Field Trip to the U of A Flandrau Science Center and Gem & Mineral Museum

On Thursday we went to the University of Arizona Flandra Science Center

and the Gem & Mineral Museum

It was a busy morning at the Uof A with students walking and biking to get to class

The bells were tolling as it was just turning 10:00am, opening time for the museum.

I-Man thought it was facinating and mentioned that he wants to go here for school.

J-Man standing between to real meteorites.

They were very hard and you could see shiny specks

where the metal was peeking out from being touched so much.

Here was a whole cabinet full of Iron Meteorites

you could clearly see the "Widmanstatten" pattern

on the cross section of the meteorite samples

Here is a close up look

Malachite - they had many samples of malachite

it always had a circular pattern to it.

Here is a case of Stony Meteorites

They had many chondrite samples and you could really see

 the chondruls (small ball of silicate)  in them

this meteorite was fully iron

J-Man thought the calcite looked like Dinosaur Teeth

I don't remember what this one is called but I thought

it looked like cream with jagged pieces placed in it

This is not gold but I thought it looked awesome

another malachite sample

The boys standing by a mined piece of copper

Mr. Mr. standing in  front of the Diamondback Rattlesnake Tank

J-Man in front of the Gila Monster Tank

Mr.Mr., J-Man and I-Man standing next to a Fin Whale Vertebra

I-Man, Mr. Mr. and J-Man in front of a 900 lb slab of copper

The mining cart at the end of our museum tour

Time to go home.

The boys standing with their souveniers in front of the meteorite statue.

The museum never dissapoints, it was a great learning experience.

Weekend 'O Fun

Weekends at our house are rarely boring

and this one did not dissapoint.

Mr.Mr. is hiding on the couch. Why?

That's why!  His favorite food, salad dressing.

Sycamore Elementary School Community Fair on Friday Night.

I like to go because of the Silent Auction.

One year we got a new garage door opener.

This year I bid and won museum passes to museums around town

and  a family membership to Kitt Peak Observatory. Score!

Mr.Mr. on his bike at the fair.

J-Man on the Slide

J-Man building a super maze thing. 

 He built it up even more and when I went to take a picture

a middle school girl came and knocked it down,

 made J-Man cry and got in trouble from me. 

I made her come build it back up,

but it wasn't as cool as the one J-Man built in the picture.

It was great to be surrounded by so many friends and the kids had a blast.

Also I had the most delicious taco and refried beans ever, and I live in Tucson!

Need a caterer, here is my recommendation.

On Saturday, we invited some soccer families over for dinner.

For dessert I thought I would try Smore Pops

Grahm Crackers cut in heart shapes with a cookie cutter

Hershey chocolate square on top of cracker

Strawberry flavored large marshmallow on top of chocolate

top with cracker

Side view

Put under Broiler until marshmallow is puffy

push cracker down into marshmallow

then insert candy stick

let cool for an hour or so

then you can pick up Smore Pop

They are very rich.

The weekend was full of fun, food and friends.

Staycation Adventures 2012

This year we are planning a staycation. 

What is a staycation?

We will stay at home, and do activities each day. 

I have planned 7 Weeks of activities geared toward children ages 3-12

If you are in the Tucson area you can attend the weekly outing

or just customize it to where you live.

I will blog about the crafts and activities as we go along.

Take advantage of the links and keep me updated

on your own Staycation Adventures

Week 1 Dinosaurs

Monday May 28^th  – Friday June1st

Educational links for printing out worksheets, coloring pages, crafts etc…..

http://www.kidsdinos.com

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/dinosaurs

http://www.enchatedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs

Day 1

Monday May 28^th 

 Paleontology

Learn about fossils, dinosaur tracks.

Activities

Excavate a “Fossil” from a Dino Egg.
Use Plaster Paris and a small dino toy in center
 in an egg mold, to create the dino egg.
Dig out with nail file and dry paint brush

                                                                                                                                                             

Dino Egg Toss – Water Balloons

Day 2:

Tuesday May 29^th 

 Classification of Dinosaurs

Activities

Games:

     Dino Bingo

         Dino Memory

Make Dino Stationary with Dino Stamps

Day 3

Wednesday May 30^th 

 Dino Crafts

 Milk Jug T-Rex Skull Craft

            Paint your own Dino Suncatchers

            Dino Backpack Charms or Key Rings

Day 4

 Thursday May 31^st

Cooking with Dinosaurs

Activities

  Make Mashed Potato Volcanoes with Lava Gravy

                   Meatloaf Dino Nests with Dino Eggs (peas)

 in the Green Leaf Forest (Broccoli)

Dino Cupcakes for dessert

Day 5

Friday June 1^st

Party Like a Dinosaur!

Join Us Activity

Tsunami Night @ The Cove in Sierra Vista AZ

2900 Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway

Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

Tsunami Night – ride the waves

7-10 pm

$10 admission includes free pizza and soda

the cove

Week 2  Astronomy

Monday June 4 – Friday June 8

Day 1

 Mon June 4^th 

 Solar System

Activity

Our Solar System Book

Solar System Book

Day 2

Tuesday June 5^th 

Constellations

astro sky map

Activity

Nail Board Constellations

Materials Board painted black

      50 Nails: hammered into board 25x25

String

Day 3

 Wednesday June 6^th 

 Meteorites

Meteorites are mostly pieces of rock,
though a few are metal, that fall to Earth from space.
Most meteorites come from the break-up of
small asteroids that never accreted to form a planet.
Meteorites give us clues to the origin and history of the solar system.

Meteorites come in a variety of types
and a wide range of sizes and shapes,
but most meteorites have two things in common:
they have dark brown or black glassy crusts on the outside
and contain enough iron metal to attract a magnet.

The outside crust of the meteorite is produced as the
rock is heated by friction when it comes through the atmosphere.
The outer part melts and forms dark fusion crust
that often has flow marks or indentations like thumbprints.
The inside stays cool and is usually light gray to black in color,
but some may be tan or, if weathered and rusted, brown.

The simplest classification of meteorites into
stony, iron, and stony-iron types is based on
the amount of iron metal and silicate minerals in the meteorite.
Each of the three major types of meteorites shows considerable variability
and is further subdivided based on mineralogy and composition.
Stony meteorites are divided into chondrites and achondrites
based on whether they contain small round balls of silicate minerals called chondrules.
 Chondrites contain chondrules and achondrites do not. 

Activity

 Edible Rocks

Edible Rocks

Day 4

 Thursday June 7^th

University of Arizona Flandrau Science Center

Join Us Activity

more info here

                                                      Family Fun Time 6-9 pm

Observatory (Free) 7-10 pm

Admission: $7.50 (16+)             $5.00 (4-15)

Laser Light Show $10 Adults and 7.50 Children

Day 5

 Friday June 8th

Observe the Night Sky in the Backyard

astro sky map

Activity

Make a Telescope, then use it to view the stars at night

DIY telescope instructions

Week 3

Monday June 11^th  – Friday June 15^th

Fathers Day

Day 1

Monday June 11^th 

 All about Grandpa,

Activity

Write a letter to Grandpa

Lady Bug Tie Tack

make it

Day 2

 Tuesday June 12^th 

 Songs about Dad

Songs

My Dad

Song and Words

Daddy’s Homecoming

Song and Words

Day 3

Wednesday June 13^th

 All About My Dad poems

HARD WORKER

My daddy is a hard worker,

With daily work to do.

I want to be like him,

And be a hard worker too.

I will do honest labor

It will make me a better man

And one day, when I'm all grownup

I'll say

I'm like my dad,

Yes,

I am.

D. Alsup

Craft

Paper Smiley Face Flowers in a Flower pot full of kisses

to go with poem

The NICEST KIND OF FLOWERS

 I think the nicest kind of flowers

To give dad on fathers day

Are just a bouquet of smiles

That you can give away!

I have some here I brought you.

Will you have just one or two?

Will you come closer?

For there's a kiss with those smiles

That I have just for you.

Day 4:

Thursday June 14^th 

Activity

Make a Recording for Dad of Songs, Poems and Pictures

Day 5

Friday June 15^th

Craft for Father’s Day

Activity

On the grill cupcakes

recipe

Lawn Mower cupcake

recipe

Week 4 

June 18 – June 22^nd 

Nature

Day 1

Monday June 18^th

Sonoran Desert

museum info

Activity: Identify Plants and Animals

               Go on an Early Morning Nature Walk

Day 2

Tuesday June 19^th 

 Camp Preparation Day

Day 3

Wednesday June 20^th – Day 5 Friday June 22^nd 

Camping at Rose Canyon Lake on Mt. Lemmon

Activities

 Fishing, Hiking, Games

                  Bird watching, Leaf Press

                  Campfire: roast hotdogs and marshmallows        

                  Look a the stars and sing campfire songs

Week 5

 Monay June 25^th – Saturday June 30^th 

Science

Day 1

Monday June 25^th

Colors of the Rainbow

Activity

learn about weather and rainbows

more info

Tie-Dye T-Shirts

Day 2

Tuesday June 26^th

Electricity

Activity

 Potato Battery

instructions

Day 3

Wednesday June 27^th 

Music

Activity

Rhythm and drums

Day 4: Thursday June 28^th – Biology The Human Body

Learn about Nose, Ears, Eyes, Tongue and Fingers

5 senses activity

 5 senses games

Activity

Five Senses

Smell: Scented candles in paper bags, guess what they smell like

Hearing: Record different sounds and guess what they are

Sight: Binoculars

Taste: Bitter, Sweet, Salty, Sour

Touch: Soft, Hard, Rough and Smooth - scavenger hunt

Day 5

Saturday June 30^th 

Join Us Activity

Tucson Children’s Museum

more info

Week 6

Monday July 2^nd – Friday July 6^th

Fourth of July Celebration

Day 1

 Monday July 2^nd 

Learn Patriotic Songs

        Yanky Doodle Dandy

listen here

      

        "America The Beautiful" .

listen here

    "God Bless America" 

listen here

     

    "My Country, 'Tis of Thee"

listen here

        

       "This Land is Your Land"
listen here

   "You're a Grand Old Flag" 
listen here

  "Stars and Stripes Forever" 
listen here

Day 2
Tuesday July 3^rd 
 Patriotic Crafts

Patriotic Sea Shells

instructions here

Tons of patriotic crafts
ideas here

Day 3
 Wednesday July 4^th 
 Celebration

Day 4
 Thursday July 5^th
Madera Canyon Picnic

Day 5
 Friday July 6^th 
 Swimming Party

Week 7 
 Monday July 9 – Friday July 13^th 
 Back to School Preparations

Day 1
 Monday July 9^th 
  School Supplies

Day 2
 Tuesday July 10^th
School Clothes and Shoes Shopping

Day 3
 Wednesday July 11^th 
 Hair Cuts

Day 4
 Thursday July 12^th
Safety Kids Activities
I remember doing these activities as a child,
the songs are great in helping you remember
to be safe in different situations.
purchase info

Day 5
Friday July 13^th 
 Pizza and Movie Night



The Fair - Continued

Pima County Fair: Day 2

I-Man helping J-Man squirt water at the target

J-Man and Mr. Mr. on the Monster Truck ride

Going up the hill

Hay Bale Maze

Mr. Mr. in the huge sandbox

I-Man helping Mr.Mr.

J-Man in the sand

Piglets

another piglet

Cow

Jersey Calf

Mr.Mr. at the Demolition Derby

Beauty Contest

The winner is white car with red bucket on top

Demolition Derby in Action

73 was the car I-Man thought would win

He came close but got stuck in the mud

J-Man and I-Man after the demolition derby was over

I-Man playing checkers

J-Man milking the pretend cow at the kids farm

Picking fruit off the tree

Mr.Mr. next to the tractor

Whoa, that tire is big!

J-Man picking a carrot out of the garden

J-Man and Mr. Mr.

at the Garden Train exhibit

Lots of Trains

Old coal mining train

We had a lot of fun looking at all the exhibits

and I-Man wants me to enter my cinnamon rolls

and a decorated cake next year for the contest at the fair. 

We'll see what I can come up with.