Chickadee's Learning Tree: January 2015

Friday, January 30, 2015

Fencing and Ninja Classes

Ninja Stix Class

Sage in Fencing Class

Click here for fencing videos- Fencing 1, Fencing 2

Click here for ninja videos- Ninja 1 , Ninja 2, and Ninja 3

We have an exercise pole in the middle of our living room. The boys use their creativity to come up with new moves and uses on a weekly basis. Pole dancing has become more popular among both men and women as a sport these days. It builds upper body and core strength as well as flexibility and coordination. Click Here for videos of the boys in action- Pole 1, Pole 2, and Pole 3.

January Science Projects

Designed and Made Their Own Parachutes

Gingerbread House Decorating

Solar Robot Building

Growing Crystals

Country of the Month: Spain

Polvorones- Spanish Walnut Cookies

Leche Frita- Fried Milk

Pan De Horno- Spanish Bread

Castanets Made From Wine Bottle Tops

We studied Spain this month. Some of the things we did were...

- Watched videos of Flamenco dancers using castanets

- Made castanets out of wine bottle tops, rubber bands and cardboard, painted them with acrylics

- Read books about Spain- The Little Matador and Ferdinand

- Baked Spanish foods- polvorones, pan de horno, and leche frita

- Watched videos of the AVE train- Spain's high speed rail

- Listened to Spanish music

- Created Spanish villas and castles in Minecraft

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Country of the Month: Germany

Chocolate Covered Apple

Black Forest Cake

Homemade Pretzels

Sage picked Germany for the country of the month because he likes the ICE (Intercity Express Train). He watched many videos of it and also designed one himself in Minecraft. He recently got a Lego high speed passenger train and has always been fascinated with them.

During the past month we...

- Visited the German Christmas Market in Vancouver for the first time

- Watched videos on the Rhine River, tour of Hamburg, German folk music and dance, and Einstein

- Pointed out Einstein poster on the sky train

- Listened to Beethoven and Wagner

- Read Brothers Grimm Tales- Bremen Town Musicians, The Frog Prince, Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood, The Elves and the Shoemaker, Rumpelstiltskin

- Baked pretzels

- Minecraft German castles, ICE train and German flag