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.

Week in Review

We celebrated the Light of the World.

We played Pente and Spin the Dreidel (per the kid's request).

I worked on my rug!

Hannah painted and wrote stories.

Josiah played with his dinosaurs.

And. . . we geocached!

(Ha, Ha, . . . it looks like a tiny Josiah balancing on the GPSr)

We logged the following:

1 failed attempt

9 found caches

1 mega geocoin

1 travel bug

1 letterbox

"Yes! I found two!"

Hannah's find

Interesting container

Interesting tree

Our first geocoin

Back of coin

Oh Lucky You, our first travel bug

Back of it

Peacock Place letterbox with mulitcolor stamp

Other tradable loot

"Where's the next one?'

Wordless Wednesday - Oh Deer!

"They're looking at us, Deer. Wave!"

We found this while out geocaching on Monday.

Mice in the Kitchen?

On a trip to Grandmother's

A day that was dreary

We arrived a day after Christmas

Tired and weary.

Then what to our wondering eyes

Should we see

But a red poinsetta

As big as a tree!

But that is not all

Our eyes did behold

Don't shut your ears

This story must be told.

In Grandmother's kitchen

As neat as a pin,

Was something I spied

And I had to look again!

So still and so quiet

They made not a sound

And yet I could see them

going round and round.

They circled the platter

And shone with delight

To give each passer

A shock of fright!

Oh, mice in the kitchen

I shall not complain,

Don't think me crazy

I am totally sane.

But I proceeded to pick one up

By the tail,

It gave not a squeek,

At least not that I could tell.

From chocolate to almond,

A cherry inside!

I ate all but the tail,

It was tough as hide.

I washed it all down

With lemonade and iced tea,

Then dashed away home

To write this for thee!