Kitchen counter science: soluble/insoluble

Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to drink. Especially this stuff. I wouldn't drink from a single one of these glasses.

This week finds us exploring mixtures and solutions. You know, the breaking down of a substance into its basic molecular form so it can "swim" among the liquid masses. Calvin got a real kick out of that visual. We had a good time creating a chart with columns for soluble, insoluble, and hypothesis, and I was thoroughly surprised by how often he was right on with his forecasting. He didn't know why he thought sugar would dissolve while flour would not, but he was right on pretty much across the board. Plus, it was great fun to design and create interesting concoctions in the kitchen.

Project 365 week 6

February 5-11

Confessions of a less-than-perfect homeschooling mother 2/11

Today was a great day. Today we all got up a little earlier than usual, and by 9am Calvin had already practiced the piano and the breakfast dishes were all cleaned up. Today we finished work in spelling, math, grammar, and history all before 11am, then made Valentines and read books. Today was a gymnastics day, and after that we sorted books at the library, and after that we went to a Valentines exchange party that turned into a play-as-many-varietals-of-tag-as-possible party. Today we finished all of our chores before Jon got home, and all the learning items on our checklist. Today was an awesome day.

But...I forgot to make dinner.

Clay pot making

Give a kid some clay and some paint and this is what you get.

What I love about projects like these is that they encourage patience. It is not the kind of thing that you can sit down to and finish in an hour, not even in a day. He started the process last week using what he'd read was an ancient Greek method for making clay pots. Then it took several days to dry, then a few more days before we could find the time for painting. I suggested that he give it a Modge Podge finish, later that afternoon.

Project 365 week 5

Days 29-35, January 29-February 4