Poe Springs the Wild Florida You Should See

We have been meaning to go to Poe Springs all summer, but finally got there yesterday. Poe Springs, is located just across the Alachua County line, as you leave Gilchrist County, in High Springs. It is a very rural, and rustic spring. There are Park Rangers, and workers on staff. So, it isn't like you are just in the boonies with the wild all by yourself. There are no lifeguards however, so you have to be cognizant of that. Poe Springs is a natural spring, off the Santa Fe River. There are several springs right in this same stretch of river. The park is a county owned park, with gazebos, playground, tennis, hiking, swimming, and lots of extra picnic tables. The springs are down the boardwalk, a little walk from the play area. Keep that in mind if you decide to visit. We saw lots of turtles in the springs. DJ got a picture of one good sized one. The kids saw a gator in the river, but they don't come in the springs. They are pretty much always there. A snake passed by too, which kind of freaked me out, but he didn't want anything to do with us. Next week, we are visiting Blue Springs, just up the road from Poe. There are two Blue Springs. One in Levy County, which is not as nice, and one in Gilchrist County, that is beautiful. Stay tuned for pics from there next week. Public schools start back to school on Monday, but we have three more weeks off. Oh yeah!

Swim Playdate, Manatee Springs State Park

Well we did get some sunshine yesterday. Got the grass mowed, the pool vacuumed, and we even got to get in it, and swim. I was getting nervous, because tomorrow we are having a swim play date, with our small homeschool group. The water is chillier than I like it, due to little to no sun, but kids do not usually care. It is us wimpy parents, that complain. Today for Science class we are again studying habitats. I am sharing this lovely video from Manatee Springs State Park, which is about 30 minutes from us in Chiefland, FL. I hope you enjoy the natural beauty of it.




Lesson Plans for 5/27/09:

Swim playdate
Math: Estimate products, graphs
Writing: Concepts of a paragraph
Language Arts: Skills review, questions and exclamations
Spelling: Lesson 33- Write each spelling word and circle the vowels
Vocabulary: Lesson 33- Use each vocabulary word in a sentence
Social Studies: Way out West

My Kids Are Crazy, and Only One Day Left For Contest

I think my kids have lost their marbles. On Thursday, we scrubbed, and cleaned to get the pool all sparkly clean. Not an easy task, I might add. On Saturday they begged my husband to let them go swimming, and he let them. My daughter had teeth chattering, but she did not want to get out. My husband got in too, and I think they all need to see a shrink. While it has been warm, that water, which we just put in, is freezing. Not me, no way, not until about May.


At the top of this blog, you will see a contest for a set of Sylvan workbooks. Tomorrow is the very last day you can enter, with the winner being drawn on the 31st. I have four entries so far. It is easy to enter, and easy to win. This contest is sponsored by Sylvan Learning Center, do not miss out on these awesome 4th grade workbooks.

There is no school tomorrow, so I have no lesson plan to post. Have a great Sunday, everyone.

The first 30 days of Summer Vacation

It is hard to believe, that 30 days of summer vacation, has already passed. The first 30 days have been good, somewhat quiet. My son DJ, who will be starting 3rd grade in Sept, has read 3 Magic Tree House Books, and is working on his drawing skills. I have to say he is pretty good. He borrows books, on Dinosaurs, Fish, and Birds from the local Library then he draws them. He still plays on his favorite sites on the computer Funschool, and Funbrain. He also used the Leapster L-max for math and word learning games. My little one, who just turned 4, conitnues to mostly learn through play. She did just learn to write her name however, and she was so proud. She has a Barbie computer for learning activities, and also uses the Leapster L-max, she is learning to draw as well. Yesterday we made tissue paper flags, you can find the instructions in my archives. They were a little time consuming, but came out nice. We swim everyday, or almost every day, library every two weeks, and making plans for some of DJ's baseball friends to come visit. I dont force my kids to continue school work over summer vacation, however I am glad they like it enough to do it on their own. As for me, I am tweeking my 3rd grade curriculum, for DJ, and starting Caitlins preschool curriculum. I work every weeekend, on the night shift, working on my blogs, and learning to make extra cash online, and of course my jewelry making. We also have cleaned out closets, and donated a bunch of stuff to Another Way. A non profit group that helps battered women and children start a new life. So how has your summer vacation been so far?