Drama Club

Kaylee has a dramatic side. She is often putting on shows for family and friends. She is not shy. She enjoys being the center of attention. She likes being on a stage. When our homeschool group announced that there was a Drama 1 Club starting we signed up.

Kaylee at her first audition for Drama Club.

I didn't realize what we were signed up for. There was a lot of time involved. Practices and meetings at least once a week. More practices and long hours a week before the performances. And I volunteered for a few tasks. It was worth it.

The play was about Christopher Columbus. There were 3 shows on two different days. Kaylee played two minor rolls in the performances. She played a townsperson and an Indian princess. It involved a costume change between scenes. I took her to the bathroom and helped her change into her next costume. Then, took her to the person doing make up and had her Indian princess make up applied.

Kaylee dressed as a townsperson. 

Kaylee dressed as an Indian princess. 

Practice, practice, practice...

The shows went well. This was such a great experience for both Kaylee and myself. It was also exhausting. She has already expressed interest in signing up for the next session of Drama Club. Kaylee enjoys being on the stage.

We gave Kaylee a bouquet of flowers after the final performance. 

Snowmen and snow ice cream!

We've had a lot of snow in our area the last few weeks. It's also been unusually cold. What does one do when life gives you lots of snow? Well, you make snowmen and snow ice cream, of course!

Kaylee and her snowman.

We searched and found a recipe for snow ice cream. The night before a big snowfall was predicted we put a mixing bowl on our patio table to catch some snow. We had a huge bowl full of snow! 

We put out a mixing bowl the night before a snowfall and this is how much snow we caught! 

We didn't exactly follow the recipe. We put a chunk of snow in a bowl, mixed in some coconut milk, vanilla, and sugar until we liked the flavor and texture. Then, we added some toppings and ate it. We didn't use the whole chunk of snow from the above picture. That would have been a bit too much.

Adding some sugar and testing the texture.

Whipping it all together with some vanilla. 

This is the final product. It is not the same texture as regular ice cream. 

Kaylee added some sprinkles to her snow ice cream.

It was very yummy. We will be putting out another mixing bowl before the next snowfall...Hopefully that will be NEXT winter. :)

Chinese New Year

We studied Chinese New Year. We got a few books out if the library and read about the traditions. Then, she made a Chinese dragon mask. To make the mask, we used a paper bag. I helped her to find where she needed to cut out the eye holes. I also trimmed the paper bag so it would sit properly on her shoulders. 

Getting the paper bag lined up correctly on her face and shoulders. 

Next, she painted the bag green. We let it dry overnight. Then, she added construction paper eyes, spikes, and a yellow nose. It turned out very cute and it was a lot of fun to make.

Kaylee wearing her completed Chinese dragon mask. 

Nature Club: Animal Tracks

In our nature club we learned about animal tracking. First, our group walked near the waters edge and looked for tracks. Unfortunately, it had rained a lot and it was really muddy. At least one of the children in our club walked thorough mud and their shoe got stuck. But, it made tracks easy to spot.

The children were told to mark the tracks that they find with a yellow flag. Then, they mixed plaster of paris and poured it into the print. Kaylee found a set of nice clear tracks. 

Kaylee marked the tracks she found with a yellow flag. 

She found a nice set of tracks. 

After the plaster was mixed, Kaylee poured it into the tracks and then smoothed it out with a craft stick. 

Pouring in the plaster.

Smoothing the plaster. 

While the plaster dried we went inside for a lesson on tracking. We were given a guide to some of the most common tracks found in our area. 

Trying to determine what happened by looking at the tracks.

Kaylee's prints turned out very nice. We learned that these are raccoon tracks. 

American Girl Doll

Kaylee had been wanting an American Girl doll for quite some time. The dolls are very expensive. But, Santa was lucky enough to know someone who was willing to sell their old doll for a reasonable price. The doll happened to have blonde hair and blue eyes like Kaylee. Santa was very excited. Oh, and so was Kaylee. Santa sent her on a treasure hunt all around the house. There was a gift and a clue waiting for her at each spot. Each gift was a clue to the final big gift.

Kaylee following the clues and finding a gift. Each gift was a clue to the final big gift. 

The American Girl doll was the last gift and her doll Kirsten was waiting for her in Kaylee's car seat.

She followed all the clues and found Kirsten waiting for her in the car. 

She is happy! 

We are fortunate to live close to an American Girl store. We thought it would be fun to browse the store and take Kirsten for a "spa treatment."

Kaylee at the American Girl store.

We browsed the store and had a snack at the American Girl Cafe. The cafe was adorable. There are special chairs for your doll. If you don't have a doll, you can borrow one of theirs to sit at your table with you. The dolls are even given their own cup and saucer to use while in the cafe. 

Kaylee and her doll Kirsten having a snack at the American Girl Cafe.

After our snack, we went to the American Girl hair salon. Kaylee got to choose which hair style she wanted for her doll. We got the "Pampering Plus" package. The doll got a facial scrub and wiped clean. It also came with toe nail decals to put on a home. 

Kirsten is relaxing during her treatment. 

Kaylee and Kirsten dressed alike. 

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Auntie Anne Pretzel Making Workshop

Through our homeschool group we signed up for the Auntie Anne's pretzel making workshop. It was a tour of our local Auntie Anne's, a lesson on the history of pretzels, and then a workshop on how to shape your own pretzels. We enjoy these kinds of tours! 

We got a tour of the kitchen and saw the huge mixer preparing the dough. 

Ready to roll some pretzel dough!

Rolling the dough. 

She carefully followed the instructions and created a pretzel. 

Kaylee trying to twist her pretzel while in the air like demonstrated.

Finally, she got to eat a pretzel. Luckily, it was a fresh new pretzel. Apparently, they throw away the dough that the group uses for the workshop.