'12/13 Week 20 Day 1

We enjoyed having Dad home for four days in a row! It was a great work-filled weekend. Andrew and Dad were busy as bees building outside every day. Andrew got to pound in some nails and help (or hinder) Dad for hours.

We got our shoebox 'camera' working! It was truly cool to see the world turned up-side down. Here's Andrew helping Dad.

Here's the same 'picture' right-side up.

Saara with her arms raised above her head. Up-side down, of course.

The 'camera' worked!

The Boxcar children gave us a delicious idea for the week end - to bake an apple pie.

We squeezed in a morning at the park.

Making friends on the playground.

The busy week end ushered in a busy first day at school. We did some old things in a new way and did some new things in the old way. One of the 'old' things, but new to Andrew, was the fountain pen. One does not see this around much any longer. It is, however, a very efficient tool for teaching good penmanship. Putting pressure on the tip, holding your hand correctly, writing with the perfect speed, etc. I can not think of any other tool that is better suited for teaching cursive. This is something that Andrew started today as well and he loved it all.

Our history lesson brought us from Sparta to Athens and the Olympic Games. Andrew remembered the dress-up Olympics we did last year and he asked me if we could do it again. Of course! We might not have costumes for the weather is not hot and humid as it was during our last year's 'Olympics', but we will go outside and go over the pentathlon events one more time, plus I have a new craft to add to the mix this year.

Science was a lot of fun today. We learned about the ear and how we hear. We also reviewed a bit about the sound and how it travels. I like the book we are using - good illustrations and easy-to- understand descriptions.

Both children loved listening and learning Saara's song of the week "Ants Went Marching". Even at the dinner table they tried to hum it.

The boy with the fountain pen.

Getting used to the pen takes a while. Simple exercises of tracing circles, loops, etc. is a good beginning for cursive.

Getting to know new spelling words in a different way today.

Saara's collection or 'loot' of things beginning with "J".

Andrew enjoyed hearing the difference between talking without and through a tube.

Simple piece of Press and Seal at the end of the tube acted as 'the eardrum'. Andrew actually felt the voice vibrating the plastic.

A very simplified inner ear. I wanted Andrew to remember the organs that carry the sound vibration to our brain.

One of Saara's assignments: to use blocks to build something (a zoo, a farm, etc) for her animals. She chose a stable for her horses.

Creating problems. Math problems. Andrew choosing numbers for his assignment.

Once he had his numbers, it was easy to make up the addition and subtraction facts.

Spring is almost here! A pot of primroses reminds me of that.