Recital Time!

Shannon participated in the end of year recital for her hip hop class. This is the second year she has taken hip hop and still loves it.

Waiting for her class to go on stage.

Spring Semester of SCOOP

Both Ian and Shannon chose to take two classes for the spring semester. Ian chose Physical Education/Health and Simple Machines. Shannon chose Introduction to Medicine and Simple Machines.

Ian's PE class always included a warm up with stretching and jogging, then the group activity (soccer, basketball, various forms of tag), and a cool down.

Shannon's Introduction to Medicine was composed of western and eastern medicine. She learned to how to help with heatstroke, bug bites/stings (making a paste with baking soda and water), cuts, make soap (to clean wounds with), make electrolyte drink and elderberry syrup (for colds), and use meditation and yoga for your health. At the end of the class Shannon brought home a homemade medicine kit that also included the recipes for everything she made and informational sheets about the body systems they discussed.

The Simple Machines class used K'Nex to build the machines. Each child got a book where they drew the simple machines to help them remember all the machines. The machines are: the screw, lever, inclined plane, wedge, pulley, and wheel and axel. Each week the kids built machines using the simple machines they learned about. Both Ian and Shannon brought home projects they worked on so they could complete them and show their teacher the following week.

Wheel and axel

Inclined plane

Shannon's cake hat that has spinning parts.

This made two different types of elevators.

Secret Agent Club!

Shhhhh, don't tell, but the kids went to the first event for a secret agent club. Shannon decoded the secret message so we could get the address and time for the meeting. The kids ran around Pohick Bay Park following the clues in order to get all the gear they would need for the following meetings. They found hats, mustaches, badges etc.

This club is going to meet up over the summer and very locations in our county. We are anxiously waiting news for the next secret agent club.

VDC Customer Appreciation Day

The family went to the appreciation day at Shannon's dance studio. Food, bounce house fun, and face painting were enjoyed. Shannon, Ian, and I all got some artwork done either on our faces or arms.

Chicks have Hatched

Some friends of ours hatched chicks this year. They borrowed an incubator and did all the work. We missed the egg candling where you put a light up to the eggs to see the chicks moving around inside. But we managed to go and visit the chicks once they hatched and were active. They were cute and fluffy and the kids loved holding them.

National Free Comics Day!

Lately the kids have been getting into reading comic books. I'm not surprised since they both adore the graphic novels we get from the library. This year we went to a local comics store and picked up the free comics that were available. Shannon has also gotten interested in the new Jem and the Hologram comics.

Bluebells!

Around the same time that people are flocking into DC to see the cherry blossoms, the bluebells are flowering in some of our local parks. We decided to forgo the crowds this year (we went to see some of the monuments last year when the cherry blossoms were starting to fade) and enjoy a walk in the woods with the bluebells. We found a special bluebell path at Bull Run Regional Park and enjoyed the flowers, the Bull Run and Cub Run rivers, and the trees.

The initial path was a raised wooden walkway.

We found a flower we hadn't seen before called the spring beauty.

The bluebells were everywhere!

Shannon saw that the bluebells look more purple before they bloom.

Gorgeous trees

Thanks to this informational plaque we learned that we were in a floodplain forest and it's where bluebells and spring beauties grow. I had no idea that part of the park floods. We all learned something.

National Museum of the American Indian

The entire family went to visit the National Museum of the American Indian today via the Metro. Riding on the Metro is always exciting, especially for Ian. The kids and I had never been to the American Indian Museum. I got the kids excited about our visit since we have been reading about Native Americans.

One corner of the museum had this beautiful waterfall.

The entire building is curvy and soothing to look at.

A few statues were outside.

This circular area is the first thing you can walk by. It shows boats from different Native American cultures/tribes.

The museum was beautiful inside and out.

A few horse statues were near the imagiNATIONS area. Shannon loves horses so a picture was required.

This statue was put in a little alcove. The location was peaceful and beautiful. If I had been by myself I would have been happy to sit there for quite some time.

A large part of the third level is made exclusively for children. It is called the imagiNATIONS Activity Center. The kids each got a passport and as they completed the activities they could stamp their passports.

Here's Ian balancing on a skateboard trying to get as many points as he can get.

Ah, resting in a kayak.

Ian and Shannon quickly learned they needed help to put the igloo together. 

All done!

Shannon is seeing how long she can balance. This station spoke of balance used with kayaks/canoes and riding horses.

Udvar Hazy with friends

Shannon and Ian had a blast at Udvar Hazy today. We went with another family that includes Shannon best friend. Everyone enjoyed looking at the planes, but the space shuttle and rockets were the biggest hit. Ian really enjoyed reading some of the signs that gave information about the rockets and planes.

Fun with rockets and all things space related.

Seeing the space shuttle was amazing.

Board Game Day at Chinn Library

We went to a new group's game day at a local library. Everyone brought games to share and the kids and moms played games. Ian had a good time but Shannon wasn't keen on being there. We stayed for a little while and Ian and I played one of the games we brought.

I am hoping we make friends in this group since it is more local than our usual activities. It would be nice to attend activities that are closer than 40 minutes from our house.

Winter Session of SCOOP

Ian decided he wanted to take some classes at the co-op Shannon had joined in the fall. The winter session goes from January 9th to March 13th. Shannon had originally chosen to take a Great Books class that was canceled due to low enrollment so she joined Ian in the Lego Challenge class. They both signed up for the first part of the Elementary Chemistry class.

In the Lego class everyone was given time to build for fun and then were given a challenge for them to attempt. One challenge was for them to build a boat that floats. All the boats were then tested. I'm happy to report that both Shannon and Ian had a blast.

The chemistry class was led by a mom who is a chemist and the materials were taken from the Real Science Odyssey Chemistry 1 curriculum. The kids had some homework every week involving some assigned reading, or watching a video, or a worksheet. In the class Shannon and Ian did one or two experiments per class.

Homeschool Rollerskating and Laser Tag!

The kids had a blast going skating at a local rink today. We met up with some good friends and met new friends while we were there. The rink has discounted prices for homeschoolers on Fridays. Usually we can't go since the kids are in their co-op at the same time, but we managed to make it during a break between co-op semesters. It had been a few years since the kids had skated so they took their time at first.

Obviously my phone can't take action shots. I swear this is Ian.

The rink also has a small laser tag area and both Shannon and Ian had a so much fun. It was their first time trying it out.

Multiplication

Both Shannon and Ian are beginning to learn multiplication. I keep introducing it and have had to let it go numerous times since the concept isn't making sense. I have tried many different ways. We will keep working on it.

Here is one of Ian's multiplication problems.

Shannon was working on similar problems but she didn't want me to take any pictures of her work. 

More Lego Challenges

Very important to note that today was pajama day at the co-op. Shannon and Ian decided to wear their winter boots the entire time as well. :)

The kids made fulcrums and then found out how far the balls fly in the air.

Writing the grocery list

Shannon actually felt like writing out the grocery list with help from Dad. Amazing since she doesn't typically choose to write (unless it's about Pokemon).

Homeschool Valentine's Party

This year both kids decided they didn't want to make their Valentine's cards so store-bought it is! About six families met in a library meeting room. Cards were exchanged, crafts materials were out, games were played, treats were eaten, and lots of hilarity ensued. Good times were had.

Ah, the joys of a marble run.

I snuck this photo of Shannon at the craft table since she wasn't in the mood for her picture to be taken.

Lego Challenge Pictures

I was able to get pictures of some of the Lego challenges that the kids made.

Shannon's building

Shannon's garage with her vehicle inside.

Everyone made vehicles and then they rolled them off a table to see whose would stay together. 

Ian's vehicle

Art with Math Manipulatives

While working on math today Shannon decided to use our math manipulatives to make a strawberry. She then required me to take a picture of it before we needed to put away the blocks and make way for another subject. :)

Beginning of a story

Shannon wrote the beginning of a story all by herself. She never finished it, but she did it herself. I'm impressed!

Lego Building at Home

Shannon and Ian worked together and built as tall a house as they could. They kept adding bits to the top. The garage is off to the side. It's interesting. :)