Posted in Science

This weeks freebie from Currclick is a Galaxie Lapbook by Hands of a Child! Grab it before next Wednesday!

Check out these other Space related Lapbooks at Currclick.

Advanced Astronomy Lapbook by Hands of a Child
The Moon Lapbook by Hands of a Child
The Sun Lapbook by Hands of a Child

Exploring Creation with Astronomy ~ Lessons 1-6 by Knowledge Box Central
Exploring Creation with Astronomy ~ Lessons 7-14 by Knowledge Box Central
Astronomy Lapbook by Knowledge Box Central

Matt and I are using the Exploring Creation with Astronomy Lapbooks while studying Astronomy. We will post pictures (near the end of the school year) when we are finished. It is going to be one big lapbook!

Posted in Science

I just recently signed up for this and boy am I excited, so I just had to pass it along to you. It's FREE! So sign up today! When you do sign up, you get a free science activity guide filled with experiments and a link to join in on a free live video class!

 

Welcome First, let me tell you that I'm so glad to be able to share the science experiments and projects in these newsletters with you. And most importantly, I'm really glad that you believe science is an essential part of education for your child. I'd like to make a commitment to you that I can show you how to make science totally engaging and fun for your kids. About once a week I'll send you an experiment that is kid-proven to breed curiosity, excitement and learning. You see, science isn't just a subject in school – at least it doesn't need to be. Recently a man came up to me and thanked me profusely. To be honest, I didn't recognize him. Then he explained that about six years ago, I had taught a science workshop that his son participated in. His son was doing very poorly in all his subjects at the time (I think he was in 6th grade). He continued to tell me that after the workshop, his son had developed a fascination with science (airplanes in particular). His grades in school got better, and in science, he was getting A's and B's. Then the man straightened up and smiled. He said “My boy just started college in Aeronautical Engineering!” It turns out, six years ago he was looking ahead and worrying that his son might not even finish high school. Like I said, science can be so much more than just a subject to teach your kids. So what was it that inspired this kid so much during a few hours that it changed his life? I'm about to tell you, but first you should know that just the knowledge itself doesn't do anything. You have to implement it for it to matter. And that is what these newsletters will show you how to do. So what's the secret? I'm sure you already know it, but here's my version. If we want kids to learn a subject – any subject – we usually provide them with the information we want them to learn and get them to practice it a bunch of times. But I do it differently. First, I get kids interested and excited about the subject. In fact, I don't even care if they learn a single academic fact to start with. Because what I've found over years of teaching is that if kids are excited about the application of a topic, they will want to learn the theory behind it . In fact, they'll learn it without even realizing what they're doing – it just becomes a part of the fun. That's it. Okay, so there is a bit more that goes along with this (and I'll make it a part of future newsletters), but this is the foundation. Make it fun and engaging first. If kids like what they are doing, they will want to learn the academics. Thanks for joining me on this wonderful journey of discovery. I look forward to sharing more fun, excitement and learning with you in our next issue. Warmly, Aurora   P.S. Years ago, a very special teacher and mentor changed my life. He inspired me with a passion for discovery and learning through exploring the world around myself. Now I get to share this with you and your children - a chance to pass on the gift that was once bestowed upon me.

How to Share Supercharged Science

If you found the information from Supercharged Science useful and insightful, I please pass along the good fortune now by forwarding this email to someone you know who may benefit.

Science Tools for Homeschool Families

If you feel awkward because your child asks science questions you can't answer, and you're not even sure where to look for those answers, know that you are not alone! Many parents today feel their child has outstripped their science knowledge, yet they still want to support their child in a meaningful and lasting way. There are many science experiments you can do today with your child that are not difficult to do nor do they require expensive equipment.  You can start right away with things in your house with a little help and guidance from Supercharged Science.  Visit here to find out more.

Posted in Science

Chantelle is taking 2 sciences this year. One is Apologias Physical Science, the other is Zoology 2, which is part of the elementary series. She loved the Astronomy and Botany she did 2 years ago and wanted to do Zoo 2 for fun.

At the end of each chapter, there is a project to build an ocean diorama. Last week we made the actual box for her "ocean". Every time she adds to her "ocean", I will post a picture of it to show it's progress.

Here is the cardboard box, some scrapbooking paper that looks like sand and water.

 

The box all taped and ready to go.

 

A little paper that looks like sand for the bottom of the ocean.

 

And some water paper. Now she is ready to go!

 

 

Posted in Science

Yestersday, I was reading one of my favorite blogs, Higher Up and Further In. Lindafay had a post on how she organized her daughters Apologia notebook that inspired me to change how we do ours. Check out her post and see if it inspires you!

Here is how we plan on doing ours:

  

 

~~How we are organizing our Apologia Notebooks~~

 

I am dividing a 3 ring binder into 4 sections, On Your Own questions, Study Guide, Tests, and Labs.

Vocabulary

 I am having Chantelle write up her vocabulary words on index cards instead this year. It is easier for her to take out her index card binder than a large regular binder to study her words. She tends to like to curl up in bed or on the sofa to study.

On Your Own questions

I have typed up all the questions and divided up the modules like in the book. I have placed the questions in the appropriate section of her binder in protective sleeves. Chantelle found it annoying to have to keep flipping pages to answer her questions andthen flipping back to see if her answer went with the question. So that is why I decided to type up all the questions. Anything to make her life, and ultimately mine, easier is a good thing.

Study Guide

I will be photo copying and adding these to the binder as we get to them. Because the material in the Physical Science book is harder than the General Science, the plan is to take two days to do and go over the guides.

For example: On day 1, Chantelle will do the study guide problems 1-12 and then we will go over them. On day 2, Chantelle will finish up the study guide questions 13-24 (most of the guides have many questions like this example) and we will go over them after together.

Tests

In the test section, we plan on puttingthe tests here only after they have been done and corrected. Nothing fancy here.

Labs

I have always been use to writing labs up ever since middle school. I have always loved science, so this came like second nature to me. I showed Chantelle how to write up a easy lab last year. Nothing fancy for now. I print up a lab report from Donna Young that goes with the Apologia books. (I also follow her lesson plans for the Apologia books for the most part. I do alter them a little to fit our needs).

I take pictures of Chantelle doing her experiments and put these pictures in a sheet protector behind the finished lab report that corresponds to it.

 

 

 

Posted in Science

Here are the pictures of the eye model that Matt did the other day.

 

Front of the model

 

 

Side of the model

Posted in Science

Matt has asked to do the five senses again this year, so we started on sight. I got this book called Super Senses that goes through all the senses and has 2-3 small experiments that goes along with each topic. I also have Dinak Zikes science pocket book on the human body and a couple of  other human body books geared for both his level and a little higher so that he can think.

 

So far we read a little about the structure of the eye, some of the parts names and what they do. He had a blast playing with a flashlight to make my pupil smaller. I was seeing spots for awhile, but thats ok. He also made a model of the eye, which I will take a picture of and post here. He did a good job coloring each part. Once we have done all the little lessons I planned for sight, we will sum them up by doing the sight lapbook activities in the Five Senses Lapbook from Hands of a Child. I plan on doing this with all the senses.

Posted in Science

Matt has a desire to learn about Elephants, so we went to the library and took out a bunch of books on or about elephants.

 

Nonfiction:

 

The Biggest Animal On Land by Allan Fowler

The Elephant Peaceful Giant by Reader's Digest

Elephant Woman by Laurence Pringle

Elephant by Caroline Arnold

Elephant by Eyewitness Books

 

Fiction:

 

Hiccups for Elephant by James Preller

Elmer by David McKee

Elmer and Wilbur by David McKee

Elmer and the Kangaroo by David McKee

Kidogo by Anik McGregory

Posted in Science

We are beginning with Hearing first. We read the book "my Five Senses" by Aliki and talked about how we use our senses and how it might be like with out them. Matt then made a collage of ears for hearing.

 

 

 

I Hear With My Ears

 

 

He then created a ear model from the Science Pocket book. We talked about what the different parts of the inner and outer ear are called as well.

 

 

Model of the Ear

 

 

We then played a few games where he would have to use his hearing to guess what the items are. I blindfolded his eyes and played a tape of sounds that I had made earlier to see if he can guess them. He did pretty good and had a blast.

Posted in Science

Matt and I have started working on a small unit covering the 5 senses and the human body. These are the books we are using currently. We may add other readers as we go along.

 

My Five Senses by Aliki

 

My Body by Evan-Moor

 

The Human Body by Troll

 

Science Pocket: Human Senses & Body Parts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Science

I have been picking out holiday theme books to read to Matt during our lessons, but seeing how I am sick of winter, we have decided to go with penguin books as our theme for the month.

 

Here is what we have at home:

 

March of the Penguins (book from the movie)

Plenty of Penguins by Sonia Black

Numbers Add Up at Home (book has penguins as the character) by Joanne Barkan

Nature's Children: Penguins

Ranger Rick January 2006

Your Big Backyard January 2006

 

From the Library:

 

Fiction:

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

Mr. Popper's Penguins (on CD) by Richard Atwater

Take Turns, Penguin by Jeanne Willis

Solo by Paul Geraghty

A Penguin Pup For Pinkerton by Steven Kellogg

A Mother's Journey by Sandra Markle

 

NonFiction:

 

To Come