Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The History of Our National Anthem

Wallbuilders is an excellent resource for History.   We recently read the story of our National Anthem, so I thought this would complement what we read:


Answers magazine: Alligators

Before our trip to the Creation museum, I had been wanting to subscribe to Answers magazine for the purpose of using it to teach the boys.  So when they offered me a free video and back issue for subscribing, I jumped at the offer.

I have not been disappointed.

Today, after reading an article to the boys about alligators, I was surprised to learn that they also offer video clips to go with some of the articles.

Here is the one about alligators.  I had to unlock it by typing a code, so I am not sure if this link will work.  The boys enjoyed it and learned a lot about how alligators move and eat.  It is so nice to be able to *show* the boys what we are learning about after we read. 

http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v5/n2/alligator-video

They also have a website with activities and printables.  I will be using that as well.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Justin's sketch of a composite volcano


click to see it clearly
Justin's sketch of a composite volcano

Time-line Character: The Battle of Tippecanoe

  Written by Justin. Drawn by Jonathan.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Volcanoes

We are studying volcanoes.  You just can't study volcanoes and not make one.  I have been sick this week, so it took us three days to make this.  I wish I'd had enough corn starch and salt to do a cornstarch model, but I didn't feel well enough to go out and get more.  So we went with flour this time (not my favorite).  The corn starch hardens faster and firmer, and it lasts a long time.





We molded the volcano around the coke bottle, and then took the coke bottle out through the hole we cut out of the bottom of the box.  We poured the vinegar into the bottle and then put it back inside the volcano.  I like this set up (I found the idea on-line), because you can use the flat part to see "inside" the volcano.
We mixed vinegar,baking soda, dishwashing liquid and red & blue food coloring.  The lava didn't stay colored very long, but they still enjoyed the eruption.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Midwest Homeschool Convention

We enjoyed the Midwest Homeschool Conference in Cincinnati.  I was amazed at all of the people there.  Their website says that there were over 13,000 people there... not including the exhibitor's families!

Because we were there only one day, we were only able to sit in three workshops, but they were great!

We only had time for the following sessions, because of the fact that they were an hour long and the boys needed breaks in between sessions.  We also wanted to visit the vendor hall as there were over 200 booths!

1. Rebuilding a Culture of Virtuous Boyhood -  Doug Phillips
2. Rescuing your children from a culture of Irresponsibility - Dr. Jeff Myers
3. Homeschooling is your Right - Attorney David Gibbs III we only heard the end of this, but then we went to another session because Michael wanted to hear him. He gave his testimony and tips for boys who want to be come lawyers.
4. Tim Hawkins concert - We decided at the last minute that we wanted to go, so I went downstairs to get tickets.  They were sold out, but a lady was standing there and she gave us her tickets because her son was in the hospital.  She refused to let me pay her for them.  I was alone, but she handed me five!  Wow, is all I can say about that.  Tim Hawkins was hilarious.  I didn't necessarily enjoy some of the pre-show music (let's just say it had some "soul" and it was VERY loud), and he can be crude but he was otherwise hilarious (I had tears rolling down my face from laughing so hard at some of his jokes).


David Gibbs gave a free book and DVD, and I was able to get some used ABeka books for $2 apiece.    Yay for freebies and bargains!

 There were over 200 booths with all types of curriculum & books, kits, and educational toys.  One booth even had specimens to dissect.  I had to laugh at the sign that said " Please do not poke the specimens."  I can understand... I was tempted.  They were pretty reasonable ,  so maybe we can get some of them later on.  Michael can do that part with them.  Yuck!

  Since Vision Forum is one of our favorite vendors, the boys begged us to go there first.  They each got a toy gun.  I wish we'd gone there last because then we had to carry the toys around the whole time and I kept worrying Jonathan would whack someone with his long musket (Justin and Ryan's were shorter).  One funny thing that happened is that the boys had an all out shootout with another family of boys in a side area where they had tables.  It was so cute!  So I guess that was worth lugging the guns around all day.

I also enjoyed seeing my good friend Kelly.  Our kids seemed to hit it off right away.  It was also nice to meet Phillip Brown's wife for the first time.  

I enjoyed seeing all the skirts, long hair, prayer caps, and large families! You definitely see a huge variety of people at home-schooling conferences.  I was encouraged to see several nice-looking black families as well. 
There was one booth called Rap Music Learning.  They sold CDs. But I didn't see any of the prayer cap people buying any  ;-D

Creation Museum

Here are pictures from our Creation Museum trip.  This is a GREAT place to visit, and I hope to go back again.  There is so much to see and do there, that one could go back regularly and do new things.  They have special events and activities that they have for a limited time that would be great for the family to see.  For example, they currently have an event called "Snakes Alive".  In May they will have a bees display.

All pictures can be clicked to see a larger view.  Some of them are blurry, and I did not take nearly enough pictures.  Noah's ark construction site was really neat, and the men talked and moved and worked.
  There are also several diaromas depicting the flood, and even computer depictions of what the earth might have looked like from outer space during the flood. Very educational! 

Another nice things is that because we attended the Midwest Homeschool Conference, our tickets were discounted.  They gave us a 6 DVDs educational set with our tickets.
I also subscribed to their Answers magazine with the intent to use it to help with science.  They gave us another free DVD with that purchase.  So we get to keep learning even after the trip!


1.  The entrance area
2&3 Looking at the chamelon
4. Key Biblical figures
 5-6 In the garden of Eden
7.  Dinosaur killing a poor, helpless smaller dinosaur after Adam's fall
8. Working after "the fall"
9. Methuselah (this guy moved and talked!)
10-12 at the petting zoo.. see the "Zonkey" (zebra/ donkey mix)?
13-14 at the walk thru botanical gardens (Justin took that last picture)





Park School

Yesterday we had to take Ryan to get his stitches removed, and then we decided to take our schoolwork to Spring Mill Park since it was such a warm day (85 degrees).   Thankfully we were able to get Math completed before we left.

We met an older couple there who were travelling and the boys enjoyed talking to them, and showing them the shells they found in the creek.

These pictures are in the wrong order.  Scroll down to the bottom and look at the backwards to get them in the order they were taken. (I don't have time to try to get them moved around)


We had a great time, and we plan to do this more often.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

April fool's day jokes

A couple of weeks ago when I was getting groceries, it dawned on me that April Fool's day was around the corner.  So I bought some Jello so I could make some pretend Kool-Aid:
They were tricked, and they loved my joke:



I also printed a funny certificate go here to see it. It was funny to me but it took some explaining for them to get that one. I think they thought I was calling them "Stinky."