For our final project in chemistry, we decided to do a stop-motion animation. I had been looking forward to trying this with the Boys and they really loved it. We covered a lot more in our chemistry unit than the states of matter, but the moving molecules and different speeds made this the perfect subject for our first little film. I think we'll do many more of these in the future - and Lego animation is definitely in the works! If you have any toga-clad Lego people, please let me know. I would love to stage the Odyssey in Lego-mation.
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For our final project in chemistry, we decided to do a stop-motion animation. I had been looking forward to trying this with the Boys and they really loved it. We covered a lot more in our chemistry unit than the states of matter, but the moving molecules and different speeds made this the perfect subject for our first little film. I think we'll do many more of these in the future - and Lego animation is definitely in the works! If you have any toga-clad Lego people, please let me know. I would love to stage the Odyssey in Lego-mation.
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Labels:
Science
Chemistry Final Project
For our final project in chemistry, we decided to do a stop-motion animation. I had been looking forward to trying this with the Boys and they really loved it. We covered a lot more in our chemistry unit than the states of matter, but the moving molecules and different speeds made this the perfect subject for our first little film. I think we'll do many more of these in the future - and Lego animation is definitely in the works! If you have any toga-clad Lego people, please let me know. I would love to stage the Odyssey in Lego-mation.
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Since we have left Egypt behind and finished The Red Pyramid, and because we've been spending so much time in the park, I decided to read My Side of the Mountain as our next read-aloud. Boy1 and I read it together a few years ago, but he was more than willing to hear it again. It was a big hit and very timely. We ripped through it in a week because the Boys wouldn't let me stop reading. We had to take turns reading when my voice got tired. They are already begging for the next book in the series. There is something about My Side of the Mountain that really speaks to this age - I know it did to me. We also have a companion guide to the series that is full of project ideas. I'm just not sure how we're going to fit it all in!
So now, in addition to birdwatching, the Boys have begun a new backyard project. A tree that fell up against our swing set is now being turned into a new fort. Hmmm...I guess we're just going to have to live with the dead tree for a while. They would kill me if I had it removed!
The Boys are collecting vines and sticks to weave through the branches of the fallen tree to enclose the space under it. And they are working on carving some furniture for it. The neighborhood boys have been over in the afternoon all this week to help work on it, even in the rain. Yes, there is mud all over my house. No, I don't care.
Our volunteering at the nature park is going very well. This past week, the Boys cleaned and refilled the bird feeders and got to help clean out the aquarium in the visitor's center. I've already told the education person there that we are available for any projects she needs help on. We also went back to the park the next day with two other homeschooling families for a hike and a picnic lunch up at the observation platform.
And, we hiked the trails and took the dog out for a good run.
We have finished up our Chemistry unit and for our final project, the Boys are going to do a stop-motion animation film to explain some of the concepts they learned. We are also getting started on Ancient Greece. I see more Rick Riordan books and plaster art projects in our future.
I downloaded a retelling of The Odyssey and some Herculean tales by Odds Bodkin. I just can't say enough good things about Odds Bodkin. If you have kids, you need to get some of his stories. The Boys have been listening to him since they were in preschool. His Little Proto tales, stories about a little protoceratops and his dinosaur friends and his Paul Bunyan stories are still favorites around here. You can download his stories directly from his website now. I highly recommend them.
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Labels:
Nature,
Reading,
Unit Study
Nature Therapy, Part Deux
So now, in addition to birdwatching, the Boys have begun a new backyard project. A tree that fell up against our swing set is now being turned into a new fort. Hmmm...I guess we're just going to have to live with the dead tree for a while. They would kill me if I had it removed!
The Boys are collecting vines and sticks to weave through the branches of the fallen tree to enclose the space under it. And they are working on carving some furniture for it. The neighborhood boys have been over in the afternoon all this week to help work on it, even in the rain. Yes, there is mud all over my house. No, I don't care.
Our volunteering at the nature park is going very well. This past week, the Boys cleaned and refilled the bird feeders and got to help clean out the aquarium in the visitor's center. I've already told the education person there that we are available for any projects she needs help on. We also went back to the park the next day with two other homeschooling families for a hike and a picnic lunch up at the observation platform.
And, we hiked the trails and took the dog out for a good run.
I downloaded a retelling of The Odyssey and some Herculean tales by Odds Bodkin. I just can't say enough good things about Odds Bodkin. If you have kids, you need to get some of his stories. The Boys have been listening to him since they were in preschool. His Little Proto tales, stories about a little protoceratops and his dinosaur friends and his Paul Bunyan stories are still favorites around here. You can download his stories directly from his website now. I highly recommend them.
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Labels:
Health,
Nature
Nature Therapy
We started our volunteering this week at our local nature park. We will be putting out bird seed at all the feeding stations once a week and checking the trails for obstructions. The Boys were so excited to get out there for our first day, even though it was pouring down rain. Unfortunately, I forgot the camera, so I have no pictures - but it was a great morning. One of the adult volunteers took us around, showing us where they keep the seed and where all the feeding stations are. The boys worked diligently to clean out and refill all the feeders and bird baths. Afterwards, the staff made us some hot chocolate to thank us for coming out in the rain (they really didn't expect us to show up). We sat in the rockers on the back porch of the Nature Center and watched the forest while we enjoyed our warm drinks. Afterwards, the boys wanted to go in and watch the birds who came to the feeders through the observation window in the Nature Center, so we spent a half-hour identifying the birds.
They were so excited about their new bird-watching skills that they wanted to get a new feeder to put out on our back porch. Now birdwatching is their new favorite activity. This morning, they spent 45 minutes staring out our back door and recording all the different birds who came to visit our feeder.
Now, for those of you who don't know the Boys, let me just explain to you what a miracle this is. These are two boys who "can't sit still", "can't stop distracting other students" and "who have trouble concentrating". Yet here they are, sitting still and quietly, identifying and logging birds. Amazing.
Later, we took our lunch to the park and hiked up to the observation platform where the Boys indulged in their other new favorite hobby: whittling. They are both working on walking sticks.
I can see such a difference in the boys already. In only one month, Boy1 has lost 10 pounds and stopped having the headaches he had 3-4 times a week when he was in school. They are both much less focused on video games and popular music and their interests are starting to expand.
We have started several other new things this week - meditation, for one and using our new pedometers to track our daily exercise. I hope to get a post up soon showing some of the books and other resources we are using.
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They were so excited about their new bird-watching skills that they wanted to get a new feeder to put out on our back porch. Now birdwatching is their new favorite activity. This morning, they spent 45 minutes staring out our back door and recording all the different birds who came to visit our feeder.
Now, for those of you who don't know the Boys, let me just explain to you what a miracle this is. These are two boys who "can't sit still", "can't stop distracting other students" and "who have trouble concentrating". Yet here they are, sitting still and quietly, identifying and logging birds. Amazing.
Later, we took our lunch to the park and hiked up to the observation platform where the Boys indulged in their other new favorite hobby: whittling. They are both working on walking sticks.
I can see such a difference in the boys already. In only one month, Boy1 has lost 10 pounds and stopped having the headaches he had 3-4 times a week when he was in school. They are both much less focused on video games and popular music and their interests are starting to expand.
We have started several other new things this week - meditation, for one and using our new pedometers to track our daily exercise. I hope to get a post up soon showing some of the books and other resources we are using.
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