Beer can solar oven-creative gchildren/children

Subject: BS: Creative grandchildren - children
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jun 13 - 11:25 PM

Morgan was over, today. I didn't have much energy so he entertained himself, with my help on research. He is all fired up about electronics, building things, and "engineering" along with a wonderful new friend who lives next-door on the weekends when he comes to see his dad. The kid is a brilliant, nurtured and educated 6 yr old who says, "I've done electronics all my life."

Anyway, Morgan decided he wanted to build a solar oven. Only thing was, Mama was out of aluminium. I left him to make a few phone calls, advising him to "invent" something else. I could hear him tinkering around when a little bit later, he came in saying "Mama, look at my solar oven!"

He had a box lined with black construction paper, a sliced lower door through which to put one's food and on top, instead of aluminium, he had flattened some of Rog's beer cans (learned at home and classroom, they were made from aluminium, so they should work, right?)and attached them with crisscrosses of black electrical tape! I thought that was pretty ingenious. I love his capacity for using found objects.

Anyway, his parents are being a bit weird this year, so any other reports may be slow in coming because he is not allowed to come over most days, after summer school at 1p. (Please don't ask, it's a long story and quite negative and unbelievable.)

So, tell us about your litte darlings, eh? They are such a wonderful presence/present and I am gratefull.)

proudmamakat

Subject: RE: BS: Creative grandchildren - children
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 12:12 AM

very inventive lad! no wonder you are proud of him.

Subject: RE: BS: Creative grandchildren - children
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 10:32 AM

Thanks, Sandra, I am and I know it shows,:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Creative grandchildren - children
From: kendall
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 10:39 AM

Our grand daughter, Meghan, was a published author at 14. (Teen magazine). Has written many really good poems and stories. One of her poems is a sequel to Tom Paxton's Little Girl. He likes it.

She's also very witty; comes out with such things as, "I'm not arguing with you, I'm simply explaining why I'm right."

Subject: RE: BS: Creative grandchildren - children
From: Joybell
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 04:04 PM

On one of my grandson's visits, when he was about 10, my daughter said,
"He can fix anything that's broken but what ever you do, Mum, don't let him get his hands on anything that works."

Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Creative grandchildren - children
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 05:09 PM

My Hilary at age 11 illustrated how sound waves move. She constructed 3 tubes both the same length but different shapes. Air cannons she called them. Round tube 4 inches in diameter, square tube each side 4 inches, equilateral traingle tube 4 inch sides. On one end of each was stretched tight latex from punch ball. A cap on the other end (well sealed around the seam) with 1 inch opening of the same shape as the tube. In front of each cannon was strung a curtain of strips of tissue paper. And a mallet for tapping the latex end of each tube. The round tube is the only one she could get a sufficient poof of air to move the curtain.

What she was trying to prove with this experiment, I am not certain but it won a ribbon in middle school science fair.

Andie at age 6 designed a Back of the Bowl brush/mop thing to facilitate cleaning behind the toliet bowl, after she heard me griping about how the boys in the house lacked aim.

She received honourable mention in young inventors competition at her school for that one and my undying gratitude.

Your Morgan sounds like a corker. Hope things work out more favourably for you both on the visiting thing.

Subject: this is morgan actually
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 06:31 PM

hi it is Morgan I like the stories and comments so about my solar oven I put tinfoil on it and I cooked a tortilla and it was pretty good so bye.

Subject: RE: BS: Creative grandchildren - children
From: kendall
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 07:18 PM

I thought people would be on this like a Duck on a June bug.

Subject: RE: BS: Creative grandchildren - children
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Jun 13 - 07:20 PM

lots of people can cook, but most of us wouldn't know how to make an oven!

congratulations, Morgan.

sandra

Subject: RE: Beer can solar oven-creative gchildren/children
From: katlaughing
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 08:55 PM

One more time.

Subject: RE: Beer can solar oven-creative gchildren/children
From: gnu
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 09:27 PM

Lovelt thread. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Beer can solar oven-creative gchildren/children
From: Mo the caller
Date: 07 Jun 13 - 07:48 AM

We just can't compete in the Granny-boasting stakes. My 4 1/2 yr old grandson is trying to persuade me that I need a cockerel in my hen run. He loves collecting the eggs, and helping me muck out (He points, I use the trowel)

Subject: RE: Beer can solar oven-creative gchildren/children
From: katlaughing
Date: 07 Jun 13 - 10:57 AM

Mo, I thought you had littles of your own! Didn't remember you're a granny,:-) They are so much fun, aren't they?

Thanks, folks.

Subject: RE: Beer can solar oven-creative gchildren/children
From: ranger1
Date: 07 Jun 13 - 12:20 PM

I don't have kids, so I like to brag up the talents of my nieces and nephews. My youngest niece won a gold medal in the 400 meter at the NH Special Olympics, silver in the 100 and 200 meter races, and a silver in the softball throw.

Subject: RE: Beer can solar oven-creative gchildren/children
From: Rapparee
Date: 07 Jun 13 - 03:37 PM

A couple years ago I had to wear a cast, so I called my youngest great-nephew about it. He'd just finished wearing one for a broken arm.

He told me that all of the kids in my kindergarten class would sign it. Then he added that if I was played with my army men on the picnic table and one fell off I shouldn't try to reach it from the table top because I'd fall off and break my arm.

I was glad to know that.

Subject: RE: Beer can solar oven-creative gchildren/children
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Jun 13 - 04:24 AM

My grandson, Alex, is nearly 6. From when he as ever so young he's been drawing. And he has an eye. We draw together whenever he comes over, but in some senses he's way ahead of me.

My son has a print of a drawing by Picasso of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, with windmills, hanging on his living room wall. One morning he came down early to breakfast to find a copy on the table. He realised Alex had done it - in a childish way of course - capturing the line and composition of the print to an astonishing degree for a 5-year old. He was gobsmacked.

Alex's picture now hangs underneath the Picasso. I should be so lucky to ever draw like that - let's just hope the talent isn't stifled at school.

Subject: RE: Beer can solar oven-creative gchildren/children
From: katlaughing
Date: 08 Jun 13 - 11:19 AM

That's why there has to be grandparents and aunts and uncles to fill in those gaps our schools can't afford or don't want to teach. Spelling is no longer taught due to loss of room, teachers, etc.

But, never mind that. THese stories are great!