Surviving Sub-zero Temps.

 It sounds like this cold weather is going to last a while, so I thought I would look for a few fun ideas to keep the kids (and myself) occupied for the next week.  I thought I'd share!  Here are some links I found with some great (amid some not so great) ideas. 

http://innerchildfun.com/2011/08/10-rainy-day-activities-for-kids.html

http://spoonful.com/family-fun/rainy-day-activities

http://familyfitness.about.com/od/waystoplay/tp/rainy_day_activities.htm

http://poppyjuice-poppy.blogspot.com/2012/12/homemade-play-dough-easy-christmas-gift.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FeJZek+%28Poppyjuice+%28Tips+on+Stretching+Your+Household+Dollars+%26amp%3B+Other+Stuff%29%29

http://www.lilsugar.com/Rainy-Day-Activities-Kids-23437274


Here are a few ideas we've tried:

Learn some Native American sign language, and dress up

Let the kids decorate cupcakes

Have a puppet show

Have a tea party and invite some furry friends

Let the kids do something fun with the baby.  Here's a shopper ready for the mall.

She's pretty excited about shopping!

Let dad lay down on the couch and watch the romping begin.

 Have a wonderful time surviving the cold! :)

Logging Field Trip and Share and Tell

***UPDATE***
There are no changes for the Johnson Brothers Logging field trip. All will be as scheduled. Hope to see you there! :)

Our next field trip will be on April 13th at 10:30 A.M. We will be taking a look at a logging operation (Johnson Brothers Logging) and the equipment loggers use. It should be pretty exciting, and I've been told it might involve a ride in a skidder.

To get to the site, turn off the Gunflint Trail onto Trout Lake Road. Take the first right and you will see them.
The Johnson Brothers have asked that I confirm all of this with them a couple of days before April 13, to make sure no plans have changed and that they're still working at the same spot. Please keep this in mind and check the blog or your email for any changes.

I want to add a huge thank you to Joel and Renee for the work they did planning the share and tell day. It was a blast, and I hope it can be repeated a few times next school year.

The topics covered at the share and tell were:

diabetes monitoring and treating
chickens
riding a bicycle
sharks
millitary gear
sewing and cooking
drawing and art supplies
painting
one awesome Lone Ranger outfit
a sticker collection

Colonial Sugar on Snow

Colonial Sugar on Snow was an absolutely wonderful experience, very well worth the drive. I would definitely recommend keeping it in mind for next year. The list of learning opportunities was extensive:
-soap making
-dipping candles
-making chocolate
-making brooms
-a foot operated lathe
-carving
-throwing pots on a wheel
-colonial eyeglasses
-making flax into linen
-basket weaving
-butter making and the colonial kitchen
-colonial games
-trying on colonial clothing
-colonial domestic medicine
-fiber dying
-spinning wool
-spoon carving

I'm sure I've forgotten some things. It was a wonderful experience, and my children are still talking about the kids whom they met, and seeing them next year.


cross cut saw contest



throwing a pot



trying on dresses



spending time in "gaol"

Updated Info. for Sugar on Snow This Weekend

Here's a link to the official poster for Colonial Sugar on Snow, which will be held in Finland, not Beaver Bay.

Colonial Sugar on Snow

Colonial Sugar on Snow

Natasha and Renee have informed me of this wonderful opportunity to "explore" colonial history in a hands on way. This sounds like a great living history experience.

Colonial Sugar on Snow

Cost: Free - This event is free to the public, though donations are always welcome.
This event is a hands-on 1700's Colonial Trades weekend. We have 25 demonstrators--everything from blacksmith to colonial kitchen. Everything is hands-on and free to the public. The children make candles, work with colonial dyes, weave, spin, make soap and stir together a colonial pudding, Last year we had a colonial printer, miller with a hand-powered stone mill, wood worker, weaver, constable, town crier, tanner, apothecary and potter plus many more. Hours are Friday, noon to 6 pm and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm We also serve (for a fee) Sugar on Snow...maple syrup warmed to the candy stage, poured over snow where it turns to a taffy, served with a dill pickle, donut and hot apple cider in the New England tradition Hot soup and fresh baked bread and pie are also available.

Hours:
Friday, 2/24: 12PM - 6PM
Saturday, 2/25: 10AM - 4PM


Where: Beaver Bay Community Center

I hope to see some of you there, as we'll definitely be taking advantage of this wonderful opportunity.

Do You Have a Favorite Curriculum?

I'm finally posting! I'm adding a "curricula resources" tab with favorite curricula and stores. If you have a favorite to share with us all, please let me know (comment, email or phone) and I'll add it to the page.

I've been having lots of computer trouble here, so posting anything usually takes too long right now. I'm sorry I really haven't been keeping up on things lately. I'll try (but no guarantees) to do better. :)

Please keep in mind our next field trip!

Microscope Fun

Wow! Am I ever impressed! I never would have thought that I could get a microscope this solidly built and beautifully working for such a price. If anyone you know is interested in getting a microscope for their homeschool (or just because they're really fun), this one is great. I got this here.
I was actually able to put my camera up to the eyepiece of the microscope and take pictures of what we were seeing.



Here we have frog blood cells,



pollen,


and protozoa.

This has been so much fun for my family.