Homeschool Co-Op: Homemade Christmas Gifts

Our weekly co-op has done a great this semester in focusing on giving. The kids have done a great job giving this year with cards sent to the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes and over 10 boxes full gifts for Operation Christmas Child.  In that spirit of giving this week we focused on homemade gifts for relatives and friends. 


Station 1- Clay decorations:

http://niccolaontuesday.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/3-tuesdays-till-christmas.html
http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2010/12/snowflake-christmas-tree-ornaments.html

• Rolling Pins
• Christmas Cookie Cutters
• Buttons
• Quick Drying Crayola clay
• Paint Brushes
• Paint
• 
  

Station 2- Ribbon Tree Christmas Card for Kids
http://blog.memetales.com/2012/12/ribbon-tree-christmas-card/

• Sheet of thick paper/card
• Curling Ribbon
• Star
• Tape
• Glue
• Scissors

Station 3- Christmas Shrinky Dinks (kids 7 and older)

 
Station 4-Thumbprint Reindeer Card
http://www.meetthedubiens.com/2010/12/dubien-family-la-thumbprint-reindeer.html

• paper
• brown paint
• brown marker
• googly eyes
• black and red construction paper
• glue
• scissors

The plan was to do each of the activities in stations with 3-6 kids at each station. Well that was the plan but the kids (as kids will do) split into their regular groups of close buddies. We had a mom at every table to hang out with the kids as well as help out. It went smoothly and everyone seemed to have fun. The boys did all the crafts and for those with boys you know getting them to do crafts is like pulling teeth. But boys being boys we got some interesting takes on traditional Christmas themes.

 Like these snowboarding robotic Cyclops reindeer.

Or these beautiful multicolored clay ornaments.

 My personal favorite was the Ninja Elf. As stated by my son " Because you need stealth to be an Elf."

It was a great day with great families whom we love.

Reflections of a Grady Doctor: More of The Best of What's Around.

Reflections of a Grady Doctor: More of The Best of What's Around.:   I have a friend who is having a very hard week. Today is the anniversary of something very hurtful for her and I am really, really thin...

Wordless Wednesday: Plant Science

 

Click on picture to see the details.

Homeschooling Plans for 12/12/12

Anyone have any plans for 12/12/12? 

 

Here are some suggestions from across the web:

1. Read 12 books or list your favorite 12 books
2. Do 12 acts of random kindness
3. Eat 12 different foods
4. Dance for 12 minutes
5. Play 12 super-short games
6. Take 12 pictures
7. Make a pyramid out of 12 cups
8. Go to the store and buy something to make for dinner that costs $12.
9. See what you can make using 12 Legos.
10. Send 12 friends an email, text or letter to let them know they are special
11. Give 12 hugs
12. Name 12 things you're thankful for

Field Trip: Christmas 2012 White House Tour

I have always dreamed of visiting the White House during Christmas. Every year since we moved into the area I always think about it in December which is months to late to arrange. Well this year thanks to goal setting skills learned from MoneySavingmom.com, I actually remember to do it in August. Our co-op group was so excited about the prospect as well. Many have lived here all their lives and never visited the White House. One week after the election we received the conformation email. We were going to the White House!

In typical homeschool mom style I pulled all the resources about the White House for a two week long unit study.

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out

A Kid's Guide to Washington, D.C.: Revised and Updated Edition

Capital Mysteries #4: A Spy in the White House

A Christmas tree in the White House

If the Walls Could Talk: Family Life at the White House

Also we reviewed "How to greet the President" packet that we got from our amazing etiquette teacher Mrs. L. for Maryland. Details of the class here….

We also talked about "Expectations":

• What do think The White House will smell like at Christmas?
• Who would be in residence when we visit?
• What behaviors are expected of guest in The White House?
• What behaviors are unexpected at The White House?
• What's the dress code?

A lot of these questions were answered at The White House website. Also we came up with a list of our own for personal conduct so there would be no confusion to mar the experience.

It was a beautiful cold clear sunny early morning as we made our way toward Pennsylvania Avenue. We were all a little giddy with excitement as we passed through the gates of The White House grounds. 

Everyone in the line was smiling and excited, the adults more so than the kids. God Bless the Secret Service they were friendly yet imposing at the same time. Think about their daily jobs to give their lives to protect the executive branch.

Once we were cleared onto the grounds I had to stop before entering the mansion. For some this may seem a little dramatic but it is how I truly felt at the moment. Here I was an African American women raised in a southern town who still today practices self induce segregation was about to step into the building where the President of the United States lives. The granddaughter of a lady who had to fight just to vote and marched in many a Civil Rights march while being forced to enter buildings through the back door..her granddaughter was entering The White House. In that moment I missed my grandmother so much it hurt. But I looked into my son's face and I saw her there…in his eyes ..the eyes that was ready to go inside The White House.

From the minute you enter it is overwhelming. It smells of holly and cedar while shining with twinkling colored glass décor. Your mind is stuck on "Ohhhhhhhhh" then "Hey, I know that portrait of that first lady", then back to "Wow look at that tree"

The staff there is amazing. They don't allow cameras but they will let you use your camera phone. They graciously took pictures of us as a family and answered all of The Student's questions. (Okay little mom brag here. He knew every single portrait of the president s that we saw. Plus he was excited to see them.)

 

The Student was amazed that President Lincoln ate off this china. He got really quiet and said "Mom, he was in this place. He really ate off stuff that is here." I think this is when The White House became "real."

On a visit to the National Mall we wondered what it looked like from the inside of the mansion looking out. Well, it is amazing.

Gingerbread House with a candy Bo.

 These good people filled the whole tour with wonderful music.

It was amazing day spent with family and friends.

QOTD: What is the oldest school in the world?

Last week we were discussing colonial America and how they educated their young.  Which promoted the question... What is the oldest school in the world?

The Student first pass guess was Oxford. A Google search brought back lots of data which lead us to   narrow the search to "universities" and "still in existence."

We found some information here:


Top 10 Oldest Universities in the World: Ancient Colleges


Wikipedia provide us with a list of oldest universities in continuous operation.

15 Oldest College in The World

The list varies because of definitions of continuous but Oxford does make the top 10 in each list.

Handwriting is Brain Power

Hoagies' Gifted Education Page highlighted an article linking handwriting to increase brain function. I agree with most of the data, especially how handwriting is good for adults as well as children.



  How Handwriting Trains the Brain

QOTD:Why do Christians use the Fish symbol?

Ichthus / Fish Christian Symbol 

 The Definition and Meaning of the Ichthus / Fish as a Catholic Christian Symbol Catholic Christian symbolism in art provides a clear graphic illustration which represents people or items of religious significance. 

What is the definition and the meaning of the Ichthus / Fish symbol?
 Ichthus is the Greek word for fish (ΙΧΘΥΣ). The initials of the word Ichthus are also used as a Christian acronym of the following 

Greek words: 
 I=Jesus 
Ch=Christ 
Th=Theou(God's) 
U=Uios(Son) 
S=Soter (Savior) 

Using the Ichthus acronym IChThUS means "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior"

Christians also use to draw one half in the sand and if the person completed it you knew they were a Christian.  It was a way to safely ID a fellow believer.





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October Field Trip:Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial

A hidden treasure in the middle of the city of Washington DC is Theodore Roosevelt Island National Memorial.  We have read about this island for three years but thought it was hidden up river from the city.  Little did we know we have been driving over it.

The island is :

"Theodore Roosevelt Island is a 91-acre wilderness preserve that serves as a memorial to the nation's 26th president, honoring his contributions to conservation of public lands for forests, national parks, wildlife and bird refuges, and monuments. Theodore Roosevelt Island has 2 1/2 miles of foot trails where you can observe a variety of flora and fauna. A 17-foot bronze statue of Roosevelt stands in the center of the island. There are two fountains and four 21-foot granite tablets inscribed with tenets of Roosevelt’s conservation philosophy. This is a great place to enjoy nature and get away from the busy pace of downtown." About.com

 Arranged in an arc behind the Roosevelt statue are four panels with his quotes on four themes: Youth, Manhood, State, and Nature.

We spent a beautiful day exploring the island and lunching nearby reading Teddy Roosevelt and the treasure of Ursa Major / adapted by Ronald Kidd ; illustrated by Ard Hoyt.

Wordless Wednesday: Fall

QOTD: Why is Lead's chemical symbol Pb?

Today's question was sparked while loading a mechanical pencil for handwriting work.

So the answer comes from the Greeks:  

Name: Lead
Symbol: Pb
Atomic Number: 82
Atomic Mass: 207.2 amu
Melting Point: 327.5 °C (600.65 K, 621.5 °F)
Boiling Point: 1740.0 °C (2013.15 K, 3164.0 °F)
Number of Protons/Electrons: 82
Number of Neutrons: 125
Classification: Other Metals
Crystal Structure: Cubic Density @ 293 K: 11.34 g/cm3
Color: bluish

Facts  
Date of Discovery: Known to the ancients
Discoverer: Unknown
Name Origin: From the Greek word protos (first)
Symbol Origin: From the Latin word plumbum (lead)
Uses: solder and shielding against radiation, batteries
Obtained From: galena  

Vacation Bible School 2012 Blessing

We have been on the move since the first week in June with out of town guest and a 1,000 mile roadtrip. God has blessed us to see many friends, family members and places while bring us safely back home. The icing on the cake has been this past week in our hometown VBS.

The theme was "Awesome God! Amazing Power!" In the words of my late grandmother "God just showed out!" The blessing and demonstration of God's love and direction was evident in section.

My son was placed in a group with some wonderful children who were as filled with God's love as his. His youth group leader was encouraging, caring and cool. He was blessed to see a young man, who was "cool and awesome" and lived his faith for everyone to see.

I started out the week as a hall monitor and ended working with a group with an amazing leader. We will call her Miss B has a quiet calm and peace that just radiates from her. It was blessing just to be in her presence. I met so many amazing mothers and dad who took the time to volunteer for VBS.

 The ending program brought me to tears. Imagine 300 young voices singing: 

If God holds my days in His hands, 

If God has power over my circumstance, 

If God knows the plans He has for me, 

... ... Why should I fear? Why should I worry? 

If God is for me who can be against me? 

If God is for me who can be against me? 

Whatever happens I know I can trust 

He is in control. 

'Cause if God is for me who can be against me?

 

 

Price Reducation Home Education Used Curriculum Sale

 Okay I am cleaning the closets before I bring in any new stuff.

Please contact me via Well Trained Mind PM or email to complete sales.  All items come from a smoke free/pet free home.  Paypals ONLY please.

Language Arts
Spellwell Book Bb by Nancy M. Hall   Pages 65 ISBN 0838821944 $1.00

Hands of a Child
Operation: English Grammar Curriculum $3.50

 
The Operation: English Grammar Project Pack takes your student on a special mission to help the people of planet “Gabgone” learn the English language in order to visit, conduct business, and communicate with the English-speaking nations of the world.  This 75-page unit includes a 15-page Research Guide and 28 hands-on activities that explain nouns, pronouns, adjectives, prepositions , verbs, adverbs, conjunctions, interjections, phrases, clauses, sentences, and punctuation!   PLUS - 2 bonus activities!  Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to crack the code on the English Language and prove that it is possible to use good grammar!

2nd Grade Printing Teacher's Guide is the guide for the second grade workbook, Printing Power. $1.00

History



Virginia History Projects:
30 Cool, Activities, Crafts, Experiments & More for Kids to Do to Learn About Your State Books 1 and 3
$2.00 for both

Math

Number Beats DVD $10

This fun and educational video teaches children how to write numbers 0-9. Each 7-minute chapter includes writing and counting demonstrations, skits, and worksheet practice! Also included are three chapters on skip counting (2’s, 5’s & 10’s); as well as a bonus chapter on “big numbers”.

Fun!
Lego Minifigs
Cole, Jay, Zane ZX, Snappa, Stormtropper and one handed Mechanic (with a spinner and weapons) $7

Science


Science Celestron 44320 Microscope Digital Kit $15 shipping included
Condition: Gently used Camera and Microscope work.

• Kit comes with:
  
  • Biological microscope with powers from 40x to 600x
    
  • Zoom eyepiece from 10x to 20x
    
  • Digital camera with imaging software included on CD-ROM
    
  • Top and bottom electric illumination
  
   The Celestron 44320 is a multi-purpose microscope can be used as a traditional microscope with powers from 40x to 600x or attach the digital camera to view on your computer. It's the perfect tool for discovering and learning about the world we can't see. The included software allows you to save digital images and video to your computer. Weighing just 22 ounces. Other features include a zoom eyepiece from 10x to 20x and top and bottom electric illumination. The microscope requires Windows 98, 98SE, 2000, ME, XP, or Vista, CD/DVD drive and open USB port.