Ironman 2009

We recently went to Panama City Beach FL for my husband to compete in his 4th Ironman competition. We always have a nice time, rent a nice condo, see some local sights. This time was no different!

At one of the Official Ironman Dinners, a real Ironman and my husband.  Ooops, I mean, my husband and a real Ironman...nope, I did it again, I mean Ironman and Ironman! Elias was jealous he wasn't at this dinner.

The swim start is at 7am...it is so cold and so early and so PACKED. The announcer literally says, if you are not a great swimmer, stay towards the back or you will be swum over. It is so crazy!

Here comes Chris, after his 2.4 mile swim. he's already stripping off his wetsuit. He finished this portion in 1:34 minutes and ranked 2065.




Here we are, waiting for Daddy to come in off his bike. The boys were clanging Cow Bells and having a grand old time! Sebastian is learning his colors, so when I said, "Daddy's wearing White, Black & Red" he kept announcing each incoming riders colors. Incorrectly. Good thing I didn't rely on him! Everyone was "yellow, red, yellow, red"



Alright! Daddy made it off the Bike!  He finished his bike portion, 112 miles, in 5 hours 24 minutes. Doing real good! Here he is into the run.

Sadly, the first parts of Daddy's run weren't too good. Actually, I was rather alarmed as I watched his numbers come in online...it was very scary, wondering what was going on out there on the run course.

After his first few parts, Daddy made a strong come back and finished his run portion, 26.2 miles, in 5 hours 10 minutes

Here comes Chris, at the Finish Line! He finished in 12:24. While it wasn't his personal best, he didn't quit!

Christmas Party

Today we went to one of our local homeschool support group's Christmas Party. Each year Santa comes, so it is definitely a time to look forward to! I wasn't sure how Sebastian would react and fully anticipated being in another year's Santa picture.

When Santa came in the room, bells jingling, Sebastian got so excited! He followed him up to the stage, and I had to tell him he had to wait in line.

He waited nicely, and when it was his turn, he ran right up and got on Santa's lap!

Elias joined him and they all had a nice discussion! Every picture I got was smiling Sebastian!  And smiling Elias, but he's an old hat at it now!

Elias told Santa what he wanted and Sebastian told Santa, "Trick or Treat". If only we could know what they are thinking!

After Santa left, each child got to make their own Gingerbread House. It was lots of fun and apparently yummy too.

Elias' masterpiece

What a fun day! Thanks to all who put it together!

Tip: Awana Patches

Ha, one of my friends, who has years of Awana experience, told me her trick is to simply staple on the patches! Staple them on!! Yes, I'm copying, hope you do too!

Civil War On Sunday Part 2

Week 2 of Civil War

1. We talked about Drummer Boys

Johnny Clem-youngest drummer boy at 11

2. Made Civil War Drums


Elias, his ever-present 2 fingers, and his very non-civil war looking drum


3. Discussed field hospitals & women as nurses
Clara Barton, how the Red Cross formed....get a speaker or do a tour, or do a blood drive



4.Civil War Era Ginger Cakes



Kayley mixing the gingerbread dough


Ginger Crisps


Maddie eating them

What a yummy lesson this was...well, at least the Ginger Cakes part!


My previous posts on this subject are:

Forming a Co-op
Magic Tree House Index
Dinosaurs Part 1
Dinosaurs Part 2
Vikings
Ninjas
Pirates Part 1
Pirates Part 2
Knights Part 1
Knights Part 2
Ancient Rome & Pompeii Part 1
Ancient Rome & Pompeii Part 2
Ancient Greece & Olympics Part 1
Ancient Greece & Olympics Part 2
Day of the Dragon King; Ancient China
Ancient Egypt Part 1: Mummies
Ancient Egypt Part 2: Pyramids
Gorillas In The Morning
Tigers At Twilight
Polar Bears At Bedtime
Lions at Lunchtime
Afternoon on the Amazon
Thanksgiving on Thursday
Civil War on Sunday Part 1

Civil War On Sunday Part 1

This lesson was so busy that I didn't get to take any photos. (That's ok, after my grainy ones from the previous lesson you're probably glad!)

This book took us 2 weeks worth of activities to get through.



1. Gave some background on Slavery

2.  Lesson in Inequality:

Divide the students in the classroom arbitrarily by one of the following (shoe color, bus rider or pick up, etc.). Without giving any rationale, tell the first group that they will get candy. Don't respond to the other students cries of unfairness or questioning. Discuss the feelings of discriminating.
 The 5/6/7 crowd did not "get" this.

3. Discussed the Need for War

4. Advantages/Disadvantages during the war

5. Civil War Card Game...to show how the North had an advantage over the South


6. Death and The Civil War

7. Discuss the Underground Railroad

8. Read and learn about the Secret Signs of the Underground Railroad

9. Play a game to simulate running North as a slave

Game:1. Underground Railroad game.

1.Give one student a green star and have he/she place it in his/her palm. (This student represents a conductor on the Underground Railroad.)

2. Give two students yellow stars and have them place them in their palm. (These students represent the free Blacks who helped the slaves on the Underground Railroad.

3 Give three students red stars and have them place them in their palm. (These students represent the slave catchers.)

4. The rest of the students represent the slaves and do not receive any stars.

5. The objective of the game is for the slaves to get to the North (designated spot in the classroom) by trying to find out who the conductor is. If the slaves find the slave catchers, they are taken back to the South (the student’s seat). The free Blacks help the slave locate the conductors. (If a student finds a free Black, he/she can stay in the game and continue looking for the conductor.)

6 After the students have played the game, encourage the students to take part in a discussion. Use the following questions as prompts:


How did you determine who the conductor was?

How did you feel when you were caught by the slave catcher?

What would have helped you find the conductor?

My group did not read about the Secret Signs before hand and the game didn't really go too well.


Extras:
Simulate a slave auction

My previous posts on this subject are:

Forming a Co-op
Magic Tree House Index
Dinosaurs Part 1
Dinosaurs Part 2
Vikings
Ninjas
Pirates Part 1
Pirates Part 2
Knights Part 1
Knights Part 2
Ancient Rome & Pompeii Part 1
Ancient Rome & Pompeii Part 2
Ancient Greece & Olympics Part 1
Ancient Greece & Olympics Part 2
Day of the Dragon King; Ancient China
Ancient Egypt Part 1: Mummies
Ancient Egypt Part 2: Pyramids
Gorillas In The Morning
Tigers At Twilight
Polar Bears
Lions at Lunchtime
Afternoon on the Amazon
Thanksgiving on Thursday

Thanksgiving on Thursday

 We did a week on Thanksgiving, it was really neat.

1.Corn Pudding from Random House activities

2. Cranberry Sauce
Ok, this was in my plan, but guess what? Unless it's Christmas-time, you can't find cranberries! Note to self: by some and freeze for this activity next time!

3. Review who the Pilgrims were. Where were they leaving? Why? What would you take with you?
I taped off a 6x 6 square on the floor. I crammed the kids in there while I gave them all the above background information. We talked about how it would have been dark, and someone might be sick, and someone's baby might be crying, and you're all hungry, and all your belongings are in here with you too. Not much fun, huh?



4. Talk about being sloshed around.
Fill a one-liter plastic bottle about half full with mineral oil. Add a few drops of food coloring, and then fill the rest of the bottle with water. Add a small plastic object to represent the Mayflower. Screw the top on tightly and tape. Ask the students to make waves by shaking, rocking, and rolling the bottle.

5. Talk about the Mayflower Compact
We didnt really

6.Pilgrim hats
Boys
Girls
I suggest making a sample ahead of time. One of them took a little bit of brains to put together!



7. Make Butter

1. Fill baby food jars (or small prescription bottles) half full of whipping cream and screw the lids on tightly.
2. Show them how to shake the bottles in order to whip the cream.
3. After about five minutes the cream will be whipped, and after another couple of minutes, lumps of yellow butter will form. Continue shaking until most of the cream has formed into a ball.
4. Rinse off the liquid whey and add a little salt, if desired. Then spread the butter on crackers for tasting.

The key part here, is once it's made that ball, and has liquid around it, it's done! Don't keep shaking, it just redistributes it and it takes ...not like butter!



8. Read Sarah Morton's Day

9. Food, including 5 pieces of corn


10. Thanksgiving Cornucopia


Extras:
Turkey jokes-Let's celebrate Thanksgiving book
turkey color by number
Turkey Hokey Pokey
Turkey handprint

Additional Books to Read:
You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Mayflower
The Pilgrims of Plimoth
On the Mayflower
The First Thanksgiving





My previous posts on this subject are:

Forming a Co-op
Magic Tree House Index
Dinosaurs Part 1
Dinosaurs Part 2
Vikings
Ninjas
Pirates Part 1
Pirates Part 2
Knights Part 1
Knights Part 2
Ancient Rome & Pompeii Part 1
Ancient Rome & Pompeii Part 2
Ancient Greece & Olympics Part 1
Ancient Greece & Olympics Part 2
Day of the Dragon King; Ancient China
Ancient Egypt Part 1: Mummies
Ancient Egypt Part 2: Pyramids
Gorillas In The Morning
Tigers At Twilight
Polar Bears At Bedtime
Lions at Lunchtime
Afternoon on the Amazon

Lions at the MGM Grand

While we were at the Rainforest Cafe for our field trip, we got to pass the Lion Habitat at the MGM Grand.  Aren't they amazing!

He's tired

And laying on the glass tunnel that you can walk through!

Seriously, right on top of us!

The trainers are in there with him. Apparently the lions get switched out every few hours and every few days  (Do they have labor laws for animals now?!?!) So, they had to go bye-bye with the trainers.


It was an awesome addition to our field trip!