If you have a wholesale store
like Costco, BJ's or Sam's club they usually sell pretzels in a large plastic barrell. Empty the pretzels out of the container (save them to give to the kids as snacks). Drill about 4-6 small holes into the bottom of the container and 4-6 holes at the top of the container. Simply fill the bottom 1/4 of the container with shredded newspaper; then add about 1/4 of granulated sand; next
add a mixture of soil, wet leaves/lettuce to the container. You can either buy earthworms at a bait shop or dig them out of a compost pile. You will want to make sure that the container is draining properly so you may wish to purchase a plastic tray the kind you put under planting pots. This will allow the water to drain out of the container. You have to make sure that the container stays moist for the worms to survive. eventually, the worms will break down the leaves and lettuce and you will have your very own composting bin and fresh soil! You may need to add more leaves/lettuce (which was donated by the cafeteria) as the worms eat. You can add just about any kind of vegetable except for citrus fruits. The kids that I worked with loved to watch the worms travel around the bin. They even got to see the baby worms that had been produced in our bin. I did a mini-lesson on worms to go along with the composting bin. Each student got their very own worm to investigate and then place into the bin. At the end of the unit, we carefully emptied the container into the school's garden. I hope this intrigues! Good luck!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Week 2 Up and Running!
Yesterday was Nacho's first day of OHVA which is Ohio's Virtual Academy. It was also his first day of High School. I don't think either of us were ready for that, but we survived. His whole first day was nothing be online welcomes and orientations. He has to log onto these specific chat-like rooms and listen to the teacher. At the end of day two, his biggest complaint is that the other students in the Class Chats were rude and annoying. (HMMM very similar to a tradition b & m school...)
Lola is still moving right along. She is enjoying her math class which is rare for Lola. She completed her Scantron testing for her online school yesterday and asked me to let her do her other assignments listed for that day (I had told her she didn't have to if she was tired from testing)
Coco is still amazing me everyday. She has done everything I have planned without fail and spent all weekend asking for more school work...
Here's whats shes done yesterday and today:
DDs- pages 56 and 57 working on pairing and classifications
Spelling- wrote 3 xs each and made them into sentences
clip hate tape race mire kite bank fell pink hilt
Language Arts- using her book we covers pages 22-25 making statements questions and different types of questions.
Journaling- we wrote about how to handle different kinds of stress and how to build a terrarium (because we are building a soda bottle worm terrarium)
Explorers- Juan Ponce de Leon, we've read a bio about him from www.enchantedlearning.com and another one from our US History workbook
Math- we are reviewing double digit addition. We had some problems yesterday when Coco realized she had forgotten how to do them. It only took a minute or two on the white board and she is back on track. I make the worksheets on www.theteacherscorner.net
Science- we have started learning about the scientific method using our text book and worksheets from www.instructorweb.com
French- we work on the worksheets I created and listened to lessons 2 and 3 of Primsleur 2
Fifi is working on:
DD- CC1 pages 44 and 50
Spelling- Using 100 words your 1st grader should know, lesson 2 pages 8 and 9
am jump down fast have I in me my off on out play ran run up
Language Arts- Using SS Grammar book we did pages 7, 8 and 9 and then wrote out the sentences form page 9 on ABC paper. This week we are working with capitals at the beginning and punctuation at the end of sentences.
Phonics- still in the Hooked on Phonics grade 1 workbook, we did page 7 and 8
Math- Still working with money, we worked in out money workbook pages 8 and 9
Science- Starting Zebras this week, we did our activity from www.enchantedlearning.com and then we read some books about zebras from the library. I was so proud when she then explained to nacho that he is an omnivore and zebras are herbivores...
Since Fifi's day only lasts about 2 hours, I have been searching for movies for her to watch to kill time while I'm working with Coco. I rediscovered the Leap Frog series and watched the entire (all 5) series two days in a row now. I have an Animal Planet video for tomorrow about zebras.
Thursday is our first gym class at the Stark County Fairgrounds. We will be playing kickball. What I haven't told the heathens, Thursday night we are going to an Akron Aeros game cause they are playing the New Britain Rock Cats (as in New Britain CT) Thats a close to home as we will get for a little while.
Any questions or comments should be directed to paganpinup@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Dani
Lola is still moving right along. She is enjoying her math class which is rare for Lola. She completed her Scantron testing for her online school yesterday and asked me to let her do her other assignments listed for that day (I had told her she didn't have to if she was tired from testing)
Coco is still amazing me everyday. She has done everything I have planned without fail and spent all weekend asking for more school work...
Here's whats shes done yesterday and today:
DDs- pages 56 and 57 working on pairing and classifications
Spelling- wrote 3 xs each and made them into sentences
clip hate tape race mire kite bank fell pink hilt
Language Arts- using her book we covers pages 22-25 making statements questions and different types of questions.
Journaling- we wrote about how to handle different kinds of stress and how to build a terrarium (because we are building a soda bottle worm terrarium)
Explorers- Juan Ponce de Leon, we've read a bio about him from www.enchantedlearning.com and another one from our US History workbook
Math- we are reviewing double digit addition. We had some problems yesterday when Coco realized she had forgotten how to do them. It only took a minute or two on the white board and she is back on track. I make the worksheets on www.theteacherscorner.net
Science- we have started learning about the scientific method using our text book and worksheets from www.instructorweb.com
French- we work on the worksheets I created and listened to lessons 2 and 3 of Primsleur 2
Fifi is working on:
DD- CC1 pages 44 and 50
Spelling- Using 100 words your 1st grader should know, lesson 2 pages 8 and 9
am jump down fast have I in me my off on out play ran run up
Language Arts- Using SS Grammar book we did pages 7, 8 and 9 and then wrote out the sentences form page 9 on ABC paper. This week we are working with capitals at the beginning and punctuation at the end of sentences.
Phonics- still in the Hooked on Phonics grade 1 workbook, we did page 7 and 8
Math- Still working with money, we worked in out money workbook pages 8 and 9
Science- Starting Zebras this week, we did our activity from www.enchantedlearning.com and then we read some books about zebras from the library. I was so proud when she then explained to nacho that he is an omnivore and zebras are herbivores...
Since Fifi's day only lasts about 2 hours, I have been searching for movies for her to watch to kill time while I'm working with Coco. I rediscovered the Leap Frog series and watched the entire (all 5) series two days in a row now. I have an Animal Planet video for tomorrow about zebras.
Thursday is our first gym class at the Stark County Fairgrounds. We will be playing kickball. What I haven't told the heathens, Thursday night we are going to an Akron Aeros game cause they are playing the New Britain Rock Cats (as in New Britain CT) Thats a close to home as we will get for a little while.
Any questions or comments should be directed to paganpinup@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Dani
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Really Getting into a Grove
We have had such a great week so far! Day 3 of our new school year and the girls are still so excited about their new lessons and projects. I am sneaking off the blog this as they are doing an impromptu art project. (I will post the project and the pictures when they are done)
Lola is moving right along with OHVA. We have run into a few stumbling blocks. Her French isn't listed on her daily schedule. We ended up noticing yesterday that she hasn't even done any of it, only to log on today to find the program isnt working right. We then took our own Primsluers French CDs and listened to a few lessons all together. I plan to wait until her online school actually starts before I ask any questions. I could just be because she started their program so early.
I am however, so very proud of how well she is doing in math. Those summer time math drills really are paying off!
Coco seems to be working harder and faster this year compared to last. I hate to admit shes having a better start without Mimi here. We are both enjoying her Daily Drills book (Daily Learning Drills by Brighter Child) and I am getting much less resistance to writing sentences than ever before.
In the last two days we have done:
DD pages 50 and 233
Spelling- correcting sentences and a word scramble (made at www.theteacherscorner.net
Language Arts- textbook pages 18 and 19 and CC page 294 (types of sentences)
Explorers- we marked the journeys of Daniel Boone on our US map and worked on some vocabulary words using a grid worksheet I found on www.teacherspayteachers.com
(settlers, wilderness, pioneer, frontier, exploits, treaty)
Math- SS pages 7 and 8. We are still working on comparing numbers and place values
Science- We started working on our weekly worksheets I made from the textbook. I will be using the same text book and worksheets with another student starting next week so Coco will actually be a week ahead of him.
French- we have been working with the vocabulary worksheets I made and we have also been listening to the Primsluers CDs with Lola.
Reading- we are still reading Stuart Little but its not really holding her interest. I have found some great character worksheets on www.teacherspayteachers.com and those seem to hold more of her attention.
Fifi more interested in school this year as well. She is still transitioning from K to 1st grade but is grasping 90% of the work she is being giving.
Our main issue with Fifi is that she is worried about not having any friends. She has playmates from the neighborhood, but no other homeschooling friends in her grade or her age. We are working on setting up some new playdates and 8 more families joined our homeschooling group in the past week!
I will post tomorrow what she has been working on this week.
As a side note, I have found many many audio and ebooks both educational and reading for enjoyment. Lola is trying to read The Hobbit with the audio book reading along with her. (Its not working well lol) Nacho is reading Animal Farm by George Orwell as an ebook and it seems to be working better for him than it was as a paperback.... If are looking for anything specific let me know.
Dani
Lola is moving right along with OHVA. We have run into a few stumbling blocks. Her French isn't listed on her daily schedule. We ended up noticing yesterday that she hasn't even done any of it, only to log on today to find the program isnt working right. We then took our own Primsluers French CDs and listened to a few lessons all together. I plan to wait until her online school actually starts before I ask any questions. I could just be because she started their program so early.
I am however, so very proud of how well she is doing in math. Those summer time math drills really are paying off!
Coco seems to be working harder and faster this year compared to last. I hate to admit shes having a better start without Mimi here. We are both enjoying her Daily Drills book (Daily Learning Drills by Brighter Child) and I am getting much less resistance to writing sentences than ever before.
In the last two days we have done:
DD pages 50 and 233
Spelling- correcting sentences and a word scramble (made at www.theteacherscorner.net
Language Arts- textbook pages 18 and 19 and CC page 294 (types of sentences)
Explorers- we marked the journeys of Daniel Boone on our US map and worked on some vocabulary words using a grid worksheet I found on www.teacherspayteachers.com
(settlers, wilderness, pioneer, frontier, exploits, treaty)
Math- SS pages 7 and 8. We are still working on comparing numbers and place values
Science- We started working on our weekly worksheets I made from the textbook. I will be using the same text book and worksheets with another student starting next week so Coco will actually be a week ahead of him.
French- we have been working with the vocabulary worksheets I made and we have also been listening to the Primsluers CDs with Lola.
Reading- we are still reading Stuart Little but its not really holding her interest. I have found some great character worksheets on www.teacherspayteachers.com and those seem to hold more of her attention.
Fifi more interested in school this year as well. She is still transitioning from K to 1st grade but is grasping 90% of the work she is being giving.
Our main issue with Fifi is that she is worried about not having any friends. She has playmates from the neighborhood, but no other homeschooling friends in her grade or her age. We are working on setting up some new playdates and 8 more families joined our homeschooling group in the past week!
I will post tomorrow what she has been working on this week.
As a side note, I have found many many audio and ebooks both educational and reading for enjoyment. Lola is trying to read The Hobbit with the audio book reading along with her. (Its not working well lol) Nacho is reading Animal Farm by George Orwell as an ebook and it seems to be working better for him than it was as a paperback.... If are looking for anything specific let me know.
Dani
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
First Day of School
Today is our first full day of school for everyone except Nacho. His courses haven't loaded yet with OHVA so, he gets to wait another week.
Lola is very much enjoying the full course load of OHVA's 7th grade. She is weeks ahead already. It is proving to be more difficult time wise though. I had hoped by using an online school, she wouldn't need as much hands on teaching, but Lola being Lola, she likes my attention so she "forgets" how to do things.
Today for Coco:
Daily Drills we used our Daily Drills workbook and complete pages 40 and 41 about acronyms
Spelling- we wrote spelling sentences together. Each sentence must be 5 words or more, with capitals and punctuation. I try to encourage sentences that show she knows what the words mean. (I get my spelling lists from www.aaaspell.com) She also played a game with her spelling words on www.aaaspell.com
free spin band pack bath dock gold pipe club shop
Language Arts- we used our Language Arts book and complete pages 15- 7 about Word Order
Journaling- Coco wrote a paragraph (4 sentences, 5 words long each with punctuation and capitals) about what she wants to do this school year differently than she did last year. I will post it later.
Math- Using her Scholastic Success Math workbook, we did pages 5 and 6 about Comparing Numbers
Science- Using our Physical Science 4th grade workbook, we did page 126 learning about what Physical Science is.
French- we are using Primsleurs French lesson A and worksheets I made. She listened to a lesson twice and did the worksheet.
Fifi-
Daily Work- Using her Comprehensive Curriculum she did page 16 about Following Directions
Spelling- we put her words in ABC order and she did pages 4 and 5 of 100 Words You Should Know by 1st Grade.
a an as at boy by girl goes has he is it little she the to was
Language Arts- Using Scholastic Success Grammar, we did page 4 about Capitalization
Social Studies- Using Scholastic Success Maps Grade 1, we did pages 2 and 3
Phonics- Using Hooked on Phonics 1st Grade, we did page 2
Math- Using Scholastic Success Math Grade 1, we did page 1 about Money
Science- we did a worksheet about Lions from www.enchantedlearning.com
All three girls are starting their required reading tonight as well.
Lola is reading Treasure Island
Coco is reading Stuart Little
Fifi is reading Rainbow Fish
I found some great quizzes and study guides on www.teacherspayteachers.com
Lola is very much enjoying the full course load of OHVA's 7th grade. She is weeks ahead already. It is proving to be more difficult time wise though. I had hoped by using an online school, she wouldn't need as much hands on teaching, but Lola being Lola, she likes my attention so she "forgets" how to do things.
Today for Coco:
Daily Drills we used our Daily Drills workbook and complete pages 40 and 41 about acronyms
Spelling- we wrote spelling sentences together. Each sentence must be 5 words or more, with capitals and punctuation. I try to encourage sentences that show she knows what the words mean. (I get my spelling lists from www.aaaspell.com) She also played a game with her spelling words on www.aaaspell.com
free spin band pack bath dock gold pipe club shop
Language Arts- we used our Language Arts book and complete pages 15- 7 about Word Order
Journaling- Coco wrote a paragraph (4 sentences, 5 words long each with punctuation and capitals) about what she wants to do this school year differently than she did last year. I will post it later.
Math- Using her Scholastic Success Math workbook, we did pages 5 and 6 about Comparing Numbers
Science- Using our Physical Science 4th grade workbook, we did page 126 learning about what Physical Science is.
French- we are using Primsleurs French lesson A and worksheets I made. She listened to a lesson twice and did the worksheet.
Fifi-
Daily Work- Using her Comprehensive Curriculum she did page 16 about Following Directions
Spelling- we put her words in ABC order and she did pages 4 and 5 of 100 Words You Should Know by 1st Grade.
a an as at boy by girl goes has he is it little she the to was
Language Arts- Using Scholastic Success Grammar, we did page 4 about Capitalization
Social Studies- Using Scholastic Success Maps Grade 1, we did pages 2 and 3
Phonics- Using Hooked on Phonics 1st Grade, we did page 2
Math- Using Scholastic Success Math Grade 1, we did page 1 about Money
Science- we did a worksheet about Lions from www.enchantedlearning.com
All three girls are starting their required reading tonight as well.
Lola is reading Treasure Island
Coco is reading Stuart Little
Fifi is reading Rainbow Fish
I found some great quizzes and study guides on www.teacherspayteachers.com
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