WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18

HISTORY - learned about Asoka, a ruler in India who conquered many smaller city-states and was cruel and greedy, but who had a change of heart and became a Buddhist and brought peace to India. He had pillars built in towns with 4 lions facing the 4 directions and inscriptions of Asoka's thoughts for the people - be kind to people and animals, be peaceful. He allowed freedom of religion but encouraged people to be Buddhist.

Reviewed the continents. They asked a lot of questions about China and democracy. The conversation evolved and I told them about Tiannemen Square and how the people wanted democracy and to vote and the government sent the army in to stop the protests. The whole world saw that event and put pressure on China to change and today some change has happened and the people have a little more freedom but it's still not a free country. They were very concerned about people not being allowed to leave whenever they want to - so we talked about the right to travel that we have in the U.S. They were very happy to be Americans by the end of the discussion!

Reviewed the calendar. They had no idea what year it was :) We talked about how old they'd be in different years and how we'd write the date in, say, 2015. They got a kick out of it.

SCIENCE - ocean's are saltwater and lakes and rivers are freshwater. waves are created by wind on the surface of the water and currents are rivers or streams of water that flow beneath the surface. they were fascinated with currents and asked a lot of good questions. did an experiment with saltwater and freshwater to see and taste the difference.

they took both assessments on line.

MONDAY, APRIL 16

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RANAE!

HISTORY - learned about Buddhism and Siddhartha (the Buddha). They learned that Buddhists don't worship gods they just expect everyone to live good lives. I added some information about how Buddhists meditate and that it's a form of prayer. They were really interested to learn that there's a Buddhists temple in Goodyear and that I've actually seen the monks at Costco! They were intrigued with the idea of giving away your wordly possessions to the poor and traveling amoung the common people. We talked about how having too much and having too easy a life can make a person lazy or dissatisfied (bored) and how hard work makes you stronger. Just wanted you to know in case it comes up!

They answered the assessment questions online and got them all right.

We didn't do science, but they spent most of the day really involved in creating the Indian village. They used their history books as reference and I whittled some sticks into spears for hunting. They tried making tomahawks, too. So it was a productive day, despite the potty talk and silliness. I think it's spring fever....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11

HISTORY - learned more about Hinduism. read the story of how the god Vishnu came down to earth as Prince Rama with his wife Sita to defeat the evil Ravana. it's a story complete with monkey soldiers and magical flying soldiers, so the boys really got into it. they can't remember "Hinduism" at all, though, which is kind of funny. they can point to all the rivers in India, however. David said he wanted to finish coloring his picture at home because he was into whittling my big wooden colored pencils today instead.

SCIENCE - the biography of John Muir. they all wanted to get involved with saving the wilderness and they were very upset that people would waste the land and the animals. we had a long discussion about how best to protect national park lands. we reviewed the habitats they've learned, so we can put those booklets together whenever they are finished with all their coloring pages.

It was a really fun day. they were very involved in building a teepee and preparing the land in my backyard for a garden. they planted some grass seeds in a trail leading up to the teepee and I told them I'd get some soil so they can plant the bean seeds I have left in one of my big pots. we painted a big sheet to use on the teepee and they had a big mud pit going. it was fun watching them and working with them on those projects today. they are such creative, thoughtful little guys - I'm really glad they have the time to just explore and think and build. it made me feel really good to be able to give them that opportunity :)

see you tomorrow, when I'll be old.....

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4

HISTORY - more on ancient India. introduced Hinduism and ancient Indian culture. we might need to review some of the concepts (one god, but many forms of the god) and how this culture studied philosophy, math and astronomy.

SCIENCE - learned about the wetlands, marshes (freshwater wetlands) in particular. herons, frogs, dragonflies and racoons live in wetlands and cat-tails and lily pods are some of the plants. had a blast making a wetland out in the yard.

MONDAY, APRIL 2

HISTORY - introduced ancient India. they built citadel cities along the Indus River at the time that the people were populating the fertile crescent and ancient Egypt. these were complex societies with a written language, plumbing and advanced farming and culture, but they mysteriously disappeared. the boys were disappointed that there weren't any wars to discuss today :) the assessment is in their folders - i forgot to give it to them, so you can give it to them later.

SCIENCE - learned about the rainforest. we had a long discussion about protecting the rainforest by educating the people who are chopping it down. holden will be the educator and isaac and david will begin planting a new rainforest to make up for the lost one.

it was a good day, they asked good questions and only had a little craziness :)

FOR WED. - they will recite a poem from memory.