Math, Maps, amd More ~ SB #1 ~ page 64

I want to own an I-pod touch. To do this, I will have to save up my money. Right now, I have been saving my money for a year and a half. I spend $5 to $15 dollars total on gifts or other things. I need less than $100 to get the newest version. At this rate, I think I will have an I-pod before next Christmas, possibly in the next 6 months. The newest version costs anywhere from $215 to $240 excluding tax. The cheapest place to get it is amazon.com they sell them for $215 with free shipping. Other costs might include a cover, this would be to help keep your I-pod safe from dents or nicks and keep it newer, longer. The cost for an I-pod cover, would run from $.01 to $20. You could also get apps. These are for things to do with your I-pod. Games, music, weather, or Skype to name a few. Apps run from free to about $5, depending on what you get. There are no monthly costs, this would only apply if you had an I-phone. To find out all of this information, I enlisted the help of Mr.D. I also searched online and went to several different stores. Amazon is the best place to get the things that I have listed.

Paper Works ~ SB3 ~ page 134

Today I made two paper cut outs.  We have a kit that tells how to make things and provides a pattern.  Tools can be as simplistic as scissors and paper or you could  use a special knife.  Paper cutting is one of the oldest art forms. 

Creative Cooking ~CE4 ~ Pg54

Today we job shadowed a self-employed cake maker and decorator. To do this job, you need to be able to hold yourself accountable. You should be able to budget your time. A cake might have layers or it might be a sheet cake. It might be frosted or it might have fondant over the top. Fondant is type of icing used to make the cake look smooth. You have to be good at decorating; but you also need to know when to stop decorating. Sometimes, you have to be willing to start over when you make a mistake, or you need to try new things or different cakes.

Some pros to being a cake decorator are that it is flexible. You can do it over a period of three days, or you can do it all in one day so long as you have it done before the deadline. Another pro is that you can mostly do it in your style. The customer may tell you some basic ideas, but you can be creative.

Some cons are that it takes up a lot of time. One little cake took 4 hours plus baking and clean up time. It could take longer if you made your own fondant or icing.

Cakes are needed most on the weekends. This is both a pro and con. It is good if you want a weekend job for any reason, but bad because your weekends are always filled with work. As a cake decorator you can choose to be self employed or you can work for somebody else. All of that said, I would choose to be a cake maker, but my sister, FigNewTon would not.

Travel ~ T5 ~ page 40

At the airport, there are metal detectors that everyone has to walk through. If the machine beeps, you are asked to remove anything that might be a problem and walk through it again. If it beeps a second time, you are asked to go to another spot where you are given a pat down to feel if you have any knives or guns. Also in place, you set your bags and shoes in buckets to go through a different machine. If there is an excessive amount of metal or anything concerning, they may open your bags and search them. Another thing is that only the people who are boarding a plane can go past the gate except for special circumstances. Only a certain amount of liquids are allowed on board the plane. The limit is 3 oz per bottle or container and all liquids must fit into a quart size bag. The newest technology in airports is a full body x-ray. The people for this are selected at random.

Travel ~ CE4 ~ page 40

I wrote an article that I submitted to Family Fun's monthly feature Let's Go.  Every month, they feature an article about a destination in the US.  My article highlights places I visited and some I wish I had been able to visit.  The article and accompanying pictures I submitted are below. 

If you're making a list of places to visit, Detroit, MI should be one of them. This fantastic city has many things to do. An easy way to get around downtown Detroit is riding the People Mover. At just 25 cents a ride, you can see almost all of the Downtown area. It is a great form of transportation, especially if you've already parked your car for the day. It is also fun just to ride.

It's no wonder Detroit's nickname is "The Motor City". Home to such attractions as The Chrysler Museum and the Henry Ford Museum, there are tons of things to do in and around this city. The Henry Ford Museum houses exhibits like the JFK limo, the Rosa Parks bus, and Thomas Edison's Library, as well as many others. The Chrysler Museum is a bit of a drive and highlights the history of Chrysler.

My favorite of all the places we visited was the Detroit Zoo. The zoo is small enough to get through in a day, but exciting enough that I wanted to go again. One of the things that I liked about the zoo is that the exhibits are really good quality, allowing the animals to live in an almost natural habitat. My favorite part was that there were tons of hands-on exhibits. They also have a really neat polar bear exhibit where you can walk under the water that the polar bears swim in!

One thing that is a must do in my book is crossing the border into Canada, but to do this you MUST have a passport. Once you cross the border, you can spend a day looking around Windsor. There are two ways to travel between Canada and the US in Detroit. Make sure when you go, you cross the bridge going one way and use the tunnel going the other. Both are an experience in and of themselves. John Freeman Walls Historic Site & Museum this museum tells the story of a slave who traveled along the Underground Railroad. It is also a memorial to all of the slaves who traveled the Underground Railroad. The museum is located in Windsor, Canada. To visit, you must make an appointment.

If all you have is one afternoon to spend in Detroit, be sure to visit the Riverwalk and the GM Renaissance Center. Along the Riverwalk, there is always something going on. There are also signs that educate and inform about the history of the Underground Railroad. The Renaissance center is a nice way to finish off the day, strolling inside looking through the shops. After walking around the Renaissance center, we rode the elevator up 72 floors to the top and visited the Coach Insignia restaurant. The view was wonderful. Definitely worth the trip!

The Detroit Science Center is the largest science center in Michigan, and it has programs for both scouts and homeschoolers. the Science Center has various hands-on exhibits covering many subjects. Among them are exhibits about health and outer space. It also has several theaters for live performances and demonstrations.

Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum is home to more than 250 hands-on exhibits. Housing many different activities, the museum has lots of things for kids of all ages. some of them are an exhibit on how solar panels work to collect and store energy and an exhibit showing how trash in landfills can be transformed into energy, reducing our dependence on other forms of fuel.

No trip to Michigan would be complete without a visit to one of the great lakes that Michigan is home to. Whether you plan to spend a day, a weekend, or just a few hours, this is a wonderful thing to do any time of day or year. Dossin Great Lakes Museum teaches people about the history surrounding the Great Lakes. Located on Belle Isle Park, this museum was once housed on a commercial boat. When the boat became too run-down they moved it to Belle Isle Park. The exhibits include a hydroplane racing boat, the anchor of the SS Edmund Fitzergald, and one of the largest collections of scale model ships in the world.

Pets ~ SP* ~ page 70

My sister heard that our local Humane Society uses shredded paper as bedding for the animals. She told Mom about it and now instead of throwing it away, we're saving our shredded paper to give to them. I told the kids at co-op that the Humane Society takes shredded paper donations and told them if they bring it to co-op, we will take it there. Donating shredded paper to the Humane Society helps them and the environment. It saves the Humane Society money and cuts down on waste in landfills.

Travel ~ T5 ~ page 40

When my sister and I flew to Ohio, part of the security screening was a full body scan. The scan is a new thing, in the past airports have just used a metal detector. Some other things they do to promote safety are :

1. X-Rays for bags and other items like shoes.
2. Metal detectors.
3. A rule that all liquids must be no more than three ounces each.
4. People must have a ticket or a gate pass to get past the security checkpoint.

Creative Cooking ~T2 ~ Pg54

Thickeners include flour, cornstarch, and potatoes. Leaveners include baking powder, baking soda, yeast, and whipped egg whites. When baking a cake, the outcome would vary depending on which ingredient we changed or left out. For instance, if we left out baking soda, the cake would be flat. If we substituted applesauce for oil, there would be no ill effect. On Thanksgiving, we used turkey drippings instead of water when making dressing to make it more flavorful. We also substituted applesauce for butter in our sweet potato casserole. It remained moist and had a cinnamon flavor. It was also healthier because it had less fat. We also tried a different cherry pie recipe. The one we used called for corn starch as a thickener. It was thicker than the pie we typically make with flour, but we did not like the flavor or texture.

Creative Cooking ~SP6 ~ Pg54

My sister and I cooked Thanksgiving dinner this year. Mom was unable to cook because she's recently had surgery. When it was done, we set the table with our best dishes and enjoyed the meal with our family.

Fashion Design ~ SB3 ~ page 120

While in Ohio, I asked Nano how to adapt a unitard to fit me. She helped me lengthen the pattern. I also used two different pattern views for my unitard, and she taught me how to cut it out.

Paper Works ~ T3 ~ page 134

Using Power Point, my sister and I made two flyers for babysitting. After we designed them, we sent them to Mom so she could print them. There are times when black & white is better than color, but for this project we decided to use color.

Paper Works ~ SP3 ~ page 134

When we went to the papermaking class, we helped the Brownies and Juniors in Mrs. Autumn's group with their paper. We helped by giving ideas and gathering materials. We also helped some of the girls press more water out of the paper to assist with drying.

Paper Works ~ SB1 ~ page 134

We made homemade paper at a class with Mrs. Autumn's Girl Scout group. We used one business size envelope and part of a napkin and various other things. We put it in a blender and then we poured two cups of water over the mixture and blended it. After we pressed the water out of the paper, most of the girls pressed other things like flowers or beans into their paper. Mrs. Autumn worked on drying the paper with an iron. One of the things we learned is that anything we can tear, we can use to make paper. There was some trial and error with a few of the ingredients, but everything turned out pretty well. Everyone got to make one sheet of paper, and then the teacher showed us how to use a paper mold. I want to get an old blender and the stuff to make paper. I had a lot of fun.

Graphic Communications ~ SP1 ~ page 96

My sister and I volunteered to work on the school yearbook.

Digging Through the Past ~ CE2 ~ page 56

In science today, I learned about a guy named Eratosthenes. He figured out the size of the earth by measuring the angle of the sun at 12:00 in two different places on the same day. This proved that the earth was round. About the same time, Eratosthenes figured out how to use latitude and longitude to mark an exact place on a map. This helped sailors avoid obstacles when they were plotting their course. Latitude and longitude are measured in degrees, getting wider the closer to the equator they are and narrowing at the poles.

Backpacking ~ SP2 ~ Pg 150

With our homeschool co-op, we helped to clean up a camp near our city. While we were there, we did things like cleaning up the paint ball area, weeding, and cleaning windows. I had lots of fun.

Artistic Crafts ~ CE1 ~ page116

We interviewed Ms. Mary, one of our local librarians, who is also an artist. Ms. Mary started liking art as a child. She told us that when she was coloring, she would be very detailed.

Her typical work includes doing backdrops for the library. She also occasionally makes signs and banners.

One tip she would give to beginners is to get an education. She also suggests visiting art openings and galleries.

Plant Life ~ T1 ~ Pg 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.
• Weeder, made from plastic and metal, used to help remove weeds.
• Fence posts, made from metal, used to frame the boundary for my garden.
• Duct tape, used to repair the fence.
• 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 ~ Pg 74

This summer, I planned what would be in our garden. We planted corn, watermelon, tomatoes, cucumber, zuchinii, and bell peppers. The tomatoes, corn, zuchinii, cucumber, and watermelon came up, but most of it died.

Build A Better Future ~ T5 ~ page 52

While in Detroit, Mom and I went to the Chrysler Museum. On display were cars made by Chrysler from when they started until now. Three changes in car design that have enhanced safety in the last ten years are:

• Rearview camera
• Weight sensors for air bags
• On board navigation and emergency assistance devices

Creative Cooking ~SB3 ~ Pg54

Garbanzo Beans, also called chick peas, are not native to where we live. They are grown in the Mediterranean, the Indian subcontinent, western Asia, and Australia. My sister and I have made two different recipes with chick peas. We have made humus and not tomato soup, a soup that requires tomatoes, ham, onions, mushrooms, garlic, chicken broth, and garbanzo beans.

Travel ~ TE3 ~ 40

Three different websites for travelers are:

http://www.yahoomaps.com/
http://www.mapquest.com/
http://www.googlemaps.com/

Google has the best Step By step instructions, Yahoo has the best visual map, and Mapquest has a little bit of both. We usually get our directions from Google.

Once Upon a Story ~ CE1 ~ page 102

At Fine Arts, I went to a writing workshop. The instructor gave us ten tips on how to improve our writing. One of the things he said was that every story has to have conflict. Not necessarily "Someone's dying!" kind of conflict, more like "What am I going to wear today?" type of conflict. Our teacher also said that we need to be willing to listen to criticism, and also revise over and over and over until we are satisfied.

Heritage Hunt ~SP3 ~ page 124

On Thursday mornigs, I help Mrs. Cathy at the library for 3 hours. I have done this all month.

Child Care ~ SB5 ~ page 18

During a babysitting class, I came up with a list of things I could use when playing with kids I'm babysitting.

• Stuffed animals
• Sheets or blankets for tents
• Playdoh
• Board games
• Paper dolls
• Movies
• puzzles
• Blocks

These were the items I came up with. As I think of more, I will add to the list.

Child Care ~ SB2 ~ Pg 18

I took a 4-H babysitting class through our library. We covered what to do in lots of different emergancy situations. I shared this with several friends.

Child Care ~ SB5 ~ page 18

I made a list of games and toys to take with me when I baby-sit. As I think of other items, I will add them to my list.

Child Care ~ SB2 ~ page 18

I took the babysitting class through 4-H at our library. The class taught me how to handle various emergencies. Afterwards, I shared what I learned with friends and parents that I know.

On the Playing Field ~ SB3 ~ page 164

I have learned the rules, strategies, and some of the skills needed for figure skating. Some of the rules are for competitions. I can't do tricks that are above the level I am in. In competition, I need to use up the whole rink area during my program. So far, I have mastered a waltz jump, a salchow, a scratch spin, and several other things. I am also working on a loop jump.

Home Improvment ~ SB 2 ~ Pg 34

I helped Mom paint our walls. We added blue and pink to the colors already there.

From Fitness To Fashion ~ SB2 ~ page 28

I washed my face for four weeks, day and night. My skin is very oily and needs to be washed often. These are the meanings of several skin-care terms.

hypoallergenic: having little likelihood of causing an allergic response

toner: a cosmetic preparation that is applied to produce a required effect, such as one that reduces the oiliness of the skin

astringent: tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue
exfoliate to peel off in layers

mask: A cosmetic preparation that is applied to the face and allowed to dry before being removed, used especially for cleansing and tightening the skin.

moisturizer: A cosmetic lotion or cream applied to the skin to counter dryness.

SPF sun protection factor: an indicator of how effectively a lotion, cosmetic, etc., protects the skin from the harmful rays of the sun.

antiperspirant: An astringent preparation applied to the skin to decrease perspiration.

deodorant: A substance applied to the skin to mask or suppress body odors.

natural: Not altered, treated, or disguised.

organic: Of, relating to, or derived from living organisms.

botanical: A drug, medicinal preparation, or similar substance obtained from a plant or plants.

Paper Works ~ SB* ~ page 134

We made paper beads in art class. There are many different shapes for beads, but we used the basic triangle and rectangle patterns. We used old color magazines, but you can use plain paper of any kind. After cutting out the shapes, we rolled the paper around a toothpick and sealed the end with glue. Although we did not spray our beads with varnish, that is something that will make them shiny.

Build A Better Future ~ SB3 ~ Pg 52

We went to the Mayfield dairy farms and toured the manufacturing plant. At this plant, they test and package milk. One type of machinery is called the Aerovac. They use this to get rid of any chemicals that might be in the milk. The Aerovac heats up the milk and when the milk reaches a certain temperature, the chemicals are vaporized. There are several other types of machinery used. Some are to put the milk in the bottles, transport the bottles, then to seal the bottles, to take the bottles to the next room and then, to crate the bottles. After this, they get taken to the cooling room. Mayfield uses yellow jugs to keep freshness in. They also have people who put samples of milk on cards to test if they have chemicals, or if the cows had been given artificial growth hormones. They test the milk at each farm so that if it is contaminated, they know where the contamination happened. They also test the temperature before, during, and after transport.

Math, Maps, and More ~ T1 ~ page 68

When I did my science project, I made a graph showing which lotion made peoples hands feel softer. My graph showed that homade lotion made more peoples hands feel softer than store bought lotion.

Math, Maps, and More ~ SB5 ~ page 68

For my Nebraska book, I made a map showing the elevation of our state. I also included cities. To help other people know what the colors meant, I made a key showing the colors I used. The scale on my map is 1 inch equals 43 miles.

Emergency Preparedness ~ CE5 ~ Pg 155

I read Hatchet. The book is about a boy who is stranded in the Canadian wilderness after his plane crashes. To survive, he needed basic knowledge of edible plants. He also figured out how to make a shelter and a bow and arrow. One of the most important things he needed was a positive attitude.

This book is by Gary Paulsen.

From Fitness To Fashion ~ T1 ~ page 28

As part of a science project, I looked up the ingredients in one of our lotions and made a list to present to others. We were surprised to find that more than 77% of them were harmful to humans on skin contact.

From Fitness To Fashion ~ SB6 ~ page 28

As part of our science project, my sister and I tried out several recipies for cosmetics. We tried recipies for lotion, face wash and a face mask. Then we made a bookk containing all of the ricipies we liked.

Sports For Life ~ T #5 ~ page 176

My favorite sport is figure skating. When picking out a pair of skates, I need to be sure that the boot is firm, and that there is proper support in the ankle. Blade guards need to be used keep the blades from coming into contact with debris on the floor which could cause the blade to become dull more quickly due to nicks in the blade. For this same reason, it is important to only walk on approved surfaces while in skates. Care should be taken to never walk on concrete or other similar surfaces as this could ruin a blade. The blades need to be sharpened about every six weeks. After each skating session, it is important to dry off the blades so that they don't rust. It is also important to cover the blades with soakers to help keep them dry between uses. Boots need covers to protect from wear and tear during skating.

On the Playing Field ~ SB2 ~ page 164

I signed up for gymnastics classes at the YMCA.

Women Through Time ~ SB #6 ~ page 146

I read Island of the Blue Dolphins. It is set in the 1800's. The main character is a girl who is left alone on an island when her tribe leaves. Women in her tribe were expected to harvest gardens and plants. They were expected to gather shell fish, berries and roots. They were responsible for raising the children and keeping house. They were not allowed to make weapons. She believed if she made a weapon it would not work at the time she most needed it or the earth would swallow her up. Women were also not allowed to hunt. All of these beliefs were challenged when she was left on the island to fend for herself.

Family Living ~ SB4 ~ page 26

We don't usually let issues build up in our family. When something comes up, we address it right away so it doesn't become huge.

For a while, my sister and I were fighting about who needed to turn out the overhead light in our room. We went to Mom because we needed help. We came up with a plan for F to turn off the overhead light and B to turn off a lamp beside the bed.

Another issue was about the Wii. We had to decide as a family that we would only use the Wii a maximum of once a day. This is generally only an issue on Saturdays because sometimes my sister and I will play on the Wii early in the day. Every other day, we don't use it until after dinner.

Law and Order ~ T1 ~ page 36

Last night, we had a slumber party. We had invited all of the girls from co-op. We watched Night at the Museum and discussed that it was wrong for the former employees to try to steal things and frame the new employee. We also talked about the things that went right in the movie, like the thieves being captured. However, in the movie, the thieves are not punished, just stopped.

Plant Life ~ CE2 ~ page 74

We went to the Garden of the Senses at the zoo. We noticed that it had wide spaces for people in wheel chairs and the exhibits were low to the ground for easy access. There was lots of sound for the blind as well as braille on all the signs. There were opportunities to taste, touch, and smell various plants. The texture of the animal sculptures was similar to that of the real animals they represent. There is also a gong that when it is hit, you can feel the vibrations. It is also visually pleasing.

Visual Arts ~ T #1 ~ page 144

I created a pencil drawing for fine arts. I learned to not press very hard at any given moment and that it is important to not smudge it. I learned that even if pencils have the same number, they will make a different type of mark. I learned a smaller eraser is better for erasing because it is harder to control the movements of a large eraser. The tools I used are paper, pencil, and eraser. There are several different types of paper available and each will give a different outcome. I used sketch paper. There are also many types of pencils. Pencils are numbered to let the artist know how dark the pencil lead is and how hard it is.

The Performing Arts ~ SP #3 ~ page 136

I was in a human video with my youth group. We used drama and music to portray the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We performed this at our church and at fine arts competition.

The Performing Arts ~ SB #5 ~ page 136

I performed a vocal solo for fine arts this year. I practiced three times a week for a month before performing it at my church and then at the competition. I prefer to perform with a group because I feel like it is less stressful. When I am performing solo, all of the responsibility is on me. Whereas when I am performing with a group, the responsibility is shared. The preparation for a solo performance is different because you don't have to rely on other people to be able to practice, all you need is your materials and the time to do it. When you are practicing with a group, the coach is focusing on the whole group rather than the individual and may not notice individual mistakes. Practicing for a solo, the coach is more able to focus on the individual.

Heritage Hunt ~ SB 3 ~ page 124

When I went to Fort Atkinson with co-op, I brushed wool to prepare it for making yarn. Recently, I planted a herb garden.

The Lure of Language ~ SB #3 ~page 98

At co-op, we have learned several phrases in American Sign Language. Other ways that people in the deaf community communicate are: SEE (Signed Exact English), pigeon sign (a mix of ASL and SEE), and homing signals (which are signs used between family and close friends). There are also TTY machines, which allow them to communicate using a telephone.

Graphic Communcations ~ SB6 ~ page 96

I decorated the front of a thank-you card and sent it to Mrs. Stephanie.

Graphic Communcations ~ SB6 ~ page 96

I designed the front of a thank you card and sent it to Mrs. Autumn.

From A to V: Audiovisual Production ~ T1 ~ page 94

I have learned how to use my mom's digital camera. It has a neat tool that tells you whether or not the picture is good. Her camera is equipped with different settings like sports, auto, low-light, portrait, and lots of others. I have also figured out the video setting on my mom's camera.

From A to V: Audiovisual Production ~ T1 ~ page 94

I learned how to use my Mom's digital camera. When taking pictures, I usually experiment with a couple of the settings to see which one comes out the best, especially if I am having trouble getting a good photo. Some of the settings are: Snow, Sports, Children, Museum, Auto, and Low Light. It also has a Video setting on it. I have used most of these settings while capturing photos.

Do You Get The Message ~ SB5 ~ page 90

I told a joke at co-op. None of the other kids got it, but when I told my mom, she laughed. I got this joke from a book I am reading.

I have a friend visitng. Do you want to know what his name is?
Sure.
His name is Columbus, Ohio. A capital fellow, really.

Do You Get The Message ~ SB5 ~ page 90

I made a joke at co-op.

We are learning sign language in co-op. When I am signing that I am an older sister, I sign it for very old and everyone laughs. Now they are all doing the same thing.

Computers In Everyday Life ~ SP2 ~ page 86

As a family, we are making a spreadsheet of Interest Project requirements that we can do. They are organized alphabetically by subject. Some of the subjects are Wii, television viewing, sleepover ideas, field trip ideas, zoo, and science projects. Mom uses this when she is scheduling fiend trips for the homeschool co-op and planning some of our school assignments. We use it to help plan sleepovers and to know when some of the other things we do, like playing on the Wii, count for GS.

Creative Cooking ~ SB2 ~ page 54

Mom sends me to get items at the store. She taught me how to do this when I was younger. Now she sends me off so that I can do it on my own. If I bring her something that is not very good, she will take me back and show me how to pick a better one. With produce, I look for bruises or soft spots and check ripeness. We check the labels on new canned and boxed goods to make sure we can eat them. There are some additives that give the people in my family a headache. Mom has also sent me back if I gave her a dented box or can. Canned goods, boxed goods, and perishables all have to be checked for expiration dates.

Creative Cooking ~ SB1 ~ page 54

I looked up the USDA food pyramid online to see their suggestions for how I should eat.
Yesterday, I ate the following:

• cereal with milk
• turkey sandwich, chips, apples, Sunny D, and trail mix
• water
• pop tarts and trail mix
• water
• yogurt
• steak, mashed potatoes, salad, and tea

The USDA guidelines suggest I eat:

• 6-11 bread
• 2-4 fruits
• 3-5 vegetables
• 2-3 meats
• 2-3 milks

Yesterday I ate:

• 7 breads
• 3 fruits
• 3 vegetables
• 3 meats
• 3 milks

Yesterday, I ate pretty balanced. This is typical for me on days that I skate. On days that I don't skate, I eat a little less, but still remain within the minimum guidelines.

Your Own Business ~ SP #1 ~ page 46

I wrote a sponsorship letter and am sending it out to all the business in the Fremont area. In my letter I explain that I am a figure skater who hopes to go to the Olympics and asking for their support so I can reach my goal. We set it up so they could donate through the local ice arena so their donation would be tax deductible.

Understanding Yourself And Others ~ SB #2 ~ page 42

I set a goal to learn the sign language for Love in Any Language by Sandy Patti so that I could perform it at Fine Arts Festival. I began working on it February 23 and learned it by March 21, when I performed it at church.

From Fitness To Fashion ~ SB #3 ~ page 28

Mom taught me a new hairstyle that I have been doing this week. It is great for days when I want my hair to look pretty, but it also stays in all day.

Creative Cooking ~ SB2 ~ page 54

When we go to the grocery store, Mom sends us to pick out fruits and vegetables. When we come back, she checks them to make sure they are good and if they are not the best, she teaches us and comes back to help us pick out better ones. She has told us to never get cans or boxes that are dented. We read the label on all new food that we buy. Sometimes, we won't buy something if it has certain additives. Then we will find a way to make it from scratch. Eggs, she has us check for cracks. We have to check the expiration date on all things.

Creative Cooking ~ SB1 ~ page 54

I looked up the USDA food pyramid online to see their suggestions for how I should eat.

Yesterday, I ate the following:

• bowl of cereal with milk
• lunchables deep dish cheese pizza w/ applesauce, vanilla wafers, and water
• grilled cheese sandwich w/ vegetable beef soup and Sunny D to drink

The USDA guidelines suggest I eat:

• 6-11 bread
• 2-4 fruits
• 3-5 vegetables
• 2-3 meats
• 2-3 milks

Yesterday I ate:

• 5 breads
• 1 fruit
• 2 vegetables
• 2 meats
• 3 milks

Yesterday, I did not eat very well. I got enough milks and meats yesterday. I was one away on everything else. Typically on Monday I do not eat as well as the other days of the week. I will make it a point to be more aware of what I am eating.

Understanding Yourself And Others ~ SB #2 ~ page 42

I wanted to enter a drawing in a fine arts competition. I started working on it the last week of February and finished it on Sunday. The competition is this Saturday. While I was working on my drawing, I wanted to read my book sometimes but I wouldn't. One time, I read a half chapter so I could give myself a break from drawing and then I worked on it some more.

Sports For Life ~ SB #1 ~ page 176

In lessons, our coaches had us do stretches on the ice. We held each of the stretches for at least 20 seconds. We had to do push-ups and the bridge. We also had to hold our arms up in the proper position for skating.

From Stress To Success ~ SB5 ~ page 30

My sister's brain injury is a problem that does not have an obvious solution and causes me repeated stress. I talked to Mrs.M and my mom to come up with some ways to help me cope with it. They include:

• writing in my journal
• accepting that it is what it is and cannot be changed
• focusing on the positive instead of the negative
• writing in a journal
• talking to mom and Mrs.M

From Stress To Success ~ SB6 ~ page 30

We got a Wii just over a month ago. We get on the Wii almost every day after dinner and play on it for 1-3 hours. Some of the activities are basic step, bowling, simulated bike riding, running, obstacle course, boxing and hula hoop. I am more relaxed than I was before, even in the day to day, not just when I am playing on the Wii.

Some of our ideas for reducing stress are:

• reading my Bible
• writing in my journal or on my blog
• talking to my mom or Mrs.M
• listen to music
• read a book
• soak in the tub
• running
• skating
• do cross-stitch
• play games
• knit

The one helps me most is skating. When I can't get to the rink, reading my Bible helps a lot.

From Fitness To Fashion ~ SB #2 ~ page 28

I wanted to wear make-up and my mom said that I had to wash my face twice a day for a month before she would consider it. I did and I wore make-up for a little while, but I have decided that I am pretty without it, so I seldom wear make-up now, but I still wash my face.

hypoallergenic having little likelihood of causing an allergic response

toner a cosmetic preparation that is applied to produce a required effect, such as one that reduces the oiliness of the skin

astringent tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue

exfoliate to peel off in layers

mask A cosmetic preparation that is applied to the face and allowed to dry before being removed, used especially for cleansing and tightening the skin.

moisturizer A cosmetic lotion or cream applied to the skin to counter dryness.

SPF sun protection factor: an indicator of how effectively a lotion, cosmetic, etc., protects the skin from the harmful rays of the sun.

antiperspirant An astringent preparation applied to the skin to decrease perspiration.

deodorant A substance applied to the skin to mask or suppress body odors.

natural Not altered, treated, or disguised.

organic Of, relating to, or derived from living organisms.

botanical A drug, medicinal preparation, or similar substance obtained from a plant or plants.

From Stress To Success ~ SB #5 ~ page 30

My brain injury is a problem that does not have an obvious solution and causes me repeated stress. I talked to Mrs.M and my mom to come up with some ways to help me cope with it. They include:

• accepting that it is what it is and cannot be changed
• focusing on living my life
• finding things that I can still do and doing them
• hope for the future and imagine my life when my brain injury is finally healed
• writing in a journal
• talking to mom and Mrs.M
• finding ways to be involved in activities that I can't participate in full

From Stress To Success ~ SB #6 ~ page 30

We got a Wii just over a month ago. We get on the Wii almost every day after dinner and play on it for 1-3 hours. Some of the activities are simulated bike riding, running, obstacle course, boxing and hula hoop. I am happier and more calm than I was a month ago.

Some of our ideas for reducing stress are:

• playing with play-doh
• writing in my journal or on my blog
• drawing
• talking to my mom or Mrs.M
• breathing calmly and on purpose
• listen to music
• read a book
• soak in the tub
• do cross-stitch
• play games
• crochet
• knit

The one I use most often is playing with play-doh.

Family Living ~ CE3 ~ page 26

I share the responsibility of cleaning the kitchen with my sister. We have decided that one person loads the dishwasher and washes dishes by hand that can be placed in the drainer to dry while the other person wipes off counters, puts food away, washes any dishes that require special care, and sweeps & mops the floor. We clean the kitchen each day after dinner. If it gets messy during the day, we load and unload the dishwasher and save the rest for after dinner.

Family Living ~ SP5 ~ page 26

With our family, everybody chooses a meal each week that we have to cook. We have to figure out what needs to be bought at the store. Mom always does the shopping, but we help with that by going after items while we are at the store. I am then responsible for preparing the meal that I chose. If I need assistance, mom is there to help, but the main responsibility is on me. One of my favorite meals that I have chosen recently is Chicken Enchiladas with Black Beans and Rice. Then my sister and I clean the kitchen once dinner is over.

Family Living ~ T3 ~ page 26

Recently, we reorganized all of our movies and music. Someone had given us several movies and we are in the process of going through all of our movies and giving away the ones we no longer want. We also regularly loan out movies to friends. Most recently, we have loaned out Love Comes Softly.

Family Living ~ SB6 ~ page 26

We recently got a Wii. Playing on the Wii has not only increased the amount of time we spend together, but it has also improved the quality of our family time.

Invitation To The Dance ~ SB5 ~ page 126

I am a figure skater. I have learned the waltz jump, spiral, and side toe hop. Although these may have different names in dancing, they originated from dance moves. Often, I learn jumps and spins off ice before doing them on the ice. Jump class is much like a dance class specifically for figure skaters.

Invitation To The Dance ~ SB1 ~ page 126

Figure skating is a form of dance. I have created a warm-up routine that I do before skating. I have several stretches that I do and I also run to get my legs warmed up. The stretches include splits, pike, straddle, butterfly, triceps stretch, quadriceps stretch, I.T. stretch, and the shoulder stretch. When I am running, I run both forwards and backwards, I do side toe hops, and then I walk to cool down a bit. Then I put on my skates. When I get on the ice, I do a couple of laps of stroking, a spiral sequence, and some footwork before getting started on other things.

Writing For Real ~ T #4~ page 110

Mom showed us the news about the earthquake in Chile. She would also give us updates every day. At first we followed the initial earthquake and updates about that. Then we followed the tsunami as it headed through the Pacific Ocean. As more information became available, the prediction of where the tsunamis would hit changed. The were not traveling as fast as predicted and therefore did not cause as much damage as was originally thought. I think that having unfolding news stories as it was happening gave people warning and therefore saved many lives.

Collecting ~ SB1 ~ page 118

I collect post cards. Recently, I got some new ones on our vacation.

Collecting ~ SB1 ~ page 118

I have a business card collection and I add to it often.

Reading ~ CE #3 ~ page 106

I read How to Eat Fried Worms and watched the movie. I thought the movie was better than the book, which is unusual for me, but that the movie was kind of gross as well. I would rather write a movie because I think it would be fun to see the characters come to life. One of the benefits of writing both the screenplay and book would be that the movie would be made closer to what was written in the book instead of going off on another person's idea. Another positive would be the author would see the changes being made between the two scripts and would have some say in both. A negative to writing the screenplay would be that everything wouldn't be up to the author so he may not like those changes.

Reading ~ SP #7 ~ page 106

I swap books with the girls in my homeschool co-op regularly. Beginning last September, we each decided to bring books that we have that the others might want to read and trade.

Reading ~ SB #5 ~ page 106

In homeschool co-op, we have formed a book club. We are reading Follow My Leader by James B. Garfield. Every Friday, our group meets to talk about it from 1:30-2:30.

Reading ~ SB #2 ~ page 106

I learned the meaning of many literary terms at the beginning of this school year. Some of them and examples of their use in things I have read are listed here.

Climax (the point of highest dramatic tension or a major turning point in the action): In Pig Scrolls when he is trying to fight the bad Greek gods that are trying to atke over the world and he succeeds and then dies.

Conflict (the opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to the dramatic action in a drama or fiction): In Pig Scrolls, Thanatos and Cosmos planned to destroy the world like it had never existed.

Figurative Language (whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else): In Midnighters, when Dess is explaining about the animals, she compares the darklings to panthers, snakes, spiders, and lots of other things but adds that each has wings.

Parable (a usually short fictitious story that illustrates a moral attitude or a religious principle): In the Bible, Jesus uses several parables including the one about the sower.

Setting (the time and place of the action of a literary, dramatic, or cinematic work ): Midnighters happens in Bixby, OK.

Writing For Real ~ T #4~ page 110

When the earthquake hit Chile, I followed the story. I watched news stories on the Internet about how bad damages were and when tsunamis were expected to hit other places in the world because of the earthquake. As more information became available, it became evident that the predictions about the tsunamis were not correct. They were not traveling as quickly as predicted and therefore hit places later than anticipated and lost some of their force along the way. The secondary impact of the earthquake in Chile was not as bad as expected. I think that having unfolding news stories as it was happening helped because it brought more awareness and there were more people prepared for the possible tsunamis and therefore less loss of life. Also, I believe because of the news reports, more people prayed and God answered our prayers.

Do You Get The Message ~ SB1 ~ page 90

In co-op we are doing a sign language class. I have learned several phrases including: I love you, my name is, my phone number is, my favorite color is, and how to call a dog. I am also learning to sign Love in Any Language by Sandy Patti.

Do You Get The Message ~ SB1 ~ page 90

Right now in co-op we are learning sign language. I know several phrases including: I love you, my name is, my phone number is, my favorite color is, and how to call a dog. I am enjoying learning sign language and I hope to learn more.

Reading ~ CE #3 ~ page 106

While we were in GA, I watched the movie How to Eat Fried Worms. The other day, I read the book.

Writing both the book and the screenplay might be easier because the author already knows the story. Then again, the movie might need to be different from the book, so it would be harder to write it differently from what had already been written because the author knows what it going to happen in the story and wants to still make it interesting, but he might have established ideas about how the characters and the setting should look and it might not be possible to do those things on screen.

I would rather write a book because then I am not responsible for deciding how each scene should look, but I am able to still put a picture into the readers' mind about what things look like.

Reading ~ SP #7 ~ page 106

I swap books with the girls in my homeschool co-op regularly. Beginning last September, we each decided to bring books that we have that the others might want to read and trade.

Reading ~ SB #5 ~ page 106

In homeschool co-op, we have formed a book club. We are reading Follow My Leader by James B. Garfield. Every Friday, our group meets to talk about it from 1:30-2:30.

Reading ~ SB #2 ~ page 106

I learned the meaning of many literary terms at the beginning of this school year. Some of them and examples of their use in things I have read are listed here.

Climax (the point of highest dramatic tension or a major turning point in the action): In Lord Brocktree when he and the wildcat, the enemy in the story, were going out to fight and Lord Brocktree was almost killed because the wildcat had cheated.

Conflict (the opposition of persons or forces that gives rise to the dramatic action in a drama or fiction): In Pig Scrolls, Thanatos and Cosmos planned to destroy the world like it had never existed.

Comic Relief (a relief from the emotional tension especially of a drama that is provided by the interposition of a comic episode or element): In The Reptile Room, that would be when the narrator of the story repeated the word ever for several pages.

Haiku (an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively): In The Austere Academy, Isadora recites a poem that she had written in the form of haiku.

Irony (the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning): In The Reptile Room, Uncle Monty says that if you are careful and follow his instructions, no harm will come to you in this room and then in the end, Uncle Monty is killed in the reptile room.

Family Living ~ T5 ~ page 26

We invited four girls for a spend the night. While we were preparing for it, we designed and printed the invitation cards. We picked the design off the Internet and chose whether it would be printed in b/w or color as well as what color paper it would be printed on.

Visual Arts ~ SB #5 ~ page 144

While we were in GA, we walked around Athens to find the Bulldawg statues. The Bulldawgs are sculptures made by different artists and they portray different aspects of life in Athens. Thy are decorated using various mediums including paint and mosaic tiles.

From Shore To Sea ~ CE #5 ~ page 62

I drew a picture of a fish that we saw at the aquarium.

From Shore To Sea ~ CE #5 ~ page 62

Our family went to the zoo and I drew a picture of a Garibaldi fish.

On the Playing Field ~ SB6 ~ page 164

When I went skating with my friend, I taught her how to do a dip. I also taught her some other basic skills.

Reading ~ T #3 ~ page 106

Frindle
By: Andrew Clements

Frindle is about a 5th grade boy named Nick who comes up with a new word. In the beginning, his teacher is totally against it and tries to stop the whole process, even keeping kids after school as punishment if they use frindle in her presence! In the end, frindle becomes a word, and the uproar that Nick's word caused dies down. This is a really good book, especially for young readers.

Have you read it? If so, leave a comment to let me know what you think about it.

Museum Discovery ~ SB1 ~ page 130

We stopped at the Visitors Center in Athens, GA. It is at the Athens Historical Museum. It had previously served as the governors mansion in the early 1900's. It is in the process of being restored. Right now admission is free with a suggested donation. The proceeds from the sales at the visitor center also go towards refurbishing the mansion. The person working at the museum that day told us all about what was there and their efforts to refurbish it. We saw several other people stop and purchase things at the visitor center while we were there. My favorite part of the museum was the governor's office. It was small and simply decorated. It was lighted by only a candle and there was no heat in the room. It only held a desk and a chair, but had a great view from the window. At this point, the museum is completely inaccessible to those who need extra space to maneuver or cannot climb stairs. I would add some way for people who cannot walk or need assistance walking to get upstairs.

Fashion Design ~ SB #2 ~ Pg120

With the help of Mrs. Stephanie, I learned to knit a scarf using a knit around. I also used instructions to help me. When I finished my scarf, Mrs. Stephanie helped me to tie it off. The idea of a knit around, is for there to be a middle in whatever you are making. In my case, a knit around made a magic scarf. The yarn I chose was a cream color that matched my coat. I had to use two strands of yarn to make it thick enough.

Pets ~ SB3 ~ page 70

I trained Tank to sit, stay, and lay down. When we got there, Tank often would jump onto people and would ignore commands he was given. A dog could be expected to follow commands and listen. Forms of discipline might be, crating the dog, telling him NO, and with holding treats. Exercises might include taking the dog for a walk, or letting him run in the yard.

Travel ~ T #4 ~ page 40

I learned to read a street map and a road map on our trip. For our trip, I was sometimes the navigator. I would look at the road map and tell mom where to go. Usually I only did this if she was fairly sure of where she was going because I wasn't very proficient at it at first.

While we were in Athens, GA, we tried to find all of the Bulldawg Statues that they have on display. While we were looking for them, I was partly responsible for finding them on the street map.

Travel ~ SB #4 ~ page 40

Prior to going on vacation, I made a list of all the things I needed to take.

• clothes
• lotion
• specials
• play-doh
• rubber bands
• tooth brush
• face wash
• tooth paste
• deodorant
• moisturizer
• mom's b-day present
• brush
• comb
• pony tail holders
• head band
• flat iron
• hair spray
• hair clips
• shoes
• music for FA
• money
• swim suit
• floss threaders
• wax
• mouthwash
• contacts and cleaner
• heat mask
• pillow
• drawing pad
• pencils
• blokus
• notebook
• music

Before leaving home, I had to clean off my desk and organize my closet.

From Fitness To Fashion ~ SB3 ~ page 28

Right before we left on vacation, I got my hair cut. I chose to have side bangs with hair cut to frame my face. My mom wanted me to choose a haircut that I would fix my hair every day and not wear it in a pony tail all the time. Mostly, I fix my hair now and even when I don't, it looks better just because of the bangs. While we were on vacation, I chose to color part of my hair bright red. It looked really good. Maybe I will do purple next...

Family Living ~ SP5 ~ page 26

Once a week, each member of our family chooses a meal to cook. Each person is responsible for cooking their meal. They are also required to make a list of ingredients needed to be purchased at the store. This week, I chose BLAT's (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato sandwich). We don't have BLAT's normally, so it is a treat. Our family also likes to eat the bacon as soon as it comes out of the pan and is cool enough to eat. This was the first time I cooked bacon alone. After dinner, my sister and I clean up.

Travel ~ T4 ~ page 40

I learned to read a street map and a road map on our trip. For our trip, I was often the navigator. I would look at the road map and tell mom where to go. While we were in Athens, GA, we tried to find all of the Bulldawg Statues that they have on display. While we were looking for them, I was partly responsible for finding them on the street map.

Travel ~ T3 ~ page 40

While we were preparing for our trip, I helped mom map out directions for which way we were going. We visited Google Maps, Yahoo, and MapQuest. We found out that Yahoo was the easiest to understand, but Google had the most complete information and was more likely to get us directly where we wanted to go. We also learned that MapQuest pulls their information from Google so they are basically the same however, Google is slightly more accurate.

Visual Arts ~ SB #1 ~ page 144

Our family reorganized all of our craft supplies so that it is more convenient to access them. We made a place in the school room for all types of paper as well as pencils, markers, crayons, paints, scissors, glue, tape, rulers, and art books.

Space Exploration ~ SB 2 ~ Pg 76

While we were in Ohio, we went to the National Museum of Air Force History. They had an exhibit detailing the history of space exploration.

On the Playing Field ~ CE1 ~ page 164

We watched the Olympics on television with my family. Five careers associated with figure skating are:

1. Coach.
2. Skate shop owner.
3. Rink manager.
4. Skating judge (at competitions).
5. Zamboni driver.

Games For Life ~ SB6 ~ page 156

I learned how to play Blokus. In Blokus, you want to block your opponent from placing tiles on the board while also placing as many as you can.

Collecting ~ SP2 ~ page 118

Recently, I tried on everything in my closet and gave away all the things that no longer fit or I did not wear.