Be free, have fun, ask why">

Just some quick thoughts on an interesting learning opportunity that presented itself earlier today.   Riesling had decided that she would apply all of her tattoos from her party to her arms by herself.   The 4th tattoo came out crooked and broken.   I then heard Gleamer from the bathroom explaining to Riesling that the items under the kitchen sink were not for putting on your skin and that she should check with Daddy if she wanted to try to remove the unsightly remains.   I can only assume that Riesling had thought of the Goo-gone, an orange terpene (d-limonene) based cleaner, that we have sometimes used together to remove stickers from things.

When she got to the bathroom I told her that we could probably use some rubbing alcohol (91% isopropyl alcohol) to remove the tattoo.  It worked great but took a little time, rubbing and allowing the solvent to soak in a little.   In the few minutes we had together I mentioned that real tattoos would be permanent.

I was going to start explaining how a tattoo gun worked but I had a moment of serendipity and realized that Riesling had actually received a Crayola Tattoo Gun for her birthday.  Ok…before you start thinking “What kind of parents throw their five year old a Miami Ink themed party”, or you go on a letter writing campaign to Crayola, let me clarify that it was actually a Crayola Cutter.   A Crayola Cutter is essentially a reciprocating needle housed in pen with an attached switch.   The purpose of the Crayola Cutter is to allow the user to perforate paper, card stock or thin foam paper so as to cut out shapes more accurately that scissors but avoiding the outright hazards of X-ACTO knives.   We talked about how the up and down motion of the needle of a typical tattoo gun allows the tattoo artist to place ink underneath the top layers of skin where it is essentially impossible to remove.

As she usually does, Riesling quickly suggested a solution to the real tattoo removal problem, A RAZOR!  I replied that although that might work it would probably cause an awful lot of damage.   Yes, I am aware of laser removal techniques, but that discussion was probably little too much for a just turned 5 year old.  Besides, laser ablation is a 6 year old course offering.

Finally, Reisling mentioned, “Nana has a heart tattoo,” and then quickly followed that up with a very sincere and understanding, “but it was an accident.”   I can only assume that her Nana maybe told her that she wishes she didn’t have that tattoo now and Riesling had thought that meant it was an accident.   This is basically what I told Riesling and added that you have to think very hard about getting a real tattoo because you’ll most likely be wearing it for the rest of your life.

tags: life skills, Riesling, safety

We were up and at ‘em this morning to make Riesling’s 9:15 ballet class.  The parts for the Nutcracker were posted when we arrived.  Riesling was selected to be a Polychinelle and a Page.  I don’t think she was quite sure what to make of this as she just expected to be a Polychinelle.

During ballet, Joe took Cashel for a walk around town and they found a really cool playground.  Cashel was very excited about it.

When ballet was finished we went on to Joe’s work for Family Day.  What a great learning opportunity.  We explored laboratories, offices, restrooms and factories.  In the labs, the kids found the glassware fascinating and wanted to explore all the drawers.  They were interested in what the hoods were for and the emergency showers and blankets.  They were excited to see Daddy’s office plastered with their artwork and photos.  Cashel drew his first ever face with eyes and a mouth on Joe’s whiteboard.  They got a flashlight and a thermometer, made a potty stop and were ready for the factories.

On the way we saw steam pipes that had valves at ground level to release the water that condensed inside.  We talked about how the steam is invisible immediately upon exit but quickly condenses enough so that it is visible as water vapor.  Riesling measured the temperature of the steam, as well as a stream of water coming out of a pipe that we happened upon.  We compared this to the temperature of the air around us.  Cashel shined his flashlight at every opportunity, especially at the crystals in a column in a factory.  We observed the very beginnings of a product and how an operator was monitoring the many iterations on a computer screen.  After 2 hours we were all tired and hungry.  We grabbed a bite to eat and then the kids made butterflies using coffee filters, markers, a spray bottle and pipe cleaners.  Cashel loved the spray bottle, so while Riesling made 3 butterflies, he quickly finished one and sprayed everything and everyone within range!

When we got home Cashel asked for a spray bottle and continued his spree.  The kids road bikes.  Then Riesling got the spray bottle and relentlessly sprayed Cashel, despite him having a stick bigger than himself that he kept swinging at her.  After many trips outside to help them work things out, Cashel decided to come inside.  He started to help me get the recycling together, then went outside, took off his shoes and proceeded to attempt to use our little orange cones as foot wear.  He wanted to go to the dump with me, so I put him in the car, put his shoes back on and we were off.

Riesling and Cashel helped throw the plastic in its recycling skid while I did the glass and steel.  Then we all did the cardboard and aluminum.  We talked about how aluminum and steel were made of different metals.  We also talked about why I had to retrieve the aluminum can that Cashel had thrown into the plastic recycling skid.

Post recycling trip, they went and played in the sandbox.  Riesling came in at one point and donned her blue sequined shorts jumper and attempted to teach me some cheerleading moves, as she had seen some cheerleaders at family day.  Her cheers involved the works Hey Ho, Hey Ho, It’s off to work we go!  I did my best to keep up while I made dinner and had heated discussions with Cashel as to why he couldn’t bring sticks into the house.  Joe provided a much needed diversion by getting the kids’ shovels and involving them in helping him move some mulch around.

After dinner, I read Cashel Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes and Joe read to Riesling.  They were so very tired that they had a hard time falling asleep.  Cashel wouldn’t put on his PJs or turn off his light.  Joe goofed around with him for a bit and he finally settled down and went to sleep.  Riesling did the same after a few trips to investigate what was happening on the other side of her door.

tags: Cashel, engineering, manufacturing, phases of matter, plumbing, Riesling, safety, science, temperature, valves

As we continue the work to cut down the pine trees which previously stood between our house and the road I took the opportunity to involve the kids and teach them about some more tools.

Earlier in the week, Riesling and I disassembled the chain saw and I showed her how the engine works.   She could see how the air is brought in through the filter and the gas is fed into the combustion chamber to move the piston which moves the gear which moves the chain.   I showed her the sharp edges on the chain and explained to her that they were like lots of tiny teeth each taking a small bite out of the tree but since there are so many bites so fast it just looks like it’s slicing through the tree without me sawing.   I was going to explain how this was similar to the miter saw that we we used last week, but she was ready to move on to something else so it will have to wait for another day.

It’s sometimes hard to balance my desire to instruct/inform with their desire to learn/explore, but in the end this form of instructional titration is the best way to encourage future learning rather than boredom.

As for what we did today, and the subject of the email, the kids learned how to use the long-handled lopping shears.   We practiced how to handle the tool safely (glasses, shoes, always keep it closed when not cutting and pointed towards the ground) and they unconsciously explored the concept of a lever when I could see them slowly move their hands up the handle with each successive cut, especially on larger branches.   Also, on one particularly large branch the kids teamed up for greater force, putting their collaboration and physics knowledge to good work!

I can’t wait to bring the first whole tree trunk down, I think the kids will have great fun watching it…from a safe distance of course.

tags: Cashel, engines, levers, Riesling, safety, tools