Homeschool Nations - South Dakota - Homeschool Blogger

Ten Field Trips in Eastern South Dakota

Sat, 9 Feb 2008 15:29:00 -0600

Looking for somewhere fun and educational to take your family this summer? Here are a ten of my favorite educational destinations, listed in no particular order other than the way they came to mind! :-)

1. The South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings. They have a 'hands on' children's area that my boys love, plus a large collection of Harvey Dunn works.

2. McCrory Gardens in Brookings. The selection, evaluation, and display of ornamental plants for South Dakota's climate, is the prime directive for all the work done at this research garden. McCrory Gardens is unique in the nation because of the variety of ornamental plants, all placed in harmonious settings to display them to their best advantage.

3. South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum This museum is dedicated to preserving South Dakota's rich agricultural and rural sociological history. While you're there, walk across the street to get an ice cream cone from the SDSU Dairy Sales Bar.

4. The Sertoma Butterfly House in Sioux Falls.

5. The Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum of Natural History in Sioux Falls. This 45-acre park features animals in simulated natural habitats, and the popular Children’s Zoo gives visitors a chance to interact with animals. The Delbridge Museum features an impressive collection of mounted animals from five continents displayed in simulated natural environments.

6. The Washington Pavillion of Arts and Sciences in Sioux Falls. There are many things to do and see here.

7. The Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial Society in DeSmet.

8. Mitchell Prehistoric Indian Village Visit a prehistoric Indian village archeological site.

9. The National Music Museum in Vermillion. Founded in 1973, the National Music Museum & Center for Study of the History of Musical Instruments is one of the great institutions of its kind in the world. Its renowned collections include more than 10,000 American, European, and non-Western instruments.

10. The Corn Palace in Mitchell. OK, it's not exactly education, but it's fun and memorable!

Old School House Valentine's Package

Sat, 9 Feb 2008 15:26:00 -0600

Do you purchase your own Valentine's Gift? If so, Old Schoolhouse Magazine has an offer for you!

They are offering special Valentine's gift packages with your purchase of a new two-year US subscription + Winter. Why not treat yourself to a two year subscription to TOS and also get a free CD from Steve Sensenig and tealight candles from Homestead Originals? See details here.

SAVE 40%
Two Year Subscription plus Winter

Cover Price: $71.55
Subscription Price: $44.95

E-books

Sat, 9 Feb 2008 17:19:00 -0600

Here is a site that records public domain books and releases the audio files on the Internet: librivox.org Here is a sample of just some of the titles on their reading list:

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum

The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

There are over 1100 titles to choose from! You can browse the whole catalog HERE.

In case you missed the great free e-Book, offered recently in Freebie Friday, make sure to stop by and download your free copy of Special Report - Teach Your Children to Write from Cardamom Publishers. This little e-Book is packed with great ideas and advice to get your children writing! You will find the free e-Book HERE.

Harmony Fine Arts Curriculum Contest

Sat, 9 Feb 2008 17:18:00 -0600

Read the complete review online and enter for a chance to win a bundle of the grades 1-4 Art and Music Appreciation Curriculum.

TO ENTER:
Email Deb with your name and mailing address and the subject, "Harmony Fine Arts" for a chance to win*.

Harmony Fine Arts describes their program as the art and music appreciation program for busy people. They have done all the research and organizing so that you can simply follow their lesson plans and offer a great program for your children.

Writing Contest Opportunities

Sat, 9 Feb 2008 17:09:00 -0600

Here are a couple of opportunities for kids who are more motivated by writing contests.

1)This one's for homeschool students 8 - 12 years old sponsored by Walden Media and The Old Schoolhouse Magazine. More info about the contest can be found at this link: http://www.walden.com/walden/win/comeback/write-like-mike-homeschool.php

2)For the older students aged 17 - 23, The Trinity Foundation is sponsoring a Christian Worldview Essay Contest. The topic book for the Contest this year is Freedom and Capitalism: Essays on Christian Politics and Economics by John W. Robbins. This is a collection of essays that demonstrates the Biblical foundation for liberty -- both in politics and in economics. In our society today, we have abdicated our Biblical responsibilities and have let the government take more and more of our liberties away, often with our consent. Freedom and Capitalism is a reminder that we are to conform all our thinking, including our thinking on government and economics, to the written revelation of God in the Bible.

The Essay Contest is open to those 17 to 23 years of age. Cash prizes are awarded for the top three essays -- $3,000 for first prize, $2,000 for second, and $1,000 for third. The complete rules and entry form may be found at our website or by clicking on the links. If you are eligible, please enter the contest. If you are too old, please urge your children and grandchildren to enter.

More info can be found at http://www.trinityfoundation.org/2006EssayContest.php

Writing will play a different role in each person's life. For some it might be a way to earn a living, for others it might be a skill they need to manage their tasks at work or home, and for some it might mostly be for pleasure, but obviously we want to equip our children to be able to handle whatever life throws their way.