Archive | February 2013

Enter the Platypus…

FOR PLATYPUS RESOURCES PLEASE GO TO “PLATYPUS IN DEPTH

February 19-20

Of all the creatures out there the kids chose the Platypus to learn about… This rather unusual and unique mammal has been on their minds for some time. Actually since their first viewing a the children’s show Phineas and Ferb with its spy/pet character Perry the Platypus. With my still getting over a rather nasty head cold we didn’t dive right into our library books BUT we did discuss what knowledge we already had – regarding the platypus AND Perry. There had been a brief post episode chat about the platypus on Wild Kratts too, the boys told me about it. So I was rather impressed as to what facts they could come up with!

Zander’s “real” platypus and Perry as a spy out of Lego

Gavin’s Perry the pet and Perry the spy (note the hat)

Of course you and I know that P is for Platypus, but did you know that platypus can be rainbow coloured? Trinity assured me that it is very possible!

P is for Platypus!

We will be posting an entire blog that stands alone with all of our platypus links and resources. While I really am not the person to be creating a lapbook etc myself I love being able to collect and share all the items we combine together to supplement the lapbooks etc others have come up with. Like I did with the Chinese New Year poster I plan on doing so with the rest of our unit studies. Emanuel has requested PENGUIN after we are done the platypus and, also to look forward to, we are covering St. Patrick’s Day (poster) and Dr. Seuss’ birthday (mini folders) on March 2.

The boys with their tracks and the animals that make them

Zander and his Platypus with moving legs (not sure about the crazy smile, I think he just likes making faces!)

Emanuel and his Australian colouring page

Today Emanuel and Trinity watched Dinosaur Train on the laptop and then drew me up two meteor showers! Very pretty! I am looking forward to being able to read to them and get to the real story time and dinosaur fun!

Meteors

Of course Echo had to make her mark on our day… first with a mess, then dancing and then… pouting… she is talented!

Turn your back for a minute…

Boogie baby

/pout pout

Wednesday had us reading our first platypus book – Platypuses by Sara Louise Kras. We discussed where Australia is in comparison to where we are in North America. I have a tiny globe I picked up for a dollar or so from Michaels that worked to show them where we are, Australia is, where China is and of course where Aunty Esther and Uncle Ted are from… oh and where Nana and Baba are right now! I really want to invest in a good globe eventually. They tend to run rather expensive for the fancier ones with stands but I think it would be a great investment.

Sorry about the flash, but the link above will take you to purchase or has the info for you to find the book at your local library

We are starting to touch on St. Patrick’s Day a little too, just colouring pages and word searches but it is always fun to start thinking about it now. It think this is going to be a rather impressive poster, heavy on the green and gold!

St Patrick’s Day themed math problems

There was a new Wild Kratts to enjoy – we learned all about termites this time! I love how excited the kids get about each episode.

Termites

Gavin spent some time on his sewing. We are trying to get back on track with that. I love sitting together working on our crafts!

Stitching away

So we are not the most exciting of people to read about this week BUT we did learn a lot about the platypus! And thanks to the existence of Facebook I was able to share an image a friend posted of the most adorable baby platypuses! A combination of iPad, Facebook and absolute cuteness! I promise much more in the way of platypus knowledge and more interesting endeavors as this cold subsides and we move onto all the other interesting schooling items we have planned so check back!

Awwwwww

One Little White Lie… a Book Review

I love it when I get the random chance to read an advance copy from an author I have not experienced before. This Australian author’s Novella was a terrific find! What do you do when your long term relationship ends and your bestfriend simply WILL NOT stop setting you up with anyone and everyone? Well… you create the perfect man and name him as your new boyfriend… What do you do when he turns out real and at an event you are invited to and announced to be this boyfriend by your bestfriend?

One Little White Lie by Loretta Hill is a humourous look at what it can be like to be the last single lady standing. With an engaged friend and a soured relationship Kate is between a rock and a hard place. Enter Henry who not only fits her description and is single but has secrets of his own. Kate’s little white lie comes true and the question becomes does she want it to truly be a lie? This romantic comedy is a giggle and a half, with people you want to love and a story you just can’t put down! Definitely a great pick me up or a cuddly read on a snowy day! 

One Little White Lie

Hell Hounds are for Suckers… a Book Review

Sometimes you just want a short, funny and rather quirky book. Hell Hounds are for Suckers by Jessica McBrayer is the second book in the San Francisco Vampire Series. Vampire Hannah is running solo and feeling lonely when she comes upon a little puppy… who turns out to be a hell hound who refuses traditional dog food and barks fire!

We have a sexy demon who wants his dog back, his angry demon ex, a djinn and more and it all adds up to a terrific and fast paced paranormal fantasy romance. Magic, romance, rules and more… I found Hannah to be a treat, Diel the demon a delight and the characters around them hilarious. This book could stand alone but it IS the second in a series. I think my next step is to check out the first… Sucking in San Francisco.

Hell Hounds are for Suckers

This entry was posted on 23/02/2013, in Uncategorized. 2 Comments