Monday, September 17, 2007

Great day despite Mother/teacher being sick ...

Well, the mean old cold that has been going around got me! My throat is so sore and after a full day of teaching my voice is about gone.  I knew I would lose my voice, but I had to keep teaching.  This is one of the only days that we are home for the entire day this week, and I couldn't let those teachable moments go.  Besides the kids had to be entertained one way or the other.  So my big teen finished up U.S. History II today.  This course had just a few hours left over from last year, and I had told him that the last two hours of the course were reserved for a final exam/project.  So his final exam today was to prove to me through oral questions and some kind of project that he remembered a lot.  He decided to cut up magazines and paste them down with explanations and a model of the island Iwo Jima, where the six marines raised the American flag during WWII.  Considering his learning difficulties and the lack of warning he was given, he did great. 








The big teen and little kids also got into studying camouflage today.  We decided to do an experiment and see how camouflage works.  The big teen boiled 12 eggs.  He left 6 of them white and colored 6 of them to match the grass and leaves. Then he hid them outside and we let the little ones go out and find them.  They found the white eggs easily and 5 of the camouflaged eggs with more difficulty.  However, we never found one of the eggs! That camouflage really worked well.  It was a fun hands-on activity that really got the point across.  Here you can see how the white egg stands out next to the camouflaged egg.








We also had fun with the Amazing Dinosaur plant www.dinosaurplant.com.  We talked about how plants, such as a tulip bulb, can become dormant.  The neat thing about this dinosaur plant is that it can go to "sleep" for years and then "wake up" in only an hour.  Perfect for kids that like things to be instant!  We have had this same plant for two years and have done this twice with the big teen, but this was the first time with the little ones.  They were amazed.  I love watching their faces as they discover God's world.











Well, I wish I was done for today, but I promised to discuss my big teen's layout of his International Night project so that he can stay on schedule.  So off I go and then I'm going to cozy up on the sofa for the rest of the evening.

15 comments:

  1. Those look like some neat projects! I get all kinds of cool ideas to use in my homeschool from reading friends' blogs! Hope you are feeling better soon!

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  2. Wow look at all those cool projects! And I love the baby pics below too! hehe

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  3. I really hope you feel better soon! Before I was married & had kids, I thought being single and sick was the worst thing in the world. Now I know that actually being a parent and sick is one of the hardest things, since you can't take a break to rest! I hope your kids are gracious to you as you recuperate.

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  4. relate to how you feel now as I am a bit under the weather myself. With a toddler who is also sick, yet the day will not be complete without learning a thing with the kiddos. So homeschool we must and ought =)

    You have great kids! Nice projects and lovely babies.


    I pray you feel better soon.

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  5. Fun times! And I just wanted to say that your slideshow of your art lessons look amazing! You have some very talented kiddos.

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  6. hey looks like some great work going on there. Thanks for posting the goals for goldilocks, I think I will pirate some of them for Kendra. I am a little lost as to what to do with her as my boys already knew alot of this stuff before going to school. It was just part of mommying them. Hope you have a great week.

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  7. I hope you are feeling better. What a miserable feeling--especially having to keep going and not have the time to let your body rest.


    Enjoyed all the pictures of your little ones.


    Letitia

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  8. We've all been a bit sick for our first week of school, and it's no fun! I hope you feel better very soon! Love the pics of your babies way back when...

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  9. Sorry you're sick. Hope you feel better soon!

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  10. Thanks for the comment!! I love this plant idea! We are finishing up our dinosaur unit tomorrow but I will find a way to work that into our curriculum next year! Thanks for posting it!

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  11. thanks for the comment. I love this plant idea-we are finishing up our dinosaur unit tomorrow but I plan on working it into the curriculum next year-thanks for posting it!!

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  12. It looks like you guys are having some fun! I have never seen a dinosaur plant before. Where do you find them?

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  13. Thanks for looking at my blog. I hope you feel better quickly. It sounds like you had a great school day. I only did school on Monday and Tuesday so we will be working this weekend also.


    Did you notice that we live in the same area? Taylor is participating in International Night also. This will be her first time doing anything like that. I'm kind of nervous because I have NO idea what to expect.


    Have a great day!

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  14. on the projects. You must be very pleased and proud. I would be. I just noticed your slide show of the art projects. You have a very talented crew there. Hope you are feeling better. I, too, am suffering from the dastridly(sp?) cold. Have a great week-end.

    Blessings,

    Ginny

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