Saturday, February 23, 2008

Ben Franklin

We had a really fun homeschool day in Philadelphia. Our trip started with a visit to the Franklin Institute. We were there to see the Star Wars exhibit...a thing not to be missed for Star Wars fans!

We would have loved to have taken the time to explore the rest of the museum but the weather forecast for the next day didn't look promising and we didn't want to miss Independence Park.

It was really near looking at all the things we have been learning about. We even saw a real Patriot uniform. It was especially cool to see the Liberty Bell.

We stayed in a motel right in the middle of Center City. We talked a lot as we were walking in the cold about what it must have been like to be a soldier during the Revolution. Most did not have shoes.

Another highlight was dinner with one of our graduates and his new wife. It was definitely an unique dining experience. A very modern restaurant.

In just a couple hours we are back on duty...will definitely post more pictures.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Lunar Eclipse

Tonight we went outside to see the lunar eclipse. The kids thought it was really cool--especially because it won't be until 2010 that it can be seen again.

Did you know that the moon turns a rusty color because it is reflecting the sunsets and sunrises around the world?

Friday, February 15, 2008

Parent--Job Description

I received this from a friend and thought it was really cute....

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :
*Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.
*Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
*Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
*Travel expenses not reimbursed.
*Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

*The rest of your life.
*Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
*Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
*Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
*Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
*Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
*Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
*Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next.
*Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
*Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
*Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.
*Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered, this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Books We Used

Here is a list of the books we used as we studied about the American Revolution:

Meet Benjamin Franklin by Maggi Scarf
Revolutionary War on Wednesday by Mary Osborne Pope
Where was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May? by Jean Fritz
Where Did You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? by Jean Fritz
If You Grew Up With George Washington by Ruth Belov Gross
Voices from the Past: Revolutionary War by Kathlyn and Martin Gay
Magic Treehouse Research Guide: American Revolution by Mary Popeo Osborne
A Picture Book of Paul Revere by David Adler
Our Presidents: George Washington by Ann Graham Gaines
George Washington: Soldier, Hero, President by Justine and Ron Fontes
If You Lived at the Time of the American Revolution by Kay Moore
Welcome to Felicity's World by the American Girl Collection
A Picture Book of Benjamin Franklin by David Adler
Patrick Henry: Liberty of Death by Jason Glaser
The Light and the Glory by Marshall and Manuel
Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes
The American Revolution by Bruce Bliven, Jr

We are loving this unit!! To finish it off strong....next week we are going to focus on making a visual project to display all we learned....we alos are going to make homemade gingerbread....and visit the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia!!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

After

Willow got her first haircut today. She looks so different. Doesn't
fit in with the 'family' rag-a-muffin look.

Before

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

C's Art

M's Art

Tuesday's are art day. We have been working on clay projects. Boys and
girls are just so different!

Monday, February 11, 2008

Swimming

We were able to get away for a couple of nights last week. Our motel
had a pool and a hot tub. It was a lot of fun.

Update

I have been really slacking in keeping up to date with our Konos Journey but am going to get back on the 'right track' as posting our learning and the kids accomplishments is so important!

You may wonder why I am blogging in the middle of the school day....but C. is still sleeping. She hasn't been feeling all that well and fell back asleep shortly after waking up. So thought we would get started when she wakes up.

M. is working on an independent computer project. I need to figure out our goals for this week and get them posted so they will be more likely to be accomplished. We have two more weeks of American Revolution. And will be going on a field trip to see the Liberty Bell which I am very excited about.

For now, going to check on C. and try posting a pic from my phone to see if I can mobile blog.

Monday, February 4, 2008

Slow At Blogging

Sorry for being so bad at keeping you up to date....two real reasons:

1. We had a bad school week. We did a lot of things but not really on track. Sometimes that just happens. M. was able to go on a field trip and saw a real Revolutionary War canon. C. was able to go on a retreat with her Sunday school class. She had a blast.

2. The Geeks at Best Buy still have my computer! It has been 10 days!! It is hard to blog without it because of access issues.

We will be back this week with regular posts as we are back on track with school (and hopefully I will get my computer back soon!).

Today we learned about Margaret Corbin. Probably a name that does not often come up in the teachings of American Revolution. She fought alongside her husband in the American Revolutionary War and was the first woman to receive pension from the United States government as a disabled soldier. She was fighting alongside her husband against the Hessian army (Germans who helped the British during the American Revolution)at Fort Washington, New York. Her husband was killed so she took over shooting the canon until she was injured by being shot in the arm. She lost use of her left arm for the remainder of her life. She was the first American women to take a soldier's part in the War for Liberty.