"M" is for Monarch Migration and Maps

Well here is our work day today! It was another day that just didn't go as expected. The kids are all a little unsettled. I have been really frustrated by the seeming inability to focus. But after some deep thought this afternoon, I have decided that we are all just needing a new family rhythm. Things have changed alot, we started school again, Bug and Tadpole are here twice a week, and we even have some co-op classes we are attending (if you want to see how that is going visit our blog HOPE in the home). This is alot of new changes that have just left everyone feeling a little chaotic (probably more me then them). So I am going look at the positives that we did do, and let go of the negative feelings I am having. I wrote out all of my frustrations on my other blog Peace Love and Blessing. So on to the pictures of our day! Again it seems like a lot of work, and there was some really good work done, however alot of it was fleeting and they moved around alot. I think that the best work was done, again by Bunny. She made maps of the rooms in our house, completed a subtraction problem all by herself without me down there at all, and wrote and read some words!!!!!! Bug did Pink Tower on its side and tried the Red Rods. So Sit back and enjoy our day! :)

We talked a little bit about Monarch Migration today as an extension of yesterday's park experience. It was also a great chance to talk about maps. So we made maps of where we thought a Monarch would would fly on their way to Mexico. The girls first drew it in permanent marker, then we added watercolor!



Here is the final products of the girls Monarch Migration Maps!

Bunny worked on polishing pennies. We did the presentation out of the Montessori at Home! She loved it! It was not so much about practical life, as it was about experimenting! She tried all sorts of things. She finally decided that the best way to clean the pennies was to wash it in water, add baking soda, and then scrubbing with the lemon juice. This made some bubbling on the penny as the baking soda reacted with the lemon! She really had fun figuring out what worked best! I thought it was clever of her to use them all at once!

I showed Bug (and Pup) how to do Pink Tower on the side! Bug loved it and did an amazing job!

She was pretty proud of it! :) 

She then asked if she could do it the regular way. I of course said yes! :)

I also threw together the fastest sensory tub ever! I am now without any pasta in my pantry, but it was worth all the work that the kids did with it! I made it in an attempt to have Tadpole doing something while I helped the others. The others I think had more fun with it! ;) He liked it too and spent quite a while working with it!

Bunny also showed Bug how to do the knobless cylinder extension.

She then was able to put everything back and she did ! Yeah Bug!

Red Rod Maze!

The girls did a cool extension with the maze that I think we will repeat! The walked it holding cups of pasta (from the sensory tub)! This was a wonderful body awareness activity. Much like walking the line, but with the maze! It also seemed more fun for the kids!

Tadpole is still working with the Honey Bear! He did it a million times! Anyone have another work like this that I can get together?

Bunny was SOOOOO proud of the subtraction problem she did alone!

Bunny and I had some time to make maps of a room of our house (It was nap time). We used these hunt for treasure that we hid and marked on the map! She had a ton of fun with this! We did it a few times! Bunny even drew a map all on her own! She did a great job! Its a hard thing to translate what you see in a room to a floor plan! This idea came from Playful Learning!

After nap time, Bug decided that she loved to work in the basement. So I showed her how to write her sounds on the chalk board. She was ready to do this, and she did really well! I was surprised! After she traced the letter, she wrote it really well! I was proud of her! This is "M".

Here is "A".

Here she is trying the red rods for the first time.

She did pretty well, but I think we need to re present this another day.

Bunny came down while Bug was working and I convinced her to try the object box with a chalk board. She is really resistant to moveable alphabet (probably my fault) and she does like to write! She did a great job!

After she wrote these, she turned to me with a HUGE smile and glowing eyes and told me "Mom, I can READ!!!!" This was followed up by a ton of jumping abound and excitement! It was more writing then reading, but we all very excited!!!!!! It looks like maybe she will head into reading soon! I may be counting my chickens, but you never know!!!!!

She was really excited! I couldn't even get a shot that wasn't blurry cause she was jumping up and down!!!!

So it was really good day, and very busy! Everyone did a great job! I hope the rest of the days go as well! Happy Schooling! :)