Safety Brownie Try-It

 We started this badge sometime ago, but it got pushed to the wayside when things got insanely busy at the end of the school year. 

We read several safety themed books as discussion starters, although I have misplaced the list.

Street Safety. 

• We practiced this first hand when going to the neighboring community for a theater field trip.  We discussed the walk/don't walk signs at the intersections and how to use the traffic lights if the intersections would not have a signal at the crosswalk. 
• Practiced looking right, left, and right again at home.  (This was good because she needs help with her directions, as she still frequently confuses left and right).
• Learned the poem that I learned as a child.  It must've been a good one, because it has stuck with me all these years :)   

Before you cross the street,

use your eyes,

use your ears,

and then use your feet.

Fire Safety.

• Last fall, Shayla went through the fire safety trailer at our fair.  It was nice because since it was only our family touring at the time, we were able to get lots of one-on-one attention and ask plenty of questions.
• We also attended the fire safety presentations at the Christian school we are affiliated with last fall and spring.
• We read Arthur's Fire Drill
• Discussed fire escape plans for each room of our home.
• Most fires can be prevented.  Listed ways of preventing fires.
• Looked at the GS manual and identified causes of fires in the house picture.
• Checked the smoke detector (no real need for that since it seems to go off everytime I cook) :)
• Practiced Stop, Drop, and Roll.  That's always a favorite to review.

Playground Safety.

• Read Barney's Safety book
• Again, we had a real life discussion starter, when at our local park, Shayla was swinging.  I noticed as she went up the bottom of the swing was almost cracked clear through.  I told her to quickly get off the swing.  Obedience paid off this time, she was able to get off without the swing breaking on her.  After she got off, I showed her why I had asked her to and thanked her for her obedience.  (Can you tell we are still working on those character lessons?) :)
• That same day, a little boy walked into Shayla as she was swinging.  She knocked him down.  Luckily he wasn't hurt badly and it really drove home the point of swing safety.
• Discussed other playground safety rules.

Pool/Swimming Safety.

Since it's the season, we discussed pool and swimming safety even though it wasn't included in the manual.

First Aid.

Covered the following topics:

• Making a first aid kit (already did)
• infections.
• bites and stings
• burns
• and choking. 

Here she is practicing the Heimlich manuever on me.  She was less than excited about doing it, so I had to add a little dramatic coughing to make it more realistic.

Homeschool Highlights - Week of February 13, 2011

Sunday: 

More rest from life is needed.  Shayla had been without a fever and symptoms for three days without using a fever reducer, until yesterday, when her fever was back up to nearly 102.  I gave fever reducer, and the fever has stayed gone.  I think we'll just take it easy a little longer. 

Shayla is getting tired of staying in bed and watching tv, so we did a few things. 

Bible:  God Created the Little Children. 

Genesis 1:27; 2:7 Isaiah 45:12

Read story:  Never Too Busy.  (reading)

Sang and Signed:  Jesus Loves the Little Children. (music, foreign language)

Small Kids or Big Kids:  I called out something, such as, "crawling."  Shayla answered appropriately with who would do these things.  Small kids or big kids.

Dress up:  Dress up like an adult or an older child.  *When we were beginning to do this activity the phone rang.  Shayla took it upon herself to go to her dress up box and find something.  I think she did pretty awesome!  She's dressed like a teenage, cheerleader - complete with cell phone attached to her ear!

How Big?:  Measured Shayla and talked about how big she is getting.  She measured in at 4' 5"!  Wow, she's growing up fast!  Discussed measurements, compared bigger and smaller things.

Big Hands, Little Hands:  Took turns tracing our hands.  Shayla enjoyed tracing mine!  We cut them out and made this paper craft. 

Read Aloud:  Ramona the Pest and various other books from the shelves.  The purpose behind reading the various books are to decide which are favorites because some's gotta go!  I may post a picture later, but right now I'm too embarrassed by how out-of-control the book situation has become.

Read Aloud:  Listened to A Sunday Surprise (a book on cassette).  This was the Christopher the Churchmouse lesson on behaving in church.

Monday:

Bible:  The Woman at the Well:  The Woman Invites Others.  John 4:28-29

Devotions: No Longer Outcasts.  Mark 1:40-42

Reading:  Strong and True:  Little Sunshine, The Raven and the Robin, Ring and the Bone

Read Aloud:  Finished Ramona the Pest

Language/phonics:  Lesson 91.  Done in record fast time! 

Math:  Lesson 100.  Amazing how much she forgot from being off regular schoolwork last week.  At this point, I am going to slow down the lessons and focus on memorizing the simple addition facts through games and worksheets.

Spelling:  List 15.  Completed workbook section 2.  Typed words on Spelling City and played various games.

Read Aloud/Social Studies:  Read Valentine's Day themed books. 

Science/Read Aloud:  Read Shayla's library books pick, All About Dogs and Puppies

Tuesday:

Bible:  Jesus Preaches a Sermon.  Luke 6:20-28

Devotions:  Expect an Answer.  Acts 12:5-17

Reading:  Strong and True (1:9):  Why the Deer Has Antlers, Two Honest Men, The Selfish Dog in the Manger

Read Aloud/Health:  Books about how the body works to fight against colds and germs.

Science:  Magnets.

• Read:  Discovering God's World pg 43, My Magnet, Mickey's Magnet, and the The Magic School Bus:  Amazing Magnetism
• Workbook pgs 438-439. 
• Played ABSeas magnetic fishing game to demonstrate magnets and for fun! 
• Hypothesis:  Demonstrate that a magnet appears to "stick" to certain items.  Go on a household scavenger hunt and find things you think may stick.  Then touch magnet to each item to determine the accuracy of prediction. 
• Discuss properties of magnetic items.
• Explore several shapes of magnets (bar, horseshoe, disc and rectangles). 
• Demonstrate the two poles of magnets. 
• Teach like poles repel and opposite poles attract through experimentation.

Math: 
Simple addition flashcards, addition/subtraction, story problem/fact family paper games.  Two worksheets.

Art:  Made a macaroni art page.  She was given directions to make a picture by gluing different shaped macaroni on paper.  She chose to glue them on randomly, instead of trying to make a picture, but it turned out nice.

Science/Scouts at Home:  We started working some time ago on the Space Explorer badge.  I had the materials out to finish it and ran into other projects, so I hope to get back on track with this.

Social Studies:  Countries and Cultures:  Central America: Guatemala

Read several library books about Guatemala

Wednesday:Specials day

Dance lessons

Reading:  Stong & True:  The Way to be Happy, Lee and the Bird, Eyvind's Goat

Math:  Dice and Addition War Card Game

Thursday:

Bible:  Jesus Heals a Little Girl:  The Little Girl Dies.  Luke 8:41, 42, 49

Devotions:  Winning For Us.  1 Samuel 17:8-11, 48-50

Reading:  Strong and True:  The Raindrops, The First Thanksgiving, More About Pilgrims

Read Aloud:  The Littlest Angel

Math:  Dice and addition war card game.

Writing:  Psalm 91:11.  For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

Friday:

Bible:  Jesus Heals a Little Girl:  Jesus Performs a Miracle.  Luke 8:50-56

Devotions:  Steal Away to Jesus.  Luke 4:14-21

Reading:  Strong and True:  The Milkmaid, The Frog and the Ox, The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Read Aloud:  Favorite Nursery Rhymes

Math:  Simple addition practice worksheets, flashcards

Healthy Habits Brownie Try-It

Washing Works

• Discussed the proper amount of time necessary to wash hands clean.  Sang alphabet song and Happy Birthday while washing. 
• Read Germs Make Me Sick
• Watched Handy and his Helpers DVD and discussed poster.  This was a free resource from Softsoap Lather Up for Good Health.

Smoking is a Bad Habit

• Talk to someone and tell them the dangers of smoking.  Since we don't have this issue around us, we read a childhood story called A Boy in Chains from Uncle Arthur's Bedtime Stories.  Shayla was delighted to listen because this was the same storybook that my MIL used to read to my husband and his siblings when they were just children. 

Beautiful Smile

We used resources from the Colgate Smiles teaching packet I received last spring. 

• We played the boardgame
• Reviewed the posters that showed proper teeth brushing.
• Colored, filled in the blanks, cut out, and stapled a book about good brushing habits.

Community Helpers

We have had more than our share of visits to see doctors, nurses, and dentists lately.  We have also read library books about each of these professions when doing our career badgework.

Calcium Counts. 

We discussed what calcium is and why your body needs it.  Most people's body pH is acidic, from the sodas we drink and the standard American diet.  When the body is acidic, it is using its reserves of calcium, constantly robbing from the bones.  The result is osteoporosis and other degenerative diseases that could have easily been prevented. 

Since we have milk allergies in this house, we are well aware of the best food sources for calcium, but we did review the information found here.

Science in Action Brownie Try-it

This badge shows you how science works in your life.


 Science and Technology Hunt


Technology is a way of using science to create tools that make life easier for people. Go on a science and technology hunt!
Find something in each of these catagories:

• Made of plastic  (cathouse, toys, storage totes, lawn chair)
• Made from trees (deck, food, picnic table, treehouse)
• Moves in a circle (kids playing games, tire swing, twisty slide, merry-go-round, top)
• Comes from the earth (plants, trees, rocks, flowers, oil, coal, water)
• Uses a switch (light and dimmer switch)
• Made of metal (park slide, lawn furniture, chains, vehicles, swim pools, airplanes)
• Uses electricity (cars, hair straightener, crockpot)
• Uses wheels (vehicles, wagon, riding toys, wheelchairs, motorized carts)
• Something that measures (ruler)
• Makes or uses sound (music, radio, ipod, instruments)
• Comes from the ocean or a lake (seashells, crabs, starfish, fish)
• Run by a computer (games, printer/scanner)

 Glop

Almost everything in the world is a solid, liquid or gas. Things can change from solid to liquid to gas. Water is a liquid.  Water changes to a solid when it freezes. When it boils and you see steam, it has become a gas.

Glop isn't  a solid or a liquid.

In order to make glop, you will need:

• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• spoon
• measuring cup
• bowl
• food coloring

 Pour the water into the bowl.

 Add the cornstarch a little at a time while stirring.

 Keep mixing until all your glop looks and feels the same.

Try adding food coloring to make blue, green or red glop. 

How is  glop different than water? How is it different from the plain starch? What can you do with it?

Store in a plastic baggie

Balloon Blowing.

Try to blow up a balloon without using your own breath.

You will need:

• 1/4 cup vinegar
• A small plastic water bottle
• 2 tablespoons of baking soda
• A small balloon

1. Pour the vinegar into the plastic bottle.

2. Stretch open the balloon mouth and carefully pour the baking soda into the balloon.

3. Place the balloon mouth over the bottle.  Make sure the balloon mouth is tightly around the neck of the soda bottle.

4. Hold the balloon to the side so that the baking soda does not fall into the bottle.

5. Shake the balloon so that the baking soda falls down into the bottle.

The gas from the baking soda/vinegar mixture blows the balloon up!

What happened? Can you figure out why?

 Magnetic Box (How an Etch-a-Sketch works)

Make a magnetic attraction box.

You will need:

• A small cardboard box (or plastic container with a top).
• Sos or brillo pad
• Plastic wrap
• A magnet
• Tape

1. Have an adult cut the sos pad into small pieces for you.

2. Put the pieces in the bottom of the box so that they cover the bottom completely.

3. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the top of the box. Tape the plastic wrap to the box.

4. Move the magnet underneath the sos pads (steel wool)

What kind of patterns can you make? How far away can you hold the magnet and still make the steel wool move?

Computer Fun Fair/Computers in Your Life

One thing lacking in our homeschooling is the amount of computer time Shayla has.  I hope to allow her more opportunity to use this tool. 

We spent time discussing parts of the computer and then she played one of her favorite games, Jump Start.

Energy Slueth

We discussed what energy is and what types of things use each type of energy.   Then we read Energy from the Sun by Melvin Berger.

Color Spectrum

• Read Little Blue and Little Yellow by Leo Lionni.  (reading)
• We did color mixing using the colored transluscent notebook dividers.  (science)
• Did more color mixing by painting with watercolors. (art)

Telling Time

• Set the timer for 1 minute.  How many times can you jump on one foot or bounce a ball in one minute (math, science)
• Discussed different ways people used to tell time (ie hourglass, sun dial, phases of the moon) (science, math, social studies)
• Made an hourglass.  Wash and dry two plastic bottles.  Poke holes in lids.  Fill one bottle with sand.  Put one upside down ontop of the other and duct tape together. 

Science Wonders Brownie Try-it

Bubbles. 

We read The Bubble Factory by Tomie dePaulo.  We discussed whether or not you could actually make different colored and shaped bubbles. 

 I was surprised Shayla wanted to make bubbles because we have done it often.  We made our own mixture using this recipe:

2 c. water
10 drops glycerine (can substitute corn syrup)
3 TBS dish soap

We tried using several different bubble wands and even making our own wands.  The result was always a round bubble.

*I did learn something interesting at the library this summer, you can touch a bubble and it will not break - if you have wet hands!


Homemade Recycled Paper.

Again, we have done this activity in the past, but it was encouraging to see Shayla participating more.  Like this time, she had no problem tearing the newspaper into pieces.

• Tear one page of newspaper into small pieces.  Put the paper into a blender with water.  Let it sit for about an hour.
• Blend until the paper becomes soft and mushy.  It is now known as pulp.
• Mix 2 TBS starch (corn starch or liquid laundry starch works) in one cup water.  Add to the pulp and blend again.  The starch helps to make the paper pulp stronger (but it does work if you happen to forget this step :)

• Spread towel and newspaper on table.

• Line the bottom of a square pan with a piece of screen and pour the pulp over top of the screen.  Lift screen out and place on the towel and newspaper to dry.  Cover with other half of screen and additional newspapers and towels.  Roll a glass over top to squeeze out excess water. 
• Let dry overnight.

Chemistry Magic. (Chemical Reactions)

We discussed chemical reactions (like baking soda and vinegar).  Then we tried this experiment.  I must admit, it worked some, but not like I had hoped. 

• 5 TBS pure laundry soap.  I used Arm & Hammer Washing soda (maybe this was the wrong thing?)
• 4 TBS salt.  I used sea salt.  Was it supposed to be Morton's?
• 1 quart jar
• large spoon for stirring
• glass measuring cup

Put the laundry soap into one cup of water.  Stir until soap is dissolved.

In another cup add salt to one cup of water and stir until dissolved (as much as possible).

Pour the soap solution into jar, followed by the salt solution.  Mix well.

You should see the soap harden and turn into a ball right away.  If you let the mixture stand still for a few minutes, the soap will go the top and the bottom will stay clear.

We did not get a ball.  We got lots of tiny balls. 

Magnet Hunt.

I read Mickey's Magnet and we learned that magnets are made of iron and they only pull on objects made of iron or steel, not aluminum or other materials. 

• We learned that you can make a magnet out of something by rubbing it onto a magnet.
• We went around looking for objects that the magnets would stick onto. 
• We spent some time playing with magnet boards and this cool magnetic toy.

Static Electricity.

Experiment 1:  Rub your hair with a balloon, then hold the balloon above head to see static electricity. 

Experiment 2:  Again, rub your hair with a balloon and try to stick to walls and different surfaces.  It may or may not stick, depending on how much static electricity there is.  We do not have carpet, so it did not work for us this time of year.

Experiment 3:  Rub two balloons on hair, then try to stick the two balloons together.  You should feel a slight friction between the two balloons.

Experiment 4:  And by far the best!  Discovering static electricity on the trampoline.  It never fails, it shocks us everytime.  And since Shayla brought this up, I thought it only fair she play on it.  LOL!

Homeschool Highlights - Week of June 6, 2010

Sunday: 

• Played Dora Memory and Uno games.  She is a card shark when it comes to Uno.  Shayla has beaten many family and friends playing this game.  Fair and square!
• Finished up work on Watching Wildlife brownie try-it.

Daily:  Abeka math, reading, phonics, and spelling lessons.  Presidents challenge for phys ed (1 hour daily), library summer reading program reading.

Monday:

Reading:  Read aloud a pile of books.  Shayla also read to me for another summer reading prize.

Bible:  Memory verse:  Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace:  thereby good shall come unto thee.  Job 22:21

We learned about the swan.  Later in the week we will go to observe them and feed them.

We read The Ugly Duckling

and made this paper plate swan.

Activities:  Painted abstract paintings with watercolors we made. (art)

Played a color game.  While she is probably too old for this, since she has known her colors for many years, it was still fun to do.  We adapted it to make it more challenging. :)

Take a dice (or die) and tape 6 different pieces of colored paper to the sides.  Take turns rolling the die.  Whatever color comes up, point or name something that is that color.  The older the child, the more challenging you can make it.  Give them just several seconds to come up with an answer.  Use this as a foreign language game, sign or say the color and object in the foreign language. 

Solved some new puzzles that we bought at a yard sale this weekend.

Tuesday & Wednesday:  Just the basics.

Thursday:   Shayla earned her Water Everywhere Brownie Try-it.  The weather has been perfect for earning this badge!  (Science)

Morgan has been enjoying the teen programs at our library.  Is it the fun and educational programs or the boys?  While waiting on her, we visited a playground.  (phys ed)

As you can see, Shayla liked the slides!  She was up, down and all around that place!

Friday:  After dance lessons, we observed and discussed local monuments as part of the Wave the Flag try-it activities.  (social studies)

Then we had some more art fun with tie-dying more t-shirts.  This time Shayla was an old pro at it.  (art)

Saturday:  Nature Detectives program at our local state park.  This weeks theme was Dry Bones, Skeletons, and Exo-skeletons.  We had a private lesson this week, I guess folks are afraid of the rain! (science)

After the lesson, it's always fun to go into the Nature Center and help feed the animals!

Water Everywhere Brownie Try-It

We chose to do this badge next because our library is doing a special program for 3 - 6th graders this year, called Water Works. 

 

In addition, summer is always a great time to do water activities. 

 

Made of Water.  Your body is made of 70% or more of water, but did you know many of the products we use are also made of water?  We went on an indoor scavenger hunt, of sorts, to find as many products we could that had water listed on the ingredient label.

Items from the kitchen included:

• salad dressings
• pancake and chocolate syrup
•  lemon juice
• canned fruits and veggies
• jelly

Items from the bathroom included:

• soap, shampoo, conditioner, and detangler spray
• medicines
• toothpaste and mouthwash
• contact lens solution

There were many more items, but for clean up sake, we didn't drag everything out!

It was amazing that almost everything has added water in it!

Drip Drop.  We read the section on water conservation.  My hubby showed Shayla a you tube video about how the water conditions are in other countries.  Another thing to count as a blessing.  Sorry, I don't have the link. 

The activity was to find a leaky faucet, measure the amount of water it leaks and repair it.  I am thankful to say that we could not do this because we don't have any leaking faucets at this time.

Clean, Clear Water. 

Activity 1:  Do a taste test between tap water, distilled bottled water, and bottled spring water. 

This wasn't necessary.  Shayla has had other types of water and refuses to drink it.  I honestly believe she would die of thirst before she would drink it!  I know, you think it's all in her head, let me assure you that even if she did not see a bottle or jug of water, if I just substituted it in her glass or water bottle, she would know the difference.  Her senses are amazing.

Activity 2:  Learn about water filtering.

Gather water samples from several sources (we used tap water and water from a mud puddle).  Use a coffee filter, paper towel, or cloth on top of a clear container (a different one for each type of water).  Pour the water in.  Is there any sediment on the cloth?  Is the water clear after filtering?

As you can see, dad was interested in the topic today.  He even helped Shayla with a second filter.  He cut the top off a two liter bottle, put a cotton ball in the opening and they strained the mud puddle water through that  for a second filtering.  It was still cloudy.  I don't want to drink it!

We read The Magic School Bus:  At the Waterworks by Joanna Cole.  I wanted to do a field trip to a local water treatment facility, but life is too hectic right now!  Maybe later.

Water Snooper.    We made a water snooper by cutting the bottom out of an empty nut can.  (I liked this one because there were no sharp edges to get cut on).  Stretch a piece of plastic wrap over one of the openings and secure it with a rubber band. 

Use the water snooper by pushing the end with the plastic into water sources for a better view.

Bet you can't guess what our next activity was since we just built a water snooper. 

Water Explorer.  With all the rain we have received recently, we had more opportunity to explore. 

Exploring the goldfish in our new rock pond.

A mud puddle in our flooded front yard.

A mud puddle in our driveway.

The usually small creek running through the back of our property.  Many times this creek dries up, but as you can see, it is definately flowing right now.  We were unable to see any small critters because the water was flowing too rapidly.

Water Layers.   Salt Water vs. Fresh Water.

Discuss bodies of water that are fresh water (creeks, streams, the Great Lakes) and salt water (the ocean.)  Discuss that certain fish are fresh water or salt water fish.  I wanted to take a field trip to the aquarium, but we settled for the pet department of a local store to learn this. 

What makes fresh water and salt water different?  There are ways more than taste.

Put 1 cup of water in a glass jar.  Add salt and keep stirring.  Stop stirring when the salt will no longer dissolve and stays on the bottom.

Add food coloring to the salty water to see the separation.

Hold your spoon to the the top of the water and very slowly add 1 cup of fresh water by spoonfuls.  The fresh water should stay ontop, because it is not as heavy as salt water.