When Vision Forum asked me to choose one of their new albums to review, my immediate response was to accept the Let Freedom Ring:13 CDs from the Philadelphia Faith and Freedom Tour, being a PA transplant; but my husband said “No way, didn’t you say we should send DS to their Film Academy? Get the movie album!” Even after reminding him that DS was no were near the age to attend the Academy, hubby insisted that Lights, Cameras, Action! Highlights from the 2009 Christian Filmmakers Academy was the definite way to go; besides he’d listen to all 19 CDs with me…
Well, having a deadline negated hubby from listening (he heard about half of one) but I was totally blown away with the content included on these CDs! DS has been begging for the CDs and I think I will hold them out as the proverbial carrot if you know what I mean, if hubby doesn’t snag them for his car ride into work.
Why was I so impressed? Part of it may have been I underestimated the Christian Filmmakers Academy, I just didn’t realize how professional they really were nor did I understand the vast amount of information they would convey.
I learned so much about film making starting with the very basics of frame composition and camera selection to uses for color grading and even some stunt secrets – baby powder, who knew? How to avoid common mistakes for beginning directors, how to help your actors, contacts for networking, they even touched on proper padding for stunt professionals, camera angles, storyboarding, marketing and distribution!
What didn’t I like about the album? Speaking as a newbie here and really not knowing about the film industry other than as a consumer, what I know has come from DVD Special Features and what my DS has taught me with his stop motion films or camcorder shorts, my biggest disappointment was that it was only the Highlights. Next was that since we were discussing film, it would have been nice to see the clips under discussion; I realize however, that this may have not been possible due to copyright issues. So, I had to be content with PDFs of the slides used during the lectures.
Even more impressive than the massive technical information was the fact that, sometimes while listening, I felt as if I was in church. I know we are to live our lives through the lens of Scripture, but knowing that and doing that are two different things. I was extremely humbled hearing from men who truly see God as the center of all things, are excelling in their selected field, and are willing to educate others.
The Biblical foundation they laid certainly applied to film, but so much more: the arts in general, writing, comics, painting, graphic novels, and video games – all areas DS and other young men are interested in; not only in the creation of, but for the viewing of as well.
Certainly listening to successful producers, directors, and actors whom have movies in the theaters, on cable, and in DVD distribution; extolling the virtues of Christ while imparting the importance of maintaining and promoting a Biblical world view add credence to what many of us parents are already teaching our aspiring artists.
Thank you, Vision Forum and Christian Filmmakers Academy! We’ll be looking forward to next years CDs.
Wow – sorry about how long those lapbooks took to post!
But finally all of last years books are on the blog. We did the Shape Lapbook and the Opposite Lapbook at the end of DS preschool year and the Five Senses, Dinosaur, Oceans/Octopus (really Eric Carle’s A House for Hermit Crab), Insects and More!, and Butterfly Lapbooks during his Kindergarten year.
I had a lot more things I had wanted to post for the grandfolks and for the Homeschool community from last year for both boys – but let’s face it, with this year over half way done it is time to move on!
Hopefully, the next thing I will be posting is DS12’s posters from his 4-H DPA presentation, for which he came in second in the Art category, and some of the astounding artwork both boys are doing through Cindy Rushton’s Talk-a-latte On-line Kids Classes.
I’m an affiliate for Cindy Rushton – so if you are interested in joining the art classes please take a look through my links, I’d greatly appreciate it!
We are REALLY enjoying Sharon Jeffus of Visual Manna.The boys were ecstatic when their kits came and now enjoy Mondays!DS12 had taken “Geography through Art”, a one day workshop with Sharon, when we lived in SC so we were familiar with her business; which is why I took a gamble on on-line art classes. We (my husband and I) have been overwhelmed how well the classes are going, both in presentation and the boys work. So hold on Grands – and as soon as hubby downloads the pictures I’ve taken – I’ll be posting.
Talk-a-Latte Art-1 Classes - Family Pack This is what we are doing, both classes for 1 low price: which you can download and use for as many children you have for the rest of your homeschool! Not to mention Dad and Mom. PS: kits are extra -- I know that is probably obvious, but it didn't dawn on me until later.
I know what your thinking, why in the world would you pay for Astronomy classes as you have a minor in Space Science and your husband graduated with a Space Science degree! So, you don’t think I’m insane here are my reasons:
1st I heard of Felice through Cindy’s 2008 Ultimate Homeschool Expo so I know she is scientifically and Biblically solid.
2nd I wanted a low cost way to introduce DS12 (next week he’ll be DS13) to Internet Courses as a prep for High School.
3rd, I wanted DS12 to practice technical note taking from a lecture versus a more objective note taking you would do for say a sermon.
4th DS6 wants to do whatever, and I mean WHATEVER, DS12 does so by getting the family package…
After reading Eric Carle’s The Hungry Caterpillar and discussing Collage Art we painted the folder, cut shapes from construction paper to be flowers and stems.
We printed the My Symmetrical Butterfly from http://www.homeschoolshare.com/butterfly_lapbook.php on cardstock and creased the butterfly down the center, upon unfolding the butterfly and using a much thicker type of paint, painted the body and ½ the butterfly’s wings before carefully refolding the butterfly and pressing firmly. Peel open and let dry, cut-out, and attach to collage.
Pages 5 and 6
Matching game form www.preschoolprintables.com– the way we played, as he was a bit older, was more of a Memory game.
All the pieces are in the envelope (printed on cardstock and cutout) with the addition of blank cardstock “squares” which we used to cover the butterflies on the folder.The cutout butterflies were placed face down on the floor and we took turns turning over one butterfly and uncovering one folder butterfly in attempts to acquire a match.
Books We Read:
How to Hide a Butterfly & other Insects by Ruth Heller
Waiting for Wings by Lois Ehlert
Born to be a Butterfly by Karen Wallace
Know It Alls Butterflies! by Darlene Freeman
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Butterflies Animal World by Donna Baily
Miss Emma’s Wild Garden by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing Butterflies & Moths by Jim Arnosky
Take two folders and place one file folder inside the other
Take the 3rd and cut it so the bottom expanding sections act as an attachment and place on the outside of the first 2 (so short side is on front of book and the full page is an extra page at the end of the book).Save the leftover piece to make a lift-up page later.
Open and staple in the middle, close book and glue/tape the front flap to the front of the file book
Exoskeleton book: we copied a picture from the encyclopedia that showed a grasshopper and it’s old exoskeleton then described the picture on the inside and pasted the definition from http://dictionary.reference.com
http://www.kizclub.com/craft/insectsbox.pdfI printed the bugs only on cardstock than colored and cut them out – gave DS a bug net and threw the bugs in the air until he caught them then “mounted” them to his lapbook (winter alternative to outdoor bug hunt)
Match a Ladybug pocket: Numerals to Dot Patterns on Ladybug Cards (My creation printed on red paper)
Lift up page (leftover from the page added to the back of the book):
Ladybug Clock on top, add brad before pasting Ladybug Lore on bottom of lift-up page so it covers the brad. I printed the clock twice: once on cardstock for the hands and once on red colored paper for the clock part.http://www.vickiblackwell.com/ladybugclock.pdf
1 and ½ Manila File Folders, packing tape, 1 brad, stapler and staples,
paper, crayons, pencils/pens, photocopier for 1 thing (other ideas at end if need to replace)
Directions: Fold 1 manila file folder in the shutter fold method. Cut a second folder along the expansion lines; so that a small edge can fold over the left side of whole folder and tape down --forming a 2nd and 3rd page out of the back of the whole folder and front of the ½ folder (see photos).
I wrote Job 40:15 in pen on the picture and he colored it – glue finished picture to half of the shutter to facilitate cutting it in half before gluing second side.
Center page bottom – after reading Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff we wrote our own story (you can use my story paper)
Right shutter: After reading Dinosaur Days by Linda Manning, I photocopied the back page with the dinosaur silhouettes/definitions/days and made a “flip” book with the definitions inside. He had to look through the book then match the cut-out silhouettes and the day names to each page, thus putting them in order.We glued the pieces down, then he would check (still with the book) if he had the days of the week in order (relative to the book) and we reviewed the type of dinosaur.
Back of shutter folded folder (2nd page)
Can a dinosaur fit in our house?
http://www.nutritionexplorations.org/educators/lessons/chef-combo/chef-act-measuringdino.aspI made 2 copies of the cards – 1 of cardstock that had the yarn wrapped around it, which we used to see how big dinosaurs really were. 1 on plan paper which we made into the book you see in the lapbook.For each page we wrote if the dinosaur fit in our house and what rooms it would take up
3rd Page (the ½ of folder that was taped on)
Did dinosaurs go on the ark? Then why are they extinct?
On top of the wheel we cut out the picture from www.AnswersMagazine.com leaving a large enough left hand margin to fold over forming a glue flap – allowing the picture to hide the wheel but act as a large lift-able flap.http://www.answersingenesis.org/kids/activities click on “Dinosaur Coloring” activity #10 currently
Malia of Homemaking 911 gave me permission to post her devotional, thanks Malia!
I was first introduced to Malia during Cindy Rushton's Ultimate Homeschool Expo which I wrote about earlier. (See I wasn't kidding about still enjoying the fruits of the Expo!) Anyhow, here's Malia's devotional -- Enjoy!
Do you ever have so much to do that you feel completely overwhelmed? Do you feel too tired, too weak, too irritated, too disorganized, too ___________(fill in the blank) to possibly get everything done that you should?
Beloved, I sometimes feel like that too.
But in my recent reading I read an incredible quote from one of my favorite authors, Amy Carmichael.
"..she learned that duties do not clash any more than do the stars. If we become inwardly rushed we shall feel as if they were all [the children in her care] demanding attention at once. But if we are inwardly quiet we shall see the purposed sequence and take them one by one. An angel is never sent on more than one errand at a time."
So if duties do not clash, we must learn to listen and watch for the ONE voice that can take all the disorder and chaos and give us purposed sequence. This reminds me of another author I love, Elizabeth Elliot from whom I learned the phrase: "Just do the next thing."
But these two ladies had something more than just an idea or a formula. The key to being able to be successful in perceiving and doing "the next thing" is a close relationship with the Lord.
There are times in my walk with the Lord when I feel extremely close to Him. He is at my side, at my shoulder, whispering in my ear, guiding my footsteps. And there are those times when I am so busy in my own agenda, I forget he is there. The difference for me between those times seems to be quite commiserate with whether or not I am sincerely praying and reading or studying his Word. It also has to do with what I use to fill my head all day. The music I choose to play in the car, the books I read at bedtime, the websites I read, the devotional I keep tucked in my bathroom or in my purse can all help fill me with the good things that will lead me ever-closer to my Lord.
Alternatively, if I fill my head with spiritual junk food, the noise and clamor of the world will seep in once again. My tasks will be overwhelming because I have no one clearly directing my path.
So, today, I am reminded once again that if I am inwardly quiet I shall see the proposed sequence and take my day one thing at a time.
"My vocation is no game." - The Golden Road, Raymond De Perrot
Extras: www.learningpage.com has a whole section on the 5 Senses under “Basic Sheets” suitable for this age group.At time of posting it is free to be a member of www.learningpage.com
Fold 1st manila folder as shown in picture, label with marker “Left” and “Right” arrows, and write title with child’s name.
Second folder – along the expansion lines, fold over to make the whole folder smaller, staple. Cover rough staples with packing tape.Then fold identical to 1st folder. 2nd folder should now fit inside 1st and can be stapled inside to function as a lift-up (see photo).
Print out all the entries and cut them out.Depending on the age of the child, it may be necessary to glue down half the entries – so they only have to match.If the child is very young, only give them the cards to match the page they are on, when they’ve completed those, and then give them the next set to match.Help the child glue the match on so that it can still be lifted to see the opposite underneath.
“The Shape of Things”A lapbook suitable for K4 – 1st grade.
Need: 3 manila file folders, construction paper, glue, printouts, and stapler
Optional: crayons or markers to color
Assemble the lapbook by cutting one folder in half and set aside.Place the remaining two folders together (one inside the other) to form a 4 page book, add one half of remaining folder for additional page to the back, then staple along the left side to assemble.Use ½ of the remaining piece of folder as a pocket for page 8.
Cover – write The Shape of Things by Child’s Name
decorate with stop sign and butterfly from my file: Cutouts-1 and bird
Cover: Coloring page 
Pages 1 and 2
Pages 3 and 4
Pages 5 and 6
Cover: Color by Number (Dover Sample) 
Inside Left Page
Page 3: Ant
Eric Carle’s The Grouchy Ladybug layer book
Bee
Spider
Cover: He drew a whale and colored the ocean floor – can’t find where I got the picture from; but it would be real simple to draw something similar
Inside shutter folded folder and on lift-up flap all printouts come from Homeschool Share: 
