We're having a great time this month, and seem to be learning TONS of information effortlessly. I just love it when things flow like this! The weather has been beautiful for the most part, and we love to go out and enjoy it. There's nothing like fall days...
We're done our first two units on weather. We started a weather journal where we write down the temperature along with the date and time. Then she fills in the thermometer to the correct number, and draws a picture of what the weather is like outside. We also run to our school clock and set it to the same time that we just wrote. We also talked about the different kinds of clouds. She enjoyed making some out of cotton, and then painting some at her easel. We talked about humidity and experienced it first-hand in the rain forest exhibit at the Tulsa Zoo. We skimmed back over the seasons and the water cycle since we did that last year. We plan on making a home-made barometer this weekend. I'm hoping the weather will cooperate and give us some good readings!
We finished up our studies on Columbus by making the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. That was so much fun! We've begun our unit on Thanksgiving. Every day we write down something we are thankful for. We made a couple of Pilgrims, filled in a cornucopia, made a turkey, and are working on an Indian head dress. She really enjoyed talking and learning about the first Thanksgiving, especially from the children's point of view. We still have plenty to do before next week. Today we went to Gilcrease Museum for the kids dig books program. After it was over we went looking around, and she was THRILLED to find so much about the Native Americans. We looked at every single bit, and she took it all in. She wants to go back this weekend so she can show Daddy. It's intriguing to her that some of our own ancestors took part in some of these traditions.
We've been doing a lot of baking together. She gets to work on reading, following directions, and math every time we cook. She absolutely loves cooking! She's also been making lots of her own books. She loves to read them to us. Her handwriting is improving every week, and I'm so proud of her using both upper and lower-case even though she doesn't like to... :) She'll ask me how to spell a word when she's writing, and I notice a few days later she will still remember when I ask her.
The other day when I was working on the computer she was just busy as a bee...I had no idea what she was doing! She asked me to fill up her little Tupperware pitcher full of orange juice so she could pour it herself into the tiny cups. I did...then she pulled her desk all the way into the living room and started calling my name...I went in to find that she had made her own orange juice stand complete with sign and everything! She said "Mom, do you want to buy some orange juice? It's five 'c' which means five cents!" I said sure, and handed her fake money...she looked at me funny and said "It has to be a real nickel mommy!" So, I got a real one, gave it to her, and got my juice. After I drank it she said "Two orange juices a day keeps the doctor away! Make sure you come back for more!" It was so hilarious that I just laughed and laughed! What a way to keep the customers coming! With real money no less!
It's times like these that I treasure so deeply. The pure innocence of being a child. I love that she is able to flourish and grow in a way that is her own, not manipulated by anyone else. Only a home schooling parent can truly see the miracle of their little minds unfolding, figuring out the world around them at their own pace. No one else to distract or judge. More than anything else this November I am thankful for the opportunity to live this life with my little family. We are truly blessed! Until next time....
