Deserts

Ian and Eric emptying the sand out of their shoes on a nature trail in Joshua Tree National Park.

This month we spent a week in the Mojave Desert.  We learned about the effects of mountain rain shadows and the extreme desert climate.  We learned how specific animals and plants are adapted to survive in this environment.

The boys observed jackrabbits, roadrunners, and quail and learned to identify Joshua trees, jumping chollas, and creosote bushes.  We hiked the Hi-View Nature Loop Trail in the Black Rock Canyon in Joshua Tree National Park.  On our hike we saw signs of a past forest fire, small animal holes in the ground and in plants, and fabulous views.

We visited the Hi-Desert Nature Museum in Yucca Valley, CA.  Museum exhibits included desert wildlife dioramas, live desert creatures, gem and mineral collections, and Native American artifacts.

Books:  Cactus Cafe: A Story of the Sonoran Desert by Zoehfeld;  Dig Wait Listen: A Desert Toad's Tale by Sayre;  The Tortoise and the Jackrabbit/ La Tortuga y la Liebre by Lowell;  A Walk in the Desert by Arnold;  Wonders of the Desert World by Rinard;  Death Valley: A Day in the Desert by Levinson;  Storm on the Desert by Lesser;  A Living Desert by Spencer

Videos:  The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! Miles and Miles of Reptiles by PBS;  Joshua Tree National Park by Scrub Oak Production

Oceans

Seaweed and Dolphin by Ian (crayons and watercolor)

Under the Ocean by Eric (crayons and watercolor)

On our trip to California included visiting the Pacific Ocean.  We listened to, smelled, felt, tasted, and watched the ocean waves.  We observed the tides rise and fall, and watched the sun set over the horizon.

Ocean topics included

• about 70% of the earth is covered by ocean water
• names and locations of the earth's oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic)
• salt water versus fresh water
• coastline, waves, and tides
• ocean floor landscape (mountain peaks and trenches)
• diversity of ocean life and underwater food chains

We created an ocean creature game based on the classic Battleship game, except that players search the ocean for animals (e.g. great white sharks, penguins) instead of shooting at ships.

Books:  Water Sings Blue: Ocean Poems by Coombs;  Down Down Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Jenkins;  What Sea Creature Is This?  by Allen;  Who Eats What? Food Chains and Food Webs by Lauber;  Oceans: Underwater Worlds by Salas;  Cat-Fish by Newton;  Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea by Gibbons;  What Lives in a Shell?  by Zoehfeld;  Mister Seahorse by Carle;  Coral Reefs by Gibbons;  Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas by Bang and Chisholm

Reference Books:  Scholastic Atlas of Oceans 

Videos:  The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That! Ocean Commotion by PBS;  Kratt Bros. Be the Creature: Manatees, Coastal Creatures, and Sharks by National Geographic

Other Materials:   Melissa & Doug Ocean Wonders floor puzzle

How I Became a Pirate

Ian completed a How I Became a Pirate maze and word find.

This week we attended the musical How I Became a Pirate, performed by the Omaha Theater Company.  The musical is based on the picture book How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long and illustrated by David Shannon.  Before the performance, we read the book and discussed appropriate theater etiquette.  Ian was curious about how the storm in the book would be done on stage.  After the performance, we compared the musical to the book.

Eric had fun with the "Pantomiming: Pirate Booty" activity in the How I Became a Pirate Study Guide.  Eric wore a bandanna and pantomimed digging up a treasure chest, pulling something out of the chest, and using the treasure.  Ian and I guessed what Eric was pantomiming.

We also attended the Penn State Thespians performance of The Lorax, based on the book by Dr. Seuss.  After the show, the cast talked to the kids and signed programs.  The boys are very familiar with the book The Lorax, and this was another opportunity to see how a story can be performed on stage.

Lego Math

These Lego base 10 blocks represent the number 2,236.

This month we used Legos to practice pattern recognition/extension and to make base 10 blocks for learning place value (ones, tens, hundreds, and thousands).  Ian is also using the base 10 blocks to practice addition and subtraction. 

This month Ian tried out the Khan Academy.  He watched the videos and completed the practice problems on representing numbers and number lines.  Ian liked the videos but seems to prefer doing practice problems on Starfall, which uses cartoons and games.  On Starfall, Ian is practicing addition/subtraction, word problems, and using calendars.

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day Cards

We made valentine cards with potato stamps this year.  I carved potatoes into various heart shapes and then we stamped them with Tempura paint.  Eric just wanted to paint with a paintbrush so I cut his paintings into heart shapes. 

The boys like to mix all the paint colors together, so I've started limiting the color choices to prevent their art projects from always being brownish/grayish.  For example, for these valentines the color choices were white, red, and blue, which mix into pink and purple.

The boys made decorated valentine bags and exchanged valentines at Thursday homeschool co-op.  At co-op, they also graphed conversation heats by color and played heart bingo.

All About Matter

Eric and Ian using a balance scale to compare the mass of different objects.

This year we are learning about matter, atoms, electrons, magnetic charge, static electricity, and electricity.  We reviewed the three states of matter and went into more detail about how air takes up space and how vacuums are created.  While ice fishing, we discussed why the properties of water are vital to life on Earth.  For example, the density of frozen water allows fish to live in lakes in cold climates.

On a regular basis, we practice estimating and measuring lengths, volumes, mass, and temperatures of matter in various units/scales.  Ian and Eric especially enjoy measuring their height with a tape measure and using their balances to find the largest cookies.  Recently, Ian started reading our outside thermometer himself and using the temperature to dress appropriately.

Related activities include: making a compass with magnets, observing static electricity in wool socks from the dryer, and experimenting with warm/cold water, salt, and baking soda.

Books:  Switch On, Switch Off by Berger;  Electricity by Walker;  What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases by Zoehfeld;  Air is All Around You by Branley;  Measuring Penny by Leedy

Snow

Ian and Mac used an inclined plane to lift the snowman's middle section.

Snow activities from Hands-On Nature by Lingelbach and Purcell:

• Snow Melt - We collected snow in clear plastic cups and estimated the water level of the melted snow. 
• Make A Flake - We made six-sided paper snowflakes.
• Flakes Up Close - We collected falling snowflakes and looked at them with a magnifying glass.

The kids have also had fun sledding, making snow angels, shoveling snow, spraying snow with colored water, and intentionally getting the wagon stuck in the snow. 

Books:  The Snowman by Briggs;  Snow is Falling by Branley;  The Mitten by Brett;  The Snowy Day by Keats;  A Hat for Minerva Louise by Stoeke;  The Jacket I Wear in the Snow by Neitzel

Tropical Rainforests

Rainforest Animals Puppet Show

This month we drew Central America and South America in our mapping class.  Our class discussions were about tropical rainforests: climate, structure (floor, understory, canopy, and emergent), and flora/fauna.  We also learned about ecosystems, habitats, and how terrestrial biodiversity increases closer to the equator.

Books:  Let's Look at Sloths by Piel

Reference Books:  Animals of the Rainforest by Savage

Videos: Animals of the Rainforest by Schlessinger Media

Spanish Class

Eric is learning colors in Spanish.

A few months ago our Monday homeschool co-op found a new Spanish teacher who recently moved here from Peru.  We are learning introductions, greetings, family members, colors, shapes, counting, the alphabet, days of the week, and days of the month.  At home, Ian and Eric like to ask for food in Spanish. 

Books:  Un Lazo a la Luna/ Moon Rope by Ehlert; Cincuenta en la Cebra: Contando con los Animales by Tabor;  My First Book of Spanish Words by Kudela;  Oso pardo, oso pardo, que ves ahi? by Martin 

Learning to Read

Ian reading a book (Frog Cops by Gaydos) to Eric.

Ian is reading!!  Currently Ian's favorite books are from the Now I'm Reading series by Gaydos.  Ian also enjoys the Starfall website which includes on-line games and books.  Other fun reading games include sight word BINGO (made using this Bingo Card Generator) and Learning Resources Word for Word game. 

This alphabet eating game we made up always results in laughs.  A puppet asks for a certain letter, sound, or word.  If the correct food is given, the puppet eats it.  If the incorrect food is given, the puppet spits it out.

My favorite teaching resource is the Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading by Wise.  We especially like the "Old Macdonald's Vowels" song and the mix and match subjects and actions game from this guide. 

Books:  Abadaba Alphabet: Learning Letter Sounds by Moore

Reference Books:  Phonics from A to Z: A Practical Guide by Blevins