Exercise

It has taken some time, but we've finally found a form of exercise for every member of the family.

No, not that! That was years ago. Hannah was only "just turned three" when she did gymastics. She loved the tumbling and Dad and Mom got some exercise, too, helping out. Hannah had asked about doing this again. I checked on availability and prices and had to say "No". Sorry, Hannah. But, we're not doing gymastics.

Oh, I love ballet, and Hannah started taking classes when she was three . . .

Josiah even tried it out. I've done ballet, worship dance, and Israeli folk dance. But we're aren't doing any of those.

As you may know, we even did a bit of tennis. Really only a bit, but never stuck with it. So, it's not that, either.

Respiratory System

We have added a windpipe and lungs to our model. You learned about bronchi, bronchioles, and alveoli (big words!), the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and the work of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. I love this stuff!

We also did a science activity to demonstrate how air is pulled into the lungs using a plastic bottle with the bottom cut out and covered with plastic and a balloon inside the top.

When you push up on the plastic bag (diaphragm in relaxed postion), air goes out of the balloon (lungs).

When you pull down on the bag (diaphragm contracting), air fills the balloon (lungs).

Spelling Bees, Read Alouds, and Bowling Balls

. . . that is what homeschoolers are made of.
No, not really. But that is some of the stuff we've been involved in lately.

Spelling Bees

Last Friday, Hannah participated in her first spelling bee. I give her an A for courage. This is not here strongest subject even though, she has a passion for writing. Go figure.
We had a great panel of judges and a remarkable pronouncer.

Also an organized organizer. You gotta have that!

And a great group of spellers.

Hannah did not place, but she got a certificate of participation. She was happy.

"Were we all suppose to wear purple?"

Read Alouds

We just finished this one about a young man named Onesimus. Another good book by Patricia St. John that had us on the edge of our seats waiting for the next chapter. Not a boring read, there were twists and turns and surprises in this story based on Biblical characters. If you are not sure you know who Onesimus is, I would recommend you don't look it up in your Bible until after you've read this book, since it might ruin some of the suspense and give away the ending.

Bowling Balls

Our home school group had a fun field trip and tour at the bowling lanes today. They got to play two rounds (Is that what you call it?) and took a behind the lanes tour to see how the balls and pins are retrieved. Pretty cool! There are actually two sets of pins, plus one, in each lane, so there is always a set ready to go. The kids had a great time and Josiah even scored 95 in one game (with the help of bumper guards).

He's Got Guts!

Paper guts with flaps!

Lift the flap on the stomach and you see the stomach wall.

Lift the flap on the small intestine and see the villi.

Colorful villi and stomach wall

We recently completed our study of the digestive system, which included adding to our model skeletons. We started with the face . . . which was carefully colored.

Josiah hard at work

Hannah adding hair to her model

Her finished face

His freaky face

The face lifts to reveal salivary glands, teeth, and tongue which are the first step in digestion. Remember to chew your food well.

Getting a face lift

Then there is the rest of the inner-workings including the food tube (esophagus), stomach, small intestine, liver, pancreas (hidden behind stomach), and large intestine, and exit point.

Hannah's model

"I get my lungs next. I can't wait."

"I'm just hanging out here."

Persuasive Oratories for ICC

Here is a sampling of what we do at our ICC chapter meetings.

The kids get to present speeches they have prepared before a group

of their peers. They are being critiqued on this particular speech by

 Use of interesting details,

Organization, Poise, Persuasiveness, Eye contact with their

audience, Articulation, Expression, and Beginning and

ending with confidence.