Baby Frogs In A Tube

We have had a frog living in a old pipe in our backyard for years. Last year we finally got a picture of it sticking its head out of the pipe. DJ got a cool shot of it inside the pipe, in the early Spring. We just assumed he was a boy, and we also assume it is the same frog each year. Of course we have no way to know this. Today, Caitlin was outside for recess. She came running in to inform me that the frog in the tube was not a boy. Oh boy! But I had no clue what she was talking about. So she took me out to show me. She meant the frog in the pipe was a girl. How did she know? Because there were three baby frogs in the pipe with the big frog. So of course DJ had to get a shot. The mom and third baby must have been camera shy, because they moved behind the other two babies, out of sight. Aren't they cute?

Piranhas and Poetry!

I have probably mentioned this before but I hate teaching Grammar. There are so many rules to remember, argh! It is boring too! But, I will get to that in a minute.

Yesterday was a co-op day, at another friend's house. We learned about piranhas. As with any misunderstood, not so attractive looking creature, people are naturally petrified of Piranhas. We watched the video below and it was quite interesting. I won't tell you the whole story, but it had to do with Piranhas being found in the US. Watch it, it was neat. We also went for a walk as a group, did a craft and had lunch together. Then the kids get to have some play time after. The next one is in two weeks. We also had our first 4H meeting of the new year last night. DJ was elected as the photographer again, so he was excited. I tried to get him to go for another position, but he had no interest. Caitlin still does not feel like she wants to hold an officer position yet. My kids are doing Photography, Entomology and Butterflies for their project books. But, the group project is First Aid. I am looking forward to them learning something so good. They decided what scarecrow they wanted to make for their group Scarecrow. This year they are doing The Cat in the Hat.

Today was a full day of lessons, and DJ had to make up his writing assignment from yesterday plus all his other work. This is how we get to do more social things. They have to make up whatever they miss on the fun day, on another day. They don't seem to mind, so it works for us. I chose his topic this week, I wanted two writing assignments a week, but it is only working out to one a week so far, and we alternate the topic. I chose for him to write a poem about a pumpkin. Hop over to his blog and check it out.

Tomorrow we have a playdate at the park. Each kid will have to complete some kind of school work before we go. DJ will probably read and Caitlin will probably do Head of the Class. I hope the weather is nice. I am so glad it is Fall and the hot sticky stuff is mostly gone for the year.

Caitlin will be really expanding her Grammar and Math this year. That will be my main focus for her. She is struggling with the rules of plural nouns, especially es, and ies. Every time I think she has it, poof there it went. So, I found this cute video for her to watch. Sometimes watching it, rather than listening to me try to explain it, helps them see it in a different way. Do you like Grammar? Did you enjoy learning it in school?

Art Class Homeschool Style

Everyone knows we have been learning to paint. I have graduated from bottles, to walls and paintings on painting paper. Some of these are for sale in my Etsy store. I am also painting a whole line of Christmas ornaments. Anyway, on Thursdays we seem to have a little bit of extra time at the end of the school day. So, Caitlin and I decided to test how durable acrylic paints, and my sealer, really are. Last Thursday we painted one wall of my shower the dark blue shown in the background. I let it sit a day, and then I sealed it. Of course I showered during the week, and none of the paint came off. Then this Thursday, we decided to paint things you would see in the sky. You can see the results. The really big bird, and dragonfly, Caitlin did, with me assisting her on filling in and some of the outline. The art of painting small is something we both are working on, LOL! I am very pleased with the results. I sealed it on Friday, and showered in it Friday evening, with not so much as a smudge. I might do the other walls, but it might be a while before I get to it. So, my conclusion is, water does not harm the acrylic paints, it is the method of submerging items, even if sealed, and then rubbing them, like if you were washing and acrylic painted plate or glass, that actually makes the paint come off, even if sealed. We have watering bottles that we painted back in April, that have been outside in torrential downpours that all the paint is still there and bright as they were when we put them there. This was a good little experiment for me, and of course we got to paint. DJ didn't think standing in the tub with two girls trying to paint a wall, sounded like fun, so he didn't join in. He has been doing a lot of drawing, and photography rather than painting. That seems to be more his speed.

Coral Snakes and Luna Moth

Every other Tuesday we go to our Earth Kids Club meeting. This is a club started by us, to help children get out and enjoy nature. Since it is so hot here in Florida, until about October, our meetings have been mostly reading, discussion and some crafty type lessons. We are studying Wetlands and Reptiles. All members vote and get a say in what the group does. At the last meeting, one of the moms suggested that each kid pick a reptile and do a small demonstration at each meeting. So, we did. Not all kids have picked, they wanted to think about it. But, DJ went first, and he did the Coral Snake. He read some information, discussed it and the funny saying that goes with it, and then they all drew and colored a Coral Snake, and a Milksnake to show the difference. Then they got to eat the delicious Coral Snake cupcakes that DJ and Caitlin made. They really did make them, all by themselves. I only frosted them. Coral Snakes are actually red and yellow, not pink and yellow. But, red frosting is grossly bitter, and anytime I have ever used it no one eats the red parts, so we used pink. Then the kids get to socialize and play at the park. Once the cooler weather comes I really want them to be walking nature trails and observing nature to later be drawn and documented. So far, I am very pleased with this group, and glad I convinced myself to do it. Tuesday was also a full day of lessons before the meeting.   Oh if anyone is interested in the links we used for the Coral Snake, it is under Earths Kids on Pinterest.

Today, was another day of full lessons, plus our morning walk. DJ finally got on the Florida virtual school to begin his 7th grade lessons for Science. So far it is going much smoother than Spanish. They have changed the set up of the classes and movement around the interface, and it is much more user friendly. So DJ is doing two History currics and two Science currics, plus all his other work. So far he is handling it quite well. There is still more stuff I would like to add but I don't want to overwhelm him so I must be patient.

I hope everyone is having an awesome week so far. Be sure to stop by DJ's blog to keep up with his writing activities this year.