Up for a Challenge: Boat Races

This past weekend, while I was at a baby shower for my SIL, the Hottie Hubby and his crew embarked on a high seas adventure. They were like competitors preparing for the Madison Regatta or maybe at least giving the Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything some serious wind competition.

They were up for Michelle’s challenge, the hostess of this event over at Delightful Learning, but with some serious bending of the rules. The seas in our kitchen were tumultuous but calmed as if Jesus had awakened from a nap in our boats as the rules where thrown overboard with Jonah. (Can you tell we watched a lot of Veggie Tales this weekend?)

Since I was not present for the first ever Granola Regatta, the best I can do is give you what I found on Willow’s memory card.

The supplies were gathered.

Only one competitor had shown up initially. He will assist Captain Daddy.

I am guessing that Captain Daddy helped create the first craft. It appears to be sea-worthy. The ship also acquired a new shipmate, the hooded Mr. Me-Too.

A little wind was added from both sides.

Mr. Smackdown began working on his vessel. I am sure that watching Veggie Tales this weekend helped him design his craft.

A close-up of the ark.

Praise God, the competition gave the feverish Mr. Me-Too a smile.

It was decided that though we didn’t follow the rules what-so-ever beyond the supply list it still accomplished our goals of . . .

• having Daddy participate in school
• team work
• thinking

Technorati Tags: Delightful Learning,Instant Challenge,Boat Races,Madison Regetta

Instant Challenge: Bridge Builder

I already told you about this, but I'm going to tell you a little bit more. And show some footage of the event, in a little bit.

Very cool blogger and homeschooling mom, Michelle, is hosting a weekly Instant Challenge. Her "meme" (somebody please develop a new word or tell me of a synonym for "meme") evoked in me a memory of an intimidating grade school event. . . Math Pentathlon. That brainy math club always left my hands clammy and my heart thumping in my eardrums. Maybe it was the scary teacher who headed it up. But I avoided this elite "club" as if was the H1N1 virus itself.

I, of course, am going to make sure that my sons have no fear of using their brains. I want to teach them to think under pressure. I want them to learn creativity under boundaries. Additionally, I knew that this Instant Challenge ranks right up there as fun for the Hottie Hubby!



The goal was to build a bridge to join our two land masses, without touching the water. We began with a deck of cards, a pair of scissors, and pretend water nestled between the state of Mr. Smackdown and the state of Mr. Me-Too.


The Hottie Hubby prepared the construction site.


And the workmen began building and excavating the site.


But being a worker can be hard. Moving your mental muscles isn't always fun.



The states developed a little bit of personality, thanks to Mr. Smackdown who loves to draw.



And the cutting began.

Bridge attempt #1

But it wasn't built according to code. The bridge was not to touch the water.

Forget the scissors. Tearing through the rubble would work just as well.



The Hottie Husband could not be held back. He put his graduate degree to work. Using his scissors he created slits that the cards could slide into and lock.



Will it work?


Nobody move!

Bridge Design #2

Thank goodness no one was in the car. The bridge failed due to a lack of support. The cards wanted to collapse in on themselves.

Let's try again.

Bridge Design #3

A success!
And the key(s) to a successful bridge (according to the Hottie Hubby) are:

• Start with a strong foundation.
• Use a deep, hollow beam configuration to resist a bending failure.
• Curl the cards and stuff them inside your hollow beam to resist a lateral torsion failure.
• Be glad that real bridges aren't built out of cards.

Up for a Challenge? Join us as we join Delightful Learning

Sometimes I wish that I didn't like to learn. And sometimes I wish that no one had a cool blog. And sometimes I wish that I wasn't creative. And sometimes . . . .

But I have found yet another thing to put into place in our school room. I think that this weekly project is going to fall under the DADDY SCHOOL, though I will happily take pictures.

What is it? It is called


The idea is that each week, Michelle from Delightful Learning will host a weekly challenge, essentially a workout for my boy's brains. She will post the required supplies (which she is giving away one box of the necessary supplies) and the guidelines for each challenge.

Then, we complete the challenge in our house and link up. Sounds pretty cool. By participating I will be helping Mr. Me-Too and Mr. Smackdown

• be creative with the materials given
• learn to be real live MacGyver's
• train to be an engineer like their dad
• work towards accomplishing a goal with a reward
• complete a task within a given time frame
• and work together (this should prove interesting).

Our first challenge involves building a bridge . . . this is going to be fun!