Tombstone Art Work - for older kids

We decorated our front yard for Halloween and we realized that we had a "graveyard --->" sign without the graveyard! We decided to make our own tombstones out of foam!

Here is what we used!
Foam board <--local art supply store
Knife <--only for parents to handle
Black and silver paint
Sponge paint brush
Short metal stakes from<--similar to those used for tent staking. (we had these already)

First I cut the rectangular board down the middle and then used the knife to cut and round the corners out.

Then Monkey and I started painting the board with a sponge brush dipped in silver paint. We used a "dabbing" technique that made sure the board did not start to crumble and to create a realistic stone like appearance.

We left the "stones" to dry mostly, and then returned and painted in the lettering in black paint with a smaller brush.

We let them dry overnight and then I pushed the stakes in and pushed them carefully into the yard. Fun and it only cost us about $5 to create 2!!

The final pictures are coming soon!

Paper Mache Jack-O-Lanterns

It's been a while since I've done a project w/ my 10 yr old step son. I told him if he kept his grades up in school I wouldn't give him extra work at home. Good deal right? So this past weekend we decided on Paper Mache' Jack O Lanterns. Super Easy!

5 Cups water
1 Cup flour

*Bring to a boil for about 3 minutes, stir so the clumps are all out, let cool, put in mixing bowl

Balloons
Newspaper
Construction Paper
Orange and Black Paint or markers

* Blow up balloons and you can use a bowl to keep the balloon steady

* Tear newspaper into strips some long some short and do the same with construction paper
* Dip strips in paste and place on balloon till covered

Once covered w/ newspaper put on a layer of the construction paper, the more layers the harder it will be when dried

Let dry at least over night, once dried pop the balloon and paint it orange and draw a face ( I used a sponge)

Cut the top off and fill it with candy

and the finished project

Mine

JJ's

One day with our 3rd grade curriculum

Our 3rd Grade Curriculum

We do not really follow a timed schedule, rather we work on the activity/lesson until we are done.

9am - Morning calendar duties, include Monkey updating the day of the week and weather observation activity.

Language Arts with http://www.time4learning.com/

Activities 1-3 Characterization and understand what you are reading.

Math with Horizons 3rd grade student book 1

I sit side by side with Monkey and we worked on the number line, clock review, and place value review. We are on lesson 5 as of right now.

Monkey sits and finishes the activities/worksheets that are done alone. She loves to hear the radio while working on math problems. I have nooooo idea how she concentrates with Kids Bop playing, but she does and it works for her, so we do it.

Break- Today this happened around 11am, but that is not always the same.

We had about an hour break today, to have lunch and we watched some qubo.

Social Studies - http://www.time4learning.com/

Monkey finished up the section on the Eskimo Inuits and will start the geography sections on Monday. This is the time she works alone at the computer with her head set on. I take this time to sit and play with Bean. This is usually not too productive since Bean is not quite 2, so the attention span in minimal.


Break- Monkey is allowed to play online, watch videos, or play games online, once she has finished her Social Studies for about 20 minutes.


Science - R.E.A.L. Science for Kids Biology Level 1

We just finished animal classification and are moving into cellular makeup and diagrams.

Monkey and I work on this together, with Bean looking on too. Monkey reads the chapter on "Cells" and we begin working on the correlating experiment. The experiment focused on labeling the parts of a few different cell types.

Penmanship- Horizons 2nd grade Student Book

I felt that Monkey is still needing some practice, and is not yet in the 3rd grade student book.

Monkey works on a large section for practice out of her student book.

ART/EXTRAS - These consist of a variety of things such as dance, outdoor play, bike riding, swimming, arts and crafts, and music.

1 0r 2ish - we are usually winding down about this time, and Bean gets ready for his nap.

Our approach is very easy going, yet we have a simple structure that we follow. I write out all the assignments per day on the weekly calendar and Monkey knows what needs to be completed for the day to be "over." Some days we end later, some days we end earlier. We love this eclectic mix of online and text/workbook, curriculum. For info on types of curriculum and how to find on that is right for you and your child check out our curriculum page!

Dee