6/21/2008
Science Teaching Products, Resources & Publications
Posted in Education
Thought some of you may be interested in some science materials. Many are free.
http://www.nsta.org/publications/grabbag.aspx
Shannon
10/25/2007
Teen Projects: Keeping a Journal by Shannon Buck ~ September 2007
Posted in Education
Keeping a journal can be a lot of fun. You can record what is happening in your life, what your hopes and dreams are, and so much more. Boys and girls can record their feelings, their beliefs, and their concerns. Journaling is actually helpful in sorting things out, even when you are just using a pros and cons list. I realize that some people do not enjoy the writing process. Never fear! You can still journal. Read on for more information.
* A journal or diary can be a great tool. You can purchase one, make one, use a notebook, or even a sketchbook. A journal does not just have to be written entries. You can draw, paint, scrap, or even add photographs. Another idea is to, before beginning your journal, have your friends each write something in it. Or write and entry on each of your friends. Either way, you can also add a photograph or a drawing of each of them on their own page.
* An audio journal can also be fun. You can record yourself talking, as well as others. You can also record poem readings, songs and more. Be creative and see what you can come up with.
* A video diary is a fun idea. Not only can you record yourself, but you can also record friends, family, events and more. Maybe you would like to record yourself doing your own cooking or craft show. Maybe you will get to record yourself scoring at one of your games. This is another creative avenue.
* If you have a computer, you may choose to create an off-line journal in Word Perfect, notebook or notepad. Notebook and notepad are liniting, but you can do different things with Word Perfect. Explore your options.
* A blog is another option if you have a computer. You can choose a private, semi-private, or public one. One of mine is semi-private, for friends and family only. The others are public, so anyone can read them. You should check out all of your options before commiting. They all have their own set of features. Know what you want: A calendar, counter, graphics, video and audio streaming, links, etc. Look around and choose what is best for you. Also, it is important to not give out personal information such as last names, addresses, phone numbers, etc., when you are online. Be safe, and be creative.
Enjoy your journaling efforts, and remember to have fun!
***
Shannon Buck is a homeschool mom with two teenage daughters. She resides in a small town in Miane. You may contact her at thehsmomof2@aol.com.
10/25/2007
For Children: Great, Fun Ways to Learn
Posted in Education
* Monopoly Junior
* Help to harvest a vegetable garden
* Go to a farmer's market to learn what is grown in your state
* Write a book.
* Start a nature journal.
* Write a screenplay.
* Math Smarts - Dominoe type card came that teaches -, +, x or division.
* Whiz Kids
* Fraction puzzle games
10/25/2007
For Children: Things to Build with Legos and Other Types of Blocks
Posted in Education
A haunted house
A stage and band
A scarecrow
A wagon from the pioneer days
A skate/(BMX) bike park
A sail boat
A ranch
A playground
A sleigh
A treasure chest
A pirate ship
Furniture for a house that you build
An autumn scene
A scarecrow
Yard furniture to put outside the house you built.
A farm
An apple orchard
A zoo
A cottage
A camp
A boat
Furniture for barbie dolls
A house
A school
A church
A tree house
A ship
The North Pole!
A miniature golf course
A haunted house
A fort (I built one of these for my nephew to play with - he was supposed to be helping. It had a moat and draw-bridge, watch towers, and everything.)
An amusement park (This one took up almost the whole livingroom, and took the whole weekend for my daughters' and I to build. It was a lot of fun!)
A castle
A space ship (We have actually made lots of these.)
10/25/2007
Children, Find Out About
Posted in Education
* How many different kinds of trees grow in your yard?
* How do you make a kite?
* What makes the leaves change color?
* What is a meteor?
* How many constellations are there?
* How do you make a smoothie?
* What are a group of fish who swim together called?
* The life cycle of a butterfly.
*What is a sugar glider?
* What is the most seen bird in your yard? Learn about it.
* What is it like at the North Pole?
* How old is Mickey Mouse?
* What are snow shoes?
* What is sleet?
* Are any two snowflakes alike?
* How big is a Great White shark?
* Are vampire bats real? If so, do they really turn into vampires?
* Why do leaves turn color and fall from the trees during the autumn months?
10/25/2007
The Poem for Teaching the Number of Days in each Month
Posted in Education
Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November.
February has twenty-eight alone,
All the rest have thirty-one.
Except Leap Year; that's the time
When February's days are twenty-nine
Shannon
10/25/2007
The Family Tree Wall Mural by Shannon L. Buck ~ Copyright June 2007
Posted in Education
Here is a project that your family can do together:
Materials needed:
roll of butcher paper.
tape
scissors
pencil and pen/marker
index cards or post-its
pictures of family members
a wall with plenty of space
This will look much the same as in a baby book, on a much larger scale. You draw a huge tree using sections of butcher paper. Each family member will need his/her own branch, branching off from that families main branch. Tape the tree/branches to the wall. above or to the side of one side of the tree, tape an index card or post-it with Dad's family name. Do the same for Mom's family name on the other side.
Put pictures of the children in your home going up the trunk.
The first branches on either side are for Mom and Dad, then of each of their parents, and so on.
If you want to put more into this project, you can do all of the siblings of each parent and so on.
Tape pictures to the wall at the appropriate spot, and under the pictures you will put the persons name (use index cards or post-it.
* Note that post-its will not stay put long without tape.
** Before you hang each picture, you should learn new things about the person in it, or about the time in which they lived. You can add these facts to the index cards.
10/25/2007
Family Tree Scrapbook by Shannon L. Buck ~ Copyright April 2007
Posted in Education
I love to scrapbook, and have many ideas floating around in my head most of the time for things to create. To learn about archival safe products and get some tips and other information about scrapbooking, feel free to visit my site, A Scrapper's Journey. You will also find supplies there in case you need them.
On the inside front cover, you can do the family tree for Mom's. (You will do a second book for Dad's side of the family.) The first page will be the Table of Contents, and each 2-page spread will be for a different family.
You will start with your family: Mom, dad and children. You will have to decide on a theme that everyone likes. Maybe you enjoy camping, picnics or fishing. Maybe you like going to the beach or the playground. Whatever it is that you like to do as a family, use it as a theme. Purchase the materials that you will need: Papers, stickers and/or other embellishments, photo safe pens, etc. Then discuss the things that you enjoy doing as a family as you decorate the 2 pages and add the photographs. Add one or two momentos if you have them. You may need to put these into small photo safe envelopes and attach them to your page. Journal about your family and all of the things that you like to do together. Journal about funny says, favorite things, whatever you like.
The last page can be for a story about a special time that your extended family spent together: Chrsitmas, family reunion, etc.
I like to have one family photo, and maybe a photo of each person on one side with the journailing, then I like the idea of having a family story on the second page. Either about something that you did as a family, or a story that you all helped to create. Do not forget names of pets, dates, and other memory joggers.
When you have created this page, take a break for a while. While you are on a break, start to gather pictures, supplies and information that you would like from the next family. Take breaks in between. Most of all, just have some fun together.
Your family - each siblings family - grandparents and their children, etc.
(You could also add information about what life was like during each generation.
10/25/2007
Family History Scrapped Frame by Shannon L. Buck ~ Copyright September 2007
Posted in Education
This can be done in several ways. For the purposes of this entry, we will do a simple project.
Purchase/Reuse:
an 8x10 or larger frame - antique look or distressed look. You can get this look on your own if you are crafty.
a 4x6 photograph/other type of picture.
a photo mat slightly bigger than the picture, made from scrapbook paper.
a momento of the person/family if you have one.
a sheet of 8x10 scrapbook paper.
embellishments that go with your theme, stickers, ribbon, gems, etc.
2 - 3x5 journaling blocks
photosafe marking pen
scissors
adhesive
NOTE: If you do not have these available, visit A Scrapper's Journey for what you need. Remember that it is important to use photosafe scrapbooking products.
1. The first thing that you have to do is find the picture,and a momento (if possible). The picture can be a photocopy on acid free paper. It can be in color, sepia, or black and white. Be creative, and base your theme around the photograph. You could also base your theme around the time period in which the photograph was taken.
You may want to use a picture/drawing of an ancestor, or his or her family, that you have never met. Perhaps as part of a history project.
2. Attach the 8x10 piece of scrapbook paper to the cardboard/other photo insert with the adhesive.
3. Attach the photopraph/drawing to the photo mat, and this to the frame where ever you want it.
4. Write a little about the person (or a story about that time period) on the journaling blocks, and attach these wherever you like.
5. Now you can attach the embellishments and the momento, if you have one, to decorate your work of art.
6. When you are done, display the picture in a prominent place.
10/25/2007
What Skye and Zowie are doing this Year:
Posted in Education
Both Girls:
Literature
Civics
Creative Living
Writing Starnds
Biology
Free Writing
Spell/Vocab
Skye:
Womens Studies
Record Keeping for Businesses
Zowie:
Forensics/criminology
Geometry/Pre-Algebra - preparing for entrance exams
Study/Test Taking Skills
The Holocaust
Women's Studies
Shannon
10/24/2007
Making a Zucchini Cookbook
Posted in Education
This would make a great family or homeschool project. You would first need to research what elements you want to add to your cookbook. Some suggestions are:
table of contents
this for that information
measurement information
information on zucchini
information on freezing zucchini, or the finished recipes
how to clean and shred the zucchini
You may also want to add a photograph of finished recipes, or of your children making each recipe. A nice two-page spread would be the recipe and picture on one page, and a journaled story about making or eating the dish on the next page.
You will want to use only your favorite holiday zucchini recipes, so you will have to try them all out first. This can be a lot of fun. You will also want to make sure that you now how to prepare relevant recipes for the freezer.
Here are some zucchini recipe ideas:
bread
muffins
zucchini mashed potatoes
zucchini in stir-fry
zucchini cake with cream cheese frosting
soups
vegetable medley
Shannon
10/24/2007
Making a Pumpkin Cookbook
Posted in Education
This would make a great family or homeschool project. You would first need to do some online research about the elements you would like added to the cookbook. Some suggestions are:
table of contents
this for that information
measurement information
information on the different types of pumpkin
information on making homemade pumpkin puree, by baking or boiling
information on freezing pumpkin, or the finished recipes
how to store roasted pumpkin seeds
You may also want to add a photograph of finished recipes, or of your children making each recipe. A nice two-page spread would be the recipe and picture on one page, and a journaled story about making or eating the dish on the next page.
You may also want to make this book in the shape of a pumpkin for something fun to do.
You will want to use only your favorite holiday/harvest pumpkin recipes, so you will have to try them all out first. This can be a lot of fun. You will also want to make sure that you now how to prepare relevant recipes for the freezer.
Here are some pumpkin recipe ideas:
bread
muffins
pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting
soups, and soups served in hollowed out pumpkins
vegetable medley
pumpkin bars
pie
cookies
roasted pumpkin seeds
pancakes
Shannon
10/24/2007
Making an Apple Cookbook
Posted in Education
This would make a frugal family or homeschool project. It will teach math, reading, life skills and more.
You would first need to do some online research about the elements you would like added to the cookbook. Some suggestions are:
table of contents
this for that information
measurement information
information on the different types of apples
classify baking apples
information on freezing apples, or the finished recipes
why you should never eat apple seeds (hint: poison)
Apple Star Story
You may also want to add a photograph of finished recipes, or of your children making each recipe. A nice two-page spread would be the recipe and picture on one page, and a journaled story about making or eating the dish on the next page.
You may also want to make this book in the shape of an apple for something fun to do.
You will want to use only your favorite holiday/harvest apple recipes, so you will have to try them all out first. This can be a lot of fun. You will also want to make sure that you now how to prepare relevant recipes for the freezer.
Here are some pumpkin recipe ideas:
bread
muffins
apple cake with cream cheese frosting
apple bars
pie
cookies
crisp
applesauce
salads
pancakes
Shannon
10/23/2007
NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH FOR CHILDREN
Posted in Education
Contact:
Thought some of your children may be interested in this.
Tavia Stewart
510-628-0327
Tavia@NaNoWriMo.org
NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH:
Oakland, Calif. — http://ywp.NaNoWriMo.org — October 1, 2007 —
Not true. All it really takes is a deadline – a very, very tight deadline – and a whole lot of encouragement.
Welcome to
So if not for fame or fortune, why do people do it?
"The 50,000-word challenge has a wonderful way of opening up your imagination and unleashing creative potential like nothing else," says NaNoWriMo Director (and eight-time NaNoWriMo winner) Chris Baty. "When you write for quantity instead of quality, you end up getting both. Also, it's a great excuse for not doing any dishes for a month."
In 2004, we created a site just for our young writers! National Novel Writing Month’s
If you would like more information about National Novel Writing Month’s Young Writers Program, or would like to talk to participants from NaNoWriMo chapters in your area, please visit our website at
ShannonTHE LARGEST WRITING CONTEST IN THE WORLD!And kids can do it too!There are some who say writing a novel takes awesome talent, strong language skills, academic training, and years of dedication.National Novel Writing Month: a nonprofit literary crusade that encourages aspiring novelists all over the world to write a novel in a month. At midnight on Nov. 1, more than 100,000 writers from over 70 countries – poised over laptops and pads of paper, fingers itching and minds racing with plots and characters – will begin a furious adventure in fiction. By 11:59 PM on Nov. 30, thousands of them will be novelists.NaNoWriMo is the largest writing contest in the world. In 2006, over 79,000 adults, and 15,000 kids and teens, took part in the free challenge. And while the event stresses fun and creative exploration over publication, thirteen NaNoWriMo novelists have had their NaNo-novels published, including Sarah Gruen, author of New York Times #1 Best Seller, Water for Elephants.Around 18% of NaNoWriMo participants "win" every year by writing their novels and validating them on the organization's website before midnight on Nov 30. Winner's receive no prizes, and no one at NaNoWriMo ever sees the manuscripts submitted.Young Writers Program (http://ywp.NaNoWriMo.org) gives teachers, students, and 12-and-under authors a safe and kid-oriented place to spend an exhilarating month bashing out their books. The site provides forums for kids to share writing tips and ideas, creative writing curriculum for teachers, librarians, and parents, and encouragement from the YWP staff.www.NaNoWriMo.org, or contact Tavia Stewart at Tavia@NaNoWriMo.org.
10/5/2007
Learning in Salem, Mass.
Posted in Education
We have been on a few trips to Salem, and we have learned a lot. October is a great time to go to Salem. We are going tomorrow. I believe that there is some sort of car show going on, and we have never been to a psychic fair. It should prove to be an interesting adventure.
They have great museums in Salem. Some about the witch trials, as well as others. I believe there is an art museum. There is a pirate one which is a great history lesson. There is also a wax musuem.
You can also go on a ship to see where pirates would have lived on the sea.
I enjoy all of the shopping, as do my daughters. There is a magic shop that my nephew loves.
I loved learning about Hathaniel Hawthorne and his family history. I saw his house, and that of his cousin. It was very educational.
We are very excited to be visiting Salem again.
10/5/2007
7 Ways for Your Child to Learn about Nature
Posted in Education
We love being out in nature. At this time we are doing a lot of studying at the park, even when it is just book work.
Here are some ideas for your family:
* Identify trees and their leaves.
* Identify other plants.
* Observe insects and butterfiles.
* Learn about marine life.
* Look for and identify animal tracks.
* Observe the birds.
* Observe and track the weather.
9/26/2007
8 Ways for You to Include Fine Arts in Your Child's Education
Posted in Education
* Let them have their own art show.
* They can learn photography.
* They can create scrapbooks for the photographs that they take.
* They can join a chorus/chior.
* They can paint at the park.
* They can sketch at the lake or the ocean.
* They can create their own movie.
9/22/2007
18 Ways for Your Children to Be Active
Posted in Education
Many parents wonder if their children are getting enough exercise each day. They should be getting at least one hour of physical activity a day is needed. More is better. Here are some great ways for your children to be more active:
- playing
- harvesting
- skipping
- hopping
- running around
- hunting (the walking to an from part, and moving the animal)
- walking
- playing at the playground
- playing tag
- swimming
- bike riding
- sledding
- mowing the lawn
- raking
- gardening
- tubing
- kayaking
- canoeing
8/15/2007
6 Ways for Your Child to Learn about Health and Nutrition
Posted in Education
* They can help you to prepare meals. This is also a great time for children to open up to their parents. You will be surpirsed at the things they come out with. You also get to teach them tidbits each time you are preparing a meal.
* They should also learn good hygiene from you: Brushing hair and teeth, bathing/showering, washing hands before/after different things, etc.
* Allow them to create a food pyramid poster, graphic or whatnot.
* Help them to create a "Healthy Cookbook."
* Talk about how badly drugs can hurt the people who use them, as well as the ones they love.
* Talk about the medical issues of those you love. For instance, I have Asthma, Anemia and Osteoporosis. Skye has allergies and Tendonitis, and Zowie and I both have bouts of depression, as does my mother. My father died of Lupus, and its many complications. These conditions have been the topic of many conversations in our home. Whenever someone we know is diagnosed with something, we discuss it.
8/8/2007
Things You Should Know About Diplomas
