Do you have a great, local attraction/museum/resource that you'd like to share with other PA families?  Please let me know and I'll include it in my upcoming "PA Homeschool Road Trip Series" of great places that every PA family should visit.  

We'll be starting in my neck of the woods with Valley Forge National Park.  Check back on Monday!

Here's a wonderful offer exclusively for homeschooling families from The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia!

The Franklin is extending an exclusive offer to homeschoolers!

Join today at reduced rates AND receive admission to one Member Sunday workshop FREE*!

From teaching about basic scientific building blocks like electricity and machines, to showing wider scientific applications in habitat and pollution, our workshops are designed to help your child build a
hands-on understanding of science! Take a look at the following, upcoming workshop topics:

Kitchen Chemistry
Science of Sports

Playground Physics
Eco- Science

Pirate Science
Owl Pellet Dissection

And remember, when you become a member, you'll receive year-long benefits** that will also supplement your child's education in a fun and exciting way, including:

. Unlimited admission to the Museum, Daily Demonstrations, Fels Planetarium, and SkyBike

. Special member rates on Homeschool Days, Discovery Camp, Birthday Parties, Camp-In, and Workshops

. Advance notice of special events - including exclusive, member-only events!

. Discounted special exhibit tickets and MORE!

So join today at these discounted rates.

Level Membership

Family $85 - $75!

FamilyMAX $135 - $115!

Premier $175 - $150!

. AND BRING OUT THE INNER SCIENTIST IN YOUR CHILD!

PLUS - As a member, you can receive tickets to The Franklin's newest special exhibit, Real Pirates**, FREE between July 4 - July 20***!

For more information or to purchase your membership at these special discounts, call the Membership Office at 215.448.1231, email us at membership@..., or stop by 7 days a week!

This offer expires on September 1, 2008. Discount code: M08SUMMERSAVE.

*Regularly priced at $5 per person; Free workshop reservation must be made at the time of membership purchase

**For more information about our memberships, Member Sundays and Real Pirates, please visit the Membership section on www.fi.edu

***Some restrictions apply

Niyati Desai

Membership Services Coordinator

The Franklin Institute Science Museum

Ph: 215.448.1090

**********************************************************************************************************

I love The Franklin Institute!  It's a great science/history based center that teaches in a fun, interactive way.  Enjoy!

Welcome to the Homeschool Nation - Pennsylvania blog!  I am so excited to have the opportunity to share some helpful hints and resources with you about homeschooling in PA.

My name is Brandi and I'm the proud mommy of three (6yo boy, 4 yo boy and 7mo girl).  I have a degree in Elementary Education and taught in PA and AZ for 8 years combined.  Boy, is homeschooling different from public school!

I was born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs, so I'm pretty familiar with things in this half of the state.  I spent 4 years at college in north central PA, but I'm excited to learn more about the amazing resources in the "other half" of our great state and share them with you too.

If you belong to or moderate a local homeschool support group/co-op/field trip group I'd encourage you to submit it here.  It's great to be able to draw upon the support, encouragement and resources of other homeschoolers - especially as you're getting started. 

As always, please feel free to email me if you have any questions, suggestions or ideas! I love hearing from fellow PA homeschoolers!

Thank you to Thea the HSN Coordinator from Quebec for sharing these.....

http://www.highlandsswcd.org/everything/office%20info/kid%20page.htm -- Florida
http://lancaster.extension.psu.edu/Family/BKC_Resources.html -- Lancaster, Penn -- Learn-At-Home Theme Kits
http://www.epa.state.il.us/kids/teachers/materials-resources/ -- Illinois free environment resources
http://betterkidcare.psu.edu/Units/Workbooks/101KidsBusy/101KidsBusy.pdf - 101+ Ways to Keep Kids Busy
http://computersforlearning.gov/ - Not only home schools, but any school or community group that are trying to educate kids from pre-K through grade 12, can be eligible to receive used computers from the government through its surplus property program. Contact Computers for Learning, P.O. Box 4410,Washington, DC 20026-4100; 888-362-7870
http://www.intel.com/education/index.htm Educators can get everything they need to know about the inner workings of a computer including lesson plans, student materials, overheads, colorful posters of a Pentium Processor, as well as an actual silicon wafer, a microprocessor, processor chips, transistors, diodes, connecting wires and batteries for hands-on use. This free package is available to teachers for grade five through nine. Homeschoolers are also eligible for this program! Get your kid's teacher to get one. Just like a computer, free upgrades are also available. Contact The Journey Inside: The Computer, Education Programs; P.O. Box 5937; Denver, CO 80217; 800-346-3029
http://www.kidsdomain.com/down/pc/_subjectfreeware-index.html - Educational Freeware

All our students need to study PA History here is a great link for lots of fun and interesting resources...

PA State History Unit Study

Did you know PA has a state dog?  A state insect?  You'll find worksheets, coloring pages, State police trading cards, recipes, info on the capital and a virtual tour of historic places.