Nature Walk

Today was a beautiful day! We took the opportunity to go on a nature walk not far from our house. The trees have very few leaves and we could see the outline of their branches. We took our nature journals and sketched some of God's handiwork.

It was a lot of fun. I then took the opportunity to take some picture of the kids. We all had such a good time.

Maybe next time we will take some paper and do some rubbing on the tree bark. Many of the trees are labeled so it would be great to learn how to identify a tree in the winter with no leaves. Some are pretty easy, but some are quite difficult.

Homeschool Open House

My new friend, Tammy, over at Lattes and Lollipops is having a homeschool open house today, so go on over and check out her blog. From there you can add your link and check out the blogs of other homeschoolers to see what goes on in their lives. Go on, Check it out. But, before you leave, scroll on down and check out what we have been up to.

Total Eclipse

We have recently began studying astronomy using Apologia's elementary book. It is just wonderful. Our latest experiment/demonstration was to create an eclipse. We are studying the sun. So we got out our globe. It is really just a ball that looks like a globe. It has been a great edition to our classroom for just a few bucks. Then we got our our moon globe and a flashlight (sun). We figured out that it works better in a completely dark room. We hung the moon on a string and passed it between the sun and the earth. Voila, an eclipse. It was amazing also to see the shadow the earth cast onto the wall/door behind it. I suppose the earth could be part of an eclipse on another planet, maybe? I guess so, if the orbits lined up just right. The kids loved it, possible because they got to play in the dark.

Science Display and Recitation

This month at our homeschool group we had a Science display. Everyone was encouraged to tell about what they had been studying in science. We could do it in anyway we chose. Some did experiments. Some did recitations of things they had memorized, like thier bones. Some did Bible science. It was really neat to see what others are learning. We spent the summer reading through Apologia's Swimming Creatures of the 5th day (Zoo II) and then going to Sea World. So, we wanted to use that as our subject. However, that is just too much to get together in a month. I looked for a pre-made lapbook, but after thinking about it, I decided the whole book was just a bit too ambitious. Then I stumbled across a sample at Live and Learn Press. It was just over the chapter on Whales. Well, that, I decided, was just the perfect amount. Plus, it would give me a chance to try out their lapbook series. I love Live and Learn Press' lapbooks. They have a series that has been created to go with the elementary Apologia series and it very thorough. I will definately use them again. But, I digress. Whales, hmm, we loved Shamu and have the video of the show. We could show that and make the lapbook and make a backboard of pictures. That is what we did.

The kids memorized a few lines to tell about the backboard. They did so good.

We can't wait until next years display, but right now we need to begin working on our Geography Fair display that is due in March. We will be studying Ancient Rome.

Harvest Candy Corn

I love candy corn!! I eat it this time of year until I make myself sick. So, when I learned that I could make it myself, I had to try it. I found the recipe at Recipezaar.com

I tried a batch myself and made some gigantic candy corn. They were delish. My kiddos then wanted to try to make them, so we made another batch. We made the three traditional colors of orange, yellow and plain white. Then we rolled each color into a rope and smashed them together. Then we used a butter knife to cut out triangle like the corn.

We took it to our homeschool group's harvest party and it was a hit.

Melting Chocolate

Is the sun, at 93,ooo,ooo miles away hot enough to melt frozen chocolate on a cold day of 34 degrees? That was our question. We are just getting started on the elementary Apologia Astronomy book. Chapter 2 is all about the sun and one of the experiments was melting chocolate. How could I deny my kids (and myself) this sweet treat?!! LOL So, with magnifying glasses in hand, we found a spot and hunkered down in the blowing, icy wind. Burrrr!!!

Tyler's magnifying glass focused the sun's light much better. Bobbi's didn't focus much smaller than a nickel and I wasn't sure it would work well. After a few minutes, Tyler checked his chocolate. It was melted and he got it all over his fingers, so why not just eat it.

Yum!!!

Bobbi, on the other hand, was still trying to focus her light beam. After a bit, she checked her chocolate. Turns out it was melted in a spot the size of a nickel.

After a few more seconds, she decided to check her chocolate. Turns out it was melted in a spot the size of the nickel.

Oh, well, experiment over. We must dispose of everything..... by eating it that is. De-lish!!

So, our conclusion is that the sun must be really powerful and hot to melt frozen chocolate on a freezing cold day. We have done the same experiment before except we burned holes in newspaper. Chocolate is much better!!!

RA Glider Race

My first grader is a RA (Royal Ambassador) at our church this year. He loves it. He has some awesome teachers. Last night they had their annual glider races.

Each boy is given a glider to assemble and decorate with their dad.

Then they take it to church and race it. They race for distance and speed down a fishing line strung from one end of the room to another.

Several boys participated. Tyler didn't win anything, but he loved the experience. Next year will be even better because we will be better prepared.

New Apologia Elementary Science Book!

I don't know how many of you use the elementary Apologia science books, but we do and we love them. Jeannie Fulbright is a gifted author and the books are filled with wonderful pictures and projects and experiments to do. They are not watered down, but they are on a child's level. They are also Christ centered, which we love. I am a science teacher, but I was not taught this way. So, the Exploring Creation series is perfect for me to use. I also subscribe to the Elementary Apologia Yahoo group and that is where I found this. Jeannie, herself, posts here and she just announced her newest, upcoming book. Read her post below and you will be amazed at how God is working to get this book out there.

(from Jeannie)
Hi Everyone!I wanted you to be the first to know the news. The Anatomy book is scheduled to be published sometime this summer. Allow me to tell you the story: I felt compelled to pray that God would bring me a co-author for the Anatomy book that was a physician. I did not wish to reinvent the wheel by doing all the research for Anatomy when I could have someone else, who already knew the intricacies of Anatomy, write the technical aspect of the book. I, then, could simply take the data and weave it into a living book, adding in analogies and the commentary and formatting that typify my science series. However, I wanted not only a physician, but a Christian physician. Not only that, I wanted a Christian physician that understood and followed a young earth model of origins. That's not asking too much, is it? Oh! I also had another requirement. This Christian physician that held to and understood the teachings of a young earth model also needed to be NOT WORKING so that he could write this book with me.One thing I've learned in my walk with God is that we should regularly being praying for things that ONLY God can do. This was something that only God could do.Well, I began praying. I called one of my best friends in Oregon who is a major prayer warrior to enlist her in the prayer battle. Within moments, God began to work His miracle. My friend mentioned that she had a good friendthat is a Christian, Young Earth, pediatrician, HOMESCHOOL MOM! "Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us" Ephesians 3:20 Glory to God! This person, Brooke, has high school aged children and has taught Anatomy in great depth to them over the years. She has done many projects, experiments and activities associated with Anatomy. She is an EXPERT not only in Anatomy, but in teaching Anatomy to children. Even more amazing is that this person had been praying the week before and she felt God nudging her that she would be glorifying Him by teaching science to homeschoolers. Further, Brooke has time to write because her children are older, and she's not working as a doctor right now. Is anything impossible with God? So, I received the first lesson from Brooke this weekend and am almost finished with the rewrite and formatting. Thus, the progress will be rapid.We are projecting a summer publication date.Isn't God good?
Warmly,
Jeannie

Tagged

I have been tagged by http://gigglesgrinsandgrades.blogspot.com/.... and I consider it an honor.
The rules are.....
Link to the person who tagged you. Post the rules on your blog. Write six random things about yourself. Tag six people at the end of your post. Let each person know he or she has been tagged. Let the tagger know when your entry is up. So, here goes:

1. I love basketball and would love to play on a team again.
2. I can't stand for my house to be cluttered for very long and will cut school short just to get it back into some reasonable order.
3. I am rather photosensitive and have a fear of the shorter winter days with so many clouds blocking God's wonderful sun. (Glad I have the Son to get me through).
4. I am so addicted to reading my daily digest for the Spell to Write and Read Yahoo group. (it is very edumacational, LOL)
5. I have spoken at 2 of our states homeschool conventions.
6. I love photography.

Now I have to tag some other folks so consider yourself tagged:

http://countrygirlathome.blogspot.com/
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SeekingJESUSnTeachingKIDS/
http://creasycrew.blogspot.com/

OK, so I know that isn't 6, but it will have to do.