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Mayborn Museum in Waco

30 Mar 2011 by Sharon

Today we met up with Fulton’s God parents in Waco at the Mayborn Museum. That has got to be my favorite local children’s museum. It was great to see our friend and our God son. The kids had a great time despite having to eat lunch outside in the cold.

There were discovery rooms with animals and insects; physical science; earth science (with a really cool tornado); the mammoth excavations; anatomy; sound; optics; simple machines; play cars; bubbles (which I would recommend bringing a change of clothes). It was a great time. It was hard to leave.

Category: Family, Friends, Homeschooling One Comment

Wetlands

30 Mar 2011 by Sharon

A couple of weeks ago we had our March homeschool day at the zoo. We stopped by to see my sister at her house as she had just had surgery to remove the screws from her back. We took her some frozen meals to help ease some of the stuff she has to do.

Then off to a hot and crowded spring day with the smelly animals. This week it actually did smell like a zoo. They had a new exhibit open and two older exhibits that were under constructions were open again. The kids studied wetlands. ‘I’ actually learned a few things about wetlands as well. They saw a salamander up close and got to feed the ducks and fish. Then we went to the Fun Farm petting zoo. Therese didn’t want to have anything to do with the goats. Muffin, Fulton and Cecilia however quite enjoyed them.

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Mayfield Park and Preserve

27 Feb 2011 by Sharon

I was listening to Relevant Radio the other day and the guest on the morning show was talking about inoculating your kids against the culture. Basically, you can’t do it. BUT what you can do is fill their lives with beauty. Experiencing true beauty neither leaves time for the cheap imitation nor the desire for it.

Today the big kids and I experienced the beauty in nature and God’s creation at the Mayfield Park and Preserve. The peacocks were out in full vanity!

Category: Homeschooling 3 Comments

Introduce a Girl to Engineering

27 Feb 2011 by Sharon

The University of Texas’ Women in Engineering had it’s annual ‘Introduce a Girl to Engineering’ day on Saturday. So I took my second grade bookworm. She had fun and her favorite activity was the gum drop dome where she learned that triangle provide for the greatest structural support. She also made a kaleidoscope, a bunny copter, bubble wands, a guitar, and saw a demo of Lego Mindstorms (thanks to National Instruments). A decade ago when I did curriculum for a girls’ math and science program, I used many of these activities. They certainly don’t lose their appeal.

However, by the end of the day, her career aspirations have not changed. She still wants to be a……librarian.

Category: Homeschooling One Comment

China, Primates and Clouds

23 Feb 2011 by Sharon

What to China, primates and clouds have in common? They were all part of homeschool fun this month.

In history, we learned about the Mongols who conquered China and Marco Polo. The kids made some Chinese lanterns and farmers hats and we had a great Chinese meal. We also took a fun trip down the Silk Road around the house.

Last week we went to the SA Zoo for their homeschool class on primates. After our class we had lunch with my sister and then went back to the exhibits. The kids are quite fond of the reptile house and love to play “I SPY,” in there.

This week we’re wrapping up our astronomy chapter on Uranus and Neptune. Concluding the study on the gas giants, we made a cloud in a jar to understand how clouds form on these planets. Therese wasn’t convinced that there was really a cloud in there.

Category: Homeschooling One Comment

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

26 Jan 2011 by Sharon

The Wildflower Center is FREE in January and they have some FABULOUS activities on their website that are very age appropriate. We had a great time today with some friends enjoying this wonderful winter day outdoors .

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CCSA

21 Dec 2010 by Sharon

This semester Therese chose to do choir. So with many great recommendations from friends, we enrolled her in the Christian Choral Society of Austin. I must say I am VERY impressed with the choir director, Mrs. Hargis. She is wonderful and a very talented teacher. The teaches pre-K through highschool and mostly homeschool children. The kids had their formal concert on Thursday of last week. (Here’s hoping my beloved husband can get a video up here.) Still very new to the stage, she was the only one still waving to her parents between songs. Fulton however is an aspiring young performer–singing along in the seat next to us. He’ll be signed up for next semester with Therese.

Category: Family, Homeschooling One Comment

Ocean Animals and Bears

21 Dec 2010 by Sharon

Last week was SUPER busy and I’m just now recovering and getting to posting some fun pictures of good times. Wednesday we had our field trip to the zoo again. This time Therese and Fulton were learning about ocean animals and did a scavenger hunt at the aquarium. Muffin finally got to go to a class–Beary Special Holiday. I had to accompany Gianna. The kids learned about what bears eat and afterward they made snacks for Molly and Shatsa’s (the bears’) stocking. We enjoyed lunch with my sister again and explored a new part of the zoo–the Discovery House.

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Olympus Mons

01 Dec 2010 by Sharon

Have I mentioned how much I love our astronomy curriculum? Love it! (Apologia Astronomy)

This week Therese built a model of Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in the solar system located on Mars. The whole volcano experience with vinegar and baking soda is probably old news to lots of 2nd graders, but not in our home school.

Category: Homeschooling One Comment

Fabulous Felines

18 Nov 2010 by Sharon

Yesterday we went to the San Antonio Zoo for one of their homeschool programs. This month’s topic is Fabulous Felines. Therese and Fulton went to a 2 hour class that features a presentation by their education coordinator, a short activity, and a tour of the cats they have on exhibit at the zoo. The best part of course was spending time with my sister. They LOVED the train ride.