Ten kids and a Dog

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Science Sunday---Invisible Ink

This is a real neat science kit....with many fun experiments.

Today we started out learning about acid and bases...using the litmus paper included in the kit.

The projects are first "performed" as magic tricks and then are explained scientifically.

Gracie prepared 2 tests tubes. One with a water and citric acid solution and another with water and baking soda.
First we wrote on the paper with the base (baking soda solution). The paper immediately turned red....we then wrote over the red with the acid (citric acid solution)....the red "magically disappeared.

We learned how litmus paper works---this led to more experimenting with acid and bases.

We learned what happens with when you mix acid and bases.....

it makes a great reaction....and a quite messy reaction.

This also led to the discussion of writing with invisible ink.

We recently read a book where the heroine reads a message that was written with lemon juice.

We had to give it a try.

This is dangerous....no child, no matter what age, should do this without adult supervision.

(In fact, I lit my living room rug on fire doing this when I was 12 years old---luckily, that was all that caught on fire.)

Mark and Grace first wrote their names in lemon juice on regular computer paper.

We let the lemon juice dry---it was invisible.

I used one of my candles which has burned down quite low so that the paper would be a "safe" distance from the fire.
Placing the paper over the heat of the flame made the "invisible ink" appear, revealing writing.

Kim and Luke wandered in and needed to get in on the experiment.

The final invisible results....very fun science!!

We Need to Pray

Prayer to End Abortion
(by Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director Priests for Life.)

Lord God, I thank you today for the gift of my life, And for the lives of all my brothers and sisters. I know there is nothing that destroys more life than abortion, Yet I rejoice that you have conquered death by the Resurrection of Your Son. I am ready to do my part in ending abortion. Today I commit myself Never to be silent, Never to be passive, Never to be forgetful of the unborn. I commit myself to be active in the pro-life movement, And never to stop defending life Until all my brothers and sisters are protected, And our nation once again becomes A nation with liberty and justice Not just for some, but for all, Through Christ our Lord. Amen!

Friday, January 21, 2011

Read to Me Challenge--What My Children are Reading

2011Read to Me picture book challenge count is: 21 books

This week we enjoyed a lot of old favorites and a few new books.

The Brown Bear, Brown Bear series of books have provided us will a whole week of kindergarten fun.
Dr Seuss is always a favorite, and often picked off the shelf by the littles for bedtime reading. We are also working hard on the alphabet and beginning to read in kindergarten, so Dr Seuss is a great suppliment to our regular curriculum.

Brave Irene is the story of a very heroic little girl who saves the day and helps her sick mother deliver a ball gown to the mansion in a snowstorm. It was quite long for Luke, 5, and Kim,4, but it kept their attention from start to finish. After reading through it once, it was Kim's book of choice to take to bed with her---and that is a very big honor around here.

I love the Dr Seuss science books. This week we have started learning about the solar system and the book I used to introduce the solar system was There's No Place Like Space.
It is a fun, rhyming read, perfect for kindergarten, and Gracie, 9, loves re-reading it to the kids.

It is packed with info, providing a basic overview of space. (Next week we will enjoy more books about space).

Cowboy and Octopus

was a pretty weird book...the kids didn't seem to understand the relationship between the cowboy and the octopus, the illustrations where comicstrip-ish. It just didn't grab the kids and keep their attention.
The rest of our books this week were all-time favorites from our shelves---much loved and many times read.

Weekly Wrap-up--1/21/2011

The week started off with big excitement in the house.....3 new goldfish.

We haven't had the tank set up for a few years, so the younger kids don't remember when we did have fish.

It has been a learning experience already, especially since one of our beloved goldfish didn't survive all the attention it was receiving. Hopefully the two remaining fish will live long, happy goldfishy lives.

Monday we made a big tray of rice krispie treats.

I love this photo of Kimberly helping move the tray to the table. (It was a little heavy for her)

Charades!!

Always a favorite for the whole family.

Kimberly getting an idea from Becky.

What could Kimmy be acting out??

Even Aunt Mary got in on the fun, giving Mark his "charade"

I can't tell you what he is doing, sorry.

It was quite a week, with many doctor appointments, so learning was a little hit and miss.

In kindergarten, we are learning to read.

I have introduced the sight words "a", "I", and "see".

Luke has been doing a lot of schoolwork with his airplanes. :-)

I have a workbook, Sight Words A, which I use to introduce the sightwords for the week and then I supplement with my own flashcards and activities.

We needed to start some Valentine's decorating, so I printed out alot of printables at one of my favorite sites, Confessions of a Homeschooler.

Luke did a great job cutting out and then gluing together his Valentine picture.

Also from Confessions of a Homeschooler was this cute cutting and patterning worksheet.

Another worksheet, which is now decorating our walls.

One of my favorite art supplies are Do-A-Dot markers.

I noticed that my favorite craft store now has these markers.

Hip, hip hooray!

Mark turned eleven this week.

I just can't believe it.....

I'm proud of the young man he is becoming but also sad that time is passing so quickly.

"Don't Wake Daddy!!"----Uh oh!! They woke daddy up!!

It was a very snowy week, in fact, Syracuse, which is 20 minutes from us, has received 106 inches of snow for the season SO FAR..
So there couldn't be a better craft than beautiful, springtime flowers.
This kit was from Walmart and everything was included for quick crafting. I just had to get pictures of the kids.....that's not a hard thing to do around here.

Our little flower garden.

All the snow has also led to this......a lot of computer time.

This is the Lego site... a very popular site.

My little reading learners use the Starfall site.
If you have seen it, you know how great it is....if you haven't, check it out, because it is an amazing site...and completely free.

It is not supposed to stop snowing for a few days, and the temps are supposed to be below zero until next week....so expect to see a lot of springtime crafting this upcoming week.

It would be beautiful

if we hadn't already received 106 inches of it this season!

{this moment}-the lighting of the candles

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. Photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, visit Soulemama to leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.