Cool Chemical Reactions for Science

If you love science, you have to go to this site! These are all chemical reactions that are amazing to watch, but not sure we want to try them at home. We couldn't get any audio, so don't be surprised if there's no sound.



Go to https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10201369851507559

Good Site for Testing Your Geography: U.S. States

Test your U.S. states geography skills online at this website:

http://lizardpoint.com/geography/usa-quiz.php

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

While the area schools shut down for the day, Sisney H.O.U.S.E. held school as usual, devoting the day to learning more about Martin Luther King, Jr. When I asked Maddy and Kenna (K and 1st graders) who Martin Luther King, Jr. was, they didn't remember. So, we devoted the whole school day to learn not just about the holiday that honors the birthday of revolutionary civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., but also to teach my children about this famous man of history and highlight the importance of the civil rights movement.

Using the following links, we learned all about how our "own" race, meaning the white people like us, were not always so nice to black people. We talked about how, even today, a lot of people are mean to anyone whose skin color is different than their own. Decades have past since Martin Luther King, Jr. worked - and died - trying to change America's laws...unfortunately, there is still much work to be done. Mr. King's speech, "I Have A Dream" is still just that in so many ways. I want my children to be part of the solution to making this dream a reality.

At https://www.teachervision.com/tv/printables/botr/botr_27_28-30.pdf, we found out some great information on Martin Luther King, Jr. that is age appropriate for younger kids. I want them to learn the basics...as they get older we can get into the "nastier" side of the civil rights movement.

We found a mini poster for the girls to create as they learned the facts about Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dream for a better America for all people at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Poster-Activity-FREEBIE-1015734.

We cut out, put together, and then read a free booklet on Martin Luther King, Jr. at https://www.teachervision.com/tv/printables/TCR/1576904679_333-338.pdf. Kids absorb so much more when there's a hands-on activity to go along with what they are learning rather than just being lectured or read to,

As a craft, the girls traced their handprint in many different colors of construction paper and then glued them together and wrote "Many people working together can change things." (one of Mr. King's quotes) on each palm. We hung the banner up in our classroom.

We read "The Story About Ruby Bridges" by Robert Coles. Very age appropriate for kindergarten and 1st grade! A true story set in 1960,  Ruby Bridges, at age 6, was a little girl who was court-ordered - along with 3 other little black girls - to attend all white schools. I'm not sure why Ruby's story has been told and the other children's were not, but it's a book that EVERY parent should read to their children. On Ruby's very first day of school, an angry mob of white folks crowded around the school entrance and were loudly and physically protesting this child entering the school. Neither the New Orleans police nor the Lousiana State Police would step in to help protect these 4 kids (attending two different white schools). It took the president ordering Federal Marshals to escort Ruby into school everyday. The neighborhood parents quit sending their own kids to school. Ruby sat alone in her classroom for months and did her school work.

What bothers me is that surely, many of those white families were "professed" Christians. Yet, they not only angrily protested but willingly disrupted their own children's education to keep their kids from being in the room with Ruby. How sad! But you know what? God was still in control, and this little 6 year old black girl stopped every day on her way to school and prayed for the people who out, not just to keep her out of their school, but to do her bodily harm had they gotten a hold of her. That, my friends, is the testimony and witness of a true Christian family and a true Christian way to raise your daughter. Ruby asked God to forgive those people. And you know what? The book I read to the girls, "The Story of Ruby Bridges" by Robert Coles, doesn't say how much time past (we know months) but finally 2 boys went back to school, slowly followed by many more.

I hope that Alan and I have/are doing a better job at teaching our children that the color of your skin doesn't matter. Kenna even asked at the beginning of the story, "What's are 'white people'?" Character counts so much more! Teaching our children to respect others and to always do the right thing no matter what the crowd is doing are possibly the most important things you can teach your child, right after teaching them (like Ruby's family did) that THE most important thing is to have a close and personal relationship with God.

Again, I want my children to be part of the solution to America's problems, not part of problem. 

 

Reader's Digest Article Says the American School System is Damaging to Kids

I'm kind of surprised that Reader's Digest is bashing the American School systems, but at the same time..."Thanks, Reader's Digest, for not "going with the crowd" on this subject! Read all about it here:

http://www.rd.com/advice/parenting/american-school-system-damaging-kids/

Learning About Graphs

Here's a simple way to teach your children about how to make a graph. Made on paper, letting the kids brainstorm something to make a graph of (at the moment it's very cold here and I'm thinking they are definitely wishing for summertime), here's what they came up with:

Geoboard Time!

Haven't been updating in almost a week. I cracked my tailbone two Saturdays ago and it got a lot worse before it finally starting feeling better. And by that, I mean being able to sit comfortably for more than 10 minutes at a time!

Enough about fractured tailbones! On to math!

My kids love using their geoboards. The ones we have were part of our Saxon manipulatives package to go along with our Saxon math program. If you don't have a geoboard, they are simple to make (and the homemade ones can be used with more materials than the ones we currently have, too). Just take a square piece of wood and mark spots on it to form rows of dots spaced about an inch-and-a-half to two inches apart. These rows, should line up up-and-down and across the board, to form and fill in a large square. Then you simply nail in some small nails (leave them sticking up enough to wrap rubber bands around them.

The kids can use rubber bands to make shapes on the board and it can be used over and over again.

 

For older kids, you could even put the nails in a circle shape (outline only or smaller circles inside the outer one) and let them create a 3-D "Spirograph" design.

I've even seen where someone has taken an outline of their home state, placed the paper copy on a board for their guide, and put the nails in to outline their state. For a really fancy effect, they put nails in the shape of a heart where their hometown is located within the state map, and again, using the "spirograph" concept, made a beautiful work of art. (By the way, this will sneak in a geography lesson.)

The point of the geoboard is, of course, to teach math concepts, but it can also be a lot of fun! Your children will learn to copy designs, learn to create their own shapes and designs, and enjoy the assignment.

Interesting Background Information on 10 Dr. Seuss Books

 

http://www.mentalfloss.com/article/28843/10-stories-behind-dr-seuss-stories

The above link takes to an interesting background info on 10 of Dr. Seuss' books. Interesting reading. Especially about how some of the logging industry wasn't very happy about the book, The Lorax and later sponsored The Truax, a similar book—but from the logging point of view.

How We Learn

Read a Book...Improve Brain Function

Another good reason to instill a love of reading in our children! According to this article, after reading a good book, your brain function improves!

Crossword puzzles are also great "brain therapy".

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2529855/How-book-really-change-life-Brain-function-improves-DAYS-reading-novel.html

Power of Words

The following website has a powerful message about using words. Directed at kids, something everyone should read. Go to this link to learn about the power of words.

http://www.aholyexperience.com/2013/12/dear-kids-never-forget-the-power-of-words-what-you-need-to-know-about-duck-dynasty-justine-sacco-and-christmas-2/

History of Homeschooling

http://www.home-school.com/news/history-of-homeschooling.php

All of the below info was found at the above site. I must say that I disagree with some of the "Comparison" section.

We do not have fewer resources that public school...if a parent takes the time to look, there is an abundance of resources out there, and many that as a small school of 2 students are welcomed into for a field trip when a large classroom would not be allowed into. And obviously, you are going to get out of homeschooling what you put into it. In our 11+ years of homeschooling, we have found that we use at least as much if not more resources than our public schools do. So many "school" programs - like Scholastic and Pizza Hut Book-It - are now open to and welcome homeschoolers.

Nor do I agree with a poorer curriculum. We actually use many of the same curriculum the public schools are using. And more. We incorporate 4-H material, Bible study, and many "extra" subjects the public schools don't offer. If our children are interested in a subject, we take the time to study about it.

Life Lessons to Teach Our Kids

Important life lessons to teach our children.

Math in Everyday Objects

Have I mentioned that Maddy loves math? This morning while eating her warmed-up S'mores Pop Tart and hot cocoa, she says, "Look Mom, my Pop Tart has an AB pattern! Insisted on taking a picture of it. See it? Chocolate (A), marshmallow (B), chocolate (A), marshmallow (B).

You can teach math lessons anytime, anywhere. No matter what you are doing with your children, there's most likely a math lesson to be found. Whether you are shopping (count the number of cans of veggies you buy, watch for patterns, compare sizes prices, measure (when cooking, look at package sizes, etc.), use timers when the kids brush their teeth and for cooking, etc.

Never miss the opportunity to build math skills!

Have a Day Full Of Play Time!

Practical Homeschooling said it best...

"Learning versus playing....Learning, according to that almost automatic view, is what children do in school and, maybe, in other adult-directed activities. Playing is, at best, a refreshing break from learning.,,But here’s an alternative view: playing is learning. At play, children learn the most important of life’s lessons, the ones that cannot be taught in school. To learn these lessons well, children need lots of play — lots and lots of it, without interference from adults."

Here at Sisney H.O.U.S.E., we firmly believe that "kids ought to be kids" and given time to "be a kid", including lots of free play time. Children "turned loose" to play on their own, also will "turn loose" their creativity, their imagination, and be whisked off to some far-away land right in your own back yard.

 http://aeon.co/magazine/being-human/children-today-are-suffering-a-severe-deficit-of-play/

Arm Knitting - No Needles Required

Here's a neat visual art project...

In this video, the lady shows you how to arm knit an infinity scarf in about an hour. The only supply you need is a big ball of yard!

Go to http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304011304579220660554732336.

Starting A Fire With Water?

I knew that you could start a fire with a magnifying glass, or even a piece of broken glass...but to use a bottle of water? It can be done! You can start a fire with a bottle of water, and the guy in this video does a wonderful job of explaining the process.

Here's a really great website that not only teaches your children a good survival skill but also makes a great science experiment. This would be for older children, and definitely needs adult supervision.

http://www.realfarmacy.com/how-to-start-a-fire-with-water/

Periodic Table Videos

When we get to the point where we are studying the Periodic Table, we are definitely going to go to this website: http://www.periodicvideos.com/. At this site, you can click on any element in the Periodic Table and see a video all about that particular element. Definitely want to bookmark this one!

Our Homeschool Grade Cards

We finally remembered to get a copy of the girls' grade card to their Tae Kwon Do instructor. Maddy received her first blue star (for good grades, straight A's, during our first quarter). Not sure if the Little Dragons get to earn them or not. Forgot to ask. Now to get it sewed on...

Not bad for a "homemade" report card, huh? We've never actually messed with grade cards in the past homeschooling experiences because we didn't have anyone that we really needed to show them to. I have always kept very detailed records (grade books, transcripts, etc.) and kept portfolios of the kids' work. But to earn those cool blue stars for good grades, they needed a copy of the student's grade cards, which become a part of their permanent Tae Kwon Do academy records. So, this is what we came up with.

Not that those blue stars matter that much to me. I know my children are making good grades and doing well in school. But seeing Maddy's eyes light up when they handed her that little blue star to wear on her uniform, it was worth all the trouble of creating a Sisney H.O.U.S.E. Report Card. The first one took the longest to put together. Future grade levels will be easier, just a matter of editing, copying, and pasting. Saved not only the grade card itself, but the Excel tables, too.

Mini Missions #4 & 5 Complete

We did a Mini Mission "Conversation Bite" yesterday and the last one for November today. Cutting it close, yes, but it's hard to have a family breakfast when Alan is usually up and gone before daylight. What's completing the mission mean? 2 free books from Scholastic for the girls!

Here's a picture of yesterday's Mini-Mission #4:

And a picture of today's breakfast...eggs, bacon, toast with jelly, hot tea, & apple juice.

Learning About "Bee Spit" (Honey)

Today we studied about honey bees and how they make honey. Maddy and Kenna love honey and they were all into the process...until they learned that honey was "bee spit". They were a little grossed out, but love honey so much decided that they'd still keep eating it!

There are 3 kinds of honeybees in the hive:  the female worker bees, the male drones, and the queen.

First, a worker bee finds a nectar source then goes back to the hive to tell the other bees where the flowers are. To communicate this information, the little bee will do a dance. The worker bees join in, learning where to fly to find the nectar source.

When the bees find the flowers, they go to work drinking in the nectar. They carry the nectar back to the hive, where they spit it back out into the honeycomb sections. Then they cover it with a special substance to keep it clean.

For the honey for form, 2 things happen:  A bee produces an enzyme that turns the sucrose (a sugar) in the nectar into glucose (an energy source sugar and carbohydrate component) and fructose (another type of simple sugar). Another enzyme produced by the bee turns some of the glucose into an acid and hydrogen peroxide, which kills any bacteria that might get into the honey. The second thing is to get rid of the extra water. Most of the moisture has to be evaporated, then fanning it with their wings.

Honey is a very stable food. One of nature's perfect foods. It naturally resists molds, fungi, and other bacteria. Honey can be stored for years without refrigeration.


Learn more about bees at these websites:

Amazing Bees

Big Oven: A Kid's Guide To Honey