Using simple ecosystems for homeschool science!

Well, we were lucky enough to receive a tupperware of tadpoles from a homeschool friend!
Their pond was FULL of 2 different breeds of frogs and their eggs plus tadpoles in various stages of development!
We got 11 tadpoles from as tiny as a pencil dot, up to thumbnail size almost frog tadpoles and everything in between! Plus a snail and several what appeared to be freshwaster shrimp....plus whatever other protozoa and amoebas that were living in the pond water!!
Into the 5 gal. tank they went, as we prepared the proper ecosystems for all creatures involved!
In order for them all to thrive and grow into frogs that we could then introduce into OUR pond, we had to create a balance of nature! That meant keeping the oxygen at a decent level within the brackish pond water, enough food both in the form of fish meal and vegetation and the right amount of sun but not too much that it heated the tank and fried the little guys.
We have spent the better part of a month, 4 tadpoles have become frogs and been transferred to our pond. 7 more are in transformation! I think we will keep them inside for another week, then the rest will go to our pond to finish. The longer they are in a small tank, the harder it is to keep their ecosystems intact and working.
But, we have been able to study them despite it being Summer and we are technically off school!
This is the kind of science we LOVE!
Hands-on and fun!!

Happy Homeschooling!

Your child has a learning disability, how do you deal?

My older son has ADHD, which is a type of learning disabilities.
He has trouble processing things like his brother does. It makes it a challenge to find a curriculum in some subjects that he can handle without tears!
He twitches and has to bounce his leg lots! Normal classrooms would not allow it. He would be fussed at.
With homeschooling, he can do whatever he wants. He needs to bounce knee, great. He needs to take a break in order to process the information, no biggie! He needs to get up walk around or switch to a different subject, we can do it.
I can adjust his learning habitats, to help him learn and deal!
That in itself is a major benefit of homeschooling and I love it, wouldn't change a thing!!!
How do YOU deal with a child with a learning disability?

Happy Homeschooling!! :)

Summer is perfect time to go over plant science!!!

We have a huge Summer garden every year! We have added to it yearly to gradually make it larger and this year is no exception!
My 2 boys love to plot and plan with me, deciding what new plants we are adding and why!!
Then we use these growing plants to do science about plants.
These plants are growing with heat from the sun, perfect point to talk about heat energy!
They are blooming and being pollinated by bees or other bugs! Perfect time to bring in the balance of nature between animals and plants!
We can take an extra bloom off and dissect it to see that different parts of a flower!
And when all is said and done, we can take these lovely veggies and fruits that we have nurtured and watered and weeded....and create a delicious meal to feed and energize our own bodies!
Life is a science lesson and Summer is a great time to find things to use!!!
Happy Homeschooling!