Waterwheels and Soap Sail Boats

So today was the last day of Whiz Bang Science. It was a week shorter than the Gifted/Talented program, but it felt just as long. Probably because I was more "in charge" of teaching this time, and because there was a lot more content/planning to teach vs. Shakespeare. We did solar cells, balloon race cars, ivory soap sail boats (they were awesome!!), planted sunflower seeds and beans, made our working water wheel do work (also awesome!), made gravity-boats, and visited the CC organic farm. Whew!! No wonder I am tired!

The farm was yesterday, we took both classes and it was a great trip. The "farm" is actually just a big garden in the backyard of the CC president's house that is managed by CC students. It was in walking distance of campus, so we just herded them over and back. It was really hot, but the kids got to plant the seedlings they had been growing, pet some chickens (who weren't thrilled with that situation), smell the compost ("Ewwwww.... can I touch it?"), taste some broccoli, peas, carrots, etc. and of course, most importantly, run through the sprinklers. Well... my kids did at least :) It was a fun day for them.

Today we made renewable-energy-windchimes out of recyclable stuff while waiting for our turn to go out and join the picnic line. We got lots of hugs (yay!) and compliments from parents. It was great. They are so creative!! I think the best part of my entire week was presenting them with a "challenge" question and hearing their answers. Since we talked about waterwheels, I told them about overshot (water goes over the wheel) and undershot (water goes under the wheel) and told them one of them was better/more efficient. They had to tell me which one and why. Some great thinking!!! And it was just so great to get one-on-one time with each of them.

If you are waiting for me to tell you which one is better... you'll have to think about it and let me know what you think and why!! (And don't look it up! That's cheating!!)

So after we cleaned up our room, we headed over to one of the mentor-teacher's house to have an afternoon of chatting, munching, beveraging (yes that is a word), and overall-winding-down. That was a lot of fun (although I could have used a nap first). A few of my fellow students are taking a certification test this weekend, so they were all picking my brain about the science section. In case you are interested, the plural form of mongoose is mongooses!! Hee hee. Anyway, it was just good to have time to just be mellow with no class and no planning and no kids. And then it was time to go home. Now, after letting the pooperdog run around the park with one of his neighbor-dog-friends, I am catching up on laundry and seriously thinking about cleaning my house. Yes -- thinking about it... I haven't gotten farther then that yet. On tap for this weekend is a social gathering tomorrow night, some homework (we have a big science-project thing to due over the next week) and the much-neglected Masters paper. Luckily we have a day off from class on Monday to get some work done, so I plan to be productive!

I should go check my laundry and start cleaning, but I think I will veg in this chair for a while longer. Oh!! And when I find where I put my camera, I will post a picture of the delightful present I got from Julie today :)!! But for now... me and the chair are just going to sit here :)