New Year's Resolutions 2010

K: Use 3 sections of toilet paper
Do more quizzes and activities on Brainpop
Go on disneychannel.com a little bit more
Take part in Brownie Girl Scouts more
Do more Power Point and Flash commercials
Read more
Try new foods
Learn more Harry Potter stuff
Try to form a Harry Potter fan club
Try more of Dad's smoothies
And - last but not least -
Go stargazing a little bit more with my new telescope

M: Get outside more
Improve fiscal prudence
Increase exercise
Eat healthier
Update blog regularly
Return library books on time
Donate unused things
Live simply

D: Have exclusively private clients
Average $600/wk (3 nts + 3 on the weekend)
Drop 5 lbs

Patriots' Week '09

Photo courtesy of http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/visitingstatehouse.asp

As part of the Patriots' Week '09 activities, we toured two historic sites in Trenton - the New Jersey State House and the Old Barracks.

The State House tour began in the rotunda, and included a description of a bronze sculptue displayed on a block that is the second of three casts from a 1969 plaster study of Abraham Lincoln by Daniel Chester French (1851-1931) and commissioned by Hamilton Fish Kean. This was used as a model for the Lincoln Memorial.

This first floor has portraits of the first governors of New Jersey but were painted later as the custom of painting portraits of the governors came into fashion long after the first governors left office.

The guide explained that the early NJ legislature was based on the idea of the modern state senate that included two houses.

He then moved into identifying and explaining the state symbols (of which we studied and made the power point presentation) along with the symbols represented on the upper part of the rotunda - swords=strength, scales=justice. The state seal is also represented in a stained glass window lower in the first floor rotunda. The guide explained that although the horse was depicted in the state seal from the beginning, it was not designated as the state animal until later.

We then toured the Governor's Office, stood in the spacious reception room/lobby (1871) which is where the press announcements are made (lighting set around this room). We were not taken into the next room (s) where the business is conducted : )

In the Hall of Legislature, we observed a porcelain sculpture of the state tree, which incorporated the state bird, flower, and insect - beautiful.

We toured the General Assembly chamber next, which is the largest room in the state house and the first to have electricity. Business is conducted on Mondays and Thursdays, and there will be a new speaker coming in to replace Speaker Roberts. We also noticed that the carpeting was blue with a pattern that incorporated the state tree, bird, insect, and flower, and were told that this is a custom, one-of-a-kind carpet.

We moved on to the Senate Chamber, much smaller than the General Assembly Chamber, and a more recent construction. Here we learned that NJ was the first state to send troops for the Civil War, and that the murals below the Senate Rotunds depicted industries foudn in NJ including electricity, glass (glass blowing depicted), and education. The rotunda itself was made of stained glass with names of famous New Jerseyans written in each part, including:

Seth Boyden - Famous inventor - patent leather, nail making machine, and strawberry cultivator
Dayton
McClellan
Henry
Livingston
Beasley
Frelinghuysen
Kearney
Hobart

We will use this as a springboard to learning more about famous inventors and inventions from New Jersey.

***



Photo courtesy of http://www.barracks.org/

We then headed to the Old Barracks Museum, located just around the block from the NJ State House. This was important because it was built to house British troops during the French and Indian War. We learned about the war through exhibit displays and reenactors that gave us stories through their presentations.

The kids participated in a hands-on activity that taught them how to march and bear arms, and respond to the different fife and drum calls. They also learned about the different uniforms worn by the soldiers, and how difficult it was to determine the different sides due to the similarities in outfits.

We also learned about the Battle of Trenton from a few people, the subsequent battles in Princeton and Monmouth, and how Washington's troops were taken care of and then inoculated during the winter (with smallpox through a small scratch in the arm)!

***

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2010

To our family and friends - Happy Holidays and Peace and Joy in the New Year 2010!

CurrClick Online Class Astonishing Atoms

Today we had an online webinar with Science Jim called Astonishing Atoms. It was the first online class I've ever taken, and I loved it!

I liked when he told us how many grains of sand there are in one cup. I learned that there is some space between the nucleus and the electron. Guess what? Five Sears towers would equal the distance between the nucleus and the electron!

I think I'm going to ask my mom for another online class. See you later!

Fall Archaeological Dig 2009

This year's fall dig was entitled "Prehistoric USA" and featured artifacts, stories, and food of the Paleo-Indians, Archaic, and Ancient Woodland peoples. The weather was great - warm and no rain. Another four days of great digging with Big Dog!

LSC Residency

Last week we completed a two-day Earth Science residency at the LSC. We participated in hands-on projects, lectures, and tours of related exhibits - fun and educational!

Science Fair a Success

This fall's Science Fair display and demonstration was on "Making Molecules" from Real-Science-4-Kids Chemistry I.

The lab report was featured, along with hands-on models of molecules made with toothpicks and marshmallows. There was a live presentation, followed by leading the groups in a hands-on recreation of the molecule models. Well done!

SOTW 3 Study Group - Great So Far!

We started a Story of the World 3: Early Modern Times (1600-1850) study group for children in our age cohort. The kids are well-behaved, focused, and have formed a cohesive group! They are enjoying the activities and moving through the beginning of the book steadily.

Image courtesy of Peace Hill Press: www.welltrainedmind.com

Welcome Autumn

This week we welcomed the change of seasons with another Not-Back-to-School Picnic and another Not-Back-to-School Party. The month of September has been chock full of social events and lots of outside time.

Summer's End

Well, here we are, approaching the traditional end of summer, although as homeschoolers we will enjoy the seasonal transition by getting outside as much as possible (if it ever stops raining).

We are looking forward to continuing the new school year that began in July, and will resume in full after Labor Day.

Plimoth Plantation

Our trip to Plimoth Plantation was fantastic! What an experience! We also toured Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II. Timing was great, as it correlates with SOTW 3 studies this fall.

2009 International Year of Astronomy

The 2009 International Year of Astronomy commemorates the 400th anniversary of Galileo's use of the telescope to study the skies.

The 2009 International Year of Astronomy (IYA2009) website:
http://www.astronomy2009.org/

IYA2009 Unites States National Node website:
http://astronomy2009.us/

Galileo, The Medici, and The Age of Astronomy exhibit at The Franklin Institute:
http://www2.fi.edu/exhibits/traveling/galileo/

Educators Guide, The Franklin Institute:
http://www2.fi.edu/exhibits/traveling/galileo/Galileo_educators_guide.pdf

2009 Summer Plans

Here is our plan for the summer:

Swimming
Bicycling
Hiking
Playground play
Beach visits
Library
Local science and history programs
Local art and craft programs
Local planetarium programs

Piano
Music Theory and Composition
Recorder Workshop

Saxon Math 54
Spelling Workout D
Children's Literature Classics
Penmanship
Independent Reading
Journal Writing
Calendar/Holidays
SOTW2
Elementary Spanish 3/4

Another Year Coming to a Close

It's still difficult to believe how quickly time passes as we approach the end of our second year of homeschooling. We have left another couple of weeks of lessons, then some testing (no pressure or prep)! We will also continue to enjoy the beautiful spring weather by visiting local playgrounds and other outdoor attractions. We've planned for the summer and next year and are looking forward to all of it!

Spring Archaeological Dig

Our spring dig this year was in April in the early weeks of spring. The theme was Greece during the time of the Middle Ages. The weather was fine and the digging was great. The week culminated in the exhibition of artifacts and a pot luck of Greek delights. Looking forward to next fall!

Curriculum Plans March-June

We continue to move along through our curriculum with positive energy. Plans for March-June include:

Saxon Math 54
Singapore Challenging Word Problems 2
Logic
Vocabulary Vine Latin
MCP Plaid Phonics Level E
Spelling Workout C
Spelling Workout D
Journal Writing
Creative Writing
Research Writing
*currently looking for a new writing curriculum - considering Royal Fireworks Press*
Independent ReadingChildren's Literature Classics - currently Rainbow Valley
Story of the World 2
Holidays Unit Study
American History Unit Studies
Seasonal calendar-related research and projects
Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding
Earth Science Unit Studies
Astronomy Unit Studies
Field Trips
Dance
Music
Art
Yoga
Ice Skating
Bicycling
Hiking
Outdoor Time
Playtime (this is listed last but not last in importance!)

Shakespeare Theatre

Today we took a field trip to the Shakespeare Theatre and saw a performance of "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It was a super performance and included a discussion with cast members afterwards.

National Teach-In on Lincoln

In honor of Lincoln's 200th birthday, we viewed the National Teach-In on Lincoln on Lincoln's Birthday. It was awesome to experience this live, with people from places far away from us! The following is a description of the live event from The History Channel's website:

"HISTORY, together with the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, presents a National Teach-In on the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln. Filmed on Lincoln's 200th birthday at the National Archives in Washington, DC. This special event features three Lincoln scholars who share their expertise and answer students' questions from all over the country. The teach-in is recommended for middle through high school, with a particular emphasis on 8th grade, and easily fits within all fifty states' standards of learning."

Anne of Green Gables 100th Anniversary

We continue to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables by reading the unabridged series by Lucy Maud Montgomery. We are currently in the last chapters of Anne of the Island, and will move on to Anne's House of Dreams next.

We've decided that it would be great to visit P.E.I one day!

http://www.anne2008.com/