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
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- 5 Reasons I Love Homeschooling My Kids (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Learning Science is Way More Fun as a Family
Hubby is one of the smartest guys I know, a real mine of scientific information. He blows me away with the random and detailed things he knows on a regular basis. He’ll talk about the great scientific conversations he’ll have with the kids when they’re teenagers. Teens? Really? I didn’t listen to my parents when I was a teen. Maybe I was just rotten, but I think that’s pretty normal. These conversations need to start young if he wants them to listen to him (possibly) when they’re older. I halted his train Friday. “Babe… you need to be having these conversations now! Bring it down to an elementary level and engage your kids. We’re a homeschooling family. You’ve got to start now!”
He did. Alex and Hubby had an awesome hour-long discussion about space Friday night. They were both exhilarated afterwards! Alex knocked my socks off by talking about nebulas and black holes without any guidance. That kid is a smart cookie and retains so much of what she learns! To continue the fun, we headed to MOSH Saturday morning. Hubby hadn’t yet seen their Matter and Motion exhibit and I thought he’d have a blast doing the experiments with the kids. I was right! The kids love having Hubby around and learning with him.
A big surprise was the impromptu lesson on dams and water flow Alex and Hubby had at the water table in the kids play area. He taught her so much, things I never would have thought of. It was so awesome watching them bond and learn. Learning about science is way more fun as a family!
The Giant Tree House in the Kids Area is So Cool!
Here comes trouble!
Hubby helps Bella down from the tree house
Learning science with Daddy!
All the kids had a blast exploring the exhibits. The museum was very empty, so Bella got to walk and I think she touched every single thing she passed at least twice. Thank goodness for hand sanitizer! 
She was soaking wet too, after having found the water table. She refused the water coat and kept pouring it all over herself, despite numerous scoldings. Oh well. She didn’t even seem phased that she was all wet. Next time I need to remember a change of toddler clothes!
Bella the Explorer
Bella wants to do experiments too!
So big!
We treated the kids to Sesame Street‘s One World, One Sky in the Planetarium. It was much more age-appropriate and engaging than the last show. The characters were old favorites and the songs were great. The basis of the show is that Elmo and Big Bird meet Hu Hu Zhu from China. Although they live far apart, they see the same stars and can look up at the night sky and remember each other. My kids loved the trip to the moon the most. All 4 of them were actively engaged. With our membership, it was only $10 for all of us. Totally worth it!
Waiting for the planetarium show!
Mommy and Bella
We stopped by Friendship Fountain to watch the music show synchronized to Christmas music. It was a gorgeous, sunny day. At 75 degrees, it didn’t feel much like Christmas but it was a heavenly morning to be outside. The kids love the fountain and the view of downtown Jacksonville no matter how many times we go. I do too.
Downtown Jacksonville
After 8 Years of Marriage, We Still Love Spending Time Together!
How'd my baby get so big?
Learning is so much fun when we do it as a family. I hope the kids have some phenomenal memories when they grow up. I don’t know too many kids who get to do and see as much as they do. I hope that our next duty station has as much to offer. I think I may finally have fallen in love with Jacksonville. It’s going to be hard to leave next year. At least the memories and friendships we’ve made will last a lifetime.
MOSH Homeschool Classes and Starry Winter Skies– First Planetarium Trip Ever!
MOSH is one of favorite educational facilities on the First Coast and we go there frequently. There is one place in the museum we’ve never gone, however: the planetarium. The thought of trying to keep 19-month-old Bella occupied for a 45 minute show makes me run in fear. She won’t even watch Sesame Street for more than three seconds. It’s always been a “one day” scenario. We headed out this morning for December’s MOSH Homeschool Class. “So, what are we learning about today?” I asked the front-desk clerk as I handed her my membership card. “It’s planetarium day!” she responded merrily. Planetarium day? Oh, crud. The kids were super excited for class. All 4 of them. Turning back would really upset their day. So… this was it. For good or bad, it was our first trip to the planetarium!
Waiting to Go In The Planetarium
The Big Kids Wait for the Show
Derek checks out the dome
We filed into the dark, domed room with some other homeschooling families and waited for the show to begin. The kids and I found a seat near the exit so that we could make a mad dash if necessary. Bella immediately climbed out of her stroller and began roaming the rows of seats. She refused to let me hold her, shrieking. Holy cow. I blocked her into our row with the stroller and occupied her with party beads. Derek was unusually quiet, scanning his surroundings warily. He turned to me with a whispery voice and eyes full of concern, “Mama, an astronaut is going to come in here. He is going to take the roof off and let in the sky, and I is gunna fly away into space! Then he’s gunna put the roof back on and I won’t be in it! We need to leave!” Poor guy. I assured him he could hold my hand if he got scared and that everthing would be fine. I’m not sure he believed me it was just a projector show.
The show began and Bella leaned back against me, “Ooooohhhhhh.” She remained mostly quiet through the show. The other kids were completely engaged. It really felt like we were outside! We learned all about constellations and the moon, planets and more. The show went by really quickly. Before we knew it, the lights were brighter and Bella was up again wrecking havoc. The kids talked excitedly about their planetarium visit for the rest of the day. We survived!
MOSH currently hosts a room full of fun, hands-on science experiments right next to the planetarium. We spent the next hour or so trying them all out. The kids had a fabulous morning full of learning and exploration!
Tiny Girl Befriends an Astronaut
My Little Scientist
Textile Exploration!
Bella Wanted to Learn Too!
Derek Tries An Experiment
We had an awesome morning out and were all really tired. We stopped by the gift shop to check out the must-have science experiments and ended up going home with an excavate-it-yourself-stegasaurus-head. Interesting times ahead! We also found two MOSH magnets to commemorate our time there. We recently started collecting magnets of places we visit. We go to MOSH so frequently I never thought to get one from there… but our time in Jacksonville is quickly winding down. Our MOSH magnets are proudly hanging on the fridge and the children are buzzing about their scientific discoveries of the day. We love learning together. It’s just so much darn fun. We can’t wait to go back!
We love MOSH!
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
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.
