04/13/08- 04/19/08- New Toys and Devil's Fork

We test products through a toy trade magazine’s program. Some of them are bona fide toys. Some are educational materials. They arrive on their own schedule which is consistent only in its sporadic nature. This week was a feast. We spent the better part of two days thoroughly inspecting a building toy, a nutrition workbook/CD combo and a multi-level logic CD-ROM. Of course, the kids enjoy getting new stuff…and in the mail no less. However, I like to think that they’re learning some consumer skills in the bargain.


We spent a day at Devil’s Fork State Park with some other homeschoolers and our favorite naturalist. The tadpoles were out in force, though the Oconee bells had already bloomed. We hiked a mile long trail (that felt more like 2), discovering native irises, native bamboo, violets galore and even more trees. Then we played in Lake Jocasee. It was very low and the kids found all sorts of rocks and different textures of soil and sand with which to sculpt.

Park day, free reading, free drawing, a trip to the library and dd’s art class at the county art museum rounded out the week.