Category Archives: Science

Fireworks

These photos were taken at our city’s riverfront last night. It was our family’s second year to attend their annual event. A few of the families in our neighborhood have been celebrating Independence Day all week and we have seen some beautiful fireworks and heard some BOOMS. Z has been excited and J has tried to be tolerant. They have had some questions. My answer is the same for each of them, “Let’s google it”. Our search resulted in our homeschooling summer school lesson of the day and covers the subjects of history, science, and because we use the internet, computer lab gets a “check”. We have a community service project also. (There is quite a bit of firework trash to be picked up in the neighborhood yards and street.)

Below are J’s and Z’s questions and the links to the answers.

“Where do fireworks come from?” “The birthplace of fireworks is generally recognized as China, with the first explosive mixture found being black powder, during the Sung dynasty (960-1279)” For the rest, click this link to the brief article, The History of Fireworks http://www.pyrouniverse.com/history.htm

“Why do we celebrate the 4th of July with fireworks?” According to Slate, that answer is , “Because John Adams wanted us to. Before the Declaration of Independence was even signed, he envisioned fireworks as a part of the festivities. In a letter to Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776, he wrote that the occasion should be commemorated “with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” The first commemorative Independence Day fireworks were set off on July 4, 1777.” You can link here for the full article. http://www.slate.com/articles/life/explainer/2012/07/history_of_fireworks_in_america_why_do_we_celebrate_fourth_of_july_with_fireworks_.html

“What makes fireworks explode in different colors?” According to a post from the Interactive Technology Experience Center’s Facebook page, “Sodium produces yellow/gold colors. Barium creates green, copper compounds produce blue, strontium salts give you red and titanium metals give you silver coloured sparks.
Other commonly used chemicals are carbon which provides the fuel, oxidizers which produce oxygen for burning, magnesium which increases the overall brilliance and brightness, antimony that gives you a “glitter” effect and calcium which deepens the colors.”
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Interactive-Technology-Experience-Center-iTEC/115400341904918

“How do fireworks work?” We found the answer in this video from Science Kids and The Franklin Institute. http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/videos/chemistry/fireworks.html

“Can we make some fireworks?” We don’t have to google this answer, I already know it, “NO!”

betty jo

Considering the Moon

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Psalm 8:3^“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place,”

Sunday, June 23 is the date for the Super Moon and an excellent opportunity to “consider the moon”. .

According to NASA, “The Moon will reach its closest distance to the Earth at exactly 7:32 am EDT (4:32 am PDT) on 23 June, but because it will be peaking in the early morning hours, both 22 June and 23 June will put on similar shows. So either day will be a good opportunity to see the larger-and-brighter-than-normal Supermoon.

This year the Supermoon will be up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a typical Full Moon is. This is a result of the Moon reaching its perigree – the closest that it gets to the Earth during the course of its orbit.”

You can link to the full NASA article here http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/display.cfm?News_ID=44049

If interested in a moon unit study, I recommend the free lapbook resources Sun, Moon, and Stars. We used these last summer when we studied the moon missions. http://www.homeschoolshare.com/space_lapbook.php

For teachers and older students I recommend this article, The Moon: A Faithful Witness in the Sky. http://www.icr.org/articles/view/150/344/

This site has 200 “moon” related learning links! http://watchknowlearn.org/SearchResults.aspx?SearchText=moon&page=1

And for something a little silly and active try this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EEynvjfljU

betty jo

The Great Barrier Reef

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June 11 is the anniversary of the discovery of the Great Barrier Reef (1770). Also, the third week in July is “Coral Reef Awareness Week”! Here’s the links we will be following in our homeschooling summer school lesson of the day (and maybe tomorrow’s lesson too).

About the reef from the Marine Park Authority of Australia http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-the-reef

Photo Gallery https://www.livescience.com/23611-image-gallery-great-barrier-reef-through-time.html

Lapbooking materials http://www.homeschoolshare.com/coral_reef.php

documentary here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_d3LFvc8HQ

It is going to be a “G’ Day” of homeschooling with this Great Barrier Reef Study!

betty jo

Dino Debate

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If you are part of social media or a news follower you have no doubt seen this already. This science quiz from a student at a private Christian school went viral not long ago and has sparked a rather ugly debate.

This is the curriculum that the test was over that has triggered such harsh comments from the atheist communities.

You can click here to link to the article from the Huffington to get a glimpse of what the evolutionist opinions have been http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/26/4th-grade-science-test-creationism-questions-dinosaurs_n_3163922.html

I love the response from Ken Ham and Answers in Genesis. They are inviting everyone to view their video, download a booklet, and take the quiz themselves, all at no charge. This offer is only good for a limited time. You can link to their site and free downloads here http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2013/05/23/families-use-atheist-attack-teach-kids-truth.

Being a lawyers kid, I love debate. And as a Christian I love the Word of God. As wonderful as it is to have faith and belief that the Biblical account of creation is true, quoting the Scriptures from Genesis chapter 1 won’t get us anything but ridicule from non believers when it comes to the Creation vs Evolution debate.

^“24And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. ²⁵God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

²⁶Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

²⁷So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.

²⁸God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

²⁹Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. ³⁰And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

³¹God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.”

Proper science examines all evidence claimed and critically researches different theories before reaching conclusions. This is how we “do” science in our homeschool. I feel this is how all science should be studied, whether in homeschools, private schools, or public schools.

As Christians, I feel we need to arm ourselves and our children with scientific evidence. We need to understand the correct scientific lingo and vocabulary and use it accordingly. It’s time to take a stand and join in the debate.

Sadly, young earth creation evidence is not mainstream although there is much available. Below are my other favorite sources for exploring creation evidence:

http://creation.com/

http://www.icr.org/article/science-resources-for-homeschool/

http://thatsafacttv.com/

If you enjoy a good fiction read, you should take a look at The Fossil Hunter by John B. Olsen, This book is loaded with the scientific community opinions and is available in libraries or can be purchased from most book retailers.

I encourage you, no matter which side of the creation/evolution debate you are on, that you will debate with respect and factual evidence.

betty jo

World Turtle Day

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According to my special days calendar, May 23 is World Turtle Day! I have found some great free resource links to follow as we learn about turtles in our homeschool!

Lapbook from here http://www.homeschoolshare.com/turtles.php

Much about turtles, conservation, rescue, and more here http://www.seaturtleinc.org/

More cool turtle stuff here http://www.conserveturtles.org/turtletides.php

Look inside a turtle’s shell! http://boredomtherapy.com/inside-tortoise-shell/

List with photos of different types of turtles with quick facts https://animalsake.com/different-types-of-turtles

Turtle myths and legends http://www.ancientpages.com/2015/08/29/myths-legends-reveal-ancient-turtle-worship-linked-creation-world/

Children’s Bible Ministry lesson with a turtle theme http://www.bibleline.org/turtles.html

Something challenging for an art project. Origami instructions https://www.freekidscrafts.com/origami-turtle/

Learn to draw 4 different turtles https://www.wikihow.com/Draw-a-Turtle

Rock painting tutorial https://garden.org/thread/view/3659/Turtle-Rock-Paint-Project-Tutorial/

Turtle jokes https://www.jokesbykids.com/turtle/

“What kind of jokes do turtles tell? SHELL-arious ones!”

And finally notebooking pages with ocean animals including turtles from here https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ocean-Animal-Themed-Writing-Paper-FREEBIE-1213370

It looks like we’ve got science, language arts, computer lab, art, and fun covered for our homeschool summer school today (actually a few days worth of resources)!

betty jo

Watching Our Garden Grow

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After last years failed attempts at growing anything in our yard, we are surprised that our new garden is doing so well. In fact, we were expecting our homeschool Key Hole Garden science project to not do so well.

Both the pepper and tomato plants are blooming.

Worms, used coffee grounds, rotting vegetables and fruits, and flies. Such a wonderful example of how God uses the yucky stuff to create something useful and beautiful!

Romans 8:28^“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.”

For more about our homeschool gardening project , click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/14/homeschool-gardening/

And here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/05/03/yuck-worms/

betty jo

Yuck! Worms!

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“Mom, why do worms go to the sidewalk when it rains?” I answer that I don’t know, then tell him to pick them up and throw them in our garden. Of course that leads to his next question, “Why?” Before another worm question can be asked, the idea for a new mini unit study is already forming in my head. And since the weather forecast is calling for more showers, I am thinking now will be a good time to begin.

I found this at our library for the younger boys, but we will all read it because we all love picture books.

For the answers to the worm questions, we’ll take a look here http://www.biologyjunction.com/earthworm%20facts.htm#How%20long

Because very few science studies are complete without a lapbook project, we’ll download from here http://www.homeschoolshare.com/worms.php

Worm jokes for fun from a wonderful kids and garden site http://www.kidsgarden.northwestwigglers.com/worms-and-bugs/worm-jokes/

And for the grand finale, gummy worms and the movie, How To Eat Fried Worms.

For more about our homeschool’s gardening project click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/14/homeschool-gardening/

In case you are wondering why the worm crossed the road, I know that answer. To get away from the chicken!

betty jo

Avoiding It Like The Plague

Stewardship Day

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The Dixon Springs Agriculture Center, in Southern Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest, teams up with with environmental and conservation experts every year for a week of educational programs for school children. They have been hosting this event for over twenty years, and I think our homeschooling support group has been attending for about that long, too.

We had an excellent turnout of both young children and teens for our day of Stewardship Week even though it was quite cool and cloudy.

Our first class of the day was The Three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle).

Our second class was Wildlife Management. We learned about the area habitats and the animals who live there. Also, our teacher explained illegal poaching and trapping. He passed around the pelts of animals that he had found in traps.

Even though this was rather sad, it gave the kids a chance to touch, feel, and study several of the forest’s residents.

Our third class was Wetlands Birds and thankfully it was under a tent because it had started to rain.

Instead of having our picnic lunch outside, the rain continued so we ate in our cars. After lunch, the kids went to the Activity Center. Here they stocked up on coloring pages, stickers, and worksheets to do later. They also made necklaces.

The rain decided to stick around as did the cool temperatures, forcing cancellation of the rest of the Stewardship Day classes. We were disappointed, but also ready for some dry, warm clothes.

Maybe the rain will stop sometime over the weekend so we can plant the Red Oak saplings we brought home as souvenirs.

Next year we will try this field trip again, and hopefully the sunshine will try to show up too.

betty jo

Galileo

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GALILEO GALILEI

Astronomer, Physicist

1564 – 1642

As we continue our homeschooling Middle Ages/Renaissance unit studies, we will be adding Galileo to our lessons. Not only will we be focusing on his inventions and discoveries, but also his character. He showed great respect for those he disagreed with. His willingness to speak out for his beliefs when such beliefs were considered heresy, is inspiring. It’s going to be an interesting study. I found fantastic links and want to share them with you.

Short Biography, quiz, and printables (for younger students) – http://www.gardenofpraise.com/ibdgalil.htm

Galileo Biography, Discoveries, and Inventions (for older students) [Parental Warning! There was an inappropriate ad in the middle of the biography! I was able to close it. It may be a smart idea to check the page before handing it over to you kids to read.] https://www.famousscientists.org/galileo-galilei/

Galileo quotes – http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Galileo_Galilei/

Galileo notebooking pages (3rd down on the pdf list) – http://jimmiescollage.com/downloads/science/

A re-creation of Galileo’s “falling bodies” experiment at Pisa – (This physics professor goes all out for this one!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Kv-U5tjNCY

Galileo Experiments Interactive – http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/galileo-experiments.html

“What Galileo Saw With His Telescope” documentary video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCIEYUeXll8

“I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use”. Galileo

betty jo