Ok.. I want to make up a journal type thing for us to use this school year... something that will help show that we did learn some science, social studies and well just anything..lol. Yesterday the kids were playing with a toad out in the yard (the poor thing), so we got to talking about what we don't know about them... it made me think up an idea of making this journal type thing. How would you do it? I was thinking of using like a composition book... and my first thought was to write on the top line TOADS, 5 things I don't know. Then list the things you don't know and look them up...we had some good ones... do toads start as tad poles? was our biggest one which left us sitting there for a long time thinking. But then I realized that maybe we won't know 5 things that we don't know about something... if that makes sense. It's kind of like the you don't know you don't know it until you learn it. Man do I know how to get confusing or what? Anyway can anyone help me with this idea?
I go with more of a what I know or what I learned approach. The age of the kids will lend easily to them blurting out things and they can all write in their own little books. Don't get hung up on the writing everything down. Keep learning fun for them. I agree poor toad!
I was thinking just the oldest on this project... I never even thought about including "the littles" on it. I don't plan much of anything for them yet.. but it is something I could include them on. Maybe have them help throw out answers and have the oldest do the writing for it (he really needs the writing practice... both in style of writing and in penmanship).
I love your idea of writing things you don't know. You could do what you know and what you don't in seperate sections. You could actually do it either way. Did you know you can get kits to raise frogs? I found some when looking for butterfly kits for Grace. We will be doing frogs, ladybugs and butterflies this year. It should be fun! http://www.butterfly-gifts.com/grow-a-frog-kit.html
Thanks Tiffany. We actually have a pond in the upper cow pasture that is totally loaded with bull frogs. I have planned twice now to go over and kidnap some tadpoles, but then we go over, look at them and leave..lol. I have thought about a kit thing though.. since it seems ummmm cleaner to me..lol. We want to do butterflies next summer... I learned about looking for Monarch eggs too late this year I think, as I have seen several monarchs already flying around my yard.
ds10's lesson book taught him to write "Things I know about..." and Things I want to know about..." So you could try that. Don't try to number it, cause what if you only find a couple things about it that you want to know.. then leave a spot called "Things I didn't know I didn't know about ..."
Thanks Tmom. How could I set that up on one page? Or should I make seperate sections in the book.. like say we found this toad and said "We want to know if toads come from tadpoles like frogs" So we would put that in the I want to know about.. section and if we found say ummmm a bluebird nest (we have one outside..lol) but didn't even know what kind of bird it was then we would put it in the "The things I didn't know I didn't know about" section"? Oiy.. this doesnt' seem like it should be so confusing to figure out, but I'm having an impossible time makeing it work in my head.
Just the other day, while browsing the Ranger Rick ebsite, I saw some ideas that I thought were cool for a nature notebook. I don't know if this is what you are looking for, but here's the links in case it helps. http://www.nwf.org/kidzone/kzPage.cfm?siteId=3&departmentId=152 http://www.nwf.org/kidZone/kzPage.cfm?siteID=3&departmentId=92&articleId=1333 I like the looks of the combined drawing and writing page. When my oldest is writing more on his own I plan to do these.
There are graphic organizers called KWL charts. I think it stands for Know, Want to Know and Learned. They are set up like 3 columns with the headings. They could write what they KNOW, then what they WANT TO KNOW....then under the LEARN part after they look up the answers to their question. You could put that in a binder or something. TAKE PICTURES, too!!! Here's a link to one: http://www.freeology.com/graphicorgs/homeframes/kwl_home.html I know there are more out there too.
If I was making a Word doc I would do it with a table and lines on both sides of the page, so they could compare and contrast like visually. Or you can do it in three sections down the page, if you just want one page, you could also do it with pictures on half the page, add lines for half sheet and make a photo box but don't put anything but a boarder... then put the questions at the top of each page?
ahhh Krista.. I could kiss you! Yes..that is perfect. I may look for a different style.. but totally fits what my brain is thinking. Funny thing.. I have heard of/seen KWL things before.. in fact we have a curriculum that encourages them..a curriculum that I don't even use..lol. I'm still open to more suggestions if you all have them A variety of styles would keep it fresh for us!
Tmom.. that is great too!!! I promised the kids a trip outside since the sun has cleared the top of the west mountain... but will totally be working on building our book tomarrow... we won't be using a composition book like I had thought at all.. but a binder.. or maybe one of those folders with the page holders. Yay.. thank you all.. and Ange.. I will check those links tomarrow as well!
SWAK right back at ya! I found another one... http://www.worksheetworks.com/miscellanea/graphic-organizers/kwhl.html This place is free right now while in beta! (although an inside source told me they'd be way cheap when they go live....I'm hoping so!!!)
very cool.. thanks sooo much! I think I will print a variety of KWL charts, and web organizers, and some "picture on top, writing on the bottom" pages and what ever else you guys throw at me, and I find on my own and we will use them as we "see fit"..lol.
That was so cool I saved it to my folder of things I have been collecting! I am so excited I have binders from Staples that I am going to begin printing and 2whole punching to put the paper stuff into.. so far I do not have ds's history ordered yet and I may go with just the printables I have .. between that and the USborne books I am looking at! I checked one out of the library this week so I can look it over and see if I want it for keeps or not!
Yep I found a ton there Krista.... and then I found even more at http://freeology.com/graphicorgs/ http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/ and notebooking pages here: http://www.notebookingpages.com/index.php?page=Free-Homeschooling-Resources http://www.ourlosbanos.com/homeschool/printablesnotebooking.html I printed tons of them.. will put them into a binder and let him choose which one would fit the subject at hand! You guys are awesome.. why did I stay away so long?
YAY! I love that place! There's part of me that can't wait until they go live and finish off the rest of the site! I know it means $$ but I am thinking it will be worth it! I use their handwriting stuff all the time, copywork, etc...I coincide it with my son's First Language Lessons.
