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

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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)