I am so exciting for the kids to make this little worm house! (Cause I won't be touching ANY worms). I came across this excellent tutorial on how to create a worm house out of things you should have in your home and yard.

This will be our next 'sunny day' project (it is raing today- although it is likely a good day to find worms easily). From what I hear you will be amazed at how quickly and fast worms mulitply. The soil they live in (is called castings) is gold for your garden too! We just may have to make a few of these!

We have been enjoying these audio books over the breakfast table.

This author is so much fun. Even the narration makes it exciting!

I just know this is coming... In fact I have already had hints of these questions when we tell someone we’re homeschooling. “What about hanging out with friends their own age?" Homeschool Coop... lots of friends.
"You can't possibly know everything they will need to learn especially as they get older." That is why we buy curriculum. Homeschool coop covers lots of subject taught by various parents.

While skeptics are quick to point out all the things they think my kids will be missing, I can’t help but think of all the things they’re not missing! Like…

Moving on in a lesson before they’re ready, or lagging behind until the rest of the class gets it. At home, they move at their own perfect pace.

Getting stuck with a teacher that doesn’t like them. They are now guaranteed to be teacher’s pet!

Having to do PE when they have cramps. Their teacher now gives them the day off and some pampering to boot.

Bullies and mean girls. Mom is right there to hear and see everything.
Needing permission to use the bathroom. Freedom to go anytime!

Needing permission to get a drink of water. Drink up, kids!

Waking up early. Or sometimes, even getting dressed. Which means we’re also not missing an hour of hair, makeup, and a possible fashion crisis every morning.

Cafeteria food. Need I say more?

Peer pressure. Mom’s definitely not missing this one, either.

Exposure to media, lifestyles, advertising, celebrities, etc. that their parents don’t want them exposed to. That’s right, we’re sheltering them. And proud of it.

What aren’t your kids missing?

For some resources to help with higher education click here.

We recently discovered GOOGLE EARTH. It is a free downloadable program that can take you in 3D any where across the globe! My four year old boy has had so much fun flying like and airplane over mountains and speed boating across the ocean.

We have visited The Statue of Liberty, The Ancient Pyramids in Egypt, The Grand Canyon, Iceland, Russia, The Effle Tower, Niagara Falls, Big Ben and more. Without cracking a book he has learned about these places just my exploring with Google Earth!

I often let him use Google Earth during his sister's nap time.
There are other features we have to still play with like the Flight Simulator, Going to Mars, and others. As with most online stuff the options are endless.
The nice thing is we learn more and more with each option!

My children have been asking me to make a kite that they could fly. I would have loved to do this but just didn't think a homemade kite would fly.... until..... I saw this post at Mayamade. So we tried and and she is so right! It works! One of the nicest things about this particular kite is it is made with things we had on hand. This is a video of how to make it. The only thing they leave out is putting the string throught the hole.

We will be creating more of these as the weather permits!

NOTE~ This kite uses a plastic grocery bag as the 'string.' It says to cut the plastic bag in a 2 inch spiral. I didn't understand how to do this at first... until I started cutting. The first thing I did was cut off the handles, then cut in 2 inches and continue cutting horizontally to the top of the bag until you reach the bottom of the bag. I hope that helps. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Now, GO FLY A KITE!

After reading this article on how the public school system sets boys up to HATE reading. I just had to post this.
Public schools tend to choose books girls like and not the ones boys like. If you think about it 98% of younger grade teachers are female thus the tendency to pick what they like.

In a nutshell, they recommended this site called Books for Boys that shows books boy love!

As a Homeschooling mom, I choose to set my kids up for reading success!

Hymn: For the Beauty of the Earth
(Listen to it here)

1. For the beauty of the earth,
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

2. For the wonder of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale and tree and flower,
Sun and moon, and stars of light;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

4. For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child;
Friends on earth and friends above;
For all gentle thoughts and mild;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

5. For Thy Church that evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love;
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.

6. For Thyself, best gift divine,
To our race so freely given,
For that great, great love of Thine,
Peace on earth, and joy in heaven:
Lord of all, to Thee we raise
This our hymn of grateful praise.
Lyrics: Folliot Sandford Pierpoint
Music: Conrad Kocher

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the Beauty of the Earth
Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835–1917

Not much is known about Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, the author of this hymn. He was born in the town of Bath, England. The inspiration for this hymn text is said to have come to the young author as he was strolling about his native town one day in the late spring, entranced by the beautiful countryside with the winding Avon River in the distance.



I have been reading a fabulous book by Sharon Lovejoy called Sunflower Houses: A book for Children and Their Grown-Ups.


This book opens up a world of discovery for children in the garden. She gives great ideas of how to FULLY enjoy your garden and to make your children be a large part of planting, watering, observing, and enjoying it. Some of her ideas that I like (some I will try this year, others will have to wait for another year) are:
Sunflower Houses, Growing a Zucchini in a bottle, a sundial garden, butterfly garden, making dolls, hats, crowns, tea cups and scaucers .... all from specific flowers, a rainbow garden, floral clock garden (arranging flowers in pie shape and in order of flowers that open at various times of the day), worm boxes.... the list goes on.

Lovejoy has allowed me to allow my kids to explore the earth and she has allowed me to see the earth from a child's perspective. To dig and get dirty. To be creative with plants and flowers. To not be afraid to pick flowers. To treat gardens as a playgroud of sorts. To listen to the bugs and butterflies and to even taste SOME flowers that are safe for tasting.

She lists plants, flowers, fruits and vegitables that are ideal for children to grow. Ones that grow fast, some that are big, and ones that grow easily. I don't know about the kids but that is just what I need when it comes to gardening!

I am sure I will be posting some of these experiences as we enjoy the beauty of the earth!