Funny Money Shopping

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Here’s a fun way to prep for binary number lessons using good old-fashioned “shopping” fun.  (And yes, credit for this idea totally goes to Fred of Life of Fred.)

I printed out some funny money without denominations, found here:  http://www.squidoo.com/printable-play-money

Then I wrote in the denominations:  1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128.  Note:  only ONE of each denomination!  We used ice cream cones for our bill “picture” – in line with Fred’s story – but you could go all creative with this…

If you have more time and creative genes, you can also create your own money in Publisher; some templates found here: http://www.brighthub.com/multimedia/publishing/articles/92236.aspx

Now, we can price random stuff in the house at any amount we choose – whole numbers up to $255, and with just one of each denomination, we can come up with the correct amount!  No need to calculate change. :)

I’m off to do some more shopping at Miss Esmé’s store…

Fast Math Facts…

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Esmé was introduced to Math-A-Minute at school this week.  Each day she has two minutes to finish 15 problems correctly.  If she succeeds, the next day’s problems are a little harder…

She’s a math constructivist, not a lover of repetitious calculations.  And she’s completely time-challenged.  This should be fun, you think?  She does know her basic addition facts well, so we’ll see how it goes.

First day went fine.  On to the next level.

She brought her practice sheet home.  First time through, she completed all 15 problems with 10 seconds to spare.  On her second practice run, she only got through 13.

I noticed she had spent longer than expected on 9+4.  Anything with 9 is usually a piece of cake.  So I asked her about it.

“I added 2 to the 9 to make 11.  Then I had to take the 2 from the 4, which made 2.  So then I had to add 2 to 11,” she explained.

Huh?  If it weren’t for the glint in her eye, I would’ve thought we failed somewhere in our explanation of adding to 10s.  Little Miss Constructivist is just taking her time messing around with numbers, it seems.

I let it go.

On her second day at school, she only got 9 problems done.  I had her do another practice run at home afterwards.  8 problems.  She’s spending too much time on problems like 2+2 and 3+0.

From 15 completed problems with time to spare, to 13, to 9, to 8.  Hogwash.

So I find worksheets online at the same level and printed a bunch of them off.  Little Miss IS going to keep doing this until she gets 15 problems done in two minutes.

She takes me a bit more seriously.  13 on the next run, 13 on the next run, and finally, she gets 19 done before the 2-minute timer buzzes.  We quit for the day.

The next day at school, she gets 10 problems done.  She’s pleased – it’s better than 9.

I’m not pleased.

She tells me, “I need to do it in an empty room with black walls.  Then I can do it faster.”

Coincidentally, IMACS comes out with an article, “Mathematical Talent and the Timed Arithmetic Test” on that very day.  I smile and relax.  Her timed score is not a reflection of her innate ability.  I know that already – it’s just nice to have some reinforcement.

With a little online research, I realize that timed math facts tests have gotten a bad rap in recent years.  They don’t necessarily measure math ability.  They even create a hatred for math or false feelings of inadequacy for those who don’t do well.

And yet…

There are so many benefits to being able to do calculations quickly.  Not to mention, it’s good that Miss Esmé is being challenged mathematically – even if only by time – in school.  I like Hoagies’ perspective on it:  “Why Memorize Math Facts?”

So I sit back.  And watch.  And wait.  Yes, this should be fun…

Weekend Project: Galapagos

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A recent weekend project for Esmé’s centered around the book, Lonesome George Finds His Friends.  While told from the viewpoint of a Galapagos Tortoise, it describes various other animals found on the Galapagos Islands.

After reading the book, Esmé decided to paint a map of the islands.  (She is in spy-mode at the moment, having decided that a covert career will work well with her plan of being a ballet teacher, so maps are very cool.)  She gave detailed verbal instructions on how we would need to travel to Ecuador and then hop on over west to the Islands.

She was fascinated by the blue-footed booby, so did her sentence on that:

She also cut out and taped a printable card about the Galapagos Tortoise from National Geographic Kids for her presentation.

We also decided to work on some critical thinking skills with her using Darwin’s theories.  I do NOT recommend this for most 5yos, but Miss Esmé is an exception to a lot of rules, and she is well-grounded in the Creation story.  We let her watch Ape to Man – and she was glued to her seat.  This was followed up by Incredible Creatures that Defy Evolution.  We’ve had many interesting discussions as a result, and I love watching her analytical mind at work.

Mission Sunday: Treasure Boxes & Such

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It’s a random sort of day…

First, I want to share an inspiring article: “The Death of My Husband” by Pam Lello.  John, her husband, was in a tragic accident last November while serving on the mission field.  Pam and John were classmates of my sister in high school, and John later taught science while I attended the same high school, though I was sadly a “conscientious objector” towards all things science at that time…  Anyway, Pam’s testimony is touching on many levels and well worth the read.

Second, here’s a fun “act of kindness” idea I came across today.  Esmé is a fan of Laura Numeroff’s If You Give a Moose a Muffin etc. series – and a fun way to pass time on road trips is to start one off:  e.g. “If you give a cat a crayon” and see what craziness Miss Esmé comes up with.  I’ve often wished I’d documented some of these.  So I love this free printable over at Keeping Life Creative:  “If You Give a Mom a Muffin.”  Pair it up with a basket of muffins or a packet of muffin mix, and you’ve got a sweet gift for a busy mamma.

Lastly, I’ll share our church class craft from last week.  The study was on Abram’s rescue of Lot and his townsmen (Genesis 14), and emphasized how Abram did not take a reward of the spoils for himself, but did give a tenth to the king and priest Melchizedek.  There were two take-home activities for this.

The first was a coupon to be presented to a neighbor, offering an act of service with no expectation of reward.  I used a printable that came with the lesson, but I also found a very cool free printable Homemade Coupon Book at Balancing Beauty & Bedlam that would be perfect for this.

The second was a treasure box, to represent the treasure Abram recovered, with a slip of paper inside about tithing to remind kids to give a tenth of their treasures to God.

I found some paper mache containers at our local craft store for each kid, and set out gems, stickers, and glue for decorating the boxes.  Each container included a Tithing Cup printable.

Here is Esmé’s finished box:

That’s all for this week!  May your week ahead be full of treasures…

Precision, Please!

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I had some fun planned for our homeschool day.  First we’d get a little math out of the way.  ALEKS – Esmé doesn’t like computation practice, but she can do her review and master a topic in under 10 minutes when she has her game on.

Her topic choice of the day, however, left much to be desired in her mind.  Round two or three numbers and add the rounded numbers to come up with an estimated sum.  I explain how I use this little trick all the time in evaluating financials, working budgets in a group setting, etc.  It’s perfectly handy and good to know when you need approximate numbers on the fly.

But WHY would you calculate an estimated sum when you can calculate the actual sum?!  Absolutely ludicrous to Miss 5yo Esmé, who can calculate actual sums perfectly fine, thank you very much….

So she didn’t get her game on.  Refused to do it.  Insisted she didn’t know how. 

I tried various motivators.  I gave her a time limit.  Started taking the fun plans away one by one.  Sent her to her room for some serious time out.

She was fine.  No worries – she popped in a read-aloud CD and read along in her Bible storybooks, curled up on her bed. 

These are the times her intrinsic motivators kick in.  She couldn’t care less about the motivators I attempt to use on her, even less about my feelings on the matter.

Me – I’m miserable.  All these plans for naught – there is so much cool stuff we could be exploring together.

I wonder if I’m ludicrous to “discipline” my 5yo over her refusal to do 3rd grade math on a non-school day.

I wonder if I’m ludicrous for expecting my 5yo to do math that makes no sense to her.  Should I just let her lead the way?  I’m the one who believes she’s an autonomous learner.  Maybe I should back off.

My issue is not so much the math – I know she CAN do it.  It’s the refusal to follow directions.  To do what is asked even when it doesn’t make sense in her mind.  That is the biggest behavior issue her teachers have with her at school, and the biggest issue we have with her at home.

Now what?

Mission Sunday: Asante Choir

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“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.”  James 1:27

We started out our Christmas season in a most amazing way.  Way in this back neck of the woods, we somehow managed to be within driving distance of an Asante Choir performance.  And were we blessed…

“Asante” – Swahili for “thank you.”  The choir is made up of children from East Africa, where thousands of children have been orphaned through civil war and genocide.  They are the voice for many more back home in need of support and education. 

It was a great way to step back from some of the materialistic messages of the season and realize what an amazing, caring God we have.  Watching these vibrant little faces, orphans with testimonies of a God who cares when no one else does… singing this song:

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And He hears me when I call

~Tommy Walker

Lest you be worried this is simply a tear-jerking experience, let me assure you that these kiddos are virtuoso performers with perpetual smiles.  A lively choreography kept the crowd engaged, and it was a great cultural experience for Esmé and her cousin, who were captivated with the music.

They are still on tour!  If you happen to be in the Arizona or Texas area, you can check out if they are coming your direction here:  Asante Choir West Coast Tour.

Here’s a rough video of their trademark song:

Asynchronous

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We are at Wildlife Safari, a close encounter with their gorgeous 9mo cheetah ambassadors.  Someone asks what cheetahs eat. 

“Meat. What do you call animals that eat only meat?” asks the trainer.

“Carnivores!” comes the answer from a 9yo.

“That’s right!” says the trainer.

5yo Esmé raises her hand.  “They’re obligate carnivores,” she says.

“Wow!  A big word for a little girl!” the trainer exclaims.  “Yes, they’re obligate carnivores!”

Esmé raises her hand again.

“Yes?” asks the trainer.

Out of her pocket, she pulls out a plastic happy-meal toy she got from a co-worker of mine earlier that day.  “Wanna see my pink Easter bunny?” she asks the trainer in front of the captive audience.  “It’s just about to hatch!”

Weekend Project: Cats

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For Esmé’s weekend project, we used Homeschool Share’s free Christmas Day Kitten Unit and Lapbook printables.

A highlight was a field trip to the local animal shelter.

We ran out of time to get everything done, but here’s what we got…

Mission Sunday: Tower of Babel

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I got to coordinate crafts for Esmé’s class (ages 4-9) at church this weekend, and thought we’d share our Tower of Babel activities here…

First, the origami tower:

I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for as an online printable, so made my own origami Tower of Babel printable.  You’re welcome to download it for your own use; I’ve included a few variations in case you are using it with a different memory verse, etc.  Print it on card stock, hand out the scissors, and you’re good to go – you could also extend the activity by coloring the tower.

The second activity was the tower in the clouds.

• Collect wrapping paper rolls or paper towel rolls
• Print out a block print (several free options at Jennifer’s Printables) and cut to size if desired
• Wrap it around the roll and tape/glue it in place
• Glue cotton balls to represent clouds at the top
• Glue a paper block with your scripture verse to the bottom.  I used the free block printable at LittleBlots.com and added our verse to it as shown here:
• 

Pictured is Esmé’s craft –  I ran out of block prints and her blocks were drawn in with a brown marker, and she taped her scripture block midway up the tower instead of at the bottom, but there’s the idea…

U is for Useful

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Dear Miss Esmé,

 

You are useful.

 

By your assessment, you are useful for counting and saying sentences. And playing gorillas.

 

You are useful for making monsters and painting cats.

 

You are useful for being a baby cheetah in a trampoline cage…

 

Like the cat, you are useful for body heat when it is cold.

 

You are useful in my development of stamina and patience and ability to keep going when I’m beyond exhaustion.

 

You are useful in squeezing every ounce of creativity I have out of me to do things I never imagined doing.

 

You are useful for hugs and smiles.

 

You are useful to the Master.  An instrument for a special purpose.  Uniquely you – you have a purpose that no one else can fulfill.

 

A new year lies before you.  Use it well.  Be useful!

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use.  Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

~II Timothy 2: 20-21

I love you, my amazing, beautiful, clever, dilly-dallying, energized, following, grace-filled, hidden, indomitable, Jericho-miracle, kidlet, loved, mirroring, named, one-of-a-kind, poor, quicksilvery, ransomed, snuggling, tough, useful baby girl!

 

Your Mom

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Each birthday, I write a letter to my baby girl.  This year, the year of the amazing 5-year-mark, I’ll be working from A to Z.