Mats for the Homeless

Today, Claudia and I spent some time learning how to make sleeping mats out of plastic bags for the homeless. It's a little time consuming, but very easy to put together.

This is what it's supposed to look like when it's done. It'll be quite a bit longer than what's shown, but this is the basic idea.

Feeding Tampa Bay

Today, our homeschool group had the privilege of helping to feed others. We went to Feeding Tampa Bay and bagged potatoes that will be distributed throughout 4 counties. They had so many groups of volunteers today, that I didn't think we'd be able to stay. Luckily, they found a spot for us & it was in the room with the AC...bonus!! The other groups were out in the main warehouse area, which had several fans, but was kind of toasty, so we got lucky...yay!!

PE during Co-op

I don't take too many pics of Claudia during PE class, but today, I couldn't resist...look at that perfect plank positioning!!

Cooking: Breaded Chicken

Claudia made the most amazing breaded chicken tonight!! Yummmm!!

Strawberry Picking

Every year, our homeschool group plans several trips to go strawberry and/or blueberry picking at different locations around the county. Today was strawberry picking at Upicktopia. 

Beach Day

Some beach fun with a cousin.

Gingerbread Houses

Every year, just before we break for the semester, our homeschool group gets together to make Gingerbread houses. This year, Claudia decided not to make one. Instead, she helped out at the craft table. I don't have a good pic of her at her station, but here's a pic of her right before we left.

Crystal Springs Preserve

We had a pretty cool day today at the Crystal Springs Preserve with our fellow homeschoolers.

We learned about...

SNAKES:

• Red touch yellow is a deadly fellow
• Poisonous snake bites look like a puncture
• Non-poisonous snake bites look like a V shape
• Rattle snake bites = 2 hr survival rate
• other snake bites = 20 min or longer survival rate

WATER:

• the shallower the water, the cleaner it is (good to know)
• put a plastic bag over the leaves on the plants to get water from them

Limestone is very porous - it's why we have sink holes in Florida :(

FOOD (you can eat):

• Saw Palmetto bark = protein
• Spanish Moss = no nutritional value

SHELTER:

• Saw Palmettos are awesome for shelter

SURVIVAL (you can only survive):

• 3 weeks with no food
• 3 days with no water

Here are some pics from today...

Their collection of live and dead animals was extensive. There was so much to see in their building.

Here began the lesson about snakes and limestone.

All of the kids were taken to a wooded area and given a pile of different sized branches and palm leaves to choose from. The task was to build a fort to protect them from the elements. Here's Claudia trying to build her fort with one of our other homeschool group members.

After the field trip, some of us decided to go shopping in downtown Dade City. What a quaint little town.

Circus Arts

Our homeschool group spent some time at Apollo Gymnastics. We had the whole place to ourselves, since we were able to go during the day, while most kids are in school. The kids had SUCH a great time! I would love to go back again.

Even I got in on the act!

Paper Bridge Design Challenge

We found this fun and easy science experiment/building project on Science Buddies today. It was a great little experiment to see what kind of bridge would hold the most pennies before caving in.

You can only use 1 sheet of construction paper, per design. Claudia only made 1 other bridge, but she gave up on that one pretty quickly, as she couldn't get the pennies to stack in that design. 

You start out with 30 pennies. Each penny represents 1 more person traveling on the bridge.

I won't give away ALL of the details about the project, but you can find it here at Science Buddies.

It was so sad to see the bridge fall. I'm actually not sure how it fell finally (cause it was pretty sturdy). I don't know if she knocked it over by accident or what, but it came down, without caving in...poop.

Clam Dissection (during co-op)

Today's Clam Dissection was pretty interesting. The kids' facial expressions were quite humorous!

Here's Claudia, wearing the apron that was made for her by our most fabulous of neighbors. She had no desire what-so-ever in wearing it, as she's 13 now and feels that everyone was going to make fun of her, but "I" couldn't resist, lol (she wasn't the only kid wearing an apron, btw). Oh, and it has her name embroidered on it...it's so cute!!

 

Penguin Pretzel Factory

Our homeschool group took a tour of the Penguin Pretzel Factory today. The kids took turns (in groups) going behind the scenes to see how the factory's pretzels are made (formed and cooked) and each kid got to make their own pretzel. To say that they were delicious, is an understatement!! They were scrumptious!! If you get a chance to check them out...you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Since Claudia loves to bake, she came prepared to make some pretzels, lol. She did so well, in fact, that talk of a job was mentioned...she's like a pro!!

This is only a portion of our homeschool group. We have a lot more kids, but this is the motley crew that we had today.

Ziplining @ TreeUmph

Today's motley crew...

Our homeschool group decided to go ziplining today at a place that recently opened up in Brooksville, FL, TreeUmph. We got an awesome rate, as we went on the day of their first "homeschool day"...yay!! There is another well known ziplining establishment in Dade City - I've never been there, but my youngest daughter (Sophia) went with a birthday party and she said it was amazing. Sophia didn't come with us today (she doesn't homeschool), so I couldn't compare the 2 places, but "I" thought this place was amazing! I don't think that any of the teens that went today, had ever been ziplining before, so there was some serious nervousness on everyone's part, but thankfully, they all got through it in one piece...Amen!

Claudia and Helaina - haven't started yet...just getting hooked up

Look at her go...

She looks like a pro!!

And there she goes...