Observation and Discovery - Sketching Fruit in Our Main Lesson Books

Today we practiced our observation skills by examining fruit and then sketching it in our main lesson book. We passed around the banana, apple, peach, orange, pear, and kiwi. The children commented on the different ways to describe the fruit. Then we cut them in half and observed them from a different perspective. The children sketched the fruit from the side, the top, and then the middle.
We also took a nature walk and observed the land (contours, plant life, etc.).
We read the book, Seven Blind Mice. It seemed like a perfect fit for talking about observing things with our senses. They are also reading Stuart Little for the next three weeks.
We reviewed grammar terms, practiced for "Battle of the Books" this weekend at the library, did self-portraits in our journals, and had a pleasant first day of school. The children will continue doing activities from the syllabus this coming week at home. Next Friday we will do some more work on the topography project.

Gummy Snakes, Water Parks, and Hamlet

It is the last week of June. Summer solstice is upon us, the days are long and warm. Whit has been participating in STEM camp this week. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) He has been building bridges, making snap circuits, learning about robotics, fishing, hiking, building rockets, and doing archery. Yesterday he was named, "the fish champion", after catching four fish in the camp pond!

Addie has occupied herself reading Shakespeare. She decided to take the opportunity to turn some of her fall classes into honors classes by adding on assignments. So, she has been cozied up with Hamlet and is currently working on her essay.

The Woodland School met last Friday for the high schoolers to go to their "business lunch" to discuss a documentary they want to make about the coming school year and to brainstorm about the cooperative blog they are working on. The younger students walked around downtown and went out for frozen yogurt followed by a trip to the local candy store to spend their allowances. Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans were a big hit along with the three foot gummy snake... ahhhh, the thrills of childhood.

Two weeks ago we took a trip to the local water park and hit the waves with our friends, the Block family. The children and I loved the lazy river and floated around for hours. I can't tell you how restorative it was to just let go and ride the current for awhile. The big water slides were a bit hit with the kiddos as well.

June has been full of sweet moments. We went to a family wedding and Addie read a passage of scripture. Her sweet voice reading I Corinthians 13 was a treat for me. She looked so grown up and so beautiful and poised.

The children have played outside on the rope swing that Papa put up for them. There is nothing like a rope swing in the summer!  I stand at the window and watch them soar above the earth and remember what is was like to be a child (and not get seasick from swinging). We have visited my brother and his wife in Charlotte, took my husband to Ikea for Father's Day, and visited the State Museum.

We plan to start back to school early this year. The first day of The Woodland School Cooperative is August 9. In the midst of all of this summertime frolic, I find time to plan lessons for the upcoming year. We will use Oak Meadow curriculum for both children this year. I hope to be able to blog more consistently about the experience. Memory is fleeting, but being able to look back on the blog is priceless.

Adventures in Science

After focusing on history last semester, we are delving into science with a passion.
Last week the children used marshmallows, a styrofoam base, and fettuccini noodles to build structures. Then they made a hypothesis about what type of "quake" it could withstand. They measured the space on the mat, gave the base 6, 3 cm quakes (shakes) and recorded results. They loved the whole experience. It was actually in my 5th graders lesson plan, buy my six year old was right there too. They built several styles of buildings, had multiple quakes, and recorded the data.
My 5th grader read about earthquakes in her book prior to doing the experiments.
Sadly, the Haiti quake occurred just days later. The quake experiment helped my children to have a grasp on what an earthquake is and how it effects people.

This week we simulated an oil spill in a pan of water. The children then used different items to clean the water to see what was most effective. They tried a medicine dropper, paper towels, cotton balls, a spoon, and dish washing detergent. We also read books and looked at photos of oil spills. My 5 year old nephew was visiting that day, so even he got in on the action. The oil spill experiment sparked lots of discussion about how oil spills could effect wildlife and how hard it could be to clean up the environment again.

Yesterday my oldest dissected a crawfish with a friend. Our semester of science is up and running.

Squirrel Rescue!

I am again reminded of how "learning experiences" will find us at any given time, we just have to be on the lookout. While our family enjoyed a walk along the river near our house this morning, we discovered a baby squirrel. The squirrel had fallen from the nest, was near death and was covered in ants and other bugs that were moving in for a meal. My children were horrified and immediately began pleading for the baby. "Isn't there something we can do?" My husband and I felt sure that death was close, but wanting to make sure the children had no hard feelings, agreed to take the squirrel. We cleaned off the insects and took him home in a sock (the only warm thing we could think of). Once at home, we treated the wounds with peroxide, made a warm box (plastic bags of hot water with soft cloth on top), and called Carolina Wildlife. A short trip later, the little squirrel, now called "Sam", was the latest patient at the wildlife clinic. At Carolina Wildlife, we discovered that Sam was actually Samantha. She is now given a 50/50 chance of survival. She was under the hot lamp when we left. She has other baby squirrel brothers and sisters to adopt her, and when the time is right, if all goes well...she will be released into the wild with her adopted family. My children were ecstatic. Their rescue was a success. They even pointed out that whether Samantha makes it or not, they will have done the right thing and have made her last days comfortable (and not left her to the ants). Though this wildlife escapade interrupted my plans for the day, I am proud. I am proud of my children and their empathy for all of God's creatures. What a great way to kick off another year of homeschooling.