Aug. 1, 2008 - Sign up NOW for the best free middle school science kits I've come across!

http://ultron.aps.org/forms/aps.cgi?ID=200801

Registration just opened for the free PhysicsQuest science kits for grades 6-9.  After freebies are gone, you can purchase them for somewhere in the $20 range, so click now to save yourself some money.  Home educators and institutional teachers are both welcome to sign up for the freebie.

This kit provides some of my kids' favorite science activities of the year.  Do-able experiments that generally work and all the components come with the kit.  Am I the only one who rejoices when there is an experiment whose instructions do not begin with "Obtain plaster of paris..."?  This kit is self-contained, baby!  It's as if they knew some of us are a bit too busy to go gather "typical household objects" for experiments.  I ask you, in what household is plaster of paris a typical household item?  But I digress...

The history lover in me appreciates that each year the theme and experiments derive from one famous scientist.  We've covered Ben Franklin and Marie Curie the past two years.  This year, they chose Tesla.  The kids will learn a little background and history as they explore the science.

Further, they use the solutions of the experiments to solve a mystery or puzzle.  Schools sending in correctly completed puzzle solutions are entered into a prize drawing and your kids will receive completion certificates.

I just can't say enough about this free program, except RUN, don't walk to sign up if you've got middle school aged kids.

Blessings, Holly

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Jul. 29, 2008 - We're Takin' the New School Year for a Test Drive.

Or, as this post could be alternatively titled, What To Do When Your Children are Acting Like Circus Freaks.

I've tried all manner of summer schooling schedules.  Over the years, the one constant has been that we take all of June off.  Last summer, moving two states while buying and selling two homes all in six weeks from the day Mr. Wonderful accepted a new job, well--we took the whole summer off. 

Almost always, I ship the kids off to interesting experiences in the summer.  This year, that included the requisite VBS, a Young Speakers' Camp (outstanding), an anime drawing class (excellent), a few free library computer classes (dull but necessary), a free science sleuth program at a local university (very good for the price), and an expensive Chaos Theory class at the elite residential math and science academy (disappointing).

We hosted three different families here at our home in three weeks' time.  That proved to be an education in and of itself, but that's another post for another time.  I have a great title for that one:  Tinkerbell(icose).  Interest peaked?  Stay tuned.

But this week, with the natives getting restless, and whiny and plain ole bored, we're divin' in to the new year.  I've got seven days to test drive my choices before we leave on vacation.  When we return, I hope to have a more solidified schedule for us and answers to those perennial burning questions:  Should science be two days a week or three?  How often is it necessary to practice keyboarding?  Is it worth doing the Middle Ages again because I found a great writing program (IEW) that covers that time period?  Or would that be overkill after The Story of the World Middle Ages we read through last year?

Not unlike New Year's or moments after a rousing sermon, I am filled with new resolution.   Well, ok, it's the same resolutions I begin each school year with.  More hands-on activity.  More patience from the teacher.  Finally perfecting the elusive Holy Grail of scheduling that allows one mom to meet four kids' needs in real time.  As we begin this ninth year--13th if you're a "from birth" homeschool purist--of home adventure, I know I probably won't make all my dreams a reality.  But I'm hoping, as in years past, when I get to May 31, I can look back and see that we've walked a bit further down the road with our kids toward true maturity.

Blessings, Holly

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