Wildebeast, Seal, and Chicken

What do these animals have in common? They are all animals in the food chains Esme and I have been working on! This lesson is doubling for both Brownies and homeschooling, as Esme is working on her Eco-Explorer Try-It, while learning about animals.

I let her choose the animals we'd start with for each chain, and she drew inspiration from the Planet Earth miniseries, which we've been watching as a family. I have to say, I was really impressed with her Wildebeast drawing! She did a great job copying elements from a photo.

I start my new job soon, and have to be available for subbing assignments as well, but right now I am REALLY loving being home with her and able to work on these lessons! We are having so much fun together! During this "free" time I am also getting lots of other work in order for her, so that the on the days I'm not home, she'll be ready to work independently, and Ethan will be prepared to give her lessons.

Girl Scouts is in transition this year, and the new Girl's Guide to Girl Scouting will be introduced, so we'll have lots of new awards. I'm letting Esme do as many Try-Its on her own this year since we have this time to transition. Our troop will be concentrating on all the new ones!

Getting Back in the Homeschooling Game

1. Finishing the essay - Esme has been working on an essay about our Brownie trip to New York for what seems like forever. She has a writing folder to help her stay organized, but this morning she couldn't find a couple pages of the rough draft. O..M..G. I did not kill her though, I just insisted she find it, which she eventually did.

2. I have to mail our assessment/intention letter today - I combined them into one long letter this year, and it makes more sense to me that way.

3. Staying organized is a challenge for ALL of the members of our family - I have to sort a huge pile of independent work for her into categories, folders, etc.

4. We are going to our first 4H meeting today - not an official meeting, but a picnic to meet the other people she'll be working with this year. The theme of this group is Science, which is her very favorite subject.

5. We are going to give her a year to really challenge herself and grow this year - if she was in public school she would be in *third grade,* which is the first really challenging year for many kids.

The Esme Update: Sylvester's

The Esme Update: The Dam Cafe

The Esme Update: Outtakes and Bloopers

The Esme Update: Pizzeria Uno

The Esme Update: Ivy and Bean Book Review