Winter Learning with Earlybird

Happy Friday, Folks!

So first of all, my support group meeting last night went great! It was a small group but we talked A LOT about blogging ~ my blog, other blogs, how and why one blogs, etc. I will write up the minutes from our conversation and get them posted over the weekend. Many thanks to the kind ladies who ventured out on a cold January night to listen to me blab on (and on) about blogging and all kinds of other random off-topic stuff. :)

I must say, all that talk last night really got me excited to blog again! I hope to overhaul the design of my blog as well - for one thing, these sidebars are ridiculously outdated ... and for another, I'm getting tired of these colors ... have to see what I can do about all that!

But for today I thought I'd share a few things I'm doing with Earlybird this week. The first pictures show our "Carnation Experiment." If you're a homeschooler, I'm sure this activity is familiar to you ... we set it up with my mum the other day (EB calls these Nana's flowers):

I bought a bundle of white carnations at the supermarket - goodness do they smell nice - and we placed a stem in a small clear glass filled with water and food coloring. I kept one flower aside in plain water for comparison.

And here is how the flowers looked the next day!

 

Aren't they pretty? Magic flowers! (This would be a neat Valentines, Easter or Mother's Day activity with the kids - you could even look up what different colored flowers mean.)

 The boys all enjoyed the experiment (and Bookworm had some interesting insight on color absorption from a lab he did at BU last fall) but this was really all for Earlybird. And let me tell you, he was thrilled. We have started a small science notebook for his observations - mostly photographs, simple words and a few drawings, too.

Here's a peek at our Winter Word Bulletin Board:

 

(Btw, I did not make those snowflakes! They came pre-cut in a package.)

And at the nature table we have a page from a favorite book on display:

 

This is the loveliest book - Our Apple Tree by Gorel Katrina Naslund. It's a sweet tale of the seasons in the life of an apple tree, as told by the two little elves who call it home. Lots of gorgeous, finely detailed illustrations inside. Next month we'll visit our local orchard to find an apple tree to "adopt" this year. It will be fun to see how it changes through the seasons.

Well, that's all for me today - off to get the kids started on breakfast and lessons. I hope you all have a fabulous Friday and I'll see you all again very soon. :)

 Thanks for stopping by!

Comments

[Dawn]

Hi Marty ~ You are more than welcome to copy/paste my carnations photo. Thanks for the kind words! :)

[Marty]

I love the colored carnations! Yes, we've done that before, but I never thought to do several at one time.
I wanted to ask permission to copy/post the second picture of the carnations on my blog, and link back to yours. This is a great idea.

Marty =)

[T.J.]

How wonderful the meeting went so well :) Thanks for sharing these updates- gotta say- somehow you captured even a basic science experiment in such a beautiful way- love those photos!

[Lecia]

Another one here that is happy to hear you are excited about blogging again. I recently shared your blog with my homeschool group (I referred to your file box post but added that you are so encouraging and have such great ideas!). One of the moms said you were one of the first blogs she read when she first started reading blogs. Looking forward to all those new posts.

[aly in va]

We love doing that experiment, but for some reason our carnations never quite absorb all the coloring...we usually end up a little blotchy. Yours turned out beautiful.

[Sue]

I love these photos. You have inspired me to do this with my younger set. They will love it, I'm sure.

Let me chime in and say that I am glad that you are feeling in the bloggy mood. I'm in the mood for reading what ever you write! Your blog always inspires me, and gets me excited about each season. I was feeling a little out of it this morning after just getting home from a long winter vacation yesterday, and just clicking over here perked me right up, and got the creative juices flowing. Thanks!

[OSG]

I'm another one who is very pleased to hear you're excited about blogging again! I keep meaning to blog more myself, but it's hard to find the time.

[Theresa]

I'm so glad your excited about blogging again too. I've missed reading your posts. I've been a daily visitor since finding your blog in December of 2006.

Happy New Year to you and your family.

[Arlene]

Dawn...so glad you are back in the blogging mood!! I really enjoy reading your blog and I enjoy all the creative ideas that you share. I may do some of those carnations for my little granddaughter for Valentines day.

[Jennifer]

I love the pretty carnations. Just lovely! And that book looks wonderful.

[Shonda]

Yippee! So glad you are feeling excited about blogging again! This is slightly embarrassing (lest you think I'm slightly obsessive! LOL) but I am currently reading your blog from the beginning in it's entirity! I am recovering from a surgery and have a lot of "down time" and your blog on my lap top is perfect reading! :)

[Ce]

Oh, I've forgotten about the carnation experiment until seeing it just now on your blog! Such a simple, but beautiful activity to do with the little ones. My day certainly does brighten when I read a fresh post from you, so I am happy to hear about your renewed blogging energy!

[Lindsay]

Dawn, Love the blog; so glad you're enthused to keep blogging as I miss not having you to read with my morning tea. Love the carnation experiment and the photo, but my first thought was -- how on earth do you do these things with cats in the house? Can't help imagining food coloring all over the floor!

Anyway, keep up the great work!

[Stacy]

Dawn - so glad to see you back!!!! Thanks for the wonderful post - it's just what I needed to get a kick start on our winter studies.

It's a wild 19 degrees down here in Texas!!!!

[Tracy]

Nice to have you back. My morning tea is always nicer with a morning post from you! God bless you

[Penny in VT]

Lovely! And such color against all the snow... so pretty...

Congrats to Earlybird on his scientific success!

[Julia S.]

I am glad to see your carnation experiment is working well. I did this last year with my son and we waited and waited for the carnation (I did just one) to change color and it didn't happen. I cut the stem and made the water really red, but nothing.
Oh, well! Maybe after seeing your lovely display I'll try it again.

Happy New Year!

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1507113894]

Hello,

I am so excited to read that you are excited about blogging! It was a thrill to see your carnation experiment this morning. Here in Michigan we have been blessed with 6 inches of snow with more on the way today. Needless to say the public schools are closed, however this homeschool family will find something to do with our time today. Maybe stop by the grocery store and pick up some Carnations for a winter experiment. Ah! I hear the kids getting up. Have a blessed day. Keep on blogging!!