Connor: Science

Today we started our first day of the science unit on not affecting our environment.  We had more trash than usual like 8 diapers, many bits of food  and food containers and paper.  Yeah so basically we did not reduce our trash today.  Today you kids made dish soap and laundry detergent.  Mason and I had not helped.  I really can't wait to start tomorrow's activity.

Daddio: Gardening Science

For the first time since the whole hernia brewhaha, we started our science unit up again this weekend.  We're finishing up the literature-based Junior Master Gardener lessons and this week we read the book, The Gardener by Sarah Stewart and illustrated by David Small.  The book is a story of a girl who lives in the country during the Great Depression and has to move in with her uncle in the city.  Her uncle owns a bakery and she moves in with him because her father lost his job and is having money problems.  Even though the city isn't the place you'd think of having a lush garden, the girl finds a way to start a big lush garden on the roof using old pots and cans as planters.

In the spirit of The Gardener, the kids looked around the yard and the house for things we're not using anymore that might serve as good planters.  We found a bunch of stuff, and while we're not sure they'll work, we decided to experiment with different shapes and sizes to find out what will work and what won't.  So we made sure everything had good drainage holes in the bottom of them, then we filled them up with potting soil and planted our different seeds inside.  Then we put the planters out in a good sunny spot next to our garden (right next to the bean poles) where we know they'll get enough water.

Mason used an old plastic container for baby wipes.  He planted some peas in it:

Kiki used an empty coffee can.  She planted a sprouting potato:

Connor planted a carrot seed in this shampoo bottle.  He seemed to think it was the right size.  We'll see:

Gabe found this old broken piece of PVC pipe behind the shed.  He planted radishes in it:

Avery glued a shattered ceramic pot back together and planted an avocado pit in it:

 

Marney found a tubberware container with a cracked bottom that we couldn't use anymore, so she planted spinach in it:

 

Finally, I cut the top off of a used plastic spaghetti sauce container and planted onions in it:

 

As things grow (or don't) we'll try to remember to post updates!

Mason: Birds

What I learned about birds: 1. I learned to find owls you look for bird poop, owl pellets and bones.
2. Owls live in high dark places and holes.
3. I learned that owls eat rodents and it helps farmers.
4. Owls don't eat bones so they barf it in to a pellet.
5. Birds use wind to glide.
6. Baby birds eat yolk, there is something in the yolk that allows it to eat yolk.
7. There is a bald eagle that has no white head.
8. Birds are related to dinosaurs.
9. Ducks run and flap their wings.
10. Birds open their wings to get them cold and close their wings to get warm.

Marney: Birds

Gabe: Birds

We had Adventure Club on Wednesday at Robin's house with the homeschool group. We learned a lot about birds. Mom taught us how to dissect owl pellets, there were lots of bones in mine. The owl pellets were really cool but they were hard like a nut. We had a snack called Pigeon Poop, it had pretzels, cereal, marshmallows and chocolate. We went on a bird hunt with Robin. Robin taught us that she has lots of different kinds of birds at her house. I think we saw a sparrow and it was black. It was very, very, very fun.

Mason: What I Learned Today

Today in science with Daddio I learned about evolution. I learned that plain looking animals only have one baby because they can't find lots of females. The attractive animals will have four babies because they can find a lot of females. That is really interesting because the attractive ones die quicker because their predators can see them. We're trying this experiment to see if we can grow plants in salt water. Plants can also adapt to their surroundings. Animals can adapt to their surroundings. I learned lots of stuff today.