Early Weeks

Well we are already three weeks in to Grade One and we've had a nice flow so far.  Some days we are out and about exploring and visiting and other days we are home doing our own quiet thing.  Because Fall can often be a short season here I feel a strong sense to be outside as much as we can before the snow flies!

Rowan got this Science kit for Christmas last year and loves going through various experiments.  One day we just did Messy Science where we went through whatever experiments sounded fun at the time.

Poppy watching the Jumping Raisins (raisins in soda).  We had already done vinegar and baking soda explosions, catching ice (salt on ice with a string laid on ice cube) and a few others.  I didn't take any photos of the 'after' where Poppy accidentally spilled all our mixtures on the table and floor - that was a sticky clean up!

A neat climbing rock in a nearby neighbourhood with a playground beside it - I think the rock was there and they built the park around it as it is huge!

We joined a HUGE group of homeschoolers for a tour of a Chocolate Factory - we will probably go again another day as it was difficult to hear our guide with the number of children on the tour.  We all enjoyed the treat at the end and had to buy a few extras to take home!

Outside the chocolate factory

Rowan working on Logic Linx - he really likes them 

We took out about 10 readers from the library - while they are helpful in early reading they are incredibly dull so I'm not sure how many Rowan will be interested in reading - he did finish this one and needed help with two words

Poppy's 'work' - finding ways to keep Poppy engaged in something long enough for Rowan to get the  adult time he needs for his projects and activities is sometimes a challenge but on this particular day Poppy enjoyed Busy Bugs (from Discovery Toys)

......for about 6 minutes anyway.....

One reason why I hesitate to spend money on learning materials - I wrote various words on cheapy sticky notes and posted them around the house without telling anyone.  About a day later Rowan noticed them and was so excited going around the house looking for them and reading the words (about 90% on his own)

Rowan asked "Is this like a treasure hunt?  Is there a prize at the end?"  I said "Yes!  You'll have a stack of paper with words written on them at the end!"  It didn't seem to matter that there wasn't a treat or prize of another kind - the search was prize enough, I think!

We are so lucky to have friends who live in a lake community and invite us often - so this is how we spent the last day of Summer 2011

And that is some of what we've been up to over the past two weeks!  Rowan has also started an art class at a wonderful art studio.  Poppy took a  library class of her own (with me) but she was feeling a bit sick so didn't last but is registered for another one through October.  Rowan loved the library classes when he was wee and I love that they're free so we'll see how Poppy likes them.  Rowan has also started Music class again for the year with a new teacher who runs the class at a much faster pace and has higher expectations.  I have (so far) tried to keep practice at home a focus and am adding some activities to supplement what the teacher expects.  We bought an ipad ap yesterday to help with reading music for young children.  Rowan says he wants to continue with music but grumbles quite a bit with practicing at home so I am trying to find fun and creative ways to get his interest.

And finally, Rowan has his first loose tooth which is very exciting!

Today is the first day of Fall and we will be looking for ways to celebrate the changing of the seasons!