Week #6 New Netherland (New York)

This week we studied the pioneers from Holland which settled in current day New York. This was a very interesting unit. We learned how they built their homes, transported cows over from Holland, and what overall life was like for these settlers. One thing that has stuck out to us during the last few weeks is the overwhelming faith these pioneers had in our Lord Jesus Christ. They were willing to do whatever it took to live in a land where they were free to worship and live godly lives pleasing to God. They left the known for the unknown in faith that God would bless them. Isn't that what life is all about.... let that be our new challenge. To see every opportunity as God taking us into the unknown to show us the abundant life that is waiting on the other side.

We were able to go to a local Archeofest. This was so much fun and fitting for what were have been studying. We got to go on a tour of the Indian mounds. We learned the difference between there ceremonial mounds and there celebratory mounds. The had mounds for celebrating life and mounds for reflecting life (death.)

We learned a lot about what life was like for them. We saw demonstrations of clay pot making, carving flint into arrowheads, basket weaving, and our boys favorite... weapon demonstration.

Oh.. and a reptile show and hayride. Great day!

In Bible this week our theme is Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35.) We talked about God giving manna to the Isrealites on there journey through the desert. We sprinkled Special K on the floor and gathered it:) Closest thing we have to describing manna!

In Science we studied yeast. We put yeast with sugar in one bottle and yeast with salt the other. We wanted to see what yeast needed to grow. When yeast grows it puts off carbon dioxide which would make our balloons on top of the bottles grow. The sugar bottle has a green balloon and the salt has a white balloon.

And the sugar won!!!! Yeast needs sugar to grow.

Like I said before we studied how the cows were brought over from Holland. They were so thankful to have the milk, butter, etc. that the cows provided. Our activity for the week was to make our own butter. I have to admit I was a little skeptical as whether this was really going to work. First, we put whipping cream in a mason jar. We shook the jar for 15 min. All of us getting in on the action:) Then when we thought we might be getting done... all of the sudden the butter separated from the buttermilk.

M drank the buttermilk!

We added salt to the butter and made biscuits.