Nature Study: Nature Walk

After being sick half the week we finally made it out. We walked around a pond near our house. Total distance: about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile. Total time: about 90 minutes. But we had fun. We saw the following:

• A robin.
  
• Several schools of bullfish - under 1" long
• One adult bullfish, apparently protecting the school (that's what I've been told)
• Other schools of minnows - trout or sunfish.
• Sunfish of various sizes - one to four or five inches. A good example of the big fish [trying to] eat the smaller fish.
  
• Cat tale reeds. Clovers.
  
• Places where others had littered (we will bring a bag next time).
• A small turtle (Mom)
• Rocks
• Driftwood (David liked this)
• Andrew says he saw an alligator, which was probably driftwood. There was actually an escaped pet alligator found in the pond several years ago, so its not impossible. He was warning David that the alligator would bite him.
  
• Butterflies: black and yellow.
• Thistles (most of the taller ones had been sprayed)
• Grasshopper (Jonathan and David)

To do next time:

• Bring a bag for trash.
• Bring a small pack with a bird book and maybe a magnifying glass or binoculars.
• Bring the camera.
• Try bringing a sketchbook and some pencils or watercolors.
  

Nature Hour Challenge #3

We stayed in the back yard this time. My kids are young, so instead of drawing we did some leaf rubbings, which they seemed to enjoy. The eldest and I also found a feather for a "feather rubbing". It turned out well on the tip, but the ... stem? ... center was to thick further down. I need to make sure we do out nature hour earlier next week.

Why Do I Need a Math Curriculum

Really? I'm not bad at math - I don't fear it (I'm starting to fear phonics, but thats another post). I'm looking at MEP, and I was reading about Mammoth Math. I just don't think I need a curriculum to teach addition and subtraction. (Yes I was also reading livingmath.net - playing War by adding two cards is a great idea.) I'm not going to teach Algebra on my own, but on the other hand, my brother picked up math FAST when he started doing woodwork. He had a reason to use it.

My son likes filling out workbook pages, but I could get those fairly cheap (or free online), or even make my own. I already have some Kumon books for him - the telling time and I'll get him the counting money one later if I think he needs it.

I guess what's the point of math? Spiral vs. mastery, manipulatives vs. workbooks. If I think about the end goal I want him to take enough math to get into college (or a tradeschool / field / whatever). I also want him to be able to USE math in everyday life - to see its application. Perhaps not love math, but at least appreciate its value.

I want to have more fun I guess - he likes to learn, especially math, and I don't want to ruin that.