Science, Science and more Science

This morning was a difficult one due to pregnancy hormones. Somehow with Andy's help, I was able to pull myself together and start the day with a Chemistry lesson on Atoms and Molecules.

We used Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry Pre-Level 1, Chapter 2 by Dr. R. W. Keller. After reading the chapter, we built molecules out of marshmallows and toothpicks. We build Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon. We made sure that our Hydrogen molecule only hooked to one atom, Oxygen only hooked to two atoms, Nitrogen only hooked to three atoms and Carbon to four. Joseph decided to go crazy and build a peptide chain. How does he come up with this stuff?

At the end, when I asked Elsa to tell me what molecules are made of she responded, marshmallows!"

Later we went to the Rock and Mineral show where we saw glowing minerals, bismuth, orthoceras fossils, ammonites, geodes being opened, and the all important rock candy.

Joseph bought a giant shark tooth and a tiny goldstone frog resting on a fiber optic glass lily pad.

Elsa bought her brother and herself a stick of rock candy. She also won a bag of seven rocks, minerals and fossils including selenium, petrified wood, a dinosaur bone, a Navajo tear, citrine cristal, turritella shell.

We came home and jumped on the trampoline since the weather was so nice. While Elsa headed to the sandbox, Joseph and I blew through a Planet Earth workbook titled, Animals of the Water. Who knew a humpback whale could live to be 135 years old.

Elsa came over and worked on a Winnie the Pooh colors and shapes book. She is just like her dad, the epitome of efficiency. At one point she had to color a carrot orange and the top green. She grabbed two crayons and colored both parts simultaneously.

I love how much the kids play together. I'm not saying they never fight but I do think they love each other. Joseph makes up games that Elsa loves to play. He entices her with "specials". Three "specials adds up to a "super special". He reminds me of myself. I used to have a whole system of favors and deeds for my younger brothers and sisters. A certain amount of favors equaled a deed.

Elsa took a very long bath this evening after heading to the bathroom sink to do some science experiments just like her brother. Her experimentation consisted of getting a bunch of soap in her hair and her clothes all wet. She and Joseph played store in the tub. He made her a fizzy soup mixture complete with duck, fish and magic fizzy powder. When she was ready to come out of the tub, Joseph offered to carry her out to which she responded, "no thanks, I can carry myself."

Joseph just choreographed a dance for Elsa while acompaning her on the piano. "Echappe open, echappe close, saute, now spin around, now do your arms. Ready, set, take a bow." How did he learn those ballet terms? This boy's brain is amazing.