New, so please be patient

This is something new to me...I am attempting to add mini videos to my blog. This one is of my son that learned how to read at home with the help of the Lord and myself. He is the first one I have taught reading to and I was scared! Many, many, many times I had to repeat the scripture that's under my avatar..."I can do all things through Christ...I can do all things through Christ...now, he wants to read everything. We used 123 Read from Alpha Omega and it's goal is not just to have a child read, but for them to learn to read from the BIBLE. I made a short video of him reading and I'm still trying to figure out how to use my video editing program. Oh and when you hear my son reading, his bottom front teeth are just growing back in so he may sound like a typical 6 year old 

This is something new...video on my blog

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Share Photos - Free Video Hosting

Espionage Lesson

A couple of months ago, our curriculum had us covering 'Espionage & Communication". WOW- how much fun could that be- or so I thought. It was more fun than I could have ever imagined.

The basis of the lesson came from our Bible lesson, as does all of Weaver. The Bible lesson was centered around Joshua  sending two men to Jericho to spy out the land and the crossing of the Jordan River by the Children of Israel. My children actually became spies- I have some pics of them dressing up to appear "spyful"-is that a word? Anyway, I told them to spy on each other without each other knowing. They had their little notebooks, ect...They did pretty good and decided they wanted to keep it going- not a good idea! For the crossing of the Jordan, we learned that there was a difference between the Red Sea rolling back and the Jordan River actually having an "invisible" dam. For this, the kids went out in the backyard and built a dam out of sticks and rocks. My daughter wanted her dam to also be used for irrigation purposes. After the dams were built, we tried them out and to our amazement- they really worked! My daughter's  "crops" had just enough water and her city survived. WOW! For the stones that were placed in the middle of the Jordan, each of the children painted some rocks I got from out of the driveway and wrote the name of each of the 12 tribes on them.

We learned about different types of bridges- which is another thing I thought would not be interesting, but once again, it was. As was suggested in the Weaver, we looked for different bridges while on our way to church-I was surprised at the amount of bridges we used on a regular basis and didn't realize it. I asked the kids how hard would it be for us to attend church without bridges. I found a website where the kids could build a virtual bridge and see if it could withstand an earthquake: http://www.newbaybridge.org/classroom/

We built satellites out of Lego's and of course we watched "Spy Kids" movies and a Disney movie about a little girl and a pet chimpanzee that was a spy- I can't remember the name of it, but it was decent and fun to watch.

Because there were so many activities in this chapter, we didn't do a lapbook with this one, but another Mom did and her ideas were great!!! Of course we took a trip to the Indianapolis Children's Museum on the opening day of the "Spy Exhibit" It was exactly what we needed. It helped to solidify in their minds what they had learned. Oh, they day the exhibit opened, the museum was CROWDED so, since then we have gone back at least 2 times then we could it enjoy it more without so many people being there. Here's a link to spy games: http://www.children smuseum.org/ special_exhibits /spyclub/

We made the attache cases using vanilla folder and Velcro and wrote
TOP SECRET on the cover and Secret Agent (child's name). I folded
them off center.

Things that we put in our attache cases:
*Typed I Peter 5:8 on cardstock with a lion sticker and put it in a
pocket.
*Made a minibook of Epigrams by Benjamin Franklin. They were copied
from Benjamin Franklin by d'Aulaire.
*Made a pocket for a paper whirly-copter we made out of paper. It was
invented by Alexander Graham Bell. He had an idea of a flying machine
that would fly straight up and down- we call them helicopters.
*A pocket contains homemade paper we made (Chinese) and a piece of
*clay with writing (Sumerians).
*Put in pictures of children inventing a flashlight. It did work too.
*Put in pictures of them making the clay tablets, inventing bridges,
making paper, painting frescoe on plaster like Michelangelo.
*And one of the spy treasure hunt after they solved the secret codes
and found the hidden clues and finally the treasure.
*Picture of my son standing on his popsicle stick bridge that he
invented.
*Envelope containing chromatography experiment.
*timeline from creation to 1250 BC.
*An envelope fold for inventions and inventors.
*light sensitive paper that they decorated and exposed. Placed in a
pocket with what the items were on the back. Can you guess what was
on the paper?
*There is an extension with Secret Codes written on it.
* One is the deaf code: a braille alphabet and a photocopy of the
hand alphabet.
*There are a couple illusions.
*One page has a list of books read or listened to, Nancy Drew
Mysteries solved on CDROM, and spy Movies watched.

Sandy

If you want more info on her lapbook- email me and I'll foward it to her.

Espionage Pictures

Cool Slideshows!

Juneteenth

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free..." From the Emancipation Proclamation

 

 

Growing up in church, for as far back as I can remember, I have been in church on New Year's Eve.

We call it "Watch Night Service".  We begin service at 9:00PM and continue until midnight when the pastor would lead us in a corporate prayer to pray into the New Year.  We have testimony service of what God has done for us over the year, ministers will preach sermonettes and the choir sings. Actually, a great majority of churches do this. I always thought, "What are we watching for?" I mean, how can you watch for something and have your eyes closed praying? Were we watching for Jesus to come again? No-the Bible says no man knows the day or the hour.

Then, I finally found out what it meant! The Emancipation Proclamation was read on September 22, 1862 and was to go into effect on January 1, 1863. Slaves gathered together in churches, homes, and buildings to "watch" and see if this great freedom would actually take place and thank God, it did!

But not everyone learned of their freedom right away...

 Juneteenth celebrates the freedom of over 250,000 slaves at the close of the Civil War. The holiday is based on events that occurred mainly in Texas but is now celebrated nationwide. The celebration takes its name from June 19, 1865, the day federal troops arrived in Galveston to enforce the Emancipation Procalmation. Although the Proclamation had taken effect on January 1, 1863, it freed few, if any, slaves.

News of the war's end did not reach Texas until well after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox . Many speculate that the news was deliberately withheld so that slave owners could bring in one last crop. Others believe that the news was delayed because the messenger traveled by mule while some believe the original messenger was murdered en route.

When the news was finally delivered, it was celebrated in great fashion. Over the years, Juneteenth festivals have evolved into day long events which include picnics, parades, music, dancing, and baseball. In Kansas City, events include a parade, a festival at Swope Park, karate and golf tournaments, a baseball game, a theatrical play, and the crowning of Mr. and Mrs. Juneteenth.

 

For more info on Juneteenth: http://www.childrenslit.com/th_juneteenth.html                                          http://www.libraries.phila.k12.pa.us/pennalexander/juneteenth/Juneteenth.index.html

From Crayola.com:

Juneteenth Proclamation Jubilation

   

What took nearly 3 years to travel from Washington, D.C., to Galveston, Texas? Celebrate Juneteenth with a replica of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

 

1. Today information travels instantaneously. So the idea that an important government announcement took almost 3 years to travel from Washington, D.C., to Galveston, Texas, seems unbelievable. Although Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, the slaves in Texas did not hear that they had been freed until June 19, 1865.

2. This announcement prompted spontaneous celebrations in the streets. African Americans celebrate Juneteenth (a combination of June and nineteenth) as a legal holiday in Texas and throughout the United States with parades, prayers, picnics, games, and family gatherings. A reading of the Emancipation Proclamation marks the beginning of many local festivities.

3. Look at a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation in a book or on the Internet. It is handwritten on paper that is now old and fragile. Read the entire Emancipation Proclamation. Notice that early documents were not written with a computer or even a ballpoint pen but perhaps a feather or fountain pen nubs.

4. Cover your work area with recycled newspaper. To make a replica of the Emancipation Proclamation, first create paper that appears to have aged. On a recycled foam produce tray, mix Crayola® Washable Kid's Paint in multicultural colors to create a light antique color. With a Crayola Paint Brush, cover watercolor paper with the paint. Blot paint with a paper towel to create the mottled look of antique paper. Dry.

5. Copy the words of freedom found in the first two paragraphs of the Emancipation Proclamation on the treated paper using Crayola Fine Line Markers. Use a fancy, cursive style of writing.

6. Sign the document with a simulated historic writing instrument. Thin brown paint with water until it is the consistency of writing ink. Cut a slanted point on a feather with Crayola Scissors. Dip the feather into the ink and write Lincoln's signature. Blot excess paint with a paper towel. Dry.

7. Decorate your historic document by drawing official ribbons and seals with markers.

• ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Adult supervision is recommended with all children.


• Safety guidelines recommend this art project as suitable for children ages 6 years and older. Adult supervision is required to ensure children's safety.

• Create a timeline leading up to emancipation, putting the proclamation into the historical context of the Civil War.


• Juneteenth remains one of the few U.S. holidays that does not have a commercial component. Identify other non-commercial holidays and speculate on what has protected them from exploitation.


• A legend tells that Abraham Lincoln's messenger to Texas had an ornery mule and that is why the news took so long to arrive. Debate whether the length of time was intentional or accidental.


• Plan a Juneteenth parade with appropriate floats, plays, music, and speakers.


• Older students study the Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights to find loopholes which were closed by the Emancipation Proclamation to insure rights for men of all colors. Further study these documents to see that the rights of women were omitted.

This year, we were able to attend our first Juneteenth Celebration at the local Children's Museum. It was fun and educational. My children entered a watermelon eating contest, which was great considering it was 93 degrees and humid! Here are some pics of us:

 

Juneteenth Pictures

Cool Slideshows!

Happy Father's Day!

This was taken from Daily Focus by Alpha Omega Publications, I thought it was pretty good and wanted to share. To join click here:

http://www.aop.com/blogs/homeschool/index.php/2006/12/06/having-daily-devotions-just-got-easier/ 

Also, Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband and my Daddy, I love you both:

"Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Daddy!"

Thanks Dad


“My son, hear the instruction of thy father.” (Proverbs 1:8a)

Homeschooling moms have a tendency to think they are the “lone ranger” when it comes to teaching their children. Although many moms are the sole instructor in each subject a child learns, dads equally contribute to a family’s homeschooling success with their quiet and sometimes unnoticed acts of love and support. Father’s Day is a wonderful time to change that tendency and to recognize fathers for their important part in homeschooling for such things as:

 

• Providing the working capital to keep school from going in the red. Dad’s hard-earned income enables us to buy fun educational material and curriculum as well as go on endless field trips. 

• Being the substitute teacher who gives mom a breather. Reading bedtime stories and practicing spelling words for Friday’s test provides the extra support necessary to keep a 24/7 homeschooling mom from burning out. Even a simple physical education class of baseball or basketball helps make time for errands or personal R & R.

• Serving as the “principal of the school.” The truth is, no one’s child is perfect and sometimes extra discipline is needed when homeschooling. Disruptive and disrespectful attitudes can be curtailed by the firm and loving correction that only a father can provide.

• Providing practical know-how in carpentry, mechanics, plumbing and other daily-living skills. Children will love the money saved on future repair bills because their father taught them how to “fix” things on their own.

• Being the spiritual leader who guides the family into the most important truth they ever learn – God loves them and sent His Son, Jesus, to be their Savior.

What plans have you made to honor the homeschool dad in your house this Father’s Day? Don’t let your husband go unnoticed for all his acts of love and behind-the-scenes support. Show appreciation for all he does to make your homsechooling successful and thank him for the love he communicates to your family. “Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Exodus 20:12)

My Grandma

 

 My Grandma at about the age of 18 with a part of her

quilt in the background

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Psalms 116:15

 On the 15th of June, my Grandma went from labor to reward, five years ago. On the way to son's baseball game, my daughter and I passed a small yard with a garden in the back of the house. My mind instantly thought about the summers I spent with my grandparents. My parents worked so, my Grandma would watch me. I can remember my Grandpa telling me or my cousin to go out and pick some red tomatoes from their backyard garden- this was big to us because we lived in the city. He would wash them off and go sit on the screened in front porch, with a salt shaker and eat them or my Grandma would pick some cucumbers and soak them in vinegar for later on in the day. Sometimes we would sit on the porch with a brown paper bag and Grandma would show me how to pick greens or get peas out of a pod. My favorite thing to do was to run through my Grandma's freshly washed sheets that she would hang out to dry. I loved how they smelled. Today, I was washing my face and the scent of the wash cloth transported me back to those days. It smelled so much like those sheets! My Grandma would see me running through them and attempt to tell me to get out of them and then she would laugh. I have heard my entire life that I look like my Grandma. I never saw it. My mom found the picture above of her at a relatives house after Grandma was gone to be with the Lord. When I saw it for the first time, I thought I was looking in the mirror! It is now my FAVORITE picture of her. So when I really miss her, I just go look in the mirror and smile and realize she still lives on.

I miss my Grandma and it is so hard to type this and not cry. Then I thought about the blessed hope we have in Jesus.  She's not dead- but asleep!

"For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 

I Thessalonians 4:14-18

"But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

Romans 8:11

For the month of February I decided we should cover Black History. I went to the library and borrowed some books as usual. I was looking for a particular book called "Sweet Sarah and the Freedom Quilt". In this story Clara has a quilt that is really a map of the Underground Railroad. Each patch represents a part of the escape route. I thought that would be pretty neat to cover since we have two quilts in the house that my 85 year old great aunt had made. I noticed next to that book was another one and I basically grabbed it because it looked like it would go along with the lesson. It stayed on my shelf for about two weeks until I took it down to read it to the children. The name of this book was "The Patchwork Quilt" as I read the book it became very interesting. I found out later it was the children's version of the book "Hidden In Plain View". The adult version talked of the secret slave codes that were hidden in quilts during slavery.

The quilts were to look as if they were airing out, but it was a message to the other slaves. As I looked at the patterns, one looked strangely familiar.

As I began to look further into the two books, I was very surprised to discover that pattern in the book was the pattern on one of the quilts my great aunt had made!  It is called the Dresden Wheel- it was used to alert other slaves that the one who hung it out to "air" were about to make a journey on the Underground Railroad and their help would be needed to gather extra food and supplies and a cover for them to make this journey.

The Dresden Wheel was from a pattern for china made in Germany. And it also represented Dresden, Ohio- a stop on the Underground Railroad.

The beautiful part of my story is that my Grandmother passed away 3 years ago on a hot day on June 15th. She had her front door and back door opened as if she were hot, but she had that Dresden Quilt over her. We believe she was letting us know that she was about to take her journey from earth to glory and she was ready to go.

 

The Underground Railroad Quilt Code Patterns
	Monkey Wrench Prepare the tools you’ll need for the long journey, including the mental and spiritual tools. Or (as a Ship’s Wheel), the pilot is prepared to begin the transport.
	Wagon WheelLoad the wagon or prepare to board the wagon to begin the escape.
	Bear’s Paw Take a mountain trail, out of view. Follow the path made by bear tracks; they can lead you to water and food.
	Crossroads Refers to Cleveland, Ohio, a destination offering several routes to freedom. It also signifies reaching a point where a person’s life will change, so one must be willing to go on.
	Log Cabin A secret symbol that could be drawn on the ground indicating that a person is safe to talk to. It also advises seeking shelter
	Shoofly Possibly identifies a friendly guide who is nearby and can help.
	BowtieDress in a disguise, or put on a change of clothes.
	Flying Geese Points to a direction to follow, such as where geese would fly during spring migration.
	Drunkard’s Path Create a zig-zag path, do not walk in a straight line, to avoid pursuers in this area.
	Star Follow the North Star. Worked in conjunction with the popular song, “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” a reference to the Big Dipper constellation.

 

The above was taken from & includes instructions of how to make

your own Freedom Quilt:

 

Here are some websites I used for info and they have many different links:

http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/Socialstd/grade5/Sweet_Clara.html

Tadpoles

On the Weaver list, we have been having discussions about tadpoles and frogs- or should I say, how we can successfully keep them alive! My children have been wanting another tadpole, so I thought this is the time of year to find them. We looked so many places and didn't find anything but, what a man at the pet store called "Pond Scum". It was gross and he touched it. Actually, it was just algae, but it looked nasty. I came to the conclusion that all the frogs in Indiana have gone on strike and refuse to multiply.

It was suggested that I order some online and have them mailed to me. But as someone said on the group list, there's something not right about getting tadpoles in the mail.

So, back we went to the pet store and they had gotten a fresh shipment in and I got two!

My daughter named one Leah and my son named the other one J3 (for Jumpers the 3rd-yeah, we had that many in the past)

Here's a picture:

That's J3 on the left and Leah on the right.

The next thing on my agenda to get is...A Venus Flytrap. We had one last year and it was soooooo neat to watch when a fly or insect got into it!

The Home Schooler's 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to live on less sleep: He leadeth me through the noise of many voices.

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me to teach the right lessons each day, for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of undone Laundry and kitchen messes, I will fear no evil: For thou art with me, my teacher’s guides and Answer keys, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence Of threatening school officials and critical family members: Thou anointest my head with heavenly wisdom, my cup runneth over.

Surely educated and godly children shall follow after me All the days of my life: and I will dwell again one day In a clean house with the Lord forevermore.