Summer Bucket List 2012

While you can't yet see the checks marking off the summer bucket list items, the kingdom's royals have been busily taking charge of their list and making good use of their summer! Many of our items have received checks, although there are still many more to go!

The kids are making unique choices as to what and when they want to do things, but fortunately, we're able to accommodate pretty much every request--or--at least redirect their interest so that it mirrors our own availability. For example, the kids had a trip to the Museum of Science on their summer bucket list, which we were gladly able to incorporate into SCIENCE week in homeschool. Their favorite parts were the aeronautical (rocket ship/planets), weather (complete with lightning show), and dinosaur exhibits.  Museum of Science: check!

Aramis on his way to the moon.....

"Hiking is exhausting" says one; then Abby says"I love to hike!" :)

Alec finds something 'beautiful' from the list

SCAVENGER HUNT/HIKE-combo: CHECK!!

 

Visit with the cousins in NY--CHECK!!!

Riding the Carousel in Syracuse with Mimi; Swimming in the pool with Lilly- fun, fun!!

Splash Pad- CHECK!! :)

Abby LOVES the splash pad!




Camping with Papa in a TENT...a HUGE treat! - CHECK!!!

The boys, PJs on, get their flashlights ready!!

 

In the morning, this is what we found...sleeping Papa and Alec...and Aramis was lost amid bean bags and blankets. Abby wanted NO part of the camping adventure-- so she and Mommy enjoyed a warm, cozy bed. :)



 Picnic with Papa (Take #1; Boston Courthouse/Boston): CHECK!

Firepit and S'mores: CHECK!!


The summer has gotten off to a FANTASTIC and busy start...and of course, there's 6 more weeks to come!

F is for Family and FUN!

Residing on a lovely plot overlooking Delta Lake is the home of our brother Erick, sister Beth and 4 beautiful girls. Their house is truly a palace by the lake and as often as we can, we escape to their super-sized digs to spend time with Auntie/Uncle and cousins. There is ALWAYS something new and exciting lurking at every visit--be it a new science experiment, new friends, or a new experience. The most recent trip was no different as this time around, the cousins taught the royal kidlets how to mini golf. Yes, it is true, we've not yet enjoyed this experience with our kids, so what an awesome treat courtesy of Grandma Mary!  They loved it!!

Aramis tries a new technique...

Abby watches lil' bro's form...

Alec gives his ball a nice tap and into the hole it went!

Aramis tees up for a swing...



Fortunately, Jenny Kate has PERFECT golf form, and showed her cousins how it should be done....

Aramis takes a turn in the *green ring*

After an exhausting round of mini golf, the family hit the pool for some swimming fun.  The cousins are so fond of Mimi, Lilly, Adia and Jenny Kate. Mimi, in fact, just received her Lifeguard certification (for pool, open water, AND scuba), and started working during our visit. Lookout NY, there's a Baywatch Babe in town! Congrats Meemers!!

Massive pool, hours of fun for all....and don't forget the pool house saying, "Pee Pee OK, Poo Poo, NO WAY!" :)

Lifeguard Mimi works with Princess Abs....so awesome!! XOXO

We end this post with the view of the lake from Uncle Erick and Auntie Beth's home. The stairs lead all the way down to the water below, but it is just breathtaking!

U is for Unschool....

Unschooling is a range of educational philosophies and practices centered on allowing children to learn through their natural life experiences, including play, game play, household responsibilities, work experience and social interaction rather than through more traditional school curriculum. While we certainly value school and all its fine attributes, we enjoy spending quality time with our kids during the summer months, reinforcing important lessons, reading, mathematics, sciences, and active learning across the board. Therefore, we home-school or unschool during the summer months.  It has become a way of life for us the last few years and our kids actually request it! Already this summer, we've spent a considerable amount of time on reading/comprehension/decoding/sight words, math, sequencing, patterning, 'stranger danger,' science (experiments), nutrition/health, currency and everyday self-care.  It really is as enjoyable to the parents as it is to the kids. Really. Seriously...true story. :)

The kids' favorite lesson thus far is currency/money. They love to 'play' with money, and most of all, they love playing 'store.'  We take everyday items from around the house, put price tags on them and the kids shop for hours. They make their grocery lists, shop, pay for their selections and then start again. Who knew??   

 The iPad has come in very handy as the kids work on decoding/reading and phonics. The multi-sensory, hands-on lessons really engage them and helps keep them on task for much longer than static flash cards or books. They are all coming along beautifully.

"Stranger Danger" has been a relevant, but challenging topic. We're realizing that we have to educate about boundaries without instilling absolute fear.  It's a hard line to walk--especially given how social, charismatic and outgoing all our children can be. Next stop: Tour/visit with our local police station/officers.

To help understand what a stranger is, we gave our children photos of people that they knew, versus those they did not and asked them to place them in two categories: Strangers v. People we know and trust. Seemed to work... ;)

Let's talk about parts of the body during Nutrition Week....

Even math/addition is fun...using MARSHMALLOWS! :)

On the 4th of July, we learned about the USA, American flag/history, independence, the president, and so much more. The kids sequenced the flag and made their own 4th of July party favors!

 Teaching science (concepts of electricity, liquid v. solid) have been incredibly fun this year. The kids have started to understand how science factors in to their everyday lives, and thanks to their Auntie Beth (a science maven) and her daughters (all NASA contest award winners), our kids have learned, and continue to learn, a lot about science.

Abby demonstrates static electricity

Aramis too shows off how static electricity works...

Abby demonstrates how the positively-charged atoms react to negatively charged ones...



Aramis makes Rice Krispies dance using static electricity...cool!



Conceptualizing liquid to solid, the kids make a Jello Aquarium. Watery substance = solid with Swedish fish floating in it. Hmmmmm......

And, one of the most fun exercises was the making of 'elephant toothpaste' leveraging acids (hydrogen peroxide). Safety glasses (i.e. sunglasses) were required. :)