Category Archives: summer school

Happy Birthday America

Even though today is a holiday, it is not going to be a day off from homeschool/summer school. The learning possibilities are too numerous to pass up by not having some lessons.

We will be starting here with a slide show of a trip across America on the Google home page. https://www.google.com/

I download the freebie, Why We Celebrate the 4th of July, from Simple School and Currclick yesterday for J and Z. We got started on it and I think it is very nice. It contains some historic information and copy work, It even has a couple of things the older kids can use, too. http://www.currclick.com/product/48874/Simple-Schooling-Why-We-Celebrate-the-4th-of-July?it=1 (You will need an account to get the free download. If you don’t already have one, I highly recommend you getting one and sign up for their e-mail newsletters and updates. This is my favorite resource site.)

Also, Activity Village is offering some free 4th of July printables that we’ll be using. http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/fourth_of_july_activities_for_kids.htm

Quiztree has an interactive art and history activity that we will take a look at. I think this is very cool. You hover the mouse over each person in Trumbull’s famous painting, The Declaration of Independence, and the name of the person appears at the top of the screen. http://www.quiz-tree.com/Declaration-of-Independence-Trumbull.html

We’ll follow this link for music appreciation http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/1st-performance-of-samuel-f-smiths-america-11630412.html?utm_source=This%20Week%20in%20Christian%20History%20-%20Christianity.com&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=07/03/2013

Movies are are the planner for today also. E suggested we watch The Patriot, and she and B can, but that’s not suitable for my younger boys. We all can watch this episode of Liberty’s Kids though.

Finally, we’ll end up our studies in the kitchen. We’ll be making this simple angel food cake, blueberry, strawberry, and whipped cream layered dessert.

We even have a community service project tonight. We will be passing out mosquito repellant bracelets with our church at our city’s fireworks display.

Have a safe and happy Independence Day!

betty jo

Just Joking

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Years ago, at the family visitation before my daddy’s funeral, we were sniffling and dabbing our teary eyes, when my mom spoke up, “I wish your daddy was here, we could use a joke!” My father would have had just the right one to tell.

My dad knew the art of telling a joke, eye contact, expression, dramic pause. Some he made up, some he read or heard. None were ever rude or offensive. Though as a teen I would groan and roll my eyes when he told one, I would repeat it I first chance I got. Whenever I see someone that knew my dad, they always say something about his sense of humor.

According the my special days calendar, International Joke Day is celebrated on July 1. This is a day to tell jokes not play jokes (pranks). The purpose of this day is to make as many people as possible laugh or at least smile. Our homeschool/summer school calendar lesson of the day will be language arts focused. We’ll be reading, writing, and telling jokes. And sense Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine”, I suppose it can count as a health class credit, too.

I try to include jokes into our homeschooling lessons from time to time. They make fun copy and memory work. They also lighten things up when the studying gets serious or boring. Jokes are good public speaking practice, and I think something humorous should be included in most oral presentations. Jokes and riddles also make cute additions to our lapbooks.

These are a couple of library books we checked out for homeschooling on International Joke Day.This is my favorite site for kids jokes, riddles, and printables (we especially like the holiday list) http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/kids_jokes.htm

These free blank comic book style printables make an interesting way to copy jokes or riddles and illustrate. http://www.printablepaper.net/category/comics

Because it’s good to laugh at ourselves sometimes…

“How does a homeschooler change a light bulb?”

“First, mom checks three books on electricity out of the library, then the kids make models of light bulbs, read a biography of Thomas Edison and do a skit based on his life. Next, everyone studies the history of lighting methods, wrapping up with dipping their own candles. Next, everyone takes a trip to the store where they compare types of light bulbs as well as prices and figure out how much change they’ll get if they buy two bulbs for $1.99 and pay with a five dollar bill. On the way home, a discussion develops over the history of money and also Abraham Lincoln, as his picture is on the five dollar bill. Finally, after building a homemade ladder out of branches dragged from the woods, the light bulb is installed. And there is light.” ~Author Unknown

For my list of July’s special days click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/06/28/julys-special-days/

betty jo

Bicycle Lessons

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On 26 June 1819, W. K. Clarkson, Jr. of New York was granted a patent for a new and improved velocipede (“bicycle” was not a word yet) . This is the first bicycle made in the USA.

Inspired by this wonderful invention, bicycles will be our homeschool summer school lesson of the day. We will learn/review the parts of a bicycle, their proper names, and perform some maintenance checks before taking ride.

Below are the links we will follow for our bicycle study.

Timeline history of bicycles, virtual museum tour, and more http://www.bicyclemuseum.com/index.html

Fun bicycle facts here http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/morestories/ten-things-about-bikes/

Bicycle Safety Activity Kit downloads http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/bskitboth/3152bskit/pages/section1/section1toc.html

Care, Maintenance, Repairs http://www.kidzworld.com/article/5696-bike-repairs-and-maintenance

Because the kids like to watch stunts, we will some view some BMX tricks.

In case you’re wondering, I will be enforcing the “DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME” rule!

betty jo

Log Cabin

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According to my special days calendar, June 25 is Log Cabin Day, a day to appreciate the historic importance of log cabins. And it’s a day to remember what life was like a couple of hundred years ago when things weren’t so easy. Log cabins will be the topic of our homeschool/summer school lesson of the day.

We will go here for some general information and history about log cabins. Western Expansion: Log Cabin

Make a pretzel and graham cracker log cabin! https://www.marthastewart.com/272922/presidents-day-log-cabin

Milk Carton and Stick Craft http://www.dltk-kids.com/usa/mcabin.html

Check out these Dream Home Log Cabin Photos! https://loghome.com/articles/category/home-tours/

E, B, and I will watch an episode of Frontier House, a PBS documentry from a few years ago. It featured modern families who agreed to try homesteading like the pioneers would have in the 1800’s. (Some of the dialog may not be appropriate for younger children, so I’m hoping to distract Z and J with their Lincoln Log set.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m7ovkbu7cw

betty jo

Faries vs Aliens

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Sometimes this homeschooling mamma finds herself in a dilemma over lesson plans. For our homeschool/summer school we cover one subject per day usually chosen from my special days calendar and June 24 is both International Fairy Day and UFO Day.

Honestly, I’m not thrilled with either topic, but know my kids will have fun with them. Though I try to encourage creativeness, I realize that too much fantasy or imagination is not good. Before anyone has the opportunity for their imaginations to run away with them, we will have a Scripture based discussion of the dangers of too much imagination and how we are to think about such subjects as fairies or UFOs;

Jeremiah 7:24 “But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ^”(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

With those Bible verses in our minds and hearts we will explore these unusual topics. E will want to do a study on fairies, while B, J, and Z will want to study UFOs. I suppose the best way to handle this is to let them have separate lessons (just this once).

I found a wonderful listing of links about fairies for E http://www.squidoo.com/fairyday#module159488057.

She has been wanting to design a fairy garden on the tree stump in the back yard, so International Fairy Day would be the perfect time for this type of project. She can transplant some of our flowers which are overcrowded in pots.

These are the links the boys can follow.

UFO facts for kids http://www.kidskonnect.com/component/content/article/15-educational/science/107-ufo.html

UFO photos http://www.alien-ufo-pictures.com/ufo_pictures4.html

UFO interactive game http://www.primarygames.com/arcade/skill/ufojoe/

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 American Backyard Campout

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June 22 is the Great American Backyard Campout! This event is organized by the National Wildlife Federation. Thousands of families across America will be camping out and connecting with nature and each other.

I really have no desire what so ever to sleep on the ground. But, we will set up our tent so Z , J, and their friends can play in it. And if they can talk B into staying out with them, then they can spend the night backyard camping. However, I am in favor of campfire roasted hot dogs and s’mores and have volunteered to help with the campfire cooking.

As a homeschooling mom, I tend to make every thing a learning opportunity. I found these links to follow as we learn “camping”.

Tips, songs, recipes, campfire stories, and more at the Great American Backyard Campout site http://www.nwf.org/Great-American-Backyard-Campout/Get-Ready.aspx

Free camping activity pack from the coolest nature resource website http://www.naturedetectives.org.uk/packs/camping_pack.htm

Last summer, the week before the Great American Backyard Campout, we made this camping lapbook from http://www.homeschoolshare.com/camping_lapbook.php It was neat looking back over it. It is also a great reminder of what Z and J are going to be needing for their backyard campout this year.

betty jo

Our Ocean Wall

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After a week of a blank chalkboard wall, tic-tac-toe, and random graffiti, we finally decided it was time for a new mural. I had thought a camping scene was a good idea for summer, but it was voted down. J and Z had been learning about coral reefs and ocean life in their summer school science lessons, so they wanted an under water scene.

I knew this was going to be a big project so we enlisted some friends to help. This is K, a friend from our homeschool support group. She did an awesome job on the plants, coral, purple fish, and pink dolphin.

I attempted a scuba diver. I truly appreciate working with chalk. It is so forgiving. A mistake is easily wiped off or blended in.

Z stayed busy on the floor with rocks, more plants, more fish and a very cute crab.

We added a shark for a bit of danger.

J wore his arm out coloring water. He colored some on the jelly fish, too.

A sea turtle, and clown fish were added.

Now presenting our completed Ocean Wall! It turned out to be one of our favorite murals yet.

For more about our chalk board wall click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/one-of-our-favorite-things-the-wall/ , here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/01/oops-i-forgot/, here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/21/the-old-has-gone/ , and here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/19/942/

For another post about our coral reef study click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/06/11/reef/

betty jo

Garfield (the Cat, Not the President)

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According to my special days calendar, June 19 is Garfield’s (the cat, not the president) birthday! We will be having fun learning with our favorite cat as part of our homeschooling summer school subject of the day.

I’ll be combining math, health, science, and life skills as the kids add up the calories contained in our crock pot lasagna kitchen project, and figure how much Wii Just Dance it will take to burn those calories.

We checked these out from the library for hilarious reading.

I found these links for the kids to follow for computer lab, art, and fun.

Garfield Online Comics

educational games http://www.professorgarfield.org/pgf_home.html

how to draw for younger kids http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/12843/1/1/how-to-draw-garfield-easy.htm

drawing for older kids http://www.my-how-to-draw.com/how-to-draw-garfield.html

games for fun http://www.garfield.com/fungames.html

And what would a Garfield themed day be without a nap? I’m putting that in our day’s plans, too.

betty jo

Mathematical Art

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“For me it remains an open question whether [this work]
pertains to the realm of mathematics or to that of art.”

– M.C. Escher

June 16 , 1898 is the birthday of mathematician/graphic artist M.C. Escher. He combined art with science and geometry. He created colorful and interesting tessellations, polyhedra, and topologies. His bizarre and fascinating works are more famous today, than they were during his lifetime.

As part of this weeks homeschooling summer school calendar studies, we will be following these links as we learn about M.C. Escher and attempt some mathematical art of our own.

Biography http://www.surfnetkids.com/go/205/about-mc-escher/

Picture gallery http://www.mcescher.com/Gallery/gallery-symmetry.htm

Art gallery tour https://www.nga.gov/features/slideshows/mc-escher-life-and-work.html

How to draw an impossible cube Escher style http://www.wikihow.com/Draw-an-Impossible-Cube

Online tessellation games http://www.mathcats.com/explore/tessellationtown.html

Printable worksheets http://printableworksheets.in/?dq=M%20C%20Escher

betty jo