Time4Learning

I've been invited to try Time4Learning's online education program for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience! Find out how to write your owncurriculum review.

Human Body

Today we finished our Human Body unit in our Nancy Larson 1 Science curriculum.  We have LOTS of books to go along with this unit so we read and learned a ton about our bodies.  We used The Usborne Internet Linked Children's Encyclopedia, Uncover the Human Body, Your Insides by Joanna Cole, and The Usborne Flip-Flap Body Book.  We also read and watched the Magic School us Human Body.  We watched several online videos.  

We made paper plate skeletons.  

 We explored how the body processes sugar faster than flour.

 We made an esophagus and stomach and used our hands as stomach muscles to digest the bread.  They LOVED this.  

We also soaked chicken legs in vinegar.  The legs were suppose to become rubbery but it didn't work.  

We will switch make to Social Studies next week and return to Science in a few weeks to explore insects.  

This Cowboy Can Spell!

Fun Dip

Our children received Fun Dip from some friends for Valentine's Day.  

When you eat the whole stick before the powder is gone just use your fingers, don't worry it will come off after about two baths.

My Valentine's

We keep Valentine's Day pretty simple around here.  We made red play dough and added in pink and silver glitter (they thought this was FABULOUS!).  I have them heart and candy shaped cookie cutters, candles, cupcake liners, rolling pins, etc and they had lots of fun multiple times with this--even included a neighbor in on the fun one day.  

 We also had two families join us for lunch after church on Sunday and set the table with a little Valentine's flare.  We made each guest a placemat from a Valentine's Day coloring sheet and stamped his/her name on it.  Made the table so sweet and special and no one had to guess where to sit.  We baked a heart shaped brownie and made this simple, yet oh so yummy and pretty treat.  To make put Hersey Kisses on top of square pretzels.  Place in 250 degree oven for 5 minutes.  Gently press M&M's on top while chocolate is still warm.  Salty and Sweet......Perfect!  And a super easy snack for the kids to help with! 

Who Has Time?

I LOVE to read blogs.  Mostly homeschool blogs.  But while they can provide lots of great ideas, they can be very discouraging.  I see all these beautiful posts of these ideal days of learning and exploring these super moms have not only planned and implemented, but then found time to blog about it.  I have a passionate desire to teach my children in a creative way.  I have an abundance of ideas to do just that.  What I don't seem to have is the sufficient time to plan and prepare for these wonderful days.  And then to blog about them too?!?  It just is not happening.  

So our days are not quite as exciting as I would like.  Our creativity is not as often as I desire.  But I will embrace the moments we have, pray that God will show me how to etch out more time in my day, and share with you when I can.  

Here are a few things we have been up to the last few weeks.  

We spent a few days reading Katy and the Big Snow.  We talked about important buildings/services in our community and used boxes to create some of those places.  Here is Caleb with his hospital, police station, and jail.

 We made snowball cookies.  I usually plan more snow activities and crafts this time of year, but since we have been spending more time in our summer clothes enjoying the spring like weather than sipping hot chocolate, I just haven't been in the mood to make snowman crafts.  

 I won't even tell you how long the powder sugar from these cookies stayed on my kitchen floor!

This week we read Night of the Moonjellies.  We had lots of fun learning about jellyfish and the kids were each given a super cool squishy glow in the dark jellyfish which I have neglected to get even one picture of.  

The kids were delighted to finish up our boring social studies unit (hoping to find much better curriculum for that area next year) and get back to a fantastic Nancy Larson Science Unit.  We are currently learning about animal habitats.  We alternate social studies and science.  Two more social studies await us unless I decide to just ditch it.  

We greatly enjoyed another trip to Storyland Theater for a production of The Princess and the Pea.  We joined friends for another Book It Pizza Party.  Caleb and Hannah loved making snow crafts at the winter library program.  They have also continued with gymnastics twice a month and Hannah was thrilled to have the opportunity to watch a friend compete in an actual gymnastics competition.  

Hannah's reading skills have greatly improved this week.  She is able to read LOTS of simple books to us now and loves that she can almost read every word of the prayers in her night time princess devotion book.  Caleb has been reading lots again.  I think he must have finished 5 or more chapter books in the last few weeks.  I am going to have to start letting him check out 3 at a time instead of only 1 each time we go to the library.  

Caleb and his daddy enjoyed a special night together on Saturday.  They went to SC to watch a KY Wildcats basketball game.  Hannah and I had a great time at home crafting, painting nails, reading, singing, and mostly playing with play dough.  Here is the cheeseburger she made then asked me to take a picture to send to her daddy and Caleb.  Made Caleb crave a cheeseburger so Ron took him to McDonald's for a burger after the game.  

Now wasn't that a fun recap of our last few weeks.  Blogging is good therapy for me.  A fresh reminder that we really are having fun while we learn.  Hope you enjoyed!  

And we begin again...

After enjoying three weeks off for Christmas break, Monday found us beginning a week once again with the Pledge, calendar time, and Bible lessons.  Over all we had a very pleasant return.