Hen vs. Incubator Challenge is ON!

Today may not have been a typical day, but it was a great one!  Ms. Gail had a trip planned in advance, and I was happy to take the reins on science and literature.  It just so happened that Ms. Jennifer had car trouble and Ms. Bev was ill all on one day!  It may sound daunting, but it really allowed for a flexible, Ms. Holly-led day!

In grammar, we reviewed the four types of sentences.  Then, we zeroed in on commands.  The class learned how to diagram the understood subject (you).  We will be picking up with the other three types next week. 

In writing class, we learned all about homophones.  The kids came up with tons of examples of homophones... and then, they were given the ultra-fun activity of turning their homophone list into a joke book!  There were some good ones about scared bow and arrows (quivering), dear deers, and having a report card that is "below sealevel"!

In math class, the 3A class worked on long division practice.  They worked independently and then we worked the problems out together.  This is one of those lessons that really takes a lot of practice to make "stick".  They learned that the steps of long division can be remembered by Dad (Divide), Mom (Multiply), Sister (Subtract), and Brother (Bring Down).  The 4A class had a lesson on fraction of sets.  We worked through visual representations of problems (1/4 of 24 colored pencils), manipulating them into equal groups.  Then, we moved from the manipulatives and did problems on the board and in the workbook. 

Science-  In science class today, the students put their knowledge of polymers to the test as they completed a crossword puzzle over key terms from chapter 9.  After a discussion of the material, they made observations of two substances: white glue and liquid laundry starch.  They documented their observations.  Then, we combined equal amounts of each substance and stirred.  It formed a thicker material, much like silly putty!  The longer the substance sat, the harder it became.  The class documented their observations of the new properties and came up with ideas as to why it changed!

Literature-   The class turned in their completed comprehension questions.  We read the next four chapters in "Sign of the Beaver" today.   Because I am not the literature instructor, I was jumping in towards the end of the book!  After reading four chapters with the kids, I was dying to know why Matt was in the woods alone!  Where was his family?  What is this cabin?  I asked questions and the kids were excited to fill me in!

Social Studies-  The class has been studying the 1860's through 1890's.  They are learning about the purchase of Alaska and Nebraska.  They are also learning about cattle drives, sharecropping, and the dispute between Andrew Johnson and Congress during the Reconstruction Era.  They worked on reading comprehension exercises in small groups.  Earlier in the day, I explained how these tough reading comprehension exercises really helped prepare the class for standardized testing in the spring! 

Agriculture-  We had a lot to learn in agriculture today!  We are still working our way through our goat lesson.  Although I expected baby goats by now, we had an interesting situation.  One of our does did not "take" and the other had a "false pregnancy"!  We have never had a false pregnancy before.  Basically, the goat's body had a "short circuit", causing the corpus luteum to produce progesterone as if the goat was actually pregnant.  She went through the entire pregnancy, filled her udder, and then... nothing!  I explained the the class what happened.  Unlike our Nigerian Dwarf goats, I had heard that our Saanens, from Alpine origin, are seasonal-only breeders.  They do not breed for fall kids!  Little did I know that this was more of a definite and less of a "possibly".  So, I will be driving to Hoschton, GA on Monday to pick up a Saanen buck to use... and hopefully we will have some babies in April!

As the days have become shorter, the class has learned that the hens lay less eggs.  In order to get the lavender orpingtons to lay eggs so that I can breed for more spring orpington layers, the class and I put a light on them.  The timer gives the hens 3 more hours per day of light.  It worked.  The class was thrilled to learn that the coop of three hens that were giving us NO eggs are now up to 2-3 per day.  The eggs have been collected, and labelled with the date that they were gathered.  Today, we set the eggs in the incubator AND saved one from each date to set under a broody hen.  The class made guesses as to which will have the first egg to hatch, the hen or the incubator.  They made their arguments: constant heat, not relying on electricity, etc.  Then, they made guesses as to which will have the highest success rate.  They had some great reasons for their hypothesis.  I gave them some extra information to apply, such as the introduction of bacteria in the nesting box.  For the most part, the class trusts the broody hen more than the incubator!  In 20 days, we will see!

One of our kids found a tiny birds' egg in the yard!  We discussed the difference between baby chicks, who can jump up, walk around, and drink and eat on their own the day of their birth, and other helpless baby birds who require momma bird to drop chewed food into their mouths!