Monkeymama

Math Block

One of our recent blocks was a study of square and cubed numbers, perimeter and area and prime numbers.  We have also begun learning long multiplication and long division.  These pictures are from Teddy's main lesson book...

More Weights and Measures..

These are more photos of our measurement block.  Teddy has taken a 1 pound block of clay and systematically divided it into 16 ounce "coins."  This is actually how trading with coin money began.

Then Teddy and I made our own balance scale which was a lot harder than we though it would be.  We weighted all sorts of things around the house and even tested his new coins out.

Art Show

Recently Teddy's school had an art show.  He decided to design an oversized collage to enter.  He ended up winning "Best Design".  But the coolest part was that one of his teachers wanted to purchased his collage to hang in her house!  Teddy negotiated the price and sold his first piece of artwork for $10!

Math block :: measurement

Our latest work has been with weights.  I had a few kinds of scales (old and modern) around the house and Teddy has spent days comparing the weights of all sorts of things around the house.

Glass Blowing Demonstration

This demonstration was probably one of the coolest things we have seen in a while.  My aunt arranged for us to see it and we got front row seats!  The facility was great and even had classes for kids 10 years and older.  Teddy wants to go back when he is older and learn how to blow glass.

Very hot oven with melted sand (basically).

Testing....

Stretching the glass...we learned that this is the process used to make fiber optics.

Glass blowing demonstration...

This is how the item is shaped...

This was a finished inverted double glass bowl.  Now they have to grind the bottom and let it cure.

Demonstration of how unstable glass can be.  The samples of glass were cooled too quickly and therefore will explode...see below for the shattered pieces left on the table.

This is what the artists begin with...the glass before it is melted.

Teddy checks out the broken pieces from the sample.  He was totally taken with the entire process!

Digging in the Dirt

We have recently come upon a real-life opportunity to be part of a local archeological dig.  Teddy has spent several mornings and afternoons in the past 2 months learning about the entire process.  He has helped locate, dig up and catalog several key artifacts that have really helped in clarifying what happened in this location in the last 150 years.  It has been the coolest experience! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glass at the Museum

Tiffany lamp.... and windows!

Teddy and his cousin explore an instrument made of glass.  This one was similar to the glass armonica that Ben Franklin invented.

Beautiful glass scultpture....

And Teddy's first view of Mary Cassat's work!

These were all discoveres made recently at a fabulous museum we visited with family.  I was amazed at how interested the kids (at 9 and 10 years old) were in the glass.  Who knew such amazing things could be accomplished with melted sand?  Afterwards, we went to a fabulous glass blowing demonstration.  Pictures of that to come soon...

 

 

 

Other nature finds...

Ice Skating

 

Cousins...