This was a week full of schoolwork and lots of outdoor time.
Lessons: Little Miss M: Math- GCF-Finding the greatest common factor. Grammar: Chapter Review. History: India- World Seizer, King of The World, & Conqueror of the World. The building of the Taj Mahal and the 3 mistakes that Aurangzeb made that led to the downfall of the Indian Empire. Science: ecosystems.
Mister B: Math: Multiplying decimals and dividing an multiplying using the metric system. Grammar: Chapter review. History: Evaluating resources, Early American Settlers. Next week he will be reading The Last of the Mohican's. Science: The Constellations. He is writing a report on The Big Dipper.
Tuesday afternoon they had Music Class. They are learning about rhythm and the different notes.
Wednesday: Philosophy. One of the topics was "What is asleep?" Is it the absence of all awareness? Are you asleep if you can hear or are aware of what is going on in the room? Do you have to be dreaming?
Friday: Homeschool Craft Fair. We went to Brookdale Park (http://www.essex-countynj.org/p/index.php?section=parks/sites/br) and had a great time. Little Miss was selling bracelets she made and Mister B was helping her. The kids all had a great time. There were kids selling rocks they painted, lemonade, origami cranes (proceeds to go to Japan), plenty of baked goods, and other assorted goodies. Plus there was lots of enjoyment on the playgrounds and general running around. One boy brought his rabbit with him and the kids loved that bunny.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Spring Break
With Passover being this week and the town schools being closed we have been taking the week off from school. However, yesterday they did go to discussion group. They talked about The Lorax, the genius of Dr. Suess, the message of the story, and a story put out by the logging industry called The Truax. It seems the logging industry thought this was a book about them. This led to a discussion of bias and how one must see who is sponsoring (funding) the story (propaganda). They also discussed why we never see the Once-ler, if the Lorax is supposed to resemble Teddy Roosevelt, and different kinds of protest (civil disobedience-chaining yourself to a tree vs. violence-spiking trees so loggers get injured or killed).
I also wanted to update the recipe I used for the Matzo Kugel. After talking to my mom I used her recipe because I like it better.
Individual Matzo Kugel (Puffs)
1 1/2 c Matzo Farfel
1 1/2 c boiling water
1 1/2 tsp shortening (I used butter)
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs well beaten
Combine farfel and water and let stand for 30 minutes.
Add rest of the ingredients and mix well.
Preheat oven to 400°
Spray muffin tins with non-stick spray (or grease them).
Fill cups half way.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from tin as soon as possible and cool on wire racks.
Makes 12 servings.
I also chopped up some onion and carrots and sauteed them lightly and added them to the mixture. I have also done this recipe with chopped broccoli, and really any vegetables I have had on hand it always comes out delicious.
I also wanted to update the recipe I used for the Matzo Kugel. After talking to my mom I used her recipe because I like it better.
Individual Matzo Kugel (Puffs)
1 1/2 c Matzo Farfel
1 1/2 c boiling water
1 1/2 tsp shortening (I used butter)
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs well beaten
Combine farfel and water and let stand for 30 minutes.
Add rest of the ingredients and mix well.
Preheat oven to 400°
Spray muffin tins with non-stick spray (or grease them).
Fill cups half way.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove from tin as soon as possible and cool on wire racks.
Makes 12 servings.
I also chopped up some onion and carrots and sauteed them lightly and added them to the mixture. I have also done this recipe with chopped broccoli, and really any vegetables I have had on hand it always comes out delicious.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Update
I realized today that I have been horribly neglectful of my blog. Sorry mom, I know you like the updates. Life has a way of interfering. The whole "man plans, G-d laughs" thing. Lots of running around with miscellaneous stuff. Passover starts on Monday and even though I am not hosting a Seder this year I am bringing food. For the first night I am bringing Farfel Puffs:
8 cups farfel (matzo meal or crumbled matzos)
8 eggs, beaten
6 Tbsp lower fat margarine
Salt & pepper to taste
Place farfel, margarine and seasonings in a large bowl. Pour hot water over all; mix and let cool.
Preheat oven to 375ºF. Lightly spray muffin or cupcake tins with nonstick vegetable spray. Add eggs to farfel mixture and blend well. Pour into prepared muffin tins and bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Yields approximately 24 rolls.
Per roll: 204 Cal; 4gm Fat; 36gm Carb; 80mg Cholesterol; 60mg Sodium; 1gm Fiber; 7gm Protein. Exchanges: 2-1/2 Starch; 1/2 Meat; 3/4 Fat.
I add sauteed onions and carrots to mine and I use butter. So yummy.
For the second night I am bringing the puffs, garlic rosemary mashed potatoes (http://theshiksa.com/2011/04/01/yukon-gold-mash-with-rosemary-and-garlic/), and chocolate chip meringue.
While I have been busy getting ready for the holiday Mister B and Little Miss M have been moving forward in their lessons. Fractions, percentages, Catherine the Great, animal habitats, and the constellations are a few of the things being studied.
At philosophy this past week they talked about dreams and thoughts and are dreams thoughts or something else. Things to ponder.
FARFEL PUFFS
A delicious, easy Passover dinner roll created by Idele Deutsch. Recipe from California Kosher, ©1991 by the Women's League of Adat Ari El, North Hollywood, CA
3 cups hot waterA delicious, easy Passover dinner roll created by Idele Deutsch. Recipe from California Kosher, ©1991 by the Women's League of Adat Ari El, North Hollywood, CA
8 cups farfel (matzo meal or crumbled matzos)
8 eggs, beaten
6 Tbsp lower fat margarine
Salt & pepper to taste
Place farfel, margarine and seasonings in a large bowl. Pour hot water over all; mix and let cool.
Preheat oven to 375ºF. Lightly spray muffin or cupcake tins with nonstick vegetable spray. Add eggs to farfel mixture and blend well. Pour into prepared muffin tins and bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Yields approximately 24 rolls.
Per roll: 204 Cal; 4gm Fat; 36gm Carb; 80mg Cholesterol; 60mg Sodium; 1gm Fiber; 7gm Protein. Exchanges: 2-1/2 Starch; 1/2 Meat; 3/4 Fat.
I add sauteed onions and carrots to mine and I use butter. So yummy.
For the second night I am bringing the puffs, garlic rosemary mashed potatoes (http://theshiksa.com/2011/04/01/yukon-gold-mash-with-rosemary-and-garlic/), and chocolate chip meringue.
While I have been busy getting ready for the holiday Mister B and Little Miss M have been moving forward in their lessons. Fractions, percentages, Catherine the Great, animal habitats, and the constellations are a few of the things being studied.
At philosophy this past week they talked about dreams and thoughts and are dreams thoughts or something else. Things to ponder.
Friday, April 8, 2011
The Weekend
It has been the usual week around here. Nothing much new lesson wise. The kids keep moving forward. On Wednesday they had discussion group. We revisited the choose 3 items that represent you and why activity. We wanted to see what they would come up with now.
Little Miss chose 1. Her blankie-because it is soft and cuddly like her. 2. One of her stuffed animals because she cares about animals and wants to work in a shelter when she gets older. 3. A flower because she likes them and she attracts bees like a flower.
Mister B chose 1. His swim team shirt because he is a swimmer. 2. A game controller because he loves his video games. 3. A graphic novel (glorified comic book) because he loves to read.
What we, the parents, got out of it was that the kids have achieved a great level of comfort with each other. This is great. They are not afraid to let their freak flag fly. The other discovery-it is time to step up the work load. They are a little too comfortable and they were all able to whip up this assignment rather quickly. I know all my planning for discussion group went out the window during the last few months. It turns out, my friends were all riding that train with me. So we figured out the rest of this year and will pick a date over the summer to plan out next year. There will be higher expectations. High school is almost here and it is time to go to the next level.
Needless to say, I am ready for the weekend.
Little Miss chose 1. Her blankie-because it is soft and cuddly like her. 2. One of her stuffed animals because she cares about animals and wants to work in a shelter when she gets older. 3. A flower because she likes them and she attracts bees like a flower.
Mister B chose 1. His swim team shirt because he is a swimmer. 2. A game controller because he loves his video games. 3. A graphic novel (glorified comic book) because he loves to read.
What we, the parents, got out of it was that the kids have achieved a great level of comfort with each other. This is great. They are not afraid to let their freak flag fly. The other discovery-it is time to step up the work load. They are a little too comfortable and they were all able to whip up this assignment rather quickly. I know all my planning for discussion group went out the window during the last few months. It turns out, my friends were all riding that train with me. So we figured out the rest of this year and will pick a date over the summer to plan out next year. There will be higher expectations. High school is almost here and it is time to go to the next level.
Needless to say, I am ready for the weekend.
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