Thursday, September 15, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Homeschool Day at the Science Centre
Our local science centre offers once monthly homeschool days, with activities based upon our provincial science curriculum. Of course CKW was excited eager to attend, so I couldn't let a little thing like the fact that I felt like death warmed over keep us away...
The morning session included several laboratory demonstrations of Changes in Matter, followed by a self guided tour of the centre's current Biodiversity Exhibit. This exhibit included a model veterinary clinic and I must admit that I was quite pleased to see CKW enjoying himself while viewing radiographs, auscultating hearts, and repeatedly watching several wildlife surgery films. Perhaps I'll make a vet out of him yet!
The afternoon was a laboratory session for the students: Measuring Air and Water. Each student had their own computer and lab equipment, but CKW's age group did their experiments with lab partners. They had to measure the weight of air in a balloon, test an hypothesis regarding the mixing of water at two different temperatures, and finally, test an hypothesis regarding the mixing of salt with ice water.
CKW had a ball! October Homeschool day cannot come soon enough for him!
The morning session included several laboratory demonstrations of Changes in Matter, followed by a self guided tour of the centre's current Biodiversity Exhibit. This exhibit included a model veterinary clinic and I must admit that I was quite pleased to see CKW enjoying himself while viewing radiographs, auscultating hearts, and repeatedly watching several wildlife surgery films. Perhaps I'll make a vet out of him yet!
The afternoon was a laboratory session for the students: Measuring Air and Water. Each student had their own computer and lab equipment, but CKW's age group did their experiments with lab partners. They had to measure the weight of air in a balloon, test an hypothesis regarding the mixing of water at two different temperatures, and finally, test an hypothesis regarding the mixing of salt with ice water.
With his lab partner.
Trying to blow up the balloon!
Water at different temperatures.
CKW had a ball! October Homeschool day cannot come soon enough for him!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Our First Day 'Not Back To School'
Our local homeschool group's 'Not Back To School' get-together at a local beach on the day the public school children, indeed, went back to school. It started out chilly, but after playing on the jungle gym, eating lunch, making kites and generally hanging out together, the sun came out and we had a perfectly lovely day!
Monday, September 5, 2011
The End of the World As We Know It...
That's great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes, an aeroplane...
Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn -
world serves its own needs, regardless of your own needs.
...listen to your heart bleed.
Lock him in uniform and book burning...
...this means no fear - cavalier. Renegade and steer clear!
A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies.
Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine...
First official homeschool day tomorrow - the end of the world as we know it - and I feel fine!
Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn -
world serves its own needs, regardless of your own needs.
...listen to your heart bleed.
Lock him in uniform and book burning...
...this means no fear - cavalier. Renegade and steer clear!
A tournament, a tournament, a tournament of lies.
Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives and I decline.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine...
First official homeschool day tomorrow - the end of the world as we know it - and I feel fine!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
'Baby' Science or Confessions of a Curriculum Junkie
I purchased two Singapore Science programs to use in conjuction with our Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding (BFSU) curriculum. What can I say? CKW likes science workbooks!
We had already started with the BFSU K-2 curriculum, so I purchased Singapore's Earlybird Start Up Science 1,2,3,4 for him to do this year, planning to move onto their My Pals Are Here! (MPH) program for 3/4 (one set) the next two years, and then continue onto 5/6 (one set) afterwards. I thought I had it all figured out... Yeah Me!
Whoa! Not so fast... The Earlybird program states that it is for grade one/two students, and because I had read numerous times how challenging the Singapore math program was, I felt safe buying it sight unseen. Live and learn I guess...
The booklets are cute, colourful and well illustrated, but I'm finding this program to be more suited to a Kindergarten/grade one level and they would probably be more interesting to students who are not very strong and/or interested in science. I'm expecting CKW to finish them up well before Christmas (we are going to finish them before starting into MPH 3/4), but I have had nothing but complaints from the peanut gallery about the 'baby' science books that I bought him. I think these booklets would be great for children as an introductory science curriculum, but for a science fiend like CKW, who's spent the last three years reading everything about science that he could get his hands on, it's more then just a little bit light.
We had already started with the BFSU K-2 curriculum, so I purchased Singapore's Earlybird Start Up Science 1,2,3,4 for him to do this year, planning to move onto their My Pals Are Here! (MPH) program for 3/4 (one set) the next two years, and then continue onto 5/6 (one set) afterwards. I thought I had it all figured out... Yeah Me!
Whoa! Not so fast... The Earlybird program states that it is for grade one/two students, and because I had read numerous times how challenging the Singapore math program was, I felt safe buying it sight unseen. Live and learn I guess...
The booklets are cute, colourful and well illustrated, but I'm finding this program to be more suited to a Kindergarten/grade one level and they would probably be more interesting to students who are not very strong and/or interested in science. I'm expecting CKW to finish them up well before Christmas (we are going to finish them before starting into MPH 3/4), but I have had nothing but complaints from the peanut gallery about the 'baby' science books that I bought him. I think these booklets would be great for children as an introductory science curriculum, but for a science fiend like CKW, who's spent the last three years reading everything about science that he could get his hands on, it's more then just a little bit light.
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