Math-U-See Fun

Alisdair was beginning to feel like he would never get through his Alpha level "Math-U-See" workbook.  He'd already worked on it for a while earlier this afternoon, but he is anxious to complete it so he can go on to the Beta level work.  So, as an incentive this evening we got out our kitchen timer.  We set the clock for 15 minutes to see how much could be accomplished.  I took the workbook and a pencil and he pushed "Start" on the timer.

Fifteen minutes later we had stickers at the top of SIX pages.  Then, in an attempt to "beat" his previous record, we re-set the timer for another fifteen minute interval.  The questions seemed harder but we still managed to complete THREE more pages correctly.  So, thanks to the kitchen timer, and a bit of co-operation, Alisdair finished NINE workbook pages.  A few more fifteen minute sessions and we will be completing the  378 page book and photographing the certificate that says "Congratulations .... You have just finished Alpha.  You are becoming a math whiz!  Have fun doing the next book, which is Beta ... Psssst.  Don't forget to thank your Teacher!" (I sure like that last sentence!)  Stay tuned to hear the news of our celebration when that great day arrives!

POEM - "When Santa Claus Was Ill"

Father Christmas

The Lloydminster Homeschool Association is hosting a Christmas Showcase during the afternoon of Sunday, December 5th, at the Lloydminster Gospel Fellowship (LGF) church.  Each student has been given the opportunity to make a 4-minute presentation as part of the program.  Our homeschoolers can also either display some of the items they have been working on, or enter a science fair type project.  Alisdair hasn't been sure what he wanted to present - A speech?  A song? Or maybe a poem?

I was searching online for ideas, and came across this poem in a book called "Christmas Selections for Readings and Recitations," complied by Rosamond Livingstone McNaught.  The book was online (in its entirety) and is part of the collection of the University of California at Los Angeles.  Its contents are copyright 1906 but the frontspiece gives the date 1911.  The printer was "The Penn Publishing Co."

Although it is too long to memorize, I thought it might be appropriate - we would just have to change "Fourth of July" to "First of July" to Canadianize the poem.  And, as I said to Alisdair, with a selection that old, we are guaranteed that no one else will be doing the same piece!

When Santa Claus Was Ill 

Old Father Time, on Christmas Eve,

Said anxiously, "I do believe

That Father Christmas will be late,

He ought to start, it's half-past eight

At midnight he is due on earth,

He'll have to rush for all he's worth,

It is a shame, upon my word!" --

Just then the telephone was heard.

"Hello," said Time.  "Hello, who's this?"

"A messenger from Father Kris,

He has a bad attack of gout

And won't be able to go out,

And so he hopes you can supply

A substitute for him.  Good-bye."

"I feared that this would come to pass,

For Father Christmas has grown old

And cannot stand the frost and cold.

But to the waiting human race

I must send some one in his place,

I'd go myself if 'twas not now

My busiest day, I don't see how

I can be spared, 'tis almost nine."

Ting-ting!  "Hello, St. Valentine!"

"Who's this?"  "I'm Time."  "Hello, hello,

Christmas is ill, so can't you go

And take his place on earth to-night?

You're just about his size and height,

The difference none would ever know,

Come, hurry up, old chap, and go."

"I can't," St. Valentine replied,

"I've caught a cold, and then beside

I'm very busy writing lines

And making up my Valentines.

I'm sorry, Father Time, but I

Can't go, get some one else.  Good-bye."

Then Father Time was very vexed,

First of July he called up next,

But that young urchin laughed in glee,

And said, "No Christmases for me:

Too well my face each youngster knows,

Besides, I have no winter clothes."

"I'll go," the little New Year said,

Time patted the small curly head,

And kindly said, "No boy, not so,

But next week, Sunday, you may go."

And just then April Fool came by

With mischief in his twinkling eye,

He heard the trouble, and said he,

"Why Father Time, I'll go, send me,

I know the customs of old Yule,

I'll wear a long white beard and wig,

And make myself look old and big,

And do the best I can for you."

As there was nothing else to do

Old Time was forced to give consent,

And to the April Fool he lent

Old Father Christmas' robe and cap.

Arrayed in these the merry chap

Was sure he'd fool the wisest folk.

And went off chuckling at the joke.

He reached the earth just at the time

The bells rang out their midnight chime,

And through the whole of Christmas Day

That tricky April Fool held sway.

He thought up all that he could plan

To tease the heart of mortal man.

Instead of snow and frost and storm

The weather was quite mild and warm,

The fields were gay with budding flowers,

The clouds gave hints of April showers,

Instead of Christmas songs all day

They heard the street hand-organs play,

The children who had hoped to see

A Spruce or Hemlock Christmas Tree

Discovered in the best front room

A Peach or Cherry Tree in bloom.

Even the candies were no good,

Just cotton, wool or bits of wood,

And somehow no one thought it droll

To find salt in the sugar bowl.

He mixed up all the children's toys,

Gave drums to girls and dolls to boys,

He gave the ladies pipes and canes,

And to the men, fans and gold chains,

Gave specks to babies in long frocks,

And to their grandpas, building blocks,

Until each woman, man and child

With indignation went quite wild,

But never did they know or guess

Why Christmas wasn't a success.

And mischief-loving April Fool

Laughed at the topsy-turvy Yule.

Unfortunately, the author of this imaginative poem is not given.



Snowy Weather Conditions Interrupt Field Trip Plans...

We should be on the road right now -- driving to Calgary in preparation for our little adventure tomorrow. However, we were forced to cancel our travel plans due to poor road conditions, caused by a Winter storm. While it is a only a bit snowy here at home, the Calgary region has been hit hard. My cousin sent me a message that it took them an hour and a half to drive, within the city, to take their daughter to hospital to have a cast removed. Last night my brother told me the "powers that be" had cancelled their home Bible study group, due to weather. And then he phoned again (from work this morning) with the latest weather reports, which look better for tomorrow, but unfortunately that's too late for us.  And so, we will not be able to take part in the Heritage Park Historical Village "Homeschoolers Day."

Both children are disappointed, and so am I.  Isobel is especially sad as the first thing she said to me this morning was, "Today's the day we're going to the 'Teddy Bears' Picnic!"  I guess there will be more food for the ants as we won't be there to enjoy the picnic fare!  As a small consolation, Isobel can go to Kindergarten tomorrow, so she will still have many opportunities for learning.

This is what the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) website shows for today's road conditions - mostly POOR and FAIR.  Definitely too much red to venture forth.... 

Road Conditions Legend
	Poor			Fair			Good
	Road Closed			Construction			Unknown



(PLEASE NOTE:  This map is constantly "updating" weather conditions, so this is not how it looked prior to our cancelling our trip)



BOOK REVIEW - "Katie and the Sunflowers" - By: James Mayhew

Katie - disturbing the sunflowers!

Today was Tuesday -- and that's the day inter-library loan books arrive in Neilburg.  It's always an adventure to see what has arrived for pick-up and our reading enjoyment.

Alisdair walked down to the library this afternoon to pick up our books and he came home heavy laden with two grocery bags of stories.  Some were for Isobel and some were for his school program.

One of the titles in the bags was one I'd mentioned in a previous post "Katie and the Sunflowers" by James Mayhew.  Again, Katie, the young girl in the tale, goes to the Museum/Art Gallery with her Grandmother.   The story opens with Katie looking at Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" -- only she does more than look.  She reached right into the painting and touched the flowers.  But then disaster strikes!  The vase wobbled and fell right out of the picture, making a big mess all over the floor.

Van Gogh's Sunflowers

As the story continues to unfold, Katie meets the little girls in Paul Gauguin's "Breton Girls Dancing," which was painted in 1888 and now hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D. C.

Breton Girls Dancing

And then Katie and Mimi, (one of the Breton girls), end up inside van Gogh's "Cafe Terrace at Night" and meet up with a waiter, who becomes angry at them for bumping into him, making him drop his pastries!

Cafe Terrace at Night

The last page of the book gives considerable information about the Post-impressionist painters who painted in thicker strokes to make their colours even stronger.  It also notes that van Gogh painted "Cafe Terrace at Night" in Arles, France, where he lived for a time.  In another plot twist, Paul Cezanne's "Still Life with Apples and Oranges" is brought into the story.

Still Life with Apples and Oranges

The final painting brought to Katie's attention is Paul Gauguin's "Tahitian Pastorals."  The information page tells us Gauguin "had some sunflower seeds sent to Tahiti because sunflowers didn't grow there."  It also says the author wonders if "he wanted them to remind him of France and his old friend van Gogh!"

Tahitian Pastorals

Of course, in the end, everything works out and the sunflowers are restored to their rightful place in their frame.  Mimi is back with  her friends, the waiter is, once again, serving pastries, the apples and oranges are safely in their dishes, and the Tahitian ladies are still relaxing in warmth and comfort -- while Grandma, who fell asleep on a bench in the gallery, (and missed all Katie's exploits), is none the wiser.

"Katie and the Sunflowers" did not disappoint and lived up to all our expectations, after reading "Katie and the Mona Lisa."  Maybe next Tuesday, another Katie tale will arrive to give us yet another art history lesson!

FIELD TRIP - Heritage Park Historical Village, Calgary

The weather forecast is for winter to show up in the next few days.  John says tonight it will be -7 degrees Celcius, with a chance of snow.  (I guess truckers are fanatical about the weather so they know what the roads might be like).  I am crossing my fingers and hoping that old Jack Frost will hold off until at least next week as we have an adventure planned!

Heritage Park's "Gasoline Alley Museum" is holding a special "Homeschooler’s Day" from 9:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Friday, November 19th.  Unfortunately, in order to participate in this interesting event, we have to make the long drive to Calgary and back.  Hopefully it is worth the trip!

Heritage Park's website, at http://www.heritagepark.ca/ states, "Our interactive, full day Homeschool Programs provide students with the unique opportunity to explore and experience the lives of Western Canada's pioneers and settlers in our hands-on historic environment. Here are two great opportunities to immerse your homeshoolers in “How the West was Once!”  (Unfortunately the second Homeschool Program is scheduled for March 18, 2011 and is only appropriate for students in Grades 1 through 5, so neither Alisdair or Isobel would be eligible to attend.)

The site also gives a tentative schedule for Friday's activities.  Alisdair's timetable is outlined as follows: Grade 4-6

Assembly Line (45 minutes)
This hands-on presentation demonstrates how different daily life was before the introduction of the assembly line to the auto industry.

Gas Pump Tour (45 minutes)
The evolution of the gas pump is brought to life!

3D Truck Craft / Time Line Game
Build your own three dimensional old fashioned truck, and test your knowledge of history with a fun card game.

Lunch Break (1/2 hour)

Auto Motion (2 hr)
Students have fun building and racing their own rubber band powered cars! (Grade four science tie in)

Lower Showroom Tour (30 minutes)
Students can get up close and personal with the beautiful collection of vintage cars, trucks and gas pumps in our lower showroom.

Although Isobel is attending regular classes at Neilburg Composite School, and it is a Kindergarten Day on Friday, it seemed easier to let her pretend to be "homeschooled" for the day!  (Overnight childcare would, no doubt, be difficult to arrange).  So I enrolled her in the program for students in Kindergarten To Grade 3, which is described as follows:

Teddy Bear’s Picnic (modified 1 1/2 hr)
In this fun filled activity based program, students will learn the history of the Teddy Bear, play picnic games and learn about nutrition.

Rules of the Road (classroom version 1hr)
Students will learn the rules of the road through road signs and “driving” around our classroom circuit.

Lunch Break (1/2 hour)
Story telling – transportation/dress up
This interactive story time will bring out the creativity and imagination in your little learners!

Movie – Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin helps students discover Henry Ford’s revolutionary idea–the assembly line.

We'll hit the open road sometime Thursday and get home again on Saturday - just in time for ballet choreography practice and to deliver two days worth of newspapers!  (Since we can't find a substitute we were advised that we can tell our subscribers they can either pick their paper up from our front doorstep or can wait for us to deliver two days worth on Saturday afternoon!   I trust everyone will be understanding).  I am also grateful for a brother and sister-in-law that are happy to host us for a couple of nights.  We'll post some photos of our adventure at Heritage Park upon our return.  Wish us travelling mercies....

Ballet and Acting Go "Hand in Hand!"

Imagine my surprise when I am standing in the foyer of the Elk's Theatre in Cut Knife, waiting for Isobel's ballet lesson to end, and I see someone who looks a lot like the actor, Gordon Tootoosis, pacing back and forth. 

GORDON TOOTOOSIS

After a little while, the man came over to peer through the small porthole windows, in the swinging doors, to see what the beginner ballerinas were doing on stage.  (Parents are not allowed in the theatre as the children may be distracted by their presence).  The tall, grey-haired man stood quietly next to me.

I hesitated to say anything.  Finally, I asked timidly, "Are you Gordon Tootoosis?"  He said he was.

Then he asked me a question -- and it wasn't if I was the famous Neilburg newspaper reporter or the blogger for Porter's Primary School!  He asked me, "What part of the outfit is the tutu?" 

Apparently, Mr. Tootoosis was left in charge of his Kindergarten-aged granddaughter and he didn't know what he was looking for when he was told what she needed for ballet class!  I explained it was the skirt and we had a laugh together.  He said he'd called his wife, at work, and all the fellow employees in her office, were amused that he was searching high and low for a tutu!  Soon the class finished, we collected our respective girls, and went our separate ways.

When I got home I excitedly phoned my parents to tell them who I'd bumped in to.  They didn't seem at all impressed.  In fact, my Father didn't even know who Gordon Tootoosis was.  So I called my husband, John, on the mike phone as he was working, hauling oil across Alberta.  He wasn't sharing my enthusiasm either...  Surely I am not the only one who remembers "Albert Golo" from "North of 60" fame??!

For others who may be unsure of who Mr. Tootoosis is, here is a biographical write-up from Wikipedia:

"Gordon Tootoosis (born 25 October 1941) is a Canadian actor of Cree and Stoney descent. He is a descendant of Yellow Mud Blanket, brother of the famous Cree leader Pitikwahanapiwiyin.
Tootoosis's first acting role was in the film Alien Thunder (1973), with Chief Dan George and Donald Sutherland. He is best known to British audiences for playing the Native American Joe Saugus, who negotiates the purchase of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet series 3 (2002). Gordon appeared in the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation mini-series By Way of the Stars with Eric Schweig as Black Thunder and Tantoo Cardinal as Franoise. It was filmed in Uxbridge, Ontario. Tootoosis starred with Russell Means in Disney's Pocahontas (1995) and Song of Hiawatha (1997).
He is the son of John Tootoosis, one of the founders of the National Indian Brotherhood and former head of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN). Gordon himself served as the chief of his band and as a vice-president of FSIN. Tootoosis has been married to Irene Seseequasis since 1965. They have three daughters and two adopted sons. After their daughter Glynnis died of cancer in 1997, they took the responsibility of raising her four children. Their residence is in Saskatoon."

LETTERS -- Sharpie Pens -- What Colour is YOUR Ink??

I was in Lloydminster on Friday afternoon.  Just before leaving town to hurry home, I ran into the store to grab a couple of my favourite "Sharpie" pens.  I can never find one that works (Isobel likes them too and often 'borrows' one and then forgets to replace the cap and so they dry out).  I have always used black Sharpie and was unaware the brand came in other colours.  When I got home and took the pen out of the packaging, I discovered I had actually purchased two blue pens.  When Alisdair learned about this, he looked at the pen and the packaging, and then immediately suggested he should write a letter to the manufacturer.  And so he spent time on a quiet Sunday afternoon, writing yet another complaint letter!  It reads as follows:

"I am writing about your Stylo Sharpie Pen Blue UPC 0 71641 00046 9. I am an 11-year old boy and I wanted to let you know something that happened to my Mother. She was in a rush and picked up a package of your pens at Staples Business Depot.  The pens had a black lid, so she thought they would write with black ink. When she got home and wrote with it, the ink turned out to be blue (It's about an hour’s drive to the store). Why would the lid be black, if the pen writes blue?

Then, when you look very closely at the package, it says “Blue” but you can barely notice it, because it's so small. Also if you look closely at the pen, the only difference is a thin blue line around the label. Once again, it’s not very big so you can hardly see it.

For example: You probably wouldn’t like it if it said on a form, “Write in black ink,” so you go buy a pen and only look at the lid. Then, the pen you thought was black, turns out to be blue, and it is an hour to go back to the store!

I think you should stop making the black lid for blue pens and only put it on the black ones. That way, you could better identify a blue pen from a black one. Please put blue lids on blue pens. Either that, or make the whole label on the blue pens the same colour as the ink. It’s common sense!

Thank you for considering this request."

... I'm wondering if we'll get a response?  Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll send us a couple BLACK Sharpie pens to make up for our mistaken purchase!  Stay tuned for an update!