We recently started a new curriculum, and I absolutely LOVE it!  Right now, we’re focusing on science with more “planned out” activities while we let her other learning come from less planned activities and lots of question asking and exploring.

But, as we started diving into the new curriculum, I had a thought:

“Wouldn’t this just be SO much more fun as a group?  Nothing beats learning with some of your best friends!”

I put up a invitation (first come-first serve) on Facebook, inviting my friends to take part in our “preschool” science days, and was amazed at the response!

So, I named our little homeschool classroom “New Discoveries,” and a group of preschoolers meet each week with us to learn.

This week is our first week as meeting with other children, and it went great!

Right now, we’re learning about the praying mantis.

We read THIS book (which was amazing!).

Then, we made our own praying mantises:

And, we learned about their body parts, how and what they eat, their lifecycle, how they clean themselves, and even acted out how they catch their prey!

Then, we went outside to get the habitat ready.  Sticks, leaves, moss and grass were collected by little hands in preparation for the egg sack that would be arriving by FedEx sometime today.  As we made our way back inside, guess who showed up?

That’s right.  Approximately 50-100 unborn praying mantises via FedEx.  We were one excited bunch!

In a few weeks, we’ll have little praying mantis nymphs scurrying around, and enough for the whole class to take home and unleash wherever they choose (outside )

And tomorrow?  We’re studying sedimentary rocks.

Welcome back!