Week 23

Language Arts: I am reading the second book in the Unwind series, called Unwholly. I did a couple lessons in my language arts program and did some writing. I am in a class at co-op that is learning about figurative language as well and we had the first class this week.

Math: We practiced solving linear equation pairs by graphing. Worked on solving long problems with lots of signs and parentheses as well.

Science: This week we watched some Brain Pop videos about the ocean, plate tectonics, and volcanoes. We started our next semester of co-op and made soda can stoves in my survival class.

History: In my co-op history class we learned about Disneyland and when it was built. It didn’t do well when it first opened. Too many people came and they weren’t actually ready but said they were.

Makerspace (Tech):  No Makerspace this week because of MLK Jr holiday.

Programming (Elective): We had another practice for the FLL strategic tournament. It is next week on February 2nd. We also brought one of the tables home so we could work on our missions more.

Other: I went skiing with my grandma, my dad, and my sister. I had a basketball game and got a lot of rebounds and some good blocks.

Basketball game

Windswept art installation at the BYU MOA

Week 22

Language Arts: I came up with some ideas for a narrative story. I started outlining one of them but then decided not to do that story. Then I wrote another very short story.

Math: Worked on our assignment of solving linear equations. Also did a couple more sections in the textbook.

Science: I watched the introductory videos on the Physics lessons in Khan academy. I am thinking about doing the physics course so I wanted to check it out.

History: No history this week.

Makerspace (Tech):  We worked more with the 3D printing software. We still didn’t print anything yet.

Programming (Elective): Since we made it to state, we will have more Lego league practices. This week one of the things we worked on is a way to release one of the balls for one of the missions. We are also trying to combine some missions to shave off some time required to complete them.

Other: I had a basketball game, two basketball practices, and a basketball training session with my trainer. Lots of basketball this week. 

Week 21

Language Arts: I finished reading Unwind. I did lessons in my language arts programs, including a review of homophones and comma rules. I wrote a journal entry about my birthday.

Math: I completed lessons 28-31 in the textbook. In our session with the tutor we went over how to use Google classroom, reviewed linear equations, and did a test of sampling of problems from the textbook to check our understanding on different concepts.

Science: we did a couple of the chemistry experiments from our MEL science kit. We did the carbon snake and tin hedgehog. The carbon snake forms as the carbon dioxide and overheated water vapor move through the carbon that comes out of the calcium gluconate’s decomposition. We added baking soda to the fuel so the flame would be more visible and therefore less dangerous to work with. The tin hedgehog formed because of a substitution reaction. Some of the zinc pellet dissolved into the solution while tin precipitated (came out of solution) on the surface of the pellet and made the spines. We weren’t able to get great pictures but it was cool to see.

History: We didn’t get to have a history lesson this week.

Makerspace (Tech): we are working on 3D printing. This week we just worked with the software, though, and didn’t do any printing yet.

Programming (Elective): Super busy week for LEGO League because we had our Qualifier tournament on Saturday. We ended up winning the Robot Design award and we got second in the robot performance competition with 139 points. We will go on to the State Tournament on February 2nd. The event was at the Provo Rec Center which was really nice because in years past we have had to travel up to Lehi or even all the way up to Kearns. Plus the Rec Center did a really good job organizing the event and they had fun decorations.

MEL carbon snake

Tin Hedgehog

Tin Hedgehog - out of solution

Tournament day - at the practice table 

Satellite on the mission table

Working on programming the robot with my dad (he's our FLL coach)

Weeks 18-20

Language Arts: I did some lessons in my language arts curriculum. I finished a book on the Kindle and started another one. One book I also have been reading is What if? Serious Scientific answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions. 

Math: We met with our Math tutor and reviewed how to solve linear equations with two variables. He showed us a new method that used a matrix called the Gauss method. Elimination seems like the most straightforward method, but I guess Gauss is good for more than 2 variables. We also got our first homework for Unit 3 and I completed that over Christmas break and turned it in. 


Science: We finished up learning about the center of gravity. We talked about the difference between where the center of gravity is on a symmetrical object (like a paper plate) and what happens when you add a weight (we used binder clips) to one side. We also learned how to find the center of gravity of an irregular shaped object by using a “plumbob”. This only works with flat objects, though. I’m not sure you can do anything physically to find the center of gravity of objects that aren’t flat. 


History: We learned about Shulgi, one of the rulers of Ur during its renaissance. That's when the Ziggurat of Ur was constructed. He established a code of laws called the Code of Ur Nammu that were somewhat progressive for the time, because it didn’t require death for minor infractions. Instead there were fines that were payable by weights of silver since there wasn’t coinage or currency at the time. 

Makerspace (Tech):  I made my mom a Mister Rogers ornament. It is made out of wood. 


Programming (Elective): We had Lego League and worked on more missions. Our qualifying tournament is January 12. The nice thing about this year is that the tournament is at the Provo Rec Center. In past years we have had to drive up to Lehi or Salt Lake City. 

Other: I turned 14. For my birthday, my dad took me and my best friend to race go carts. I told my mom that I like Canada and would like to live there when I grow up and so she made me a Canada themed gift and also my birthday cake was the Canadian flag. My grandparents gave me an electric guitar. My dad has one that I have been playing but I am glad to have my own. I had basketball practice a few times and did a training session with Coach Buddha. We also made graham cracker houses and I made the Pentagon. We rode the UVX bus to the Provo Library and looked at the photography exhibit there. It was a National Geographic exhibit of great photographs of the West. 

Photograph at the exhibit. Taken with a slow shutter speed so the stars made light
trails. 

At the go cart arena

Ready to race

Mister Rogers ornament

Graham Cracker Pentagon 

Birthday dinner -- sushi!

My Canada gift box contents

Happy birthday to me

Videos about the Center of Gravity we watched

My new guitar

Week 17

I was sick for about half the week so I didn’t get as much done as I usually do. 


Language Arts: I finished my essay on how optimism benefits health. I finished reading The Art of Racing in the Rain. I reviewed coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions. 

Math: Our math tutor couldn’t make it this week because he had food poisoning. I kept working on lessons from the math book.

Science: We got our MEL Chemistry starter kit. It has a 360 degree viewer so we played around with that a bit. 


History: I didn’t do history this week.  


Makerspace (Tech):  We did some more sewing. We are making blocks for a quilt. 

Programming (Elective): At Lego League we worked on finishing up some missions. We also decided on our mascot for this year. It’s a unicorn platypus. 

Other: I had a basketball game. I also had a guitar recital that was a Christmas singalong. It was kind of crazy with so many guitars but it was fun. 

Week 16

Language Arts: I did the language arts lessons in my program. I wrote the first body paragraph for the essay on how optimism affects our physical health. I am still reading The Art of Racing in the Rain. I did some TTRS typing/spelling practice. I am currently memorizing the poem Trees. 

Math: I finished the unit 2 tests. I got through chapter 20 in the textbook. With Mr. Rosa we went over a lot of different things but one of them we covered again was solving a set of equations using the substitution method or the elimination method. 

Science: I am working on a gear box made from Legos. I have made a couple of different versions so far. There is a boomerang video below of it but it doesn’t show how you can switch between gears. 

History: In my co-op history class we learned about Davy Crockett. In the We Didn’t Start the Fire song it mentions the name but doesn’t specify whether it is talking about the person or the tiny nuclear missile. We learned about the Davy Crockett show and listened to the theme song from the show. 

Makerspace (Tech):  We did machine sewing. We sewed some designs on pieces of fabric and I also made a very tiny pillow just to practice with the machine. 

Programming (Elective): This week at First Lego League I worked on making one of the tools we we already created be able to complete two missions at once. One of them is Escape Velocity and we made the run for that also complete the mission Observatory. 

Other: I am working with a basketball trainer named Coach Buddha and we met this week and worked on shooting and fine-tuning different aspects of my shots to improve them. For guitar we are working on Christmas songs some more because we have a recital coming up. I also taught myself how to play (with a video) Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes. 

Gear Box (version 1)

Sewing from Maker Space

Weeks 14 & 15

Language Arts: I did some lessons in my Language Arts program. One of the assignments was to research points about how being optimistic improves our lives. I am reading The Art of Racing in the Rain. It is written from the dog’s perspective and it is an interesting book. I finished Marley & Me and I really liked it.

Math: We worked on exponents and square roots and how to convert between the two. I did two of the Unit 2 tests and some of the lessons from the textbook.

Science: We did an experiment where we observed reactions. Everyone had different reactions and some got hotter than others. We measured the temperature every minute for 5 minutes. Some people’s got cold and some got hot. We watched the Mars Insight landing at home with the family. A few years ago my dad took us to a Curiosity rover viewing party at the University of Utah and some of the stuff was similar to this one. We also went to the BYU Paleontology museum for a field trip.

History: In my co-op history class we learned about polyester and how it was introduced as a sort of magical wonder fabric that doesn’t need ironing and doesn’t get wrinkled, but it wasn’t very comfortable so now it is used more for things like boat sales and less for clothes.

Makerspace (Tech):  This week I didn’t really get to do anything because I am still trying to get my thing cut out. I mostly helped my friend with their project.

Programming (Elective): During the break we didn’t have Lego League so my brother and Dad and I went and worked on stuff by ourselves for a few hours. It was really nice because some of the kids on the team are mostly just distractions who get into stuff and cause problems. We got one mission to work really well. I also did a custom paint job on one of my nerf guns. I painted it silver and then did the dipping technique to add black.

Other: We had our first basketball game of Winter League and we won. I am doing some private training with a coach from one of the high schools who happens to be a good friend of my uncle Adam. Our co-op teen group went to an escape room for our monthly activity and we beat the room with 5 minutes to spare. Then we went to The Chocolate dessert cafe for treats. It was fun.

Short video clip from my basketball game, I get the rebound after the free throw

Sometimes my cat Bandit gets really interested in my school work

Not helpful, Bandit

At the BYU Paleontology Museum

It was CS Lewis's 120th birthday this week. My parents named me after him.

We had a little CS Lewis feast, including Turkish Delight

Utahraptor at the BYU Paleontology Museum

Watching the Mars Insight Landing

Mars Insight Landing

First photo of Mars broadcast from Insight

My cat Bandit relaxing on my bed

I did a custom paint job on my Nerf Gun

Week 13

Language Arts: I did my dyslexia workbook lessons. I learned 8 ways to start an introductory paragraph. I did some editing practice on a couple of passages with mistakes. I am reading Marley & Me.

Math: In our math class we went over powers and how to switch back and forth between roots and powers. We also worked on the Unit 2 packet so we could see if we had any trouble areas. We reviewed Order of Operations and saw how switching the order can change the answer.

Science: In chemistry class we learned about balancing equations. For our science lesson at home we learned about center of gravity, did some experiments/activities and watched some videos that talked about it. One fun thing we did was figure out how to balance a potato on a glass edge by using two forks as the counterbalances.

History: In my We Didn’t Start the Fire class we talked about Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein who was the second president of Egypt and how he worked to modernize Egypt. Last week in that class we talked about Stalin.

Makerspace (Tech):  We did woodcutting this week. I made a batman charm for a necklace. My wooden puzzle didn’t work so I am going to try it again.

Programming (Elective): I didn’t work on this this week. I need to figure out what projects to work on.  A couple weeks ago I painted my ripstik silver. It turned out really good. I put a topcoat on it so it will hopefully stay nice looking for a while.

Videos we watched to go along with our science lesson

A balanced potato

Week 12

Language Arts: I reviewed commas in a series. I finished reading Wednesday Wars. I wrote a paragraph about why I like homeschooling. I learned about personification and had to write some examples of personification about a nature scene. I also wrote a paragraph about how I would not want to spend a summer with any of the characters from books I have read lately.

Math: I worked on chapters from the textbook. In our class we went over exponents and how to rewrite negative exponents as positive exponents. 

Science: In my chemistry class we made slime. We talked about different polymers and non-newtonian fluids. At home for science we finished up our discussion on flight and learned about birds and how they fly, and how it wouldn’t be possible for humans to fly with self-powered flight. We weight too much and don’t have the right kinds of muscles (big enough) in the right places. Birds have other adaptations for flight as well, including a keel (breastbone) to attach big muscles to, a fused backbone area, hollow bones, and no teeth.

History: We listened to the next podcast. It was about Sargon and how he created the first empire that we know of. He wrote an autobiography that said how great he was. The story goes that he was put into a basket as a baby, a lot like the Moses story.

Makerspace (Tech):  This week I designed some things that I am going to laser cut. They will be keychains or little trinket things. They will be made out of a thin wood, I can’t remember the name of it right now.

Programming (Elective): I am trying to drill a hole in metal but am not having any luck. I looked up info online but none of the different techniques have worked. I am not sure if I just don’t have the right drill bit or if I am doing something else wrong. I also had First Lego League this week. We are working on rebuilding a mission that some kid broke. My friend Heber and I worked on another mission finalizing the attachment parts to accomplish the task.

Week 11

Language Arts: I learned about mood and tone in poetry. I finished the third Star Man’s Son book. There is a fourth one coming out sometime soon, I think, but I wish it was already out. I did more lessons in my dyslexia workbook. I did some sentence diagramming.

Math: I worked on the Unit 1 packet and took the test. In class we went over calculating surface area on 3D rectangular shapes.

Science: I learned about solutes and solvents. A solvent is a substance that dissolves another substance and a solute is something that dissolves in a solvent.

History: We didn’t have a history lesson this week.

Makerspace (Tech):  In class we just had a party while people could work on their costumes if they wanted to. I didn’t dress up this year so I didn’t have a costume to work on.

Programming (Elective): We didn’t have First Lego League this week because the Rec Center was booked with their Halloween party. It was a busy week so I didn’t work on any extra projects at home either.

Other: I’ve been figuring out how to play the Super Mario Bros theme song on the guitar.