homeschooling science

I've long maintained that I don't do science in my homeschool.
However, today I realized just how much science my kids are involved in even though I don't do science.

1) Both kids are now taking a weekly classes in science at a local science academy. Each class is two hours long, and the kids do a variety of hands on demonstrations / experiments and some "challenges" which are usually of a build something that does this or that.

2) Both kids go take classes at the downtown science museum once a month. Each month the kids have two  one-hour classes in the morning, followed by a special exhibit at the sciences, and then wandering the main exhibit halls.

3) Both kids participate in once a month classes at our local nature center. The kids (and Wander!) are good friends with the staff. Each class is one and half to two hours and usually involves a nature walk with a very knowedgable and kid friendly guide plus some hands-on activities.

4) Both kids are in a three times a month co-op which happends to include a science component. And to top it all off, I'm the science teacher.

And that's not counting what Wander tells them, or the critters that they encounter on their nightly walks with Wander, or the monarch caterpillars that Sparkle found in the back yard and turned into pets. At one point we had at least eight caterpillars in the house, and eventually almost as many pupas. Wander even had to go out and buy more Butterfly Weed to feed the caterpillars. (We since gave most of them to the science acadamy.)

I don't know how much of this we'll continue next school year. We'll see.

Glitter normally does her school writing in a primary rule composition book. Today she begged me for a wide rule composition book with a pretty cover, like her older sister's. So I dug one up and she promptly began to write in it. Here is a little story she write. I think the weird capitalization is the result of trying to write on wide rule paper instead of primary ruled paper. The story is a total rip-off of a story that Sparkle is writing. For some reason Glitter is really into BFF's.

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The Mrmad Story

Once ther lived a fary named Ros and ther was her B-F-F named Joly the wer siting on a Rok tgether and as they sat a men Mrmd Poshd Ros and Joly into the woder at lest the men Mrad held them tit. so tit that wen She let thim go they olmost dide. Entel the men mrmads sister She Put them in a Jar and Put it on the hiyist Shelf.

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Translation:

The Mermaid Story

Once there lived a fairy named Rose and there was her B-F-F named Julie. They were sitting on a rock together and as they sat a mean mermaid pushed Rose and Julie into the water. At last the mean mermaid held them tight, so tight that when she let them go they almost died. Until the mean mermaid's sister, she put them in a jar and put it on the highest shelf.

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Butterflies

Sparkle collected caterpillars and pupa from the back yard. One butterfly already hatched.

[insert photo someday]

Paragraphs by Sparkle

We're taking a break from a formal writing program and to write random paragraphs. I talked her through the idea of a topic sentence and supporting sentences. I gave her extensive coaching on organizing her paragraphs. (Lack of organization is one of my pet peeves.) After she composed the paragraphs orally, I had her write them down. She made minor revisions as she transcribed the words.Here are some of the results. Each selection is about an hours worth of work, split evenly between discussion and handwriting.

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Ballet Positions

There are five basic positions in ballet 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th. To get to 1st position stand
with your heels together and toes pointing out. Tendu by pointing one leg and toes to the side. Lower the working heel and you're in second position. Tendu in and put your heel in the arch of your other foot and you've got 3rd position. Tendu forward and lower your heel, a perfect 4th position. Place your heel in front of your supporting foot's toes and a beautiful 5th position is
formed.

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The Dolls

There are 5 dolls living in a corner. They are Elizabeth, Clare, Julie, Ethan, and Rose. Elizabeth was for Christmas. Clare came for Christmas too. Julie was originally an American Girl doll called Kit. Ethan was from Michael's and we stuffed him and sewed him up ourselves. Rose my Mommy bought online.

The dolls have lots of acessories. They sleep in a trundle bed, and sit at the table with chairs. The real looking bench they relax on and the morror, bathtub, and shelves serve them well.

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Butterfly Metamorphosis

The complete stages of butterfly metamorphosis are egg, larva, pupa, and adult. First, the butterfly lays the egg on a leaf or flower. After a while, the egg hatches into the larva or caterpillar. Then, after eating and eating and getting fat, the caterpillar spins its pupa or cocoon. In a few weeks, the adult butterfly emerges, dries its wings, and flies off.

MIA, Easter eve

Wow, I've really been ignoring this blog.

Probably because I have stopped taking pictures.

What?! My kids are cuter than ever and I'm not photo-journaling their lives? The horror.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that I am so proud of my kids.

They have a bit of spending money and we went on a shopping trip. The main reason for the trip was to get make-up supplies for their spring dance recital. However, we ended up in Michael's.

Oh dear, I need to back-track a bit.

Glitter has been announcing that she's going to give a big surprise to Sparkle for Easter. Glitter has been stashing bits of candy in a plastic baggie for Sparkle. She even wrote in permanent marker that it is Easter Candy for Sparkle. Every now and then she snags a piece out of the baggie and eats it herself, but the baggie still actually has some candy left in it, and I suspect that Glitter really will hand it over to Sparkle tomorrow morning. However, Glitter wanted to get Sparkle even more for Easter. She thought the big pre-packaged Easter baskets at Sam's club would be perfect for Sparkle, but had to let go of that idea when she saw the price tag. She considered buying Sparkle some more candy, but didn't find just the right ones. I was super pleased with Glitter when she saw a chocolate egg in the store and exclaimed "$1 for just a little egg? That's crazy, I wouldn't spend that much on such a tiny egg!" Wow. Major breakthrough here. My girl normally thinks that there are only two prices in the world: yes, I have enough money (even if it's all she has), or darn, I don't have enough money. Now she's starting to figure out that some things aren't worth the money, even if you can afford it.

To continue this meandering of thoughts, Glitter discovered a sticker book sale at Michael's. She immediately decided to buy it for Sparkle for Easter. Then she discovered a different sticker book with sparkly Easter stickers and decided that would be even better. She wondered aloud which sticker book would be better and worried for a moment that Sparkle would be disappointed. Too bad that she couldn't ask Sparkle, who was standing right next to her and listening to her, because the present is supposed to be a surprise. I told Glitter that part of gift-giving is accepting that the giftee may or may not find the gift as wonderful as the giver. Anyway I'm surprised at Glitter's generosity. Although she is often very selfish, she also shares with her sister.

I think Glitter's generosity was starting to get to Sparkle. After weeks of hearing how Glitter was saving a special bag of candy for her, Sparkle decided to divide some of her candy into little baggies, one for each family member. Then at Michael's, after hearing Glitter decide to buy a sticker book for her, Sparkle started to look for something for Glitter. Only, Sparkle was better about keeping it a secret from her sister. Sparkle finally decided on a small, round, jeweled box.

I was also proud of Sparkle earlier at Michael's. She saw a little pendent that she really liked. At $4, it would have taken all of her money. I let her know I was skeptical, and wondered how soon she would loose it. (It's the type of toy she'd hold in her hand and then set down in some random spot.) However, I also let her know that it was her decision. After much angst, she decided to not buy the trinket. A minute later, the trinket was forgotten and Sparkle started hunting for something to get for her sister. The tiny box she got was a much better buy, and when we got home Sparkle filled it with candy for her sister.

I've typed enough nonsense.

The Easter baskets are filled with new crayons and colored pencils. The new Easter dresses are laid out. The Easter bunny has visited and scattered eggs. The colored eggs are waiting in the fridge. Wander is finally home. The dishwasher is running. I'm tired and want to go to sleep.

I'll probably sleep through the morning festivities when the girls discover their presents. Since I don't have a decent working camera, I guess it won't matter much. I do wonder when the girls will sneak their gifts for each other into their baskets. Both girls have been discussing how they will get up before each other, but after the bunny visits so that they can surprise each other. They tossed around different times 10pm, midnight, 3 am, etc. Whatever time it will be, I'll be asleep.