Thanksgiving and Dinosaurs

We have next week off for Thanksgiving break.  So, we need to get a lot done this week to stay up to date.  Our Run Club has moved to Mon and Wed at 1, but today we were rained out.  We have 4H this evening.  Caitlin will be doing more Dinosaur reading and activities, this week, along with more history on Greece.  She has decided to make a theater mask, and a Greek style dinner for her hands on projects.  We will not be using Feta cheese though, no one seems to like it much.  She will be making a simple Greek Salad, and Lemon Chicken served over rice and sauteed veggies.  There will be a lot of art work, with her dinosaur research.  I will add links and info as we go.  DJ is continuing to learn about the Middle Ages, and the Atmosphere.  I have not decided yet what hands on activity he will do next.  However, we have decided he is too busy to write his book on his free time, so I will be incorporating it into his school days.  He is beginning to read, A Separate Peace, and if you click here you will find a study guide to go with the book.  We will be using it.  If you want to read A Separate Peace online, click the second link. 

Entrecard, and Ice Sculpture Hotel

First I have to tell me readers, after two years, I am removing the Entrecard widget from my blogs. This morning while doing my drops yet again another hack site, and then one with a redirect to a virus download. This is the same virus that nearly wiped out my computer before, and I am not dealing with it again. I use several other traffic exchange sites, and I don't know what they do differently for security but whatever it is Entrecard needs to do it too. They can not protect their members from these sites and that is obvious. I still will do my Blogging for Fun friends as I always do, and I have new group at Mom Bloggers Club. Both widgets are on the side bar, and if you would like to join that would be awesome. I apologize to anyone who used credits on my widget. I will try to get them all reimbursed.

We are finishing up our lessons on Canada today. One of the famous attractions in Quebec is the ice sculptures each winter. Below is a video of the ultimate ice sculpture, an ice hotel. It is really cool! We also did a mixing colors experiment where we wrote down different color combos to mix and see what colors we got. We did this using water, and food coloring in plastic cups. Then the cups were put in the freezer, and we will be making our own ice sculpture using the colored water. DJ took photos for his pictures tell a story lesson for 4H. Dinosaur findings in Canada is another topic of discussion. National Geographic magazine has a wonderful article on extinction of dinosaurs and DJ will be reading it and then discussing the different theories of dinosaur extinction. Caitlin will use the pictures to make a dinosaur lapbook in a few weeks.

Lesson Plans For 11/3/10:

DJ:
Social Studies: Chapter 8 Ancient Times, lessons above, and map skills
Math: Division, mixed math
Sign Language
Spelling: Chapter 7 put words in alphabetical order

Caitlin:
Social Studies: As above
Math: Addition
Reading sentences and word placement worksheet
Language Arts: long vowels, blends sl and br
Printing Practice
Clock work, calendar work, sight words, skip counting

Prehistoric Planet On Discovery Kids

With summer vacation still going on. I try to encourage my children to still learn, even through the summer. Anyone who has kids, knows this can be a challenge. Discovery Kids, an afternoon set of shows on The Discovery Channel, has a show called Prehistoric Planet. We spent a great deal of time, in second grade, learning all about Dinosaurs. This show reinforces what we learned, and teaches so much more than we did. It keeps my son, and even my daughter, enthralled, and not just wasting time lounging around. It is on every afternoon, during the week, at 2PM, on the Discovery Channel. Check it out.