A Big Hunt

Today we went on a BIG hunt! Handsome's reading curriculum suggested looking for vowels in newspapers, magazines, etc. But I could NOT resist the BIG magnifying glass I found at the dollar store! So, it has now become our "letter finder". We spent almost a half an hour searching the house for vowels. Handsome found lots and lots of them and concluded (as planned) that ALL words must have vowels in them! I assisted in the hunt, wearing gigantic sunglasses which often obscured the vowels. Handsome had to correct my "vision" and assure me what were A's and O's, etc. He thought he was having a great time helping his teacher get the right "find". Of course, teacher blamed the glasses and resorted to wearing them on the tip of her nose. All of this was planned, of course, but Handsome did not catch on! And lest anyone should be appauled that I deviated from the curriculum, let me assure you that: 1.I met the objective of the lesson, 2. Handsome looked in more books for vowels than he would have the other way! , and 3. We will still do the magazine exercise. But, instead of his just pointing them out or circling them, we are going to "stamp" the words with more than one vowel with his special stamp...makes for a more colorful activity, and page! (We actually already did a vowel hunt with ads!)

This week we are learning about police officers. Last week was fire personel. We visited a fire station, and got to sit in the truck and have a "real" alarm go off. The boys and Baby Girl all got fire hats and color books. We also saw their weight room and kitchen and bedrooms, etc. We had a family meeting to discuss fire escape routes and fire safety issues. We are finding that learning is fun! We hope to go see a police station this week and then a post office.

Our science is teaching us about winged creatures, flight, drag, airfoil, etc. Even I am learning things long forgotten, or perhaps, shhhh...maybe NEVER known! So far, we have had two experiements: one with two straws and a cup of water to demonstrate air pressure! And one with two gliders we made with straws and cardboard, tape, and clay, to demonstrate wing-span and lift. Now we are learning about habitats.

Every day we count to 100-by ones, twos, fives, and tens. I try to make it more fun by having them jump up or raise their arms or make a noise, etc. when we get to certain numbers (or number family). Sometimes we count pennies, or chocolate chips, or straws, or jumps on the trampoline...other days we just count! I figure Hunky, who just turned four yesterday, will pick up some of this and be ahead for Kindergarten. He likes to count. Handsome is doing simple addition, even when he doesn't realize it. He informed Hunky that when Hunky is six, he will be nine. We talked about how he figured that out and that is what addition is all about. He was rather impressed with himself. Our current math program is much better than the one we used last year and we are having to do some catch up...but Handsome excels in math, so that is no problem. I use Hunky as the excuse to review, when I feel a need for such.

Hunky wants to know when we can bake cookies. I told him "soon". I will use it as some incentive for study and work counting chocolate chips into the fun.

Oh yes! We are working on character building as well. I obtained some material from a public school teacher on this subject, as well as some biblical curriculum. This week it is on Obeying. That fits in well to our study of the police, as well. We can talk about obeying laws and safety right along with obeying your parents and teachers, etc. Next week is about doing the right thing...

We are trying to find a sport that Handsome can handle with his CF. After the Olympics and a day at grandma's, I wonder about gymnastics...(see picture)

Well, I have rambled on and on and now am being told Handsome is hungry. It is time for snacks, so I shall go do the right thing and prepare some! Yum! Yum!

Oh yes, Baby Girl's promised "time out" picture! No one told her to put her nose in the corner! Looks like she is kissing the wall! She is so cute! (picture)