Lindy's Homeschool: Da Vinci and a dinosaur field trip

Monday, May 21, 2012

Da Vinci and a dinosaur field trip

This week I was kind of sick on monday, so science was really low key. We tasted acids (sour) and bases (bitter), and learned about ions....Enoch is eating a lemon if you can't tell...

For history, we learned about Leonardo Da Vinci. My hero. Sort of. We read a really cute book called "Katie and the Mona Lisa" that introduces kids to a few renaissance art pieces. It even made Botticelli's "Primavera" modest, which as a mom I can appreciate. I wish the books I found talked more about Da Vinci's inventions and scientific side.

We made lots of different kinds of paper airplanes to celebrate Da Vinci, and we also played with a remote control submarine, and Da Vinci is credited as the inventor of the submarine.

I WAS going to teach my kids about Henry the viii, but as I studied him again I thought "a man who divorced, killed, annulled, cheated on, and hated his wives and made a religion out of it...humm....." Divorce and murder on not on the top of the "must teach" list right now, and heavens, my kids don't need to learn the word "annulled" at this point in their lives! Yes, in four years I might teach this important historical figure, but not right now.

And for field trip we went to this amazing dinosaur extravaganza put on by the homeschool organization. Have you noticed that I've given up on field trips in general? Last year I went on one once a week. I could always find some place to go or something to do. Ya, well now I live in Alberta.....enough said.

ANYWAY, we were taught by a real palaeontologist, and he showed us a T-Rex tooth found right where he was teaching us! He also showed us imprints of mammoths that were found right here, and a copy of a sabre tooth tiger's skull.

They also had fun activities like excavating your own toy dinosaur buried in plaster....

And creating your own dinosaur out of chicken bones.

I'm so glad I went. Especially since I was so close to not going due to weather, but it turned out wonderful in the end.

1 comment:

LynetteMay 21, 2012 at 6:45 PM
What an awesome museum!! And thank you for mentioning the history series to me!! :)
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The "awkward and unprepared" Myth

There are many misconceptions and biases against homeschooling, and many people really think that I've never heard them or considered them. Many people worry about the "inevitable social awkwardness" of homeschoolers or that they are "unprepared for the world." In my experience, I've found that homeschoolers tend to be as socially "normal" or "awkward" as their parents. As far as "unprepared for the world" is concerned, that depends on how they are taught, but I have seen many successes first hand. Basically, I know the ins and outs of the decision I've made, thanks.

Why I Homeschool

When I was first married, I fell in love with the kids of the Leavitts and Schafers (my sisters-in-law families.) They were...and still are...confident, leaders, innocent where they should be innocent, creative, and accepting. They were also homeschooled. I wanted my future kids to be like them, and if homeschooling was part of that equation, then I was willing to make the sacrifice. Now, after years of study, prayer, and experience, I want to homeschool for many reasons. I want my kids to be family oriented not peer oriented. I want to include the gospel in every aspect of what they are taught. I want them to think out side of the box. I don't want them to be obsessed with what is "cool." I want them to feel loved by those around them. I want them to know who they are and what they stand for before they are bombarded by outside influences. I know that many families can do this without homeschooling, but it seems a lot harder to me. Basically, I'm a control freak. I want to be in control of my children's learning and social life....homeschooling makes that easier.

Also, now that I've realized they are severely dyslexic, I think homeschool is the best place for dyslexics to learn.

And there's the statistics.

My Schedule

7:15

START OUR DAY

Daddy does scriptures

Breakfast

Devotional w/ videos

Come Follow Me

Goals/mindfulness/memorization

9:00

School Starts

Maxwell

School of Hope Online

Hyrum's 3 "R"s

IEW Grammar and Writing

Video Text Algebra

Spelling (Word Wasp)

Daniel's 3 "R"s

Writing Prompts

Rightstart Math level "G"

Spelling (Wasp)

William's 3 "R"s

All About Reading

Creative Writing

Rightstart level "D"

Abraham's 3 "R"s

Logic of English

Handwriting Without Tears

Rightstart level "B"

Activity in afternoon:

Social Studies

Science

Art

Chess

field trips

Literature Club

WAS classes

My Curriculum

For math, I do RightStart Mathematics, which is an abacus based math, Times Tales to memorize multiplication, Video Text for Algebra, and Mathantics or other supplements on youtube.

For Devotionals, I use Come Follow Me.

For Reading, I have used the Barton Reading and Spelling program, but right now I'm experimenting with All About Reading and Logic of English.

For Writing, I use Handwriting Without Tears, IEW Fix It! Grammar, and IEW Student Intensive Writing.

For History, and Science, I use The Four Year Plan (which I LOVE.) This year we are using the "Family Jubilee" book which covers Biology, Modern World History, and New Testament.