This may seem easy for some people, but it was difficult for my son at first. We were not getting it.
This problem comes from Primary Mathematics Challenging Word Problems 5. Here it is:
The ratio of the number of cars to the number of bicycles is 10:7. Each car has 4 wheels and each bicycle has 2 wheels. If all the cars and bicycles have a total of 486 wheels, how many wheels do all the cars have altogether?
Here's the trick: The ratio is really 40:14. That is the number of wheels on a car to the number of wheels on a bicycle. So, 486/54=9. 40x9=360. There are 360 wheels altogether on the cars. This problem kept my son stuck that he did not know what to do. It was when we thought about it, we discovered the 40:14 ratio. The children from the FIRST Lego League team arrived. We solved the problem.
Another great adventure in homeschooling!
Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
I am in madness right now.
My sons are on a FIRST Lego League team. We have a situation where the children are now doing the every day the children will be coming to my house to practice the robot and my friend's house to practice the skit.
We are going to be in non-stop mode. This Saturday, my sons have their piano recital. That will be from 6PM to whenever. Their piano teacher has a lot of students. So, it may take all night.
Monday, the madness begin every day next week. Our competition is on Friday, December 4th at 5 PM. Anyone who is reading this entry, please pray for us!!
Thank you.
This event has passed, but the info is so good!
~ Lisa

Taken this morning before church...Julia (4) and Judah (10 months)!
I am thankful for the provision of wisdom and love. Neither of which I possess on my own.
The Lord has promised in His Word to give wisdom just by asking and He gives me the ability to love others because of His love for me. Without them my children would be lost to the world, I would be self centered and wise in my own eyes only. I am so thankful that I possess neither. I am so thankful that I must go to the Most High for His wisdom concerning the myriads of questions and problems I face. I am so thankful that His love is perfect and that He pours His love into my heart and into my hands so that I can love my neighbor, my family, my friends and my enemies.
If you'd like to participate in a Month of Thanksgiving please go to:
www.janetscountryhome.com/journal/2009/11/01/a-month-of-thanksgiving/
We're making peppermint mice for the Gabriel Project booth at the Santa's Arts and Crafts Show in December. Unfortunately, I don't know how to add pictures to my blog. But, I think with a little imagination, anyone reading this post could figure it out.
First, you'll need some supplies:
green felt
red felt
small red pom poms
small craft eyes
black thread
candy canes
a pen
scissors
hot glue and a glue gun (or cool if you have small children helping)
Next, make yourself a tear drop shaped pattern, um, about 4" from curve to point. Then, make another pattern that looks like a rounded bow tie. Rats! I wish I could show you a picture. Hint: You will be making two small slits about an inch and a half from the point of the "teardrop" to insert this "bow tie." The tear drop is that mouse's body, the point being the nose. The bow tie will become the mouse's ears.
Trace the tear drop onto the green felt and the bow tie onto the red felt. Cut your shapes out. Make two vertical slits where you'd like to place the ears. You'll make an horizontal slit for insert the tail (the candy cane) as well. The cane needs to be inserted from underneath and the curve of the cane will "stand up" in order for the tail to be noticed.
Cut some pieces of black thread (I use three pieces per mouse) and lay them across the nose. Glue a red pom pom on top of the thread to secure the nose and whiskers.
These make wonderful party favors or stocking stuffers. If you make a tight enough slit for the candy cane, they'd make cute tree ornaments, too.


Tektoma offers you this:
• Engaging video tutorials for ages 7-17
• Tutorials of varying skill levels and topics
• Learn at your own pace in the comfort of your home
• Natural progression helps develop technical skills
• Customize your learning experience
• Low monthly membership fee gives access to all our resources
• New curriculums available monthly
All materials, projects and forums are moderated for appropriate content, language and graphics that are suitable for even young children. Come explore Tektoma's online video tutorials and inspire your tech imagination!
Price: Just $14.95 per month or $140 per year gets you access to all the tutorials as well as online help via the forums.
Free Membership Opportunities:
• Free 14-day trial
• Earn free membership time by telling your friends
Requirements:
• Windows XP or Vista (Mac versions coming in the future)
• Broadband internet connection
• For GameMaker tutorials, you need a copy of GameMaker software installed.(Lite edition is available for free.)
Homeschool Crew members received access to this website for review. You can read their thoughts on Tektoma here:

Exploracise Gymathtics is a revolutionary program that teaches math and healthy lifestyle concepts while performing a complete exercise routine. Scientific research shows that movement in combination with learning enhances retention and recognition.

Gymathtics is a fun fitness learning experience that kids will want to do again and again. The exercise program is great for kids of all ages. The math facts target 2nd-5th grade levels.
The Complete Program includes:
• Shape Stretches Warm Up - Stretch your mind and body with line, circle, and polygon stretches.
• Counting Calisthenics - Aerobic movements work your heart as fun counting concepts work your brain.
• Pattern Power - Growing and repeating pattern exercise combinations challenge minds and strengthen muscles.
• Well-Being Wind Down - Relaxing stretches cool down the body and open the mind to think about healthy lifestyle choices.
DVD. 30 minutes. Price: $24.99. (Special promotion: FREE Shipping & Handling.)
Other products available include the Exploracise floor mat, Exploracise Thumballs, and coming soon: Gymathtics 2.0 DVD.
Even if you don't need the extra math practice, this DVD is a great way to add some exercise to your school routine. See what the Crew has to say about it here:

3P Learning, the home of Mathletics, is a web-based math service, providing children a chance to compete with students from around the world, or to rack up points by working through grade-specific content, which includes step-by-step animated support. There is access to additional games at Rainforest Maths, and the students get to go shopping for clothing and backgrounds for their character with the credits they earn from many of the above activities. There are also games that reinforce math concepts. In other words, the students have a variety of ways to interact with math.

Parents can view progress online, print out workbooks for use by the child, and can receive weekly progress emails, so it is fairly easy to keep track of what your child is learning. You can also set it up so the child will have to complete certain activities first, before having access to everything.

3P Learning’s has stated that it’s mission is “to engage every student every day with a personalized, responsive and intelligent learning resource that inspires a delight in math and an innate drive to better results.”
3P Learning is the creator and host of two free web-events annually, which include World Math Day in March and the American Math Challenge in November. Students from around the world or around the US, depending on the event, get to play in the Mathletics environment for the duration of the event. In 2009, World Math Day had more than 2 million students from 204 countries taking part.
While Mathletics is used in schools in over 200 countries, they also support homeschooling. You can view a six page brochure about Mathletics and homeschooling here.
Mathletics is an internet subscription based product, with a price of $59 per student per year. If you know the Human Calculator’s favorite number (hint: it’s ‘9’!) and you enter that when asked, you can purchase a single child subscription for $49.95 for a year at their website.
Everyone on the crew received a 45 day subscription to the Mathletics website, so watch this space as their opinions start rolling in.

