Cities of the World

Last year, Lu worked on an independent research project on fifteen of the world's most influential cities. He worked on it over several months. He had many technical difficulties: his computer breaking down, realizing that he had only downloaded the thumbnails of the hundreds of images he'd found for his presentation, and losing information several times. He continued working over the Christmas break and finally gave his presentation. It worked out nicely because grandma, aunts and uncle were visiting, so Lu had a good audience.

The Ancient Maya, a history project

Before our mid-year break,

Lu had two weeks to focus on a history project

about the Ancient Maya.

At least once a year,

Lu works on an independent project

that involves research, a deadline, and a presentation.

I only helped with the final editing,

and double checking historical dates.

Lu planned out his project with a timeline

and checklists, and worked several hours a day,

with short breaks in between

for puppy time

and guitar practice.

 

  

Once he was done with the research,

he printed and organized his information and images.

It's hard for me to not get involved sometimes,

so I left him at the stationary shop with generous funding,

to choose his materials. 

And then came the putting-together part!

I was only allowed in the room to take some pics.

But after this one, 

I was informed that it was the last time I could come in 

until he was ready to give his presentation.

On the Friday before our break (the deadline)

Lu was finished with his project at 8:30pm.

Throughout the project, Lu mentioned several times

how "professional" this kind of work made him feel,

and that he really enjoyed it :)

Great job, Lu!!!

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

Now we're on a three-week break,

just chillin' with friends and taking it easy

after six months of hard work and loads of learning.

 

Lots of Projects

 The Tadpole Project

Remember two weeks ago we went to a pond

up the mountain to catch tadpoles?

Here they are!

Alive and sprouting!

 

 The Puppy Project

Lu's new puppy has gone through a complete transformation

from starving, shivering and shy street-mutt 

to an overexcited, full-bellied yapper.

 The Art School Project

We've been running our little art school

since Lu was three months old.

He is currently participating in 12 hours weekly of

performing and visual arts workshops,

and wants to be a workshop facilitator when he's older.

The Ancient Rome Project

Our studies on Ancient Rome are coming to an end, but instead of making a poster like the ones we did for the other great empires, Lu is working on a Word document with a timeline, interesting facts, and lots of pictures.

 The Cake Project

Lu made a whole-wheat apple cake for a very special visitor arriving today, who recently turned four years old. We specially ordered the apples from a guy at the fruit market, and picked them up the next day. 

He was absolutely set on making the cake all by himself. 

And I have to say, sorry to brag, that of all the things this boy does that would make any mama proud, the fact that my 10yo son can make a cake is way up there on the list. (I was going to bold "son", but then I thought it was a quite retrograde thing to say... uncool me.) But it tickles me pink that HE can bake. haha. Possibly because I didn't learn to bake until I was 26 and pregnant. And even then, it was probably his baker influence flowing out from within me.

He chopped 6 cups of apple, very finely.

He was at it for several hours, well into the evening.

 It came out SOOO good.

He mixed 1.5 cups of whole wheat flour with 1.5 teaspoons of baking soda (which were going to be 3 teaspoons, but I fortunately got there just in time), and a pinch of salt.

In a separate bowl, he literally threw in everything together and mixed: 4 eggs, 1.5 cups of dark brown sugar, 1 cup of melted butter, 2 tablespoons vanilla, and 3 tablespoons dark rum.

He added the dry mix to the wet mix all at once
(not bit by bit like his mama showed him, mind you).

Finally, he folded in the 4 cups of finely chopped apple.
Seriously delicious yumminess!