The Race is On!

Saturday September 20, 2008

Looking for a Challenge?

Come and join Grade 7-12 students from all over Western Manitoba in the Amazing Science Race, based on the reality TV show The Amazing Race.

It's guaranteed to be a day full of wacky activites, intense competition and strategic thinking!!

Get a team together and go to their website to find out how to register and for more information:

http://www.wmsf.com/Scirace/SciRAce.htm

It would be wonderful if we had a few homeschool teams in this race! 

Anyone up for the challege?

I'm just waiting for the leaves to change colour around here, before we head outside for some photos of the kids.  The changing leaves always add a nice natural touch.  I LOVE using our digital camera for this.  Nowadays, there is so much more you can do and edit before you print.  There are many online sites that can be a help in developing your camera skills.  Here are a few:

http://www.takegreatpictures.com/

Basic digital photography:

http://www.basic-digital-photography.com/shooting-photos.html

Here's a site with the top 10 tips from Kodak:

http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=317&pq-locale=en_CA&_requestid=2585

Be sure to have the camera handy all year as you study and go about "normal life".  Afterall, what you do today will be what they remember.  Why not let your students have a try?  It's also a great way to develop (no pun intended-but funny eh?) a photography unit or study.

I hope you enjoy capturing the moment.

We're going to start off with a fun one:

The Giant Water Bug a.k.a. "Toe Biter"

There are lots of wonderful websites to visit for ideas, here's one at: amazingmoms.com 

http://www.amazingmoms.com/htm/party_bigbirthdaylist.htm#T

You'll find over 150 kids' party themes with all sorts of suggestions for invitations, games, crafts, decorations, cakes etc....  It helps make party planning easy! 

This site is potentially a great resource for unit study fun day ideas too...

Our family has loved getting back out of doors enjoying the sunshine and slush.  We've even spotted our first goose returning for the year.

I discovered a wonderful website to help facilitate environment studies at:  Journey North.  You can find them at:  http://www.learner.org/jnorth/

You can find all sorts of background information on wildlife migration and seasonal changes.  There is a teacher's manual available to help provide suggestions, activities and lessons using their website too!

Be sure to check them out, breathe in the fresh spring air and make memories with your children where you live.

Happy Easter!  He is risen!

Here are some wonderful ideas to expound on the spring egg-citement.  Thank you Education World at  http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson058.shtml for the wonderful "eggs-traordinary Lesson Plans where all I needed to do was add the eggs!

Don't let the fact that Easter is over deter you from checking out some fun egg facts and activites.  It is spring after all!

Here are some helpful links to find out more from my colleague, Thea in Quebec:

World Water Day -- http://www.worldwaterday.net/
National Park Service -- http://www.nps.gov/
Exchange Cycles -- http://peer.tamu.edu/curriculum_modules/Ecosystems/module_3/index.htm
Environmental Education -- http://www.environmentaleducationnetwork.ca/links.htm
Rain Bird's Explorations into Water http://www.rainbird.com/pdf/iuow/IUOW-Curriculum.pdf
PALS -- http://pals.sri.com/ **click on the tasks at the bottom for wonderful FREE resources
Green Schools Resource Page -- http://www.greenschools.net/resources.html
Evergreen -- http://www.evergreen.ca/en/lg/lg-resources.html#curriculum
Schools for a Living Planet -- http://www.schoolsforalivingplanet.com/learn_more.php ** must register, homeschoolers welcome!
Black Bayou Lake Project -- http://mcschools.net/mcs/black_bayou_files/curriculum_page_subject.html

Thanks Thea!

You will need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
a pinch salt
1 cup sugar
a zipper baggy
1 wooden spoon
scotch tape
Bible

Instructions:
These are to be made the evening before Easter.  Preheat oven to 300F.
*** (this is very important --- don't wait until you are half done with the recipe).
Place pecans in zipper baggy and let children beat them with the wooden spoon
to break into small pieces.  Explain that after Jesus was arrested.  He
was beaten by the Roman soldiers.  Read: John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put 1 teaspoon vinegar into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar
to drink. Read: John 19:28-30

Add egg whites to vinegar.  Eggs represent life.  Explain that Jesus gave His life
to give us life. Read: John 10:10&11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand.  Let them taste it and brush the rest
into the bowl.  Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers,
and the bitterness of our own sin. Read: Luke 23:27

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.  Explain that the
sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to
know and belong to Him. Read: Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins
have been cleansed by Jesus. Read: Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

Fold in broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoon onto waxed paper covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read: Matthew 27:57-60

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF.

Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read: Matthew 27:65-66

GO TO BED!

Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.
Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read: John 16:20&22

On Resurrection Sunday (Easter) morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  The cookies are hollow!  On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read: Matthew 28:1-9