That's right...two, two, two reviews in one day! It took me so long to get to the Space/Sky Unit Review that we've already gotten through another unit. Honestly, though, this was a short unit: Sea Monkeys. I didn't know anything about sea monkeys before this and had never tried to raise them. But Jace got some from Aunt Kate and Uncle Jared as a thank you for being in their wedding and he's been asking to open his little pets ever since. That was in June.
A few weeks ago Gracie suggested that we do a unit on them. It didn't seem like such a bad idea, and if we did that we'd not only learn something but actually get to open Jace's three month old present!
So, this past week we looked at sea monkeys. Honestly, I'm not sure our little brood is doing so well. I can only see one in there today. We might have to get new eggs, or cysts as we now know they're called. If we can get some to live for more than a few days we'll have an ongoing study and pets!
We used a lot of web sites for our studies this week.
The Official Sea Monkey Web Site
Wikipedia
Captain's Universe
The reason we focused mainly on Internet learning is that there's not a lot out there in books about sea monkeys, which are actually called brine shrimp or artemia salina. Looking at scientific classification, they're in the order known as fairy shrimp...Gracie was mighty excited about that little fact!
We took our vocab words from this study, but had shortened lists of five words for Jace and three for Gracie. There are only so many words fit for 5 and 7 year olds in the world of sea monkeys! Jace made a classification chart with the scientific names. I gave him the option to use common names (crustacean rather than crustacea) but he opted for the scientific ones. No surprise there! Gracie colored a couple pictures of brine shrimp, a baby (naupilus) and an adult. We labeled them together and compared them. Jace noted that if our digestive tracts were as straight as theirs we'd probably have to eat in the bathroom. Such a clever boy!
We did look in books to see other crustaceans that were more widely written about and ended the week with a field trip to the Poulsbo Marine Science Center. They focus on our Western Washington coastal creatures and waters, but I figured it was close enough! The kids got to touch and feed and enjoyed themselves a lot!
Sea Monkeys are a lot of fun and not a lot of work (so I read...our first attempt at raising them may not be the best example) so if you're looking for a fun and different gift for someone this Christmas...try a sea monkey aquarium. Why not?
About Me
- Annie
- Like all of you, I'm a number of things to a number of people...Navy wife, homeschooling mama, educated woman and aspiring writer. Read my thoughts on all of it here. Please feel free to leave your thoughts on all of it too!
Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Washington. Show all posts
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Pictures!
I know, I know...you've been sitting on the edge of your seat waiting and waiting and waiting for some pictures of our new house. Well, don't fall off...but here are a few. This is day two of homeschool. We baked banana bread. It took them a minute to figure out how to get 3 1/2 cups when we didn't have a 3 cup measuring cup. But seeing the light in Jace's eyes when it clicked was fantastic!
And here are the kids in the classroom. It takes up about half of our basement room. We have a toy box that Scott's Dad built for him when he was a kid. I put pillows on it and that's where the kids currently like to sit and work. We have chairs for them too. They might need to be separated a bit more at some point!
On the same side of the basement we have a book shelf with games, Scott's military books, my small collection of psychological thrillers, school books, and writing schtuff. We snuck in a little play area and my sewing desk too!
I didn't take a picture yet because it's still in a bit of disarray, but the other half of the room has a corner desk with our desk top computer. That's our office. We also have a television in the corner for movie watching and it gets local channels...that's 76 local channels for anyone who's counting! What happened to local channels being ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox if you held the antenna just right? I guess that's gone the way of the rotary dial phone and actually getting up to change the channel.
We don't have a pull out couch yet, but we plan on getting one to put back to back with the toy chest. That will serve as a comfy place to sit and relax and also our guest bedroom. So, let us know when you're coming and we'll get on the ball and get a couch!
And here are the kids in the classroom. It takes up about half of our basement room. We have a toy box that Scott's Dad built for him when he was a kid. I put pillows on it and that's where the kids currently like to sit and work. We have chairs for them too. They might need to be separated a bit more at some point!
On the same side of the basement we have a book shelf with games, Scott's military books, my small collection of psychological thrillers, school books, and writing schtuff. We snuck in a little play area and my sewing desk too!
I didn't take a picture yet because it's still in a bit of disarray, but the other half of the room has a corner desk with our desk top computer. That's our office. We also have a television in the corner for movie watching and it gets local channels...that's 76 local channels for anyone who's counting! What happened to local channels being ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox if you held the antenna just right? I guess that's gone the way of the rotary dial phone and actually getting up to change the channel.
We don't have a pull out couch yet, but we plan on getting one to put back to back with the toy chest. That will serve as a comfy place to sit and relax and also our guest bedroom. So, let us know when you're coming and we'll get on the ball and get a couch!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Middle of July...ALREADY?
I don't know about all of you, but July 15th snuck up on me! We get paid on the 1st and the 15th of the month, which is also when I pay our bills. So, last night when I realized it was the 14th I was shocked! And this morning I paid bills. Good times, huh? More than trying to make everything in both check books (that's right, we have two!) is the fact that it's the middle of July!
For those of us who were on the Georgia school schedule that means we've been away from actual structured learning for two and a half months! It means that goals I had in mind to meet by the end of July and running short on time. I've got to get my act together and get our Gebel Family Homeschool up and running.
We are making strides, but the basement is so far from organized we're going to be starting out with a mess on the other side of the room...not ideal for focusing, but it's going to have to do. There's just no place to put all the rest of the junk, er...I mean stuff. We're going to be getting a new kitchen table tonight and the one we currently use will become our homeschool table. That's going to help, not with the other side of the room, but with our classroom feeling like a great place to learn and explore!
Jace and Gracie also took math assessments today to see what level of math curriculum I need for them. Gracie, who is in Kindergarten, will be jumping into Horizons 1st grade math. She completed her little test with a great deal of excitement and even surprised herself with all she knew. Jace, on the other hand, struggled. He cried almost immediately because he could remember how to write a "4" and didn't know how to read all the clocks on his assessment. I sat down with him and went through it, but it appears he's not ready for Horizons' 2nd grade math. However, he's more than ready for their 1st grade. They must pack a ton of skills into that particular year!
So, I'm not sure what I'm going to do for Jace's math. I asked some questions of the Alpha Omega people (who publish Horizons). I'm hoping that Jace can use Gracie's books and start mid-year someplace and learn the things (like borrowing with subtraction and carrying with addition) that he didn't learn last year and then be ready for the 2nd grade curriculum in a few months. We'll see...
Since we're talking about math, though, let me tell you about a little chit chat I had with a few old friends today. I stopped by to visit the place I used to work and one of the women who works there now has a son the same age as Jace. We were talking about our decision to homeschool. She encouraged it, saying that Washington's schools weren't the greatest. As an example she told me that her son wasn't learning the terms "add" and "equals" but instead was learning to say "more than" and "is the same as." Everyone in the office felt that Jace, Gracie, and Tyler will benefit from being taught at home.
That makes me smile.
I hope I'm still smiling at the end of the month...by which time we'll be starting school! Right? Right. I hope.
For those of us who were on the Georgia school schedule that means we've been away from actual structured learning for two and a half months! It means that goals I had in mind to meet by the end of July and running short on time. I've got to get my act together and get our Gebel Family Homeschool up and running.
We are making strides, but the basement is so far from organized we're going to be starting out with a mess on the other side of the room...not ideal for focusing, but it's going to have to do. There's just no place to put all the rest of the junk, er...I mean stuff. We're going to be getting a new kitchen table tonight and the one we currently use will become our homeschool table. That's going to help, not with the other side of the room, but with our classroom feeling like a great place to learn and explore!
Jace and Gracie also took math assessments today to see what level of math curriculum I need for them. Gracie, who is in Kindergarten, will be jumping into Horizons 1st grade math. She completed her little test with a great deal of excitement and even surprised herself with all she knew. Jace, on the other hand, struggled. He cried almost immediately because he could remember how to write a "4" and didn't know how to read all the clocks on his assessment. I sat down with him and went through it, but it appears he's not ready for Horizons' 2nd grade math. However, he's more than ready for their 1st grade. They must pack a ton of skills into that particular year!
So, I'm not sure what I'm going to do for Jace's math. I asked some questions of the Alpha Omega people (who publish Horizons). I'm hoping that Jace can use Gracie's books and start mid-year someplace and learn the things (like borrowing with subtraction and carrying with addition) that he didn't learn last year and then be ready for the 2nd grade curriculum in a few months. We'll see...
Since we're talking about math, though, let me tell you about a little chit chat I had with a few old friends today. I stopped by to visit the place I used to work and one of the women who works there now has a son the same age as Jace. We were talking about our decision to homeschool. She encouraged it, saying that Washington's schools weren't the greatest. As an example she told me that her son wasn't learning the terms "add" and "equals" but instead was learning to say "more than" and "is the same as." Everyone in the office felt that Jace, Gracie, and Tyler will benefit from being taught at home.
That makes me smile.
I hope I'm still smiling at the end of the month...by which time we'll be starting school! Right? Right. I hope.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Dirty Laundry
I feel like I've been doing a lot of laundry lately. I mean what mom doesn't? Right?! I've been looking into the back yard trying to determine where I want to hang my clothes line. I'm pretty excited about hanging laundry on the line. There's something comforting about it. I probably complained about having to do it when I was a kid, but now, as an adult, it holds some sort of romance for me. Like getting in touch with a simpler time. The reality of it likely won't live up to the day dreamed version, but it will still be a nice option for freshening our clothes!
There are other sorts of things I've been thinking about lately too. Last night we ate dinner on the porch in the back of our house. I was ready to throttle Gracie (in the most loving and motherly way, of course) over eating her dinner. I was highly aware of the houses on either side of me, with their back yard porches. I wondered if anyone could hear me. If so, did they care?
For the last three years I've lived a ways from neighbors. I haven't been concerned with anyone hearing me scold my little monsters. And, without a clothes line, I haven't been concerned about hanging my intimates with teen boys next door. Are these things everyone worries about?
And what about letting the kids play at the neighbors? They actually stay outside and watch their kids ride bikes, run amok, and be silly. Maybe it's because I'm not studying or doing yard work (that's what the parents I've met have been doing) but I don't want to sit outside for hours and watch them play. These other parents have said, "You're kids are very well behaved," and "It's fine if they come down. No problem." But how much is too much? We don't have a bounce house or kiddie pool. Most of our outdoor toys are still in a box. Even once we get them out, our yard is bumpy as all get out and the grass is rough. I don't think the kids will want to play here. So, is it OK to let them play down the road for hours every day?
There are so many things to consider, aside from the placement of the wall hangings, when moving to a new neighborhood. No wonder I'm a little tired out! Well, that and the weather. It's almost 90 today. I'm sitting here, typing, and sweating. I got used to me AC in Georgia. Here in Washington we sweat it out! Maybe I'll lose a pound. Hey one can dream, right?
There are other sorts of things I've been thinking about lately too. Last night we ate dinner on the porch in the back of our house. I was ready to throttle Gracie (in the most loving and motherly way, of course) over eating her dinner. I was highly aware of the houses on either side of me, with their back yard porches. I wondered if anyone could hear me. If so, did they care?
For the last three years I've lived a ways from neighbors. I haven't been concerned with anyone hearing me scold my little monsters. And, without a clothes line, I haven't been concerned about hanging my intimates with teen boys next door. Are these things everyone worries about?
And what about letting the kids play at the neighbors? They actually stay outside and watch their kids ride bikes, run amok, and be silly. Maybe it's because I'm not studying or doing yard work (that's what the parents I've met have been doing) but I don't want to sit outside for hours and watch them play. These other parents have said, "You're kids are very well behaved," and "It's fine if they come down. No problem." But how much is too much? We don't have a bounce house or kiddie pool. Most of our outdoor toys are still in a box. Even once we get them out, our yard is bumpy as all get out and the grass is rough. I don't think the kids will want to play here. So, is it OK to let them play down the road for hours every day?
There are so many things to consider, aside from the placement of the wall hangings, when moving to a new neighborhood. No wonder I'm a little tired out! Well, that and the weather. It's almost 90 today. I'm sitting here, typing, and sweating. I got used to me AC in Georgia. Here in Washington we sweat it out! Maybe I'll lose a pound. Hey one can dream, right?
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Starting to Feel Like Home
We've almost been in our new digs for a week! Time flies, as they say. And it's not only starting to look lived in but to feel like home too. For example, this morning the kids were in the bathroom together and giggling a lot, so I checked in.
"Hey, what are you guys doing?"
"Farting!"
There ya have it. Apparently they're feeling comfortable in their new surroundings. I'll be making some cookies tomorrow for a BBQ at the neighbors. Nothing makes a house feel more like home than baking.
Tyler's bed got put together today. He was the last holdout...but the hardware was in one of boxes that got emptied today. Don't worry, though, he's been sleeping just fine on his mattress on the floor. He took a four hour nap today before Scott put the frame together!
We've met some of the neighbors and are sticking around here for eating and merry-making tomorrow night. Hopefully everyone enjoys our cookie offering and we'll get off on the right foot with our little neighborhood...because this is home.
"Hey, what are you guys doing?"
"Farting!"
There ya have it. Apparently they're feeling comfortable in their new surroundings. I'll be making some cookies tomorrow for a BBQ at the neighbors. Nothing makes a house feel more like home than baking.
Tyler's bed got put together today. He was the last holdout...but the hardware was in one of boxes that got emptied today. Don't worry, though, he's been sleeping just fine on his mattress on the floor. He took a four hour nap today before Scott put the frame together!
We've met some of the neighbors and are sticking around here for eating and merry-making tomorrow night. Hopefully everyone enjoys our cookie offering and we'll get off on the right foot with our little neighborhood...because this is home.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)