Muscles

Our challenge: to open and shut our fists as many times as possible in one minute.  We got pretty tired!

 

Did you know it takes 34 muscles to frown (really frown)

 

but only 13 muscles to smile?!!!

 

Some easy visual cues to remember the three types of muscle: cardiac (heart), skeletal (bone) and smooth (like the paper).

Bones

As part of our science unit on the human body we played with some chicken bones (trying to break one in half).

 

Then we spent some time creating "Mr Bony Bones".  He didn't have 206 bones like we do but he looked pretty good by the end.

 

We also split into teams and labelled our "models" with the names of most of the major bones in our body.  They were very patient with all of the stickiness!

Romeo & Juliet

Matthew is enjoying reading Usborne's "Romeo & Juliet".  The dialogue provides ample opportunities for him to practice reading with expression (I usually hear the dialogue twice - first in a normal tone and then a second time with exaggerated expression!).

Creativity

Matt was inspired to make me a new egg beater when our old one bit the dust the other day!

 

Bekah had some special time sewing with her Nana recently (Sarah was great with the pins).

 

She ended up with a fabulous cape - a terrific costume for imaginative adventures & journeys

(and also a warm, cozy friend on a cold day).

All About Me

We've been working on an "All About Me" project where the kids brainstormed a bunch of words to describe their physical appearances, personalities, abilities, aspirations and hobbies.  They then choose how to "print" out their favourite words and glue them onto a cut-out tracing of themselves.

 

 

Matt decided to place his words on the part of his body that was most applicable (i.e. playing soccer with his legs).  I love the pose!

 

Sarah loves bacon so she decided to print it right by her belly button

(where she figures her stomach is).

 

I love Bekah's choice to use the word "sparkly" -

fits her to a "T".

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things we were thankful for this past weekend:

 

Good food, our cozy little cabin and family :-)

 

New, special friends.

 

Sunny weather and our tree fort.

First Day Back to School

We had a delightful start to our school year today.  I handed out index cards to the kids and asked them to write a word on each one (it could be any word they wanted).  We then combined all of our words (making only a few additions) to create silly, short ditties.  These ones are:

Maple tree

Amazing pop of silver

No lack of sophisticated sap

Deer appear anonymously

Whacking the sack on the little bee's back

While on the awesome apple automobile

Bekah was amazed that she can remember the 8 times tables during multiplication memory!

Apple tree flowers

Leaf leaves purple pile

Jumping higher than the

moon

for fun

at school

Matt & Sarah enjoying a game of "Go Fish".

Matt was amazing today at helping Sarah with her work (here he is helping her print out her words on the index cards). 

We also took some time this morning to start reading aloud some exciting new books (along with 1 Samuel in the bible).

Taking a break to play with our new kitties.

Ending our day with Poetry Teatime

(complete with poetry books, lemonade, and a stack of cinnamon toast).