Happy Valentine’s Day!

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend. I’m sure you made Valentine’s cards and shared them with your classmates and friends. It is a very, very old celebration. The Valentine’s Day cards didn’t start until the 1800’s.Tthat’s even way before your Papaw was born! Couples started sending each other card to tell each other how much thy love them. Kids send them to their friends because we want to be kind. The mushy stuff will come later. Ask your parents about that when you get older.

Did you send your parents a Valentine? I hope so. It doesn’t have to be a fancy store bought one. It could be one that you draw yourself, or one you color. They love you so much and you need to let them know that you love them too. They love getting notes from you anytime, even if it isn’t Valentine’s Day. (Don’t forget to add some chocolate!)

So how can you show your parents and other family members that you love them? Be sure to tell them. (Hey, that’s what the card is for!) Listening to them and trying to be obedient is another good way. Help around the house. Do your chores without having to be asked. Be kind to your brother or sister. There’s all kinds of way to show someone you love them.

Don’t forget that Jesus loves you too. You can’t really send him a Valentine, but you could still draw one for him. If you hang it on the by your bed, or put it on the refrigerator, I’m sure He will see it.

I have attached several coloring pages so you can design a special card for someone. Do your best work & have fun!

Happy Valentine’s Day from Papaw and Mema! 

Mistakes Happen – Practice Honesty!

 

We all make mistakes. Maybe you were playing too excitedly and knocked something over. You could have spilled something and made a mess. Have you ever broken something by accident? I would be surprised if you haven’t. In all of these circumstances, the most important thing is to admit your mistake. Hiding it really doesn’t work very well.

I remember one time when I was young that I knocked a lamp over and it broke. I wanted to just set it up and hope someone else bumped it so they would get blamed, but that wouldn’t be right. I could hide it, right? No, that would catch up to me later also. I mean it’s kind of obvious when a lamp goes missing. So I told my parents. What I found out was that it had already been broken before and it just needed re-glued. I felt so much better after I had told the truth.

Sometimes we might have to make restitution for our carelessness. Restitution is when we make it right. If I break someone’s toy because I wasn’t being careful, it is a good thing to replace it. If I spill something because I was goofing around, I should help clean it up. If I break a window with my ball, I may need to replace it or do chores to make up for it. Sometimes the person will not ask you to replace it; they may just be glad you let them know. That’s why your parents have insurance. It’s for accidents.

Being honest when you make a mistake will help people to trust you. That is very important. If you can be trusted, you will get to do more things on your own. We all like to be independent. But first we need to show that we can be trusted. Proverbs 16:13 says “Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.”

Helpful Hints:

1. Don’t try to cover up your accidents or mistakes .Ask someone to help.

2. Offer to fix, clean up, or replace what has been messed up or broken.

3. Try to listen to directions and act carefully so you can avoid accidents.

4. Don’t try to make excuses or blame someone else. Take responsibility for your actions.

5. Be a good friend and encourage others to be honest also.

Remember, your parents (and grandparents) love you very much and want the best for you. Even when things seem really bad, they can help you figure out a solution. Never be afraid to admit when you goof up. We have all been there!.

Love Papaw.

Who Discovered Oxygen?

Today is more "Science with Papaw". Take a deep breath. You just breathed in a whole lot of oxygen. You can’t see it, but it’s there. Your cells need it to do all the cell things they do. Otherwise you wouldn’t’ be alive. Now breathe out. Your body just got rid of a bunch of carbon dioxide, a gas that your cell don’t need. Oxygen is odorless (you can’t smell it) and colorless. But it is very important. Without it, we couldn’t breathe!

But have you ever wondered who discovered oxygen? In 1774, Joseph Priestley, a minister, tutor, and amateur scientist, was the tutor for a very rich family. They actually had a laboratory in the study room! On day Priestley did some experiments with a bell jar and a candle. When he lit the candle and covered it with the jar, the candle soon went out. He couldn’t even light it again! He later put a green plant inside the jar. After a day or two, he tried to light the candle again. This time it could burn, well at least for a little while. He decided that the plant made some kind of special air that the candle needed to burn. He named it Oxygen.

A few years later a man named Jan Ingenhousz found that water plants also give off oxygen when they are put in the light. We now call this process photosynthesis which means “putting together with light”. Plants make sugar from water and carbon dioxide. In the process they give off oxygen.

Here’s is a video from one of the aquariums in my classroom. If you look closely, you will see a small stream of bubbles coming from the plant. These are tiny bubble of oxygen! In fact, most of Earth’s oxygen comes from tiny green plants that live in the ocean called algae.

 Take some time this week and look around at the plants around you. There may be plants in your house. There are plants and trees around your house. Some of you live where most of the plants are covered with snow. That’s ok, because somewhere on the Earth there are plants making oxygen for you too. There’s more than enough to go around!

Isn’t it amazing? God created the plants to make the air we breathe. In fact, they like the carbon dioxide we breathe out! The Earth is such a special and wonderful place. We need to be sure to take care of it! You can help by recycling, planting trees, and helping to keep out lakes, ponds, and rivers clean.

 

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-12 NIV

See you next week!

Papaw

 

Be the “i” in Kind

 

At Papaw’s school we have a special wall over by the elementary classrooms. It’s called the “Kindness Wall”. It’s a place when students can get their picture with them being the letter “i” in the word Kind. We saw it at another school and decided it would be good to have at our school too. One of our art teachers painted it. I think she did a great job. What do you think? Here’s Papaw standing just in the right place. Isn’t he handsome? It says, Be the “i” in KIND. But what does that mean?

Kindness is treating others the way you would like to be treated. We also call it the Golden Rule. It says, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". We get it from the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (NIV)  Jesus was trying to tell us that it is up to us to start the kindness. Many people around you may not know about Jesus, and so they may not see what kindness looks like very often. Jesus is counting on you to show them. If you don’t do your part, who will? Look what happens if I decide to not be the “i” in kind. 

Pretty boring isn’t it? So how can you be the “i” in kindness where you are? Here is a list of things you can do.

1. Give someone a big smile and tell them you are glad to see them. (Make sure you mean it!)

2. Hold the door for someone.

3. Let someone go first. It could be a game, in the lunch line, or even picking out treats.

4. Write a note to your grandparents and tell them you love them.

5. Bake someone cookies.

6. Share your toys.

7. Say ”Thank You”.

8. Help your mom or dad with chores.

9. Sit with someone who is all by themselves.

10. Treat others fairly.   

You can make a difference by spreading kindness wherever you go. You could even ask your school if they would want to paint a Kindness Wall. Hey, just think, you will be helping Jesus!

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Capybaras!

This week, let’s have some fun. Since everyone seems to be fascinated with capybaras, I figured Papaw, The Science Teacher, would tell you more about them.

Capybaras are the largest rodent in the world. They are twice the size of a beaver! They have reddish-brown fur on top and yellowish-brown fur underneath. They live in the jungle waterways of South America like in the Amazon rain forest. Their scientific name is Hydrochorerus hydrochaeris which means “water hog”. They can be 4 feet long and weight 140 lbs. That’s more than you! They are related to guinea pigs but much bigger. They are said to be “semi-aquatic” which is a big word for saying they like the land and the water. They are very good swimmers and can hold their breath under water for up to 5 minutes. They can even sleep in the water with just their nose sticking out. Copys have partially webbed feet that help them paddle around. They like to hang out by the shore eating plants that grow on the riverbanks and in the water.  That makes them an herbivore (plant eater). Their teeth are special and don’t stop growing! This means they have to continually chew on plants and grasses to keep them shorter and sharp. If they are not eating, they like to spend the day wallowing in the mud. No wonder they are called water hogs!

Capybaras like to hang out in groups and can live to be 8-10 years old. They have to be really careful while they are wallowing, playing or  eating. Jaguars, pumas, green anacondas, and even caimans (a type of small alligator) are always looking to find one for lunch! Did you know that they can even bark almost like a dog if they see a predator? Mom’s bark to their little ones to call them. “Bark, bark” come back, it’s time for dinner!

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/cabybara-facts

Here’s a link to the Capybara Song.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Pj-YEQbojk&t=12s

 

Here’s a link for coloring pages featuring happy Capys like this one!

https://mondaymandala.com/capybara-coloring-pages/

That’s all for today!

Love, Papaw

Is My Prayer Too Small?

Sometimes people can make children think that the things they are going through are not very important. Your problems may seem small to them, but they are big to you. I remember when my sons and I were driving around in a parking lot looking for a parking place. I told  them to pray for a spot. A person with us said, “Don’t bother God with things like that. He has bigger things to do.” He was a good friend, but I had to tell him he was wrong. God cares about EVERYTHING that happens to us! It says in 1 Peter 5:7, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. No prayer is too big; no prayer is too small.

One time when I was fishing, I spent the whole day in the boat with 2 friends and hadn’t caught a single fish. Mema ask how I was doing and I told her, not very good. She said she would pray. Later she ask me if I had caught a big one yet. I still had not caught anything. She jokingly said, “Cast your net on the other side”. If you remember, that’s what Jesus told Peter when he had fished all night and caught nothing (John 21:6-8). We pulled up to the dock and my friend got out to go get the boat trailer so we could get the boat out of the water. Since I had to stay with the boat, I put another worm on the hook and casted it out to the side of the boat. In no time at all it started twitching! I reeled in a big bass, right there by the dock! Some might call it luck, but I think God answered Mema’s prayer.

Praying to God is not as hard as it seems. You can talk to Him just like you talk to your own father (or Papaw). But remember, It’s not about asking for things all the time. God wants to spend time with you. He wants to know when you’re happy, or scared, or worried. When you see something good, praise Him. When He answers your prayer, thank Him. When you are scared you can tell him. He wants to help calm you when you’re worried. God is never too busy to listen. He’s just that Big!

Love, Papaw.

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty

There's nothing my God cannot do

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty

There's nothing my God cannot do

He made the trees

He made the seas

He made the elephants too

My God is so big, so strong and so mighty

There's nothing my God cannot do

My God is so great, so strong and so mighty

There's nothing my God cannot do

My God is so great, so strong and so mighty

There's nothing my God cannot do

The mountains are his

The rivers are his

The skies are his handy works too

My God is so great, so strong and so mighty

There's nothing my God cannot do

There's nothing my God cannot do

There's nothing my God cannot do

For you!

My God Is So Big lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Break is Over - Back to School!

All good things must come to an end. Christmas and New Year’s is over and it’s time for children to head back to school. Whether traditional or home school, the studies must go on. Even if you are not old enough to go to school, it can still be a time of learning.

For 2025, I think I would like to challenge you to focus on Reading. Knowing how to read opens up many new doors to learning and adventure. If you can read, you can learn anything. And the best part is, you could even teach yourself. Books can also make you more creative by exciting your imagination. A book can take you to other times, other places, even other worlds. Here are some hints to help you on your reading adventures. If you cannot read yet, ask someone else to read to you.

1. Be careful what you read. Check with your parents first. They are smarter than you think.

2. Make time to read the Bible.

3. Look up words you do not understand. Always take time to increase your vocabulary.

4. Think about what you read. How does it compare with what you already know? Did the character make wise choices, or were their actions foolish or dangerous?

5. Try to read every day. It can be good to set aside a designated reading time.

6. If you find a good book, share it with someone else.

7. Spend some time reading aloud. It will help your language skills. A good way to do this is to read to your younger siblings or even to your parents.

8. If you are able, try journaling about what you have read. Writing is a good way to arrange your thoughts.

9. Draw a picture of an event in one of your stories.

10. Get a library card. You can check out books for free.

Happy Reading,

Papaw

 

For the parents: Children who are routinely read to day in and day out—and immersed in rich talk about books and the various activities in which they are engaged—thrive. And those children with less exposure to books face tougher learning challenges in school and beyond (Campbell et al., 2002; Dickinson, McCabe, & Essex, 2006; Neuman & Celano, 2006).