From Conor: Starting swimming lessons back up again was the highlight of this week. This was the first week of lessons at our community center only 3 blocks away. It is fun to be with my homeschool friends but it is like starting lessons all over again because I have taken higher level lessons before. My math class just ended (since we start marine biology next week) and mom is looking for a new one. I liked this math class because sometimes we got pretty silly, my friends did funny things, and my teacher taught me new things. I even liked doing the homework. On the weekend I went to the Science Center with dad. It was the last day of the Harry Potter exhibit so all the tickets were sold out. One of the things I always do there is go to the computer room and play the games. I like going there, but I want to learn more about how things work and it feels like the Science Center is for younger kids. I also learned a game called Stratego and a new game that uses lasers and mirrors called Khet. The mirrors have colored sides for each team. You have to move the mirrors to hit another persons pharoah. If you are hit that is a point against you. It is a fun game that teaches you about angles and strategy, sort of like chess.
Back to mom: Of course, add to all of the above with drama class, clay class, and aikido, so the mama van continues to make the Seattle rounds. I had to work 3 12 hour shifts in a row so by Tuesday I was a bit exhausted and had much to do. We also were in frantic prep mode for his birthday party the weekend of the 26th. The theme being Secret Agent school, there were prizes and games to plan. Conor baked the cake almost by himself-mom just stands by in case the absent minded professor forgets a step. (It was prounounced very tasty by all at the party!) Now that the party is over, back to work!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
The Cultural Festival was fun!! my friend Luke put up a table of the Ancient Romans and he dressed up as an Ancient Roman as well! There were different foods to try, things to make. We helped people make medicine bags at our booth, I taught all the little kids and even a dad! Today is Thursday and tomorrow i'm going to do both marine biology and swimming and soccer and math class and piano!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(:0
Back to mom, actually not as crazy tomorrow as he says, but almost. We have our weekly math class on the north end, then we come back to W Seattle to kick off the new SW community center homeschool program which is going to be just awesome..especially the 3 blocks away part. But no marine biology yet, that starts in March, and soccer has been delayed, so "just" swimming tomorrow, then down the road to piano.
The final prep for the festival last week was a great history lesson. Conor was quite dedicated to completing his authentic Cherokee summer house-grace of the wood scraps and weeds in the yard. We also watched "An American Experience-We Shall Remain", which dedicated one episode to the Trail of Tears. And we emailed back and forth with Jerry's aunt who researched the family several years ago for a book. John S. Panther was mentioned on a volunteer enlisted in 1838 in North Carolina as part of the Indian removal. As we learned, many of the more northern Cherokees volunteered or agreed to assist, as did John Ross-the Cherokee leader-to help guide the people the safest way possible. Others probably to save some land, since it seems that John Panther stayed and was rumoured to be a Civil War scout.
It also seems that I might have killed my laptop tonight blowing the dust bunnies out, just thankful my husband's old one was not yet trashed by our son. So getting online could get difficult for a bit.
Back to mom, actually not as crazy tomorrow as he says, but almost. We have our weekly math class on the north end, then we come back to W Seattle to kick off the new SW community center homeschool program which is going to be just awesome..especially the 3 blocks away part. But no marine biology yet, that starts in March, and soccer has been delayed, so "just" swimming tomorrow, then down the road to piano.
The final prep for the festival last week was a great history lesson. Conor was quite dedicated to completing his authentic Cherokee summer house-grace of the wood scraps and weeds in the yard. We also watched "An American Experience-We Shall Remain", which dedicated one episode to the Trail of Tears. And we emailed back and forth with Jerry's aunt who researched the family several years ago for a book. John S. Panther was mentioned on a volunteer enlisted in 1838 in North Carolina as part of the Indian removal. As we learned, many of the more northern Cherokees volunteered or agreed to assist, as did John Ross-the Cherokee leader-to help guide the people the safest way possible. Others probably to save some land, since it seems that John Panther stayed and was rumoured to be a Civil War scout.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Family tree
This week we are preparing for a Culture Festival our homeschool has put together. This is the second year our group has done this. We rent a big hall and have families put together projects about either their culture of origin or a particular favorite one. Last time there were various displays, crafts, foods, music, we had performances, it was wonderful. This year we are participating, Conor will tell you how.
Our display is going to be about the Cherokee tribe, because my great, great, great, great grandfather-John S Panther, was Cherokee. He lived in North Carolina and is believed to have stayed there after the removal of many Cherokee during the Trail of Tears. We have read many books about the Cherokee and watched a PBS series about the Cherokee Nation. Our display is a diorama about Cherokee life with a wooden summer house against the backdrop of the Great Smokey Mountains. I am very excited to learn about my ancestors and imagine what life was like for them.
Pictures to follow after the event this weekend!
Our display is going to be about the Cherokee tribe, because my great, great, great, great grandfather-John S Panther, was Cherokee. He lived in North Carolina and is believed to have stayed there after the removal of many Cherokee during the Trail of Tears. We have read many books about the Cherokee and watched a PBS series about the Cherokee Nation. Our display is a diorama about Cherokee life with a wooden summer house against the backdrop of the Great Smokey Mountains. I am very excited to learn about my ancestors and imagine what life was like for them.
Pictures to follow after the event this weekend!
Friday, February 4, 2011
The highlight of our last week was the trip to Breitenbush Hot Springs-a wonderful place to relax AND learn science. Breitenbush is entirely off the grid, being remote in the Santiam mountains and generates its own hydroelectric power and heats with geothermal. We were able to take a tour with one of the engineers. We started with the fish ladder where river water is diverted for drinking and for heating. The hot tubs, pools and sauna, clothing optional, are in site of the river and so wonderfully relaxing. Meals are also provided, wonderful vegetarian buffets that Conor pronounced "the best ever!" each time. We even had a sack lunch that we were able to request for our day of nordic skiing. Evenings we passed also in the cozy library reading quietly, or playing checkers, or reading in our sweet, little cabin. Sunday we drove another hour or so up the mountain to Hoodoo Butte for some lovely nordic skiing in the sun.
Conor is going to tell you about the tour:
Geothermal energy is heat produced by the earth. At the resort they drilled wells about 700 feet down and send the river water down to the bottom where it is heated up and used to provide heat everywhere. The river water also runs through turbines to provide hydroelectric power. The hot tubs are filled with the water from the earth that has to be cooled. It is filled with many different minerals and smells pretty stinky. I liked to think about whether it may also have gold in it also.
Before we left for Breitenbush we had our weekly math class. Homework was assigned and was actually done before we got on the road that night-once Conor gets into something he is committed to finishing. We also brought along a Brainquest workbook which inspired some wonderful writing exercises, including one about idioms. Conor filled the page with literal drawings of all the idioms he could fit on the page, it was a delight. This week was his 2 days with the sitter, which were wonderfully sunny and therefore mostly spent outdoors. Whitney, the sitter, inspired an interest in photography and gave him a camera and set him free It was fun to see what he had been doing while I was sleeping, and so fun to see his enthusiasm.
Conor is going to tell you about the tour:
Geothermal energy is heat produced by the earth. At the resort they drilled wells about 700 feet down and send the river water down to the bottom where it is heated up and used to provide heat everywhere. The river water also runs through turbines to provide hydroelectric power. The hot tubs are filled with the water from the earth that has to be cooled. It is filled with many different minerals and smells pretty stinky. I liked to think about whether it may also have gold in it also.
Before we left for Breitenbush we had our weekly math class. Homework was assigned and was actually done before we got on the road that night-once Conor gets into something he is committed to finishing. We also brought along a Brainquest workbook which inspired some wonderful writing exercises, including one about idioms. Conor filled the page with literal drawings of all the idioms he could fit on the page, it was a delight. This week was his 2 days with the sitter, which were wonderfully sunny and therefore mostly spent outdoors. Whitney, the sitter, inspired an interest in photography and gave him a camera and set him free It was fun to see what he had been doing while I was sleeping, and so fun to see his enthusiasm.
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