This morning I went to the computer to check email, the temperature reading for outside temps read -22 degrees! The arctic weather continues!
Earlier this week we completed some very intense science and math lessons that really strechted their thinking. Yesterday, they had time for creative learning projects (reference back to entry). So, today Sean and Sophie did an independent study day. This is a day, or part of a day when they make a list of the assignments they need to complete and any projects they want to work include. Some reading assignments and lessons need to be completed individually, some need to be done together, and there a few they can choose whether to work together or not.
This morning was peaceful and they worked very well on their own. They completed reading for chemistry(Real Science 4 Kids) to prep for experiments, and language (Sentence Island). They reviewed their memorized poems and are currently memorizing all the prepositions (Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind-level 3). They completed spelling lessons (Spelling Workout), lessons and tests on CyberEd, and practiced their keyboarding (Typing Instructor). As I was preparing lunch, they acted out the stories they wrote yesterday about their lentil wilderness.
At lunch we had a few problems. I spilled a glass of water on the counter and we had to rush to rescue pictures, papers, a camera, and various other things that we didn’t want wet. They had to eat their lunch in a very small area of the table because our projects have taken over our space. Food was spilling on the floor attracting the cats and dog. They were getting a feast. Then, after I set them up for afternoon activities, I came upstairs to see the cats taking over the lentil boxes. After all, they are cat litter boxes with litter-looking lentils inside. I feared the worst, but realized they were just playing with the lentils, the paper props and eating a few lentils as a snack. I hope dried lentils will pass right through the cats!! Maybe good for a little fiber? Just more homeschool adventures in the midst of “creative clutter.”
The afternoon activities included the Great States Game for geography. They really enjoy playing that game. They wanted to do more keyboarding. We have had good luck with this software. It is very appealing to kids because of the games. I don’t mind these games because they are all typing and it really challenges them to increase their speed. I allow them to work on keyboarding as much as they want as long as they get their assignments done. They completed their math assignments, conducted science experiments that gave them practice in scientific measurement (The Young Scientist Series). They planted their seeds to plot their growth and measured melting ice towers. They recorded results on charts and graphs.
Lentil science is on the afternoon schedule again since we have all the materials out. Right now, this is one thing we are doing that is at grade level. The activities are engaging and fun for them and they get practice in following directions, organizing themselves and taking responsibility for the entire project. Today they made a new landscape (adding a lot of their own Lego characters), hid treasure, made maps and wrote directions for others to find the treasure. This simple exercise has turned into an adventure against the perils of skeletons, aliens, and monsters who have created traps and secret codes. I liked this activity because it provided more opportunity for them to integrate creativity into their learning activities; creating stories, writing, spelling, map-making and giving directions. They were free to make the exercise as hard and creative as they wanted. They extended their “lentil worlds” into several boxes and made more elaborate worlds. Writing came easier because they were inspired by their own creativity. The cats watched very closely and tried to become part of the lentil world to our dismay. Looks like the lentils will need to be stored in containers tonight.
After all their projects, experiments, lessons and reading they still had the chance to get in several hours of imaginary play. They dressed up as warrior knights and played with stuffed animals and legos. Today made me think about the luxury of time you experience in home school. You can get the lessons done, design creative projects, and still have plenty of play time. And, I also thought about the huge range of activities my 2nd -grade aged gifted kids have shifted between this week (and sometimes within the day); dress-up, playing with stuffed animals, and creating lentil worlds to 4th – 6th grade math, science and language.
Their reward for a big day of work is an episode of Gilmore Girls, our favorite Net Flix Pic right now.
We may be stuck inside today, but we still have fudge and Gilmore Girls!!