Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The Secret Powers of Time
This video was awesome. The part that really stuck out to me is that the world is progressing however the way children are fed information is not. Children's minds move 100 mi/hr but our educational system is still stuck going 2 mi/hr. They cannot just sit there and listen. They need more. It makes me so grateful that we're doing virtual school. My son doesn't get to control everything but he has interactive online activities and we have a chart so he can choose which subjects he wants to do. As long as he gets all of those finished by the end of the week then he can do what he wants -- the order he wants, the projects he wants, whatever experiments he wants and he loves it! Are your children moving with progress and have trouble with classes in traditional school or are they okay (only answer this after watching the video to understand)? What are your thoughts on the video?
Are you part of the 20% who sit down and eat dinner with your family or part of the 80% who don't? We are in the 20%. We make sure to plan dinner every night. We also have family night once a week.
I just thought this was such an informative video. What are your thoughts on it? Do you think it's all a bunch of crock or was there really some useful info in there?
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Best Day Ever!
That is what my kids said about today. It was the best day ever! Of course, they say this often b/c we like to do fun things around here. So, I am sure you are eager to hear what exactly we did today to make my 5 & 3 yo say that it was the BEST day ever.... Well, we made smelly playdough. hehe!! We have been learning about our senses in science and today we focused on the sense of smell so we made playdough with lavender oil. You could use vanilla extract or whatever too.
- 3 c flour
- 3 c water
- 1.5 c salt
- 3 TBS cream of tartar
- 3 TBS oil
- 1 TBS extract.
DIBELS
Monday, August 29, 2011
Astronomy
Most people who know my 5 year old son know that he LOVES space. He LOVES any type of science. His plan is to become a physicist and go to outer space. Hopefully, they'll plan a new space program by then. We'll see.
We are fortunate enough to have a planetarium in our little city. A couple of weeks ago he was able to go and learn more about space. He also watched the little video called "Follow the Drinking Gourd" which is based off the story about the slaves and the underground railroad who followed the Big Dipper to escape. It's a very cool story. Then, last week he went to the observatory and was able to look through the huge telescope and see all kinds of things he can't normally see. He came home and told me about a double star he saw. Did you know there were double stars? I sure didn't. So, my 5 year old then explained to me what a double star is and why one star was blue and the other yellow (I did know why they were different colors -- just to clarify). So, I then set to work to find an activity we can do at home to help strengthen this love of astronomy. His virtual school has an astronomy club but you have to be in third grade to join so we'll just have to do our own. Here is the activity that I found.
While you won’t be able to see any far out planets with an empty paper towel roll, it will help your child focus on what she’s looking at. To make this homemade “telescope”, have your child paint her paper towel roll and decorate it with stickers of the stars and planets. Getting your child involved in the process will build anticipation for the evening.
Research the Night Sky
Some constellations are easier to see than others. Ursa Major, "The Great Bear", is the most popular constellation because it is visible in the Northern Hemisphere year round. The Big Dipper is actually not a constellation at all, but part of The Great Bear. And the North Star, Polaris, is not the brightest star in the sky, but a very important one. Because of where it sits in the sky it appears not to move, making it the marker to find north from anywhere on Earth! Orion, "The Great Hunter", is another favorite of junior astronomers and easily visible from January through April. Teaching your child the legends behind the constellations may also helps her remember what to look for and get excited about it along the way. For example, Orion is the great hunter of the night sky traveling with his two loyal dogs - the constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor. The three stars which make up Orion’s belt that hold his sword are easy to spot. And from there you can locate an array of other constellations.
Not sure what to look for? Using the Internet is a quick and easy way to find out which stars are currently in your area. Check out googolplex.cuna.org and www.astronomical.org. You can also often find this information in your local newspaper.
Let the Gazing Begin
You will probably have to let your child stay up a little later than usual, but lying in the backyard with mom and dad looking at the night sky will be an experience well worth it! It will take your eyes 30-40 minutes to adjust to the darkness, so be patient. As your child looks up at the stars with her handmade telescope, ask your child, “What do you see in the sky?” Explain that the stars make pictures called constellations, and that constellations are used to help people remember which stars are which. Check out the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, part of the Big Dog constellation.
On a clear, dark night, you can see between 1,000 and 1,500 stars with the bare eye. Point out a few constellations but also encourage your child to find her own pictures in the sky. If she were an astronomer, what would she name them?
This is a fun way to introduce the beginning concepts of astronomy and get your child excited about something science-related. It’s also a great way to spend a summer night with the whole family involved.
What are your child's interests? Do you do anything to help them grow in those interests at home? I love getting ideas!
We are fortunate enough to have a planetarium in our little city. A couple of weeks ago he was able to go and learn more about space. He also watched the little video called "Follow the Drinking Gourd" which is based off the story about the slaves and the underground railroad who followed the Big Dipper to escape. It's a very cool story. Then, last week he went to the observatory and was able to look through the huge telescope and see all kinds of things he can't normally see. He came home and told me about a double star he saw. Did you know there were double stars? I sure didn't. So, my 5 year old then explained to me what a double star is and why one star was blue and the other yellow (I did know why they were different colors -- just to clarify). So, I then set to work to find an activity we can do at home to help strengthen this love of astronomy. His virtual school has an astronomy club but you have to be in third grade to join so we'll just have to do our own. Here is the activity that I found.
What You Need:
- Empty paper towel roll
- Stickers of stars and planets
- Paint
- Internet or local newspaper
- Blanket
What You Do:
Make a TelescopeWhile you won’t be able to see any far out planets with an empty paper towel roll, it will help your child focus on what she’s looking at. To make this homemade “telescope”, have your child paint her paper towel roll and decorate it with stickers of the stars and planets. Getting your child involved in the process will build anticipation for the evening.
Research the Night Sky
Some constellations are easier to see than others. Ursa Major, "The Great Bear", is the most popular constellation because it is visible in the Northern Hemisphere year round. The Big Dipper is actually not a constellation at all, but part of The Great Bear. And the North Star, Polaris, is not the brightest star in the sky, but a very important one. Because of where it sits in the sky it appears not to move, making it the marker to find north from anywhere on Earth! Orion, "The Great Hunter", is another favorite of junior astronomers and easily visible from January through April. Teaching your child the legends behind the constellations may also helps her remember what to look for and get excited about it along the way. For example, Orion is the great hunter of the night sky traveling with his two loyal dogs - the constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor. The three stars which make up Orion’s belt that hold his sword are easy to spot. And from there you can locate an array of other constellations.
Not sure what to look for? Using the Internet is a quick and easy way to find out which stars are currently in your area. Check out googolplex.cuna.org and www.astronomical.org. You can also often find this information in your local newspaper.
Let the Gazing Begin
You will probably have to let your child stay up a little later than usual, but lying in the backyard with mom and dad looking at the night sky will be an experience well worth it! It will take your eyes 30-40 minutes to adjust to the darkness, so be patient. As your child looks up at the stars with her handmade telescope, ask your child, “What do you see in the sky?” Explain that the stars make pictures called constellations, and that constellations are used to help people remember which stars are which. Check out the brightest star in the sky, Sirius, part of the Big Dog constellation.
On a clear, dark night, you can see between 1,000 and 1,500 stars with the bare eye. Point out a few constellations but also encourage your child to find her own pictures in the sky. If she were an astronomer, what would she name them?
This is a fun way to introduce the beginning concepts of astronomy and get your child excited about something science-related. It’s also a great way to spend a summer night with the whole family involved.
What are your child's interests? Do you do anything to help them grow in those interests at home? I love getting ideas!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Out of School Programs
Funding for public schools right now is a bit of a joke. They are laying off the people who teach our children regularly and cutting out extra curricular activities, especially the arts. More and more families spend extra time doing extra curricular activities after school. What types of activities do your children do?
My son, kindergartner, is involved in Tae Kwon Do. It has been amazing watching the growth and the independence come from only two hours a week. He is making new friends, developing interests and skills that he wouldn't develop at home or in school. Today he is getting tested for his next belt -- white, orange, YELLOW!!! So, what do your kids do?
My son, kindergartner, is involved in Tae Kwon Do. It has been amazing watching the growth and the independence come from only two hours a week. He is making new friends, developing interests and skills that he wouldn't develop at home or in school. Today he is getting tested for his next belt -- white, orange, YELLOW!!! So, what do your kids do?
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Education
I have been asked to moderate a group called "Moms for Education." This means that I will be required to have 10 original posts each week. Wow!! So, I think I will be posting here a lot more often. I am going to try to put what I write here since this is a blog about education. True, the type of education that I do is a bit different from what the majority of America does. My children don't sit in a desk. Instead, they learn at the dining room table, the kitchen, the living room, the yard, the park... the places are endless. We have many opportunities to learn. Anyways, that's not what I'm writing about right now. I am just writing to say that I will probably be writing on here more often. Okay, yes, that was a pointless post but I felt like saying something so here it is! :) Enjoy and look forward (or maybe not) of hearing from me more often. :)
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