SCIENCE & HISTORY: ICE AGE

The Ice Age was COLD and from the biblical worldview, a resulting climate effect due to the Deluge. We are learning about this in both Science and History. The project was simple: Who can hold an ice cube the longest? Who can hold two? Whose will melt the fastest?

We set the timer for three minutes:

Logan won & no one wanted a second round :)

HITORY PROJECT: Made In His Image

In (Mystery of) History, we began to discuss Creation and the design of man.  The project  was to "create" our own little people out of clay. Using Crayola Air Dry Clay, we each sculpted a "Mini-Mee" of sorts, as we contemplated the great care that went into our very design. We were also challenged to create a new animal from scratch... one that no one has ever heard of before, in the same manner that all animals were first dreamed up. Everyone got REAL creative here, not to mention MESSY! .

CHANDLER & his creature:

LOGAN & her creature

FISHER & his creature

This was a great discussion builder and personally gave me a whole new attitude about those little "flaws" I seem to notice about myself.

When I was "creating" my little Mee, there weren't any flaws... it was just the way she turned out and I liked each small detail that made my sculpture unique. I have not worked with clay a lot in this manner before, but I have always wanted to (I have always wanted a potter's wheel too!) I sincerely plan to seek out classes in clay/pottery in the future... as you will see, I got pretty invested in finishing my Mee, long after the children had moved on to bigger and better things...

My Creature (a hummingbee!) & Myself (lumps and all!):

SCIENCE PROJECT: Fossils & Earth Strata

SCIENCE PROJECT: Fossils & Earth Strata

Our current studies have included fossils and how they are made, as well as the different layers of Earth and the strata formed by different textures of soil. Our project involved adding several differently weighted ground materials to a jar ( we used pebbles, rocks, sand and twigs). We then filled the remaining space in the jar with water. Each child took a turn being the "earthquake" and then we set our jar on a table to settle. We checked the jar one minute later and then another 30 minutes later. The longer the jar sits and settles, the clearer the water becomes and the layers of soil are more easily defined. It has been a few weeks since we did this project, the water is now pretty much back to it's "pre-earthquake(s)" state.



Through this project, we were able to observe the effects of the Deluge on the Earth's surface. We could see how different objects were covered quickly enough under the moving sludge to be fossilized.

We must resist the urge to shake the jar again :)

HOME EC: Blueberry Biscuits

HOME EC: Blueberry Biscuits

We put our measuring skills and instruction following ability to the test one morning not too long ago. The result was (thankfully) edible!

Step 1: Find Early Birds

Step 2: "Stir it up, lil' darlin'(s)...."

Step 3: Place resulting concoction on cookie sheets & bake

Step 4: Pour the milk, breakfast is ready!

( I mean, "Class Dismissed!")

ART PROJECT: Fusion Beads

ART PROJECT: Fusion Beads

Each child was given a bead board and got to spend a little time on their "design". I then took a low heat iron and melted the beads to cries of "Wow!" and "Cool!" and "Awesome!" After their first design, they took a few beads and slid them onto toothpicks to make "worms".

Chandler's design:

Logan's design:

Fisher's design (w/a little help from Mom):

various worms:

This was a fun, new activity; one they look forward to repeating many times again.

Making Play Doh

I know that judging by the blog posts, it looks like the students at Aletheia haven't been doing a whole lot. On the contrary, we've posted very little because we've been doing all sorts of things and can't find the time to sit still or find our fingers too messy to type!

Recently, we made play dough using this recipe: Traditional Play Doh

First we mixed the dough, then I placed it in plastic baggies and made a small indention. I then added drops of food coloring and imitation coconut flavoring for scent. Each kids kneaded a few bags to blend the colors in and smooth the dough.

VIEW AS SLIDESHOW

First Day 2008

We jumped ahead of our September 1 start date--if not to go ahead and start ticking off some of our required days, then because most of our books had finally arrived and between the extra rain and all the idle time it created, we've been needing something to busy ourselves. Our first day went fairly well- there are some hinges we'll oil along the way, but that is to be expected I suppose, especially with so many new textbooks to explore.

CLASS OF 2008/2009

(SLIDESHOW)

There are still a good many things I'd like to do in our "classroom" but for now I am just happy to be able to see the floor! Want the nickel tour thus far?

As you climb the steps, you are encouraged to sing the alphabet song along with us-- there is no such letter as ELEMENOHPEE!...when we make our exit later, test your skill at reciting the whole 26 member set from Z to A...without peeking!

As you make your way up to the classroom, you'll notice some very fine art hanging along the stairwell... these penguins will eventually have something to say, as soon as I remember to buy more chalk!

Logan's Penguin

Chandler's Penguin

Fisher's Penguin

My Penguin (you didn't think there would be paint, brushes and a blank canvas and me not play too, did ya?)

Enter through our very welcoming door- but KNOCK first or we'll have to sic the class penguin on you... my personal favorite post on the door:"AA meets here"

As you open the door, you'll be invited to go bananas for reading... but you can only have a banana if you've read the whole book and filled out a book review report for your journal! By the first half, we hope to have given George a small bellyache with all the bananas we stick under his tree.

Kiddie Lockers... just don't call them cubbies!

Focal point... out "blackboard" as it were... see those numbers and letters hanging a' la clothesline style? All it would take to drop them is a small house fly I'm sure... keep this on your prayer list! (dear God, please keep Kelly's letters up all year-Amen!...thanks!)

"I pledge allegiance to the flag... "

I'm just going to be honest with you here, I've already told them we probably won't say it everyday.. I just know me too well... eventually I plan to post the pledge on the wall along with other items that I had to learn the pledges to when I was their ages (why yes, if only for that reason!)

Chandler at his desk

Logan at her desk

Fisher at his desk

Map Corner... to be added to as we go- I found this map set at the Reader's Digest outlet... thought I was simply getting the world map,was surprised to get the US map as well... came with lots of fun stickers to mark family member locations and such... lots of fun to look at :)

Sunny Spot... the kids can hardly resist playing with the window clings, but they're "permission only" items... the pillows make for cozy reading spots...painting by Aunt Jamela!

Computer Lab :)

Look Up!

I had thought I'd have more time than this- since we were thinking Sept. 1 originally, so I hope to get a little more organized and finish some of the things that are mid project very soon... stay tuned!

Learn At Home

Fresh from the "What Was I Thinking" file: As of this weekend, all of the children now have their Learn At Home "complete curriculum" books at the ready. There is nothing really wrong with this method and I will be using it as a supplement and guide, but so far it looks as if it wil fall in the catagory of one more curriculum I'll feel guilty about not using (I have a whole crate of these!) On the Kindergarten level, it is full of suggestions about fun ways to deepen the lessons. On the 2nd and 3rd levels there looks to be a lot of useful worksheets for processing information... I just know that skipping around on this curriculum- as I've already decided I must- designed to use in page by page order is going to mess with my personal "organization rules"

(no, you don't want to know 'em)

God's Design: Weather & Water

Our AIG Science material arrived this weekend. We are beginning with Earth Science and most specifically Our Weather and Water. We chose to start here because hurricane season is upon us. While we aren't hoping for any up close and personal observation labs, the chances are high that storms and weather reports of all sorts will be frequenting the news. Our first week will begin with Creation(meshing nicely with History) and move into the structure of the atmosphere. Every day has a small hands on project assigned to it, which means supply gathering but also- more importantly- invested learning!

Mystery Of History

We're starting the Mystery Of History curriculum this year and Volume 1:The Creation to The Resurrection finally arrived at the house. We are all excited to begin the series and start all of the fun projects inside. The first week we will cover the days of Creation, the Fall of Man, the beginning of music- Jubal and the beginning of bronze and iron working-Tubal Cain. As I have been researching the lesson plans online, I have already learned so much... I'm sure the children will too...let's be honest though, I'm just as excited to be going to school here!