MOSH Homeschool Classes: What’s the Matter, Anyway?
What’s the matter, anyway? We learned all about matter at last week’s MOSH homeschool class. We recently studied matter in science, so this was a perfect opportunity to reinforce the concepts we learned and to watch lots of awesome experiments!
Alex was eager to show off her knowledge!
I was surprised with how much Alex remembered from our lessons! She didn’t seem to grasp it when we studied it at home, but she sure knew the answers to all of the teacher’s questions. Her hand was raised practically the entire time. Alex is seriously the smartest 7-year-old I’ve ever known. I hope she continues to love science and learning this much as she grows up!
While learning all about the four states of matter (solid, liquid, gas, and plasma), we got to see all sorts of great experiments. They were so interesting that all four kids were completely enthralled! This is the best kind of learning. The kids learned a lot!
This class was our favorite of the MOSH Homeschool series, and also unfortunately the last. I’m really glad we participated in these classes! They were awesome and so educational. If we are still in Jacksonville this fall, we’ll most certainly take them again! I love to see the kids so excited about science.
Each of the kids learned a ton. Even Ethan, who has difficulty retaining new information, was able to tell me the states of matter and about his favorite experiment. Three-year-old Derek also knows the states of matter and how they change states! That’s pretty awesome. He loved the experiment where they turned the balloon into a ball of ice. We may try something similar at home. He loves learning and is so eager to try new things.
If you live on the First Coast and homeschool, MOSH’s homeschool classes are an amazing learning opportunity. I’m so glad we participated. It was definitely worth the time!
Related articles
- MOSH Homeschool Class: Happenin’ Habitats! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- 5 Reasons I Love Homeschooling My Kids (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Celebrating Spring and A Terrific Two-Year-Old at the Jacksonville Zoo
On Monday, we spent the morning at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to celebrate Bella’s second birthday. It was a chilly morning and the animals were very active. We got a couple of great shots and had a nice morning out!
Bella’s BFF Evie came with us and the girls had a great time together exploring and daring each other to touch or eat the grossest thing (in baby/ toddler language of course). We brought cupcakes to share (after washing hands!). The kids got a ton of exercise. This was one spring day we thoroughly enjoyed. I can’t think of a more pleasant way to spend it than outdoors!
Bella had a great birthday week and enjoyed all of the well-wishes and presents. I don’t think she knew exactly what was going on but she liked the attention. My sweet, sassy little lady is quite a handful! Her favorite part of the zoo (besides trying to eat gross things) was to run and make me chase her. When I tell her “No, stop!” she goes faster and farther. Ah, I “love” this stage. 
Awwww! If Cheetas read romance novels, this would be the cover. 
Alex and her BFF Sophia
Catch me, mom!
Mmmmm! Cupcakes!
Bella and her BFF Evie
How would I describe Bella at two? Silly. Sweet. Loving. She’s absolutely obsessed with baby dolls. Sometimes I call her the baby horder, because she’ll have one doll in her purse, one in a backpack, and one in her arms. She simply can’t get enough of her baby dolls. She loves feeding them, dressing them, and carrying them everywhere. At the park, she loves to put them down the slide and swing them in the baby swing. She also loves rubber duckies and playing with her neighbor and best friend Evie.
Bella loves doing school. She colors, does stickers, and adores reading books with mommy. She likes music a lot and dances and sings for us. She’s a very active, opinionated little monkey who refers to herself as “Tiny” or “Tiny Cookie.” I’m really not sure where that came from.
Alex, Age 7
LOVE!
An Interesting Bird
Friends
Best Friends Forever
We love our zoo, especially in the Spring. Sure, we’ve seen everything a million times now. However, it’s always great for a walk. This time of year everything is blooming. There are baby animals (I love babies!) and the weather isn’t yet too hot to be comfortable. There’s not much we’d rather do than walk the zoo. The kids get exercise, mental stimulation, and take naps afterwards. Hooray!
I hope Bella had a great second birthday. While I don’t know if she’ll remember it, we took lots of pictures to help her. I wonder if she dreams about the interesting things we do and things she sees. What would it be like to see inside the mind of a two-year-old? It may be interesting.
Bella's Pouty Face
Look at this, mommy!
Proud to be an American
Sigh- Our Last Jacksonville Zoo Homeschool Class!
Although we’ve been there at least 100 times, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is still one of our favorite places to go for a walk. Alex and Ethan had their very last homeschool class at the zoo this morning. Sigh. I wish the classes went longer! By the time classes start back up in September, we should be moving or already relocated to our new duty station. Although exciting, it also makes me pretty sad. We’ve been in Jacksonville for so long that I consider it my home. I’ll really miss all the things to do and the great friends we have here.
While the bigger kids learned all about animal tracks, snakes, and other interesting animal facts, the younger children and I walked the zoo with some friends. We all got plenty of exercise and lots of visiting time too!
Derek was a stinker at the zoo, refusing to talk and not listening to a thing I said. He was mad that Ethan was able to go to class and not him. They are the same size, after all. However… they are for ages 5 and up for a reason. Poor guy doesn’t understand that. He felt that his rights were violated. After all, Ethan shouldn’t be able to do anything he can’t do, right? Sibling love.
Bella loves running through the zoo with her dolly, exploring and seeing everything. She was so funny when we stopped to play near the squirrel monkeys. She didn’t notice them at first and climbed all over the ropes, then suddenly , “Ew! Ew! Ew!” She ran to the glass and pressed her face against it, pointing. “Mom, Eeeeew!!!” She was very concerned. “Am-im-ows!” she proclaimed. “Eeeeew!” (PS: That’s baby for “animals”).
I was debating whether or not to take the kids out today since I haven’t been feeling that great this week, but I’m glad I did. They had a blast as always. By the end, though, Derek was being even more rotten. He found his “missing” voice, but everything he said was contrary.
“Look, Derek, the rhinos are lying in the grass!” I told him.
“Seen it before,” he said, not bothering to look.
“Look, Derek, that bird is stretching his wings!” I said, “Do you see him sitting up there in that tree?”
“Seen it before,” he said.
“Derek, look at the zebra!”
“Seen it.”
“Derek, look at the elephant! He’s eating with his trunk!”
“Mom!” Derek sighed, “I have seen it all before. I not liking animals.”
Oh well. Maybe it is time for a change of scenery. We went to the front of the zoo and shared a pretzel snack, watching the crowds of people and talking about the things we had seen. Food is one thing that never ceases to interest Derek.
The big kids had a blast in class and got to meet some komodo dragons, snakes, a porcupine, and more. They both told me lots of things they learned about animal tracks and how snakes eat.
Now the bigger kids are resting quietly in their rooms. I am ready for a nap too. How come the little kids are still roaring along as if we didn’t spend our morning walking the zoo? Crazy children.
Up, Up, and Away! Pilot-in-Training Alexandria Flies Over Jacksonville
My Little Pilot!
If you were in Jacksonville today and happened to look up, you just may have seen our pilot-in-training Alexandria soaring high above you in the crisp, blue winter’s sky. Hubby got a Groupon deal for a flight over Jacksonville a while back and today was the time to redeem it. Alexandria learned all about the basics of flight and took her very first small-plane ride over the First Coast.
“I liked my flight because it was fun,” she says. “We saw Downtown Jacksonville. It looked pretty small from up high! We saw trees and houses, lakes, rivers, bridges, cars, and some big buildings.”
Me: “What did you think of the plane at first?”
Alex: “It was kind of scary because it was very fast and bumpy. My ears were popping lots! But at the end it wasn’t so scary!”
Me: “What was the best part?”
Alex: “The best part was seeing stuff from up high. I mostly liked it when we saw downtown Jacksonville. That was the best thing ever.”
Me: “What did you learn about flying planes?”
Alex: “I learned that they have to fly at certain speeds to take off. VR was 55 and VY was 74 knots. I also learned about the propeller and how it makes the plane go.”
Me: “Do you like flying planes?”
Alex: “Yes! It is so much fun.”
Me: “Do you want to be a pilot like Daddy?”
Alex: “A little bit. I wouldn’t want to be away from my family very much though.”
Me: “What if you had your own plane?”
Alex: “That would be funny, but where would I put it?”
- One of Alex’s pictures of Jacksonville
So, Alex wasn’t actually flying the plane today. Daddy flew. But Lil’ Miss did get to go on her first small-plane flight and learned so much about how a plane works. She’s roaring to go up again. Who knows. Maybe we really do have another pilot in the family. Hubby has her on the flight simulator now, teaching her more. He’s so passionate about it. His passion for flying is rubbing off on our adventurous daughter.
I’m pretty proud of my little learner. I think she’s getting a pretty well-rounded education, don’t you?
Art Class at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
One of our favorite places to hang out in Jacksonville is the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. We adore their Tuesday evening art class. We haven’t been for a while and decided that art class would be the perfect way to top off our day.
Alexandria was thrilled to be dropped off for art class and the other children were excited to explore the museum. There were three other homeschooled kids in her class. Crazy, huh? She had an awesome time giggling and gabbing with the girls. We headed out to the gardens to burn off some energy. I chased Bella around the gardens for almost 40 minutes. That kid is tireless! Between mad dashes after the toddler, I also enjoyed playing with the new camera.
Follow us on a little adventure through the Gardens…
Exploring the Garden
I was surprised how many flowers were blooming in the garden, considering it is January. It has been a very warm, spring-like winter here in Florida. I’m dying to plant flowers at home and have to keep reminding myself it’s winter. The gardens were lovely and refreshing and the kids really enjoyed exploring them. I let them search every nook and cranny. There were few people around and it was a glorious way to spend an evening! Which shot do you like best?
Alex had a great time at art class and talked my ears off all the way home. She made a landscape with tissue paper. She talked more than crafted in class and had to finish it at home. Here are some shots of art time!
Alex’s Art Class
Alex's final masterpiece. Why she taped a flower on it only she knows...
I hope the kids have fond memories of our time in Jacksonville when they grow up. I’m so happy for all the fun, cultural experiences we’ve been able to enjoy. If you’re ever in Jacksonville, you simply must check out the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. It’s a true gem.
On a Dark and Dreary Day, The Blue Angels Take The Boredom Away!
Another amazing airshow has come and gone. It was a cold and dreary weekend, but we saw plenty of jet action throughout our lovely base. On Friday, we went to Daddy’s squadron and saw the show up close and personal. On Saturday, we watched the show from our home and from a park in base housing. Today, we braved the blustery weather and walked out onto the pier in the Mulberry Grove Nature Trail and watched the Blue Angels perform over the St. Johns River. It was pretty amazing!
The Blue Angels Rip Through the Clouds
Derek liked the airshow from a distance
Alex freezes and watches for planes
It really wasn’t the best weather for an airshow, but thousands of people turned out for the event anyway. We’re proud of our Naval aviation heritage in Jacksonville! The weather was chilly today, misty, dark and cloudy, and very windy. We bundled up in our jackets and drove to the nature preserve, hit the trails and hiked out to the river. It was a great view, considering! I bet the view would have been spectacular on a clear, sunny day. When the jets were hidden in the clouds, the kids busied themselves by pointing out native flowers and birds and watching boats sail by. Ethan watched for alligators in the river. No, we’ve never seen any. It kept him busy though!
Daddy and Derek
Ethan keeps a look out for alligators in the river
Bella was much more interested in exploring the trails than in watching the jets for the fourth day in a row, and before long we found ourselves chasing pesky-pants all over the place. Little Miss Adventure Girl was on a mission!
Running!
The kids try to hold Bella... but she won't hold still for a minute
Despite the chill, we had a fun time exploring the swamp. A little bit of nature, outdoor time, and the Blue Angels do wonders to take away the boredom on a dark and dreary late-fall day.
Alex and Mommy
Bella and Mommy
This evening, we heard the thundering roar of jet engines once more. The Blue Angels were leaving NAS Jacksonville and heading home. Derek jumped up and ran to the window, “Good-bye, Blue Angels! Good-Bye! I miss you!” For a little boy who was so terrified of them just two days ago, he quickly came to love those beautiful jets. I do too. We are already looking forward to our next airshow.
Related articles
- We Love Jet Noise! NAS Jacksonville Blue Angels Airshow 2011 (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Local Spotlight: The Blue Angels (pensacolavacationguide.com)
On a Dark and Rainy Day, MOSH Takes the Dreariness Away!
Downtown Jacksonville
It was a dark and rainy day in the Sunshine State today, so we packed up the family and headed to the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) for some indoor fun. I recently scored a family membership on Groupon for MOSH and redeemed it today. This was Hubby’s first time at MOSH and the kids were super excited to show him around.
Daddy and the kids pick up items with a robotic hand Derek was quite good at controlling the robot
Derek loves the human body exhibit
The kids love the hands-on exhibits of the Human Body section. Hubby wanted to stop and read the displays, but they couldn’t stop talking excitedly about everything. In the Water Works display, everyone wanted to see how much of their body was made of water. In the Snake Exhibit, the kids loved naming the various amphibians. There were even some out to touch today!
Hubby and Alex meet a snake
Hubby and Bella check out some turtles-- she sure loves her daddy!
Bella really liked walking around and looking at the amphibians
Alex, our budding paleontologist, enjoyed visiting MOSH’s one permanent dinosaur fossil. I’d love to take her to visit a true dinosaur exhibit someday.
Our Big, Merry Family
The Ancient Underseas Exhibit ends this month and we enjoyed seeing it one last time. The fossils are pretty awesome! The kids love digging in the fossil pit.
- Hubby and Bella about to be eaten by a prehistoric shark
A giant prehistoric turtle
Alex digs for fossils
The boys dig for ancient history
Hubby really enjoyed the journey through Florida History. We finished off our visit with some history and a walk around the fountain in Friendship Park. We had a short break in the rain to admire Downtown Jacksonville, although we did get rained on during the walk to the car. Overall, the day was a blast. A little old rain didn’t get us down. Sure… our planned camping trip got rained out, but we’re not about to let the ruin our weekend. No one wants to spend a rainy weekend in a 26-ft camper with 4 kids. Thank goodness for some interesting local attractions!
Bella and I in the Florida History Exhibit
The kids look at the fountain in Friendship Park, overlooking Downtown Jacksonville
Water lilies, lionesses, and rat-eating rattlesnakes… Eeeek! Fall Fun at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
- Here’s an amazing water lily!
There are few places in Jacksonville that is more family friendly than the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Alexandria had homeschool classes at the Zoo yesterday morning, so the other kids and I spent the morning leisurely strolling through the gardens. If you live in Jacksonville and have small children, you have to have a membership to the zoo. We go there so frequently that it pays for itself in no time. We always see something new. We renewed ours yesterday for the last time. After 4 years, it was kind of bittersweet. When our membership expires next year, we will be settled in a new part of the country.
Our visit introduced the children to many firsts. Bella got to brush and pet the goats for the first time and loved it. She kept trying to ride them, though. She would waddle up to a resting goat, make kissy noises, pat it, then sit on it. They were pretty rotund goats and couldn’t move very fast. The boys loved brushing the goats too. I don’t think they remember the last time we did that… it has been a while. They are pretty stinky and I avoid them. I think we’ll go back, though, since Bella is getting so big and no longer eats everything on the ground.
We also witnessed snake feeding time. The rattle snake was fed a big rat and his companion was fed a mouse. The boys were amazed. I thought it was pretty gross. It was definitely a learning experience! The boys also talked me into taking them to the “Kid’s Shop” at the far end of the zoo and got “slap snakes,” snake bracelets you slap on your wrist. I remember them from my own childhood, although they weren’t nearly so fancy.
I had way too much fun with my camera, and here are some of the best pictures!
I swear we were bonding, mother to mother
Derek, Age 3
Bella loved petting the goats
Brotherly Love
I loved this picture from the Japanese Gardens
Bella loved all the flowers
Bella loves to be held... apparently even by panada statues
The "twins" loved the Koi
Life Looks More Beautiful Through The Eyes of Children– Still Life Portraits at the Cummer Museum
Today’s art class topic was still life portraits and Alex loved it! Her class explored the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and talked about famous examples of still life paintings, then headed back to the classroom to make their own. In the above picture, she’s holding her not-quite-yet-finished portrait. She wasn’t done after the hour-long class, so we brought it home to complete after the little kids went to bed.
Still-life art depicts inanimate subjects, like food, rocks, shells, drinking glasses, books, jewelry, coins, etc. It’s an ancient artform. Egyptian tombs were decorated with still life pictures. Ancient Greek vases depicted still life. Still life portraits and paintings were very popular throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance as well.
Alex works hard on her still life masterpiece
Apart from being a historical form of art, still-life art is a lot of fun. Life is always more beautiful through the eyes of children. Who knew that a bunch of flowers and fruit could be so beautiful? Plus, these lovely 6-year-old-created masterpieces are much dearer to my heart than any real flowers ever could be.
The finished portrait!
Mid-Autumn Evening in the Garden
Success! This evening, I got my darling husband to tag along and visit one of Jacksonville‘s fine museums for the first time in the nearly 4-years we’ve lived here. He’s usually too busy working while we gallivant around NE Florida. We were fortunate to have him around this evening and headed to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and enjoy the mild mid-Autumn weather.
Here are some spectacular garden shots from this evening’s excursions!
Related articles
- Stop and Smell the Roses at the Cummer Museum (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Jacksonville’s Gem: Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
NAS Jacksonville’s Forgotten History… A Stroll Back in Time to Mulberry Grove Plantation
Alex Explores Captain's Housing on Historic Mustin Rd
We celebrated fall this morning with a stroll along historic Mustin Road, bordering the St. John’s River. The kids and I headed to one of my favorite spots in the world, the riverside park in Patriot’s Point Housing. We used to live along this road before we were moved into new housing and I would bring the kids here often. It’s a farther walk now, but this place still draws me like a magnet. I don’t know what it is about it, but it makes me feel totally at peace. It’s so quiet, yet so alive. The land rumbles with forgotten history, stories hidden beneath a sheath of time just waiting to be uncovered.
The land where NAS Jacksonville sits was once know as Mulberry Grove Plantation. People lived, loved, and died here. Yet today, all that remains of the past is a plaque and perhaps a ghost or two.
Mulberry Grove Plantation dates back several hundred years. The land was granted to an Englishman named Timothy Hollingsworth by the Spanish crown in 1787. He named his plantation after the numerous mulberry trees in the area. The land passed between many owners over the next hundred years. In the decades following the Civil War, Mulberry Grove Plantation was known for its oranges, cattle, and wide array of fruit and vegetable crops. The main plantation house was spectacular, with a shaded avenue leading to the sparkling St. Johns River. In the late 1800s, supplies were brought to the plantation by steamboats. The plantation was a bustling hub of commerce and life. Today, the magnificant plantation is gone. Not a trace of it survived. Still, the beautiful shaded avenue lives on and makes one wonder about the people who lived here so long ago. Who stood where I stand today, and what was their life like? What was life like for the slaves who once worked this land?
John Reese was an African American whose parents were slaves born on Mulberry Grove Plantation. A kind master, A.M. Reed sold John’s father a 20-acre homestead even before the Civil War granted slaves freedom. Once the Civil War ended, the slave-driven plantation became farm with hired black workers. As a child, John worked hard on the plantation (farm) and his family’s homestead, cutting firewood for the stoves. Crops were grown and harvested year round and oranges were created and shipped on steamboats on the St. Johns River. The River was the city’s lifeblood, offering easy transportation and plentiful fishing. John likely fished the St. Johns River with a little bamboo pole, providing his family with some fresh fish for dinner. Born after the Civil War, children like John worked for wages and loved trips to Jacksonville to buy things like shoes and coats. The St. Johns River was his gateway to the world and Jacksonville was a glittering, busy city full of promise and intriguing shops and sights. It wasn’t a bad life!
The US government purchased a portion of the plantation in 1939 and NAS Jacksonville was born. On April 26, 1939, President Roosevelt signed a bill providing for $66,800,000 for a naval air station program. $15,000,000 was earmarked for NAS Jacksonville. The first contract was issued for clearing, dredging, and filling the plantation in October 1939. On January 16, 1940, the first aircraft assigned to NAS Jacksonville, the Grumman J2F-3, arrived at the airbase. Roosevelt himself visited the bustling young airbase on March 20, 1941. The base continued to grow and expand over the next few decades. Today, it’s one of the largest in the Navy. Approximately 23,000 military and civilian personnel work on the base.
I can’t find a resource stating when Mustin Road’s historic officer’s houses were first constructed, but they are quite old and very magnificent. Housing touts them as being “historic.” Regardless of their age, they are marvelous pieces of history themselves. Scores of influential military leaders have lived within their walls. The commander of the Navy Region South East lived here until recently. This place lives and breathes history.
If one wasn’t informed that a Plantation once thrived on this land, you’d never know the difference. The park is quiet and peaceful, shaded by towering oaks and serenaded by the gentle lapping of the river upon the shore. Apart from an aging sign, there isn’t anything left of Mulberry Grove Plantation or the people who worked and died here. A largely forgotten cemetery (Yukon Cemetary), in a heavily wooded area at Avent Drive and Roosevelt Boulevard between Ortega Hills and Yukon (off base), may have originated as burial grounds for slaves serving the Mulberry Grove plantation. It’s overgrown with brush and in very poor shape. Soon it too may be forgotten to the tides of time. Jacksonville’s citizens have tried to get the cemetary recognized as a historic landmark more than once, but the area is becoming more heavily developed with each passing year.
When they were granted their freedom, African Americans planted oak trees along the banks of the St. Johns River to celebrate their newfound rights. Today, Mustin Road is lined with towering oak trees. If you stay here a while, you might just hear whisperings of the past. And if not… it’s still a spectacularly beautiful, warm, and inviting place to be.
Dear Navy.... I'd really, really like to live in one of these houses someday
The St. John's River
Derek and Bella relax and bond
Alex and Derek in Captain's Housing
Beautiful Sunday Morning Sky Over the St. Johns River
An Ancient Oak Stands Guard Along the Street. Could It Have Been Planted By the Freedmen?
Alex, Age 6
For more information about Mulberry Grove Plantation, visit:
Florida Division of Historical Resources: Historic Markers: http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/markers/markers.cfm?ID=duval
Jacksonville history: http://www.jaxhistory.com/Jacksonville%20Story/Picture%20of%20Iceman%27s%20Helper.htm
Jacksonville Times Union: Times Have Surely Changed in Clay: http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012799/nec_c4Memoir.html
Jacksonville Times Union: Residents Look to History: http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/063001/ner_6551548.shtml
Naval Air Station Jacksonville History: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Jacksonville/AboutCNIC/GeneralInformation/index.htm
Tuesday Art Class at the Cummer Museum! Today’s Masterpiece: Hats
Alex's Amazing Masterpiece
Guess where we spent this rainy, stormy Tuesday evening? Why, at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens of course. Where else? Today was a big day because it was Ethan’s first time participating. He did great! No tears or anything. Alex and Ethan both had fun touring the museum and painting hats. Alex made a “Garden Hat” and Ethan made a cowboy hat.
While the big kids took their class, the little kids and I played in the children’s section of the museum. Bella was such a busy body today! She wouldn’t stay in one spot for more than a second at a time. Whew! She carried her dollies all over place. Bella sure loves her dollies! Derek had a great time too. He loves creating art.
Once again, the kids had a blast at the Cummer. They’re already anxiously awaiting our next class.
Alex checks out a Roman sculpture. She couldn't get enough of it for some reason.
Bella busily walked the museum as the big kids took their class
Bella and Derek do art together
Alex and Ethan had a blast in art class today!
Related articles
- Stop and Smell the Roses at the Cummer Museum (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Jacksonville’s Gem: Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Original Creations at the Cummer Museum – Art Class! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Stop and Smell the Roses at the Cummer Museum
If you’ve never experienced the gardens at the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens, then you haven’t really experienced Jacksonville. We’ve been there many times but it never fails to be awe-inspiring. I could live in those gardens and be a happy girl.
We had an awesome, busy homeschooling day today. Academic time, drama club, library time, art projects, and life skills (aka: chores!) kept us on our feet most of the day. The hubby was working late today, so the kids and I figured it would be great to hit up the Cummer Museum for an art class. Unfortunately, it turned out that art class was cancelled for an event. No worry. We spend a great evening in the gardens with our awesome neighbor and her baby Evie. The kids did art in the gardens and enjoyed exploring. I loved chatting with a great friend and hanging out in the gardens.
If you’ve never been, the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens in Riverside has an Italian Renaissance and a Traditional English garden. Sigh. It’s heavenly. Here are some new pictures of one of my favorite places in the world. All I need is a glass of tea, a good novel, and I would be in heaven. Seriously… I think this is what heaven looks like.
The Leaves are Falling (Somewhere…)
The Boys Show Off Their Leaves
Happy September 1st! Fall is in the air, hypothetically at least. Perhaps back in Washington. Jacksonville is still stifling, although the forecast predicts days in the low 90s and upper 80s rather than the 99 degree weather we’ve had most of the summer. That is something, right? I’m certainly in the mood for Fall, and this morning we began the month with a celebration of construction paper, yarn, glue, and cute Autumn poems.
While Alexandria studiously constructed a model of an animal cell out of construction paper, yarn, and cut-out organelles, the boys started their school day with paper leaves. First, they colored their leaves bright colors. Next, it was fine-motor-enhancing cutting time! I helped Derek, but Ethan did his all by himself. He struggles with fine motor skills and this was a bit frustrating, but he did it and was so proud of himself!
Next, the boys glued their leaves to a piece of construction paper so we could make a colorful border. I trimmed the edges for each of them and punched many holes along the edges. Lacing time! Derek loves to lace while Ethan finds it difficult. Practice makes perfect! There were a few moments of frustration and a small tantrum, but with lots of encouragement and re-directing he finished his leaf. Derek finished with lots of time to spare and asked to paint his creation. I obliged him. Daddy’s spot at the table is still a bit colorful, splotches of green and blue paint here and there.
After Ethan finished lacing his leaf (yeah!), we moved to the second part of the project (for Ethan only, Derek’s too little). I wrote a short poem on the chalkboard: “Leaves are falling on the ground, pretty colors all around.” Ethan’s a great little writer and enjoyed copying the poem on his own paper. We then glued both the poem and the leaf on a sheet of construction paper and, voilà! Happy little boy, great project, lots of fine-motor tuning, and a lesson about Fall too. We talked about leaves changing color, seasons, Fall activities, and even pumpkins while we did the project.
To tie the lesson together, we began Story Circle time with Autumn finger plays. So much fun! Here’s our favorites:
“Autumn
The green leaves are turning
To yellow, red, and brown.
And when the wind comes whistling by, (Children make a woo-oo-oo sound and swish arms)
They all come tumbling down! (Children tumble to floor, usually cracking up laughing)”
The boys had so much fun this morning, I don’t even think they realized how much they were learning. I love mornings like these!
Here’s a link for your own leaf templates: http://www.first-school.ws/theme/coloring-pages/patterns-templates.htm
Happy creating!
Derek loves gluing!
Ethan's Fall Project
Ethan is proud!
Derek works hard on his lacing
Skulls, Fur, and Creative Kid Scientists
Alex and Her Partner Hard at Work
No childhood is complete without dissecting owl pellets at least once. Do you remember doing this in elementary school? I sure do. I don’t particularly recall if it was in school or in girl scouts, but I remember being simultaneously grossed out and enthralled. When I told the kids that we would be performing this infamous experiment this week at Science Club, they were ecstatic. Alex was bouncing off the walls this morning with excitement, “I get to dissect fossilized pooooooooop!” I know it’s not technically fossilized waste products, but it does sound a bit more sanitary (and interesting?) that way. Plus, it’s the learning experience that counts, right?
This was our first Science Club meeting with Jacksonville Homeschool Kids and it was great. The turnout was huge and Alex quickly bonded with several other girls her age. I prepped Ethan lots this morning so that he knew what to expect and how to act. As you may know, he has a social disorder that makes interacting with others (especially in groups) extremely difficult for him. He didn’t actually talk to or interact with any other children today, but he didn’t throw any tantrums or spend the class crying either. Progress!
Alex paired up with another first-grade girl and Ethan paired up with Derek. I wasn’t actually expecting Ethan to take part, so I was very happy about this. They each got to put on plastic gloves and got a jar, a foil-wrapped owl pellet, and a toothpick to tear it apart. Alex and her partner got a worksheet to fill out with their observations. They began by writing about what they thought the purpose of the experiment was and what they expected to learn. One question asked, “What do you already know about owl pellets?” Alex’s answer? “It is owl poop” (PS: It’s not poop. It’s technically owl barf that’s been sanitized for science experiments).
We parents filled the jars with water, then our scientists plopped the unwrapped pellets in and swished them around carefully. We helped the children strain them and put the pellet on paper towels for dissection. Alex’s paper asked something like, “What was your reaction after the pellet was strained?” Her answer: “Eeeeew!” It did look pretty gross!
The kids carefully pulled apart the pellet with the toothpick to discover what the owl ate and recorded their findings. Alex found 3 mouse skulls, lots of bones, fur, and grass. Ethan and Derek’s pellet had bones, grass, and lots of mud. This led to some interesting conversations on digestion and how humans and owls eat much different things. I mean, can you imagine eating a mouse fur, bones, and all? Bleah.
The kids all had a blast and learned a lot, especially about sitting still, following instructions, and working cooperatively. I look forward to the day Bella is old enough to participate! Her current stage makes participating in things like this a bit difficult. We’re lucky to have such an awesome homeschool group here in Jacksonville and are thankful to the home educators who put this program together. Alex is already anxiously awaiting the next Science Club meeting. Who knows what we’ll learn next?
Ethan unwraps the pellet
Alex and her new friend
Derek swishes his jar to help soften the pellet before dissection
Alexandria the scientist
There was a great turnout for Science Club today!
Original Creations at the Cummer Museum—Art Class!
Alex shows off her "Animal Mask"
What better way is there to spend a Tuesday evening than to drop your six-year-old off at art class? I can think of so many benefits. Someone else’s table gets covered with glue, not mine. Her creative muscle gets exercised and I don’t have to think up an original art project. Plus, she gets to socialize with some new kids and have fun! Win, win!
We tried out the Cummer Museum of Art and Garden’s Drop-In Art Class today and it was a big hit. Alex loves art. I mean, she lives and breathes art and creation! She spends at least an hour every day making ”masterpieces” and on Tuesdays we typically schedule art into our curriculum. Alas for her, mom was really tired this afternoon and had her play in her room while the rest of us took a little snooze. To make up for it, we headed to the Cummer for their 5 pm class once everyone got up from their rests. It was totally worth it.
Alex’s class consisted of five other girls, a boy, and an enthusiastic art teacher. They toured the museum and learned all about the Cummer family, then headed to the classroom to make animal masks. Alex impressed everyone with her vast knowledge of dinosaurs and accompanying dinosaur sounds. Oh, I am so proud. She’ll love hearing about that when she’s a teenager. I should record her making dinosaur “wails” and play them for her future children. Anyway, the class lasted for an hour and only cost $5! We’ll definitely do it again soon. Perhaps even Ethan will try it, if he can take part without crying and causing a scene. We may need to work toward that lofty aspiration.
The other kids and I hung around Art Connections for the duration of the class. This was the first visit where Bella was able to walk and she loved her newfound freedom. She was a busy little explorer! I don’t think there was a square inch of that gallery her little hands didn’t touch. The boys enjoyed spending so much time playing as well. Everyone had a blast and got nice and sleepy. Once we got home there was just enough time for dinner and bed. Now that’s my kind of evening!
I love the time we have now to experience the great classes Jacksonville has to offer. When Alex went to public school we were all so exhausted by the time she got home. We ate dinner, did chores, accomplished homework assignments, and started all over again. Now that there’s no homework, we have so much more time. Things are so much more relaxed. Alex has time for all the classes and clubs she missed out on before, and mom and dad don’t go crazy! It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a little free time.
If anyone else is interested, Drop-In Art Class is every Tuesday at the Cummer from 5-6 pm. General admittance to the museum is free on Tuesdays after 4 pm. Check it out!
Alex's Masterpiece
Learning All Day Long
Discovery and Team Work
- Who’s That Adorable Baby?
The Boys Love The Touchable Art
Explosions, Manatees, and Pteranadons Too
Where’s one place where you can watch artificially created lightning bolts, dig for fossils under a sky full of Pteranodons, learn about all the functions of the human body, walk next to a blue whale, and spend an hour playing in a climb-able tree-house? MOSH, the Museum of Science and History in downtown Jacksonville, Fl, at 1025 Museum Circle, is one of our favorite places to hang out in Jacksonville. Whether you live here or are just passing through, MOSH is one of the best things this city has to offer.
We try to go on an educational field trip each Friday, which also happens to be “$5 Fridays” at MOSH. This is a great break for the wallet, considering that admissions usually run $10 per adult and $8 per child. That gets expensive quickly! $5, however, is more than worth the price. After a morning of piano practice, French, and phonics, we were ready to get out and have some fun with hands-on science!
We met our homeschool group at the front of the museum and learned that we were just in time for the Extreme Science Show in the JEA Science Theater. We thought we’d give it a chance and I’m sure glad we did! A scientist performed hands-on, interactive experiments in the center of the auditorium. Alex was one of the many children to volunteer and had a blast. They did experiments with static electricity, “Old Sparky” an electricity machine, balloons, sound, and much more. My kids were enthralled and paid attention the entire time (except for the baby… that’s a whole different story… shudder). The show lasted 30 minutes and left them pumped up with excitement. It ended with a big boom…. Literally (a sonic boom). Cover your ears!
The human-body exhibit—The Body Within– is always a winner. There are interactive exhibits for different bodily functions, such as noisy nerves that light up when you touch them, a digesting stomach that made Derek run in fear, and interesting pictures too. Alex loves this exhibit because you have to walk through a giant mouth to get into it. Ethan enjoyed the boxes where you stick your hand inside and guess what you’re feeling. Derek just peaked inside first, then felt it and proudly proclaimed his “guess.” We went through this area several times because there were so many things to see and buttons to push. My kids really like to push my buttons.
The Savage Ancient Seas: Dinosaurs of the Deep was just plain awesome. Although a little on the small side, it’s a dinosaur-lovers dream. Six-and-a-half-year-old Alexandria is my budding paleontologist and is crazy about fossils, so her eyes lit up when we walked in. There were Pteranodon hanging from the ceiling, a gigantic sea turtle fossil, and lots of creepy, sharp-toothed flesh-eating fish. Derek thought the monster shark jaw was scary but the marine reptiles were pretty cool. The hands-down winner was the dig pit in the center of the room, where the children used brushes to dig away the sand and discover fossils. It was busy with about a dozen “paleontologists” vying for space and brushes, but totally worth it. My children were “thrilled” to be pulled away after 30 minutes or so and walk through Currents of Time, a journey through Jacksonville history. They practically ran back into the dinosaur area as soon as we re-emerged.
The play area was busy today but we stopped by to climb the tree-house and play in the water exhibit before heading outside to Friendship Park. This park has been totally redone and is now absolutely awe-inspiring. There are three sets of fountains within a giant circular pond and they are synchronized to music. We walked around it twice, then found a nice bench and watched the show again. Wow! The view of downtown Jacksonville is amazing from Friendship Park and the water show is really great. Ethan says that was his favorite part of the entire trip.
Now the kids are nice and tired and sleeping soundly. Alex is busily coloring in her free MOSH coloring book and talking non-stop about the things she learned. The boys are excited to get up from naps and color theirs as well. What a great way to cap off a week of fun and learning adventures. I just wished I’d remembered to grab my camera! For $5 a person I think we’ll head back again sometime soon… with the camera.
Jacksonville’s Gem: Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
If you ever travel through Jacksonville, you absolutely must check out the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens at 829 Riverside Avenue. Located along the St. Johns River, the museum was built on the site of a historic Jacksonville mansion and houses a fantastic art collection, has two acres of spectacular, walk-able gardens (one Italian Renaissance garden, one traditional British garden), and boasts an amazing children’s art center. We’ve spent many mornings at the Cummer this summer and won’t tire of it any time soon.
Wednesdays are field trip days at our house, so after two hours of the basics (math and reading), we loaded everyone up in the trusty Sienna and headed out on the town. Our first stop was the library, a weekly favorite. This is the last week of the Jacksonville Public Library’s Summer Reading Program and the kids were excited to turn in their reading logs and get a prize. They each got a new book to keep and loaded up their library bags with new treasures to borrow as well. My kids are serious about their books and check out at least 30 new titles a week. Even Bella chooses her own books now!
Our next stop was the Cummer for some hands-on art before lunch. We made self-portraits and built sculptures. We painted amazing original paintings (and printed them!) and read books in the little lounge. We explored shapes, colors, and textures, and searched for our favorite pieces of art. Alex and Ethan made postcards with self-drawn pictures of Florida to send to Grandma and Grandma. All the kids rediscovered the wonders of mixing paints to create new colors and danced in the dark room where their colorful, moving images appeared on a projector screen in front of them. Bella showed more interest in the touchable art that she ever has before, walking slowly along the display and carefully examining and touching piece.
We only spent an hour there today, but came away with three self-portraits, two post cards, and 6 “original masterpieces” for the refrigerator! We also grabbed a flier about their weekly art classes and look forward to trying them out this fall. The kids are all sleeping peacefully now, their brains tired and their tummies full from a special Chick-fil-a lunch on the town. Hopefully they wake up nice and refreshed for some afternoon reading time and a few more at-home learning adventures.
