Smart Play Home School Group

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 3, 2007

SCIENCE 2 - started the new unit on machines. learned about simple lever machines and using objects as levers (spoon, hammer). Scientists define "work" as having 2 parts - force and movement. So pushing on a wall is force but not work because nothing is moving. They really got this and how to use and describe a lever machine. The moving part is the lever or lever arm and the stationary part is the folcrum. They were disappointed that my simple machines were the only machines we were building, especially David. Sorry, guys! I think if Paul is willing, they should earn a chance to build a really cool machine.

HISTORY 2 - learned about the life of Jesus. I focused on how Jesus lived during the time of the Pax Romana and Tiberius Caesar was the emperor. Pontius Pilate worked for Caesar. I think it gave them a new perspective on Jesus' time and culture. We went over how the Jews bible is the Old Testament and the New Testament begins with Jesus' life and Christians use both parts. I think they understood this. We also learned about the crazy emperors Caligula and Nero. Caligula wanted his horse to become a senator and it had a marble stable and diamond necklace. Nero played the lyre and forced everyone to listen to him for hours. He didn't care about Rome at all and watched it burn while he played the lyre. He built himself an enormous palace where the fire had destroyed everything. It had a revolving room and paneled ceilings that could be moved to drop rose petals on his audience. The boys LOVED that - thought it was the funniest thing ever. He blamed the fire on the Christians but eventually the senate sentenced him to death. He killed himself - his last words were "the world is losing a great artist....." The boys got a real kick out of this story.

HOMEWORK - do a short (minimum of 1 paragraph, minimum of three sentences) report on the topic in their folders to present to class on Wed. Oct. 10. They can share more info. than they write if they want to.

THURSDAY, OCT. 4

SCIENCE K - began new unit on plants. talked about the plant parts - stem, leaves, fruit, roots. made a model of a sunflower. we planted sunflower seeds in my yard - lots of sunflower seeds! they did really well on the assessment and could name all the parts. the tree's stem is called the trunk but they didn't seem confused by this. it was a fun day.

SCIENCE 2 - learned about wheels and axles. talked about the 3 types of friction - sliding, rolling and liquid friction. experimented with ways to use rolling friction to make work easier - talked about how the Egyptians rolled heavy stone blocks on tree trunks to make it easier, and made a model of how Nero might have made his revolving room. They got into using the tinker toys for this. compared the distance a narrow axle moves with that of a wheel. I think they understand how the larger wheel uses requires less force and moves a farther distance. used marbles as ball bearings to make 2 paint cans stacked together turn easily, even added oil as a lubricant. it worked really well. they were still disappointed by my "machines." Mr. Paul needs to come to the rescue!

SEE YOU SAT. Rachelle