“Why did the Sun Explode?”

We started Apologia’s Astronomy book this week and made it through the first chapter, complete with a planet model using balloons as the first project. To add to the fun, we used a later chapter’s guide to how far away to space the “planet” balloons from the sun. (Using this extremely scaled down guide, the planets would be much, much larger than they really are compared to the distance they are from the sun. But all models have their weaknesses.)

[Updated with photo of the Sun and first four planets. The first planet, Mercury, can't be seen in this view because of the blinds.]

Anyway, I had purchased some really, really big balloons so that I could make the “Sun” very large. I blew that yellow balloon up as far as I could while still being able to tie it off. I was in the process of hanging up Uranus when there was a large explosion that nearly made me fall off the couch. (I was setting a very bad example by standing on the top of the couch to hang the planets.) Child #2 turned to me with really large eyes and asked, “Mommy, why did the sun explode?”

Sure enough, the yellow balloon had popped with no children within five feet of it. I selected another one and blew it up – but not nearly as big as the last time. The children all implored me not to make this sun explode as well.

All the children were amazed at how far away the “planets” got from the sun. When we were hanging “Pluto” up in the hallway, a long distance from our “sun,” Child #2 again turned to me with big eyes.

“Mommy, we have to move the Sun. Pluto is COLD!”

(And yes, we are aware of the fact that Pluto is no longer considered a planet. We just choose to continue to include it in our study of the planets. We will explain the discussion surrounding it when we get to that chapter.)

Apologia – changes coming soon?

Since we are using Apologia’s Astronomy text this year, I was intrigued with an Apologia ad I saw in a magazine. I had heard Apologia had changed ownership, but the ad says there will be something new coming September 1st.

Help remind me to check http://www.apologia.com after September 1st to find out.

Planning Next Year and Interruptions

I’ve started planning my lessons for next fall.

So far, I have been able to fit 42 chapters of Story of the World I into 33 weeks. I made sure to include some slop for extra reading and activities, but we will be kept hopping in order to keep on schedule.

In religion, I am about half done. We are covering the No. 1 St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism Chapters 1-14 on a schedule suggested by Laura Berquist in Designing Your Own Classical Curriclum. Alternating with that, we will be studying the saints. That part of the lesson plans is blank at this time. I also included a two week cram of the ten commandments. We still haven’t decided if our second grader will be receiving the Sacrament of Penance or Holy Communion this year. There are a few weeks left after all these items are penciled in. If the second grader does receive the Sacraments, those weeks will be used quick review of the First Communion Catechism. They will be dropped in whenever it works to put them in.

Next, it is onto Science or Math. I can’t plan Spelling/Dictation yet as I lent out my copy of Spell to Write and Read/The Wise Guide to another homeschooler who is also knee-deep in planning. She is looking for a program to use with her kids and had never heard of SWR. We were discussing the planning process when she raised the biggest problem she has.

Was it too many curriculums to choose from?                                       Nope.
Was it curriculum that wasn’t right for her kids (too difficult/easy, not-the-right-style, boring, etc)?       Nope.
Was it that she is not a detail person?                                                    Nope.

What was it, then? The problem she has is INTERRUPTIONS! Whenever she tries to get some serious planning done, she has to take a break to deal with something.

I can relate. I am used to breaking up fights, keeping the crawler out of the flowerbed, helping the toddler get something or get out of something, assisting with some chalk drawing, or ferrying drinks outside. All while I’m trying to read something, take notes, or write up my lesson plans. I try not to simply give up. So far, my most productive time was the rainy afternoon this week when my kids had two neighbors over. I was able to have a huge (30-45 minutes) block of time to work on my history plans. I had almost finished them (three weeks left) when the rain stopped and the kids decided they wanted to move back outdoors. Cleanup ensued and chaos reigned supreme.

But, I soldier on. Math shouldn’t be that hard, but I think I’ll tackle Science. I’ve already started to work on my Apologia Astronomy rough plan to get the book done in 16 weeks. Another homeschooler wrote plans spreading it to 22 weeks, so I am paring it down to fit our school schedule.

Onward!