So much I want to share, but so little time...

There is so much I could be sharing but it's so hard to find time!  I'm in the process of making a list of things we have success with and maybe on breaks I'll get a more a bit more time to share.  However, did want to share this book we came across and I'm ordering it today for ourselves.  With having preschool through 4th grade, we touch on almost every aspect of the human body.  This book is WONDERFUL!  I keep seeing all the kids go back to it over and over.  Even I got engrossed in it!  Wanted to make sure people knew it was out there!

ISBN Number:  978-0-7566-5532-7

Amazon has it for approx. $22, hardcover...LOTS of information!

Cells!

Science2:  Human Body-Cells
A simple introduction!  One aspect I love of the K12 curriculum is that each year they build on it a bit more.  They introduce and they review and review and review!  Love it!  This was a perfect amount of information for 2nd grade.  

They (all the kids...even the preschooler, though I doubt he got more than the sensory out of it.  LOL) definitely enjoyed this pretty simple lesson/activity so wanted to share it.

back of our foldable

  

K12 had a matching sheet that we cut apart to make our foldable.  They glued on the cell pictures to the flaps, and the function to the inside.  They labeled the name of the cell on the inside of the flap.  Then they glued their labeled cell and their little tidbit about cell division to the back of the foldable.

Our model cell had a

sandwich bag cell membrane

lemon jello cytoplasm

banana nucleus

Some of the children wrapped a pipe cleaner around the banana and showed us what cell division was like.  :-)

-------------------------------------------------------

Unfortunately, copyright technicalities will not allow me to share the matching work sheet.  And, can you believe that I can't find one online?  Maybe have to fix that "problem" sometime.  Anyhow, there is no reason why you can not google the individual cell images and have the children draw them.  :-)

------------------------------------------------------------------------

*  All plants and animals (living things) are made up of cells.

*  Our human body is made up of trillion cells.

*  Cells live, die and are replaced; cell division

*  There are different types of cells and they can be in various sizes and shapes.

   Nerve Cells  

Look like tree branches or tree roots.  

They send messages back and forth between your brain and the rest of your body.

Muscle Cells

Long and stretchy.

They shorten and lengthen to help our body move.

Skin Cells

Long flat rectangles all packed together.

Protect us from germs, infections, everyday bumps.

Interesting tidbit they enjoyed:  The top layer of our skin is made up of dead skin cells. 

Red Blood Cells

Look like doughnuts with dents instead of holes.

They carry oxygen to the different parts of our body.

I came across this picture that a blogger posted from The Big Book About the Human Body by Joe Kaufmann.  Quite nice!  Going to see if I can get this book at our local library.

  

Link of interest:
For older students...   Fran's Freebies Cell Worksheets
(you could get some of the basic cell pictures off of her matching sheet)

Oh, the simple things like....Word Documents

Having issues with blogger again.  Seems like it happens when I actually have time to type up a post.  :-)  (Either blogger or my own SD card reader.  This time it wasn't allowing me to upload pictures.   Finally googled the issue and in case someone else is having the same issue...it is a known issue that the "choose files" icon appears and disappears not allowing you to upload pictures.  They are working on trying to find a solution to Internet Explorer browsers and their suggestion at this time is to use a different browser.  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, I know that there are people out there that are probably already doing this but sometimes I have a tendency to make more work for myself then I need to.  But...I'm learning.  One of the things I'm learning is that there are a lot of resources at the tips of my fingers that I have completely "forgotten" about...one of them being Word. 

A. is in 4th grade and he has a lot of writing in almost every subject with the K12 curriculum so I'm trying to cut it down a bit and come up with variations of activities.  I'm finding out that he enjoys technology quite a bit so I'm going to try to spend some more time helping him explore some simple programs.  One of the activities he was to do for today was to create a book.  Well, we just created a book in science and that was like pulling teeth...it required "writing".  Ha!  So I was flipping through the diagrams, charts, etc in Word and came across one that hollered "Louis Pasteur Book!" to me.  So this is what we came up with....scrapped the book and made a diagram.  He was quite pleased...now if only we can somehow figure out how to fit in "typing" into his day.  He took forever on the first portion and so I typed and had him dictate the rest of it.  But I think we're onto something!  Any typing program suggestions?

Oh, for those of you not aware of who Louis Pasteur is...he is the individual who experimented with a cure for rabies.  :-)

Pattern Bird

Here is a very simple art lesson that turned out to be well-liked with the 1st grader.  We had been using K12's Art 1 lesson about patterns and they suggested a bird such as this.  I tweaked it a bit to work for for us.

 

 

We talked about patterns and he decided the colors he wanted for his bird's feathers and the background.  I actually provided cut out circle, oval, and wing shapes for him to glue his feathers on and place how he would like.  He had to create his own head and legs.  :-D   We are really working on trying to draw "big"...fill up the paper...we've a ways to go yet!  So this helped him be more successful and enjoy the end product.   I tried to encourage him to cover all white spaces but was happy with what he did do.    :-)

 

This would be a great PreK-2nd grade project. 

 

 

Volcano

This was a project from quite awhile ago that I never posted.  It was an "extra" for one of my 2nd graders who is a bit more "artsy" than the other and he was here for the morning but the other had an appointment and I really didn't want to go to much further ahead.  Life is much easier when they are both on the same lessons.  :-)

Throughout Literature2 and History2 they were learning about the Roman myth and the Hawiian Legend of the volcano.  So I printed up a picture and the "story" for both of those for either side of the mountain.  In the plume at the top is a little pocket where we placed his "How a Volcano Erupts" booklet. You can find this booklet "coloring page" at Crayola.

 

By the time he finished with the inside of the volcano, he really didn't want to do much with the outside or the plume of smoke.  It was more of a "for fun" activity so that was just fine.  :-)  This was made out of 2 pieces of brown 12x18 construction paper and a gray sheet for the smoke.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Around that same time we explored with baking soda and vinegar reactions (they had all done clay volcanoes using this concoction before so we just played around with colored vinegar and baking soda on a tray).

 

We also explored with that more "realistic" volcano eruption that was going around on Pinterest.  :-)

I used a candle warmer to melt wax on the bottom of a mug (dollar store had candle "cubes"...worked perfectly) and covered with sand.  (By the way, we are still using the mug...it was unharmed.)  We did try to do this experiment on the candle warmer but it didn't work.  So then we put the mug in a frying pan right on the stovetop.  It took a lot longer than I thought it would but it was kind of neat to watch as the wax started melting and started making streaks through the sand and eventurally one came to the surface..then another, then another!  :-)  Fun stuff!

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

Flat Stanley came to Michigan!

I have a nephew in CA that is in 2nd grade.  They were doing a Flat Stanley project and we got to participate!  Such fun!  The kids (and I) had a heyday!  Here were some of the pictures we got...shows a little of what we do for fun and school and allow me to chat about my feelings on our situation here.

Fridays are what we call "Free Fridays".  Stems over from my preschool days.  The preschoolers had more free time, we had chocolate milk for lunch, they got to choose anything they wanted to "repeat".  So after we started schooling at home I noticed there wasn't a whole lot of play.  Well, I don't feel that's right.  Not a big deal for my own kids because they are here all day and if they focused well they could get their work done in the morning and have a true half day.  But the other kids...not only did they need a break...but they needed to know they'd have time to play.  So during the week, we usually only about 20 minutes for "free play" (not counting outdoors) so we actually double up on some lessons during the week and have less planned on Friday.  We work right up until 10A and then they have an ice cream snack (this picture was from the last day before winter break and E. and W. brought cookies...so a really healthy snack we had!) and if they got everything done they had free time for a good 45-60 minutes.  Typically we need to do one task when we come back in.  Older grades tend to need to do a bit more...but we try to do our best to give them a big chunk of uninterrupted time to play together...it's important.  They work so hard during the week...they deserve it...but also because they need to learn to work and play together.  Social reasons.  I love this aspect of schooling at home.  Multi-ages.  I think the one room school houses had something going :-P.  Oh, I know that it was done that way out of necessity but I surely would love to see some of that again...multiple grades in one class.  They learn SO much from each other!  The kids that are ready to go ahead can do so without too much extra planning on the teacher's part.  The kids that need a little extra help can get it from their older peers, and in our case I do "group lessons" so it's introduction, actual lesson, review.  If they didn't truly get it the first time, they have the opportunity again.  :-)

T is 3 years old.  He loved Flat Stanley! :-P  Here Flat Stanley was watching T. transfer water with small letter sponges.  Schooling at home is an awesome opportunity for Mr. T.  Typically he sits across from the 1st grader.  He learns SO much!  Though one downside is he really doesn't "act his age"...I see behaviors that I didn't see in the other two until they were older.  :-) We do independent tray work for him for the first 2 hours of the morning...this keeps him at the table and out of the other kids "hair".  He loves it...and when I'm not diligent in switching out trays (only happened a couple of times) he was quite put out.  So I learned my lesson.  Our only downside with having him at the table with us is that he's loud!  :-D

 

Boy, were the kids surprised when Flat Stanley pulled out his TKD uniform and black belt!  :-D  Yes, I was having fun too!  All the school-age kiddos here are enrolled in TKD.  Great for them all...and all for different reasons.  They get such a work out twice a week  also...and with our online school, we can count it toward instructional physical education.  Here the kids were getting ready to head to class.  :-)

 

Island Hopping! 

2nd graders had Peter Pan as for Literature.  One family brought the movie which we watched over the course of two days, if they wanted.  A couple opted out.  5 kids ended up making salt dough islands.  :-)  Fun stuff!  I wish we had MORE time.  There are a lot of extras we could be doing but need to hold back on because of progress requirements.

 

Free time!  Actually this was in the evening and C. and T. were actually playing together nicely...being a good example for Flat Stanley.  :-D  All the kids, no matter the age, still love the safari, polar and farm animal set.  :-)  Well used toys!  Their play just changes as they get older and begin to use their imagination.  (Not always toward the good...)

 

Fractions!  That has been our 2nd group lesson.  We are working our way through another booklet.  2nd-4th grade.  So intro for 2nd grade (which really isn't an intro but their course curriculum states so...these two 2nd graders are math kiddos...they soak it up!), actual lesson for 3rd grade, review for 4th.  Pizza Fraction Game was a great help when we were learning how to compare and order fractions.

 

One of the last days that Flat Stanley was here...it actually snowed.....................then rained and melted it all.  Then froze and snowed a bit more and one kiddo got a snow day.  :-)  I allow the other families to make their own decision...usually a school snow day is because of the many back roads in this rural community.  With the one that did get a snow day...that's because his sister goes to brick and mortar and so really...if sister is home for a snow day...it's not really fair to him.  :-)  Anyway...maybe next time Flat Stanley will bring his snow pants so he can play out in the snow!  This is our group December picture.  My goal is to get a monthly group picture.  :-)

 

Flat Stanley renewed C.'s interest in the Flat Stanley book.  This is actually the only one we actually own.  But we are heading to the library tomorrow and that is was C. will be looking for.  :-)  The children are expected to read independently every day.  We aim for 20 minutes (depends on age/development).  A.-4th grade reads much more than that.  C. probably reads just about that.  He'd rather sit and read a nonfiction book vs. a chapter book though.

 

Flat Stanley got to learn about Claude Monet's Haystacks and about how to portray shadows with oil pastels.  We love K12 Art curriculum!

 

This day was a "special day".  W.-3rd was having a Winter Wonderland Celebration with her online teacher....so via a class connect session.  So, we had some hot cocoa along with her.  :-)  Here L. and A. were watching Bill Nye the Science Guy: Mammals.  In first grade, we are starting the animal classification unit in Science.  Bill Nye the Science Guy is their new favorite DVD.  I also like them a bit better than others because they only last about 20-25 minutes.  We can get it done in one session and still get other stuff done.  Educational DVDs are being used to either introduce or review a unit/topic.  Thank you...Bay County Library System...all nonfiction DVD's are free.  :-)

 

Ah!  There's W. and her hot cocoa.  :-)  Winter Wonderland Celebration.  At MVCA, each student is assigned a teacher who is an awesome support!  Always there to help!  For new families thinking about homeschooling...this is a good route to go...at least for one year.  :-)  No, schooling at home is not the same as homeschooling.  We have a lot more expectations.  MVCA is a public school.  But...it would give you an idea of what children should be working on, provide you a curriculum while you research others (an excellent curriculum it is...but no way could I afford it on our own), provide you basic materials-books etc, and there is an awesome support team! The online record tracking system helps also...you can see progress, etc.  Would definitely get you started down the right road.  Then after you get a feel about it all, you can made a decision on whether to truly home school, continue with an online public school, or have your children attend a brick and mortar school.  Thank goodness for choices!

 

Check out that smile.  C. is tending to stress about writing.  There is a LOT of writing in K12 curriculum...all subjects...and more as the children advance.  4th grader loves all the learning but does not like all the writing.  He has never had to write so much.  So, some lessons I'm changing the activities a bit so there isn't an overwhelming amount of writing in one day.  Otherwise there is time be wasted because both of these kiddos will just sit with a "block".  Anyway...Flat Stanley made writing a little more fun for C. this day.  :-)

 

We took this one as a way to let the CA 2nd graders be reminded that in MI at this time of year...it's chilly...so we eat lots of soup in this family!  :-)  Keeps us warm.  Mmmm!

 

A.-playing for Flat Stanley.  :-)  I do recommend piano lessons to all families :-P...especially the families that work with me.  Why?  Piano gives much of the basic instruction of music.  I had all sorts of plans for music/PE instruction but find time has shoved so much of what I wanted to do to the back burner.  I'm coming to the conclusion that I just can't do everything.  :-) A. has been playing for about ...oh let's see...end of first grade or beginning of 2nd.  A good time to start!  He's in 4th grade now.  C. just started this year...doing great!  I love the music (most of the time) in the morning and evenings and I'm always very happy when they choose to play outside of practice time.  :-)  A. gets to play in a piano festival this year with his new awesome teacher!  :-)

 

 

Ah...see I told the pictures would make me blab!  I love what we are doing...mostly.  :-D

Watercolor Tree Reflections

We've had so many cool art projects these last two weeks!  Maybe with being on winter break I'll get some pictures organized and post about a few.  Here's a really simple one we did for Art2.  We will definitely be doing some variation of this again but hopefully with real watercolor paper.  :-)  We've done so many neat projects with watercolors...I really do need to invest in some good quality watercolor paper!

 

This could be done in 1 day if you had a good chunk of time.  However we split it up into two sessions.

 

Session 1:  

Create a horizon line with a brown strip of paper.  Then we used brown paper to create simple tree trunks and limbs.  Then the kiddos cut leaves from green tissue paper.  We spread glue across the tree trunks and just pressed the "leaves" on.  I think the goal was to cover the whole top with overlapping green tissue paper but 2nd graders don't have time or patience for that so I let them do it how they wanted.  :-) 

 

Session 2: 

We added watercolor around the green leaves for sky since we didn't cover the top with tissue paper.  Then we painted the river below the horizon line.  While wet we added shades of green watercolor spots to represent the reflected leaves and then brown trunks.  The point was to let the watercolors blend...so encourage them to use their water!

Fun stuff! But...next time I'd use bigger paper and real water color paper!  I'd also like to do this with older kids!  4th grader did something similar with evergreen trees at art camp that turned out really cool.  Here are the closeups, if you are interested. (They were wanting the little tiny bit of glitter watercolors that were left!  I'll need to see if I can find some more that stuff.  The sparkle is pretty cool.)