Our First 2 Weeks of School

We finally got a full two weeks of school under our belts. We had to evacuate for Irma, so that set us back a whole week, with no FLVS, and no power even if there was. We have already made a couple of changes to DJ's curriculum. I won't go into great detail, but please be cautious of the Geometry and Chemistry programs through FLVS. We took his C from Geometry part 1, and went back to our Geometry textbook that we started out with originally, to finish up part 2. He should have it completed by end of Oct. Which would leave him to take Math for College Readiness. He has chosen to not take Algebra 2, and deal with that when he starts community college. Math is just not his thing, and he was getting very discouraged, because it has always been his dream to be a Marine Biologist, and he is a whiz at that stuff. We also opted to take his B from the first half of Chemistry, and just wait to see at the end of the year what he wants to do. He was stuck on Stoichiometry, and when he asked for tutoring he was told to watch videos. Not helpful! Anyway, since he will need another 1/2 credit of a Science, he as decided to take this course, with Khan Academy.

Today, we went to the open house at the UF/IFAS Biological Research Station in Cedar Key.  The kids had a ball, and the weather was amazing.  The highlight of the day, was a boat ride out to Seahorse Key.  That is the island where UF/IFAS does all kinds of research.  We were able to ask questions, visit the lighthouse, and a scavenger hunt.  I took the opportunity to ask one of the researchers if you had to be good in Math, to be a Marine Biologist.  She kind of laughed and said absolutely not.  She said you have to do it, but not be great at it.  She said an author named EO Wilson, an expert on ants, wrote a book about this topic and that it turns students away from all Science majors because they assume they had to be good in Math.  This was a great thing for DJ to hear. 

My husband was awarded a free state park pass, which is perfect for Caitlin's history lessons.  So, we will be doing a lot of affordable small trips in Oct.  We need to start saving for graduation, and Christmas.  Not a whole lot of fancy in Oct, lol.

Marine Ecology Field Trip and Learn an African Language and African Live Webcams

I told you most of my daily posts would end up as weekly, lol. Anyways, Wednesday our school day was a field trip out the Marine Research Facility, in Cedar Key. They were putting on a presentation to help the kids study for the Marine Ecology Event in November. This was my first time to the facility, but DJ went last year with that team. They were allowed to look at specimens in person, go over all the slides, and ask questions. We didn't get time to do the outside portion, we were on a very tight schedule.

If you have never heard of Clickschooling, Google it, it is awesome. They send me cool links everyday. I swear they know we are studying Africa, because I got two resources two days in a row, for learning about Africa. The first one is a live webcam to view African animals. I have also used Africam in the past. The second is to learn an African language. We will be using both of those resources in our studies. As a side note, since we are still following this election year, from our History lessons last year, we will be recording and watching the debates.  For another side note, I will be starting a weekly link up, each Sunday I think, for homeschool blogs, websites, or education related websites.  So, watch for that.

Daily Log for 9/22:

DJ;

Language Arts: 60 minutes
Chemistry: 60 minutes
History: 60 minutes
Geometry: 60 minutes
Digital Design: 60 minutes
Psych1- 60 minutes


Caitlin:

Math, LA, History, Science, Reading, Spanish and Bible

Daily Log for Friday 9/23:

This was a half day, as my husband was home from work, and we started our weekly bike path walk with friends. DJ did 60 minutes of Psych1, and 60 minutes of Digital Design, in the afternoon.

Our Last Two Weeks of Summer Vacation

We started back to school for Math, and one other subject for each child, part time. For our last two weeks of our Summer Vacation, we have family visiting. MY FIL from NY, who loves the ocean, and my sister will be here next week. She will want to see my mom a lot, and hang out at springs if not flooded from Hermine.

Yesterday, we took FIL to Anastasia State Park, in St Augustine. This was our first visit to this park, but we frequent St Augustine public beach. This is on the Atlantic Ocean, and the waves were huge! We have been there in rough surf before, but wow! The boys were brave, and sore by the time we left, lol. Caitlin and I stayed in closer. There were rip current warnings, so no one went out too deep, and let me tell you if you have never felt a strong rip current pulling on you, it is something to feel.

Today, we went out to Cedar Key, which was just hit so hard by Hurricane Hermine last week. Of course there is a ton of cleaning up going on. It was surreal to see such a pretty little town with so much damage. Cedar Key is on the Gulf Coast of Florida. The last two images are from there. I didn't take any images of damaged homes or businesses, just so sad.

Tomorrow we are off to another FL state park, a spring this time. I will get pics up as soon as I can. Friday will be our quiet day, lol, Saturday clean and laundry for my sister to get here.

State of Florida Marine Ecology Event and Competition

Yesterday, we took a trip to Kissimmee, for our first time at the Florida Marine Ecology Event. We are in Gilchrist County, and I believe this is the third year our county has attended. It was our first year on the team. Since DJ, always, and still says he is going to be a Marine Biologist, this was perfect for him. Our team won 3 photography awards, but none of the other awards. However, I got a ton of information, and what a wonderful learning experience. It was a very long day, because the event is almost 3 hours away from where we live. But, so worth it. After the kids had finished the contest, we went to lunch, and then you could come back and see the specimens with the answers. You could take pictures of the ones you got wrong, to study for next year. These are a few of the ones DJ missed. He figures he missed about 8 all together, out of he thinks 75 specimens. We won't know for sure until they return the answer sheets to the leaders. Even with that few missed, there were those who got less incorrect. These kids are serious, lol. We look forward to doing this again next year. Below are some links I want to save for future reference. Please feel free to browse through them, and use as you wish. If you live in Gilchrist County, and would love to join the Marine Ecology team, you can message me and I will hook you up with the leader.

https://skml.clas.ufl.edu/

http://holmes.ifas.ufl.edu/4hy/4-h-seaperch-robotics/

http://www.flseagrant.org/

http://www.guyharvey.com/ocean-conservation/

http://www.4-h.org/resource-library/grants-awards/




 

Properties of Sand and Horseshoe Crabs Field Trip to Cedar Key

Today was our last Earth Kids meeting, for this school year. Next year, I have made some changes. Most lessons and activities will be online on Facebook, and once in a while a field trip. I have many reasons for making this decision.

Today, we headed out to Cedar Key, a tiny resort town on the Gulf about an hour from our home. The weather was breezy and warm, then the breeze left and it was just hot, lol. We studied Horseshoe Crabs, which surprisingly we did not see any. We always see Horseshoe Crabs at Cedar Key. The tide was coming in when we got there, and usually we are there at low tide, so that might have something to do with it. The kids also did an experiment on the properties of sand. That was very interesting. It was to complete DJ's Marine Biology project book, for 4H, but I decided to make it a group project too. Then the kids get to chill, swim, look for shells, or just walk the beach. Another thing we found, that we have never found at Cedar Key, are small perfectly polished and smooth white rocks. We have been to Cedar Key lots of times and never seen these particular type of rocks there.

All in all it was a beautiful day.

Florida Announces It Will Close Some State Parks

Florida has announced that it will be closing some of its State Parks, due to budget cuts, and under usage. Here is a list of the Parks that will be effected:

Yellow River Marsh Preserve State Park- Santa Rosa County

· St. Marks River State Park- Leon County

· Lake June-In-Winter Scrub State Park - Highlands County

· Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park - Nassau County

· Constitution Convention Museum State Park - Gulf County

· John Gorrie Museum State Park - Franklin County

· Deer Lake State Park - Walton County

· Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek State Park - Polk County

· Tarkiln Bayou Preserve State Park - Escambia County

· Terra Ceia Preserve State Park - Manatee County

· Letchworth-Love Mounds Archaeological State Park - Jefferson County

· Dunns Creek - Putnam County

· San Marcos de Apalache Historic State Park - Wakulla County

· Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park - Monroe County

· Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park - Monroe County

· Dudley Farm Historic State Park - Alachua County

· Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park - Okeechobee County

· Nature and Heritage Tourism Center - Hamilton County

· Cedar Key Museum State Park- Levy County

The only one that is close to us, is the one in Cedar Key. It is very rarely used by anyone, and we have never visited it. Also the Dudley Farm Historic Site, is slated to be closed. This one surprises me, as most schools in the area visit this site every year, as a field trip. We are planning to visit it on 12/26, I hope it will last that long.

Lesson Plan for 12/18/08:

DJ is not feeling well today, so todays assignments will be on Thursday, and Thursdays will be on Friday.