Friday, January 25, 2008 - Science Class at the A.M.S.E.
Today we went to class at the A.M.S.E. It was called "Spaced Out" and was of course about Space...
The kids had a great time... They played several games where they actually got to be the planets, they learned what "equinox" means... They discussed the various Gods that certain planets were named for (ie Mercury, Mars, Venus, Neptune)... they got to look at some really cool maps of the solar system... We discussed "AU"'s and the temp. of the sun... the difference between a rotation and revolution, waxing and waning, what "Mare" are, and the phases of the moon and to use "What's up DOC?" to remember them...
Then they played with a topological box for Mars... and discussed how it would take 9 months to get Mars and then we would have to stay there for 4 years because of the revolutions of the Earth to Mars...
Here are a few websites that you can look at for more infomation...
Friday, December 7, 2007 - A.M.S.E. class (ROBOMANIA)
Today we went to the A.M.S.E. for a homeschool class on robotics...
It was really informative... It was taught on the K-3 level and the kids got alot out of it...
They learned the qualities a machine must have to be considered robotic, and the uses / reasons for them in todays world...
Then they got to the best part and that was "PLAYING" with them... They got use a robotic "hand/arm", several remote control vehicles, a robotic spider, and the best one was the Robosapien... DS absolutely loved that one..
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 - November Zoo Homeschool Classes
This month we have been studing Astronomy in our homeschool class at the zoo...
All month we have been looking at the universe and its various parts... The kidlets have learned the names of the planets and their position and relationship to the sun...(even my 4yo DD can recite the planets in order from the sun)... They have learned all about the different types of stars and each ones relative life span and make-up... they know what is in the rings surrounding several planets and why certain planets appear certain colors... They talked about the different types of galaxies and what "lives" in each, black holes and why Pluto is no longer a planet... They even discussed the Space Shuttle...
and to end a great month in Astronomy, we are having a "Star Gazing" at the zoo on Thursday evening..
Friday, October 26, 2007 - A.M.S.E. class (SKIN and SKULLS)
Today was our class on skin and skulls at the AMSE (American Museum of Science and Energy)...
It was great ... The speaker was extremely knowledgeable and had wonderful hands-on displays...
The kidlets (and me too) learned about different animals based on diet (herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore, which was reinforcement from our zoo class) and then about the types of teeth and the purpose of each... She discussed the shape of differnt skulls and features of some and their purpose (like the squiggle line in the skull of deer / goats, and that it functions like a shock absorber)... or the thickness (like a wild boars skull was over an inch in thickness and the purpose of his tusks etc).
She had numerous tracks and foot molds of animals, as well as, many preserved animals for the kids to touch... and lots of skulls to look at and touch...
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 - October Zoo Class : Oceanography
This month we have been studing "Oceanography" at our homeschool zoo class...
Week 1: We watched a movie on undersea exploration and discussed how we know more about outer space than we actually do about the ocean depths... We had homework in which the kidlets had to learn the layers of the ocean floor ... and then we colored the earth and labeled the oceans...
Week 2 : We discussed "WAVES"... the types, the causes, and the moons pull on the earth... We made a mobile at home to represent the Sun, the Earth, and the Moon and relationship of rotation to low and high tides...
Week 3 : We discussed the Invertebrates and Vertebrates found in the ocean... The kids had hands on with a preserved baby shark, a shark jaw / mouth, a tusk from a walrus, and the shell from a sea turtle...The was review over the previous 2 weeks lessons and then more discussion on Endo / Ectothermic sea creatures...
Week 4 : Today was the final class in Oceanography... and Mr. Chad discussed different types of fish and the purpose of the their body parts... like spots / changing colors for camoflauge, gille for breathing, dorsal fins for balance, tail fins for speed, pectoral fins for steering, the need for "cleanser" fish, and a review of the past 3 weeks... Including finding the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Artic, and Southern Antartic oceans on a huge ball that looked just like the earth from space, a little tricky since none of the continients were labeled and there was cloud cover on it also... But all of the kids did fine and it amazes me how much they actually learn without even trying...
We took a class today on electricity at the A.M.S.E. (American Museum of Science and Energy in Oak Ridge, TN)...
DC learned about atoms and charges...(+,-, and neutral)... they learned of the repel and attraction of protons and electrons... and we did 2 great experiments...
Experiment #1 : Take a piece of plexiglass, wipe it with a piece of fleece to get the static energy going... Then place a pizza pan (with a piece of plastic pipe taked to it for a handle) on top of the plexiglass.. Touch the pan with a small flourescent light bulb... then lift the pan and touch it again with the bulb... The bulb will then light up in your hand... It was really cool and the kids did it over and over...
Experiment # 2: Blow up a balloon, tape a wire thread (from steel wool) to it with both ends exposed... then take 2 strips of aluminum foil and fold them into about 1 inch wide strips...Then place on strip on a table and place 2 "D" batteries on it (stacking them on top of each other with - + ends meeting) and then place the other foil strip on top... (it takes more than 2 hands) and then touch each piece to the ends of steel wool at the same time... It will cause the balloon to burst... the kids loved this one because it made me jump when it exploded...
Hope you try these at home, because they are cheap and great and really get the electrical charge idea across...
Hi!! I'm Lisa... Homeschooling mom to 2 wonderful kidlets and this is a journal to share our family life and learning adventures with you...We use an eclectic mix of "child directed" Charlotte Mason studies... So sit down, set a spell and enjoy our homeschool journey...Have a great day and thanks for sharing it with us!!!
