October 2016 – CommuniKate

Lightning

Published on October 24, 2016 by Kate7 Comments

We had a rare lightning storm by our house in Southern California this morning. Lightning is basically an electric storm. There is a difference between lightning and thunder.

Lightning is the great electric flash that goes through the sky. Thunder is the rumble that you hear after lightning. Since light travels faster than sound, you hear thunder after the lightning strikes the earth.

If you want to know how many miles away thunder is, count the seconds of thunder and then divide it by 5. That is how many miles away thunder is. (Example: 9 seconds of thunder = thunder is 1.8 miles away.) In every lightning flash, there are 100 bolts. Eighty million car batteries equal 1 lightning bolt.

Click here for a rare lightning storm at my house.

Lightning strikes the U.S.A about 25 million times a year. Lightning is hotter than the sun. (Click here to see what Google has to say about it.) A lightning bolt is about 53,540 degrees Fahrenheit or 30,000 kelvins. The sun is about 10,340 degrees Fahrenheit or 6,000 kelvins.

Click here for some more information from National Geographic Kids about lightning.

We were excited to wake up this morning and go outside to see the lightning storm!

Outside on porch for lightning.

Waiting for lightning.

Lightning is very awesome.

Field Trip to Riley’s Apple Farm

Published on October 20, 2016November 17, 2016 by Kate5 Comments

At Riley’s Apple Farm, you can learn about life in the late 1800’s, pick apples and make cider .

We woke very early to get to Riley’s Apple Farm. It was about a 95 minute drive into the mountains. After we parked and found our homeschool group, we started off in the gift shop. There were lot of toys and games. After that, we went to the theater and listened to a banjo player. Some kids were selected to go up including me. We used some jugs , wash bins and triangles to play music.

Next, we went to place where we did many homesteading activities. Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. I did the laundry first. You pick a piece of laundry, scrub it on the wash board, then hang it up to dry. After that, we peeled and cut the apples to make apple preserves. We also got to eat the dried-cut apples. The dried apples were so fluffy, chewy and would melt in your mouth. Coming fresh from the tree, the cut apples were juicy, warm and sweet. Super tasty apples!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We also got to build a log house. I had two turns with my friend Hannah. After we played, we snapped a pic in the pumpkin patch and ate our lunches.

Next, we made rope. To get off all the sprigs you burn them.

Making rope

twisting rope

burning rope

From there, we started to pick out apples for the cider. After we got all the apples, we squashed them into cider. We received a gallon of cider and split in between the group. After we had drank our fill of the tasty apple cider, all of us went on a nature walk.

We walked through the apples trees, which were lined up in order.

For the last part of the tour, we did archery. If you were seven and under, you can make a kazoo instead. I was in the archery so I can tell you about that. First, everyone got instructions. We slipped the clip onto the string and pulled back. BAM! I let the arrow go, and it hit the hay! We love the shooting. And that is the end of the tour, but not our day.

My brother and I piled into our friend’s car and drove to Law’s Oak Glen Coffee Shop. We got the best apple pie and vanilla ice cream I had ever tasted. Those two desserts were great together. I wanted more, but apparently I didn’t get more. After we had our wonderful pie, we headed home.

Sailing for School!!!!!!!!

Published on October 17, 2016November 2, 2016 by Kate3 Comments

group-shot-getting-ready

Each week, we sail with our homeschool group. In the sailboats we use, there are 2 to 3 kids. Each kid has a job on the sailboat. If there are 3 kids, then the child in the back will steer the boat. One of the kids in the front will pull the lines for the mainsail. The other child in the front will pull the lines for the jib. The jib is a small sail in the front.

sarah-and-kate-sailing — The little girl in the front, my sister, is switching the jib.

It is most important for the skipper, which is the name for driver, to stay focused at all times. The crew is the name for the kids that are not steering the boat. They will take care of the sails and watch for boats coming their way. When the winds are not right to sail, we take kayaks to the beach.

just-off-kayak-kate — With my friends and the kayaks.

We swim and play at the beach.

Before we go sailing, we set up our boats. The first piece you put on is the jib. After that, you put in the rudder which is attached to the tiller. The tiller is what you use to drive the boat. After you have put on the jib and rudder, you haul on the mainsail. Once the mainsail is up and connected, you push your boat into the water, stick the dagger board in the hole, have your crew jump in and sail off. I drive the boat almost always. Sailing is very fun and a good skill.