Our Artificial Stomachs

Today we each got a stomach (plastic sandwich bag) put some acid and juices in them (water with green food coloring.) We then chewed up a saltine cracker (smashed it in our hands) and swallowed (jammed it down a funnel.) Sometimes we had to make sure we had enough saliva (water) to get the crackers down our throats (the dry crumbles of crackers would get stuck in the funnel.) We then used our hands to help our stomachs churn the bolus (chunks of food) into chyme (mashed up food and stomach juices.) Afterward they colored a paper stomach and glued it onto their paper bodies.

Isabel wanted to "throw up" in the sink, but I was not in the mood to be that much fun.

Luke and I did some Mad Libs together while Isabel practiced writing the letter "G." They then did their math worksheets and now Isabel and I are having reading time. We will watch the movie Planet Earth later this afternoon.

Esophagus, Bar Graphs and UG!

We are starting out our science project with the digestive system. From the load of books we got at the library we learned about the mouth and esophagus. We got one of dad's socks and a baseball to show the bolus (chewed up food) traveling down the esophagus. Luke and Isabel got a chance to squeeze the ball through the sock. They then colored a picture of an esophagus, cut it out and glued it to their paper bodies on the wall. Here is a fun Valentine's school activity that I also stole from my friend, Kollen.  I gave Luke and Isabel their own box of conversation hearts and had them chart how many of each color on a bar graph.

Luke and Isabel then did their Math worksheets.  Joey and I told them that when Luke finishes his math workbook then he and I can go to the sushi restaurant that we like and when Isabel finishes her workbook, then she and Joey will go to a breakfast restaurant that they like.  Still quit a few weeks away, but they are excited.

This afternoon we went to the park for a P.E. class with other home schooled kids.  I told Luke and Isabel all about it and they were excited to go, but when we got their neither one of them wanted to go and participate, so I threatened them with a "Then we will go home."  And they said, "okay."  I was so irritated.  You know those times when you think you are doing them a favor and that they will have fun....UG!

Low Expectations

Last night we finished our read a loud book, Three Tales of My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett, while making more Valentines. The three books in this series are, My Father's Dragon, Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland. This morning Luke and Isabel finished up some of their Valentine's. We then mailed off some cookies at the post office and made a stop at the library. Luke is very into mummies at the moment, so we got a ton of mummy books, books on digestion (for our science) some beginning reading books for Isabel and Choose Your Own Adventure books for Luke.

We had a picnic in the backyard today and read our "new" books outside. Luke and I then looked up a lot of info on the internet about the Iceman mummy Otzi, and a little about King Tutankhamun.

Knowing that we were going to run errands this morning I did NOT plan to do any school today. In the past when we had something else in the morning I would try afternoon school, it always ended up being a meltdown and disaster. Since my expectations were low, we did a GREAT job!

For my own sake and record, here are my recent favorite quotes from my children:

Luke: "I LOVE organizing!"

Isabel: "I know how the baby gets in the mommy's tummy! Heavenly Father puts it in there."

Sylvia: "You spank my BUTT!"

(okay, I am not a parent who believes in spanking, but I had just had it. Sylvia is constantly mean and sadistic to her older sister who is nothing but nice to her. I tried to make it a good lesson by apologizing to Sylvia afterward and then having her apologize to Isabel. I think Sylvia was more shocked than hurt.)