Website Wednesday

Here is a link to an interactive online periodic table of elements. You can click on the individual elements to learn more about them. Very cool!

http://www.webelements.com/

Teaching Tuesday

A couple of years ago I started a homeschool book club for my son and some of his friends. One of the books they read was Where the Red Fern Grows. Here are some of the things we did while studying it, fun little lesson extensions.

We made butter and cornbread, just like Billy's mom would have. I actually have a butterchurn (thanks to my antique collecting dad!). You can just shake the cream in a jar though if you don't have a churn. The kids really enjoyed this. They also made the cornbread from scratch, all by themselves.

They watched the movie and as a treat I gave them strawberry soda, just like Billy had in the book. It was a big treat for Billy and for some of the kids too! None of them are really allowed to overindulge in soda, some had never even had strawberry soda before!

They also did individual reports on various topics from the book: mountain lions, coonhounds, the Ozarks, Sycamore trees, raccoons, etc. This was a good cross curriculum activity as it included science and nature and geography too.

Take a minute Monday

Wow, this is being posted late! This was our first day back to school since the Christmas break and I guess it's taking me a while to get into my routine. Here's a little humor to start the week...

Never try to teach a pig to sing....it wastes your time and annoys the pig!

--Anonymous

Fun Friday

Scented Water color:

1 TBL warm water
1 pkg. Kool-Aid

Mix these together and get a yummy smelling paint that still smells when dry. You can make all kinds of colors and smells!

Thrifty Thursday

Here is a great way to start the new year! Make a purchase at Chick fil a today and receive a coupon for a free chicken biscuit on your next visit.

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/breakfast/

Website Wednesday

Here is a great website that offers a FREE typing/keyboarding class online. It's fun too. My son did this a couple years ago and it really helped him learn to type. It is a beginning program that is great for young kids. It has 12 stages and 4 levels. You don't have to sign up or register or anything. You just go to the link and you can start learning.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/

Teaching Tuesday

Here is a link to our local paper. They have pictures of artwork that was done by area schools. Each piece represents one of the days of the "Twelve days of Christmas" They were very creative. I got lots of good art ideas from them.

http://www.star-telegram.com/news/photos/gallery/1111118.html