Today was a pretty great day. My house is a wreck, but the children are happy with sticky-gluey fingers and a true sense of accomplishment. We didn't do much bookwork today, besides learning a little bit what a midrib is on a leaf. We verbally reviewed a bit on the terms we learned yesterday "biology, botantist, classfication..." But really, that was about it. After our great lessons on classification yesterday (again taken from the Pathways Lesson Plans website) we made cut out collages using some National Geographics a friend from England gave us before we left. As much as I hated cutting up the mags (the photography is so stinkin beautiful and the articles so interesting) they were all I had around for the children to use. We don't subscribe to any magazines or newspapers. Anyway, using construction paper as a background, each child chose the color and the subject they wanted to "classify." Joey went with cars, Megan chose people, and Julia chose animals. I cut Joey's pictures out, but he glued them in place. They turned out quite pretty!
So onto today...I assigned the girls to the Science Pathways involving "Nature Detective." We made our own Nature Journals using sticks for the binding, rubberbands, and simple construction paper. We made nature rubbings of tree bark and leaves to decorate the outside covers. It seriously only took 5 minutes to put together and both girls said of the two crafts, this one was thier favorite one for today. Here is a link to the simple instructions:
http://bringinguplearners.com/2008/01/28/homeschool-hacking-tips-make-your-own-nature-journal/
Julia decorating the front of her Nature Journal with a Tree Bark Rubbing:
Megan decorating her Journal with a Leaf Rubbing:
The Finished Journals! (Don't you just love the wind-blown, disheveled hair?)
The other craft was a self portrait done with things from Nature. This was very interesting. We came across all sorts of bugs, spiders, flowers, leaves, and other living things while gathering our materials for this. We literally gathered everything from our very own backyard. I pretty much did Joey's page, although he insisted on grass for his mouth and ivy leaves for his ears lol. It was very interesting watching the girls sketch themselves with a mirror before heading out, and then watching how they peiced everything together upon returning. Interesting seeing how kids see themselves. (Notice the girls used certain flowers for hairbows or earrings? lol!) This would work for anything by the way. Doesn't have to be a self portrait. Nature collages are always fun and interesting no matter how you put them together.
Julia working on hers:
Megan with hers:
Finished!!
Wheew! I am glad today is Friday! I am ready for the weekend. :) One last picture, just because I like it. :)
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Posted by Tina G. 
Posted by 
September 11, 2009 - Good job!
Mama don't worry about the house! They won't remember, in 20 years, if the house was spotless. They WILL remember having a good time with you.
My grandma taught me this:
Quiet down cobwebs.
Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my babies.
Because babies won't keep.