End of the year fun

 

We are wrapping up a year like no other. Things are still far from normal, but we have come along way from our smoky September and a winter of intense Covid worries. The very recent change in guidelines allowing the kids to remove masks outside has been amazing. It is so wonderful to see those smiles again!

The last week of school is "spirit week". We hiked to the park, wore pajamas to school and read bedtime stories, dressed in costumes, and had a crazy hair day.

 

This mama duck is grateful to the beaver that flooded Hideaway Park and made a lovely pond for her 8 ducklings. 

The art project inspired by Australian artist Kate Shaw turned out beautifully. We made colorful marbled and swirled paper using spray paint and hydro-dipping as well as brushes and watercolor and tempera paints. The mirrored landforms were cut and glued on watercolor backgrounds.  Magnificent!

Artistic explorations of radial symmetry

Staying busy

 

Here is a new friend of ours, born this spring. His name is Sunflower after what seems to be his favorite food. 

"Fluffer Nutter" is another spring addition to our yard. This fearless little bunny doesn't seem to mind having dogs, kids and chickens close by.  

Updating our timeline with new topics helps keep history in perspective. 

Hula hoop train!

Mobiles made of natural and reused objects

We needed some garden soil so the kids measured the boxes and calculated how much was needed, then they got to watch the dump truck make the delivery. 

The kids played an April Fool's Day prank on their parents. As parents arrived the kids told them that there was a "really big problem" in the back yard. They let the parents discover for themselves that it was a really big math problem. 

Flower art and science fair projects. 

The kids built garden boxes to grow vegetables in the chicken run. The chickens love their salad!

Math in the sun on an unusually warm early spring day.

We celebrated Lunar New Year by sharing beautiful fruits. Many people got to try something new that day. 

The chickens were the participants in younger class's experiment on food preferences. The chickens got to approach one at time and choose six bites. The experiment ended with a feast for the very eager feathered participants. 

An unexpected snow during the day. 

    

Snowflake catching faces. 

Spring 2021

There is nothing like a water fight at the end of a hot day of school. 

Hunting for the perfect flower to make nature mandalas. 

We explored radial symmetry and relaxed in the shade as we created temporary art.