the experiment

One of the more interesting things about homeschool is the fact that WE are involved in so many aspects of it. From turning in some of her assignments to helping her when she’s stuck to science experiments.

Last night we had the privilege of helping her with a science experiment.

We needed to find some open area to count paces that equaled about two football fields. I grabbed a hoody because it’s decided it’s winter again here. (Don’t EVEN get me started on THAT one!)  And I told the girl to put on something warmer too. She headed into her room to change and off we went.

We drove to a local park a few blocks from our house and let Dad do the pacing since he’s got long legs.

The girl and I waited behind while he did all the work walking and counting. Then Dad held up two rocks and banged them together. We used his iPhone a stop watch and counted from the time we saw them clack together to when we heard it.

And that’s a very short time, by the way.

But she learned about how light travels and how sound travels in the real world, not just from a book. Big fun was had by all…including feeling like those homeschool weirdos feverishly writing numbers down on paper and standing in the cold while somebody else was banging rocks together waaaay over there. We must have looked real sharp.

But the biggest lesson of the night might have come in the form of a certain girl learning that “putting on something warm” means more than changing out of  a tank top into a tshirt…to go with her flannel pajama pants.

We’re nothing if not klassy.

And yes she about froze. (it was in the low 50’s…she wasn’t about to get frostbite or anything)

And no, I did not loan her my hoodie. She was warned.

And I’m the meanest mom ever.