Jr. Lit group

Yesterday we had our junior literature group.   We discussed the book The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood.   First we had a quiz on Elizabethian English.

 We discussed the book's themes and story arcs.  

Afterwards, we learned that for the next book group time, we're going to practicing a play based on The Song of Roland.   Deborah is the evil Saracen lord Marseillon and Aaron will be Roland.   We're going to present this play to the dads in June.

Meteorites

It was a regular day in Monopolyville.

 Until a small meteorite struck!   Notice that there was a few houses buried in earth and one hotel was knocked off its foundation.   All was well....

 until the large meteorite hit, destroying everything in its path!

Debate

So far, we have really enjoyed debate.   We're now on the homestretch with only one more tournament to attend.  Below are pictures from the Parkside Tournament, the Midland Tournament, and the Hillsdale Tournament.

Nathan and his partner Kurtis quickly discussing something before Nathan goes up to speak.

Team picture with the coaches - Mr. and Mrs. Schubert!

 Relaxing after Parkside at the Steak 'n Shake.

Stephen giving his Impromptu speech in Midland.   He has two minutes for make a five minute speech on the phrase that he receives in the room.   At the Hillsdale tournament, he advanced to finals and was fourth!

 At Hillsdale, Nathan participated in Sweepstakes.   You have to participate in three speech events.   He did Impromptu Apologetics, Dramatic Interpretation, and Biographical Informative.   All the Sweeps participants get called on stage during the awards ceremony.  He did okay this time and hopes to do better next tournament.

 At Hillsdale, Deborah competed in the JV Biblical Interpretation.   She did the story of the hand on the wall and the lion's den from Daniel 5-6.   She did pretty well for her first time.   She didn't make it to finals but got a two 2nd rankings and a 3rd ranking for her three rounds.

 And when she wasn't competing, she played with the other younger siblings that were hanging around the tournament.

Surviving the Elements (in a field trip)

This fall we took a survival field trip at the Chippewa Nature Center.   First we learned about compass work and how quickly you can get off course if you don't have a compass.

 I don't know if it was the fire building or the shelter building that was the more fun.   I helped Deborah's team get their shelter built.   Good thing we had two tarps and some rope in our "backpack".

 We had to create a shelter that would keep us dry and would house all the members of the team.

 Our "door" to our shelter

 The finished shelter.   Notice how we piled up lots of leaves to help keep out the wind at the bottom.

 Looking in through the door.   And yes, our whole team, including me, could fit in there.

 Aaron's team made a huge shelter that could shelter all three teams (as long as the wind didn't come from the east!).

 The outside view of Aaron's shelter.

 Now on to building fires!   Aaron and his partner set up the sticks in preparation for lighting.

 Deb was teammates with the only other girl in the group.   

And the girls win!   They got their fire going by only using 2 matches.

All of the boys really enjoyed building fires.

 Then we tried to make a fire without matches.

 Note:   Always bring emergency matches.   Otherwise you will die of cold!   Not one of us could even get a puff of smoke going.

Debate Round Robins

Stephen and Nathan have joined our local homeschool debate club.   In December they participated in a debate round robin.   Each team got to debate two rounds, one negative and one affirmative.   For Stephen, this was the only debate he would be allowed to do since he is too young to compete and is auditing the course this year.    He seems to be a natural at debate and astounded my dh and myself with his passionate speaking style and presence at the podium.

Consulting with his partner before he gets up to speak.

 Stephen as first negative speaker.

 Stephen did very well and got the win for the team and best speaker in the round.

Nathan and his partner Kurtis preparing to defend their affirmative case.

 Nathan in his first affirmative rebuttal.

Nathan and Kurtis won their round as well.   As a former debator myself, I am thrilled to see them get this chance to speak and debate.   And it brought back all my memories of debating weekends in Kansas City.

Student Statesmanship Institute

This week Nathan and Stephen took part in Student Statesmanship Institute (SSI).   They played the parts of representatives. They researched bills (that had already been through the Michigan House), listened to testimony, and prepared speeches in favor or against bills.

In the evening of the second day, they all gathered together to give their speeches and vote on the bills.  

 Nathan defending the ban on stem cell research.

 Stephen passionately defending his bill for a Marriage Amendment.

 They both enjoyed their time and enjoyed seeing both of their "bills" pass.

Volcano time!

This year is Geology, Meterology, and Astronomy.   So for Geology, you always have to make a volcano with baking soda and vinegar.   So why just do it in a bottle when you can make one outside?

 Notice the sides of the mountain with the poor hotels and houses built by foolish people who should have known better than to build on the side of a volcano.

 A really big "explosion" of "lava".   That house is toast.

Book Group reports

Our Jr. Literature Group had a presentation night for all the dads. Aaron is portraying Linus from Hostage Lands. He told us the story of Rusticus, a Roman soldier who changed.

Deborah was Queen Tiy from The Golden Goblet. She told us how Ranifer saved her parents' tomb from being robbed.

Field trip to Hartwick Pines

While I'm updating my blog with May pictures, might as well put in these pictures from a field trip to Hartwick Pines.

Deb learned how to measure the board feet of a log.

Aaron and Stephen practice sleeping in a lumberman's bed (minus all the fleas and ticks).

We had two rangers talk to us about the different trees in the forest.

The Human Body

Deborah and Aaron are studying Biology this year. We started with plants and just finished the Human Body. On to animals next.

This will probably be the last time we make a full size picture of our bodies. Even now, I had to enlarge some parts so that they would look right with the children's outlines.

Dinosaurs!

We went with our local homeschool group to see an Argentinean dinosaur exhibit.

These are velociraptor bones. A lot smaller than Jurassic Park made them out to be!

This is the Gigantisaurus, possibly the biggest meat eater, bigger than a T. Rex.

They had a dinosaur digging site where the children can unearth bones. Deborah really enjoyed it and stayed in the box for a long time.