Woods Runner

My mom and I read a book titled Woods Runner, by Gary Paulsen.  I had the assignment to write a "paper bag"report about the book.  On the front of the bag, I was to draw a picture of the main character in the setting of the book.  On the back of the bag, I was to write five character traits about the main character with examples from the book that support the traits.  On one side of the bag, I was to write about the point of view, setting, plot, and theme of the book.  On the other side, I was to write about one character trait for each of the two supporting characters in the book.  Then, I was to put five items in the bag that symbolize the main character and the story.  Here is my report:

This is Samuel.  He is thirteen years-old, lives on the frontier of America, and spends most of his time in the woods hunting.  

Samuel is gentle because he took care of Annie, even though she would slow him down.

Samuel is brave because he went back and helped with the war even though he could have died.

Samuel is kind because he went back to his village, found it burned down, and stayed to make graves for the people who had died.

Samuel is calm because he was composed in the woods when the rescue of his parents went off-plan.

Samuel is active because he is always outside, really doesn't sleep that much, and walks 15-30 miles a day.

Annie is brave because she saw her parents shot-down and bayoneted, and still lived on with Samuel.

Abner is kind because he helped Samuel and Annie when the Redcoats were coming.  He also helped Samuel rescue his parents.

Woods Runner is written in a third person limited point of view.  The setting of the story is on the frontier of colonial America in 1776.  The plot is that thirteen year-old Samuel goes on an exciting journey and meets many new friends along the way.  He and his friends are trying to rescue Samuel's captive parents back from the British.  Will they do it?  Read to the book to find out.  The themes of the book are that the American Revolutionary War came with a high cost of life, and that small decisions can change your life.

The first item I put in the bag is a tomahawk (or an axe).  This symbolizes the time Samuel was hit in the head with a tomahawk by an Indian.  Throughout the book, Samuel put himself in great danger to help those in need.  He also benefited from the kindness of strangers, who put themselves in great danger to help him.  

The second item I put in the bag is a 1776 musket.  Samuel relied on his musket to defend and feed himself.  If he hadn't had a weapon, he probably would have died.

The third item I put in the bag is a lightbulb.  This symbolizes Samuel's intelligence and know-how.  He had to think through complex problems quickly.

The fourth item I put in the bag is a big heart.  This symbolizes that Samuel was driven by his feelings for others.  He felt it was his duty to help those he loved and those who showed him kindness.  He also felt a love for his country which caused him to join the Revolutionary War.

The fifth item I put in the bag is a pine branch.  This symbolizes the woods of frontier America where much of Woods Runner takes place.  It is Samuel's knowledge of the woods that allows him to outsmart his enemies.  

On a scale of 1-10, I rate this book a 9.  I think the book helps you feel what it was like during the Revolutionary War.  I learned many facts about the war from reading this book.  One thing I learned is that many people died during the war, and most of them died in prisons while being held captive.  

Have a good weekend!

Ollie and Mom

I Have A Dream

In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Civil Rights Day, my mom gave me the assignment to create an expository poster about Dr. King.  I was to include my favorite quote from him, and write 5 interesting facts about his life.

My favorite quote is:
We must live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools!

The interesting facts are:

1. Dr. King was born in 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia.
2. His birth home still stands in Atlanta, Georgia, if you want to visit it.
3. Dr. King married Coretta Scott.
4. Dr. King was arrested several times in his life.
5. He gave his, "I Have a Dream," speech at the Lincoln Memorial.  It was his most famous speech.

The other part of my assignment was to write a personal response to I have a dream that one day . . .

One response was to be about my own life and the other about what I dream for the world.  Here are my responses:

I have a dream that one day I will become a professional baseball player for the Seattle, Mariners, and win the World Series.

I have a dream that one day there will be no more war and only peace in the world, that no one will be starving, and that we will discover new antidotes for sickness.  

Signing-Off,

Ollie and Mom

Week Three Review

I started off week three at an all day Junior Rangers camp learning several different ways to start fire.  This is a picture of me starting fire with flint and metal.  I also started fire with a battery, the sun, and a foil bubble gum wrapper.  It was a fun day, and I earned my Deer Badge as a Junior Ranger.

Later in the week, I went to my homeschool nature club at Reed Creek and learned about camouflage and adaptations.  I like the friends I am making in my homeschool group.

Also for science, my mom and I started reading a book about the physics of baseball, called, Why a Curveball Curves.

Here are some interesting scientific facts I learned from the book:

• An increase in bat mass will increase batted ball speed (BBS), but swing speed is a greater factor in increasing BBS.  
• Using Newton's 2nd Law of Motion, scientists have determined that the average pro swing imparts 4,145 pounds of force to the ball, with peak forces up to 8,300 pounds.
• A bat vibrates at multiple frequencies when it collides with a ball.
• You want to hit the ball in the "sweet spot" to transfer energy to the ball instead of down the bat and back through your body.  (That hurts!!!)  
• Scientists have discovered that the sweet spot is between two nodes on the bat.  Node 1 is 6.5 inches from the barrel end, and Node 2 is 4.5 inches down the barrel.  Hit between the two nodes for zero vibration. 
• A 90mph fastball reaches home plate in 400 milliseconds.  The batter has 100 ms to see the ball, 75 ms to identify the type of pitch, 50 ms to decide wether or not to swing, and 25 ms for the brain signal to activate the swing - leaving 150 ms to swing.  That's some quick thinking!

I wrote the rough draft of a report I am doing on Woods Runner.  More on that in Week Four.  Here is the story I wrote using my second round of vocabulary words from Woods Runner:

When I was writing a note, I looked up to find a mercenary staring at me.  When he saw me, he tried to run, but his injured leg abated his progress.  I chased after after him and flung myself on him, tackling him to the ground.  He screamed, "Ouch!  Me leg!"  Upon searching him, I found he was a covert spy intercepting my notes to George Washington.  A dirty scoundrel.  I found one note, and he said he had no others, but I figured he was in for a penny, in for a pound.  I searched again and discovered more notes.  The liar!  He ran away, fearing for his life, but I did not chase him because that horse was gone from the barn.  

I continue to progress on IXL, Kahn Academy, and Code.org.  I watched some more of John Adams.  I wish I could watch it EVERY day, but my mom says no :(  I also played two basketball games.  We won both of them!

Catch my next post about Martin Luther King, Jr., and my I Have A Dream writing assignment.  

Until next time - 

Ollie and Mom

Week Two Review

During week 2 of homeschool I accomplished the following:

• I progressed in Language Arts and Math on IXL and Kahn Academy.  I am reviewing parts of speech and fractions.
• I progressed to Stage 2 Module 7 on Code.org.
• I finished reading Woods Runner, a historical fiction novel about the Revolutionary War.
• I watched April Morning, a fictional movie about the Battles of Lexington and Concord.  I wrote a character review about the movie.
• I started watching John Adams on HBO.
• I continued to read George vs. George with my mom.
• I learned all about the Scientific Method and conducted an experiment with bubble gum.
• I spent a couple of hours as an ornithologist, observing birds in their natural habitats.
• I learned 5 new words and wrote a story about The American Revolution using the words.
• I began to research Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for a project I am working on this week.
• I planned a 3 course meal, did the shopping, and made the meal for my family and friend.
• I played in two basketball games.

Here is my character review on the movie April Morning, featuring the actors Tommy Lee Jones and Chad Lowe.  The movie can be found on Netflix.

I watched a movie called, April Morning, about the battle in Lexington that started The Revolutionary War.  My job is to write two character traits about the two main characters in the movie - Adam, and his father, Samuel.  I admire Adam because he is courageous.  When he saw his Dad shot down in front of his face, he continued to fight.  I also admire Adam's respect for life.  He would not kill people unless his life depended on it.  I admire his dad, Samuel, because he let his son go into war.  I thought that was courageous.  I also thought he was honest when he spoke to God.  

Here is my story about The Revolutionary War using my vocabulary words from the historical fiction book I read, Woods Runner.  

George Washington was a sensible leader.  His keen spies won the war with their tactics.  A lot of people suffered anguish during The Revolutionary War.  The Rebels had to contemplate life and death, and liberty and justice, during the war.  Marauding Redcoats and Hessians killed a lot of innocent civilians.  

Here is an updated log of the birds I have seen as an Ornithologist:

On Friday, I got to go the Savannah River and Augusta Canal with my Dad to observe birds.  I saw a lot of water and land birds.  My favorite bird I saw was the Great Blue Heron.  This next week in school I will have to learn about all these birds and add them to my Field Guide.

Signing Off,
Ollie and Mom

The Scientific Method Bubble Gum Experiment

Hi.  Ollie and Mom here.  This week we learned about the scientific method - the process was a little sticky and made us sick to our stomachs!

I watched some music videos about the scientific method, and read a great book to my little brother titled, 11 Experiments That Failed.

Then I made a poster showing the steps of the scientific method.

The steps are:

1. Make an observation.
2. Ask a question.
3. Form a hypothesis or make a prediction.  Your hypothesis or prediction should be testable.
4. Do a test or experimentation.  Use materials and design methods that include variables and controls.
5. Collect and analyze data.
6. Draw a conclusion and publish.

We decided to put the scientific method into action.  I observed that there are a lot of different types of bubblegum, and I questioned what popular bubblegum brands make the biggest bubbles with a single serving piece.  Then I wondered if the time I chew the gum influences the size of the bubble I can make.  My mom and I got busy writing our hypotheses and designing our experiment.

First we did some research and learned from others who have gone before us.  Then we wrote our hypotheses:

Bubble Yum Original bubblegum will make the biggest bubbles.

Time chewed will contribute to the size of the bubbles.

We went to the store and ran around the house to gather our materials:

1. Bubble Yum Original Bubblegum
2. Bubble Yum Sugarless Bubblegum
3. Extra Classic Bubblegum
4. Orbit Bubblemint
5. Wrigleys 5 Prism Watermelon
6. 12 inch piece of yarn
7. Ruler
8. Timer
9. Paper and pencil
10. A person to measure the bubbles

Then we designed the methods to our experiment:

1. There will be two separate bubble blowers to control for bubble blowing technique and expertise.
2. Each brand of bubblegum will be chewed for 1 minute and then a bubble will be blown.  The blower has up to three tries to make a bubble that does not pop.  The third person will measure the bubble with a piece of yarn.  Then the length of yarn used for the bubble will be placed on a piece of paper, underlined with a pencil, and then the line will be measured in centimeters with a ruler.  
3. Repeat step 2 with a new piece of gum for a 2 minute chewing time.
4. Repeat step 2 with a new piece of gum for a 3 minute chewing time.

Our independent variables were the brand of bubblegum and the time chewed.   Our controls were Bubble Yum, the bubble blower, and the standard serving of a single piece from the brand of gum.

Warning!  We got REALLY sick to our stomachs chewing this much gum.  Repeat at your own risk!

We collected the following data:

If no bubble could be made and/or maintained after 3 tries, no measurement was taken.  

We then analyzed the data and came up with the following conclusions:

1. The biggest bubble made was with the brand Extra Classic at the 3 minute time point, but by only one of the bubble blowers.  The second bubble blower was unable to blow a bubble that did not pop. 
2. For time point 1 and 2, Bubble Yum Classic (first on the x axis) produced the largest bubbles for both bubble blowers.  
3. Time point 3 produced the largest bubbles for the other brands of gum.
4. Bubble Yum Original still produces large bubbles as compared to the other brands during time point 3.
5. Wrigleys 5 produced the least measurable bubbles.

We conclude that Bubble Yum Original does produce the largest bubbles during the first two minutes of chewing.  The other brands produce their largest bubbles after 3 minutes of chewing.  On average, Bubble Yum Original will produce the largest bubbles over 3 minutes of chewing and blowing bubbles.

We also conclude that this experiment will make you sick to your stomach!

Go Seahawks!  

Ollie and Mom

Week One

Welcome readers.  I recently decided to be homeschooled.  This is a picture of me and my mom.  We make a good team.  This blog will be all about our adventures during homeschool.  My mom and I will write it together.

During my first week of homeschool, I accomplished a lot.  I joined Kahn Academy (https://www.khanacademy.org/), a website that teaches me math - so far I've evolved my avatar and earned 6,000 energy points.  I also joined IXL (http://www.ixl.com), a website where I can practice math and language arts.  I went to the library and checked out A LOT of books.  I started reading a couple about the American Revolution: George vs. George and Woods Runner (just in case you want to read them).

I kept a daily journal and answered prompts from my mom where I learned that I'm interested in doing a lot of science experiments and reading.  I want to learn how to type, cook, code, and identify birds.  I'm interested in hands-on learning.

Also this week, I joined a science club at Reed Creek Nature Park for homeschooled kids.  There are four boys in the club, and I liked making new friends.  During club time I got to hold a corn snake, see a sliding turtle, and pet a bearded dragon.

We also went on a nature hike.  I like photography and I took this sweet picture with a sun flare.

Another topic we covered during science club was water pollution.

I started to learn coding this week using the website http://code.org.  My mom says I'm a natural mad genius at coding, and that I'm slightly obsessed.  She tells me that I can't talk to her about coding 24/7.

I've learned that coding is really about writing algorithms, or instructions.  You have to write every tiny detail because the computer can't think for itself.  Here are the links to the games I've created.  Please play them and let me know what you think.

http://learn.code.org/c/70974815
Bounce the red bird through the pipes without hitting the pipes or touching the ground.  Every clear pass earns one point.  Every time you hit a pipe you lose all your points.  If you touch the ground you die.  Click on your mouse to bounce the bird.

http://learn.code.org/c/70901816
Move the dog with the arrow keys and earn points by touching (biting) the squirrel.  Watch out for fireballs and the dragon.  If they touch you, you will die.

http://learn.code.org/c/70911990
Move the knight with the arrow keys to touch and eliminate the zombies.  The dragon shoots out fireballs, if they touch you, you die.

http://learn.code.org/c/70914195
Move the ninja with the arrow keys and kiss the princesses to earn points.  The dragons shoot out fireballs.  If you touch a dragon or a fireball, you die.

http://learn.code.org/c/70927240
Move the caveman with the arrow keys to eliminate the zombie.  Watch out for the dragon and dinosaurs, they will eliminate you.  However, only of of the dinosaurs has the power to kill you, but you never know which one.

My Mom and I bought a Georgia Bird Field Guide and started our hobby of ornithology (the study of birds).  We saw four birds in the wild this week, some of them we saw several times.  My mom taught me how to track my bird watching data using a spreadsheet, and how to use the spreadsheet to create charts and graphs.  The picture above is a pie chart that shows the birds I saw by frequency of sightings.  In addition to my spreadsheet, I am also keeping a personal field guide where I research and note each bird's habitat, size and shape, color pattern, behavior, and other interesting facts I find on Cornell's Lab of Ornithology (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1189).  

Wow!  We had a busy week.  Thanks for stopping by.  Catch-ya next week.

Oliver and Mom