Author Archives: Kim Baumgaertel

What I said:  Today we’re going to talk about atoms!  Did you know that everything you can touch is made of teeny, tiny atoms? What they heard:  Blah, blah, blah … atoms. What I did:  Atoms are always moving!  Let’s … Continue reading →

You know how it goes with balloons.  It takes a lot of huffin’ and puffin’ to get ’em blown up.  When you do — or when you talk someone else into blowing one for you — you can tie it … Continue reading →

This is a line from a Baum Family favorite, Back to the Future.  Marty’s young dad is attempting to woo his future wife, Lorraine.  He means “destiny”, making this a malapropism — also humorous but not as much. Density was our … Continue reading →

The forced relocation of my science lab from classroom to home garage (thanks, COVID) resulted in a boon for preschool:  all the test tubes, beakers, funnels, pipettes, scalpels, scales, cylinders, burners, and whatnot an Oma could need. Right here!  Right … Continue reading →

All smart science students — even the small ones — follow the scientific method. The scientific method, you will recall from your fifth grade teacher (mine was Mrs. Powell), involves observation first:  “Look!  What did Oma put on the cookie … Continue reading →

Considering the myriad of beach choices in these parts, we’ve made this one our go-to since the parents of our preschoolers were little.  Anderson Point is never crowded.  The half-mile switchback from the cars to the shore is doable for … Continue reading →

Having wrapped up the alphabet *ahem* two or three weeks ago, our preschoolers began SCIENCE. (Seriously, why in the midst of this pandemic go-nowhere-what-day-is-it-lifestyle can I not meet a self-imposed blogging deadline? And what’s with all the hyphens?) That day:  … Continue reading →

We made our own zoo for Letter Z day, complete with a family of pachyderms, an owl, a couple of primates, and a few other critters.  My preschoolers brought the animals; I provided the backyard.  I tried to provide advice … Continue reading →

Letter Y was a tad overshadowed by the big thing downstairs, but we managed to do it justice. Yellow:  bananas, lemons, sunshine, bendable figures.  Highlighters! All the while, the big thing was downstairs.  Under a blanket.  Opa kept wandering out … Continue reading →

Dear Auntie Jenny, We need your help.  This week Oma told us a story about you, and frankly, we’re not sure what to make of it. You see, we have been told several “stories” of late, mostly by Opa.  He’s … Continue reading →