Testing? WHAT testing...

We're now back to our regularly scheduled learning experience....

 

Simply GORGEOUS weather outside for learning AND painting/sketching with new art materials!!!!

Testing? What testing.....already a memory! :)

Testing! Testing! 1-2-3

Sorry for the lack of posts -  we returned from Spring Break and entered state required standardized testing. What a week. It is a whole other beast, and I have thoughts on it now I've been through it:

A) as a first time 1st grade teacher.
B) as a parent watching their child try their best and limited in helping them.
C) seeing how much the tests are about TEST TAKING SKILLS than knowledge. (I knew this being a former high school teacher, but seeing it with the wee ones...wow!)

The one bonus was at the end of it feeling more confidence that we had a good year and I can do this.

Ok - crying baby....gotta run!

Do the Robot!

So, on Friday of Spring Break we went over to our friends house to join them in a robot building project using recycled materials. It was a lot of fun once the kids got into it. Lovely liked it after we got started (we, meaning me lol) and had fun designing it. The moms really did a lot of the creating with the kids building and designing, then running off to play, but coming back and adding something new. It was a busy project!

It was fun seeing what the kids picked, or envisioned.

Motley Crew

Design coming together - she still had not gotten as excited as she got later.

Now..she's getting into it!

Adding her touches.

She's into it now!

Almost done....just needs a face. She wanted  "googly eyes".

Finished product! Well, the robot could have had more done, but playtime called.

It looks like it wants to hug. A hugging robot!

Aww, hugs! lol

What a fun way to reuse items that could be put in the trash, and a great way to remind ourselves to recycle.  My friend always has the most creative ideas. Thanks S!

Spring Break!

We are on Spring Break this week, but that doesn't stop hands on learning fun!!! Lovely had a blast after we ate dinner outside looking for bugs, etc, and found snails!!

The girls excited about finding so many snails

Lovely's snail friend! So tiny....

We loved observing it!! Those little antennae...

Lots of studying...

Where they like to live.

She made a jar snail home using parts of the snails environment and then came inside to look up what type of snail it is and fun snail facts online!

We learned lots of neat facts (I never knew about the shell color!). He (She?) is very fun to watch - so graceful!! I think of all our critters we've observed, this is MY personal favorite.

Now, on to more Spring Break. Tomorrow we are making robots from recycled materials with our best friends next door. I can't wait to document that and post pics!

Next week we will be testing (as required by our state). We'll be taking the ITBS (reminds me of my childhood). I'm nervous, but hope she does well, and both of us can get a good picture of what she has learned this year, and what we can improve on!

New PERMANENT Natural History Exhibit!

We are SO excited!!! It is SUCH an amazing place and so much work has gone into it. It is permanent, but every few months aspects will change to keep it fresh - especially in the science labs. It is located in a huge area, and has an ocean area, forest area with "waterfall", river, tree houses, etc. It also has underground caves, sediment studies, and more. It also contains science labs, a learning clubhouse, and archeological dig site. It also has a wetland section. The river has movement triggered LCD screens reflecting on the ground so when you walk on it, fish dart away, the water ripples....amazing!  Check it out:

The river heading from the caves and "waterfall"

Lovely skipping rocks across the stream.

The fish moved, as did the water!!!

The kids loved playing in the stream and trying to catch the fish.

The "waterfall"

Valiant and Gift enjoying the swamp and marshlands.

The girls in the treetops!

Such detail!

Checking out the binoculars.

Forest meets the caves

inside the caves

shining the light on rock formations

The girls could pull out layers of sediment.

Science lab

using the microscope

Happy learner!

Using the lab

I loved this explanation of bird beaks!

Near the dig site

Learning club house

dig site

We are so blessed to have access to this great exhibit! How fun it will be to return and really focus on certain areas!

Latest Masterpiece

Here is what Lovely came home with today – they have been working on the horizon line – making their backgrounds more realistic. It’s painting/collage. I may be biased, but I think it is pretty awesome!

I love how her teacher lets them be creative while exploring the type of art. She welcomes their individuality, learns from them while guiding them. She's awesome! Lovely wanted to add some collage pieces to it, and she let her, and Lovely wanted purple mountains "unique leaves" (?) and she did. I appreciate this so much. The grass could be purple and I'd be thrilled because she's thrilled. 

Creatures of Myths and Legends

Our local natural history museum is hosting an exhibit on creatures of myths and legends. We went last weekend, and it was really awesome. We're actually going back today (for a sneak peak at a new permanent children's exhibit opening next week) so I may get better pics than the ones below if we revisit the mythical lair, but last week was so fun for the kids (and the adults)!!

It was a mixture of true creatures mistaken and turned into legend, and great legendary figures we all know and love. You can bet we came home and read some great myths!!

Learning about rocks at a learning station

Unicorns - a huge hit!

Narwhal horn (or...a unicorn horn??? lol)

Trusty Pegasus

Fantastic dragon!

Mermaids....or Manatees?

Bigfoot, or ancient prehistoric gorilla?

Chinese Dragon

More Dragon Lairs

The Griffin

The Kraken!

A true animal - the largest bird

VERY cool!! Can't wait to go an explore the new children's area today!!!! We are so blessed to live near such great places to learn and explore!