I woke up to Gideon working on his programming skills using
Scratch Online. He's been excited to build his skills all week. Definitely a new favorite for him and he's made some impressive games.
After breakfast, Tobyn started on his workbooks: practicing his handwriting, identifying words beginning and ending with the /j/ sound, and practicing his early math skills at Khan Academy.
Zoe worked on her cursive handwriting, practiced her subtraction skills, and enjoyed reading and answering questions from a story about finding information at the library.
Rebel did some learning of her own by playing with her toys and watching an episode of "Little Einsteins" so that I could help her siblings with their workbooks.
Gideon read and answered questions about students working hard to make a craft, practiced his cursive handwriting, and completed a Mastery Challenge, practiced word problems with the words "more" or "fewer" and addition and subtraction word problems at Khan Academy.
We decided to head outside to get some fresh air and beat the rain that was forecast this afternoon.
The kids had a blast running out their energy and even made some new friends. They played groundies and hide 'n' go seek.
While they played, Rebel and I did five laps around the common area. I wanted the exercise and was hoping she'd fall asleep so I could do some work at the pavilion once we were done. She didn't fall asleep, but was happy enough that we got to stay out for an hour and a half.
Gideon is not content to stay on the ground. He's got great climbing skills, but I'm not looking forward to the injuries he may incur while increasing those skills.
I spent time in the pavilion after my little walk working on projects for next week when we will hopefully be accomplishing all of my grand summer learning ideas.
I got our summer reading challenge charts completed while the kids played with their new friends. Zoe and I will be reading one chapter book per week and the boys will read five books per week. Once we've completed each week we'll get to go somewhere fun. At the end of all eight weeks, we'll get a big end of summer learning field trip of fun.
We came home for some lunch and during lunch talked about what they each would like to do for their memorization/speaking work starting next week. Zoe and Gideon knew right away, but Tobyn needed to watch the Classical Baby poem edition to pick out his.
For group reading, we're working on one fiction book and one biography. Our first biography is on the life of Jesus taken from the Action Bible. The kids read three or four sections and are always disappointed when I say it's time to move on to the next activity.
My goal is to do one or two science experiments each week through the summer. Today we learned about different chemicals, pH tests, and acids, bases, and neutrals.
They each took turns dropping test liquids onto our pH tests made using red cabbage water and paper towels.
The paper towels changed color according to whether the liquid was an acid, base, or neutral.
They each got to test the different liquids and we made a record of what each one was. They thought it was really fun when we mixed acids and bases on our pH tests. At the end of the day, Tobyn said he had the best day ever. I asked what his favorite part was. As is usual for him, he replied that all of it was his favorite, but that the coolest part was the science experiment.
After a very full morning and early afternoon, we settled in to read our fiction group reading book. They've seen the movie so it's interesting to see the things they pick up on that are in the book, but weren't in the movie.
Next was snack and watching "Mankind: The Story of All of Us" for a little history.
After the first episode, they each drew a picture of something that stood out to them. Zoe drew random facts and artifacts that were interesting to her.
Tobyn drew "the people's hearts."
Gideon drew random facts and artifacts that interested him.
Tobyn fell asleep halfway through watching our history show. Now I know what to do if he needs a nap!
After dinner, we had some family game night fun with an oldie, but a goodie.
I was the champion, my friend.
We finished off the evening with books and bed.
Now to rest and do it all again tomorrow.
