Gracyn worked on several "enrichment" papers today dealing with the recognition of several instruments and the major C scale. She filled in the names of the notes on the paper and then labeled them on the piano.
Lemon Mini Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream Frosting
Lesson Outline
Today Gracyn made Lemon Mini Cupcakes with Strawberry Buttercream frosting. Gracyn creamed together room temperature butter and sugar on medium-high until it was light and fluffy. She then added one egg at a time. Once the eggs were fully incorporated Gracyn added the juice of three lemons and a little bit of lemon zest. Next, she added the dry ingredients. Gracyn divided the batter evenly among the prepared mini muffin cups. We baked the cupcakes for about 15 minutes. While the mini cupcakes were baking Gracyn prepared the Strawberry Buttercream frosting. Gracyn placed the butter, vanilla and strawberry jam into the mixer. Next, she added sugar and milk. We put the buttercream in a pastry bag with a large open tip. Gracyn then piped the frosting onto the cupcakes. The cupcakes turned out light, warm and refreshing. Great job, Gracyn!
Gracyn and I had a wonderful last "in person session"! She practiced her front and back walkovers and handsprings and we worked on her stretching. For the last bit of class we went outside to blow bubbles and draw with chalk to celebrate all of the progress she has made so far! I encouraged her to continue practicing in New York and to take her balance beam with her if possible so that we can use it during our skype lessons.
Gracyn was testing today during the first part of science. When she finished her test, we began a hands on STEM project building a spinning motor using magnet wire, paper clips, a magnet, and a D battery . She started building the first part of the motor by wrapping wire around a dowel to make a coil. She tied the coil together and sanded the enamel off the top part of the wire. She will finish with the project on Thursday.
During enrichment today, Gracyn continued her Stanford testing. We completed the Language section, which was already in progress, and began working through portions of the Environment section.
Gracyn used her understanding of place value to add double-digit and triple-digit numbers. Initially, she drew quick pictures to represent the problems before taking ones from one addend to make the other addend the next tens number. Then, Gracyn solved problems vertically with regrouping and without the pictures using two and three digits.
