Visual Arts ~ T #1 ~ page 144

I drew a cover for a language arts project. I used markers, copy paper, and pencil. I used the pencil to sketch my drawing before filling it in with ink so that if I made mistakes, I could erase them. While I was finishing the drawing, I learned not to smudge my work. I learned it is important to work from top to bottom so that my hand does not rest on wet ink. Also, because I am right handed, it is important to work from left to right. The markers I used are non-toxic and acid free. This makes it last longer.

Why In the World? ~ SB 6 ~ page 78

I made a spaghetti sauce recipe from scratch. I used tomatoes, bell peppers, garlic, salt, sugar, pepper, oregano, bay leaves, and rosemary. The tomatoes are an acid, the sugar is carbohydrates, and salt is neither an acid nor a base. With Mom's help, I combined all the ingredients in our Crock-Pot. We ended up cooking it longer than expected because there was so much liquid. Heat and evaporation helped brake down the individual components and make a delicious sauce.

Reading ~ T #3 ~ page106

I wrote a book report about Flat Stanley and published it on our homeschool blog.

Plant Life ~ SP4 ~ page 74

I donated 10% of the produce I grew this year to Care Corps, the local homeless shelter.

Plant Life ~ T1 ~ page 74

These are all the things I used for my garden this year.

• Shovel, made from wood and metal, used for turning the soil and general digging. Used mostly in the spring and fall, not much in between.
• Rake, made from wood and metal, used for mixing manure and Epsom salt in, also used to remove grass and weeds initially, used to make plot level, and to create rows for planting. Used mostly in the spring and fall, not much in between.
• Trowel, made from plastic, used to dig small holes to drop seeds into and to dig up weeds and loosen soil after planting seeds.
• Cultivator, made from plastic, used to loosen soil and help remove weeds.
• Fence posts, made from metal, used to frame the boundary for my garden.
• Chicken wire, made from metal, used as a fence
• Wire cages, made from metal, used to contain and support plants as they grow
• Stretch tie, made of plastic, used to hold plants in place.
• Hose, made of soft plastic, used to transport water from the spigot to the garden.
• Sprinkler, made of plastic and metal, used to equally spread the water around the garden.
• Milk jugs, made of plastic, used as mini-greenhouses.

Plant Life ~ SB3 ~ page 74

This past spring, I planted a garden. I obtained permission to use a plot on the property that belongs to the church next door. I did this by presenting them with a proposal that included what I was planting, how big I wanted my plot, and what I was going to do with the produce. Then we tilled the soil several times and removed all of the grass and weeds. I also mixed in manure and Epsom salt to enrich the soil. Then I put up a fence. Every morning, I went out to water and weed my garden, as well as pick anything that was ripe. We also tried to find ways to keep pests like rabbits and squirrels out.