Week 9

It's been a productive week and we are actually moving quickly through curriculum!!  We're still loving our history and science choices--they have been great choices for us.

Setting up Dominoes to learn about potential and kinetic energy:

Pumpkin art:

More energy experiments...we built a catapult:

Nature walk to complete a bingo chart:

We also carved pumpkins this week to get ready for Halloween!

Week 8

This week in science, we did a lot of experiments.  

 We exploded bags outside:

 We used magnets to move animals:

We baked the best s'more goodies:

All of these experiments were done to focus on 1 of the 8 types of energy we learned about (although we skipped nuclear).  I had a chart drawn to show them what they should draw in their science journal, labeled with each energy type.  They recorded the experiment in the correct box.  However, during the afternoon, Samuel filled out my chart with accurate examples!  They weren't the same experiments we did but they were right!

We painted in art using glue and food coloring:

 In history, we spent our week learning about Joan of Arc.  We ended the week with a movie about her life and death.  It was extremely interesting!!

Week 7

 We had a busy week in science.  We started our new unit, which is on Energy.  The kids went on an energy hunt:

The twins had some extra work defining energy terms and reporting back to each other.

Finally, we had some fun making atoms and molecules with different colored playdough and toothpicks.  I think they really enjoyed this even though I cringed to see the colors mixed--ha!

 We completed our read aloud, Half Magic, and the kids could either draw what would happen to their wish if they had the half magic token or they could make a correct wish.  In order of the pictures, Nathan wished to be in Hawaii so half of him made it there.  The people around him are throwing up to see half his body.  Haha!

Below that is Samuel's picture.  He wished to be a pig so half of him is a pig.  His misspelling of 'what' was intentional (texting language).

Hunter wished to be in the desert so half of him is there.  Lily wished for the Twilight movies and books, only twice the amount, so she received one copy of all the movies and books.  :)  

On Wednesday, we went to Bloomsbury Farm.  I didn't get a lot of pictures.  It was very windy and muddy!  We had fun and I even tried out the haunted house!

 Making a coat of arms in history:

We had a couple half days because of a dr appt and a field trip.  This upcoming week also has a couple half days but I've planned a full load!  Halloween is our first scheduled day off so we're trying to go strong until then!

Week 6

This week, we made illuminated letters in history.  We also had an interesting week comparing and contrasting Alfred the Great and William the Conqueror.

We finished our science unit by dissecting crayfish.  Nathan was not into this at all and the other boys did okay but were happy to be done.  Lily stuck around to dissect a little more at the end.

On Friday, we had a field trip out of town.  My parents went along for the fun!  This picture pretty much shows their attitude about traveling 2 hours to go on a tour of old things.  Haha!  It was fun.  :)