Week 19

What a beautiful afternoon! I am so grateful it warmed so the children could enjoy some playground time after lunch. I don't know about yours, but mine really enjoy this time with their friends.

We began our study on the orchestra and composers this week and therefore, our schedule will be a little different - it looks like we'll be having review right after science lab with Fine Arts as a group at the very end.

Here's a list of what we did today:
Geography (Southeast Asia)
To the tune of Deep and Wide
North Korea,
South Korea,
Taiwan
Philippines
and then-there's-little Guam
in Southeast Asia

Math
We loudly said (as if incredulous): FIVE THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED, EIGHTY FEET equals (tiny voice) one mile.

English Grammar
To the tune "La Cucaracha"
A gerund (shake right hand)
Is a present (shake left hand)
participle verb form used as a (roll arms one after the other as you squat)
NOUN! (arms up)
(repeat)

History Sentence: Tell me about the Korean War
In 1950 (flash "5" then "0")
General Douglas MacArthur (salute)
led UN troops (walk)
to stop (hold out hand)
Cmmunist North Korea (arms crossed high, like slave)
from capturing (reach out as if grabbing)
all of South Korea (arms encircled)
during the Korean War (as if fighting)

Science (1st Law of Thermodynamics)
Thermo-Thermo-Thermodynamics (stomp right foot)
Ener-Ener-Energy (stomp left foot)
cannot be created (Loud & making "creation" sign)
or destroyed (Loud & throw arm over)
Thermo-Thermo-Thermodynamics (stomp right foot)
1st Law ofg Thermodynamics (whisper)

We learned that Thermodynamics is the transfer of energy and that since energy cannot be created or destroyed, we KNOW that ONLY GOD could have created us and put us here on the earth. How cool is that? We know that energy is always there - either potential (stored) or kinetic (active).

For Science Lab, we experimented by holding ice cubes - our hands were warmer than the ice and transfered the energy of our hands to the ice to cause it to melt. Something you may like to try at home: weigh and empty container. Then weigh an ice cube, then place the ice cube into the container and allow it to melt -weigh this. While the state of matter changed from solid to liquid, you should see that the weight didn't change.

We also rubbed our hands together (they grew warmer!) and placed them on our cheeks to feel the warmth.

We also did an experiment with a rubber band that didn't go as planned. During our tutor meeting it worked, so the variable I think that changed the outcome is that we were already cold when we tried it :). Here's how it is supposed to work - so try it at home when you are at a comfortable temperature. Hold a rubber band (loosely) to your forehead or cheek (somewhere that is temperature-sensitive). It should be cooler than your skin. Then hold it in your hands and stretch it several times. While stretched, place it back on it the same temperature-sensitive area. You should feel that it has increased in warmth.

The children had a lot of fun making (and flying!) paper airplanes. The concepts of why this relates to thermodynamics is above my head (something about combustion and propulsion?), but perhaps when they are old enough for it to matter and they are with a physics book, they'll remember fondly the time they were able to fly paper airplanes at CC :)

Another way you can try out the concept of thermodynamics - hold hands with someone and warmth can be transfered from person to person.

If your household is like mine, we remember to pratice the memory work but tend to forget to pull out the maps and practice finding the locations of what we've learned in Geography. I encourage everyone to practice Geography locations this week and hopefully our review time will go more smoothly. I am not sure I am looking for perfection - but the general area is good to know!

Presentations - They have all come so far in their presentation skills! My family tends to forget to practice our presentations until the night before CC. If you do better at remembering, I encourage you to help your child develop an opening, clear body, and closing for their presentations.

Thanks for another great week of CC - it is so hard to believe that we only have five more classes left for this year!