BOOK REVIEW: The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of Elements

8/22/2017--"The Disappearing Spoon: And Other True Tales of Madness, Love, and the History of the World from the Periodic Table of the Elements" by Sam Kean

Haha!  Can you tell I'm a homeschooling mom?   This book was required summer reading for their chemistry class this upcoming year, so we just decided to read it together as a family!   We checked it out of the library on audiobook and listened to it on our drive to and from seeing the solar eclipse.   Fine literature it is not, but it was far more interesting than you might imagine and we all gained a new level of respect for the periodic table of elements.  Even having taken an honors' chemistry class in high school, I don't think I ever gained a true appreciation for the simple beauty in the way the periodic table is organized and what a breakthrough it was for Mendeleev to see the patterns and holes in it.   The author's humor and engaging style make this much more than a dry textbook describing the elements.   These real-life tales of the elements and the scientists that discovered and used them have made chemistry seem relevant and interesting.  I think it was the perfect book to read before embarking in their chemistry course and will add a depth and  meaning that I fear may have escaped them otherwise.

Super Electrified Tuesday

March 1: 

Today I voted and did my token effort to stem the craziness that seems to have overtaken our country.    It didn't work, but at least I did my small part. 

Luckily our science experiment was a little more successful and Adam and his friend figured out how to power a calculator with lemons.    

Ice, Ice, Baby…and a Frog!

We walked out of church yesterday, the first time we've had church in 3 weeks, and found our car completely encased in ice.   I rolled down the window in an effort to start getting rid of some of the ice and had to laugh when this happened….

Thankfully the roads weren't actually all that bad and we arrived home safe and sound.   The sidewalks and driveways, however, were another story and proved to be the most precipitous part of our trip.    School was cancelled yet again, and it was easy to see why when we woke to this sight in front of our house….

Even the snow was encased in a shimmery layer of ice...

Cami had fun demonstrating the slipperiness of conditions for all you dear readers.  

So we decided to hunker down and do what any crazy homeschooling family does on a snow day...

Dissect earthworms and frogs.   

The kids have been literally BEGGING me (especially Cami) to do it for weeks, and I finally relented today.  I was happy to have kids old enough to be independent about it, so I could just be the supervisor printing off diagrams and showing them videos about how to do it.  

They still have some more school work to get done, then we are all going to sit down and do a little "homework" getting ready for Spencer's Make-a-Wish trip that is only one week away!!!!!!

Any more guesses?   

We are so excited!   

Link to join our team

Mongolian Yurts and Playing with Dry Ice

What do playing with dry ice and building Mongolian yurts have in common?

They are both fun and educational activities we've done recently in our homeschool science and social studies co-op!

As part of their studies of Asia this month, they've learned all about what life is like in that part of the world, including getting a small glimpse at the homes of  modern-day Mongolian nomads.

They've also made their own lunar modules....

fed horses....

and made their own Great Wall of China out of foam bricks (Adam)....

and an edible one out of cake (Ellie).

I don't know what we'd do without this amazing group of other homeschooling families...

who not only help provide fun and memorable experiences for my kids...

and give them the opportunity to be taught by the other creative mothers...

who are passionate about what they teach,   

but I also love that it gives me the opportunity to relive my preschool teaching days (11-years in a row) and teach geography to the littlest cuties of the group.

Participating in this co-op group has brought a new depth and joy to our homeschool experience....

and I couldn't be more grateful to  be a part it all!

Starstruck on a Field Trip

 Need advice on herding cats (aka wandering 3rd grade boys)?   Or on helping an entire group of kids with varying amounts of cash to find a souvenir in an overpriced gift shop?  Or how to successfully nap while seated three to a seat on a school bus?  Call me.  I hate to brag, but I am somewhat of a field trip connoisseur  and could teach a college level course about all the sweet skills I have!  :)

Too bad I have yet to convince any colleges to add Field Trip Czar Skills as a major program. 

Sarcasm and chaperoning skills aside, I love that my kids go on field trips to places most people only read about in history books.  Places like Jamestown, Philadelphia, Yorktown, Gettysburg, Baltimore, Williamsburg, Richmond, etc.  They see them up close and personal and  I think it's awesome! 

On the dozens and dozens of field trips I've been on over the years though, it's clear that some are better than others.  Some are long and boring (like last year's 2 hour drive to a farm where we got to stay for 1/2 hour).  Some are cool.  Some rushed.  Some fun.  Some disorganized.  And some are downright awesome!   

Today I chaperoned a field trip for the first time in a few months and had to say that today's trip was of the awesome sort! 

See evidence....

They got to meet Bill Nye the Science Guy!  

He was rushing out of the convention center to an engagement at the White House, so the boys were among the last few kids who got to greet him before he greeted the president, but it was so cute to see them act a little starstruck in his presence.

Then later on,  I was showing the pictures to everyone at home and and guess who was jealous of his younger brother meeting Bill Nye the Science Guy? 

Spencer Nigh the Leukemia Guy!  That's who! 

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UPDATE:

• Tonight is our last night of the middle-of-the-night administering of his IV antibiotic!  I am very much looking forward to a couple of days without a 1:30am alarm going off! 

• Spence is still feeling pretty good and is looking forward to a fun weekend of birthday celebrations. 

• The birthday cards continue to pour in and he's getting very excited about opening them!  Thank you!!!!!

• Thank you to all who have either signed up or already donated blood in Spencer's name!  We are humbled and honored by your generosity. 

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"I do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness, and the willingness to remain vulnerable."

Anne Morrow Lindbergh (sent by Carol S.)

Confessions of a Guilty Conscience

Confession #1-- I wanted to forthrightly divulge that even if Emma had come up with a science fair project with the intent to maim innocent creatures of the earth in a microwave, that she would have been kaboshed within 2 seconds by the approval committee who seem to have an aversion to that sort of thing. 

Confession #2--The picture of the science fair board was hijacked from the Fail blog. 

Confession #3--The topic of Emma's science fair project was assigned to them by their teacher after they took too long to decide. 

Confession #4--Their exact same project is done by at least 43,209 students across America in any given year.  50 bucks if you can guess what it is.    Here's a hint...it has something to do with something in this post. 

Confession #5--My hypothesis was not disproved.

Confession #6--I don't have 50 cents in my wallet, yet alone 50 bucks.

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 Deanne wins with a perfect guess!

Before: 




30 seconds in a bottle:
 

After: 

Conclusion:  

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