Dan the Man

I had a revelation about Dan last night. We were discussing him doing more "hands-on" things. After our discussion, I got thinking about what he likes...

-all sorts of music, including synthesizer-heavy tunes
-he has a running storyline in his head all the time
-loves to read
-loves to play board games
-read comics
-play and read about and study video games (especially Sonic the Hedgehog)

I've been thinking that Dan has a lot of potential to be a "writer"...not that he needs to BE writing right now, but he has stories in him, I think someday he'll want to get those out for the sake of creative expression and maybe...because that is what is in him TO DO.

He wants to be an inventor. I'm not sure if he wants to actually create things or if he likes the idea of blowing things up!

I was talking with my husband about the possibility of Daniel liking all these things because they involve a STORY. As we talked, it occurred that it could really be true...songs are mini-stories, he engages fully with his imaginary game (a story), reading of course is a story, board games are like little stories. And another aspect about him is that he flourishes with routine and does well when he knows "what happens next". To some degree, stories always follow this structure. There's a beginning, middle and end and many stories simply are predictable. That's part of his core makeup and always has been...he needs to know what's next. Not to say he doesn't enjoy suspense, but there's something about the nature of a story, that is has a limiting factor that is indeed-predictable. When he reads, he can see where the end is, when he engages his mental story/game, he has control over where he is and what's coming, music-the same-he knows when it ends and of course board games are no different as he can expect an end (in general). He can also see the process, which is more my bent. I think all this gives him a sense of stability and comfort. When he was in public school, his teachers more than once expressed how Dan would be the one to remind them of the routine or the schedule or "don't forget, you were going to do this thing at 1:38pm".

I find all this interesting as it is a new thought about him and stories. I love getting to know him more and more!

Let's Get Electricity to the Barn

Dan noticed the table in the barn has an electrical strip and decided it was necessary to run all our extension cords down the fence. He did an awesome job being careful not to get them dirty and made sure there was enough to reach. He likes to hardwire stuff including the computer. Love my almost 13 year old boy!

Dan's Campfire Pit

Dan is very excited about being able to have a campfire in his own backyard!

LOLACHE Videos-3D Design

We watched a video on the LOLACHE site (Informal Learning/3D Design) together this morning. It inspired some experimentation in blender.org for Dan.

Loads of Learning, Profusion of Play

I spent this week in a very loose routine. Daniel picked up "Story of the Orchestra" by Robert Levine and has really enjoyed listening to the CD and reading about composers. Interestingly, I had purchased this for us to do as a school subject early on when we started homeschooling. That didn't go well. Now here he is digesting it on his own!

Sarah wants to build a pallet playhouse outside, so I had her draw plans and make a prototype, which she is doing with matchboxes. She also is playing a game with herself which involves dressing up and doing her hair. Oh, and she was cleaning out a box of her stuff and found some Silly Putty and hence, the snake.

Daniel's Days

I love my boy! Dan at Rasar State Park, on the library walking tour, on the Skagit river, on his (my!) bike, climbing at Larrabee State Park,  roasting marshmallows at Arch Cape in Oregon, yurting at River Meadows, swimming with Dad in the Stilly, viewing Browns Point lighthouse and perusing the stacks at Federal Way library.

dAPPLE Dan

On our way to Point-No-Point Lighthouse, we stopped at a park for our picnic. Daniel enjoys apple trees and this one did not escape his notice.

Dan's Blogs

Daniel has taken his writing to a whole new level. He's blogging his plushy collection and just recented added Lego creations on a 2nd blog!

Dan The Archer

Bow and invisible arrow pose. Horseshoe Bend hike off Mt Baker Highway.

Auditory Sarah-Visual Daniel

Here's Daniel, I think he's reading Harry Potter #7 The Deathly Hallows and Sarah is on the computer playing piano by ear. LOVE IT!

Ergo Card Game Of Logic

John though Daniel would like this card game called Ergo...he was right!
Amazon says: "Ergo is the logical card game for the geek in all of us. Each player plays a variable (A, B, C, or D) and uses familiar logical operators like 'Not', 'And', 'Or', 'If-Then' to prove they exist, and that their opponents don't!"

Dan loved it!

Dan's Valentine Lego Design

 

This is a scene from Daniel's most recent design on Lego Digital Designer for Valentine's Day...Daddy is giving Mommy pans! Cute!

Daniel's Lego Blacksmith Shop

These photos are precious to me. When we were doing the phone interview, Barbie suggested we take photos of the kids' work to post on Facebook. Rachel swiftly started taking photos for the live discussion.

Daniel has been on the LOLACHE Kids Forum looking at other LOL kids' projects. He is very interested in Peter L's smithy. We checked out some library books on blacksmithing but I don't think they've been read yet.

When Marilyn asked me to bring some of the kids' work for the phone interview, this Lego smithy was one of several Lego items that Daniel selected to bring.  I would have never really noticed it in all the Lego creations he builds except that it was selected to show Miss Marilyn.

This work is significant to me!  This is an official "product" of learning! I blogged about Daniel's interests and some concerns regarding his learning process. But here is EVIDENCE that something IS germinating in there!

And I LOVE how those lightsabers came in handy in his smithy design! Love the overhead light, too!

(photos by Rachel Poling)

Daniel's Fallacy Detective

Funny, Daniel flipped through the book and read all the comics!! I'm encouraging him to read the first chapter!

Daniel And Pancakes

Pancakes Song #1 : http://youtu.be/PnCVZozHTG8


Pancakes Sequel : http://youtu.be/z6exGspNcnw


Daniel loves the music and video! I told him I'd put in on the blog for easy listening. :)

Dan The Lego Man

John has been sorting Dan's Legos into little bins over the past few days. This makes it much easier for Daniel to build! He's been really drawn to his Lego counter lately!

Dashing Daniel and His Interests

I've been thinking a lot about Daniel recently. I've been thinking about him turning 12 this coming March and thinking about his interests. I want to help him discover who God has made him to be. Sarah is very solid in her learning process and this is evident because of the numerous things she produces each week.  I've noticed that I have many pictures of Sarah doing all the hands-on things she likes to do, but not so many of Daniel. This is because many of Daniel's interests are "virtual"...they exist in his mind, there's no physical product to hold. How can I help him develop, explore and improve when much of what he's about is in his head?

Here are some things Daniel likes to do:
-play board games
-play card games
-read comics
-read books
-make movies with the camera
-play with Sarah
-play with Legos, especially a new set
-do puzzles
-draw
-use his imagination
-use Lego Builder online
-visit the LOLACHE Kids Forum
-type his Christmas wish list in Notepad
-use his powers of persuasion and negotiation

This last one made me think about getting him that Fallacy Detective book...I think he would REALLY like that...and it might spur him on to things he enjoys in that arena. Maybe he would enjoy debate? I've often thought he would be an excellent lawyer because of his persuasive negotiating and reasoning skills. I'm going to get the book and see what happens.

Sewing Machine and Slime!

Sarah has been asking for her own sewing machine so we got the Janome Mini Sew for her. It has great reviews and though it is a mini, it is a REAL sewing machine. And under 5lbs we can move it easily. She is a total NATURAL with the sewing machine, I was astonished at how adept and confident she was using it the first time!

The kids love playing with homemade slime! It is water, glue and borax and I also put in a few drops of fragrance oil.

Here's the recipe we use:
Slime Silly Putty Recipe
Buy a large jug of Elmer's glue at Staples (about $20)
Box of borax
food coloring
water
two mixing containers
wooden spoon
1/4C measuring cup

Container #1 for glue mixture:
1 - four cup Pyrex measuring cup or similar size bowl
1/4C measuring cup
wooden spoon
Container #2 borax mixture:
1 - four cup Pyrex measuring cup or similar size bowl
1/4C measuring cup
wooden spoon
In Container #1:
Mix 1/4C water and 1/4C Elmer's glue with one drop of food coloring, stir well
In Container #2:
Mix 1/4C borax with 1C water, stir the borax solution so the borax is suspended and pour some of this solution into a 1/4C measuring cup and
QUICKLY (so the borax doesn't settle to the bottom)
pour into the glue mixture
You'll need to be stirring the glue mixture while the borax solution is poured in
Stir well for 1 minute or less, then reach in and knead and squish it all together above the container allowing the water to drip off.
When it is not so wet, give to your kids on a dinner plate! (I found this recipe online but I can't remember where, so sorry to the person who deserves the credit)!

Mr Cowboy Underpants

Kids did so many creative things today. One of them was "Cowboy Underpants".  Yes, they're clean.