Seven Snippets (5.20.12)

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More LEGO: Anakin's Jedi Interceptor

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I downloaded a free app to the iPod this week: Arithmetic Invaders Express: Grade K-2 Math Facts. At first he didn't like it, but I encouraged him to give it some time. He did and by the time Rick got home his attitude had changed so much that he got it back out to show him.  He continued to play it some throughout the week, so in this case nudging paid off. Knowing when to encourage and when to back off is sometimes challenging, especially when you are working with a child who can easily be paralyzed by perfectionism.

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He did so many creative things this week; I'm going to include several of my favorites here.

After some fabulous exploring beyond where the sidewalk ends, he made up a sidewalk game using the smurf, two rocks and some small beads he'd found.

He made a dummy target for use with the nerf gun he recently bought and taped a cardboard tube to the door as a holder/hanger for his cardboard sword. I asked him about the red yarn hanging down--that's the pole the dummy is standing on!

One night we went out to eat BBQ.  While there, Toddlers & Tiaras was on the television. This show kind of shocked Gerrick, but he thought one girl's dance was really creative.  She started out as a marionette puppet.  As soon as he saw it, he knew he had to be a human marionette, too.  So the next day he turned himself into one and stayed in character all day long!  This photo was taken early in the day, but he eventually had a string for each arm as well and had me and, later, Rick control him.  At one point he said he needed some music.  I turned on a swing station on Pandora and as he started dancing, he said, "Oh, this is perfect puppet music!"

He made a magnetic bomb. (Apparently this is somehow related to Star Wars.) Here it is placed on the dishwasher; the kitchen can be a dangerous place.

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After seeing the animatronic dinosaurs at the zoo, we spent some time looking around online for related videos.  We watched a lot, but nothing really worth sharing.  Then he remembered that one of his Popular Mechanics for Kids DVDs showed an animatronic dinosaur.  He found the scene on the "Rip, Roaring Rollercoasters" disc and it was actually far better than anything we'd found online.  It showed how animatronic dinosaurs are built and how the skin actually zips apart for easy access for repairs!

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He read a book about the California Gold Rush and was inspired to immediately dig for gold.

We recently had our backyard fenced.  I'm thankful we decided to put a gate in the back so that we still have easy access to the field behind us.  Eventually there will be more houses, but for now it's a great place to play.  And since he likes me to hang out nearby, the fence provides me with great shade from the afternoon sun!

At one point, as he was cleaning his finds he said, "You do know that I don't really think this is gold, right?"

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Among other books, I've been reading aloud Farmer Boy.  This week when we read the chapter about Almanzo getting a knife for Christmas, Gerrick asked if he'd be old enough for a knife when he was nine.  I told him that he was old enough now.  

     "I AM?!"  

     "Well, what do you think?"

     (big smile) "I guess so."

So we talked a bit more about it and that owning a tool like that isn't really about how old you are but how responsible you are.  When his daddy got home it was discussed further, and Rick ended up giving him one of his pocket knives.  We all agreed that (for now) he could keep it in his pocket whenever we aren't around other children.

Have a great week!

This post will be linked at:
7 Snippets from Unschooling
Life in an Instant