Special Days in April, 2017
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Tag Archives: religion
Special Days in September, 2016
Special Days in May, 2015
Superstitions
Because we’ve been having an abundance of craziness and busyness this week, I thought that we wouldn’t “do school” today. But… it’s Friday the 13th!
I’m wowed by the resources and links I have saved up for a study on superstitions do use on a Friday the 13th. Surely we’ll be able to make a little time to learn about superstitions because this stuff is INTERESTING! Below are the sites and resources I found to share with you just in case you can make time for a little superstition too.
Origins of common superstitions explained at Live Science http://www.livescience.com/33507-origins-of-superstitions.html
Behavioral psychology in regards to superstitions discussed from Kids Net Encyclopedia http://encyclopedia.kids.net.au/page/su/Superstition
13 Superstitious Writing Prompts https://cecileswriters.wordpress.com/2012/04/13/superstitious-prompts/
Free Printable “Black Cat” border writing paper https://www.teacherfiles.com/resources_bp_holidays.htm
20 +free superstition worksheets from Busy Teacher (you’ll need an account, but it’s easy to set up) http://busyteacher.org/classroom_activities-vocabulary/superstitions-worksheets/
Common Superstitions and Why We Have Them (article, video, graphics) https://medium.com/ecom-tips/common-superstitions-why-do-we-have-them-b701245e8ca7
Superstition origins video from Mental Floss (this one’s for the older kids) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFyDUaSi-5w
Mathematical Properties of the Number 13 http://www.numbergossip.com/13
To keep this study in the right perspective we’ll include 1 Timothy 4:7 with this study. “ People tell silly stories that don’t agree with God’s truth. Don’t follow what these stories teach. But teach yourself to be devoted to God.”
And finally some music, which my kids will consider ancient history, but saying such a thing may bring them some bad luck!
betty jo
Salem Witch Trials
This being Halloween week, we have decided to study the Salem Witch Trials for our American history lessons. Our goals for this study go beyond learning history and adding pages to our notebooks . I hope that when this week is over we will have a better understanding about how dangerous rumors can be, and how easy it is to fall into the trap of contributing to the spread of false accusations.
As with all of our studies, this one started with a library trip. These are the selections we chose for our witch trial studies.
Below are the links to the online resources we are using.
Easy to read 2 page article about the Salem Witch Trials http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/colonial/jb_colonial_salem_1.html
Biography of Increase Mather and witch trial word puzzles, printables, worksheets and quiz http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdmath.htm
Witch Hat themed writing paper printables for notebooking and journaling
Video walking tour of Salem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qau3Xrv7-g
The following links are what my teens are following for further study.
Short article explaining the possible causes of the mass hysteria occurring during the Salem witch trial era http://ancientstandard.com/2011/07/11/salem-witch-trials-mass-hysteria-or-mass-lsd-trip/
From the History Channel http://www.history.com/topics/salem-witch-trials/videos#
Letters, maps, sermons, art, and trial transcripts http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/home.html
PDF of Author Miller’s The Crucible http://asbamericanlit.edublogs.org/files/2011/10/21078735-The-Crucible-Arthur-Miller-2hmdzot.pdf
Salem Witch Trial Interactive Game – “Can You Survive Salem’s Witchcraft Hysteria?” (This is not for younger children, it needs to be played/reviewed by the parent before giving the link to the teens)
Studying Ramadan
According to my special days calendar for July, the Muslim holiday Ramadan started on the 9th and continues for thirty days. Other than knowing that it is a time of fasting followed by a celebration for those of the Islamic faith, I know very little about the holiday. With the current estimated Muslim population being over 1.6 billion, I think learning more about Ramadan is something we need to add to our summer school calendar studies.
Below are the links we are using for our Ramadan study.
The Homeschool Buzz has a free download for a Ramadan activity book designed for children 5 to 7 years. I think this is an excellent source for all of us who are not familiar with the holiday regardless of age. I learned a great deal and I’m sure others who are not of the Muslim faith would also. I appreciate the work and creativity put into this resource and the willingness to share. You can download the Ramadan activity book here. http://pakistanhomeschooler.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/ramadan-activity-book-free/
For a Ramadan guide that is not in a pdf format click here http://www.msichicago.org/scrapbook/scrapbook_exhibits/catw2004/traditions/countries/ramadan.html
Several basic Ramadan information links here http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/ramadan.htm
The Huffington Post has put together a photo album of current Ramadan pictures from around the world http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/10/ramadan-2013-pictures_n_3573707.html
For traditional Ramadan recipes from around the world click here http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Ramadan/Detail.aspx
Click here for my July’s special days calendar https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/06/28/julys-special-days/
betty jo
Dino Debate
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.
“24 And 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. 25 God 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.
26 Then 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.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 God 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.”
29 Then 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. 30 And 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.
31 God 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://www.icr.org/article/science-resources-for-homeschool/
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
Mothers Day Brunch
I miss my mom every day. She’s been in heaven for twelve years. I try not to be sad about her being gone, especially on Mother’s Day. She would want me to celebrate, not mourn. I love Mothers Day, the flowers, the special brunch, and cards from my kids, but oh how I wish she could be included more than with just memories.
Sometimes I allow myself to get a bit carried away with my imagination when I’m missing her. I wonder what awesome things she’s doing up there. Is she at a Mothers Day brunch in heaven? I rationalize my wild thoughts, “Since there is a “Wedding Supper of the Lamb, and other mentions of heavenly feasts in the Bible, why not a brunch for mothers?”
I imagine what this brunch looks like. Flowers of marvelous colors in silver vases. And crystal bowls filled with fruit. And bread. And an angelic string quartet. And maybe a dance floor for mother-son dances. I did warn you that I get a bit carried away with my imagination.
I envision who is sitting at my mother’s table. Eve, Mrs. Noah, Sarah, Rebecca, Rahab, Ruth, Naomi, Mary, Eunice, and Lois! Wow! A banquet hall filled with the sheroes (lady heroes) of faith! All sharing their motherhood testimonies.
Someday I’ll have her introduce me to her friends.
Happy Mothers Day!
betty jo
But, He Has A Good Heart
“No, he’s not a Christian, but he’s got a good heart.”
“NO, he’s unemployed! He lives in his van down by the river. He smokes weed for dinner…”
“But, he’s got a good heart!”
The van in the photo does not have anything to do with our family, it just happened to be parked at the neighbor’s across the street from our house. And that conversation, thank GOD, was not between my E17 and me, or about one of my boys. It was from last Sunday’s sermon. My church is just one of many Life Church TV locations. That means when we meet, we watch a sermon on a video feed along with people all over the world. This past Sunday Pastor Craig tackled the message of purity in the second part of the sermon series, Bless This Home.
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Usually I do not think much about my long-term goals as a homeschooling mom because I’m so busy just trying to meet our immediate daily goals. But I do have some long term goals. One is to help my children learn to “see God”.
According to Matthew 5:8, this means that I must teach them the importance of purity. I have found that trying to teach my kids purity is most difficult as so much of the world seems so very determined to teach them impurity.
Sunday’s message has me asking myself these questions, and realizing that I currently have much that can be improved on about the attitude of purity in both my personal life and teaching about this Godly attribute to my kids.
1) How would you describe the current condition of your heart? 2) What impurities have you allowed into your family? What can you do to remove them? 3) What steps do you need to take to create a permanent culture of purity in your family?
As my kids and I seek answers to those questions we’ll be meditating on these Scriptures from my sermon notes.
Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? “I the lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Ephesians 4:18-19 NIV “They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed”.
Psalm 119:9-10 NIV “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.”
Proverbs 4:23 NIV “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
1 Samuel 16:7 NIV “But the lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the lord looks at the heart.”
Ephesians 5:3 NIV “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people”
.Ezekiel 36:26 NIV “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
To view other teaching purity related posts click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/08/keeping-the-code/ and here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/03/10/calling-for-reinforcements/
You can view Bless This Home 2 here http://www.lifechurch.tv/watch
betty jo
National Day of Prayer
We are leaving the Middle Ages and it’s plague victims, strange treatments, fleas, and rats for a day. Something much bigger than our unit study is occurring. Something Current Events, American History, and GOD is occurring. This important something is America’s National Day of Prayer.
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
We believe that we are “MY people”. We consider ourselves to be GOD’s homeschool. . Our name implies it, The Hendrickson Covenant In-Home School. That “Covenant” part comes from our agreement with our Heavenly Father in the Name of Jesus Christ to home educate our children as long as The Holy Spirit guides us every step of the way, because I wouldn’t know how on my own.
Our language arts lessons will be writing prayers and Scripture journaling. We’ll be using free customized writing paper from http://www.dltk-kids.com/type/writing_paper.htm
Our social studies lessons will come from here http://www.wallbuilders.com/
We will let God take care of the science lessons as we observe Him healing our land.
Oh yeah, math lessons. We’ll just forget about them this one time. My kids can have the testimony that GOD does answer their prayers.
betty jo
Still Learning Something New 