Throwback Tuesday: Darth Vader Math and Other Homeschooling Fun
Originally published October 15, 2012, it's just a quick day in the life post where we had some fun with Darth Vader math.
I really do try to make our homeschool days nice and fun for the boys. I know when we're all relaxed and happy we're still learning. I'm pretty awful at planning out our days and am content to let them unfold with a bit of prompting from me and a lot of following the boys' lead.
Alec got a bunch of National Wildlife magazines over the weekend and spent the morning looking through them all. He tried to read aloud to his brothers but they weren't as interested as he was so he eventually gave up and just read them to himself until breakfast. The page he happened to be focused on was all about the Arctic Wildlife preserve in Alaska that we had read about during our Alaska study. I did point that out to all the boys and asked them a few questions. I love when things we've learned crop up in unexpected places!
During breakfast the boys all asked to watch yet another episode of Wild Kratts. I was about to say no since I feel like we've been doing that a lot lately but then I remembered all the facts they've been telling everyone that they've learned through the show so I said sure.
This episode was all about lions and boy did they learn a lot!
Once the house was clean we watched a video on how glow sticks are made. You can find the link here. This lesson was definitely above their heads as it told us the scientific names of all the chemicals but they LOVED it! Alec told me it was the best video we've ever watched on the computer. He was saddened though to realize we couldn't then make our own glow sticks at home. I was just happy they enjoyed it and told them we could buy some glow sticks.
They did a quick math lesson today before we headed out for a bunch of errands. Ian chose to do a lesson in McRuffy while Alec wanted to work on a coloring/ addition dice worksheet I found on Pinterest. There were two worksheets to choose from; Spider man and Darth Vader. He has to roll two dice; add them up and then color in that number. It's a fun way to work on his addition facts. You can find it here. Ian thought it looked like fun too and asked if he could have on to work on after he finished his math. As if I'd say no!
Evan didn't want to do anything but another dot- to- dot sheet. I'm quickly running out! He just loves them.
We headed to the library to return some of our books and checked out some new books on Cd. On the way there Ian and Alec were finishing their Darth Vader pages and Evan says "hey mom, back/ black; they rhyme!" I was thrilled because usually when he says two words and tell me they rhyme they have the same beginning sound not ending sound. I replied "yeah, they both end with -ack, can you think of anything else that ends with -ack?" That started a five minute round the car back and forth shouting match of rhyming words.. Jack, slack, sack, Mack, knack, pack, etc. It was a wonderful, child centered, impromptu lesson. I just love it when that happens.
We listened to the books we checked out on our way to the doctor (and again on the way home). We found a few new books on Cd to check out. The boys really seemed to enjoy Do Unto Otters and Henry Hikes to Fitchburg. We also listened to two favorites; I Stink and Rikki Tikki Tavi again.
We were planning to head home, have a quick lunch, and then head out for another Walktober hike after going to the doctors. However, once in the house Ian complained he felt dizzy and sick. I'm so bummed to have missed yet another hike. We haven't made it to a single Walktober hike yet!
I was thinking it was a reaction to a vaccine but wanted to stay close to home just in case he started to run a fever or feel worse. We watched part of our Hawaii movie and then just took a walk around the neighborhood.
Alec got a bunch of National Wildlife magazines over the weekend and spent the morning looking through them all. He tried to read aloud to his brothers but they weren't as interested as he was so he eventually gave up and just read them to himself until breakfast. The page he happened to be focused on was all about the Arctic Wildlife preserve in Alaska that we had read about during our Alaska study. I did point that out to all the boys and asked them a few questions. I love when things we've learned crop up in unexpected places!
During breakfast the boys all asked to watch yet another episode of Wild Kratts. I was about to say no since I feel like we've been doing that a lot lately but then I remembered all the facts they've been telling everyone that they've learned through the show so I said sure.
This episode was all about lions and boy did they learn a lot!
- They learned that lions can pee backwards to mark their territory
- That lions aren't the toughest animals in Africa
- That other lions will try and steal baby lions form other prides
- That sometimes lions will gang up on other lions to try and take control of a pride.
It was another fun filled science lesson and they all loved it.
Once the house was clean we watched a video on how glow sticks are made. You can find the link here. This lesson was definitely above their heads as it told us the scientific names of all the chemicals but they LOVED it! Alec told me it was the best video we've ever watched on the computer. He was saddened though to realize we couldn't then make our own glow sticks at home. I was just happy they enjoyed it and told them we could buy some glow sticks.
They did a quick math lesson today before we headed out for a bunch of errands. Ian chose to do a lesson in McRuffy while Alec wanted to work on a coloring/ addition dice worksheet I found on Pinterest. There were two worksheets to choose from; Spider man and Darth Vader. He has to roll two dice; add them up and then color in that number. It's a fun way to work on his addition facts. You can find it here. Ian thought it looked like fun too and asked if he could have on to work on after he finished his math. As if I'd say no!
Evan didn't want to do anything but another dot- to- dot sheet. I'm quickly running out! He just loves them.
We headed to the library to return some of our books and checked out some new books on Cd. On the way there Ian and Alec were finishing their Darth Vader pages and Evan says "hey mom, back/ black; they rhyme!" I was thrilled because usually when he says two words and tell me they rhyme they have the same beginning sound not ending sound. I replied "yeah, they both end with -ack, can you think of anything else that ends with -ack?" That started a five minute round the car back and forth shouting match of rhyming words.. Jack, slack, sack, Mack, knack, pack, etc. It was a wonderful, child centered, impromptu lesson. I just love it when that happens.
We listened to the books we checked out on our way to the doctor (and again on the way home). We found a few new books on Cd to check out. The boys really seemed to enjoy Do Unto Otters and Henry Hikes to Fitchburg. We also listened to two favorites; I Stink and Rikki Tikki Tavi again.
We were planning to head home, have a quick lunch, and then head out for another Walktober hike after going to the doctors. However, once in the house Ian complained he felt dizzy and sick. I'm so bummed to have missed yet another hike. We haven't made it to a single Walktober hike yet!
I was thinking it was a reaction to a vaccine but wanted to stay close to home just in case he started to run a fever or feel worse. We watched part of our Hawaii movie and then just took a walk around the neighborhood.
Linking up with:
Hope Ian is feeling ok. I love reading about your homeschool resources.
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you!
DeleteThey must have loved Darth Vader math- so fun!
ReplyDeleteThey loved whenever I managed to pull in any sort of "famous" figures into their school day; we had days planned around Star Wars, Pokemon, Marvel heroes, etc.
DeleteI'm pretty sure I had Rikki Tikki Tavi on tape as a kid, memories are flooding back ha!
ReplyDeleteAw, I love it! I can remember listening to books on record when I was little.
DeleteI swear I learn more from these posts than from anything else. Who knew that lions could pee backwards?
ReplyDeleteXOOX
Jodie
LOL! Right?! My boys taught me so many animal facts I never ever learned on my own..
DeleteMy daughter is homeschooling this year (Kindergarten) and I'm having fun buying lots of books : )
ReplyDeleteOh that is such a fun age; we read so many books and played a lot! I wrote a few posts about some of our favorite books if you're interested. https://www.myslicesoflife.com/2015/06/25-of-our-favorite-picture-books.html and for books about trucks if your grandsons are into those (surprisingly I only had 1 boy that was fascinated by them): https://www.myslicesoflife.com/2016/02/truck-books-we-love.html.
DeleteSuch a fun day for your boys! But, I have to ask, is that bittersweet? I haven't seen any growing wild in years. I loved finding it and snipping off just a little bit for the house.
ReplyDeletehttps://marshainthemiddle.com/
I'm pretty sure it is, yes.
DeleteThis sounds so much better than public school! I'm going to have to Google though why lions aren't the toughest animals :) I mean, I surely understand that other animals can be more tough but then why are they called kings of the jungle? Yep, off to Google I go. See, even I learned something :) Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedLinkParty 134. Pinned.
ReplyDeleteLOL. That just reinforces my belief that learning happens anywhere on any given day at any given moment.
DeleteAbsolutely!!
DeleteI like looking back on your days. That is so interesting about lions! I think I had Rikki Tikki Tavi as a kid too.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteReading through your homeschooling posts and journey give me such hope that maybe I'm not totally failing my kids and, instead, making it fun while teaching them productivity.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, I remember those feelings so well!! It's amazing how much those little moments here and there really do add up over time. I figured reading and math were the main focus areas and with those two skills they could go on to learn anything.
DeleteThese sounds like great learning experiences for the kids. I love the impromptu lessons that arise in the most random situations as well. Thank you for sharing at Tell It To Me Tuesday! I hope to see you again this week.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete