Times Tales Deluxe

We have been doing fairly well with multiplication and division, but I think that with math ... More is More!  So, when I cam across the Times Tales at our local thrift store (or "The Addiction" as my best friend calls it) I couldn't help but try it!

We sat at a local taco bar and all three kids got to do the program, as promised, in an hour. And they Liked It!

Little Caterpillars Curled in a Leaf

They roll themselves in the edge of the bean leaves, all tucked in, munching away.

They are almost too cute to pick off. 

I said almost ... hasta la vista, babies.

(By the way, can you see that lucious Florida soil clinging to the leaf?)

Multiplication for Active Little Bodies

We found that we sometimes got confused about the order of steps in longer multiplication problems. It wasn't the numbers that confused them, but the pattern of solving it.  So, we picked our sidewalk chalk and I made a numberless problem on the concrete.  The kids then hopped the pattern when I told them where to go.   Here's what it looked like.

 The colors are a little difficult to see, but they coordinate with the answer.

Not every adult that saw this was impressed, but they aren't teaching this to my bouncy children.

Blooming in Northeast Florida today

First the Roses .... finally roses that I can not kill.  

 These are mostly Knockout (c) or (tm) or something.

The other are Simplicity pink (c) (tm) .... so why no heritage varieties? Because mine died.

The last of the amarillis are still stunning.

This is a Betony flower spike that shot up through the amarylis.

Bush Bean Blossom

Pea Flower

Tomato 

Apply the Breaks!

In a testing week, things are pretty serious here.  Very serious and not all that fun.  So, we decided to make a cake.  Chocolate cake with chocolate icing.  During Lent. 

Good thing Mommy didn't give up chocolate.

A Boy's First Communion

You know, I am starting to question the gender balance with First Communion.  I really couldn't find blogs with advise on preparing for a boy's party, clothes or .... well ... just anything.  No debate, no tirades ... nada.  (That's Latina for "nothing").

So, in keeping with my son's newest passion to blend we will not be purchasing a white suit.  He will be wearing a navy suit, but with a white shirt and white tie.  A real tie, he will quickly and proudly point out.

A party is after mass, since we will need to fast before, I am sure everyone will be hungry.  So cookout, pool party ahead!

My daughter, on the other hand, is still undecided about what dress she will wear. 

Marco Polo - It's not just Pool Play!

So reading up on Marco Polo for the History class was pretty fun.  I was amazed at the significance that this one person's adventure had on exploration, not just for Marco Polo but for Europe.  Christopher Columbus made notes in his copy of "The Travels".

For the kids, going to Marco Polo at home is stepping back in time, but valuable none the less.  I found a few books at the library and thrift store.  I am looking at the "for kids" series (Marco Polo for Kids by Janis Herbert isbn 978155652377).  The Marco Polo one focuses on the countries and cultures he visited, so it is less about Marco Polo than with things he encountered on his travels.  The activities are a great help for kids that don't hours of inactive study.  The Who Was Marco Polo by Joan Holub (isbn 9780448445403) is an easier read than the Penguin Classics Latham translation of The Travels.

Although it is a great resource to look at as adult or teen, the text of the original is daunting. 

We also used maps to trace Marco Polos route to Asia and back.  There are trivial academia tirades on where exactly he went and what he did there, but overall, unimportant at this point in our studies.

Update:  Waiting on my library copy of You Wouldn't Want to Explore with Marco Polo!: A Really Long Trip You'd Rather Not Take to come in.  My kids have really enjoyed the "You Wouldn't Want" series.

  

Little Women Hospitality - Cleaning

Okay, so if you are dividing hosting duties and Cleaning is one of the sessions available -- take it!  Who wouldn't want a group of young ladies learning to clean to work in your house?  Okay, so it's not like cleaning the bathroom, but I am sure you have never dusted your living room ten times in the same day before. 

I think the girls liked the button game most of all.  The hostess hid buttons in various locations, behind picture frames, under brik-a-brac and other places that if they follow the directions for dusting properly they would naturally find.  Needless to say, the girls had a great competition to see who found the most.

The Literature Example comes from All of a Kind Family by Sydney Taylor, as well as the button game.  I think the girls are awaiting their turn reading the excerpts with excitement ... both nervous in front of the other girls as well as eager to show off their skill.

Chill Zones for Florida - Apples Peaches Nectarines

We were looking at Varieties of fruit trees that will bear fruit in Florida. 



available online through groworganic.com

 There are some exciting new varieties out there, but we were stumped at the store nursery by the chill hours requirement for different varieties.  Frustrating, but although the nursery attendant really wanted us to take home some trees, they weren't able to tell us whether they were good for our area. 

With a little searching, here is the chill zone map for Florida from the UF Extension Office.

January through March are considered the best times to plant apple trees in North to Central Florida.  (Although it was mentioned that December was okay too.)

Here is a link to the Low Chill Apple Page at the UF Extension Office.

Update:   I found an interesting website that addressed apples grown in hot climates at Kuffel Creek.

Fort George Inlet at Talbot Islands Florida State Park

Todays trip was about seeing and feeling marine.

Hermit crab without silly glitter and paint.

A1A is that bridge.

The sand "was like walking in snow" another visitor warned us.

Not legal.  But, can you imagine the sound?  Amazing.

A jelly caught in a pool, spinning in circles.

Racoon went left.

Bird went right.

We went straight.

Sea slugs?