So far my adult 6th grade experience has taken me through math, reading, creating a country in social studies and now it is time to for science. Ahhh science! Science is awesome because the subject encompasses so much. You can learn anything from nature to physical sciences and this week we worked on space. Space as in galaxy, constellations, the universe, you get the drift.
Ok, so my son recreated for me the science test he took in class. He received an A on the test and he could not wait to see what I would get on this same test. “No problem” I said, “I won’t even have to study because I have seen Star Wars 1 thru 17 (isn’t that how many there have been?)
The following are sample questions which appeared on the test:
1. T or F – The newest space station is the Mir.
2. T or F - In the electromagnetic spectrum different forms of radiation are arranged according to shape.
What the?..Luke, Darth, Leia and ‘nem never talked about this stuff! Where are the questions about Tatooine? Needless to say, it gave my son great pleasure to give me a C on the test PLUS a frowny face. BUT despite his numerous attempts to convince me otherwise, it gave me great pleasure to remind him that television and movies isn’t all a kid needs when it comes to their education. Momma always gets the last word…STAY TUNED! Da de dada de dada de dada (Darth Vader Death March)
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
6th Grade Revisited - "Dating"
After our one mile run, I wanted to enjoy my son’s playground a little bit…after all, I did not get to spend much time on the playground as a 6th grader. Recess for me equaled bullies, so setting foot on the pavement was not an option. I did go outside during winter time, however, only because Indiana winters produced shivering popsicles, no one, not even the meanest of bullies could move during those cold days. We all used to stand in one place and pray for recess to be over. No matter how many layers a mother puts on the child, they still freeze during recess.
Now back in the present, as I was running from apparatus to apparatus with reckless abandon, I noticed there were a few pieces of equipment I had never seen before. “What do you kids do on those things?” I said. My son looked at me and with some hesitation he said, “Umm we don’t really play over in that area, that is where kids go and ‘date’…Scccreeeech stop the car, pull over, WHAT? My son laughed and said, “Mom you have a lot to learn about 6th grade.” At that moment I felt like I was no longer revisiting 6th grade No, at that moment I became an investigative journalist uncovering the seedy underground world of 6th grade, with a duty to report my findings.
First I want to report, 6th graders talk about S-E-X, yes that’s right! I am pretty sure I was still playing with Barbie and her friends, but times have changed. So parents if you have not talked to your kids about sex before 6th grade I would recommend you do so, because if not, they will get their education from their 11 and 12 year-old comrades who, probably have NO idea what they are talking about.
Back to dating…yes parents, kids “date” on the playground. They “ask each other out” during class… and by recess, BAM they are on their little 15 or 20 minute date. The dates consist of talking….and well, just talking I hope. My son could not give me any more info on this because he hasn’t dated yet…so he says. I am thinking about getting decked out in camouflage, with one of those army helmets with branches sticking out of the top. I am going to slither though the bushes by the playground with binoculars and get the full story…STAY TUNED
Now back in the present, as I was running from apparatus to apparatus with reckless abandon, I noticed there were a few pieces of equipment I had never seen before. “What do you kids do on those things?” I said. My son looked at me and with some hesitation he said, “Umm we don’t really play over in that area, that is where kids go and ‘date’…Scccreeeech stop the car, pull over, WHAT? My son laughed and said, “Mom you have a lot to learn about 6th grade.” At that moment I felt like I was no longer revisiting 6th grade No, at that moment I became an investigative journalist uncovering the seedy underground world of 6th grade, with a duty to report my findings.
First I want to report, 6th graders talk about S-E-X, yes that’s right! I am pretty sure I was still playing with Barbie and her friends, but times have changed. So parents if you have not talked to your kids about sex before 6th grade I would recommend you do so, because if not, they will get their education from their 11 and 12 year-old comrades who, probably have NO idea what they are talking about.
Back to dating…yes parents, kids “date” on the playground. They “ask each other out” during class… and by recess, BAM they are on their little 15 or 20 minute date. The dates consist of talking….and well, just talking I hope. My son could not give me any more info on this because he hasn’t dated yet…so he says. I am thinking about getting decked out in camouflage, with one of those army helmets with branches sticking out of the top. I am going to slither though the bushes by the playground with binoculars and get the full story…STAY TUNED
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
6th Grade Revisited - The Mile
I am ashamed to say I did not write a Wednesday blog because I allowed fantasy football to consume me. I am in two leagues and the way I researched prior to drafting my teams; you would think my life depended on getting the best quarterback or wide receiver. Now that it is over, I have to get my head back into a different game, this is my only shot to redo 6th grade. I guess I could revisit this grade with a grand kid. Naw, I will probably be too busy going to MCL at 4:00 for dinner or playing bingo.
So get this, my son comes home and says to me, “Hey mom aren’t you trying to do just about everything I have to do in sixth grade?” “Yes that’s the plan, I said.” “Well, today in gym class we had to run a mile, so you have to run a mile, right?” I could tell he was trying to hold back laughter.
Feeling guilty that I let 6th grade take a back seat and because my new jeans are a little snug we headed to my son’s school track. At first I was trotting around the track like a gazelle, gently dodging the little geese droppings sprinkled all over the track. After lap two (a mile is four laps around the track) my trotting turned into a sluggish shuffle. By lap three, I was just praying for it all to be over! My big size 11’s were squishing the geese pooh and I did not even care! When I got home I slapped so many Icy Hot pain patches on, I almost passed out from inhaling too much menthol. My son tells me the gym teacher is making them run a mile every month. Who is this evil woman?
Hmmmm…On second thought…Maybe I should revisit 6th grade with my grandkids because their gym class will probably be virtual. Can you picture it? Children sitting in the gym wearing futuristict goggles running the mile virtually…STAY TUNED…oohhh in about 20 or 30 years.
So get this, my son comes home and says to me, “Hey mom aren’t you trying to do just about everything I have to do in sixth grade?” “Yes that’s the plan, I said.” “Well, today in gym class we had to run a mile, so you have to run a mile, right?” I could tell he was trying to hold back laughter.
Feeling guilty that I let 6th grade take a back seat and because my new jeans are a little snug we headed to my son’s school track. At first I was trotting around the track like a gazelle, gently dodging the little geese droppings sprinkled all over the track. After lap two (a mile is four laps around the track) my trotting turned into a sluggish shuffle. By lap three, I was just praying for it all to be over! My big size 11’s were squishing the geese pooh and I did not even care! When I got home I slapped so many Icy Hot pain patches on, I almost passed out from inhaling too much menthol. My son tells me the gym teacher is making them run a mile every month. Who is this evil woman?
Hmmmm…On second thought…Maybe I should revisit 6th grade with my grandkids because their gym class will probably be virtual. Can you picture it? Children sitting in the gym wearing futuristict goggles running the mile virtually…STAY TUNED…oohhh in about 20 or 30 years.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
6th Grade Revisited - Math
Math…Ick! Who’s feelin me? I am sure many of you are feeling my pain. Math is not fun at any grade. After dinner and dishes, I realized it was time for us to tackle some serious math so I called my son in from outside to do our homework, and you know what I got! I received the double-sigh-crossed-arms-stomping-feet-I-hate-you-mom attitude. Parents I am sure you have seen this…it’s not pretty. I was going to overlook this eleven-year olds version of a temper trantrum, but then I thought, “Hmmm, is this what I was supposed to do too, cuz I don’t want to do this math homework either?” So I began to mimic his performance outside in front of all his friends and boy o’ boy did he hurry me in the house!
Now that the brooding was over it was time for integers, absolute value and decimals. Don’t be jealous.
You know how you used to say in math class, “Why do we need to learn this, because we will never use this as adults?” Well I too said this, and I am kind of proud to say I kept my word! Since adulthood, I've never had to diagram anything, been forced to recognize an isosceles triangle or lose sleep over exponents. I have never even balanced my checkbook . OK, I am exaggerating a little…I do calculate my PTO hours like a champ AND when it comes to going to the movies, if the movie I am looking to see is 133 minutes long, I know how to convert that into hours (I believe this knowledge is a necessity, who wants to sit though a movie more than two hours…come on!)
My son and I began the awful pain-staking math homework. I copied the page we were to do from the book and he used the book . There were like 50 questions on this page…UGH!!! Blood, sweat and tears went into this assignment. When I finally finished the last problem (1hour and 20 minutes later), my son looked up at me and said “Oh, forgot to tell you, we are only supposed to do the even-numbered questions.”….STAY TUNED…To find out if my son is still in one piece!
Now that the brooding was over it was time for integers, absolute value and decimals. Don’t be jealous.
You know how you used to say in math class, “Why do we need to learn this, because we will never use this as adults?” Well I too said this, and I am kind of proud to say I kept my word! Since adulthood, I've never had to diagram anything, been forced to recognize an isosceles triangle or lose sleep over exponents. I have never even balanced my checkbook . OK, I am exaggerating a little…I do calculate my PTO hours like a champ AND when it comes to going to the movies, if the movie I am looking to see is 133 minutes long, I know how to convert that into hours (I believe this knowledge is a necessity, who wants to sit though a movie more than two hours…come on!)
My son and I began the awful pain-staking math homework. I copied the page we were to do from the book and he used the book . There were like 50 questions on this page…UGH!!! Blood, sweat and tears went into this assignment. When I finally finished the last problem (1hour and 20 minutes later), my son looked up at me and said “Oh, forgot to tell you, we are only supposed to do the even-numbered questions.”….STAY TUNED…To find out if my son is still in one piece!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
6th Grade Revisited - The Fourth Week
Well, we are now into our fourth week and just finished our first major assignment. Our teacher had us make up our own country based on the things we like. My son’s country was called Sugertopia – can you guess what he likes? My country was Sleepganistan, cuz well, I love me some sleep! We had to illustrate our country equipping them with rivers, lakes, a peninsula, an archipelago (yeah, I know…huh?) and an historical event.
Sketching and colorinig my country wasn’t that difficult, my coloring skills are impeccable, thanks to Pre-K. But when it came to fabricating an historical event - WOW – had to completely shut down the left side of my brain to let the right side do its thing!
The following are the historical events related to our countries:
Sugartopia – During the Great Sugar Blight of 1809, the sugar became contaminated and 4 million people died. Also, later that same year was the Revocandiary War. The government wanted the citizens to only make chocolate, but the Sugartopians also wanted gummies; therefore they revolted.
Sleepganistan – The only major event worth noting was in 1829. Sandmen went on strike leaving the poor citizens of Sleepganistan awake for twenty-four straight hours.
Whew, this project drained me! My son was ready to play video games after we were finished with the project and I…well I was ready to take a trip to Sleepganistan…STAY TUNED!
Sketching and colorinig my country wasn’t that difficult, my coloring skills are impeccable, thanks to Pre-K. But when it came to fabricating an historical event - WOW – had to completely shut down the left side of my brain to let the right side do its thing!
The following are the historical events related to our countries:
Sugartopia – During the Great Sugar Blight of 1809, the sugar became contaminated and 4 million people died. Also, later that same year was the Revocandiary War. The government wanted the citizens to only make chocolate, but the Sugartopians also wanted gummies; therefore they revolted.
Sleepganistan – The only major event worth noting was in 1829. Sandmen went on strike leaving the poor citizens of Sleepganistan awake for twenty-four straight hours.
Whew, this project drained me! My son was ready to play video games after we were finished with the project and I…well I was ready to take a trip to Sleepganistan…STAY TUNED!
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