Perfectly Unplugged

I woke up this morning, checked facebook, saw the title of an article about kids watching stars instead of screens (or something like that) and decided we would "unplug" today. Perhaps we should unplug everyday...

We went to the Arboretum. It was a perfect day. I'm guessing the highs were in the upper 60's and there were very few clouds.

We found an Australian Tea Tree, rubbed its leaves between our fingers, and took a whiff.

 We enjoy the smell of Spearmint as well.

 I got a little excited when I spotted this turtle and I dropped our scavenger hunt book in the pond. Let's just say it was an adventure in itself fishing it out...and it didn't smell too great after.

 I let Mirek run around for a bit, but he was trying to jump in the fountains, ripping signs out, grabbing cactus, etc. He got locked down. Here he is. Let me out! Let me out!

 I'm not sure what Naia's doing here. I think perhaps she has been watching the squirrels and stray cats a bit much...

 Checking out this moth's camo.

 We purchased a new Dragonflies in Texas field guide.

 Here is Eaden comparing the tea tree leaves we collected to the oil in our pantry.

 Both boys were sleeping and the girls decided they wanted to see some optical illusions.

 Eaden did not believe these two lines were the same length so she got the ruler...

 How many legs does the elephant have? Four! Then they looked at the picture and said wait a minute....This might have been their favorite.

 Making their own 3D pictures.

 Eaden had gymnastics and then we came home for movie night. GOING TO BED NOW.

Dig Pit at Last

The kids have been bugging me to go to the natural science museum out in Sugar Land for some time now. Since our membership expires next month, we went. This was Mirek's first time in the junior pit. Watching him play reminded me of how these ball pits used to be everywhere when I was a kid. I do not know of anywhere but here that has them now (and this one is small).

 The others dug up dinosaur bones (their prime reason for wanting to come).

 The kids have been interested in shadows lately so this was pretty cool. Different color lights change the color of your shadow.

 The temporary exhibit is about bats.

 This next picture reminded me that we have still not been to Austin to see the bats emerge from under the Congress Avenue Bridge there. Road trip!

We picked up a few things at the museum gift shop. Taven bought a potato gun with his money and I bought a little kit on optical illusions and another on kitchen science. I will post on those soon I'm sure.

Classical Failure

I knew the time would come. We've given up on any sort of classical education that remained in our days (which wasn't much). I was somewhat trying to have the kids learn about Ancient Greece and the olympics while the olympics were on. Eaden is a bit interested, but she would much rather be learning about earthquakes (on this day). Also, I realized that we have had our Ancient Greece library books for 6 weeks and now they must be returned. We have not read even 1/3 of them...and I'm pretty sure we had them for 6 weeks before that.

 So we returned every book on Ancient Greece and checked out one on fun activities to do at home. Here is Eaden attempting to write a message in invisible ink with lemon juice. It worked...for most of the letters...ha!

 Naia would rather eat the lemons.

Please take a close look at these hands and fingernails. Remember the image for later...

 The girls love watching doodle bugs crawl upside down.

 The boys find the bugs. Excuse the flash. My camera has a mind of its own (I guess that's what "AUTO" means).

Okay, remember the hands? They are making cookies now! And I know for a fact that she did not wash them!

 And I'm pretty sure he didn't wash his hands either! (I did NOT eat cookies).

 This booger face loves plantain chips with ketchup...to each his own.

 Last minute fort before Mirek's nap.

 Mirek is sleeping. What do we do? What do we do? ....PAINT!

 So here is our new homeschooling style. I will have to change the little "how we homeschool" tab up top! We created a book. A book of questions.

The kids are always asking me questions! Most of the time I do not know the answer. HOWEVER, I am a librarian! I did get a Masters in Library Science for some reason right!?

The kids write their questions in the book and I help them find the answers. I do not give them the answers, but I show them where they might be found and I provide them with activities they might find engaging.

So here is our "curriculum." Completely self directed and completely INTERESTING!!!!!!