Beth Ali

Well, yesterday my son and his 2 friends found a dead squirrel. So after
explaining why they should not ever touch a dead/decomposing animal (found
out many hours later that that is exactly what they did do) my son (going on
4 in Oct) wants me to repeatedly go over and over what happens when
squirrels die (plus all other living things) and why we can't touch them. So
does anyone have any really good, preferably vivid and suitable graphic
websites on decomposition. So far I've come up with nil on google--maybe I
don't know what to look for:(

The librarians at our library are VERY impressed over the subject material
my son likes to get out--from dinosours, to space, to asteroids to today's
topic--decomposition! Plus they're impressed that we made a volcano out of
flour earlier this summer...

Beth in Georgia

ps--next week my son and a friends son (also on this list:) ) will take their first horse riding lesson---at their request! I'm so excited for them.

debi watson

For his age, Magic School Bus has a book (also a video) called "The Rot Squad" about decomposition. If you Google the title it comes up with a composting activity and worksheets. I don't know you or your curric leanings, so I am not trying to push it, but I think having a compost heap makes sense anyway, and if you allowed a little meat in it, you could give him an unforgettable experience in maggots and other kinds of recycling! That should be graphic enough (You can make your compost heap in an old shoe box so it can be quickly disposed of once you have made your point). Debi
So
does anyone have any really good, preferably vivid and suitable graphic
websites on decomposition.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Cindy BUEHLER

My dd had a small picture book when she was about 4 called Log Hotel. I am not sure of the author. It was all about what happens when a tree dies and how other plants and animals use the dead tree to live in and how it eventullay turns back into soil. I know that this is probably not as intense a book as you were looking for but dd certainly enjoyed it. She still stops on nature walks to see what kinds of creatures are inhabiting a fallen tree.

Cindy

----- Original Message -----
From: Beth Ali
Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 7:56 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] re :unschooling-dotcom: new interests-help

Well, yesterday my son and his 2 friends found a dead squirrel. So after
explaining why they should not ever touch a dead/decomposing animal (found
out many hours later that that is exactly what they did do) my son (going on
4 in Oct) wants me to repeatedly go over and over what happens when
squirrels die (plus all other living things) and why we can't touch them. So
does anyone have any really good, preferably vivid and suitable graphic
websites on decomposition. So far I've come up with nil on google--maybe I
don't know what to look for:(

The librarians at our library are VERY impressed over the subject material
my son likes to get out--from dinosours, to space, to asteroids to today's
topic--decomposition! Plus they're impressed that we made a volcano out of
flour earlier this summer...

Beth in Georgia

ps--next week my son and a friends son (also on this list:) ) will take their first horse riding lesson---at their request! I'm so excited for them.


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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Leslie Avery

My daughter and I just finished dissecting a frog
online. Frogguts.com got this from another
homeschooling site.

Alot better than dissecting one in person, yuck!!!
(although my ten year old son would really enjoy it!)

Leslie
--- Cindy BUEHLER <bueh2k@...> wrote:
> My dd had a small picture book when she was about 4
> called Log Hotel. I am not sure of the author. It
> was all about what happens when a tree dies and how
> other plants and animals use the dead tree to live
> in and how it eventullay turns back into soil. I
> know that this is probably not as intense a book as
> you were looking for but dd certainly enjoyed it.
> She still stops on nature walks to see what kinds of
> creatures are inhabiting a fallen tree.
>
> Cindy
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Beth Ali
> Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2002 7:56 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] re
> :unschooling-dotcom: new interests-help
>
> Well, yesterday my son and his 2 friends found a
> dead squirrel. So after
> explaining why they should not ever touch a
> dead/decomposing animal (found
> out many hours later that that is exactly what they
> did do) my son (going on
> 4 in Oct) wants me to repeatedly go over and over
> what happens when
> squirrels die (plus all other living things) and why
> we can't touch them. So
> does anyone have any really good, preferably vivid
> and suitable graphic
> websites on decomposition. So far I've come up with
> nil on google--maybe I
> don't know what to look for:(
>
> The librarians at our library are VERY impressed
> over the subject material
> my son likes to get out--from dinosours, to space,
> to asteroids to today's
> topic--decomposition! Plus they're impressed that we
> made a volcano out of
> flour earlier this summer...
>
> Beth in Georgia
>
> ps--next week my son and a friends son (also on this
> list:) ) will take their first horse riding
> lesson---at their request! I'm so excited for them.
>
>
> ~~~~ Don't forget! If you change topics, change the
> subject line! ~~~~
>
> If you have questions, concerns or problems with
> this list, please email the moderator, Joyce
> Fetteroll (fetteroll@...), or the list
> owner, Helen Hegener
> (HEM-Editor@...).
>
> To unsubscribe from this group, click on the
> following link or address an email to:
> [email protected]
>
> Visit the Unschooling website:
> http://www.unschooling.com
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been
> removed]
>
>


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In a message dated 08/22/2002 8:52:16 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
blali@... writes:


> Well, yesterday my son and his 2 friends found a dead squirrel. So after
> explaining why they should not ever touch a dead/decomposing animal (found
> out many hours later that that is exactly what they did do) my son (going on
> 4 in Oct) wants me to repeatedly go over and over what happens when
> squirrels die (plus all other living things) and why we can't touch them

Beth,
How about a box of latex (nonlatex if any allergies) gloves? That way he can
touch/observe to his heart's content. Eric ds carries some in his backpack. I
can't say he always uses them, but he knows to wash his hands thoroughly
whether using gloves or not.
Eric has an entire shelf in his room dedicated to his nature collection. This
includes the head of a woodpecker, decomposed lizards and frogs, an
oppossum's skull, multiple insect exoskeletons, a hummingbird, crawfish
claws, owl pellets (found, not purchased), along with many other items.
Yesterday, I found a dead bat on the front porch. Last week, it was an entire
nest of decomposing baby birds. These are all being kept sheltered from
weather outside. When he finds something in the woods, he has to keep it
outside until it completely dries out/decomposes. That avoids the stink in
our house.
This collection is fascinating. There are ways to let his curiosity blossom
without exposing him to diseases.
Another website that he might enjoy is
www.d91.k12.id.us/www/skyline/teachers/robertsd/skulls.htm called Animal
Skull Collection by Deloy Roberts. Animal identification based on skeletons.
If you find a skeleton, the site helps you ID. Really cool.
Hold your breath, wear gloves, keep it outside until the stench is gone, and
let him enjoy. Take a walk in the woods with him; you never know what you'll
find.

Ginny



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]