Unschooling Journal February 17-23, 2019 – Friends and Math

by | Feb 23, 2019 | Blog, exponents, Home Learning, Homeschooling, Rubik's Cube, Unschooling, 언스쿨링 | 0 comments

Here’s what unschooling was like for Ethan this past week.

February 17

We went out to do some grocery shopping because Ethan’s grandparents were coming over for dinner. But Ethan managed to get some violin practice in first.
Ethan’s friend Eldon came over after lunch to hang out with Ethan.
It was a beautiful day out and the boys were able to get some time outside.
Ethan wanted to work on some elements with Eldon but Eldon left earlier than expected. So Ethan made three element cards on his own today.
Ethan has started on the lathanoids and made cerium, praseodymium and neodymium.
We finished the night by watching Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and reading Q&As from xkcd.com.

February 18

Today was Family Day so we spent even more time together than usual 🙂

Ethan folded an origami heart that’s also a bookmark. He gave it to Dong Eun as a present.
We’re going to work on being a plastic free home after watching CBC Marketplace’s episode on just how much plastic is still being used. In particular, they talked about how much plastic there is at grocery stores and how consumers can demand that stores ask their suppliers to go plastic-free.
We’ll do what we can and when we don’t have much choice, we’ll be sure to recycle.
Today’s element was tungsten.
Ethan practiced Hunter’s Chorus and he actually let us make a video!
He learned about how math is also a part of music from this TED Talk.
He did the spiral pattern on his cubes.
In the afternoon, we met up with our good friends Maria and Carlos, along with their two boys. They gave us a couple of cool little cars that are made from old aluminum cans.
After spending a couple hours outside, we all came back to our place to warm up.
After dinner, Ethan made some other cube patterns using his 3×3 cube. This is the cube in a cube pattern.
This is the twisted peaks pattern.
The other side of the twisted peaks pattern.
The other side of the cube-in-a-cube pattern.

February 19

Ethan worked on his Rubik’s Cubes this morning.
Always trying to eat healthy and promote good nutrition as important.
Ethan practiced violin.
He worked on mathematical expressions today.
He completed everything in this book! We bought this book in fall of 2017 during our cross-Canada road trip. It was also when Ethan first started unschooling. He’s always loved this book and it’s been a great resource.
Learning about rogue pronouns and writing about them.
Coding in Scratch.
Yesterday was Family Day so Ethan didn’t do as many of his normal Monday tasks. However, we never really clearly communicated expectations for holidays that fall on a weekday so Ethan and Dong Eun shared their thoughts and feelings about this issue. Ethan said that if it’s a holiday, he can take the day off but will make up for it the following day.
He read about Indian Relay Racing from Canadian Reader and did some comprehension and vocabulary practice.
Next element, promethium, done.
Ethan had taekwondo and violin class in the evening. At violin class, he made a couple mistakes with his musical notation homework so he was more determined to get everything correct for next class. He gets to choose a reward if he gets the notation homework correct so he’s quite motivated.
Ethan finished the night reassembling his 2x4x4 cube and did some video editing, too. He made a couple of Rubik’s Cube tutorial videos today.

February 20

Today was nature school and it was another beautiful day to spend outdoors.
After nature school, he had a playdate at his friend Luca’s house. Once he got back home, Ethan practiced Hunters’ Chorus on the violin.
He also learned about nonlinear functions from his math book.
He watched a video about nonlinear functions.
Once he finished learning about nonlinear functions, he taught us how to graph equations.
He learned more about Islam.
He then wrote about things that he learned about Islam.
He completed another element for his periodic table, samarium.
After he finished, Ethan did some coding by remixing a platform game.
He then edited one of his Rubik’s Cube videos.

February 21

It was a beautiful morning, so Ethan and Dong Eun took a walk to get some fresh bread for breakfast.
Ethan spent some time reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
He learned about musical notation on Khan Academy.
He practiced violin.
And he did his musical notation homework.
He did some work on volume.
And explained what he learned.
He practiced some long division for fun.
He learned about Islam.
He wrote about the teachings of Islam.
He learned about possessive pronouns and adjectives.
He made element 63, europium.
He also read Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics.
And he worked on editing a video about the 3×3 Rubik’s Cube.

February 22

Ethan played the violin in the morning. He practiced Hunter’s Chorus.
He learned about why the surface area of a sphere 4πr squared.
Here’s the explanation of the above.
He learned about why the area of a circle is πr squared.
Here’s an experiment he did to prove that the area of a circle is πr squared.
He made the cube-in-the-cube pattern in the 4×4 and 6×6 cubes.
He practiced finding the volume of a cylinder.
Ethan learned about verb aspect.
He read and wrote about the Islamic kingdom of West Africa.
He did a lesson about superlatives.
Ethan went out to play with friends.
He wrote about the difference between a verb and verb aspect.
He made a card for gadolinium.
Ethan made a video about how to calculate the volume of a sphere.

February 23

Ethan had symphony practice this morning. After class, he spent time playing with his classmates, running around the community centre.
Next up was his skating lesson. Today was a test day but we didn’t get any other information from the teacher. Ethan was happy and excited about the class. However, he mentioned that one of the boys in his group had been pushing him down and laughing at him. We explained to Ethan that he had to take responsibility and talk to the teacher, rather than only being upset and telling us afterwards.
After skating, we went to the library to hang out.
Once home, Ethan did some more reading. This time, it was Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics…again 🙂
He then started learning about comparing irrational numbers.
While watching a video about comparing irrational numbers on Khan Academy, he worked on solving his 6×6 Rubik’s Cube.
Later on, he wanted to tell us about comparing irrational numbers. This was his first example.
And then he used a second example.
We went grocery shopping but Ethan didn’t want to go. He was a bit whiny and so we had a talk about being better at using words to express himself, rather than just reacting with displeasure.
Back home, Ethan did some more work on comparing irrational numbers by using a number line and his whiteboards.
He answered the questions about comparing irrational numbers on his whiteboard, too.

And that was Ethan’s week. We also received Ethan’s Winter Connection from his LC, Natasha, which is a progress report.

Ethan is doing very well, according to the report and he was very happy and proud to hear the praise that Natasha had for him.

Unschooling has certainly been a perfect fit for Ethan.

LC response

I picked out a few highlights from your observing for learning. Ethan has such full and incredible weeks. I get a real sense of each day because you share so many pictures too.

I can’t believe how many different ways Ethan uses his chalkboard. I also really appreciate that it is not a whiteboard. I feel like there is something very tactile about chalkboards that are lost in whiteboards. Also the medium of chalk versus marker is much more dynamic. I also prefer the dark background versus white, but this is my opinion.

Some interesting facts about chalkboards:

In recent years, green colored boards have largely replaced blackboards. Studies reveal that green color relaxes the eyes and prevents fatigue. Furthermore, the human eye is highly sensitive to the green color, and for this reason, the use of green boards has extensively increased.

As compared to whiteboards, blackboards still have a variety of advantages: … It is easier to draw lines of different weights and thicknesses with chalk than with whiteboard markers. Dashed lines can be drawn very quickly using a technique involving the friction of the chalk(or chalk marker) and blackboard.

For teachers like my mother, the chalkboard’s appeal is largely aesthetic. My mom found chalkboards easier to clean and considered their green color more calming than white. (This perceived calming benefit is among the reasons chalkboards remain popular in Japan, where they are still present in 75 percent of K-12 classrooms.) Likewise, my mother enjoyed the feel of the chalk in her hand and liked how her handwriting looked on the chalkboard.

A good article here in case Ethan is interested in the history of chalkboards, whiteboards and smart boards in education: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/10/theres-no-erasing-the-chalkboard/503975/

I think Ethan has really found something special in his chalkboard. I am so glad you are taking so many photos of how he uses it because the thinking and learning that he is expressing on it is phenomenal!

How to find the volume of a sphere-

This is such a great video! I shared it with a few of my other learners. Ethan has really improved his animations and transitions. I love the music and editing he did on this piece, creative and informative. You are such a great teacher Ethan and using very engaging tools.

I wonder if you will make a video someday about unschooling or homeschooling. I would be so interested to see wht principles or ideas you would share on the topic.

Solving cube in a cube pattern videos

All I can say is wow, not only was I unaware that cube in a cube was a thing or that you could solve cubes in this way. Thank you for continuing to expand my knowledge Ethan

video of playing Hunter’s chorus, filmed in black and white.

This video is beautiful. I think the choice to film in black and white is lovely. I am so happy to actually hear and see you playing the violin!

We finished the night by watching Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and reading Q&As from xkcd.com.

I checked out the xkcd.com website. Interesting and sort of strange to navigate around. I think I need a bit more time to explore. How does Ethan like to use this website?

We’re going to work on being a plastic free home after watching CBC Marketplace’s episode on just how much plastic is still being used. In particular, they talked about how much plastic there is at grocery stores and how consumers can demand that stores ask their suppliers to go plastic-free.

This is a very difficult challenge. Less plastic is a great goal. There are many ways to accomplish this from using pyrex storage containers, wax wrapping instead of plastic sandwich bags, using reusable shopping bags, buying items in bulk….I am sure Ethan had a bunch of more ideas, but there is still so much plastic in use around us!

https://www.treehugger.com/green-home/11-easy-ways-reduce-your-plastic-waste-today.html

I was really struck by plastic when I was in Nepal. There is no recycling going on there and even trash removal is very rare, so many people burn their trash and plastic as in much of the third world. Not to mention all of the plastic that winds up in the ocean and Ethan has been learning about that. I think it is so difficult for us (any age) to really take in all the damage all this plastic is doing to the environment.

Here is one cool idea. I had grade 5 students tell me how they are making their own beeswax reusable wraps. Here is a tutorial and I saw several youtube videos as well: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-make-your-own-reusable-food-wrap-244307

Are there any grocery stores like this one in London which are packaging and plastic free yet?

Ingrid Caldironi decided to cut down on plastic two years ago and says the best advice is to “be prepared”.

She told Newsbeat: “At first when you’re trying to do your weekly shop it can be difficult to avoid plastic packaging.

“I found local shops and markets were good because I could bring my own boxes to put cheese or vegetables in, but it does means you have to plan ahead.”

She now runs her own waste-free shop where customers bring their own containers to refill with products like shampoo, pasta or tea leaves which are stored in glass jars.

The Bulk Market in East London

Image caption The Bulk Market in East London
Ingrid says: “Obviously, running the shop makes it much easier for me to avoid plastic.

“What I’ve found since starting the shop is that people pretty much want the products and they don’t care about the packing.

“Our customers are happy to bring their own containers and they don’t mind travelling a bit further to shop with us because of that.”

Ingrid says starting out on a plastic-free life can be as easy as changing one thing.

“The first thing I did was buy a reusable coffee cup. I drink coffee everyday and buying throw away cups is such a waste.

“It made a big difference in the waste I was producing.”

She also has a few suggestions for other ways you can cut scale back on the plastic in your life.

He learned about how math is also a part of music from this TED Talk.

I am glad you watched this talk. The world’s ugliest music…strange to hear someone play it on the piano isn’t it? And the way they used math to find notes for music that had absolutely no pattern or rhythm and how ugly we find that sort of music. How is the piece based on pi going?

He completed everything in this book! We bought this book in fall of 2017 during our cross-Canada road trip. It was also when Ethan first started unschooling. He’s always loved this book and it’s been a great resource.

I can’t believe he did everything in the math book! What an accomplishment! Hooray Ethan. Now what?

What sort of larger patterns or mathematical understanding does Ethan have now that he feels this sense of completion?

He also learned about nonlinear functions from his math book.

Here’s an experiment he did to prove that the area of a circle is πr squared.

This is wonderful. I remember when I went to a French school for K-8 we had to do a lot of proofs not just equations, especially in geometry. This reminded me of doing a proof, but in a video format not just on paper…so cool. He is already doing proofs on his own as well as equations. I will see if I can find some other ones for him to try.

In mathematics, a proof is an inferential argument for a mathematical statement. In the argument, other previously established statements, such as theorems, can be used. In principle, a proof can be traced back to self-evident or assumed statements, known as axioms, along with accepted rules of inference.

As I understand it, a formula is a method for solving a mathematical problem expressed using alpha numeric characters like the quadratic formula is a method for solving quadratic equations when factoring will not work. I understand a proof to be a logical argument that may or may not produce a formula, but will produce a statement that something is true or false mathematically.

Here are some Algebra proof examples on IXL: https://www.basic-mathematics.com/algebra-proofs.html

https://www.analyzemath.com/Equations/proof_quadratic.html

This is the sort of proofs I would have to do in grade 7/8…all in French.

I will take some time to respond to the next two events you shared regarding Ethan expressing himself, his feelings and finding ways to problem solve more difficult inter and intrapersonal relationships. I will take a bit more time to reflect and share in Week 26

  • Next up was his skating lesson. Today was a test day but we didn’t get any other information from the teacher. Ethan was happy and excited about the class. However, he mentioned that one of the boys in his group had been pushing him down and laughing at him. We explained to Ethan that he had to take responsibility and talk to the teacher, rather than only being upset and telling us afterwards.

We went grocery shopping but Ethan didn’t want to go. He was a bit whiny and so we had a talk about being better at using words to express himself, rather than just reacting with displeasure.

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