An Ode To Doctor Who, Snow and Spring

Seriously we are done with snow.
 

A Little Fun with March Madness Unit Study and Star Wars

We are using the enthusiasm of NCAA tournament as a unit study to explore healthy debate habits, math concepts (decimals, probability, statistics, percentages, mean, median, mode and averages, writing algebraic expressions) and geography(history, geography and culture of a state, city or region).   Using inspiration and concepts from the following resources:

Selena @ Look We Are Learning has nice worksheets for young children.
Byrdseed : Academic March Madness
The Compass: March Madness Lesson Plans

Some families are even using brackets to learn the Presidents. (Washington vs Jackson).

While searching for ways to make this interesting and fun I have found that Lucasfilm released a Stars Star Wars March Madness bracket pitting the Light Side of the Force against the Dark Side. The March Madness competition being played out in the bracket will be held online, where fans can vote on who should win each day’s face-off. I know most of us have had our fill of Star Wars, but this is proving to be an interesting and engaging discussion. The whole mythology of Star Wars lends itself to great character character analysis.  Plus it is just fun. 
 analysis. Plus it is just fun. ;-)

Blessings,

Welcome Spring 2014

Snowy St. Patrick's Day

Wordless Wednesday: Rainy Day

We had an amazing time with the Cherry Blossom Unit Study at Co-Op. One mom supplied us with National Park Service Handouts from the Cherry Blossom festival, thank you Mrs. N. Another mom brought a video about the Blossoms, thank you Mrs. M. While another mom lead the class in craft techniques. The kids had some very creative interpretation of the Cherry Blossoms. The Student went for a Zen minimalist technique that was beautiful. 

Books about the Cherry Blossoms:

Thea Stilton: And the Cherry Blossom Adventure by Geronimo Stilton

Japanese Traditions by Setsu Broderick and Willamarie Moore

Zen Shorts by Jon J. Muth

Cherry Blossoms Say Spring by Jill Esbuam

Eliza's Cherry Trees: Japan's Gift to America

 

Washington DC Cherry Blossoms 2013 Unit Study and Co-Op Plans

A sure sign that spring has arrived in Washington DC is the sighting of Cherry Blossoms. It is annual event that brings millions into the district as well area residents out of the winter hiding places to enjoy this natural notice that winter is behind us. It is one of the most beautiful experiences here in the district. This year’s blossoms were slow bloomers because of the cold weather. Once they arrived it was amazing.

So what is all this excitement over a cherry tree and Washington? First here is a little history …

The first two of the 3,000 trees donated by Japan to the United States were planted on March 27, 1912, by first lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador. The planting was marked with a small story in the newspaper. Over the next eight years the rest of the trees would be planted around the Tidal Basin and in East Potomac Park. 

Today, 100 years later, hundreds of thousands of people come to Washington each year just to walk under the gently arching branches of the Yoshino, Akebono and Kwanzan trees. 

Many people, maybe including you, can’t imagine Washington without the cherry trees. But we probably wouldn’t be enjoying them today if it weren’t for Eliza Scidmore (pronounced Sid-more). In 1885 she visited Japan, where she first saw cherry trees. She returned to her home in Washington and spent the next 24 years pushing for the planting of cherry trees in the nation’s capital. She had no luck until she wrote a letter in 1909 to Mrs. Taft, the wife of President William Howard Taft. She loved the idea, and soon the plan for the plantings was underway. Scidmore was there when Mrs. Taft planted the first trees. 

And the rest, as they say, is history. Beautiful, beautiful history. — Tracy Grant, Washington Post 

Additional History Resources:
National Park Service
Cherry Blossom Festival

Hanami (a traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the cherry blossoms in bloom) and the 'National Cherry Blossom Festival' (an American festival held in Washington D.C. in remembrance of the occasions in which Japan gave the United States thousands of cherry blossom trees as a symbol of friendship). Every year millions attend this festival to enjoy the blossoms. A millions more enjoy viewing the “Cherry Blossom Webcam.”

Here are some photos of our Hanami last week.

http://www.nps.gov/cherry/upload/0.060_XT90_13663_NAMA_2_1.pdf

If you would like to extend you Cherry Blossom experience please check out the National Cherry Blossoms’ website for actives including earning a Girl Scout Patch.

Here are the tentative plans for our co-op lesson:

•  First we talk about the History of the Cherry Blossoms in DC
•  Then talk about the art project that we are doing 
•  3 make your own cherry blossoms:
•  The guys will love these scrolls http://artprojectgirl.blogspot.com/2011/05/cherry-blossom-scrolls.html 
• http://www.docstoc.com/docs/79339520/Cherry-Blossom-Tree-Instructions-This-colorful-craft-encourages
•  http://alphamom.com/family-fun/holidays/cherry-blossom-art-from-a-recycled-soda-bottle/ 
• http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Cherry-Blossom-Art-Using-the-Bottom-of-a-Soda-Bottle
•  Each person does their own work of art 
• Then we talk about a brief history of the library 
• Ask them about what they like about the library
•  Then make giant "Thank You" card for the Children's Library team with Cherry Blossoms 

Also there will be microscopes the set up a Cherry Blossom science station to examine the petals and buds of samples.

 

15 Goals for this Week

I have not posted goals in a long time. The primary reason is because I beat myself up when I don’t accomplished half of the goals. So I opted out but still beat myself up for not planning. Does that make sense? Well after rereading Crystal Paine’s book I realized that maybe…just maybe I am planning to do too much in one week. My type is was showing big time. This week I am going with basic goals and limiting myself to three goals per category. The primary goal this week is to access how realistic is my goal planning process. 

This week’s goals:

Family/Marriage/Mothering Goals 

1. Finish Phantom Tollbooth aloud at lunch.
2. Have a movie night with hubby and not fall asleep. 
3. Have 30 minute couch time three times this week with kiddo where we talk /read/listen to any subject of his choosing, including Star Wars. 

Personal Goals 
4. Memorize listen to Pastor’s sermon Big Dream. 
5. Complete 2 miles five times this week. 
6. Continue with the Early to Rise Challenge. 

Homeschool Goals
7. Do a complete a seven day school plan and post on blog. 
8. Schedule work on The Strange Case of Origami Yoda.
9. Establish and post March/April Calendar with all activities and play dates.

 Homemaking Goals 
10. Do a complete a seven day menu plan. 
11. Develop a Spring Cleaning/Decluttering project plan. 
12. Start T-shirt blanket. 

Business Goals 
13. Schedule co-op planning meeting.
14. Post in blog five times this week including Wordless Wednesday. 
15. Investigate how to update blog.


 

Beware the ides of March..Literature Study

Caesar: Who is it in the press that calls on me?
 I hear a tongue shriller than all the music
Cry "Caesar!" 
Speak, Caesar is turn'd to hear. 

 Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March. 

 Caesar: What man is that?

 Brutus: A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. 

 Julius Caesar Act 1, scene 2, 15–19

In honor of the ides of March we will be studying Shakespeare's Julius Caesar in the form of 
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar for Kids by by Brendan P. Kelso, Hannah Sidaris-Green and Shana Lopez.

 

Happy Pi Day- Homeschool Celebration

Happy Pi Day!

We will be celebrating Pi Day with Co-Op friends.  We are scheduled to complete scavenger hunt, share treat and several Pi themed games.  At 3:14 pm we will sing Happy Birthday to Einstein.

We will post all the fun later.  But here is a peek how we kicked off Pi Day.

Fine Motor Challenge: Cat's Cradle

Every month I try to have a fine motor challenge for the student. This month I went "old school" with Klutz Cat's Cradle Book.

 According to the description: Great for building fine-motor skills and following directions

 

Happy Valentine's Day

Wordless Wednesday:Ninja Grippy Socks

QOTD: What are the ashes all about?

Ash Wednesday Lent in Two Minutes

Go Red and Save Your Heart!

Teaching the 57th Inaugural

Congratulations, You've received a badge! 

 Here's what Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies said:
Thank you, Guidemom, for participating in the conference 'Teaching the 57th c.' We look forward to your continued involvement in the Smithsonian Education Online Conference community.

Explaining The Card Catalog

Today's writing assignment was how to use reference material as a source for writing.  In the lesson discussion it introduced the card catalog. I remember spending days on this in elementary school and being bored out of my mind.  We spent a whole week looking through the cards labeling each section over and over again.  I was NOT looking forward to sharing this experience with my digital kiddo.

Thankful I did not have to worry.  The K12 program introduces the card catalog as point of history and moves on to a digital exercise of how to search in the library.  But in the interest of due diligence I wanted to actually show my child an actual card catalog.  Easy?  No.  There is not one in the whole county.  Even the historical small libraries are digital. They only place we can find one is downtown at the Library of Congress.
Field Trip!!!!!

We did find a movie on Brain Pop Jr. and YouTube about the card catalog.  Enjoy!

Homeschool Co-Op: Homemade Christmas Gifts

Our weekly co-op has done a great this semester in focusing on giving. The kids have done a great job giving this year with cards sent to the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes and over 10 boxes full gifts for Operation Christmas Child.  In that spirit of giving this week we focused on homemade gifts for relatives and friends. 


Station 1- Clay decorations:

http://niccolaontuesday.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/3-tuesdays-till-christmas.html
http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2010/12/snowflake-christmas-tree-ornaments.html

• Rolling Pins
• Christmas Cookie Cutters
• Buttons
• Quick Drying Crayola clay
• Paint Brushes
• Paint
• 
  

Station 2- Ribbon Tree Christmas Card for Kids
http://blog.memetales.com/2012/12/ribbon-tree-christmas-card/

• Sheet of thick paper/card
• Curling Ribbon
• Star
• Tape
• Glue
• Scissors

Station 3- Christmas Shrinky Dinks (kids 7 and older)

 
Station 4-Thumbprint Reindeer Card
http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2010/12/dubien-family-la-thumbprint-reindeer.html

• paper
• brown paint
• brown marker
• googly eyes
• black and red construction paper
• glue
• scissors

The plan was to do each of the activities in stations with 3-6 kids at each station. Well that was the plan but the kids (as kids will do) split into their regular groups of close buddies. We had a mom at every table to hang out with the kids as well as help out. It went smoothly and everyone seemed to have fun. The boys did all the crafts and for those with boys you know getting them to do crafts is like pulling teeth. But boys being boys we got some interesting takes on traditional Christmas themes.

 Like these snowboarding robotic Cyclops reindeer.

Or these beautiful multicolored clay ornaments.

 My personal favorite was the Ninja Elf. As stated by my son " Because you need stealth to be an Elf."

It was a great day with great families whom we love.

Reflections of a Grady Doctor: More of The Best of What's Around.

Reflections of a Grady Doctor: More of The Best of What's Around.:   I have a friend who is having a very hard week. Today is the anniversary of something very hurtful for her and I am really, really thin...

Wordless Wednesday: Plant Science

 

Click on picture to see the details.