Impromptu Science Fun

On a beautiful sunny Saturday, we spent the day at the Mui Wo beach, 

 playing in the sun and water,

 and visiting with friends.

After a long day in the sun, we came home to clean up and relax. That evening, we received a typical grocery delivery (I buy most of our bulky items, household cleaners and supplies, canned goods, and anything heavy online so I don't have to lug it home myself - it's been a life saver and it's free!). This particular delivery included a few frozen food items which were kept cold with dry ice. Instead of disposing of the dry ice, Kyle saw an opportunity for some cool science experiments. A fun, educational, impromptu science class ensued.

The kids learned that dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and instead of melting turns into a gas. We emphasized the precautions to take while handling dry ice so nobody gets burned or breathes too much gas. Unfortunately, these dangers scared Abby too much and she participated only by watching from the distant sidelines.

 We put dry ice in warm water to watch it create a white cloudy fog.

 In drinking water, dry ice makes bubbles and makes the water tastes carbonated.

With water, dish soap, a container, and a damp towel, a bright, white bubble formed and grew larger and larger as the gas and water vapor filled it up. It popped with a burst of smoke. 

The favorite dry ice activity was watching it "float" on the tile floor. With tongs and other kitchen utensils, the kids played a fun game of dry ice hockey.

Our Dry Ice 101 class was definitely the best science class we've done all year.

Our Homeschool Group

One of the best things I did when we started homeschooling was to join a group of homeschoolers. This group consists of families from many parts of the world with various homeschooling experience. Not only did joining this group give me an opportunity to ask questions and discuss different methods and ideas for teaching and learning but it also introduced us to an array of new friends and provided lots of great activities and field trips.  Here's a few activities from the past few months.

Matteo Ricci Workshop

We attended a fantastic workshop by The Asia Society Hong Kong Center about Matteo Ricci, an Italian Jesuit priest from the late 1500s. With age appropriate arts and crafts, the kids learned about Matteo Ricci and his experience in Asia, beginning in Macau. Adults were not allowed with the older group of kids so I didn't get any pictures but they had a great time and learned many things. 

The younger group of kids learned interesting facts about Italy and Matteo Ricci while coloring, cutting, and pasting in a little booklet.

They also made a kaleidoscope, one of the many gifts Matteo Ricci brought to China. 

After the workshop, we took a brief tour of the building which was used during the early 1900s to make magazines or ammunition holders for guns. The kids loved following the tracks that were used to transport their products.

Tong Fuk Beach Day

We spent a fun day at the beach with some of our homeschooling friends.

The kids played in the water for hours because

the waves were so big and fun.

Plus, they had some great talks about the differences between British and American English. It's always entertaining to hear the Brits talk and use different words and pronunciations.  

Rainbow Loom Bracelet Making

Our homeschool group met together to help make rainbow loom bracelets that would be used as a give-away gift at an upcoming educational conference. The bracelets were made of blue and white bands with a charm of the conference logo. 

Abby introduced and instructed many of us how to make different patterns so there was a variety of bracelets styles.

And a TV crew videoed our activity to be used in a news piece promoting the conference on the local evening news.

International Day

With families from many different countries, our group got together to share food from our home countries and learn a little more about each other. The activity was held on the less populated side of Lamma Island at a beach front restaurant near the home of one of our group members.

For many of us, it was a LONG trip to get there. We took the subway train, a bus, and finally a ferry to get to Lamma Island.

Here's a bunch of the kids on the bow of the boat enjoying the sea breeze and watching for the island.

 We had a delicious potluck lunch with foods from England, Australia, Norway, Hong Kong, Latvia, and America. It was well worth the long journey!

 Then we played on the beach,

in the water,

 and on a floating island pad.

 It was a fun day!

We have a great homeschooling group!