Earthroots

We've been dropping in at Earthroots Field School lately. Earthroots has groups of homeschoolers that meet up with naturalists/environmental educators to explore some of the natural wildlife and wilderness parks in South Orange County. Here are just some of the fun things we've done and/or learned about so far:

*saw thousands of tadpoles and baby frogs (froglets)

*watched a filaree spiral

*waded through creeks

*climbed oak trees

*identified wildflowers (these are purple lupines)

*learned about the water cycle

*made chamomille & elderberry flower tea

*saw how to make fire with a bow

*made clay bowls from the clay in a creek bed

*made a dam in a creek

*held a baby chick

*ate minor's lettuce (which only grows for a short time during the Spring).

Homeschoolers can sign up or drop in for weekly adventures. Maybe we will see you there sometime!

Note - Aside from sharing an occasional edible plant (or ant:), Earthroots is extremely careful about making sure that the kids do not harm or remove any of the natural elements in the wilderness parks.

Tinkering (Home)School

By Allie

Micayla and I went to the Tinkering School with our friends where I got to take apart a flat screen TV. They had tons of things there you could take apart. It was fun.

Nate and I did some tinkering of our own at home. We took apart a CD player that didn't work anymore. We used tools like screwdrivers and scissors. It was pretty neat to see all the things that were inside!

Music Museum

We met up with our good friends in Carlsbad and took a tour of the history of music in America last month at the Museum of Making Music.

(did you know that there were orchestras in the 30's that were made up of kids 6 and under?) There were many great exhibits and we saw lots antique and unique instruments.

At the end of the tour was a fun interactive area with a variety of instruments that we could play. Some of our favorite instruments were the strumstick, the harpsichord, the see-through piano, the theremin, and the drums.

Afterwards, our friends treated us to a yummy lunch and delicious homemade cupcakes from CAKEgirl (our friend's new cake business - you can find it on Facebook).

Sophie's spaghetti and meatball creations!

Everybody Music Video

I created this Everybody Music Video Storyboard for Ingrid Michaelson's Everybody Video Contest! It's my idea for an Everybody (Ingrid Michaelson's single) Music Video (although they're already producing one...). Enjoy!
-Carly
(It may be easier to read the scrolling words if you click on this You-Tube link.)