Scrub-a-dub-dub

Do any other families wash their own cars anymore? And if you do, do you involve your children? I only see one man in my neighborhood ever washing his vehicles. I never see any other kids doing it. What's up with that?

Independent Art

Today I gave Gerrick a copy of MaryAnn Kohl's Scribble Art and told him that it was full of art ideas he might like to try. He looked through it awhile, then decided he'd like to make some Paper Strip Art. I cut some newspaper strips and got out the pins while he collected the other materials he thought we'd need. We each worked on our own project which turned out very different.

He worked and worked and reworked. He decided he didn't like using pins, took them out, and used scotch tape and a glue stick. He made A Playground. Do you see the slides, tunnel, cave, and bridge? I finished mine and read aloud a chapter of Treasure Island before he decided he'd done enough for now. He was very clear that he's not finished, though--he'll work on it more later.

His (at time of posting):


Mine:


I could have told him that we're not using tape today. I could have said that we're using paint today, not Sharpies. I could have reminded him that this is "Paper Strip Art" and said that we're not using all that cardboard today. But if I had said any of that, it no longer would have been his art. He was inspired by the suggestion in the book and turned the activity into something he enjoyed. That's what "independent creative art experiences" are all about!

Madison Creek Farms

We signed up to visit Madison Creek Farms with a group from TN Unschooling. We and three other families didn't get the message that it was canceled due to the possibility of bad weather. Peggy and Mark, the owners of this beautiful organic farm, were so friendly and hospitable. They showed us around and let us spend the morning at their farm anyway! The weather turned out great, and we had a fantastic time. We'll be visiting their Saturday on-farm market very soon, and we're considering joining their CSA program.

Yesterday's Nature Walk

Of course, we saw much more than a dead grasshopper:









See more Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer.

A Grasshopper Specimen

During our nature walk today, we found a recently deceased grasshopper. Gerrick collected the specimen and brought it home for closer examination with the microscope. Later he used a field guide to identify it as a spur-throated grasshopper.

Workbox Tangrams

Tonight Gerrick asked when we were going to start using our workboxes. I asked him when he would like to and his answer was, "Right now." I wasn't really planning to start them until July (when we officially start counting days for kindergarten), so I went into quick-thinking mode. Tomorrow we'll start. Here is how I set them up:


I used adhesive velcro squares to attach a piece of a plastic tangram puzzle to each drawer.


As he completes each workbox, he will have a new piece to add to the puzzle on top of the workboxes. Every day I'll give him a new puzzle. This is totally optional for him, but I think he'll like it--we'll see. :)

Here's what I put in each drawer:

1) Gerrick is always telling me right before bedtime something that he wants to do the next day. He wants me to remind him--and of course I almost never remember. We decided that one of his boxes can be for this kind of stuff. For example, tonight he added a picture of a cat that he wants to make into a stick puppet.

2) Explode the Code primer, with 2 pages marked

3) Treasure Island--our current chapter book (We'll read at least one chapter--more if he wants.)

4) a note that reads, "Try the new microscope." (We haven't even put the batteries in it yet, and he's really looking forward to this.)

5) Trouble game

6) His weekly allowance and math journal. (He'll sort his money into spending, saving, and giving jars and graph how much more he has towards the toy he wants.)


The only thing we probably wouldn't have done anyway is #2. Sometimes we do get busy and forget about our chapter book & sometimes I forget to give him his allowance (actually I was supposed to give it to him today), so I think this system might work well as a kind of check-list of things we want to remember to do.

Snapshot Sunday

See Sarah at The Napping House to play.
Five photos of your life...no people, no arranging, no cleaning.

Happy Birthday to Me!

The guys gave me a new camera (and a cake) for my 34th!I'm really excited and looking forward to taking better pictures. :)

Nashville Zoo

We went to Homeschool Afternoon at the zoo today. Gerrick was able to pet a Kenyan sand boa, a skink, and a rabbit, and hear a little about shedding.




We also met the nice family from the ELLA echo. (Click over and say hello later.) After class we headed to the Jungle Gym where I enjoyed chatting with Rowena awhile. After a cool-off in the fountain, Gerrick was ready to explore the zoo. He really enjoyed our new binoculars.









We came to a picnic table along the path and Gerrick wanted to take a break and draw in his nature journal. (This is one area where modeling is really beginning to pay off.) :)






We found a lot of these caterpillars and an area that they had devoured! (Yes, it takes us a long time to get through the zoo because we enjoy the natural habitats as much as the exhibits.)




Oh...found a snack!





Have a great weekend!

A Really Tall Skyscraper

Notice the layers of grass, sky, clouds, and outer space.

His First Marvel Comic

He can't stay out of it. :)