Apple orchard field trip

We visited Steele Apple Orchard in Cullman with our homeschool co-op group to celebrate Johnny Appleseed and apple season!! We were divided into 4 groups and were given a tour of the orchard and the general store.

Below, the kids were able to look inside a beehive that was full of beautiful, colored pictures of the hive and what goes on inside it. They were also able to learn all about bees, pollination, and the decline in bees over the last few years.

Looking at a picture of the inside of a hive
At their 2nd station, they learned about different kinds of apples that are grown at Steele Orchards, the seasons of an apple tree, and a little info. on Johnny Appleseed. Next, they were able to watch an apple peeler in action and then sample different types of apples.

At the 3rd station, they learned about the "grades" that apples get...A (awesome), B (bruised but good for cooking), C (critters get these). Below, they were able to grade some fresh apples that were just picked and pick a few to be cleaned.

Once they picked their apples, they got to put them through the apple washer.

They were so excited to see their apples come out fresh and clean.

There they are!!!

Their 4th station was face painting, or in my kids case, hand painting. We also got to tour the store and buy some yummy apples.

C, Z, M

They all got to pose with the "Bee Lady" and they recieved a goodie bag b/4 we left.

More space activites

My daughter is wearing a football helmet....pretending that it is another space helmet.
They completed a solar system floor puzzle.

Space study

The kids made astronaunt helmets from paper bags.

They had a lot of fun designing them and then pretending to blast off.

(She wasn't happy with her breathing tubes)

(September)

Our Little Tiger Cub

1st field trip

HUNTSVILLE SPACE AND ROCKET CENTER

AND STAR WARS EXHIBIT

Daddy took the kids on their 1st field b/c I had a meeting to go to. They LOVED the Star Wars exhibit the most....especially my son. Above is the girls playing with electric cars that they built
Darth Vador.....need I say more???
Some more favorite characters

Riding a mini rocket launcher.

Not Back to School Blog Hop: A Day in the Life

This week, Heart of the Matter is hosting "A Day in the Life" as part of their Not Back to School Blog Hop series. Since this is our 1st year to homeschool, I really don't know what a day in the life of a homeschooler should look like. We are in our 3rd week of school and are still trying to work out the kinks. Below is a sample of what our day looks like right now.

7:45-8:00 - I wake up and say goodbye to my honey & check email.

8:00-9:00 - kids wake up, eat breakfast, change clothes, complete any chores.
I make breakfast, shower, and also do some housecleaning

9:00-9:20 - Snuggle on the couch and read our Bible lesson, review memory verse & pray for
the day (Today, we actually did Bible and Language outside on the trampoline)

9:20-10:00 - I have all of our subjects that we must complete for the day on a pocket chart.
Each day, I assign a child for the day and that child gets to pick what subject we
will study 1st, 2nd, 3rd.... They love having some control over how their day goes. The only
subjects that we save for after lunch are history, science, and art (b/c they take the longest)

10:00-10:20ish - snack and stretch break (I throw laundry in the dryer or clean a potty or 2)

10:20-12:00 - Finish up rest of subjects on pocket chart.
Every day, they complete the following:
Bible
Math
Phonics and Individual Reading
Language and Spelling
Handwriting
P.E.
Every other day they complete the following:
Journal writing
History
Science
Art
Music
My husband does Spanish and Logic with them on the weekends.

12:00-1:00 - Lunch and they get to watch Sid the Science Kid and (cringe) Barney on PBS

1:00-2:15ish - Work on either science or history (depending on the day) and do art or music.
We also finish up any work that wasn't completed b/4 lunch

2:15ish-3:00 - I call back each child one at a time to my room to snuggle in bed & read to me.

3:00-5:00 - They can play inside or outside while I finish up housecleaning, get lessons ready for next day, or work on a project.

5:00-6:30 - Prepare and eat dinner

6:30-7:00 - Watch Wheel of Fortune together as a family

7:00-8:00 - kids play or hang out with dad

8:00-8:30ish- Kids clean up their rooms (or where ever their toys have landed), get ready for bed,
brush teeth, and say prayers.

8:30ish - lights out

After that, I spend some time with my hubby, watch TiVo shows, work on a project, or just chill out.

We have joined a co-op that will meet the 2nd Tuesday of every month from 12:30-2:30. We are all excited about attending that. The girls just signed up for soccer last week so I don't know how often they will practice/play. Clay signed up for Boy Scouts and will attend every Tuesday night. We have church and activities on Wednesday night and Sunday. We also have field trips scheduled by our support group every month.

Well, I think that is it. I'm sure our schedule will tweaked as we go along, but right now, it works for us. Thanks for stopping by!!!

Not Back to School Blog Hop: School Room

This weeks blog hop at Heart of the Matter is focusing on school rooms. Our school room is a spare bedroom, turned playroom, turned school room. Above, you are looking at the neat side of the room. On the left is our dry erase board, US wall map, bookshelf of readers, file cabinet, TV and DVD player for our Math U See lessons, and a 3 drawer bin that contains dress up stuff.
This side of the room contains our pink cube bookshelf. Each cube houses a subject and necessary materials. Next to it is a stack of boxes filled with books and games that I have no room for or need to purchase another bookshelf for. On top of the boxes is our daily work folders and my lessons plans. We have 2 new students on the floor!! Our tall bookshelf is home to board games, art supplies, puzzles, and big binders.
This is the scary side of the room........dress up clothes and shoes (not my son!!)

Thanks for visiting!!!