The Heart of a Scientist

Hey Fabulous scholars,
we have an extra week before our next class, lets jump right on things and do any catch-up we should do or <gasp> get ahead. Take some time to analyze what you've done, and figure out what still needs to be done and your plan for doing it. I'm already starting to think of next semester, and it is very exciting!

Flatland related comment: we are NOT STUCK seeing things as we've always seen them. Or being how we've always been. If we do not naturally have the perseverance/heart of a scientist to keep trying things over and over, changing something to see if that has an effect and then going back to the drawing board as necessary, or any other Habit of a Scientist, we can develop it when we understand the principle and conscientiously apply it in our lives.

links to the Chladni figure videos that we watched in class
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tliBfYdddhU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yaqUI4b974

Assignments:

A. Habits: Core book studies, math lesson, write daily in log book

B. Read Inteligro Math & do exercises therein, due Jan 8

C. Permission slip for field trip: completed and signed by a parent

D. Skill Focus: Care/Grow your own Heart of a Scientist. We practiced visualizing who and what we most care about that might help us have the Heart of a scientist. You could continue to ponder this and/or write them down. What are you passionate about?

E. Presentations: Trey & Jared if we have time

I noticed a pattern yesterday: everyone has been here every day of class! And now we will all be absent next week...awww. Have a wonderful, warm, loving, full of gratitude Thanksgiving:-)

Physical Creation

I checked and indeed, the rabies vaccine was made from weakened virus. The rabies was weakened by drying out infected tissue.

RE: Pyramid Project 1st and second semester rewards: You were right, you guys/gal are already awesome! I am so impressed with each one of you...your character, personality, skills and talents, knowledge and eagerness to learn more and to BECOME more, and general awesomeness:-)
What I really meant was that although you are definitely above the general cut for your age; in the immortal words of Mufasa "You are more than what you have become". You ARE wonderful, AND have the potential to be even more. 2nd semester you have the opportunity to work harder and become more, not because of a really cool sparkly carrot, but purely for the joy and self-satisfaction of Becoming More (the internal really cool sparkly carrot;-). We'll get there, but first lets grab hold of what 1st semester has to offer!

Assignments:
the growth inspiring habits that you have hopefully formed and/or are cementing in:
-Core book study
-math lessons
-daily log book entries

Presentations:
at bat this week: Eric

on deck for the following week: Jared

Challenge
set the timer and spend 15 minutes in quiet contemplation/mediation on a problem in your life that you'd like solved...And then ACT on it (you didn't really want to hang on to those problems, right?!) Physically create the systems or actions that will help you solve the problem.

act on SayGoBeDo's that you get (we'd love to hear about them, so feel free to write them down)

Spiritual Creation

First off, in case there's some confusion, our next book is Flatland by Edwin Abbott.  It's readily available at the library and on Amazon.  Here it is for just $2.70 with Amazon Prime: http://www.amazon.com/Flatland-Romance-Dimensions-Thrift-Editions/dp/048627263X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415043135&sr=1-1&keywords=flatland

Our discussion on The Phantom Tollbooth was interesting.  I think some of you didn't enjoy it quite as much as I did.  But remember, being playful and looking at the world in a different way than you've always done, can yield some wonderful results!

Are you getting all your requirements for the Prism done?  I've looked over the poster and see some holes for some of you.  They're all in the front of your binders.  PLEASE look them over and see where you're at and what you need to do.  How many lecture notes, I Wonders, Patterns, experiments, books and so forth are you finished with?  We're 2/3 of the way through this semester, and I really don't want time to get away from you.

So, that brings us to spiritual creation.  Everything we make or do, was created first in our minds.  We can be efficient and purposeful by really thinking through our plans and writing them down.  We draft blueprints before building a house, we sketch out a pattern before creating a quilt, and adding structure to our days by actively using a planner can help us keep on top of what we want to learn and accomplish.  Do you use a planner?  Have you thought about (and written) what your goals are, for Pyramid Project, for the school year, for the next five years, and more? 

I sure love this class!  I hope you feel a little more like a scientist each week... even if it's in something traditionally considered un-scientific, like creating art, composing music or writing a story.