Science and History Collide

A couple of weeks ago, Casia was learning about the skeletal system in science. She had fun memorizing all the major bones in the body and learning about the structure of bones and how they move at various joints. During this time, she also started a unit on Native American civilizations and European explorers. It was a happy surprise when the two unit happened to overlap while watching the video called "Great Inca Rebellion". 

It's a National Geographic film and it takes a look at Pizarro's conquest of the Inca Empire and the physical evidence that supports the idea that he had a tremendous amount of help from other indigenous people who were enemies of the Incas. The medical anthropologists reveal new evidence unearthed in a hastily made burial ground. While we were watching the video, they made mentioned of many of the bones Casia had just learned and she was very excited when she realized that she knew exactly which bone they were referring to! I love it when a lesson immediately demonstrates itself to be useful.

We also watched a couple more movies that I highly recommend. "Cracking the Maya Code" was a Nova video about the anthropologists who  spent decades trying to understand the meaning of the Mayan hieroglyphs. This was one of Casia's favorites. She really enjoyed the artistic nature of the hieroglyphs and the puzzle to solve their meaning. Her other favorite was Nova's "Ghosts of Machu Picchu". In it, they showed the elaborate design and incredible engineering that went into building Machu Picchua. Casia really enjoys architecture and this video gave  her a fascinating look into the difficulties of building an enormous estate high atop the mountains and how the ancient architects were able to overcome the abundant rainfall that allowed it to remain intact five centuries later.

Science

In science, Casia has been learning some basic biology this year. We started with evolution, and learning about the scientific process and how to use tools, like the microscope. Then I taught her a bit of chemistry, so she had some basic understanding going in for the unit on cells followed by cellular respiration. Recently, she's been studying the diversity of living organism and learning about the different kingdoms and their general characteristics. We started with the single-celled organisms and worked our way through fungi, plants and then animals.  

I thought it would be good background for Casia to understand the various animal phyla (plus it makes 20-Questions more fun!), and I found this great resource from PBS. They have a video series called The Shape of Life. It was an awesome eight episode guide to most of the animal phyla. They had some online sheets, Introduction to Phyla and Phylum Comparison Challenge, that I used as background and a study guide for Casia as well. It took us awhile to get through all the episodes, but each was just under an hour long, which was the perfect length. They were extremely well done; informative and entertaining. We both enjoyed them and I highly recommend the series.

Now we've moved on to humans. This week, Casia has learned about the skeletal system and we're moving on the muscles next. If I'm able to stay on target (always a big IF), we should get through the rest of basic human anatomy, with some genetics, reproduction and nutrition thrown in, by the end of the school year. Our units are quick (just a few days each), but I think it's giving her enough biology basics that I'll feel comfortable moving onto something new next year.

Changing Gears in History

A month or so ago, Jacob and I had discussed changing gears in history and focusing on more modern history. Jacob felt I was spending too long covering the ancient civilizations and didn't feel it was as important as modern history for Casia to learn. He thinks it's important to have a general understanding of history, but not necessary to go so far in depth. Casia is a depth person. She likes to sink her teeth into topics she enjoys and really spend time exploring them. And history is one of her favorite subjects. 

Admittedly, I've fallen behind in my schedule of where I wanted to be in the history curriculum. I wanted to cover all the major ancient civilizations through the world this school year. So far, I've gotten as far as the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. I was planning on tackling Mesopotamia next, but abbreviating the material covered. I was still hoping I could get to ancient China and India as well as the ancient civilizations of the Americas, at least in part, by the time the new school year rolled around and we started modern American History, from the Civil War to present.

But two weekends ago, we made a trip to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. I hadn't been there since I was a kid, and Jacob and our children had never been, so it was really exciting. Casia loved the time period clothing, the old buildings, the tour of the Governor's Palace and the old-time feel of the place. When she found out some of the residences are privately owned, she declared that she too, someday, would live in Colonial Williamsburg. She also wanted to work there, and if possible, she'd like to have her next birthday party there as well. Needless to say, she has has started a new obsession.

Casia, hoop trundling in front of the Governor's Palace.

Casia and Garrett in the stockades.

For this reason, I've decided to rework the history curriculum (best part of homeschooling: the ability to change things up as the need or desire arises!) We are skipping the rest of the ancient civilizations for now and focusing on the Americas. Casia spent one week on catching up what happened between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Age of Exploration. I felt she needed to understand the changes in Europe and the Middle East to understand the drive for exploration and the technologies that made it possible. Currently, we are spending a couple of weeks learning about the indigenous people of the Americas and then we will move on to Colonization. 

Casia had some colonial history in 4th grade, but  it was a superficial covering and considering her new interest, I thought she'd enjoy some more depth. I'm still hoping to do modern history next year, but we'll have to do some history over the summer to get there. Living in Virginia, we are centrally located for early American history, so I'm hoping to be able to take a lot of exciting field trips!

Moving, Again!

Admittedly, I haven't been very good at keeping up my blog. This trend will likely continue the next month and a half. We're moving again, only this time, it's just down the road. Our new house is almost built (after living in a 170 year old farm house for a dozen years, and six months a a pint-sized rental, I'm very excited to have a brand-spanking-new house!) 

Our move is set for the beginning of next month. In some ways this move will be so much easier. We already know the area, the ride will only take ten minutes (instead of 17 hours), and I don't have to get a new drivers licenses or library card. But I still have to change over all the utilities. We're in a new school zone, so there's extra paperwork for that, and there is still the hassle of having to coordinate everything (moving truck, movers, PODS delivery, closing, cable installation; the list goes on and on). 

So once again, I will be homeschooling while I'm packing. Combining trips to the library with trips to pick up boxes. Packing dishes while Casia and I discuss her reading assignment. Making endless phone calls for a change of address while supervising Casia's online math curriculum. And the one aspect that actually makes this move more complicated than the last is that we are trying to continue the kids activities while we are moving. In December, Casia took a lot of time off from school. For a week, all activities ceased and the whole family focused on this one ginormous family task. This time, Jacob is coaching both Garrett's t-ball and Casia's softball. We actually had to schedule the truck rental pick-up around a game and a practice. Garrett is attending school, so I will be juggling the closing, installation appointments and being at the bus stop on time. Jacob is taking only one day off and I am continuing to homeschool Casia even through the week of moving, though I will be forced to abandon it that last day because everything has to be packed. I anticipate another whirlwind month!

Back from Break

I remember a day in junior high being called down to the principal's office. I was sure I wasn't in trouble, but I never expected what was waiting for me there that day. I entered the office and saw my mom, signing me out of school for an appointment she almost forgot about. When we got settled into the car, she turned to me and told me she was taking the day off of work and going to the mall, did I want to come, too? Um, leave school in the middle of the day to go shopping, YES! We had a blast together, got something to eat, did a little shopping and had a chance to catch up, just the two of us. I remember that day so fondly, and cherish that memory more than any other day of junior high. And I learned something that day as well, but it definitely falls under a life lesson and not an academic one. It is good to step away from the stresses of daily life every once and awhile and give yourself a treat. It's good for the mind, the soul and the body. 

My mom never took me out of school for a surprise again, but I would very infrequently make use of these 'Mental Health' days to recharge when I was feeling overwhelmed, overextended or burnt out. Sometimes there would be a day I just didn't feel up to going to school. Maybe I had a lot on my plate emotionally, maybe I just needed a change of pace, whatever the reason, if I felt I needed it, I would ask my mom to sign a note for school saying I was sick. I never abused my mother's good will in this manner, and I was always a responsible student, never taking off a day because of tests or projects. I fondly remember those days home alone, relaxing and reading, and recharging for my return to the world. And I've always appreciated my mother recognizing my ability to judge when I needed this time and her willingness to support it.

When we made the decision to move, it was a very emotional experience for Casia. She is not a person that takes to change easily. She gets very attached to things and places and was devastated to be leaving the only home she'd ever lived in. Unfortunately, it took us several months to sell our house and then there was the packing and moving. All of this drew out the process making it even more painful for Casia. There were several days that Casia was emotionally not up to focusing on school work and it was especially on these days that I was glad we were homeschooling. I told her about the story of my mom taking me out of school for a 'Mental Health' day and allowed Casia to take a day off here and there as well. Sometimes, just having a few hours to herself, with her brother at school, her dad at work and me off doing my own thing, Casia was able to calm down and be ready to work again.

With the time taken for the actually moving, plus holidays, a February vacation and several of these 'Mental Health' days, Casia has missed some school. For this reason, when Garrett had all of last week off for Easter break, I felt it was better for Casia to at least make up some of the lost time. So I made a compromise with her. If she spent the morning focused and concentrating on work, she could have after lunch and on through the afternoon to wander the neighborhood with her friends. 

This worked fine for Monday. She started with math, typing and reading and then went out to play. Tuesday, we all got a late start and the neighborhood kids came knocking at the door even earlier. So I gave in that day. By Wednesday, even Jacob didn't see the point in trying to get any school work done. So I caved. That entire week of half-days ended up being just Monday morning. I was disappointed in myself at first, feeling that it was my resolve that had failed. But when I look over the past week, the kids had a ton of fun playing outside and with friends, and we all were feeling refreshed and ready to work this past Monday morning. It reminded me of the lesson I learned that day back in junior high: sometimes you just have to take off and leave the work behind, for a short while, so that you can come back even more prepared, mentally and physically, to tackle what life has in store for you. 

Exploring Fungi

This week in science, Casia has been studying fungi. So today, I let her explore a couple of samples using her microscope. I didn't have any particular assignment, I just told her to have fun and take some notes (draw and label what she sees). Her microscope also has a camera, so she took some pictures as well. She had a lot of fun and spent twice as much time as I thought she would on it. She probably would have kept playing but we did have some other work to cover. 

I had two fungi samples for Casia. The first was some mold growing on provolone cheese. I wish I could tell you that I set it aside intentionally, in the perfect environment, to create a specimen for use on this particular homeschooling assignment. But sadly, the truth is, my refrigerator has been much neglected of late. I get busy. I make meals, I put left-overs in, we eat some and others just get shoved to the back. This serendipitously grew all on its own, with no help from me. The other sample was a mushroom that sprung from a potted jade plant recently. 

Casia having fun with the microscope.

Casia has gotten better at maneuvering the slide and getting it into focus.

Mold from the provolone cheese- it looks so pretty under the microscope!

 

More cheese mold with a better view of the sporangia.

Mushroom.

I love this photo she took. 

I'm a photographer myself, and I do a lot of nature macro photography, 

and I think she capture a very beautiful aspect of an otherwise ugly mushroom.

I'm very proud of my little photographer-in-the-making.

Rice Mosaic

You can always tell when I'm getting to the end of a unit- that's when we start most of the projects. By this time, Casia already has a strong foundation of Roman history and culture, so we can put that knowledge to use in some fun art projects. Casia made an aqueduct last week and this week she's been working on a mosaic made of rice. 

Casia loves art, and a mosaic was an obvious choice while studying the Romans, I just had to figure out what she could use to make one. I wanted something cheap, easy to get, not too complicated and something she could do mostly on her own.  I ran across the idea to use rice on this Yahoo site. It requires rice (check!), food coloring (check!), rubbing alcohol (check!), glue (check!), tweezers (check!) and something to glue the rice onto. That I actually purchased at a craft store for $1.20. It was this flat, two-sided cardboard-ornament type thing that measures about 4" in diameter. The perfect size.

The first step for Casia, was to put about a quarter cup of rice into a glass bowl (she used four because she wanted four colors) and then she added a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol.

Next she added some food coloring. She wanted to get a dark orange so she used two drops of yellow and one drop of red.

Casia stirred the bowl until the color was consistent all the way through.

She then poured it into a pie plate.

Casia spread the rice around to give it plenty of breathing room to dry.

Casia repeated these steps for the three other colors she wanted to use in her mosaic. She let them sit over night to dry and the next day, I poured them back into the small bowls.

She drew a picture of a sun on the cardboard and then painted on the glue and laid down each piece of rice. She used just a small amount of glue at a time so it didn't dry before she stuck the rice on it.

Here is Casia's finished mosaic. A sun with a blue sky. I think she did a great job. It took her about an hour to  set the rice. Overall, I think this was an inexpensive and easy craft project. Casia and I highly recommend it.

The Aqueduct

Whenever Casia and I are in the middle of a unit in history or science, I am always on the look-out for cool projects to do. While doing the unit on Ancient Rome, I ran across this post on a blog that I follow, called Ina's 5 & Our Native Homeschool Blog: Working Aqueduct Model. I was so inspired by the aqueduct model because it really worked! Knowing Casia is really into architecture, I knew she'd jump at the chance to do something like this- and she did.

The first thing I had Casia do was figure out a design for her model aqueduct. She wanted to have a mountain top where the water would originate and then have the aqueduct come down and fill a fountain. Her idea was to create a fountain that actually squirted the water up. And then she planned to put some finishing details on it like houses, trees, et cetera. Next, I told her to look through the recycling bin and craft supplies to see what she could use to build this. We ended up only needing to buy one thing- the base that it sat on. We spent a couple of dollars at the local craft store to get a solid piece of thin wood, but the rest was made from recycled items and various materials we already possessed.

Casia used a cereal box to create her arches. She used a protractor to measure and ensure right angles and a compass to draw the top arch. She made each successive arch a half-inch smaller than the previous one to create the declining plane. She did all the drawing and measuring but I had to help her cut them out.

Casia used the bottom of a paper towel roll as the top of the aqueduct and taped them all together and to the wooden base.

After that, she told me where to cut the milk carton for the mountain top and we used a little plastic cup as the lake on top as the water source. She taped that down as well. She used a lot of duct tape because it's awesome and works so well!

Casia needed quite a bit of help with the straws. We had to cut through the cups to get them in.

Casia used duct tape to seal the joints where the straw pipes came together. It wasn't the most water tight of methods, but it worked well enough to get the water to the end.

After her first trial run, she noticed two things:

1. The pipes leaked the most where they joined with the cups. I suggested she use glue around the joint to help seal it.

2. She didn't have enough water pressure to get the water to shoot out of the straw in the fountain. I knew we needed to narrow the pipe, but working with straws, I was at a loss on how to do this.

That night, after the aqueduct had had time to dry, she used the glue to seal the lake and fountain containers where the straws entered.

Another day into this project, Casia cut up strips of newspaper to use to paper mache. She planned to cover the entire aqueduct and then paint and decorate it.

Casia made her paster using flour and water (she started with a 1:1 ratio but ended up adding a lot more flour) and some salt. I'd heard that the salt cuts down on mildewing (very important for a working aqueduct.)

Casia enjoyed building the model, but I think doing the paper mache was by far her favorite part. She's always been the kind of kid that likes to get her hands messy.

When it was dry, Casia painted it. About half-way through, she starting complaining. She said painting it isn't as much fun as she thought it would be. Casia never did enjoy coloring in Kindergarten either. 

Here's the model after the painting. The white is supposed to represent the snow on the top of the mountain.

Here's another part Casia loved doing. She gathered some branches and twigs from outside and attached them to her model. 

Casia used clay to make houses and a road. The two in the front are the patrician houses. The shacks behind them were for the plebeians. Clearly this model is not to scale, the fountain is about ten times the size of the houses.

This is Casia's finished model. She got Jacob to help fix the fountain. He came up with this great idea to stick a piece of cork in the end of it and then use a toothpick to create a small hole. 

I video taped Casia's demonstration of her working aqueduct, but somehow in the move, I've misplaced my cord to download the video from the camera. It had a couple of minor leaks, but it really worked. The cork in the end of the fountain allowed for enough pressure to squirt the water up in the middle of the fountain. Casia put in a pipe in the bottom of the fountain to drain the water into a bucket.

When I find my cord, I will post the video. I have to say that this was a really fun and rewarding project and I highly recommend it!