Kindergarten: Week 36

One of the big things that happened this week is that we got to the Chapter 18 "Your Turn to Play" in Life of Fred: Jellybeans. This is the last "Your Turn to Play" in the book. We'll be done with Jellybeans in the next few days. Wow.

I taught our after-school co-op's lesson about leaves, and we went on a leaf scavenger hunt.

Daddy took Gemma kite flying on a windy day at the beach.

Gemma learned 5 Position Waltz on piano.

One evening, I let her do "Coding with Anna and Elsa."

We're still reading The Trumpet of the Swan. Gemma read ahead. I think she finished the book because she keeps telling me what Louis is going to do, but she said she only read "a little bit" I think so as not to hurt my feelings. She read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on her own, as well as a couple of Magic Tree House books. This kid...

She begged me to read a children's version of The Tempest, and - in the middle - was really concerned about what was going to happen with Miranda and Ferdinand. She loved it. 

She went to dance class one evening, and swimming another evening.

Kindergarten: Renaissance Fair

In April, Gemma's Classical Conversations group went to the Renaissance Faire. She got to fence, make paper, stamp leather, swing on a giant swing, shoot a crossbow, assist in a one-man Romeo and Juliet show, and so much more...

Kindergarten: Weeks 34 & 35

Weeks 34 and 35 included Palm Sunday and Easter. Here is Gemma, ready to sing Hosanna.

Once a week, my husband takes Gemma to a state park, to meet up with a group of friends, so they can tinker and explore. Over my spring break, I got to take her. I had such a good time watching her and the other 4 and 5 year olds playing on the other side of the creek.

While we were there, I saw this...

It's a male belostomatid: a giant water bug. A female belostomatid laid her eggs on his back, and he's now got to carry them around until they hatch!

There were also rusty tussock moth caterpillars all over the place.

This one was crawling around on the adding machine the kids were using screwdrivers to disassemble.

Over spring break, we visited family. 

Here is Gemma, at Grandma and Poppa's, using binoculars to observe a dove in the nest above the birdhouse on the patio.

Grandma thought it would be a good idea to learn how to twist balloon animals. I am now an expert balloon-dog-maker.

We dyed eggs...

...and Gemma spent lots of time in the jacuzzi.

Back at home, Gemma made soap...

Six of our pots of bulbs sprouted!

Gemma went to the Renaissance Faire, but more on that in a future post...

Kindergarten Weeks 32 & 33

Spring has sprung! We've been enjoying the beautiful weather, as well as Life of Fred: Jellybeans (we're 3/4 through), The Trumpet of the Swan, ladybugs, dissecting Asiatic lilies, nature walks, the aquarium (that's a sea lion skull), biking to the beach with Daddy, playing in the sand, dance class (the June recital is fast approaching!), hopscotch, nature journaling, a Sunday School lesson about The Last Supper, climbing a California sycamore, learning to play "Minuet & Trio" on piano, singing songs from Wee Sing Around the World (highly recommend!), finishing a month of swim lessons (big improvements in coordination and focus), and so much more...