Journal...

There are a thousand thoughts lying within a man that he does not know till he takes up a pen to write. -William Makepeace Thackeray, novelist (1811-1863)

 I gave each of the kids a brand new journal to write whatever comes to mind and see where it take them.  Read some poetry together to get the creative juices flowing or add a story starter for those with writers block.  Check out this link...

http://www.classroomjr.com/fall-kids-poems/

 

Math is so much fun!

The kids we're playing these math games before supper and just couldn't wait to get back to them after... I guess they're keepers:D

Math Games http://hoodamath.com/games/

Enjoy...

Science experiments perfect for Autumn

Fossils

1 1/2 c. flour, 1 c. used coffee grounds, 1/2 c. salt, 1/4 c. sand, 1 c. water

Figure out what you want to use as artifacts...  Plastic Dinosaurs, coins, vegetation or anything you can think of, really!  

Mix the flour, coffee grounds, salt, sand, and water together. 

Form the mixture into round, flat balls. Press an "artifact" firmly into each ball then carefully remove it to reveal an impression. 

Place the balls on a cookie sheet lined with waxed paper and bake for 20 minutes at 150 degrees F.  The balls will shrink slightly but when they are cool and hardened, the fossils are ready. 

You can also hide "artifacts" inside the balls and the kids can use a small hammer to break it open and discover the hidden treasure inside.  Fun for discovery type birthday parties!

Jumping Penny

Put an empty glass bottle in the freezer overnight. Take the bottle out of the freezer and quickly put a penny over the mouth of the bottle. Hold both of your hands tightly around the bottle. The penny should begin to jump up and down because the heat from your hands flows through the glass and warms up the air inside the bottle. As the air gets warmer it expands, pushing up on the penny and making it jump.

Oobleck

1 c. water, few drops of food coloring, slowly add 2c. cornstarch.

Oobleck: A mysterious matter that kids can shape into balls or let ooze from their fingers. Referencing Dr. Seuss for this one and there is a great tutorial online at:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Oobleck/
  So much fun, you have to try it!

Autumn and Back to School...

The kids are back in school, embarking on a promising new year of learning and growing... However, back to school remains ever bitter-sweet as I miss their lively chatter and imaginative play.  In the summer, we always find a shady tree to lay out a blanket and share stories and poems.  Autumn is almost here and I like to pack a short poem as a small piece of home to take with them when they go to school. Some offerings of lunch time literature I am packing this week...

  

Autumn Bird Song

Over the housetops,
Over the trees,
Winging their way
In a stiff fall breeze.

A flock of birds
Is flying along
Southward, for winter,
Singing a song.

Singing a song
They all like to sing,
"We'll see you again
When it's spring, spring, spring."

Autumn Wind

When autumn wind goes running
It does some magic things.
It gives the shadows dancing shoes,
It gives the bright leaves wings -
When autumn wind goes running.

It curls the bonfire's tail of smoke
And shares a little whispered joke
With cornstalks who delight to prattle,
It turns a seed pod into a rattle -
When autumn wind goes running.

An Autumn Greeting

"Come," said the Wind to the Leaves one day.
"Come over the meadow and we will play.
Put on your dresses of red and gold.
For summer is gone and the days grow cold."

Microsoft stock photo, love it♥