Monday Landon started a unit on Fall, He made a fall word book, and made a Fall how many book. He did a science worksheet where we talked about how fall was the season between summer and winter, and that fall is also called Autumn. We talked about why the leaves change colors and did an experiment where we took a leaf and we drew out the colors to see what color they will become when they start changing. He then colored a science sheet where he made the leaves of a tree the color that our leaf would change. We took a nature walk to see if we could find any signs of fall coming. Landon noticed that some trees their leaves were already starting to change color. We will go on another walk closer to fall and we will compare the notes that he took on this walk.
All three kids also made fall trees, they drew the trunk of their tree and then glued frosted flakes on as the leaves.
This is Liberty's Tree
The girls are basically still in review for Math and English. Teyla was having trouble remembering her doubles so we have taken a break and are practicing her doubles. Monday she just flat out couldn't remember them, but by Tuesday she had them down pretty good. We will take maybe a day or two of next week to make sure she has them completely down and then we will get back on schedule.
Wednesday we went to the state fair. We love field trips to the fair. It's always neat to go into the Veterinary building. Last year we were lucky enough to see the birth of a calf and then we were able to watch it stand up for the very first time. This year we weren't quite so lucky. We did get to see some piglets and the kids got to touch a lamb. Liberty watch a video as they were doing surgery on a cow. Teyla and Landon thought it was too gross, but since Liberty wants to be a vet, she was pretty interested in it. We also picked up some reading material where the kids will be reading to raise money to send to those who need school supplies. We then went to the Kansas building where they have the Agriculture building. The kids love going and looking at all the different grains and seeds. This year they were able to watch a cotton demonstration, where they got to put a cotton seed in and see how the cotton is pulled away from the hull. They were also able to keep the raw cotton, and were very excited about that. One of the favorite things the kids like to do at the fair is go into the underground trailer. It's a trailer that shows you what it looks like underground. It shows the different bugs, and roots. There are grubs, worms, ants, and lots of other bugs, this year they added a mole digging from the top, because he was digging for them yummy grubs. This year they found out that if they are ever lost in the Forest or some place where they don't have food and they find can find grubs, that they could eat the grubs, Teyla said she would rather starve than eat the grubs.
Thursday was Home school day at the zoo. It was a rainy day, but we decided to head out anyways. We had an extra visitor that day. Ms. Paytlyn came along with us. When we got to the zoo there was a light rain, but we went a head in and headed towards where the classes were suppose to be, little did we know they had changed them because of the rain. When we figured that out, we decided just to do our own thing because by the time we got back to where the classes were we would be drenched and there would only be two classes left to make. So we went into the snake house.The good thing about home school you can always figure out how to make what we are doing into some sort of lesson lessons. So decided we would talk about what it meant to be endangered ,and the different levels that were associated with being on the endangered list. Then they were to read to find out if what we were looking at was on the endangered list and if it was what level it was at.
After the snake house we headed to the Rain Forest, we decided our best bet for the day would to be inside where we all could stay dry. While we were in the Rain Forest, the kids had to find a bird and identify it from the signs that are all around. We also did that with the fish in the fish tunnel. I finally got smart and started taking pictures of both the bird and the sign they identified the bird from, at first I was just taking a picture of the sign. Here are some of the birds and fish we saw.
After the rain forest we went to go and see if we could see Cain and Gretchen's new little cubs. They are the red pandas. When we got there both Cain and Gretchen were out but there was no sign of their little ones. We were a little disappointed, but enjoyed watch Mommy and Daddy, they were pretty active usually they are snuggled up in their logs. We like to try and see if we can figure out who is who because we know Cain has a lighter face than Gretchen, but they never were together so it was hard to tell who was who.We of course then went in and visited the tigers too since we were there.
Our last stop for our trip to the zoo was the Downing Gorilla forest. We haven't gone there in awhile because it is just a long ways to get there and when it's hot and yucky out by the time we get to it, I am just ready to go. This day however it was cool and the walk wasn't so bad. It had changed a bit since we went last, mostly the entrance is where the exit use to be and the exit is where the entrance use to be, but it was still like a new adventure for us.
We didn't do the classes like scheduled, but I think we learned a lot and maybe even a little more than we would have learned in the classes.
Friday was home school bowl at the bowling alley here in town. I guess this has been going on for awhile now, but I had never heard about it until here recently. We got to play two games, and the math lesson just kinda fell into place on it's own. The kids had fun and we look forward to next months session. We also met some home school families we had never met before which is always nice.
Bowling was from 10 to 12 and then right after we got done bowling we headed out to Wichita so we could make it to the 1pm class at Botanica. We usually go to Botanica on Thursday, but this was a special Monarch class so it was on Friday. This year seems like it's going to be fun and the kids can earns pins. There are five different pins that they can earn. A Reading Pin, to earn this pin they have to read one book on the class subject at their reading level and they have to discuss what they have learned and what was most interesting with an adult. They have to read 8 books to receive a reading pin.
There is a writing pin. They are to complete 6 writing exercises during the Fall/Spring schedules, the topics will pertain to the class material.
There is an Environmental Pin. To earn this pin they have to visit 4 of the 6 locations (they have a list) and talk with an expert about how they are helping improve the state of the planet. They expert has to sign a piece of paper stating you talked with them and then you return those signatures.
There is a Science pin where you have to complete 6 science based activities during the school year to earn your pin. You have to bring a copy of your work to the class to get credit.
Last but not least is the attendance pin. If you attend all 9 classes it's yours.
My kids a super excite about the pins and are looking forward to working for them.
The Monarch class today was a lot of fun. I was very proud of my two girls. The teachers were asking questions and my two girls were the only ones popping out the answers. Teyla was especially excited about this class. She is really into butterflies right now. There were three parts of the class this year. We went down to the children's garden into the barn and they talked about the life cycle of a butterfly, and then they discussed the differences between a moth and butterfly and got to look at the differences under a microscope. After they finished looking at them under a microscope they went out side the barn where they talked more about the eyes of a butterfly and the antenna.
The second part of the class we played a game. We talked about the migration of the Monarch butterfly, how it starts in Southern Canada and ends up in Mexico. The game we played went along with this and helped to show how all the butterflies don't make it to Mexico because of different obstacles, such as predators and death. The kids all started out with monarchs on a green stick which represented Ks. that is where our migration was starting from. They had to make it from Ks. to Mexico, but there were obstacles. There was a hungry bird, a hungry spider and a truck. If while you were going from Ks. to Oklahoma one of the three obstacles tagged you you gave up your Ks. butterfly to the obstacle that tagged you and then you picked up an Oklahoma butterfly. Oklahoma had to make it through to Texas, and Texas you had to make it to Mexico. In each new state they had to get plenty of nectar and water before they could continue their journey and if you were caught by one of the three obstacles you gave up whatever butterfly you had and became a butterfly from the state you were going to. We started out with 18 Ks. butterflies, when we got to Mexico we had 4 Ks. butterflies, 0 Oklahoma butterflies and 6 Texas butterflies. 8 never made it. It was a fun game and helped the kids understand how hard of a trip the migration is for these beautiful creatures.
The last part of our class we got to learn about tagging Monarchs and we got our own Monarch tagged so we could see if our Monarch makes it to Mexico. We will start looking on a web site in spring, keep your fingers crossed ours makes it there. The kids also learned how to tell the difference between a male and female Monarch. After we tagged our butterfly we all went into the butterfly house to enjoy the beautiful butterflies.
Teyla had a butterfly land in her hair
We really enjoyed this class and on our way out we got the privilege of seeing a Humming bird. It was the girls' first time seeing one. Landon and I actually saw one at Botanica the last time we were here.
This week was a fun busy week, I hope you enjoyed hearing about all that we did and learned and hope you come back next week too.
Wow that's a lot of field trips in one week. Glad you guys had so much fun.
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