Butterflies in the house.

We have been using Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day by Apologia for science. We are doing the section on insects currently and decided to do a butterfly pavilion. We checked many sites online but they all came with coupons for the caterpillars. So we looked and saw the caterpillars were coming from Insect Lore. They also sale the whole kits and not just the caterpillars. So for $19.99 and S.h. We had these cute critters arrive. They were very tiny and with three very interested kids I was worried. The box said just leave them alone. My kids wanted to touch, shake, drop, and hug the caterpillars. I kept saying, "If just one makes it to a butterfly then it's a success". We watched every day as 4 of the caterpillars grew and grew. We had one who was way behind and hardly grew at all. After about a week the four were all naming upside down. I knew this meant it must be time for them to go into chrysalis stage. Just a side note if you lose your guide that comes in your kit, they have one online. I go online because from the before statement, this momma totally threw away the hand book. I find out you have to use a safety pin to transfer these delicate chrysalis to the mesh cage. I'm thinking this sounds way easier than its going to be and I was right too! Any movement to the chrysalis and they think there under attack. So as a defense they shake really bad to scare prey. It's very effective! I about dropped them twice., but I was able to pin them to the mesh. The kids remind me tiny is still in the jar and is no where close to becoming a chrysalis. We read you can use a coffee filter and put the lid back on for if and when he changed. About a week later we woke up to butterflies. We were so excited that the four had made despite my kids unintentional attempts to kill them! We went to the library to find books on butterflies. We also did worksheets that we found online. It has been a great study and we will be releasing them tomorrow. Also the last one finally made it to chrysalis stage and I will transfer him to the mesh tomorrow. The website is www.insectlore.com. They all kinds of habitats and science tools. I think next we will get ladybugs from them.
Also this is my opinion. I received no money or free items for giving this review. I was just really pleased with the company. We are currently looking for plants to make a butterfly garden but I will update on that another day.

Destroying my house in preperation for school

So the new school year is approaching fast !  I'm thinking "Where did my summer go?"  So I decided to start organizing today and getting ready for 3rd grade with Juliet and Tot School with Gabe.
This is what the organizing looks like at the moment. I'm trying to make hands on stuff and file folders for Gabe.  

Hopefully over the next week we will get it together. I really don't plan on starting school till the middle of September when we get back from Disney. I started really early last year and now we are starting late this year.  I hope this year goes better than last though.

Sending and Receiving Postcards

In homeschool we are going to start My Fathers World Exploring Countries and Cultures. I've been looking for fun ideas to help us.  I came across a website called Postcrossing.  You register and are able to send up to five postcards.  The website selects other people who are registered from all over the world. They give you a special code to put on your post card so the receiving party can let you know when it arrived.  As soon as your first post card is received. Your address is put in the system and someone else will send you a post card. This is a great way to get something from another state or country.  So far we have sent out two post cards to Germany and China.  We received one today from California.

Juliet was so excited to receive mail from another place.  If your learning about states or other countries this is definitely something to look into.

Passport to Fun at Michaels !

Where we homeschool, I'm constantly looking for thrifty and educational  things to do with the kids. Juliet's history program next year is My Fathers World Exploring Countries and Cultures.  I saw that Michaels is having a free craft event. Where you make a craft for each country.  We are so excited !  The dates are on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays from 11am-2pm.

Call your local Michaels just to make sure of the dates and times.

http://www.michaels.com/Passport-to-Fun/PTF,default,pg.html

June 21: Sweden – Swedish Paper dolls & flag
June 23: Germany - Loden Hat & Cowbell
June 25: Egypt – Mummy & Hieroglyphics
June 28: Bahamas – Flower lei & festive tropical can hug. 
June 30: Canada - Maple leaf & Moose
July 2: USA – Bead Flag & Log Cabin Caddy
July 5: Italy - Foam Pizza & Suncatchers
July 7: Australia – Koala Bear & Boomerang
July 9: India – Elephant & Henna Hand
July 12: Russia – Bear & Nesting Doll puppets
July 14: France - Frenchman & Wood Eiffel Tower
July 16: United Kingdom – Shamrock & Foam Crowns
July 19: Japan – Origami Dog & Foam Printing Block
July 21: Greece – Olympic torch & Greek pot
July 23: Mexico – Flower & Sun
July 26: China - Tangram & Chinese Lantern
July 28: South Africa – Lion & Friendship Bracelet
July 30: Brazil - Snake & Mask

2nd Grade Curriculum

Ok so a few weeks ago we started 2nd Grade. Juliets Curriculum is

BIBLE- The Bible

READING/ENGLISH- Rod and Staff Books- This has alot of writing so we do alot of it orally

Writing/Spelling-Rod and Staff/ Horizons

Math- Horizons 2nd Grade w/ Rightstart Math Card Game Set/ Singapore Word Problem Bk

Science- Apologia Astronomy, Nature Studys , Lapbooks

History- Adventures in MFW Lapbooks

Health- Abeka / Horizons, Lapbook

Art- Using a Usborne Book, Library, and Unit Studies

Music-Unit Study and Piano

Next Semester we'll be doing Hey Andrew Teach me some Greek.

It seems like alot but we're doing alot of hands on so its not a ton of workbook pages.

And the Count down Starts ...5.4.3.2.1.

Okay we only have about a week left of official School Whoohoo! Since we homeschool all year around we will be doing a more hands on summer curriculum. Then we'll start second grade probly in August cause I want done earlier next year. Its hard to keep little one's focus when the weather is so pretty. Juliet had her last day of Homeschool Co-op this past week. She is sad because she hates not seeing her friends but hopefully we will be able to get with them over the summer. They had a pizza party for the kids who said their Bible Verses. Juliet had to say 11 of them before she could enter cause we missed a couple of co-ops. In the end she knows Psalms 103: 1-22 which is awesome! Here are some pics of her last day.

Art Class Ms Joyce.


Gym Class

I missed pictures of reading class but here are the Pizza Party pics from their Keepers of the Home and Contenders of Faith Class.

Then they had their Spring Program and Art Gallery Show

Juliet and her Bests Friends infront of it.

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Homeschool Expo

This past week out homeschool co-op had its annual Expo. Its where all the kids kinda show off their talents and then are later given ribbons depending on their placement. It was such a blessing to see kids of all ages and their talents. Juliet entered singing, drawing, painting, and wood construction. We found two awesome books that helped her with her drawing and painting. I was so proud of her. Her drawing was of two flamingo's and her Painting was of bugs and flowers completely using mostly just her fingers . Her construction was a kit from Lowe's build and grow. Other kids were a little more creative in that area but we had never done it so we went a little more simple this year.

Her singing was great well .. it least I think so . For a 6yr old to get up in front of people which is something she hasn't done since last years co-op and sing a big song is awesome. She did pause a little cause she was looking at me and Gabe was whining cause he wanted to go up there with her and sing too. She made it threw the whole thing so I'm very proud of her. Here is a clip of her singing. Sorry its sideways halfway threw.. Chris turned the camera. Enjoy!

Class Pet

We are not pet people. Actually let me clarify that, I am not a pet person. We have had a cat and a dog and ended up giving both away. We just travel to much and stuff. So Juliet has been asking for a class pet.

I gave in .. what did we get??? SEA MONKEYS ! Only cause Juliet had no clue what they were and I just couldn't let her youth go by without experiencing sea monkeys. I killed my sea monkeys as a kid but Juliets has survived. We started out with about 15 and then they all died but two.

So the two have survived and become about 1/2 inch. Somehow they have had babies or we just have had really late hatchers, cause now there are five all together.

Just in case you have now idea what sea monkeys really are we did some homework. They are really brine shrimp that apparently have the ability to be dormant in their egg until being put in salt water. They live off algae also.

We'll keep you updated on how they go I can't get a real good pic on them so you might have to google a picture to get a close look.