First Day: 3rd Grade

Finger Knitting

I don't know how to knit or crochet, I would like to. So I found a Finger Knitting video on the web (see end of post) and tried it. It was easy and kinda fun. G saw me and wanted to try himself... he was hooked! He got all excited and wanted to make daddy a scarf and then a rug... well he ended up with a mini scarf for himself but was very proud. We will tackle the other projects later.

After one day

First Day of First Grade

August 4, 2008

Junior Gourmet

G learned how to make scrambled eggs with minimal supervision. Now he'll eat them three times a day. Hee Hee (I don't know if you can see the color of the yolk but they are Bright, dark, yummy orange. They are from one of our homeschool friends. We cannot , I cannot, eat store eggs anymore. They just pale in not only color but flavor. Can you tell I'm out. LOL)

What a Week

Are We Done Yet?

Hmmm , It's that time of year. G is ready to be done but I think that is because he hears everyone else talking about school being over. What he doesn't realize is that all of those days we "unschooled" put us behind in our traditional work. What is driving me crazy is that old habits die hard and I cannot get over the fact that we are not close to being done with our texts. Curse you Public Education Habits!!!! I try to talk myself into understanding that even though we are not even 1/2 way through the math text it is OK since we skipped the "kindergarten" curriculum and it is a mastery program. And we were done with state standards in October. But it is NOT WORKING!! I'm not listening!!! The STRESS!!!

I think the stress is compounded by the fact that I am in planning mode for next year. Ugh. Planning is my favorite thing and about the only thing I miss about teaching PS. But usually you are done with one year before you start the next. LOL

Here are the subjects and resources I am considering... if we ever finish.....

Reading

• continue Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading

Comprehension

• Author Fiesta

• see History

Language Arts

• Language Lessons for the Very Young (after OPGTR is done)

Math

• Beta

Science

• Animals
• Human Body
• Plants

History

• Story of the World - Ancients

Music

• Piano
  
• Homeschool Choir (new)
• Story of the Orchestra
  

Nature Study

• Green Hour Challenges
  

1st Recital

G had his first piano recital this weekend. It was informal, the children played at lunchtime at a local Senior Home. We were proud of his playing as he has only been taking lessons for a month. He played Old MacDonald Had a Note, Merrily We Roll Along, and Men from Mars.

Real Books at Last

G read some real books all alone!!!
WooHoo!!!

EPCOT

We really thought that EPCOT would be overall, boring for G but we were wrong! They have added Kidcot, hands-on tables, that are geared for elementary kids and a lot of fun. It is like a learning scavenger hunt. We learned about the Venus Flytrap, Car Design, The Food Pyramid, Sound, & Sea Life. You can do a similar hunt through the World Showcase where you decorate a mask then collect trinkets from each county. G was too tired by the time we got to that task... so next time.

Kidcot station one- Venus Flytrap


Car Design

G really enjoyed the boat ride through the experimental greenhouses. We had just seen the Mickey pumpkins on TV before we left home and it was exciting to see them growing on our trip. These pumpkins are growing without dirt, hydroponics.





We went into this little building, outside the Kodak building, with signs "Meet Figment", Kodaks Purple Dragon. When we got inside there was no dragon but fun house mirrors surrounded by wonderful inspirational messages and ideas! I think it was more for me than G because I struggle with focusing too heavily on academics in our classroom and the main reason I homeschool is so he doesn't loose his creativity and excitement. I need to make a poster size print of this for our classroom.


Kodak asks... What if pictures could talk? As you step on each photo it plays the sound you might associate with it. G had fun and ran off some steam.


There are computers and video games all over EPCOT for children to explore. This one is about ants.


EPCOT is a haven of photo opportunities... here are a few of our favorites.

In Norway

In Bruce


In Bliss

My personal highlight was getting to ride/ drive a Segway! I have always wanted to ride one and you can in Innovations East.


What a wonderful Day!

Up Up & Away

I wish the rest of our flight had been so fun.
G did not like his first flight and slept most of the way, arms locked with momma & daddy waiting for it to be over. It was so cool though how the co-pilot gave up his seat and let G sit down. They answered all his questions. They gave his a set of wings. And a pilot waiting with us for our return flight gave him another set of wings and a pilots map (really neat!)

Whew! What a Fieldtrip

Whew, we've been back for a week and I can't get caught up.
Well if you couldn't tell from the graphic we went to Walt Disney World. We were going to go to the beach but this amazing deal presented itself from the awesome homeschooling family that is 3D Travel Company. So we forgoed the beach this year and spent a week at Mickey's House. AWESOME! Do not overlook WDW as a haven of learning opportunities. I will be posting some of those learning endeavors in later posts but have been itching to share some of our pictures with you.


Yumm, Cookies as big as your head!


Sweet Ride! We had only planned on renting a stroller one day, at EPCOT, but we ended up getting one for 4... worth every penny!




Everyday ended the same way!





G got this balloon hat and sword at a late night party... This pic was right before we left for the plane. They let him take it to the gate but he couldn't take it on the plane... something about popping with the change in air pressure. So in order to avoid the sky marshals, we found two little girls getting off of a plane and gave them the balloons.

Our First Lapbook: Ants

We created our first Lapbook today! I am very excited about it and its usefulness in reviewing lessons taught. I wrote down all of G's narrations for the past 3 weeks and used those to caption the pictures.

MMMMM--AAAAA---TTTTTT: We're Reading!

picture from bobbooks.com

We started formal reading lessons this week... and we can READ!
I am so excited. G is amazed. Daddy is so impressed and Nana & Papa are beaming.
This is a huge step. I can't wait to find out what those silly Mat & Sam do next.