Free Cone Day

We started the day with a trip to Ben and Jerry.com. There we played games and watched a video on how they make ice cream, including an interview with a dairy farmer from the co-op. It kept our attention...all 3 of us!

Load up and off to B & J's in Clifton (stopped at Rachel's..she drove). Free ice cream at the scoop shop. Ezra looked at all the people and decided they had a good business:)

We walked around then headed to the Anderson Ferry. A finish for our ferry riding Ohio River studies:)

Ezra has been using words like cooperation and compromise. He really uses so many words fearlessly.

Home for a 20 min clean up then off to the library for a Pig Party. The boys met the Pig from the Give the Pig a Pancake book. They had cookies, made pig decorations, and checked out some pig books. Ezra wants to get the library a real pig for the next party!

Thursday April 5, 2007

Aquarium with a plan.
We took notebooks and crayons so the boys drew fish/animals. Then we wrote their names down. I'd like to take this a step further and locate there homes on a world map..problem is i need a world map:) Terje also drew a picture of Jared. He is starting to add detail to his artwork.
Also Sharks and Starfish


The notebooks actually caused them to slow down and look at the animals. it gave me some time to read about a few of them.

Ezra is reviewing the 100 chart.

We read What is God? Terje wasn't interested but I can tell Ezra feels the feeling of God. It is kinda a segway into Easter.

Terje glued some work/pictures into his portfolio. Now I need Ezra to catch up on his portfolio.

We discussed the guinea pigs and how they depend on E and T to tke care of them. Which then led to the ? of who will care for them when we are gone? glad to see they get the point.
Getting them to pick up their legos was a struggle that tried my patience. They did it..then i taught T how to wrap up the vacumm cord. Meanwhile Ezra unloaded the dryer and washer! I was thankful for the help at that point. Slowly but surely I will get the boys to help around the house.

Monday 26, 2007

Nature Center- Wildflower trail with Katie and her kids. A little over a mile. Kids whiny at first...1st real hike of the season.

Beautiful flowers. Lots of lesser celandine, white trout lily, and salt and pepper.

Some mud, not bad.

Fynn and Clover came home with us. Inside/Outside...games, walks around the yard and creek.

Looked and saw lots of Forsythia on the way to drop off F & C.

Terje is now pointing them out to me:) and saying their name. Call it a flower and they call it a flower. Call it a forsythia and they will too!

Last week

Ezra-
We temporarily finished our Ohio study. We talked about the flag. Colored the flag and created an Ezra of Ohio flag:) We discussed the Indian story of the Ohio River. The Legend Of Ohio
Dandi Daley Mackall

Ohio-beautiful river.
Then we found the beginning and end points of the Ohio River. Ezra wants to drive it. Then finish with following the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. I'm up for that someday. Instead we drove down to the Ohio River near our house. We drove for 3-4 hrs. We stopped at the Chilo Locks, no longer in existence but a beautiful park, paddle boat to explore, play structure, and visitor center. The center was closed but we read the outside tour guides and talked to the naturalists.
We also stopped at Mendahl locks, they took over for Chilo in the 60's. A stop in New Richmond, a riverfront town, a ferry boat ride across the river to Kentucky, and we were headed home. It was a beautiful day filled with experiential learning.

remember to trust not doubt

Today was one of those days. A day I doubt my home school approach. Only because I want to sit down and do some "work" but they are too busy "working" outside. We watched a reading video, The Electric Company, we read books, we played a round of the Amazing Race Game (geography), and they played outside. I know they will become readers and writers. It's just some days I want it to be NOW! The ability to express their energy, openly explore the world around them, and interact with kids of different ages is perfect but not when i want worksheets:) They played with boys, girls, babies, preteens, and peers today. Whew!

Together Ezra and Terje cleaned the guinea pig cage! That is a lesson in itself.
Ezra wants to study geography in the morning.