Summer school week 2

Technically this is week 3 but last week, with our camping trip, we only did school 2 days and those days were not 100%. But for a title I figured week 2 would do.

We are continuing with our explorer study using the Time Traveler lessons as our main guide. This is proving to be a great success, not just the lessons but the activities too. Our main activity this week was the Sea Log. We aged paper by crinkling it up several times, tearing the edges, and soaking it over night in tea. The next day we dried it and ironed it. While it was drying we worked on the cover, covering cardboard with material both the front and back side. I found a burlap type print piece of cloth that looks real good...gives it a more realistic look. After everything was dried I let Emma use my sewing machine....this was a big step for me....and she sewed a seam down the middle of the book. The sea journal (she calls it a Sea Log) is a story about a Captain (her) and her crew the journey they have going to rescue stuffed animals on Plush Island. Not only is she writing very neatly in script but she is making drawings for the story.

Another lesson we covered this week was navigational equipment. We made a lap page but also made an actual quadrant. Sadly the directions just tell us how to make and use the thing but do not give you information on the readings you make...what exactly do the numbers mean? Frustrating. However Emma was excited about it and included it in her Sea Log entry.

We finished Pedro's Journal this week and Emma said she enjoyed it. She is curious what the next book is going to be but i want to wait till we sit down to read it next week. SHE is the type to go get it and read it secretly before I am ready for it.

We have past the classification system for both sciences and Emma has moved onto Cells in Biology and Flight in Apologia's science. We made 2 different gliders to demonstrate the perfect design wings are. After much discussion I think she finally understands air pressure and lift and how it helps flight.

Emma told me today she is really enjoying 3rd grade. I am so glad.