our week of um.... geology

I was browsing the Utah Education Curriculum website, checking out where I needed to focus Katherine and I came across something about rocks and dirt. I thought it was hi-lar-i-ous. Rocks? Dirt? Part of the state curriculum. hahahaha. Then I post it on facebook thinking it's all so funny and someone labels it for me: geology. FAIL. But moving past that... I created a bit of a unit for the week. Katherine was super excited - especially when she got to smash up rocks to make dirt. But what really caught me off guard was how stoked Joel was! I ended up making him his own little book too! Such a cutie.

I (as teacher) started by checking out several books from the local (tiny) library to give me some guidance and ideas. 

I had her start by going into the yard and finding a rock that would be her favorite. Then she drew a picture in her Rock Book.

One of our first activities was to go outside and collect various types of dirt. Honestly, I was nervous that we wouldn’t find the target amount of 4. But there were plenty to go around! (Look at teacher bein' teached!) We glued samples in the squares and discussed what makes dirt different. We smashed rocks into dirt. Katie was amazed to learn that rocks can make dirt. We (uh, I do me “we”) learned about “ORGANIC MATTER” and how that contributes to soil as well. Joel had a great time with the gluing and smashing.

check out those great samples!

We (well, this time I mean Katie) also dug a hole and put the dirt in one of Aaron’s sacred peanut butter jars (the man likes to drink out of them and that’s fine but he insists on having at least 2 AND THEY TAKE UP SO MUCH SPACE!) (still, I swear I would have used something else if I’d had a suitable container). Then we filled the other half with water and shook it up. Then swung it back and forth. Oh, I guess we put the cover on after adding the water - don't forget that part. Over the next several days we watched as the debris settled and layers formed. We talked about this and Katie drew a picture of her observations in her Rock Book (which she noted is just like what Sid the Science Kid [PBS] does!).

I also (kind of forced since she was a taaaaad tired that day and becomes leeeeess cooperative with tired) had Katie flip through a book with beautiful photos of rocks, gems, land forms. We discussed what she saw and I pointed out some of my favorite stones; including the ones on my engagement ring, just to drive it home a bit. I didn’t think she needed to read about all of those. I just wanted her to see how diverse and wonderful these creations are. I wanted her to get a feel for what is out there and how cool this world really is. Grumpy at the beginning but impressed by the end, I think it was a success.

toothpicks!

One of Katherine's little friends is learning about shapes in kindergarten. I have, sadly, been neglecting them. Not the basics. In fact, one of Katherine's first words was "gurcle" (aka "circle). She knows a star, oval, square, etc. but none of the fancier ones. So I did some brainstorming and broke out some toothpicks, plopped her near the counter (I was doing something in the kitchen at the time) and told her to make some shapes.

Before learning about octagons I had her "play". She began with some triangles and moved on to squares. But then I dropped one of my two planned big questions on her: what shape could you never make with toothpicks. Of course I received the standard, "I don't know." But then she thought for a minute. "Circle!" "That's right. Why?" "Because it is not bendy." Bendy - so cute. So we talked about how toothpicks are straight, but there are no straight lines in a circle. Go Katie! She played with them some more and then I dropped bomb number two.

After making a square, I asked her to make a rectangle. Now maybe no one else will be as surprised as I was that she looked at it for a moment, moved one side over and added two more picks to the top and bottom. But I really was surprised! I thought for certain that she would get stumped like so many of us do by, well, thinking inside the box. But she did it. Clever little girl.

teaching at home with play

Katie's little friend made the kindergarten cut off for this year (actually, allllll of her friends did) but she had to wait until NEXT year although my oldest would  greatly benefit from going to kindergarten this year and is ready for it. Anyhow, just in case we decide to have her skip a grade she is learning at home what her friends are covering in class, and then some. How? You may ask. Well, my friends tell me what their kids are doing and we do that here. Plus the state curriculum is on the web and I follow that. But a lot of the items to be covered my kid already has down pat because she PLAYS. If children don't play you will be shocked at what they will not learn. And if you let them play, you will be pleased to discover what they develop on their own.

As an example, one of the language arts objectives involves presenting information. I sure didn't have to plan a unit on that. Oh no, all I had to do was sit and smile as my 4-year-old prepared a "show" for me to enjoy. She can tell you a story too if you take the time to listen.

But play teaches more important things as well. She learns about interacting with peers (so hopefully she won't be any more socially backwards than her parents are) and taking turns and sharing and when to assert herself and when to go along with the crowd. All these invaluable life lessons that don't come with paper and crayons. Play. It's good stuff.

computer instruction

You may have noticed there are some fabulous educational websites out about these days for younger, older and ooooolder children alike. I say use them! Sure, it would be a poor idea to plop your 3-year-old in front of the computer and check on them after Guiding Light is over, but as a wisely used tool, computers are great. And necessary.

When I was on school we had computer lab once a week and we played some games that reinforced what we'd learned in class. Personally, I didn't find them too challenging but I LOVED the Oregon Trail game that came was a reward option after I'd answered enough questions correctly. I could never tell if an axle would break or we'd run out of food first so I never knew what to buy at the trading post! Not that it mattered, before I could make it to Oregon our computer time would be over and off to the traditional classroom we'd march.

But it isn't like that today, is it? Our children will grow up with computers and will be working on them their whole lives. That is the direction we are headed, it isn't evil, so why not embrace it?

Hey, if starfall.com can illustrate for my child how the letter "Y" can be used in so many ways, go for it! It helps the glazed look leave her face when we discuss it (again) after she watches their video. I say, more power to 'em and thank you.