The first week of our Olympic unit, we read Albert the Running Bear and Albert the Running Bear’s Exercise Book. We enjoyed the story, and tried out most of the tests and exercises in the second book. We learned we need more exercise! J

We started our first week of Noeo Science, and Ted really enjoyed it. It’s very few pages of reading per day, and each day is summed up on a report sheet, which can include words, pictures, or both. Ted prefers drawing, and then dictating a few sentences. We pulled out our globe and a flashlight to demonstrate the seasons as depicted in the book… both children enjoyed playing with that activity.

Here and there through the week we watched clips of the athletes, always very exciting. We also tried out some activities on our Wii Fit, and watched a video from the library, Mickey’s “Seeing the World”. We printed the Olympic timeline strips suggested on the HomeschoolShare unit, and placed them on our timeline.

Lysle ended up working overtime, so the kids and I took a PJ Run a la Kendall to take him some dinner and get early goodnight hugs.

Saturday, Toys R Us was hosting an event to show off the new Magnext magnetic building kit. It was supposed to feature a building contest, and each kid got to keep a sample pack. Ted ended up being the only child who showed up to try that hour, so he won! He was so excited. They even went the whole nine yards and announced him over the loudspeaker … wish everyone could’ve seen his face!

Ooh, and we got the Mario & Sonic Olympics game for the Wii, courtesy of a whole lot of saved up bonus points in the Scholastic Club catalogs! The shipping was quick, too … I was afraid it wouldn’t come in time to be used during the Olympics. It’s pretty cool, though a bit hard for me and the kids, but the art is neat and centered in the actual Beijing stadiums and arenas.

Our second week we focused more on China, reading Round is a Mooncake (another HSS unit), Yum Yum Dim Sum, D is for Dragon Dance, Happy New Year by Demi, and Dim Sum for Everyone. We tried out abacuses and played a “Dragon Parade” phonics game by Brighter Vision, handed down from an older cousin. We continued in our workbooks and added to our little weather station.

Saturday was a Cub Scout swimming party, which Teddy went to with Lysle, to meet the pack and register for the upcoming year. Sunday was the Olympics Closing Ceremony, which we also stayed up to watch.

Here is our Won Ton recipe. It can be adapted to whatever you happen to prefer and have on hand, but this is the recipe as my mother gave it to me, and how I grew up eating it:

• 3/4 cup ground pork
• 6 large shrimp (cooked, chopped)
• 2 T green onions, chopped
• 2 T chopped parsley
• 1/2 t sugar
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 T cornstarch
• 1 T soy sauce
• 10 oz pack wonton wrappers

Combine all (except wrappers!) in skillet; fry till slightly cooked. Chill. Assemble: put a small spoonful into the center of each wrapper square, and fold closed, sealing with a bit of water (a finger dipped in water does it, and we argue over whether they should be triangles or rectangles when folded). Fry at 365 degrees till brown.

It should make about 4 dozen, but we start eating them when they get cool, while cooking the rest, so I've never actually counted. I expect it doesn't stretch that far, as we fill them pretty generously. Serve with more soy sauce for dipping. Yes, this is a time-consuming recipe (I prefer to prepare the filling the day before and chill overnight) but it is SO worthwhile! Mmmm!