A homeschooling blog we created to share our stories and adventures as we live and learn as a family.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Rocks rock!


D says: Finally! I get to learn about Geology (the study of rocks). Right now I am just classifying rock samples but it's still fun. The three types of rocks are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. There is a rock cycle, similar to the water cycle. Hot molten rock flows from volcanoes, which cools and forms into igneous rocks. Then the igneous rocks form into either sedimentary rocks or metamorphic rocks. Sedimentary rocks form when layers of igneous rocks push down on each other, and the rock compresses and changes. Metamorphic rocks form when igneous or sedimentary rocks push down deep into the earth where it is hot. It's hot there but not hot enough to turn the rocks into magma yet. Instead they bake and change into metamorphic rock. Metamorphic and sedimentary rocks can turn back into magma and when the magma cools down they turn back into igneous rocks. And that's the rock cycle!

The definition of a rock is that it has to have two or more minerals that make it up. The definition of a mineral is that it can only have one type of molecule so it is only made up of one thing. Some common minerals are sufur, fluorite, mica, quartz, and hematite. My favorite mineral is sulfur and my favorite rock is obsidian, an igneous rock. The lightest rock is pumice, an igneous rock. It is so light that it floats. Coal is a sedimentary rock that is made up of the remains of bones and several other minerals. Basalt is the most common type of rock on the earth. It is an igneous rock. Another interesting fact about it is that the moon is mostly made of Basalt. My second favorite rock is a metamophic rock called dolomitic marble.

I like rocks!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Geography Fair




We had a great time at the Geography Fair and Closing Ceremony hosted by our HS co-op. D chose to create a project about the Galapagos Islands. Due to the events of the previous week he had very little time to prepare his project, so I was very pleased to see the dedication with which he applied himself in order to finish it on time. Although we weren't able to do all that we had planned, he did make a clay habitat using FIMO clay, and a poster showing various types of landscapes and vegetation on some of the islands. Watching him create his tiny creatures using FIMO brought me back to my childhood, when I used to spend hours rolling tiny FIMO clay beads to make jewelry.

All of the kids who participated were given a passport and as they traveled to other projects, trying different foods or learning about the culture of that country, they received a stamp for their passport. We enjoyed seeing all the projects that the kids created and learning new things about different places. There are some truly talented artists, poets, cooks, and all-around geography buffs in our group!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Little drummers



We attended a fabulous drum circle class yesterday, led by our friend Ed from South Shore Conservatory. It was awesome! I didn't snap any pics of D playing, but got a few of the girls playing the djembe. So much fun!

Wriggler, the bullfrog tadpole


We found Wriggler at the frog pond in Kingston near the graveyard. Wriggler is a bullfrog tadpole. He (I am assuming it is a boy) has his back legs and is small compared to other tadpoles. The reason I chose Wriggler is that I like small tadpoles better than big ones.

Monday, April 5, 2010