Using OpenEd for Math Lessons and Turning Some of Our Favorite Nature Photos Into Awesome Gifts

Well, it has only been a week since my last post, lol.  I just don't have as much time, it seems, to blog.  I have been using OpenEd, the Math lessons, with my 6th grader, and right now it is going well.  She does the lesson, then plays a game, and watches videos.  Then we do Math flash cards, on an app, and she is finally getting division down.  I would still like her to be a little faster with her multiplication facts, but I wont quibble that.  With more practice she will get it. 

Since it was a little bit warmer today, I went out and got a lot of gardening done.  We are putting up a privacy fence, in the back yard, long story, so I had to dig up several plants.  They were successfully relocated, and I got to pick a spot for Caitlin and me to plant our 3 Sisters garden, in the Spring.  I got it dug, and added some good soil to it, and I will start composting it as well.  If you ever decide you want a privacy fence, do one panel a paycheck.  We didn't do it that way, but I wish we had.  Buying it all at once is extremely expensive. 

If you have been reading this blog, for any length of time, then you know we love to be outside.  We love nature, animals, visiting all our local parks and zoos.  Though, we have by no means visited them all, it takes a while, lol.  We also love to take pictures of all the beautiful, and fun things we see, and find.  Some of you might even recognize this picture.  The male lion, who let us take his picture several times.  Now, you can purchase some of our favorite, and best photographs, by shopping at my new Society6 Art store.  You will also find my paintings.  You can buy prints, canvas, or lovely gifts.  So far, along with this lion, I have uploaded flowers, manatees, deer, dolphins, springs, and other beautiful pictures from our travels around Florida.  I do not have all of them loaded, yet.  It takes quite a long time to edit and load them.  Plus, I have to find them in all my storage places.  We have been doing this for 9 years after all.  These make great, quality gifts.  You can also just click the Society6 banner, at the top corner of this blog.

Did You Know?

Did you know that most lipsticks contain fish scales?  Yuck, I knew I didn't wear lipstick for a reason.  I am sure there is a good reason why.  Check out the links below to learn more about fish and their scales, with some fun games, books and websites.

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/spacescience/facts-on-fish/
http://myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/fishing-tips/scales/
http://www.ask.com/question/does-lipstick-contain-fish-scales
http://petgames.my-pet-care.com/pet-games/fish-games-for-kids
http://www.coloring.ws/fish.htm
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/animals/fish/
http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/learning/kids/?cid=fsbdev2_027478

Keep Your Eyes To The Sky!

Yesterday afternoon a tropical low formed, near South Florida. Today it is off the coast of Tampa, and trying to get stronger. There are tropical storm warnings up for the panhandle of Florida. It is August, and the tropics are heating up. Of course they are public schools start tomorrow, DJ's evaluation is Thursday, and it could prove to be an interesting week. There is Ana, and Bill, both TS's spinning in the Atlantic, that should start to near Florida, by this weekend.

This brings me to the point of hurricane preparedness. We are always basically prepared, because that is what I do LOL. My biggest dilemma this year, will be our pets. My dog gets very scared, and squirelly, and getting him into a car is always a trick. Should we have to evacuate it will be a wrestling match. Then we have these two kitties, who were basically abandoned, and we have been caring for them. The original two, we found a home for, then appeared this other one out of the blue. It was obvious to me it was just dropped off, because it acted like a house cat, not a stray. It was very clean, friendly, and sociable. So it has adopted us, and the one remaining kitty, and they have become good friends, to my kids, and each other. I could not imagine leaving them behind. They count on us for love, and food, and they stay on our covered porch which keeps them safe from the elements. I am going to get a hold of my mom today, one to make sure she is watching the updates, and two to see if she possibly has a pet carrier I can borrow, or a small cage. I am imagining it would be very difficult to get these two to cooperate enough to get in the carrier, then into the car. They are still small enough for me to deal with, without getting too scratched, or bitten. Since they trust me, I am hoping it won't be too bad. Of course I would never put my children, or myself in danger, but if I plan enough in advance, I hope it will go smoothly, and I will not have to leave them behind. Of course the best option, is that we don't ever have to evacuate, though I may still have to put them in the carrier, and bring them to safer shelter, such as inside the garage, for their own safety. If you do not have an emergency plan, now is the time to get one! This video will help, and don't forget about your pets.

Manatees The Mermaids Of Florida

Spanish explorers thought Manatees were mermaids, that is why they are called sea mermaids, and sometimes sea cows. Manatees are gentle giants, that are becoming endangered due to human encroachment. In the winter they come into the warm springs, to sort of hybernate until the warm weather returns. There are some places that will actually let you swim with them, however it is mostly considered harassment of the animal to do so. Here are some cool facts about Manatees:

Manatees can be more than 12 feet long, and weigh more than 3500 pounds, that is a pretty big mermaid.

They eat at much as 100 pounds of vegetation per day.

It takes 13 months for a manatee calf to be born, and females only reproduce every 2-5 years.

Manatees can hold their breath up to 24 minutes.

Manatees are closely related to elephants.

We have actually seen them in person, and have pictures of them. I wanted to share them with you, but they have been developed, and removed from the computer. This video below, is a beautiful example of the gentle giants. My kids love to watch them, almost as much as the birds.


Lesson Plans for 2/18/09:

Reading: Chapter two of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's stone
Social Studies: Flat maps and globes
Language Arts: End marks, proof reading
Math: Tally charts, multiplication, division
Writing: If I was a teacher for the day, I would do this
Spanish: Review
Spelling: Lesson 21- write each spelling word, and circle the vowels
Vocabulary: Lesson 21- Think of a synonym for each vocabulary word
History channel: Abe Lincoln part one

Do Your Kids Ask For Nontraditional Pets?

I read this little article, in my Family Circle magazine. Some of it I was already aware of, but some was new information as well. For instance I knew turtles, lizards, snakes, and other reptiles could carry the Salmonella virus, and that children under 3 or 4 should not handle them. However I did not know that turtles, chicks, and mice can carry Herpes as well. Herpes is usually considered a sexually transmitted disease, so this was startling to me. The basis of the story is that if you are considering a cute chick for Easter, you might want to talk to your Pediatrician to be sure it is safe, for the age of your child. While we do have lizards that share our yard with us, my children have never handled them. My son has considered asking for a turtle, but this is not a common topic. Good handwashing would be of the utmost importance.

I was given an award, which I will post about on a day when I have no lesson plans to post.

Lesson Plans for 1/20/09:

Reading: Chapter 6 Dolphins at Daybreak
Language Arts: Parts of speech, punctuation
Math: Multiplication, division, greater than, less than
Writing: If you could zap yourself into a TV show, what would it be, and why
Science: Animals-vertebrates, animal watch
Spelling: Lesson 16- write each spelling word 2 times each
Vocabulary: Lesson 16: Look up the definition for each vocabulary word
PE: 30 minutes
Spanish: Food and utensils 3