Science Friday - Catapults

Science Friday was awesome!  We generally do a Science Tuesday twice a month, but due to a drama class at the same time for my Kinder we through one on the calendar for Friday.  Our science day is basically CJ's science curriculum for the Kindergarten year.  Science happens to be awesome as a big group activity, so we always set it up so that our homeschooling group can join us.

We often use ideas from one of the Mythbusters Science Fair books.  One of the items that was tagged by CJ was catapults.  We started the day watching 2 episodes of Mythbusters before our friends came over.  They were both based on catapults.  They often have 2 myths paired together so we skipped over the parts that were about the other myth and only watched the catapults parts.  When our friends came over we watched a short video about a catapult that explained what they do. (*Watch out for the ads at the beginning and the end.  There is also a naughty word in the middle that I muted while the kids were watching it, so watch it first if that is a concern for you.)

After we watched the video we talked about what a catapult was.  Then I handed out spoons to practice catapulting small animal counters around the room.  It's a simple catapult to introduce the idea to the kids.

 Next, I gave a quick demo on how to build a small wood catapult.  The directions are in the Mythbusters book (mentioned above).  All the wood was cut and pre-drilled for the kids so they could do much of the work on their own.  The kinders and younger needed extra assistance from their adult, but the older kids loved it!  We got to assembling our catapults and launching gluten-free Cheerios around the room. The kids were also given crayons and markers to decorate their catapults however they liked.

 The idea of the catapult is simple.  There is a dowel through the middle of another dowel that freely turns in the side brackets.  There is a hook on one end of the dowel with a hook on the bottom board of the same side.  A rubber band is hooked between the two hooks.  A small basket (the bottom of a plastic cup) is taped to the other side of the small dowel.  The basket is pulled down creating tension on the rubber band.  When it's released it catapults the objects from the basket.

 We tried all sorts of experiments to see if we could fling them up the stairs (and how many stairs it could go up) and we catapulted them down the stairs and across the room.  We explored different types and sizes of rubber bands and had to deal with some stress fractures in the small dowels.  We certainly put our catapults to work!

It was a great day of catapults and playing with friends!

Setting Up for Kindergarten

Wow!  We had our first day of Homeschool Kindergarten here with CJ and it was a blast!

Here's a little insight to our Homeschool Schedule for Kindergarten and how I got set up.

Remember last year in Preschool B how we utilized subject cards to identify what we're going to do when?  Preschool is just the next step in the same concept.

To me, kinder is going to be an hour a day of instruction. (20 minutes scripture study, 20 minutes reading lessons, 20 minutes math lessons)  As the year goes on we may add more time to each of the subjects as needed.  For the rest of the day there will be plenty of learning going on, just not teacher directed.

We've added a couple of subject areas this year.  Download the Kindergarten Subject Cards here for FREE.

Or hour of instruction time goes as follows:

Pledge of Allegiance

Scriptures:

• Prayer
• Scripture Story
• Article of Faith - We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which guides our scripture learning.  Before we work on memorizing passages of scripture we're going to work on memorizing the founding elements of our beliefs called the Articles of Faith.

Reading:

• Read to Mom
• Mom Read to CJ
• Narration
• Answering Questions
• Writing

Math

• Touch Math
• MathUSee Video and Activity

Our schedule is posted on CJ's large magnetic board (just an oil pan from Walmart for $12 and screwed to the wall). Though they aren't very fancy you can download them for FREE here. During our 1 hour instruction time he gets to pick the order that we do the Math and Reading lessons.  For that reason there are two copies of the math and reading cards.

There will also be times during the day that CJ has to spend on his own (like when I'm doing preK with EMan).  During this independent learning time CJ has the opportunity to set his own schedule.  This is where the subject cards come in.  He can pick which ones he wants to do for the day and visually make a plan for his independent time.  The list of ideas (on the download above) is as follows:

On Your Own:

• Scriptures
• Scripture Stories
• Article of Faith
• Reading
• Audio Books
• Books
• Magazines
• Writing
• Journal
• Write books or stories
• Write cards or letters
• Math
• Touch Math
• Math U See
• Art
• Art Cards
• Computer
• Typing
• ABCmouse.com
• Plan ideas
• Write ideas down
• Clean up

It will take a few weeks to teach him what each of these activities means and what his responsibilities around the activities are.  For yourself you can set the limits and expectations that work for your home.  

The third aspect of Homeschooling Kindergarten will be learning together at different times of the day.  This can include:

• Making Snacks, Baking or Cooking
• Music of any sort
• Science of any sort
• and other interests that pop up

During CJ's independent time he has the opportunity to write/draw any ideas that he'd like to do together at a later time in the day.  This will hopefully foster an opportunity to contemplate and make a plan of attack so we can be focused on what's important to him.

The last aspect of Homeschool Kindergarten that we'll be doing is extracurricular activities.  The recreation center opportunities that we're taking advantage of this year include: swim lessons, drama camp, and possibly other rec center activities such as gymnastics, wrestling, and art.  Other activities that we'll be doing with our friends will include field trips, nature walks and hikes, and learning to ride a bike.  It's also possible that he will be starting piano lessons, I'm just not certain how to fit that all in :)

Remember that all of these things take time.  Today was our first Homeschooling Kindergarten day and we simply spent an hour and a half setting up the basic one hour learning session and practicing it very slowly.  Each day will get faster and we can add new elements as the time presents itself.

Happy learning!

DIY Water Wall

I had a conversation with my sister a month back about creating a water play area for her littles in their new back yard.  Then I set up an activity day with my playgroup for water play and put in the description that I'd try and put together some pvc pipe for playing and exploring and promptly forgot.  Just 2 days before said play date I reread the description and found myself suddenly inspired to create a fully customizable water wall.  So, off to Lowes we rumbled.

 We returned home with pvc pipe in 1/2 inch and 1.25 inch and oodles of connectors as well as wooden dowels and peg board. I put the pegboard up on my fence and started drilling holes in the connectors to add dowels. *Note, drill the holes slightly smaller than the dowels.

 I had some help from CJ and EMan along the way.  There are a few things I'd do differently and will most likely still go back to fix.  I'd add glue to the dowels in the pvc so that they don't come off in the peg board and fall behind it.  I'd also glue the tubing inside a pvc connector so that it doesn't fall out so often.  I will also fill up the swimming pool farther away from the water wall from now on.  We were working so hard on building that we tripped over it too many times!

 I did cut all the lengths by hand with our nifty red tool.  My hand muscles were awful sore by the end of the day though.  I did have great intentions to make numerous 1/2 lengths of pipe (2 half circles from each pipe) but it ends up that cutting pipe that direction is hard!

 With pegs in each of the joints we simply stuck pipes in the joints and stuck them to the wall wherever we wanted them.

 This became hours of fun.  In fact, we spent the entire day doing just this.

 I did grab a storage box to keep all the pieces handy for this adventure.

 Our setup provided an excellent opportunity for a lesson in gravity.  Being a gravity operated water wall we talked about how we had to get the water up higher than the tube before it would all go in.

This activity is awesome because it provided everyone the chance to explore on their own playing field.  They could build on the wall if they wanted.  They could just put together pieces on the grass.  They could splash in the swimming pool.  It was great fun for all ages!

 We were still playing when dad got home from work and he rejuvenated our creativity to build even more!

Grab some pieces of pvc and create your own hours of entertainment! 

Setting Up a Learning Station for a Preschooler

As we prepare for a new school year I'd recommend setting up a learning station.  It is like a command post for learning.  It is a fantastic use of space even in a small apartment.  EMan (almost 3 years) is getting his own learning station this year.  CJ had a similar one a couple of years ago and will be getting a new Kinder learning space soon.

There are a few things to keep in mind as you're setting up a learning station for a preschooler.

1. Use as many visuals and printed words as possible.
2. Make the learning station personalized.
3. Incorporate all the activities that you should review every day.

I'd recommend using a large magnetic white board as your "home base" for learning activities.  Set aside some time each day (maybe a large chunk of time or a couple shorter chunks) to work on learning activities. 

Activities that should be reviewed everyday are detailed with printables in the Welcome and Manners Preschool Pack {Download Here}.

Here are some shots of how I've set up EMan's Learning Station.  It's in a super small walkway above our basement stairs.  One one side of the wall I have the alphabet chart:

 On the other side of the wall I have dry erase crayons (up high enough that I have to get them down to be played with), the list of activities I should be reviewing with him every day (from the August Welcome and Manners Pack), a calendar, a list of activities to do with the letter cards (from the back of the Amazing Action Alphabet Activity Book).

 I also have a magnetic whiteboard.  We use the dry erase crayons on the whiteboard for writing and drawing.  I've also put magnets on the back of our name cards and alphabet cards.  There are also a few magnetic pattern blocks on there for fun.  Before the official start of the school year we're just playing with the letters in EMan's name as well as identifying the people in our family.  As we work on a letter of the week that letter will go on here.  As extension pack activities come up with our preschool curriculum those will also be played on this board.

The two walls that face each other - Eman's Learning Station.

I also have a plastic hang file folder box that I store loose pieces in.  It sits nearby and makes an easy storage location for games and activities that will be introduced throughout the year. 

Make your own learning station for the kids in your home.  It makes homeschooling a zillion times easier if each child feels like they have a spot that they can take responsibility for their learning.  Feel free to link pictures of your learning space in the comments section, I'd love to see your ideas. 

Multilingual Pets and Bugs

During our summer we're picking back up our multilingual activity days.  It's a review from last summer but fun and engaging for all our little minds.  We'll be doing these multilingual activity days almost every Thursday through the summer with our homeschooling group.  Hopefully our pictures will inspire you to start an activity day of your own!

 My friend Katrina and I took a course called FLTI - Family Leadership Training Institute that was offered in our area last spring.  The goal was to empower parents and community members to be actively engaged as advocates for children, youth and families within the community.  Each participant learned the ins and outs of how the community and local government works.  Through our growing and learning process we were also to develop a community project.  Katrina and I worked together to create an English, Spanish and American Sign Language class to bridge the communication gap we found in our community.

 It was wonderful watching families come together to practice non-native languages and build friendships across the language divide.  We learned so much and exposed our children to experiences that they otherwise wouldn't have received.

There were so many great things that we learned from this experience and therefore wanted to repeat the experience for our children.  Here are some of the things we discovered:

Why learn a second language?

• improve confidence and self esteem
• support spelling skills
• improve reading ability
• encourage an interest in books

Benefits of creating an activity day:
Attending activity days provides motivation to continue practicing each week, which increases the likelihood that participants will be consistent in their efforts to use Spanish and ASL regularly.
Having other parents to exchange information with and offer support can be helpful and build friendships and community.
Attending activity days also provide a regular occasion for quality, face‐to‐face interaction between caregivers and their children – something special for the family to do.

General benefits of utilizing Sign Language:

Wonderful bonding – this is face‐to‐face communication. You must look at each other to use signs!
Having an alternate way for children to communicate can help a child who may not be comfortable verbalizing something they want to say, such as when they are upset or embarrassed.
Children learn in different ways. Some learn by hearing, some by seeing, and some by doing it with their own hands.  Tactile and kinesthetic learners may thrive when sign language is introduced to their learning environment.
The physical component of signing can make learning feel like play. Children naturally use their body language to communicate.
Sign helps children link symbols (signs) with concepts (the meaning of the word) and with the spoken word. This incorporates many levels of learning.
Helps with temper tantrums during the “terrible two’s” – especially those tantrums that stem from not being understood.
Parents can communicate with their child before the child has developed the skills to speak - some children may have limitations with aspects of the spoken language and some parents do not want to miss what the child is trying to communicate.
Parents may want their children to know a second language and even if they don't master it today, if they want to pick it up when they are older they will have an easier time accomplishing that task.

Why Learn Spanish?
High use language - Spanish is a popular second or third language: with some 400 million speakers, it's the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world (after English, Chinese and Hindustani), and according to some counts it has more native speakers than English does. It is an official language on four continents and is of historical importance elsewhere.
Family and friends may speak - Spanish speaking people live throughout the United States.
Travel could be made easier in Spanish speaking countries.
Bilingual opportunities are available.
Since Spanish is also a Latin language, you will find as you study Spanish that you have a better understanding of your native vocabulary. Similarly, both Spanish and English share Indo-European roots, so their grammars are similar.

 We utilize SigningTime.com and their fantastic videos to introduce the vocabulary that we want to focus on for the day.  This Thursday our focus was on Pets and Bugs so we listened to "I'm a Bug" and "The Pets I Love".

 We had set up a couple of activities around the room so that kids could explore what appealed to them at the moment.  I find this a key strategy to be actively engaging all kids.

 There were art activities, small motor activities and math activities that all went along with the theme.  We'd emphasize the vocabulary words through the activity and encourage signing and use of Spanish.

 We read a few books and learned some new facts.  Do you know what a lady bug looks like before it's a beetle?

 We also explored some dramatic play with puppets and masks.

 A little reading lesson popped up when we pulled out the Pets Tot Pack.  We talked about initial sounds in words and categorized animals into "Animals that are good pets" and "Animals that should live in the zoo".

 We also had a lot of fun when we learned how to play "Go Fish!"  To modify Go Fish for younger preschoolers we set the cards in front of us so they were easy to see and then we asked the whole group if they had a match for one of the cards we had.  It was a fantastic way to encourage the use of language in all forms.

 This is a great picture of the first formal instruction on how to use a magnifying glass.

 We took our magnifying glasses outside and played with all sorts of toy bugs and pets.

I'm really thrilled with how this first activity day went.  We learned so much even though the vocabulary was a review.  The activities were engaging and kids were having fun as they practiced using language.  Next week we'll be talking about relationships and making a Father's Day craft.  If you're in the area (zip 80013) and are interested in joining us you can check us out at LEARN.

Be sure to stop by and click on the heart next to the Little Adventures Preschool logo on Circle of Moms Top 25 Homeschooling Blogs.  There are just a few days left and we're holding spot #7 with over 450 votes!

Also, don't forget about the Amazing Action Alphabet giveaway and discount code.  Enter to win here! 

Be sure to check back again soon because I've just created a set of Summer Beginning Readers for all the little preschoolers out there.  The FREE download should be posted by Monday!