Dudley Farms Field Trip

Dudley Farms is an old real working farm from the 1800's. It is a Florida State park, donated by the Dudley family. It is run mostly by volunteers, and your kids can volunteer there as well. I am going to look into the volunteering, but I am not sure we will have the time. I was under the impression that on every Wed there are classes offered to the public. Well, that technically is not true, at least not to the extent that I thought. DJ was the only boy that could go, so he didn't have much interest in learning how to make rugs, but our little group is going to start collecting old sheets and curtains to give it a try. It really was not that hard once you got the hang of it. The ladies that did the demonstration were so kind and knowledgeable. Then we went on a self tour of the old farm, and walked the nature trail. It was warm but not hot, so a perfect day. Next month, on the fourth Wed, they are doing something with palm frans and I really hope we can make that one. They said to look up Morning Side, in Gainesville, as they do offer a lot of classes. So, I will be checking that out for sure. Check out the Dudley Farm website, to learn about all the events they have for March. Some of them are pretty cool. I have tons more pictures, and I will share them a little bit at a time.

Easy Peasy Homeschool

It is that time of year again. We are one week away from the end of our third semester of school, and my endless decision making for next year begins. There are so many great products to consider. DJ will continue with at least three classes at FLVS, but because 8th grade will be the last year that I get to have lots of fun with his curriculum, I am still looking for fun things for him to do. Once he starts high school, he has to take certain classes in order to get his diploma. I still have lots of time to play around with Caitlin's. She will be in the fourth grade. That is not to say that even when in high school, that DJ can not do other classes that he enjoys. I just can't mess with the curriculum as much. A homeschool friend shared a website called, Easy Peasy Homeschool. I think I have actually looked at this website before, and then forgot about it. I have now bookmarked it, because it looks awesome. Caitlin will still do Saxon Math, Head of the Class and Art class. But, Easy Peasy Homeschool, I might use for History, Science, and extra Math lessons and videos. They even have it already lied out by days. I think I like the Reading too and possibly the Grammar. I haven't had time to go all the way through it yet, but I will. I am also purchasing a World History and Culture book, from the same homeschool friend. This will probably be appropriate for both children, so I look forward to getting it and checking it out. That is as far as I have gotten so far. DJ will be all done with his 4H Photography books, and still has one Entomology book left. So, those will be squeezed in somewhere. As his days get busier, in higher grades, it is harder to squeeze in extra stuff. If you are a Charlotte Mason fan, Amazon is offering all six of her original homeschool books for only 0.99 cents. Get this before it is gone if you want to try the Charlotte Mason method. I am very much interested in doing some renewable energy or something with mechanical stuff next year for DJ. The product below looks very interesting to me.

Tomorrow, we are off to Dudley Farms. If you are in the Gainesville area, they offer classes every Wed. through July. DJ is interested in woodworking and Caitlin will probably do cooking or sewing. Another homeschool family will be going with us. Then we will have a picnic lunch and walk the trails. Don't worry I am sure we will have lots of pictures. Thursday we are having Art and Jewelry Making with friends. Pictures for that too I imagine, lol.

Fun At Dudley Farms

Yesterday we all went to Dudley Farms Historic State Park. It is a working farm from over 100 years ago. It was given to the State of Florida, from the Dudley family and is run from their will. Unfortunately as I blogged before, it is one of the 19 state parks nominated to be closed down. I am not sure if this is why there were only two staff people working, or because of the holiday, but we were not able to enter all the buildings or see the usual goings on. Yet it was still interesting, and educational. There was a nature trail, which is the picture of my children standing next to a beautiful old tree. The majestic turkey was amazing, and no he is not smiling. Seems he does not like his picture taken. He was ruffling his feathers, in anger at me for sticking my camera over the fence. Isn't he a beauty though? See that old stove, isn't that cool. I think I would like one of those. As you can see the weahter was splendid, and thank goodness I did not see any snakes. Some really big spiders that DJ had fun taking picture of with his new camera. Caitlin gathered acorns, for the squirrels. All in all it was a wonderful day, and we can count it as a field trip, for school. I hope everyone had a wonderful Friday, too.

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.

Contest Updates, Dudley Farms Where History Is Aliv

Here are the contest updates. You still have until the 29th to get your entries in. It is easy, and the rules are at the top of this blog. You can win 10 dollars, and a 90 day advertising text link. Here are the entries as they stand, right now:

betchai: 9 entries
Kim: 1 entry
kiki: 2 entries
House home garden: 1 entry
the fitness diva: 2 entries
CY: 2 entries
kgraham: 1 entry

There is no school tomorrow, so I have no lesson plans to post. I would like to share a great field trip idea, with everyone. http://www.friendsofdudleyfarm.org/ Dudley Farms, is a real, working historical farm. Step back in time, and history, and learn how people lived, and survived in the older days. The Fall, and Winter, are especially fun, because they have all kinds of special things going on for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. It is affordable to get in, and for Homeschoolers, or any child, it is a wonderful learning experience. They are located just outside of Gainesville, in Newburry, Florida.

I love arts and crafts, and this time of year, there are tons to choose from. If you like to do arts, and crafts, check out this website http://www.kidsturncentral.com/holidays/crafts/hcrafta.htm and learn to make Paper Mache Pumpkins. This week in arts, and crafts, we will be drawing a Haunted House, and making Pumpkins to hang on the tree outside. I picked up simple Pumpkin Bags for 88 cents at Walmart, we are going to fill them with leaves, and hang them from the trees. It doesn't get any more affordable, or easy than that.

Have a great Sunday, everyone.