Lots of Science learning taking place around here this week. I think Keilee would be happy doing nothing but Science!
1. Co-op making no bake cookies
2. Skate Day with Keilee and Maddie Grace
3. Co-op. These girls have SO much fun.
4. Seth decided to do a push up with Keilee on his back. Too funny!
Keilee watched several documentaries about Quantum Physics this week. She then sat down and drew on pages and pages of paper to explain it to me. Honestly, I didn’t understand everything she was saying. I LOVE that she loves things like this.
The weather was lovely this week. We had tons of outside time. Cartwheels of course were done over and over and over.
We also decided to paint everything on our patio that wasn’t tied down. We have tons more to do but it is looking so colorful! I need new cushions for my glider and chairs.
This weeks’ “7 Cool Homeschoolers” was “Blind Taste Test”. Britney came over to help Keilee on Tuesday. We laughed so much at her ‘tasting’. She was convinced that she wouldn’t miss any! She was wrong. I love the way she added information about the tongue. I wish you could have seen the outtakes. She was so frustrated because she kept forgetting things she wanted to say. I was in the back of the house just laughing at her.
She also wanted to learn about “Stockholm Syndrome” and the Catacombs of Paris. She is TOTALLY fascinated with the French Revolution. It happened after we listened to “Revolution” audio book. This book is for older kids and only you know what is appropriate for your kids but she loved it. It has led to so much learning about that time period.
Here are some of the links she used for each topic:
STOCKHOLM SYNDROME
CATACOMBS
WATCH
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5MIzoHOyfQ
Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBrkrnrkbsE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–ti8nSK5ZQ
http://www.npr.org/2011/01/30/133308592/parisunderground
The FUNNEST [ I know, not a word] thing that she did this week was a field trip to Hudson Alpha. From their website:
“At HudsonAlpha we engage the power of biotechnology to improve life. Implementing a three-fold mission of genomic research, economic development and educational outreach, HudsonAlpha creates the environment and conditions to nurture life-affirming “Eureka!” moments in the lab, marketplace and classroom.”
First of all, it was BEAUTIFUL! One of the coolest buildings I have ever been in.
They were to extract DNA from something that they choose. After a great tour of the facility it was into the lab.
One of the first things they did was pass out iPads and have them look at an app called iCell! Which Keilee already had on her iPad that she brought. HudsonAlpha actually developed this app and the lady was really happy that Keilee knew what it was and was familiar with it.
She picked crab to extract the DNA from. They had to fill in a sheet with a hypothesis and pick agents to add to their solution. Keilee got DNA strands from hers. They let her do 2 experiments because she ask the teacher what would happen if she did a certain thing and she said, “Find out”! We discussed with the teacher some Summer Camps that they are having and lots of resources she thought Keilee may be interested in. Also there was talk about classes next year!
HudsonAlpha has the largest double helix model in the world. We were on the 4th floor and the teacher took everyone to the window and said, “What do you see”? Keilee said, “A double helix”!! Then she showed it to them on Google Earth. It is SO awesome! This shot is from Google Earth before they actually built all the companies around it.
Keilee wanted to wander around and ‘just talk to everyone there’. I love how she loves Science. Huntsville has a huge ‘Science’ community. There are so many resources there for all things Science.
We are loving the warm weather and the chance to get outside! We would both stay outside from sunup to sundown if we could.
Happy weekend all!
Homeschooling Rocks!
Karen
“Never memorize something that you can look up.” ~Albert Einstein
“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” ~Carl Sagan
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” ~Marie Curie
Happily linking with
Mary at “Collage Friday”
Savannah at “Hammock Tracks”
IHomeschoolNetwork “Homeschool Mother’s Journal”
All I can say is WOW! What an amazing week.
First, no bake cookies are one of our faves:)
Then quantum physics…really?! I’m sure I wouldn’t have a clue about that, but I am so glad that Keilee understands it;)
Cartwheels in the yard…always! It’s a regular thing around here. Your metal furniture is awesome with those bright colors.
And then there’s the field trip to Hudson Alpha- I want to take the girls. Abby would be in heaven. She’s kind of fascinated with DNA.
Love this week, Karen!
Friend, I watched We bought a zoo recently and I swore the girl Lily was your daughter but it was Elle Fanning. They look a lot a like.
I love that brightly painted furniture!!
The day spent at Hudson Alpha sounds incredible!
Hope your week has been going well
Ok, so after last week at our house, I was sort of thinking of bagging this unschooling-interest-led idea and today I actually told the girls to check out computer science on Khan while I am at work…but after reading this post, I am more inspired to give the interest-led/unschooling thing more time.
I am SO impressed at how much Keilee loves science! That’s awesome and she comes by it all so naturally. We just had a chat in co-op about science and how it’s hard to teach it without having kids memorize stuff…but I guess if they love it, it just works. So inspiring!
Such an inspiring post, as ever! I love how homeschooling allows our children to be every part of who they are, to pursue every varied interest, without having to compromise in any way to fit in with the crowd. I’ll remember that enormous DNA model next time we discuss it here
I love that your daughter is a self motivator! Very impressive to see how she picks a subject and runs with it. The giant double helix is awesome!
What a fun place to visit. Looks like you guys had a great week.
Blessings
Diane
You know how much I love Revolution. I was searching on youtube for a song I favorited but now it is gone….look up the Tunesian song that is referenced, the lullaby. It is beautiful.
I LOVE the furniture. My Grandmother had metal furniture like that. I wonder what happened to it…….
As always I love your weeks. I have not forgotten about the items I need to send to you. Greg has been backlogged at work and we are having an issue getting the ebook to email to his printer. I am working on it!
What a fabulous week, especially science-wise. My Mr 20 would have loved opportunities like that when he was younger. I loved Revolution, read it a few years ago on the recommendation of Miss 18.
All I can say is “Wow!” What an amazing field trip! What a blessing to have such a wonderful place close to home.
I love all of the photos– your porch furniture looks so cool and the co-op sounds like fun.
Thanks for providing all of those resources. I am going to check some of them out.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend and beautiful Mother’s Day!
Wow! Your field trips are so much cooler than mine. My son(11) saw the picture of the double helix walkways and stopped his work to come over and read. He would love touring HudsonAlpha, its only a couple thousand miles away… His first comment was that she must be in college or University.
I did download the iCell app for him to play with.
It was an amazing science week for Keilee! It’s great to see her interested in such varied topics. You really do have quite a few wonderful resources in your area.
I love the cartwheels and outside fun. I remember days like that from when I grew up. Amber just isn’t an outside, playing in the grass, type of kid.
Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!
What a fascinating week. I wish I had been in her shoes. I am afraid that I am just like Kei about science. I love it and I would have loved all her activities this week. What a great school experience she is having. It is a joy to see.
ha! ha! love the taste test video! educational and fun! wonderful color for the outdoor furniture! sunny yellow!
You know…I’m not sure that we do much other than science around here.
It looks like you guys had a great week!
That is the most amazing field trip! What an AWESOME opportunity. I love your weeks.
blessings, Dawn
iCell is a cool app.
4 words to describe my 13 year old’s unschooling week: Reading, Writing, Watching, Batiking
Reading- , Rachel Carson’s The Sea Around Us, Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, various poems
Writing- Poetry, persuasive ecology piece
Watching- Kahn Academy, Crash Course in Ecology, various newscasts from the 1960’s
Batiking- an art form witch traditionally involes hot wax and dye, she used glue and watered down acrlylic paint. She is making a quilt to enter in the county fair this July.
HudsonAlpha is crazy cool! What a neat place! So wish we would have had access to that place when we were doing Biology!!!
Science – HUZZAH! That is a wonderful subject to be passionate about! Loving the video! My favorite thing this week – your new patio furniture! I love the colors! Enjoy the weekend and Happy Mother’s Day!