Monthly Archives: August 2014

Egyptian Day: Mom Camp Days 34-35

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As mom camp 2014 winds down, we are revisiting one of our theme days from the very first mom camp three years ago: Egyptian Day!

20140821-125535.jpgAs you have guessed by now I don’t post pictures of the kid’s faces on here. But, I have found the pics from our previous Egyptian mom camp day… A blast from the past!

Last time we made elaborate Egyptian collars and the tall crowns of lower Egypt. We borrowed a book from the library with instructions for a few ancient Egyptian meals-dinner that night was a little iffy with the exception of the dates.

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This year headgear made a comeback for Egyptian Day! We decided to make Nemes Headdress. It’s the blue and gold head covering most people associate with King Tut’s golden mask. The real Nemes’ were made of cloth and were not considered crowns at all. Although, they might have been warn with a crown. As you can see by the picture of Cinco, he also added a traditional Pharaoh’s beard. A nice touch if you ask me!

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Next up was a little archeology! Thanks to all the junk you can find at The Dollar Store the kids were able to excavate an golden idol…move over Indiana Jones! We have done a bunch of these kits before– unearth fool’s gold, find-a-fossil, etc. Still, they never stop entertaining and engaging the kids. I used to by the pricey ones from the Smithsonian but now I just grab the cheapo Dollar Store kits and the kids are equally entertained.

20140826-131640.jpgWe also designed our own sarcophagus… Cinco tried to make his look authentic.

Then it was time for another of my famous clothespin people projects. Over the years we have made a clothespin Ben Franklin and colonial soldiers, Mermaids, and British soldiers. Now we can add Pharaohs to the list of clothespin creations brought to you by mom camp!20140826-131652.jpg

How to Make Your Own Clothespin Pharaohs:

What you need:

Steps:

  1. 20140826-131726.jpgCut out a very small piece of construction paper in the shape of the Egyptian neck collar (sort of a wide crescent shape). Depending of the age and talent of the kids, you can do this yourself or let one of them do it. You should hold up to clothespin person for sizing and make sure it goes around the neck.
  2. Cover the collar in Elmer’s Glue. Let the kids decorate the collar with small beads. Set it aside and let it dry. (Waiting for it to dry was one of the hardest things for The Princess on this project!)
  3. 20140826-131750.jpgUsing blue construction paper, cut out the “U-shaped” Nemes. Then cut a few strips of yellow construction paper and let the kids glue them in rows on the Nemes.
  4. Now you cut out a small circle of brown construction paper. Then from one of the edges cut a straight line to the center of the circle. This will be Pharaohs’ skirt.
  5. When everything is dry and ready, go ahead and hot glue it on your clothespin. I would start with the neck collar, add the headpiece and finish up with the skirt.
  6. Finally, finish it off with some heavily made up Egyptian eyes and glue on a few black beads to make the beard!

20140826-131710.jpgI wouldn’t be Bookymom if I didn’t also include some books on our Egyptian Day. We read:

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And we even went to the local Natural History Museum to see the King Tut exhibit.  That’s two full days of Egyptian excitement for Mom Camp!

 

 

 

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Mom Camp Day 33: Water Day Part Two!

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We took a trip back to the Las Vegas Natural History Museum to take a look at some more sea creatures. This time the focus was on the new Seahorses they have added.

I could have stood looking at them all day. Cinco and the Princess liked them as well, but not as much as I did!!!

Then is was back to the pool for more swimming practice, not exactly glamorous, but necessary!

Back at home we reading again. A bunch of aquatic books.

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Mom Camp Day 32: Water World!

In preparation for a long weekend of boating in Catalina, we decided to embark a few ocean inspired activities.

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We began by taking a trip to Las Vegas’ own Shark Reef! Cinco and The Princess end up going there all the time. But, if you want to learn about life in the water, it’s a good educational spot. Cinco got a hold of my camera phone and took a number of photos of our visit.

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As you can tell, we also got the chance to see the scuba divers cleaning the tanks. Always a little treat… But a fairly typically experience.

We also purchased some grow kits!

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The Princess choose the dolphin and Cinco went for the ray. We places them in the master bath and waited … And waited … And waited…. As we waited Cinco periodically took size measurements and recorded them in a small journal.

We also hit the pool to practice a bit of swimming. If you are going to jump off a ship in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, you better be ready! As it turns out, we did jump off the boat in water that was more than 1000 feet deep. And yes, it was cold!!!

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Dino Day Part 2: Mom Camp Day 31

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There was simply too much to do in only one day of Dinos so we added a second day. After all, who can say no to Dinos.

We started off with several of PBS’ Dinosaur Train episodes that we watched on Netflix.

Then it was time for a little learning. We consulted a number of dinosaur books laying around the20140731-170105.jpg house. The family favorite turned out to be an old 3D T-Rex book. We enjoyed a pseudo dissection of a T-Rex. The book took us about an hour to get through as it had little activities and experiments to do in each section. We measured out 40 feet to understand the scale of the T-Rex. We also conducted balancing exercises to learn how the T-Rex made use of it’s tail. You get the idea.

20140731-214701.jpgWe took the left over wooden frames from the wooden Dinos we made and used them as stencils. The 20140731-214729.jpgkids used all the different body parts in both ‘stencils’ to create their own new dinosaurs and color them in.

 

 

 

Then we embarked on making our own wearable Dino feet, too. Here’s what you need:

  • Cardboard (I used a Costco sized cereal box and that was enough for both kids or two pairs of Dino feet)
  • Paints
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Paper Towel Tubes
  • Feathers (optional)
  • Hot Glue Gun

Step 1: 20140731-170702.jpgHave the kids draw an outline of Dino feet on the cardboard. You can use a show to draw around to make sure the foot dino is large enough to wear.

Step 2: Cut out the feet. Depending on the age and skill of your child, you may want to do this yourself.

Step 3: Cut the paper towel tube length wise. You will glue these onto the feet so the kids can slip on the feet.

20140810-194408.jpgStep 4: Let the kids paint the Dino feet. Both kids enjoyed this part and used their creativity.

Step 5: Glue the long strips of paper towel tube onto the feet, making a slip-on for the kids.

Optional Step 6: Glue a few feathers onto the Dino feet. Let the kids choose the placement. I like a few coming off the back, but adding them to the sides or drought is fine too.

This helps the kids understand that scientists are starting to believe some Dino’s beyond those that fly maybe have had feathers…

Have fun playing!

 

 

 

 

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Sense of An Ending: Booky Mom

The Sense of an EndingThe Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Memory, reality and personal history converge in Julian Barnes’ Sense of An Ending. The story is told to readers through the lens of a sixty something man looking back on his youth. As a result, we are treated to the memories of Tony told to us through his clouded mind and left with a highly unreliable narrator.

Barnes introduces the tale with descriptive fragments of memory and moves through the story fleshing them out to a greater or lesser degree. It is part of Barnes plan that these introductory fragments are equally illusive at both the beginning and ending of the story.

Youth and aging come to play in the story as do life’s attempt to grapple with death. None of the concepts are earth shattering or new, but Barnes humanizes them for the reader through Tony.

There were no characters in the book that I was drawn to in sympathy. Rather its a train wreck of competing impulses acted upon without much concern for the vibrations created they create. The selfish vibrations slowly play out into earthquakes that the narrator is emotionally incapable of addressing.

The writing is good and flows well and the story dispute so many layers is rather tight.

I read the book in the summer and I sometimes think our state of mind truly affects the understanding of the book. My point here being, this is a fall/winter time book.

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