This year for coop we have had some really fun field trips and our turn to host finally came around so we have been having all kinds of fun teaching. The kids loving having coop at our house each week. They even help clean and get things ready. I have been letting James help choose the topics and what we learn about and coinciding it with Addy's kindergarten curriculum so I have done way more then what I normally would for coop because we are spending a lot more time on each of the topics it works our really well. I have even been able to give Addy some teaching opportunities with the coop kids here which is really good for her and she really likes it. Anyways in January we went to the local tv station and learned how the news is made The kids got to check out the green screen and be on tv they got to make a little news and meet a number of the local broadcasters and writers. The Director happened to be there as well as the media manager so the kids got to do all kinds of fun stuff including pushing buttons and sitting at the news desk. Addy had some great questions for them all the other kiddos were still just in awe seeing themselves on TV.
It was fun and we learned a lot we had to come home and look somethings up because well I don't know much about TV Broadcasting and I don't really watch the news so we did some recon when we got home to make everything make sense. We had a super bowl party which was a hoot, On Sunday morning Addy ran in and said today is a special day, being the Mom I am I thought for a minute fully knowing she was talking about the super bowl and responded today is a special day it is fast Sunday we had a great little impromptu lesson on fasting and Addy did her first fast, She fasted snacks for the whole day I was so proud of her and her efforts. She keeps asking when Fast Sunday will come again. Anyways when we were watching the football game, I say the football game because we watch one a year, there was a commercial about McDonald's doing there pay with lovin' deal in Feb, until valentines Day the kids immediately wanted to go not understanding that everyone would not be paying with love. I go into this long conversation that we will still have to pay only a few will not, but that it is fun idea. The next day Addy had eye therapy in the heights where they have an indoor play area at McDonald, The kids had earned enough to go on an outing and wanted to go to McDonald's so we did and sure enough they had us pay with loving! The kids loved it, we danced for our meal. a week or so later James wanted to go somewhere and I asked him if he had his money he responded with no but we can just pay with love.... LOL if only everyone was taking that currency.
Disco Bowling we had our annual disco bowling party for school it was so fun although we did discover for 8 adults and ten kids to bowl on two lanes it takes over three hours, Thank goodness there was dancing and disco fun to keep things lively,. James came in second for the kids and scored higher then me. He is quite the bowler. Addy was third and had a great time.
Space Fun. For our first two lessons of coop we did Space! Which I have decided is a HUGE topic and there are just too many great idea's for the topic. We made rockets for snack, the kids loved that. I didn't get pictures of everything, but I made straw rockets and the kids launched themselves into outer space I put the globe in the middle of the room and black balloons all around it to represent space we had bean bag shooting stars and we threw them around space and bounce around talking about gravity, earth the sun and stars. We spent a bit of time on opposites and where the sun goes at night. Then we used James telescope that he bought with his birthday money to look at the sky.
We watched Nasa launch a real space ship and then we launched some rockets in the backyard!!!
Yep a total hit
My lovely assistant, I wasn't to keen on launching the rockets alone so Doug made a debut and launched them he always comes and does the super cool stuff for us.
Rocket in air, we just used baking soda and vinegar, which we had learned about a week or two before when we learned about volcanoes, so many uses for the stuff!!!
We ended with some sensory play earth sand, galaxy slime and space dough. We also ate some astronaut food, ie freeze dried ice cream. We had so much fun and learned a ton too. We were at the ophthalmologist office the other day and while we were waiting James was playing with another four year old. He drew a picture of earth on the chalkboard told her it was a sphere and proceeded to tell her all about space about three minutes in the Dad leaned over and said, How old is he? I responded four, He then asked where does he go to school? I got quite a chuckle out of the rest of our conversation
After we finished space we had coop classes on Maps. We started off dressing up like pirates and using a treasure map to find our special treasure, which was full of items landmarks and food from all over the world, We used our globe again and as we all tried new things from all over we talked a little about each area and historic sites we might find there or what the people we would find in those area's might be like. We had some dramatic play with our pirates and compasses some scallywagging and plundering. Then we pulled out some other kinds of maps and read the cat in the hat's I have a map on my lap. We used maizes a large one I made out of straws and thick poster board to talk about direction and finding our way. We talked a bit about compasses and a legend on a map. Me teaching about maps was really funny since I am terrible with directions.
After pirates we learned about a lakota legend and an area close to where I grew up Devils Tower. So we dressed up like Native Americans and shot bows and arrows at each other, In the legend the boys were lost and upset and prayed for help to be saved from a large bear, Which was perfect for my map lesson and how useful maps are. We learned a little Native signing and did some dancing too.. I wish I would have gotten the whole group they were so cute, My mom made them all their aprons and I made the headdress. Weeks later my kids are still playing and talking about maps! a Win for me.
I was also in charge of the valentine party, which we did at the ranch where the kids have done horseback riding. It worked out so well. The kids loved being around the animals and out and about. My big kids were sure to have their cowboy boots with them and jeans. They are too funny!
And Audryn rode a horse for the first time. She kept asking to ride, but I was thinking she is too little, Emily the director encouraged me to let her so I did and my word I don't know I have ever seen my happy baby so HAPPY she got right on put her hands on the saddle and tried to get the pony moving by rocking back and forth. When it did she laughed and smiled, then took one had off the saddle and waved at the other kids. I should have recorded it. SO STINKING CUTE!!!
She made two laps then let the other kids have the rest of their turns . We went upstairs and finished the party, I made these treats and served them with fruit and water. We made valentine bags and exchanged valentines. It was so much fun. We have been having some wonderful learning about love and the party was a perfect pair to that. We are so grateful for the families we do coop with they really all or so fun and add so much to our group.
