Wow! I guess I never realized how popular LEGO's were! That was until I started reading other homeschooler blogs! LEGO's are definitely a big hit, especially with the homeschool group! There are so many different activities out there! The boys have joined three so far, and most of them have met this week!
 |
| Mason, Joshua, Chase & Matthew watching the LEGO club. |
The first group we came across was an online LEGO group through currclick.com this group meets once a month and have some type of challenge. This month, they taught the kids about bridges. We received a "supply list" last week. During the meeting the kids were able to build a bridge. We had our friends, Mason, Chase and Kylie come over and the older kids participated in the LEGO club while the younger ones played. There was a ton of info about the different types of bridges presented. I am thinking I would like to re-watch the video and when we are out driving ask the kids what the different bridges are... Here are some pics of the kids watching, building and their finished projects...
 |
| Joshua's bridge |
 |
| Matthew's bridge |
 |
| All the boys with their bridges... |
After they finished building the bridges they decided to see how much weight they could hold, so Matthew and Mason decided to test their bridges...
 |
| Matthew's bridge held the bucket of paper! |
 |
| it even held Matthew (although the box of paper may have weighed more!) |
 |
| Mason got his to hold the karaoke machine, 2 rock band guitars, a cd player, headphones & a slingshot! |
As you can see, the online LEGO club was a hit with the boys!
Last night, we found out about another LEGO club that is held monthly at the library in Vancouver, so after speech the boys and I loaded up and headed over to the main library. This month's theme was "energy" and the kids were challenged to make something that created energy... If they couldn't think of anything they were able to make anything they wanted... Here's what they created...
 |
| Matthew digging for the right block. |
 |
| Joshua's finished project |
 |
| boys building together @ th library. |
 |
| Lucas posing with his creation. |
 |
| Boys getting ready to display their creations. |
 |
| Their creations are behind them on the shelf, where they will remain on display for the month. Each creation has a paper with it stating the child's name, age and their description of what they created. |
Believe it or not we have also participated in non-LEGO activities this week! I know, shocker! Lucas is working on "C" with his My Father's World curriculum, and of course what would the letter "C" be without "COWS!" One of the activities he did was to make butter! Here are pics of him creating his "butter!"
 |
| step 1. pour whipping cream into a jar |
 |
| step 2. shake jar until cream seperates |
 |
| step 3. put butter onto dish |
 |
| step 4. enjoy butter on crackers (okay, so maybe we were pushing the "enjoy part!) |
While Lucas was working on his "butter" the older boys, who are studying France, got to "make" soap... By making soap, I mean they had to melt down soap, add perfume or natural oils to it to scent it and then cut it out with cookie cutters... The only cutters we had were animal shapes, so that's what we made... Here's pictures of the final product!
 |
| Our soap cutouts... |
The boys also were able to send out their "Flat Travelers" so far we have one in the UK and the other was sent to Ohio. Here they are sending out their little men...
 |
| Sending "Link" to the U.K. |
 |
| sending "Green Guy" to Ohio... |
We also took the puppies on an adventure this week... We went to the dog park! Okay, this may not sound like a big deal to most people, but since I have only had small dogs (daschunds) before, I have never had the experience of the "dog park." I loaded up the boys and the puppies and we headed out... The park by our house has both a "big dog" side and a "small dog" side, so we went to the small side (because of Sara Lee).
The puppies had a good time, however, I really think the one who had the most fun was Lucas! He just ran and ran, the older boys went to the van to play their DSi's... I know, big surprise!
I pulled out my camera and snapped some photos and then Lucas took off with it! Check out the pics!
 |
| Sam checking out the tunnel... |
 |
| Lucas getting a closer look! |
 |
| Lucas running down the hill that was covering the tube (that he had just climbed through!) |
 |
| Sam and Lucas sitting on top of the hill/tube checking out the rocks... |
 |
| Lucas holding Sara, who surprisingly enough, loved the dog park! |
 |
| Lucas taking a picture of himself with the camera! |
 |
| The rock Lucas dug up, he needed a picture of it so "he would never forget it!" (his words, not mine!) |
 |
| Sam & Sara completely tuckered out after their park play! |
Besides working with the online LEGO club today we also worked on our daily workboxes. Lucas got to memorize the poem "Hey Diddle, Diddle." According to the teacher's guide we were supposed to cut out a sun and moon and use stuffed animals to act it out. Well, we don't really "do" stuffed animals here, so instead I found a print out on line of the characters and had him color them and cut them out. He then glued them onto construction paper and pointed to the right character while reciting the poem. Here is a video of him doing so. (Okay, so I have to be honest, the first video he did this afternoon was soo cute, however I took it on my camera in "portrait" mode and when I uploaded it I could not get it to flip. So after working on it for an hour I called him down and we re-shot the video in "landscape mode." That is why the lighting is so horrible!)
*Just a note, at the end of the video Lucas says, "Thank you God." I asked why he said that, his answer to me was "God helped me remember what to say, so I thanked him..." Just thought I'd clarify in case anyone had questions!
Matthew finished his boxes pretty quick today (before I pulled out the camera) but here is a picture of Joshua working on typing up a paper he wrote on his "three wishes." Poor kid, after using the computer for almost an hour he only was able to complete his first paragraph... I think this is going to be a long project!
 |
| Joshua working away at the computer. |
Yesterday, when we were at the library for the LEGO Lover's group, I discovered they have a "Tween" group for kids ages 8 to 12. At the beginning of the year the library at the mall had a "tween book club" but it ended after about three months due to lack of enrollment. However the other library has a full "tween club"which meets every week with a different activity. The first week is book discussion in which the kids all receive a book that they read over the month and then discuss it, this month's book is "Nim's Island." The second week (which is the one we attended tonight) is "game night" they put out tons of board games and card games for the kids to play with other kids. Next week is "arts & crafts" and then the fourth/fifth weeks are "kid choice." Well, this was our first week. As usual the boys complained about going, they hate trying out new things! But, being the mean mom that I am, I made them attend. Guess what? They had a blast! It did help that there friends Mason and Chase attended with them (oh, did I say that this was only for Matthew and Joshua? Lucas was in the library with me). They finished up the group telling me "how much fun it was." I was happy they had fun and are looking forward to going back next week. I do have to say though, one day, it sure would be nice if they didn't argue about trying new things with me!
 |
| Joshua and Chase building at the library... |
 |
| Matthew & Mason playing chess at the library. |
Well, that's about it... I've pretty much rambled on as much as I dare tonight! Thanks for reading!
