Chapter 5-Toms First Train Ride

Chapter Summary-
The Edison's arrive at the train station. Unable to contain his excitement, Tom races and begins to ask the engineer, Mr. Benjamin, many questions. Mr Benjamin likes the young boy's energy, and says Tom may ride in the engine with him for a few miles. Mr. and Mrs. Edison agree and Tom is Joyous. His ride with the Engineer goes quickly, and Tom learns all about how a steam engine works. When he is back with his family, Tom relates his experiences to them and the rest of trip to Detroit goes by quickly.

What we will cover in this chapter-
Science -Water and ground Pollution
Language arts- Writing
Math- Addition
Art- Painting with primary colors


Science- (water Pollution)
We did 2 hands on experiments about water pollution. We also watched a video of the affects of changing climate on Antarctica.

The first experiment was simple. We used materials around the house to learn about pollution within our interconnected waterways. We used and egg carton, water, food coloring and flax seeds. We talked about about how water ways are all connected to each other- creeks run into river, then into lakes and oceans. We put the flack seeds and food coloring  into one of the egg cups and watched how it slowly spread into the other cups. This taught the kids that if you throw trash into a creek or river it doesn't just get that waterway dirty. The water caries the trash to other places like oceans and it will eventually spread into the ground.

The next experiment the kids learned you can't undo water pollution.  We used a bucket of clean water, trash from around the house, vegetable oil to represent toxic oil spills, tongs and a sponge. First the kids took turns adding trash to the water. When the water looked polluted enough the kids had to use their tongs and sponge to remove the trash. After awhile they removed all the big items but soon realized they were unable to remove all the pollutants from the water.

Math- (Addition)
Lily and Aj completed 2 addition worksheets. The worksheets  had a train theme.

Art-(Primary Colors, Acrylic Painting)
The kids used only the 3 primary colors and white to make their paintings. They were asked to paint pictures about nature and how to help stop pollution.

Language Arts- Writing
Thomas Edison rode the train for the first time in this chapter. The kids had to write about something they remembered doing for the first time.

Thank for reading Chapter 5!

Chapter 3- A Birthday to Remember

Chapter Summary-

Toms birthday finally arrives and he awakens to frost-covered window panes. At breakfast he opens his gifts and finds new ice skates, colored pencils and a sketch pad. Excited, Tom finishes eating, does his chores and then grabs his ice skates and heads for the frozen canal. After greeting his friend sandy and receiving some words of warning about thin paths of ice, Tom sets off. Enjoying himself immensely, he begins to skate in broader figure eights. Before knowing whats happening, the ice breaks and tom Plunges into the icy water below. Sandy soon sees him and with his help Tom is able to get out of the canal. Frightened but still smiling, Tom heads back home in Sandy's arms to get in bed for the rest of his birthday.

What we will cover in this chapter
Mathematics-(Addition with Regrouping)
Language Arts- (writing)
Physical Education- (Ice Skating)

Mathematics- (Addition and Regrouping)
The kids did a math worksheet with a Ice Skating theme.

Language arts-
Lily and Aj each wrote a sentence about Ice Skates.

Physical Education- (Ice Skating)
We went Ice skating on the frog pond in Boston!

Thanks for reading! Stay on the look out for the next chapter!!

Thomas A. Edison,Young Inventor - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Summary-
We discover in the second chapter of our story that tom is full of questions. he visits his friend, Mr Anderson, at the barge landings and peppers him with questions. Tom discovers, after watching Mr. Anderson pound nails with a hammer, that he doesn't hear the hammer strike for several seconds. This leads to a discussion of the speed of light versus the speed of sound. Tom is enthralled! He is just beginning to understand what Mr. Anderson is saying when his brother Pitt arrives at the dock. Pitt is beaming and shares with Tom some very important news. The Edison family is moving away from Milan Ohio. The new railroad being built is bypassing their town and business will be lost. Tom is so excited to be moving. After the boys arrive home, we learn Toms birthday is coming. He will be 7 and his last birthday in Milan.

What we will cover in this chapter:
Science- Scientific Method
History and Geography- Parlors, a room of the past
Fine Arts- Baking a Birthday cake

Science- Scientific Method
We talked about the specif process that Edison uses for his experiments. We learned about the 4 simple steps involved in the scientific method. These steps include 1) make an observation that describes a problem, 2) create a hypothesis, 3) test the hypothesis, and 4) draw conclusions and refine the hypothesis.We put these 4 steps to good use doing an experiment. The children built boats out of Legos and floated them in the sink. They had to estimate how many coins could be held in the boats without sinking.

History and Geography- Parlors, a room of the past
In our story Tom finds his parents talking in the parlor. The world Parlor is an old fashion word that means formal room set aside for guests. We have a room like this in the doll house we have been putting together. We discussed this room and compared and contrasted  Parlors to our own family room. (Our doll house is half done... the kids have been wall papering, fixing furniture and decorating...)

Fine Arts- (Baking)
Lily and Aj baked a birthday cake for Thomas Edison.

Thanks for Reading!!

Thomas A. Edison- Chapter 1

Chapter Summary-
We are introduced to six- year-old Tom Edison. The Edison family resides in Milan, Ohio and the year is 1853. One morning, Tom has a great idea. Since warmth is what causes baby goslings to hatch and tom is much larger and warmer than his goose Lulu, Tom concluded that if  he sits on the eggs they will hatch quickly! Grabbing some ham and biscuits to sustain himself, Tom runs out to the hen house to test the idea. After sitting carefully on the eggs for most of the afternoon, Toms mother, Nancy comes out to find him. Finding him sitting atop the eggs, Nancy Edison laughs and laughs. Realizing his experiment isn't working, Tom heads back to the house to help with the chores.

What we will cover in this chapter-
History and Geography- The great lakes, The Erie Canal
Language Arts- Copy Work
Fine Arts- Folk Music "The Erie Canal"


Language Arts- (copy Work)
The kids copied a line from the song "Erie Canal" in their best handwriting.

Fine Arts- Folk Music"The Erie Canal", 
Lily and Aj made up a dance to the song "The Erie Canal"

Books Read and Music we listened to-

Field trip-  (National Canal Museum)
We went to the National Canal Museum in Pennsylvania this past summer. We looked at pictures and discussed our experience.  The kids rode in a boat pulled by a donkey. It was such a blast!

Thanks for reading! Check out our next chapter of activities!