Coolest week so far this year!

What a fantastic week! We hiked the Grand Canyon. Went down Bright Angel Trail and did the rim trail from Yavapai Point. We saw wildlife and learned so much about geology! AMAZING!

We also went to Las Vegas and saw the sights and also saw the Shark Exhibit at Mandalay Bay. Incredibly interesting and educational...so much sea life! We also got to pet a sting ray!

We rented a documentary on the building of the Hoover Dam, then went and took the DAM TOUR which is priceless info on the building. We got to walk into and through the dam and also learn about the electricity that the dam provides to a huge area. Amazing to see...

We went through the Petrified Forest and the Painted Deserts which are just stunning to observe and learn about the different geology and simply awesome sights. Also, we passed the Continental Divide and learned what that was!

















In New Mexico, we also took a Mining Tour and learned about uranium, what it is and how they mined for it. Then, you CAN'T pass Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX and lettin' the kiddo do his graffiti art on a set of cars in the dirt! ha ha!







Then we came home and after a presentation on the muscular system...and telling everyone how when hiking, it was a prime educational time to learn what lactic acid is and how it feels when your muscles are full of it! HA HA....We then learned about the heart and lungs...and then dissected a heart and lungs (and trachea) and Camo said this was the first dissection that actually kinda grossed him out. (ha!)

Absolutely such a fun filled week of learning! After this week, the next ones are going to seem a bit mundane for a while, but there's nothing better than learning out in the world and we both had an EXCELLENT time while doing that this week!!!!! And I hate that this is linking to the photos, but just ignore that. It won't let me fix it. DANG IT!

Another week in school...

We had another really fun week! This week in science, which seems to be his favorite, we were working on the skeletal system. More specifically, joints. He made a model of the 4 main types of joints and presented it to his class.


(First photos are him waiting patiently to present, then his presentation)

Then so began the fun of learning about ligaments and tendons. We start the muscles next. This week will be making a model of a muscle or writing a report on something related to muscles and making that presentation.

(The next two photos are him dissecting a chicken). Looking for bones, joints, tendons, etc, within that chicken. MUCH fun was had and he even kept dissecting for about half an hour after class was OVER! ha ha

We also finished "Call of the Wild" and all of the study questions. Good book. In the end he liked it.

Still pluggin' away at math...still not his favorite but we're working on it!

We also signed up at the YMCA and he took a fitness training course and he can't wait to start working out! HA HA

We'll update you next week...because this upcoming week holds some surprises and incredibly cool new lessons!!! Stay tuned... (ha!)

The Skeletal System

The skeletal system was never as fascinating when I was in school!

Let me back up, first. Today we presented our model of DNA. We had drawn a cell and all of its parts...so Camo chose to make a model of a DNA strand. Lots of work, lots of learning...and it was finally done. I'll remember this model for a LONG time since parts of it are still super glued to my breakfast table! (sigh...)


We took it to science "class" and he
presented all of the facts that he knew about DNA and it went GREAT!

Then, the good parts. Models were done, cells and DNA were done, presentations were done. No more nucleus talk, no more cell membrane, sugar, posphate...all that crap, done.

It was SKELETAL SYSTEM TIME!!! Which, to Camo, meant one thing. Dissecting and cutting things.

Yep. Bones. We got the kids all paired off and gave each pair a big ole cow leg to see the parts of the bone and to dig the marrow out and to find how blood got in and out of it. I've never seen kids so fascinated by a bone before in my LIFE!

Fantastic day...we ended it by joining the YMCA so we can workout and do even MORE! (yes, because we have so darned much time!) However; I did have to share some bone photos before we did too much to share! I told you that September was gonna be fun!

The Last Week of August

Photos:

Camo and me




Tadpole about to go under the scope.




Paramecium in microscope and on the computer







Skateboard presentation







Tackling in football




























We rounded out our first month of school with a really fun last week!

We're ending our "cell" unit and making a model of a cell which will be presented the beginning of Sept. in the science class. The science class is fantastic and also prompted us to buy a microscope! After looking at cheek cells under the scope, we bought one, and have looked at a tadpole, salt, baking soda, paramecium, pollen, leaves, flower petals, yogurt, EVERYTHING! Incredibly fun!

Camo also did a presentation on his favorite skill or hobby to a group of boys around his same age. He did a GREAT job and presented skateboarding tricks, along with photos of the ones he can do. The coolest part? He hooked up with these two kids (also in our homeschool group) that play bass and guitar and skateboard and rollerblade, etc...yep, he found two more guys just like him! HA!

He's got two football games under his belt now and both games have been won! Both games were older kids, but our guys prevailed and even have yet to be scored on! (GO DEFENSE!)

So, it's September 1st...and this month will hold more fun, more education and a field trip to two! So I'll check back, keep ya updated on our fun...

Peace!