Science is Back!

 WHOO HOOO! 

Alberta is letting homeschool co-ops get together as long as they are in a facility with insurance. I'm not sure exactly what that means, but I'm pretty sure the Alternate School counts, so we got permission to do science there! 

It turned out some more kids came, because it was "sanctioned" by the government, and moms who want to make sure they are following all the rules weren't sure about my at-home science, but now they're back, and it's so good to see them!

We skipped learning about mammals for now, because I thought it would be more impactful to learn about all the systems of the body before we dissect a foetal pig. One girl was so hilarious when I told them my plan of putting the dissection on hold, she said "Wait, can we please make bacon from the pig?"

LOL too bad there's a ton of chemicals in my prepared specimens!

Maybe in the coming weeks we'll have fresh specimens. I've asked a local butcher to help us, and he's helped us in the past, so I'm hopeful.

This week we learned about the skeletal system. We talked about the strength and structure of bones, the joints of bones, and we spent a long time on the spine.

We actually made an edible model of the spine which was the highlight, and it all worked out pretty good!

(The balloons are the heads connected to the spines.)

It was soooo good to get together.

And getting together via Zoom has continued. Hyrum worked all week long on a Scratch game he made for "creators."

And as far as history goes, we were finally out of quarantine so we were able to go around the neighbourhood looking for Hobo signs.

And then it was on to WWII. Blah. what a depressing Unit. We discussed Hitler's rise to power (I think I already mentioned how we watched Ducktales to do that.) and then we talked about Dunkirk and Pearl Harbour. I have cute picture books that go along with these, and when we talked about Dunkirk I told them about my great Uncle Charlie who died before he could get on a boat.

Then I read them this awesome book to teach about interment camps in North America:

Such a good book. 

Speaking of interment camps....they took innocent Canadian citizens (kind of like those that have just taken a COVID test and shown to be negative.) But didn't trust them, because they thought they might be spies (or not quarantine properly in their own home.) and escorted them to barracks (or hotels covered in plastic) where they were held against their will, while guards made sure they never left. On top of this, they confiscated their property, (in the form of over $2000.) ummmmm Glad we learned from the past!

Yes the time spent in confinement and conditions of confinement are vastly different, but......I still don't see how this is okay.

As our activity for beginning WWII unit, we made gas masks. (My mom loved her green gas mask as a little girl in the war.) 

But when we went to our Chinese New Years outing, our friend had what looked like a REAL gas mask:

Yes, we had an out door Chinese New Year lighting of floating lanterns. It was magical. Magical and cold. Very cold. 

A little bit more than a week ago it was quite warm. A little cutie from downstairs was sure that spring had come. Most of the snow had melted, and the "caves" in the snow "mountains" from the city snow plow were wet and threatening to cave in.

Those caves are so fun!

But now, there's a cold snap and last night I went in our hot tub and brought out a mug of cold water, because usually I need a cold drink to handle our hot tub, but by the time I got out, the water had frozen and cracked our mug!

Speaking of last night, it was our anniversary, and Alberta had barely changed restrictions so we were able to go to a restaurant! Yipee!

And not only was it the birthday of our family, it was the birthday of SIX puppies! Yes, that's right, Zoey had 4 girls and 2 boys!

Doesn't she look like a proud Mumma?

And as far as core subjects go, Maxwell finished his Coursera classes already! Well, he's done with the Yale one, and we thought he was done with the English one and so we cancelled his subscription, and then realized he's not actually done, and is LOVING his photoshop course, and is now going to do an Essay class from our old friend Savanah. SO that seems to be going along smoothly.

Abraham did his midyear test for math:

And is learning about money and change

William has started AAR level 2 which he does with his glasses on:

Happy Valentines Day!!!