Category Archives: Homeschool

Botany Test ~Monocots and Dicots~

Botany Test ~Monocots and Dicots~

May 5, 2011

Being the “not so typical school” that we are, when we test we usually end up with something like this:

After reading in our Apologia Science Book “Exploring Creation with Botany”  Lesson 2 ~Seeds~  and learning about monocots and dicots we needed to see if the kids understood what we went over. So out to a hiking trail we went!.

A monocot has a single cotyledon (seed part) like a piece of corn and a dicot has two parts like a bean. If the seed is not present you can look at the leaves to tell; monocots have parallel veins running vertically along the leaf (like grass) and a dicot has the “net” of veins spreading out from the main center vein (like most plants have). Monocot’s flowers usually have petals in sets of threes, where dicots have petals in sets of fours or fives.

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“OK we are ready!” I don’t think I have to worry to much about them “freezing up” before a test!

-~~Continue Reading~~>

Mothers Day Stress Relief Remedy ~Craft~

Mothers Day Stress Relief Remedy ~Craft~

May 6, 2011

So as I was surfing around on Facebook a few days ago, one of my favorite Blogger/Full Bible Christian/Homeschooler/Author friend Robin Sampson of Heart of Wisdom and co-author of “A Family Guide to Biblical Holidays” posted a link to this adorable little craft project and I just had to do it for my mom, sisters, and MIL for Mother’s Day.

I call it the Mother’s Day Stress Relief Remedy.

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Springs, Swings, and Things

Springs, Swings, and Things

May 3, 2011

Boykin Springs is one of our favorite places to visit for a quick hike. Today we went because a friend of mine had asked if we knew the condition of the park so of course I went to check it out. You know me, any excuse to hike!

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A picture of me and my baby boy. I fussed at Stewart for never getting a picture of me and Adam.

-~~CONTINUE READING~~>

Canyon Rim

Canyon Rim

April 24, 2011

We woke first thing in the morning hoping to get a hike in before the heat became to intense. The summer-like weather in the spring has made me wish we were back in the winter. On top of the heat, there is no rain. Everything is so dry and fire danger is very high.  All winter I was looking forward to the spring with the flowers and birds and all but now I am disappointed. We decided last night to head toward Newton to check out some trails we found online. We chose the Canyon Rim trail to take on. We thought we would get in a couple hikes today. Of course, we were thinking that before we arrived at any of them.

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  -~~CONTINUE READING~~>

Roadside Botany

Roadside Botany

April 6, 2011

Ever since spring “sprung”, I have been wanting to go looking at the beautiful flowers that decorate the roadsides along our East Texas highways. I wanted to do it as part of our homeschooling. It is important to me that our children care about nature and find a passionate love for it. Our science classes are based on nature more than anything.

It took us three days to get enough pictures so that I was satisfied with the variety and I still did not get all of the local flowers. I know, I probably can’t identify them all correctly but I did try my best. I hope you enjoy having science class with my family and I as you read this blog.

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Before we ever left the front yard we digitally captured the beautiful Wisteria bush that is growing beside the gate. I love the sweet fragrance of these grape-like clusters of purple flowers as it floats on the breeze when I sit under our pergola

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