Summer Learning: Telephone Museum and MLK Jr. Center

Today we had to forgo our new Summer Schedule for home because I found a list of activities to do around the city that are free. So, today we had two summer learning adventures. 

Our first adventure was at the Telephone Museum. My source said that the hours were from 11-1. However, the receptionist acted leery about us not having an appointment when we got there. It all worked out because there was another group who had just started a tour. This museum has a guide who leads you through the exhibits. It is a small museum, and we were there about 45 minutes. The guide was knowledgeable, and the kids liked it. We saw early phones, statistics of the numbers of phones throughout the years, switchboards, and the first Atlanta phone book.

Here are our pics:

The 1st Atlanta Phone Book: Only 1 Page
 Early Phones:

 Switchboards:

Outside the Main Building:

Our second adventure was to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. Here we did a self-guided tour. We watched a movie on the Civil Rights, toured the exhibits, and walked around the site.

My sister & Me:

In the D.R.E.A.M. Gallery with a replica of the Lincoln Memorial: 

 The Eternal Flame:

The Crypt of MLK, Jr. and Coretta Scott King:

125 Foot Painting on the Wall of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Natatorium by Artist Lois Delsarte:

Summer Schedule with Kids Day 1

On Monday of this week, it was our first full day home for summer break. And... that... is... when... I decided around noontime that I needed lesson plans and a schedule for my own two children this summer.

So where do you turn when you need some ideas? One word...Pinterest!

I pinned some summer schedules that other moms posted. Like this one from www.thrivinghomeblog.com:

Then I made a list of ideas to put on the schedule. Our Girl was THRILLED with the idea, and she started helping with the plan. However, Our Boy was NOT SO THRILLED with a summer schedule.

Hmmm...so I made a new plan. I created two lists: "Have To" and "Choice." The kids have to do the things listed on the "Have To" list. Then they can choose what they want to do from the "Choice" list.

Here's our "Have To" list:
-practice piano
-brain activities (EX: math games & xtramath.org)
-read
-clean (today was dusting)
-exercise/outside time
-swim lessons

Here's our "Choice" list:
-TV/devices/Wii/computer
-art/playdough
-free time
-Lego challenge
Our Boy's Lego Vessel Flying Ship:

Our Girl's Lego vessel: a bowl that holds trophies

Our Girl's Play dough "steaks"

The kids did like having a plan, and they did like choosing when they did each activity. They did not complain about any of the "Have To"s because well...it was on the list.

Tomorrow I will add *time alone and *make your bed to the "Have To" list.

June wasn't so sure about this new plan because all that planning led to a bath for her!

Look what we found outside today...the kids said it was a Smurf House:

Wife, Mom, Kindergarten Teacher?

For the past 14 years, I've been "wife."

For the past 10 years, I've been "mom."

For the past 16 years, I've been "Kindergarten (or Pre-K) teacher."

Well...in the fall...my new name will be "2nd grade teacher."

I'm looking forward to a new adventure.