DNA Experiments

We're beginning to learn about the human body in Science class, and I stumbled upon the most amazing set of unit studies designed for homeschool co-ops!  David and I were just as amazed about the things we learned as the kids were.

The genetics experiments we used can be found here.

Making DNA models using toothpicks, marshmallows, and Twizzlers

Making a helix of the model

Did you know that if you untwisted your DNA, each DNA molecule is about 1 meter long?!

Our last experiment was to extract DNA from a strawberry.  Ethan was completely sure it wouldn't work, but it did.  It was so neat to see!

Smooshing the strawberries

Straining the pulp from the liquid

Those are all the clumped up DNA strands from David's strawberry!

2015 Festival of Machines

The kids were thrilled.  Daddy got to join us this year for the Festival of Machines at Conner Prairie!

Looking in on a helicopter

Checking out the ultralite

Sitting in a real humvee

Trying to navigate the cones with the robot - Ethan zoomed
right through it!

Of course we had to get a picture of the
Cicero, IN fire truck!

Civil War era sewing machine.  We got to see the
mechanization.  So cool!

A little down time with friends

2015 Fall Adventurer Weekend

The kids look forward to each Adventurer Family Weekend, even though we only go down for Sabbath.  Of course, it wouldn't be Adventurer Family Weekend without rain, and it poured...while we were on our family walk on the far side of the lake!

Shelter we found while on our nature walk

Beaver evidence

Exploring a spring bubbling up from underground

He wasn't too thrilled at the thought of running
through the rain.

This year's theme was the Sanctuary.  We were privileged to have Pastor Clark bring down the Sanctuary model from the church, and after our walk we got to go around to various stations learning about the different furniture found in the Sanctuary.

Niagara Adventure

I'm married to a wonderfully spontaneous husband, and Labor Day weekend he was itching to do something, go somewhere, do anything different.  We were packed up and driving out of Elwood within 2 hours!  We drove for a few hours Saturday night and then continued the rest of the way to Niagara Falls Sunday.

Katie's first journal of her own writing rather
than dictation and copying

Keeping a journal of our adventure

Family Time

 Monday the guys won over the girls and we ended up at the Buffalo Naval Museum.

Ethan looking at the USS Croaker, a submarine we were able to tour

USS The Sullivans

About to enter the belly of the whale, oh, I mean submarine :)

We stopped at the welcome center in Pennsylvania and saw signs all over the building saying, "Please don't bring the grapes into the building."  Of course we had to go exploring.  The welcome center butted up against a vineyard, and the owner had planted grape vines all along the fence for the travelers to enjoy.  The Concord grapes were perfectly ripe!

 Finally, we drove the rest of the way home on Tuesday.  We spent some time along the shores of Lake Erie.  We've now been to and put our feet in four of the five Great Lakes.  Lake Superior is on our bucket list!