Harumph

If there were any questions about why we have no cicadas when apparently they're rampant in DC, Greensboro, and even as close as Pfafftown, it's because I designed an entire cicada homeschool unit. I even went so far as to buy a cicada cage for George so we could keep one a few days and observe it.

You're all very welcome,
Lucy

PS: Know why we had zero snow this past winter? Because I gave George a sled for Christmas.

My sweet girl

Salsa has tumors. We are devastated.

Today was spent spoiling her.

She has surgery tomorrow.

(dead) Yankee

Yesterday we discussed the use of symbols and the difference between comics and political cartoons. The youngest enjoyed this immensely; it appeals to his very smart, very wry sense of humor. He spent many hours drawing his own cartoons. The one above is a Civil War cartoon that paints the (dead) Yankee as the problematic rebel, which I suppose accurately reflects the Southern point of view of that era.

Hopefully soon he'll be able to explain the New Yorker illustrations to me.

Finding Our Marbles

Today in homeschool: circles, spheres,  and a Washington Post KidsPost article ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/marbles-is-a-hit-with-maryland-twins/2013/05/13/47d7fd1a-b47b-11e2-9a98-4be1688d7d84_story.html ) about a marbles tournament!

We talked about the history of marbles, including the clay marbles children played with in Old Salem, and dug a hole to the clay layer in our own backyard.

We shaped our own marbles out of Sculpey, baked them, then used a piece of chalk and a piece of yarn the length of the radius to draw the circumference of a regulation marbles court. Finally we played a game ourselves. (I'm not very good at it. Shocker.)

Worms! Worms! Worms!

We made a wormery today. George is fascinated by the phrase "black gold' for worm pooey. He has decided that the worm is as maligned as the squid, and he shall be its defender.

Legacy

Currently we're studying "legacy". George is contemplating what his own legacy should be while studying the legacies of others.

We did a unit on the Teddy Bear and talked about how ironic it is that Roosevelt is known for the one creature he spared rather than the multitudes he did not; those now serve as specimens in the Smithsonian.

Here's the bear George drew, measured, cut a pattern for, and sewed as part of that unit. Note the dandy bow!

Two out of two of us feel the same way

We both agree: Piedmont Opera did a FANTASTIC job with The Barber of Seville. It was glorious, and George was rapt from the very first notes. He's already looking forward to the next such outing, and since they announced last night that they'd tackle South Pacific next season, I know we'll go at least once.

Bravo, bravissimo!