor Daily Language Review, Handwriting Without Tears and Explode the Code.
Ben also reads a selection from his McGuffey reader out loud to me, and reads a chapter on his own in his Pathway Reader. These are the best readers in my opinion. Later on, he'll read something of his choice for fun. His faves have been the Wimpy Kid series, Magic Tree House series and Horrible Harry
WinterPromise History American Story week 31
This wee k we are still studying pioneer life. We are mainly using A Pioneer Sampler by Barbara Greenwood.
Today's reading was about how the pioneers would put up food for the winter. We read about a cornhusking bee. Sophia and Ben both wrote narrations after taking turns reading out loud. I find that they pay much better attention when we all takes turns reading.
This was Ben's narration. I use narration starters to give us ideas about what to write.
Next we went upstairs and the kids peeled, sliced and cored apples for drying. We talked about how the pioneers would soak their dried apples in maple syrup and use them in pies for the long winter months. Though we had a pretty full tray to begin with, after drying them in the oven for 6 long hours, most of them had been nibbled during the day, so only a few were left.
Today's reading was about how the pioneers would put up food for the winter. We read about a cornhusking bee. Sophia and Ben both wrote narrations after taking turns reading out loud. I find that they pay much better attention when we all takes turns reading.
This was Ben's narration. I use narration starters to give us ideas about what to write.
Next we went upstairs and the kids peeled, sliced and cored apples for drying. We talked about how the pioneers would soak their dried apples in maple syrup and use them in pies for the long winter months. Though we had a pretty full tray to begin with, after drying them in the oven for 6 long hours, most of them had been nibbled during the day, so only a few were left.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Elemental Science
We are using Elemental Science's Earth and Space, www.elementalscience.com I am loving this classical approach to science. We are working our way through earth science this semester. Some fun projects we have done so far have involved making volcanoes, a tornado tube, paper mache model of the earth and growing crystals. This week we are studying rocks and minerals.
Baltimore Clayworks fun
I think this is just the greatest Baltimore treasure that not many people know about. Baltimore Clyworks offers clay classes in the community for a paltry $10 per person, per 6 week session. The instructors are fabulous. The projects are both fun and educational. Last session my kids made a complete tea set, and various other projects. Ben made a pelican, Sophia made a statue of a girl, among various other things. Check out baltimoreclayworks.org
Field Trip Times
Ok, one of the things I LOVE most about homeschooling, and there are many, is the field trips. There are so many awesome, inexpensive, educational and fun places to take your kids. It's hard to limit myself to say one a week. If I was an unschooler, I guess I wouldn't have to , but since I got off that boat many years ago, I require regular school a tleast four days a week. Since January, we've been to some awesome places you may want to check out for your own families.
First up was the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerhoff. We saw two concerts this season, first was the Nutcracker, second was From Africa To America a musical journey. These weekday concerts are $6 per person. Yes, you read that right, and yes we sit in box seats with reclining plushy chairs. Often we have the whole box to ourselves. A metro ride that makes it all kinds of fun.
The Science Center has homeschool days in January. We saw an IMAX about the arctic, took two classes about magnets and space, and saw a Planetarium show. We also had fun just exploring the museum.
In February, we went and saw The Harlem Globetrotters at the First Mariner Arena. This was all kinds of awesome.
Next up, the Walters Art Museum. They have lots of different FREE classes to choose from. The one we went to most recently was about writing in art. We get an hour long tour and a session in the art room where the kids made postcards. Afterwards, we grabbed some art cards and went on a scavenger hunt. they have cards for each area of the museum. We explored the asian art wing and searched for about 12 works of art. Benny's favorite area in the museum has always been the room of wonders, where he loves sketching the butterflies. Sophia's fave room is the Treasury where the Fabrege eggs are.
The Baltimore Museum of Industry was our next stop. It's built inside an actual cannery from the Industrial Revolution. We explored the cannery, a re-created garment loft, and printing workshop. We will be returning in June, as they have four different homeschool programs a year, with unique programs offered at each. On this trip, the kids learned about Henry Ford's assembly line and created a Model T of their own, assembly line style. This trip was $9.50 per child, I was free.
The week after next, we have a trip planned to the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. We will be taking a class on minerals. The kids are really excited, as this is their favorite place to go.
In April, the circus is coming. They cannot wait. A friend of mine gets group rate tickets for a weekday morning. Only $13.
In May, we have a trip lined up to a local cave. Crystal Grottoes Caverns. We have been studying Earth Science this semester with Elemental Sciencer, so this ties right in. We'll follow up with a picnic in a local park.
Have any neat places to share that you've enjoyed with your kids? I would love to hear about them!
In February, we went and saw The Harlem Globetrotters at the First Mariner Arena. This was all kinds of awesome.
Next up, the Walters Art Museum. They have lots of different FREE classes to choose from. The one we went to most recently was about writing in art. We get an hour long tour and a session in the art room where the kids made postcards. Afterwards, we grabbed some art cards and went on a scavenger hunt. they have cards for each area of the museum. We explored the asian art wing and searched for about 12 works of art. Benny's favorite area in the museum has always been the room of wonders, where he loves sketching the butterflies. Sophia's fave room is the Treasury where the Fabrege eggs are.
The Baltimore Museum of Industry was our next stop. It's built inside an actual cannery from the Industrial Revolution. We explored the cannery, a re-created garment loft, and printing workshop. We will be returning in June, as they have four different homeschool programs a year, with unique programs offered at each. On this trip, the kids learned about Henry Ford's assembly line and created a Model T of their own, assembly line style. This trip was $9.50 per child, I was free.
The week after next, we have a trip planned to the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. We will be taking a class on minerals. The kids are really excited, as this is their favorite place to go.
In April, the circus is coming. They cannot wait. A friend of mine gets group rate tickets for a weekday morning. Only $13.
In May, we have a trip lined up to a local cave. Crystal Grottoes Caverns. We have been studying Earth Science this semester with Elemental Sciencer, so this ties right in. We'll follow up with a picnic in a local park.
Have any neat places to share that you've enjoyed with your kids? I would love to hear about them!
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