Saturday, February 26, 2011

Solar System Math: Comparing Size and Distance (Downloadable Curriculum)

NASA has created a downloadble curriculum series called Solar System
Math that provides fun, hands-on learning. The Solar System Math series
includes:

* I: Size and Distance
* II: Comparing Mass, Gravity, Composition, & Density
* III: Comparing Planetary Travel Distances
* IV: Analyzing Payload Size and Cost

Each of the above parts within the series includes a downloadable
student workbook, a teacher's guide and an answer key.

The first unit of the series is Solar System Math: Comparing Size and
Distance. (Preview now!
<http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-denver/preview-solar-system-ma\
th-comparing-size-and-distance-picture
> )

The main concept of this unit: The Earth is the third planet from the
Sun in a system that includes Earth's moon, eight other planets
and their moons, and small bodies including asteroids and comets.
These bodies all vary greatly in terms of their size and their
distance from the Sun.

Math topics covered in the unit:

* Ratio and proportion
* Measurement with standard and metric units
* Unit conversion
* Scale
* Data analysis
* Problem solving

Major Focus Concepts

Math

* Measurement involves measurement tools and measurement units that
have been determined by people.
* Different measurement tools and measurement units are used to
measure different properties. (Example: rulers with centimeters or
inches or yards are used to measure length.)

Science

* In our solar system, nine planets of different sizes move around
the Sun in oval orbits that are known as elliptical orbits. These
elliptical orbits are very close to being circular orbits, so in order
to make our calculations easier, we will assume that the orbits are
circular.
* The sizes of all of the planets vary greatly and the distances
between them are so great that it is often easier to develop two
small-scale models, one for size and one for distance.
* The paths of most planets around our Sun do not vary that much,
which means that their orbits are nearly circular.
* Since each of the planets orbits the Sun at a different rate, the
planets' distances from each other at any given time vary a great
deal.

Preview Solar System Math: Comparing Size and Distance
<http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-denver/preview-solar-system-ma\
th-comparing-size-and-distance-picture
>

Ready to download? The student workbook
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=7\
5237588-2E38-49B6-B1CA-F3E4EDC4869A
> , teacher's guide
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=B\
7502106-55B8-441F-ADB6-6C4A29C840BB
> and answer key
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=A\
E5DEF6B-FBE6-466A-A276-CF3207C4B05B
> can be download on the Christian
Home School Hub. (There is a $1 a year subscription fee which allows
for unlimited downloads from the CHSH site.)

You'll also find other related downloads as well on the Hub: Solar
System Exploration (NASA)
<http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-denver/homeschooling-in-denver\
/nasa-solar-system-exploration-lithograph-set-spectacular-resource-for-e\
ducators
> , NASA Rockets
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=8\
BF53E74-EFFB-4513-BC54-55752DE83B7D
> and 321 Liftoff
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=5\
0D899C5-0262-42CE-A8E7-2BA3AC9A9DAF
> .

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Dollar Gen coupon printable 50% 0ff

Dollar Gen coupons printable 50% 0ff Home Decor plus more!

http://dollargeneral.com/coupons/Pages/index.aspx

Saturday, February 19, 2011

March Activity Pages (Preschool thru 1st Grade)

March Activity Pages, designed for preschoolers through 1st grade.

What type of fun activities are included in the download?
-Coloring pages
-Dot to dot
-Tracing
-Counting
-Drawing
-a.m. vs p.m.
-More and Less

What 'days' of March are highlighted in the download?
-Dr. Seuss' Birthday
-Daylight Savings
-Albert Einstein's Birthday
-St. Patrick's Day
-Johnny Appleseed Day
-Big Birds Birthday
-First Day of Spring

Preview March Activity Pages
<http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-denver/download-your-march-act\
vity-pages-on-the-christian-home-school-hub-picture
>

Ready to download? You'll find the download available on the Christian
Home School Hub <http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/>


(You will actually have to become a Platinum Member for $1 dollar/year to access downloads)

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Art



Crayola Lesson Plans

Art Projects for Kids

Color Me Masterpiece

Art Lesson Plans 

Art Posters
Print these out they are a great reference

Art Teacher on the Net
Variety of art project ideas. Scroll down for the Free Lesson Plans link. Grades K-12

How-to-Draw Animals by Jan Brett
Video tutorials

Mark Kistler's Online Art Lessons

Dover Sampler Pages

Coloring Pages


Updated 6/27/12

ATTENDANCE & RECORD KEEPING

Attendance Calendar

Donna Young's Planners

Homeschool Tracker
Basic Edition is free

Homeschool Sked Track

Home School, Inc


Free Curriculum Planner

President's Day Curriculum

Picture Study:
George Washington Crossing the Delaware
Abe the Rail Splitter

Copywork:
Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected. --George Washington
A house divided against itself cannot stand. --Abraham Lincoln

Stories:
The Cherry Tree
Abe Lincoln Gets His Chance

Free President's Day downloads!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

March 2011 Planner

Next month's planner - March 2011 - has been made available for download
(for those of you who love to be organized) on the Christian Home School
Hub.

If you've never downloaded any of these monthly planners, you can
preview the entire download - Just click here
<http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-denver/march-2011-planner-avai\
lable-on-the-christian-home-school-hub-picture
> .

If you want to download the planner, click here
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/downloads.htm?a=&act=get&guid=9\
43FC043-0C4E-4C4D-B993-2827F50E9CDE
> .

The Hub has a lot of downloads available for homeschoolers. Some of the
most recent ones include a President's Day (Living Books) download and a
Solar System Lithograph Set.

(You will actually have to become a Platinum Member for $1 dollar/year to access downloads)

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Reading List by Grade

I have been searching the web for a good book list by grade level. I wanted to find books that the kids can read just for fun that was at their appropriate reading level. I wanted a list so I could keep my eyes out for certain titles at flea markets and elsewhere.

My efforts have been pretty fruitless. So what is a Mother to do? Make my own of course.

This took me awhile to compile and I plan on adding to it slowly, but I thought I would share it here in case anyone would find it useful.

A child has not begun his education until he has acquired the habit of reading to himself, with interest and pleasure, books fully on a level with his intelligence. - Charlotte Mason

Reading List by Grade Level

Disclaimer: I put the reading levels of each book. That may not mean the book is age appropriate for that level. Always be wary of what you hand to your child to read. 

I used AR Book Finder for the reading levels.

 ETA: I just recently found this 
 Twaddle-Free Literature by Grade Level 

Friday, February 11, 2011

V is for Valentine (Activity Pages for Preschool thru Early Elementary

Valentine's Day is just a few days away and there is a 35 page, fun
download for children ages 3 to 8 called V is for Valentine!
Inside V is for Valentine you'll find activities designed to promote
early education skills such as letter and number recognition, tracing,
coloring, sorting, counting and printing. There are also pages designed
to allow creativity both through creative writing, picture drawing and
even creating a Valentine's Day card!

Preview "V for Valentine Activity Pages"
<http://www.examiner.com/homeschooling-in-denver/v-is-for-valentine-avai\
lable-on-the-christian-home-school-hub-picture
>

If you'd like to get V for Valentine Activity Pages, you'll find the
download available on the Christian Home School Hub
<http://christianhomeschoolhub.spruz.com/> .

Here's some more Valentine's fun...

* Easy Valentine's Day Crafts
<http://www.examiner.com/family-holidays-in-denver/easy-valentines-day-c\
rafts
>
* Valentine's Day recipe Old Fashioned Red Candy Apples
<http://www.examiner.com/family-holidays-in-denver/valentine-s-day-recip\
e-old-fashioned-red-candy-apples
>

Friday, February 4, 2011

Illinois Homeschoolers: ACTION REQUIRED!

Call To Action
New Bill to Require Parents to Register Their Children with the State
By Laurie Higgins, Director of IFI's DSA - Illinois Family Institute

Ed Maloney
State Senator (D-Chicago)

Chicago Office: 
773-881-4180

Springfield Office:
217-782-5145
 

Contact Sen. Maloney and your State Senator ask them to drop this unwarranted expansion of government.

A deeply troubling bill ( SB 136) has been proposed in the Illinois General Assembly by State Senator  Edward D. Maloney  (D-Chicago) that will affect all children in non-public schools, including home schools. 

Existing school code permits the voluntary registration of non-public school students with the state. If SB 136 were to pass, it would compel all parents or legal guardians of home or privately schooled students to register with the state. Registration that is now voluntary would become compulsory. The arguments used to justify such compulsory registration are specious and reveal underlying flawed assumptions.

TAKE ACTION:  Call Sen. Maloney's office at  773-881-4180  and ask him to drop this unwarranted expansion of government into the private lives and affairs of good Illinois citizens.  Click HERE to send him a fax or an email.

Sen. Maloney has expressed concern that those who homeschool their children are not accountable to anyone -- and by anyone, he clearly means any government employee. Does Sen. Maloney actually believe that the state has proved itself better at educating children than parents who homeschool? 

What Maloney fails to acknowledge is that many of these parents know that they are accountable to a much higher authority than the state. They know that they are accountable to God for the manner in which they educate, train, and nurture their children as well as how they steward their time, talents, and resources. 

Proponents of mandatory registration fail to address the serious problem of requiring parents to register with a government entity that is actively engaged in undermining their political, moral, and theological beliefs. At significant personal costs, these families are trying through homeschooling to avoid the subversive ideological indoctrination in which many public school teachers increasingly engage. 

Proponents fail to acknowledge that bias and censorship pervade public school curricula. The problems in public schools involve not merely what troubling ideas are being promoted to students but what ideas students are never exposed to because of systemic bias and censorship.

Proponents of this bill fail to address the likely, if not inevitable, slippery slope from registration to regulation . While SB 136 requires parents only to register their children with the state, it's naïve to think that our bloated and still ravenous state bureaucracy will not expand its purview to dictate curriculum, administer tests, monitor or evaluate student progress, require certification of those who serve as teachers, and/or mandate home visits by state officials -- all in the service of protecting children, of course. 

Those in favor of mandatory registration fail to provide any evidence for the need for such registration . Such evidence would need to be something far more substantive than anecdotal accounts of a few homeschool parents who have failed to educate adequately their children. And such evidence would need to prove that homeschooled students are failing at higher rates than students in public schools. If there were evidence, for example, that homeschooled students have poorer test scores; higher rates of suicide or drug and alcohol use; greater involvement in gang activity; feel less safe; have lower admission rates into colleges and universities; or have lower college retention and graduation rates than public school students, then perhaps there would be a case for mandatory registration. 

Since current research suggests that homeschooled students actually score higher on average than public school students, the effort to mandate registration must be driven by the baseless assumption that government bureaucrats are inherently more effective at protecting and educating children. If this assumption weren't so gallingly presumptuous, it would be laughable. 

Let's take a moment to clarify for hubristic politicians and public educators (which does not mean all public educators) what some current research reveals about homeschooled students.

The following statistics come from a  2009 study that explored "academic outcomes of home school students attending a medium sized, doctoral institution located in the Midwest": Homeschool students ACT Composite score 26.5--Public school ACT Composite score 25
Homeschool students ACT Reading score 28.2--Public school ACT Reading score 25.6
Homeschool students ACT English score 27.8--Public school ACT English score 24.5
Homeschool students ACT Science score 25--Public school ACT Science score 24.5
Homeschool students ACT Math score 24.6--Public school ACT Math score 24.7

The college retention rate for homeschool students was 88.6 percent as compared to 87.5 percent for public school students.

First year GPA for homeschool students was 3.41 as compared to 3.12 for public school students.

The four-year graduation rate for homeschool students was 68.7 percent as compared to 58.6 percent for public school students.  (For more information on the academic success of homeschool students  click HERE. )

Problems like poor test scores, high dropout rates, teenage pregnancies, teenage suicide, drug and alcohol abuse, and gang activity are not common problems within the homeschooling community as they are in many government schools. Unmotivated teachers too are uncommon among home schools. 

So, Sen. Maloney believes that all homeschool and private school students in Illinois, including those who fare better than public school students, should be forced to register with the state that has demonstrably and miserably failed countless students over many years?

Has anyone calculated the additional costs to our bankrupt state that will be incurred if unwarranted compulsory state registration becomes the law for all non-public school students? 

Government bureaucrats and educators like  Bill Ayers  and his "agents of change" see themselves as academic experts nonpareil and the ultimate protectors of children. As a result, they arrogate to themselves the right to intrude without warrant into family business. 

Illinoisans should oppose this unjustifiable and needless expansion of governmental authority . This is especially important now as Illinois public schools stand poised to expand their advocacy of radical beliefs regarding homosexuality into every public elementary, middle, and high school, which IFI hopes will result in more families exiting public schools.
"Education is thus a most powerful ally of humanism, and every American school is a school of humanism. What can a theistic Sunday school's meeting for an hour once a week and teaching only a fraction of the children do to stem the tide of the five-day program of humanistic teaching?" — C.F. Potter, signer of Humanist Manifesto 1930

"Open war is upon you whether you will risk it or not!" — Aragorn, "Return of the King"