Stirring the pot!

I've just finished reading John Taylor Gatto's "Weapons of Mass Instruction". An absolutely frightening read. Frightening because of what it reveals as the true reason for compulsory schooling. Now, maybe he is just paranoid, I don't know, but here are a few other videos to watch that I found interesting. Send me a comment and let me know what you think. I am wondering if anyone is still out there?



Please note that the websites listed near the end of this video, aside from freedomofeducation.net do not necessarily coincide with my values and beliefs.

Easter

Just one of the many signs that spring
is finally here. I am chomping at the
bit to get outside and start sticking seeds in the ground. Unfortunately,
one of the other signs of spring has also arrived,
................my allergies.

In spite of my sniffling, wheezing, and sneezing we did manage to get out and perform our annual offerings to the bunnies. You see, if we offer carrots to the local bunnies, they put in a good word for us with the Easter Bunny.


Carrot offerings ready to be distributed.


































Yet another sign of spring that we discovered while on our walk. We tried to catch it, but it was too fast. I still have bad memories of the one I caught last year to show the boys and the stink it left behind.


Sorry, it's a little fuzzy it was moving so fast.

Congratulation's Jamie!

My little guy is now an orange belt. Way to go Jamie!

Happy Pi Day!

Today is pi day (3/14). A day to be totally irrational. We are celebrating with a pi pie that Jamie helped make.




We will be reading the following books:

1. Sir Cumference and The Dragon of Pi
2. Sir Cumference and The First Round Table


Check out some of these videos just for fun. We particularly like the mathematical pi song (3rd one down). Who knew that pi could make such beautiful music in the pi(ano) song (5th down)?


Search pi for your birthdate here.

And of course we will be measuring everything circular and playing with pi. By the way it is also Albert Einstein's Birthday. So Happy Birthday and Happy Pi Day!

Observing The Animals In Their Natural Habitat

Is this normal?





Did you notice the messy floor? Did you notice mom dishing up noodles with bare hands? Does Jamie seem a bit demented? Did you notice Robert rocking back and forth in his chair while eating? Does this just go on in my house, or does it happen in other people's houses? Just curious.

Our newest family member

During this last fall we spent some time in Victoria while Brian was on refit. Yes I have pictures, but it is so long ago now that I really don't feel like blogging about it. We picked up a package of these at the bug zoo. Being my usual go-getter homeschooling mom, it has taken till now to get everything set up and ready. We waited 3 days - the package says they will hatch within 18-30 hours. I was just about to flush everything down the toilet when we saw that two had hatched. I think a total of three hatched, but triops are cannibalistic and will eat their aquarium mates. This is the one left. He is about 8 days old in this video. It was pretty hard to focus on him. It is amazing how fast they grow. Every few days we pull out one of his shed skins and have a peek at it under the microscope.




Update: The triops died. I changed the water and it stirred up the sludge in the bottom and killed the poor little guy....but, we did get to check him out under the microscope.

Goodness me, it has been a while!

So very sorry, I just have not found the time to post lately. Too busy living life I guess! The latest we have been up to is a visit to the Vancouver Island University Fisheries and Aquaculture facilities with the Nanaimo Young Naturalists group. It was Robert who really wanted to go. He is crazy for fish, sharks and crabs. As it turned out, we all had a good time. The University grows rainbow trout, various tropical freshwater fish, sturgeon and some shellfish and sea stars. The star of the show was a 36yr old female white sturgeon. Unfortunately, she was difficult to photograph so here is a video so you can get an idea of her beauty.

This little cutie is only about 1yr old.