February 1, 2022
Winter Issue #10
Weekly activities and lessons to keep your child thinking and progressing throughout the school year.
"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail."
Hello,
Whew! We made it to February. 2022 started off with some real challenges. As we all have been saying for months... It can only go up from here. And, I'm feeling very positive that a return to normal (well, as normal as possible) is just ahead. I hope this week's collection of learning activities motivates you and your child(ren).

Please share this flyer with your friends and encourage them to join our mailing list by following the links on this page.

Mr. McManus :-)
Great Read of the Week
An Elephant in the Garden
by Michael Morpurgo
I tried to stop reading this book six different times! Finally it became apparent that I could not stop when the clock struck 12:47am. My advice. Start reading it with your coffee at breakfast. Based loosely on a true account in Germany during World War II.This inspiring book incorporates the horror of war, focuses on the importance of helping others and working together, and examines the lives of refugees and their experiences as they try to survive. Each character is very relatable and endearing and they all have their own way of teaching about compassion, empathy, and family unity. The book was both emotional and magical. The addition of the ‘Gentle Giant’, Marlene, is what really kept this family alive and together and who I learned the most from ;-) Enjoy!
Inquiry Quest
How to make Rainbow Celery
Sometimes it is ok to play with your food.
It’s hard to get kids to eat their vegetables, but they might find them more interesting if they could see what makes them grow. This activity will show your child how plants “drink” water and get their nutrients.

Using stalks of celery that have been placed in colored water, kids will have fun actually seeing how the liquid moves through the plants. I can’t guarantee your kids will start eating salads, but they might want to help you out in the garden in a little more.

GATHER THIS:
  • Stalks of celery with the bottom ½ inch cut off. Keep leaves on if you can!
  • Tall sturdy cups or jars (clear containers make it easier to see)
  • Food coloring in various colors
  • Water

THEN DO THIS:
  1. Fill each cup halfway with water.
  2. Put several drops of food coloring into each cup.
  3. Put a stalk of celery in each cup with the cut side down.
  4. Wait and watch the colored water move up through the veins of the celery. It will look delicious but don't eat it!

ASK THIS:
  • What did the colored water do?
  • What does this tell you about plants?

WHAT IS HAPPENING?
The process you are seeing is called "capillary action" and is seen in plants where moisture travels from the roots to the rest of the plant. Nutrients in the soil that dissolve in water are carried to the cells in plants in a similar way that the colored water was transported to the leaves of the celery.
If you feel your child might benefit from a group or individual tutoring program to prepare them for the next phase of their education, please contact McManus Tutoring.

Programs are structured so that students learn independence, accountability, and self-possession. They will develop a repeatable structure that can be used to build success in the future.
Three Writing Prompts and a Riddle

These prompts and questions will help jump-start your daily writing. Just as it's important to read for at least 30 minutes each day, you should also write for 30 minutes a day. Don't worry about your organization or spelling, just write!


"In my pocket, I couldn't believe I found a..."


"I never thought I'd need to wear the mask until..."


"The girl suddenly screamed, 'Let me go' to the..."

There are six eggs in a basket. Six people each take one of the eggs. How can it be that there is still one egg left in the basket?

answer in next week's issue :-)

Last week's answer... Silence
Problem of the Week
Rabbits and Chickens
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