We LOVE Tinkering

OUR NEW OLD TOY!
Our class just received a donation of Tinkertoys! Invented in 1914, these toys have provided millions of hours of mechanical exploration over the past century and will continue to do so well into our school year.

Our proficiency with wood and tools is well established. Now we are moving into construction and operation of simple machines, such as levers, pulleys, axles and all the things we can muster by combining them. I see 'Pullback Racers' in the near future. Best of all, they provide plenty of repetition for mastery, as parts tend to work themselves loose during operation and require a degree of critical thinking and recall for repairs.



Athena painted a picture resembling our tinkertoy construction.

TODAY'S STORY
Chapter One of Elmer and the Dragon, by Ruth Stiles Gannett. This sequel to My Father's Dragon chronicles Elmer's journey home - FLYING ON THE BACK OF A DRAGON! They landed for a rest on the island of Tangerina, where Elmer finds out the dragon dislikes the sweet tangerines, but LOVES the taste of the peels! YUCK!