Meeting Dr. Michio Kaku and The Air and Space Museum

Shay loves science. She loves space. Two of her favorite channels are the Science Channel and The Discovery Channel. She will watch any and all shows on planets, black holes, galaxies, etc. One of her all time favorite shows is Sci Fi Science.  Dr. Michio Kaku is the host. Who is Dr. Kaku? Well, if you have been watching any of the earthquake/tsunami coverage, he's been on t.v. talking about it- especially when it concerns the nuclear reactors. I can't remember exactly why we were on Dr. Kaku's website, but on the sidebar, Shay saw that there was a book tour for his new book,  Physics of the Future, and he was coming to the area and could we please go? Get to meet someone she thinks is the coolest, and he'll be at The Air and Space Museum- so it's educational? Sure!

We got there early, so we looked around at everything. I think this is her fourth visit in her 5 years on this planet, so we've seen everything numerous times. Although this time she can read, so she read on and on. We've also studied this year about the Apollo Missions and she's been following the last  of the Space Shuttle missions, so I think she really got a lot more out of this trip.

Flight Suit from Shuttle Missions

Floatation devices for Apollo missions.

Gemini

Enterprise- didn't fly in Space. Look how big it is!

The book signing started at 2- but around 1:15, I noticed a line starting, so we went up to join the line.

Waiting.

Getting really excited with her book.

There he is in the brown coat!

Almost time!

We're next!

Dr. Kaku!

Writing an inscription to her.

Look at her body language!

He actually rendered her speechless!

All of us- why not?!

What did he say?

To Shayleigh: The Future is Yours! Michio Kaku

Her eyes lit up! I have never seen her saw awestruck by anyone. She could barely speak to him. After the signing, she hung around like a stalker waiting for the line to die down so she could get another chance to speak with him.

Stalking from afar.

Closer.

Almost a photobomb!

We did go over and speak with him again once there was no more line. He is a really cool guy. I didn't get any more pictures because he actually spoke to me!! Shay told him she was disappointed he wasn't giving a lecture today (she had it all planned out where we would sit, should the lecture occur). He confided in us that he too was disappointed and that he brought notes should he lecture. No, we weren't privy to those notes. He didn't know the next time he would be in the area, but lookout, if he does come back to the area to lecture, I know who will be in the front row!

And on day two...

Success! She actually got scared that she was doing it. A few tears because, well I don't know why. But she did it!

Take off those training wheels

This afternoon, Shayleigh announced she didn't want training wheels any more. So we took the training wheels off and went outside before dinner. Now, Shayleigh is the type of child who just sets her mind to doing something and does it. However, she expects immediate results. She found out last summer that you can't just think you know how to swim, but actually have to learn. This didn't bode well with her and we had a disastrous summer of swim lessons, but that is another whole story. Riding a bike, well, lets just see it in pictures.

Pretty excited.

Hmmm.

Trying to get it started.

Getting her balance.

That foot is down again!

Pedaled two times and then- oh no!

Well, I didn't think she'd get it on the first try. She however thought she should. The pictures don't show it (because I am the bike instructor as well as the photographer), but I was there holding the back of the bike for most of the lesson. She wanted to try it by herself, so then I stepped back and took pictures. There were some tears- actually a meltdown because well, she's 5 and she told me that she could do it. We will try again.

What time is it?

We are almost finished with our Math curriculum for the year! The last unit is on telling time. Teaching time to a 5 year old is a little challenging, especially because I've known how to do it for 30 years now. It's so easy for me to automatically just think in terms of 5 for the minutes, or rounding up or down, 3, 6, and 9, for the 15 minute intervals, and, well you get the picture. Now trying to think like a 5 year old, now that's a challenge!
Two weeks ago, she learned the hours- and that is pretty straightforward. Last week, she learned to tell time by 5 minute increments. She learned how to count by 5's earlier in the year, so this was easy for her. This week, she learned how the hours and the minutes work together, and how to tell the difference between the minute and the hour.  One thing I did like was that in the video for this week, Steve (the creator of MUS) explains the hour and minutes working together by giving a birthday as an example for the hours. So if you are 5, you are 5 all the way until you are 6- you don't turn 6 the next day. As he was explaining this, he used the minute hand to show 5 minutes after 5, 10 minutes after 5, etc. I saw the lightbulb go off in her head.
We built a clock using our blocks. Here is what it looks like without the hands:

The clock is built in 5 minute increments. The light blue represents the number 5. I need to get more blocks because we ran out of 5 half way through. Then we used 4 and 1, and 2 and 3 to complete the clock. For the hours, we used the corresponding color for the hours. The bars only go to 10, so we added a 1 and 2 block for 11 and 12. The hour blocks also go upside down so she can differentiate between the hour and minutes. The hour hand is also upside down and the minute hand is right side up.

Making the clock match the problem in the book.

She's getting it!

I love that she gets to do hands on and I can see the wheels turning. I really think she gets more than she lets on. I put the minute hand on the 4 and immediately she said 20 and then went "Um, I mean 5, 10, 15, oh it's 20." Little stinker!

Mardi Gras Parade!

Last week, Shay studied Louisiana. She learned all about Jazz music (thank goodness for You tube and Pandora), crustaceans, The Louisiana Purchase, and of course, Mardi Gras. This past Saturday, a nearby town had a family friendly Mardi Gras parade and celebration, so of course, we went. It started out cold and drizzly, but luckily it stopped raining before the parade started. Since it was low-key- she walked right up to a float and got to check it out.

"The Float"

We found a mom from my mom's group and chatted for a minute, then Shay decided she wanted to go up to the grandstand area so she could be with all the action. It was loud! There were cheerleaders, a step team, local celebrities, stilt-walkers, marching bands, a jazz band, and a float. Beads and candy were were thrown. Shay was thrilled.

Eagerly anticipating the parade.

Local High School Band

Miss Maryland?

Female stilt- walker.

This guy was funny.

Jazz Band

Step Team

The King and Mother Nature.

Cheerleaders.

This group had the loudest drum -ever!

After the parade, there was activities in the town square. There was this really cool balloon maker, but two lines had formed, and there was a "disagreement" between the lines who was the real line. I didn't have time for that, so we decided we'd come back later (the line never got short enough, and then they ended up closing before we got back to it- but no tears from Shay). So we went off to do other activities.

She made a mask.

She danced.

And danced.

And Danced!

She did her first "conga line".

The stilt guy was great.

He showed her some tricks.

She showed him one too!

What a fun day!

We were only going to stay for an hour or so, but Shay was having such a good time, we stayed until the activities closed. Mardi Gras only comes once a year after all!

Shay's first 4-H Demonstration

Our family was very involved in 4-H growing up. My aunt was a Fair Queen in the 70's. My mother was a leader for many years. My siblings and I were in quite a few clubs. While I didn't raise and show animals, I did enter in the fair yearly, attended the national conference, and was a Champion Demonstrator and Public speaker. I really feel my 4-H experiences contributed to the person I am today.
 I have been waiting to share that experience with Shay and was excited to have found a homeschool 4-H group in the area. 4-H starts at age 8, but they do have a Clover group for ages 5-8. The Clovers can't compete, but can get the experience.
This past meeting, she presented a demonstration on sewing. She came up with the topic, told me what she needed, and the steps to take. I typed everything up for her and she presented it on her own at the meeting. She made me sit in the back of the room when she did the demo.

Her Demo was called "Before You Start Sewing."

She described the tools you need in order to sew.

Showing off the finished product.

All of the kids presented a demonstration and at the end, they took a group picture. She is by far the youngest in the group.

The whole club.

After the demonstration part of the meeting, the older kids in the club made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for a local homeless shelter. The younger kids made Valentines.

The little boy sitting next to her is her favorite, Lincoln. He knows about Outer Space.

Working on her handwriting!

 She is having such a great time in the club already. As soon as we left, she was talking about the next demonstration for the next meeting.