Science Outreach with Head Start

Our Co-op meets at church; on the same campus, in the Knights Hall, is a Head Start class of twenty. Our kids perform monthly programs for the kids. I like to do outreach events.  The four year olds get a little science enrichment; the Co-op kids all gain leadership experience.  We aim for monthly, half-hour sessions.  This month we chose Instant Snow, Grow Beads, and two forms of Jumping Pepper.  One version uses dish detergent and the other with a ballon and static electricity.  Aren't the kids adorable?  We chose four activities we hadn't had time for last session.  Nancy, the Head Start teacher, wanted to limit the session to about 30 minutes to allow time for recess before lunch.  When we plan these activities, we make sure to have all of the materials in advance and to allow enough time to set up materials, typically between 30 minutes and an hour.  We plan for 15-30 minutes for clean-up after.  With twenty four year olds, we divided the class into four groups and rotated the stations.  There were ten Co-op kids facilitating the event, ranging in age from six to fourteen.  I worked with the six and seven year old at their station.  Consider doing this sort of activity with your Co-op.  All of the kids involved benefit.

Bar Graph

Yes, we are still proceeding at a  glacial pace in my science class.  I thought you might like ideas for creating bar graphs.  Today, we completed three labs: Muscle Fatigue, Reaction Times, and Hot Hand.  The kids had finished the muscle lab two weeks ago when we last met.  I summarized their data on the board.  Creating bar graphs and averaging the data took an hour. I had the older kids copy the summarized data and take averages while the younger kids did some copy work.  Everyone created bar graphs.  I helped the kids set up axes, count by fives, and plot the data.  The kids plotted everyone's data and then we dicsussed briefly what the graph represents.  I wanted the class to get an idea that the graph summarizes the data they collected. This process took an hour.  Next the kids each did ten trials with rulers to collect reaction times.  Once again, I had the class average and graph the class data.  For the third lab, the kids took temperature measures for their fingers, palms, wrists, elbows, and under arms with the digital thermometers using Sparkvue and Vernier equipment.  The kids summarized an average for each body part in one bar graph from their data.  By the third time, the kids were setting up axes and graphing with aplomb.  They also have a good grasp of experimental design.  Everyone can create a bar graph!

What about history?

Finding a good history textbook is almost as tough as a locating a decent basal reader.  I think English  instruction should coincide with history.  For example, if the English textbook focuses on American history, shouldn't the history book also be American history?  My friend, Michelle, shared copies of a terrific Catholic series from The Catholic Textbook Project.  This site has samples from the text and workbook.  My advise to families new to home-schooling is to first focus on the basics: math, English, history, and science.  There is nothing wrong with using a workbook that accompanies the text.  Think of this as a safety net.  The exercises in the workbook often spark ideas or help identify areas the child may need to polish.  If the kids are getting core instruction, you're free to pursue projects and passions.

How to you handle tests?

One question I get often is whether or not my Co-op kids have tests.  I'm evaluating them all the time; occaisionally, we have a quiz, such as labeling the parts of the microscope.  Below is yesterday's Biology class description.  Please note that assessment is a continuous aspect of the class.

We started by looking at the pond samples the kids have cultured.  Whoa! We did not look very long.  What an odor!  Basically, I out a drop of stain on a sample.  For the most part, the slide had bacteria, loads of bacteria.  How were they assessed?  I checked their sketches in their notes.  When they had finished the slides, we reviewed the kids' corrections to their reports and made a few more notes.  I'm sure you're asking about the types of corrections.  Reports, unlike this blog, should be written in the third person, using the active voice, in the present tense and indicative mood.  I point out details regarding the content or minor grammar errors, such as the use of 'their' or that a colon follows a noun.

I shared a presentation about protists, checked their biological keys in their notes, and asked about their reading.  Here, we talked about the value of constructing biological keys.  In my opinion, a few examples are plenty.  I think they should key out species using a key rather than construct fifty.  The girls said the charts in the modules make this exercise easy to finish and they correct their answers after they finish.  Fine, either way.

We spent a good bit of time doing a little comparative morphology.  Basically, we looked at different phyla and created  charts comparing different aspects: nutrition, reproduction, cell wall composition, unique features, representative species, etc.  The girls polished their Malaria presentation and delivered it to the Anatomy class this afternoon.  I like this type of alternative assessment.  The kids presented the lesson and were able to field all of the questions I hit them with, such as 'Where is malaria most prevalent?' or 'How is it transmitted?'  The Malaria project was the result of an assignment, called Mrs. Jones, from the CDC I assigned as home-work last week.  They concluded with a hands-on activity about malaria.  Perfect!  The next time we meet, which won't be for two weeks, we'll tackle Fungi.

Want to see another form of alternative assessment?  Take a look at Meg's blog.

Basal Reader: Open Court

I've been obsessed with locating more information about Open Court basal readers-the older versions.  The trick is locating them and deciphering which book goes with each grade.  This post has the titles for three of the older Open Court series.  Paul Wigowsky has put together some of the original resources from Open Court's phonic program, including excerpts from the teacher's guide to Phonics.  Here are the original stories! Now, I'm a huge fan of technology and inquiry-based instruction.  I'm also old school and believe core English instruction should include an anthology of literature tied to a specific period of History and augmented with rigorous instruction in grammar and composition.  I think kids should memorize poems, write dictations, and craft reports.  If the literature coincides with a period of History, the kids can use the stories to locate places on maps.  For example, they can read stories about  Lewis and Clark while tracing their journey on a map, or variety of maps: topographical, modern, and historic.  At the same time, the kids can create time-lines of events.  See what I mean by old school?
I've done some research to locate more information about the older series below.

Open Court
This site looks as though it has a few support materials for the 2002 edition of Readers?

http://www.jacketflap.com/open-court-publishing-company-publisher-5254 (List)

RISE and Headway Series

Rainbow Bridge: 1989 1st Grade

A Shiny Golden Path 1989 1:2

Slide Down the Sky: 1989 2nd Grade

Time for Dreams: 1989 3rd grade

Sound of the Sea: 5th Grade

Across the World

From Sea to Shining Sea

What Joy Awaits You

The Blue Pillowed Sky: 1989 1st Grade

Promises to Keep: 1989

Across the World: Grade 3 1989

Capistrano has units for 2002 http://capousd.ca.schoolloop.com/search/search_results?d=x&search_term=Open+court+units

Open Court Phonics

http://wigowsky.com/school/opencourt/opencourt.htm

Writing prompts

http://www.opencourtresources.com/ocr/grade2/newunitpages/sharing_stories/writing_projects/weekly_prompts_entire_second_grade.pdf

Vocabulary Activities

http://www.opencourtresources.com/ocr/gradex/vocab.html

First Grade Reading Connections 2002

http://www.savsd.k12.ca.us/Common%20Core%20Grade%201%20Reading%20Connections.html

Grade Three

http://kc3rd.pbworks.com/w/page/1753119/Open%20Court%20Reading

Outreach Update!

What else did we do at the outreach event?  Technology!  I did an intro to Vernier and Pasco.  I brought a variety of probes to demonstrate.  See Loggerlite above.  And Sparkvue with Pasco below.  Yes, I'm that committed to technology!

More Science Ideas to try

Today, I went to St. Patrick's to do some outreach with the teachers.  I took two photos and got caught up on n the instruction and forgot to take any more pix.  Sorry. We started by polling the teachers' background and expectations for the workshop.  Well, their background included the standard instruction for elementary teachers and they were open to any new ideas.  Great!   We worked through Apple mummies and then did a 'show and tell'.  The next workshop will be more tailored.  So what did we do?  I raided my stash of goodies from Educational Innovations: tornados, UV beads, glow germs, instant snow, and grow spheres.  What else?  Jumping pepper two ways.  Above with static and below with dish soap as a surfactant.

High School Science: POGIL

If you're teaching a high school science class, consider adding some POGIL activities.  POGIL is intended as a year-long course for High School or College classes.  Instead, I add a few activities to supplement my classes.  These guides are tough!  They make kids think!  Yeah!  Let me share a few links: Instructor's guide, Chemistry activities, and other sample activities.  I was at an AP Chemistry workshop years ago, where I first learned about POGIL.  Inquiry lessons are at the core of my instruction.  Consequently, I like the way POGIL structures questions that lead students through a given lesson.

Science Lesson Plans: BSCS 5E Model

There are loads of models to create lesson plans.  One I especially like is the BSCS 5E Model.  The five 'E's are Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend or Elaborate, and Evaluate.  The Crumpled Paper Watershed lesson uses this model for instruction.  My own lessons are looser.  For example, I borrowed an Enviroscape model to 'engage' the kids and introduce the concept.  Next, I use different activities to both explain and extend: Color Me a Watershed, Dragonfly Pond, Cacapon Institute's Virtual Streams, and Lamotte Water Quality tests.  I use the activities that are part of Cacapon Institute's e-school to elaborate on the watershed concept.  One way to evaluate the kids is to do a stream assessment.  Can the kids identify the benthic macroinvertebrates or test the water successfully?  The kids can take photos and create a slideshow on a blog for assessment.  The class might want to improve the stream site by planting trees or scrubs along the riparian buffer.  Please note that these lessons dovetail well with projects and project-based learning.  5E is just a framework for hands-on instruction.

NSTA Book Review: Video Games

The review is published!
Last year, one group of my students explored coding for their science fair project.  I have never seen a group more engaged!  Yes, they performed well at the regional science fair.  Moreover, these girls tried Code Academy, did a mountain of research on passwords or pass phrases, and several experiments.  When Video Games, Design and Code Your Own Adventure  by Kathy Ceceri arrived, I knew from experience, kids would love to design their own video games.  This book is sure to be a hit!

Video Games has a history of computer games and goes in some length to describe the psychology underlying successful games.  There are loads of projects throughout Video Games, such as the Cardboard Arcade Game (p. 8) and my favorite, Build Your Own Mancala Game (p. 23), with an egg carton and beans.  Ms. Ceceri describes the process of designing and developing an original video game in some depth.  The colorful illustrations by Mike Crosier will inspire kids to try to make their own graphics.  Ms. Ceceri makes a point to describe terms germane to video games, such as haptics (p. 96) both in the text and in the glossary (pp. 113-116) and includes several pages of resources at the end of the book.

My Biology class is writing a children’s book together and decided to add a video game to support the book about polar bears, penguins, and pandas.  The class was brain-storming ideas for a game to include habitats, food they eat, fun facts, etc.  In Video Games, the book suggests the web site, Scratch, and includes instructions to create a Memory Game in Scratch (p. 100).  I shared this idea with the class and emailed the link for Scratch to one of the parents to preview.  Video Games has wide appeal.  Librarians should pick up a copy as a resource for an afterschool gaming club.  The project ideas, such as Scratch Cat Dodge Ball (p. 81) and Write a Pseudocode Algorithm (p.84) may be suitable for an elementary computer class to try.  Parents and teachers alike who are interested in STEM or STEAM should pick up a copy.  I can’t wait to see what my Biology class produces.

PBLs: Make Mine Watersheds

I ran across a watershed resource under development from Nest Generation Science Standards in conjunction with Common Core Standards.  I know, I was ready to give it a miss, too.  But the exercise combines some math with Earth Science.  Ignore the source and focus on the good content.
Watersheds are typical of PBLs or Project Based Learning.  My Biology class began a Watershed project I'm integrating along with Ecology into I the curriculum.  I brought an Enviroscape model to class to introduce the concept of a watershed.  (Contact the local conservation district or extension office.  Ask if they have an education specialist trained to deliver a lesson with an .Enviroscape.  Chances are good they'll know someone with a model.)  Subsequently, I've been adding material to the Biology content.  Right now, the class is learning how to test water with Lamotte Water Quality Test kits.  (While you're calling the conservation district, ask them if they have water test kits available, too.  Trouts Unlimited or Audubon might know of an agency with test kits.  My chief skill is working a phone.) Even without many resources, you can go to a stream and do an assessment using a thermometer, tennis ball, meter stick, and ice cube trays.  Start with a visit to Cacapon Institute's virtual stream to learn how to indentify benthic macroinvertebrates. Save our Streams' assessment sheet is useful in the field out at the creek.  This Stream Ecology article explains how to takes several measurements at the stream.  Isn't this cool?  Your kids can do a sophisticated stream assay with very simple equipment.  Below are a few resources related to Watersheds if you're feeling ambitious.


Project Wet Color Me a Watershed has a little math.

Watershed Education Lesson Plans

Crumple Me A Watershed is unusually detailed.

4 H2O Ambassador Program is more my speed.  This 4-H guide is more cryptic and may not have enough to detailed information for a newbie.  I loved the idea in the guide for an Edible Watershed and just did a quick search to locate a version with more description.

A Note on Inquiry based lab

Inquiry-based labs are different.  For one, they tend to be more open-ended.  Often the experiments in the home-school textbooks are more cook-book style.  Inquiry also involves more experimental design.  One lab I've done to help teach both inquiry and experimental design is this Accuracy and Precision lab.  After a brief discussion of the difference between accuracy and precision, I let the kids design the lab with meter sticks, solo cups, and sponges.  Before they start, the kids are instructed to do at least 30 trials; the statistics teacher had recommended 30 as a minimum for human trials.  Try it.  Loads of questions arise.  How will you replicate each trial?  What height?  Should the partners trade roles?  Should we wet the sponge?  Will that make the results more or less accurate?  Should we measure in centimeters or inches?  Centimeters or millimeters?  I have the kids calculate and report the mean, median, and mode.  Lastly, they write a brief explanation distinguishing between accuracy and precision.  Simple tools with loads of science.

Planning an Inquiry-based lab

Yesterday, during one of my classes at Co-op, the kids made 'apple mummies'.  The experiment in the Young Explorer Human Anatomy textbook to make a mummy with a mixture of baking soda and salt with one apple, leaving a second as a control.  Fine.  But, this is an opportunity to take an experiment and adapt it for inquiry.  First, the Egyptians used natron, a fact I remembered back when I'd helped the school librarian sponsor an Egyptian camp.  We made orange mummies.  Natron is a mix of compounds and can be approximated with washing soda, baking soda, and salt.  I tossed in Epsom salts for our lab.  Since natron is a mixture, it would be logical to test a similar mixture.  But how would you determine if the individual compounds might also work?  Which combination?  See where I'm heading.

Here's what we did.  This class has five home-schoolers, aged 6-11.  Together, we determined the supplies.  I set the total mass of compounds at 60 grams.  On a blackboard, I drew cups, labeled the compounds by their names and assigned numbers: 1. washing soda, 2. Epsom salts, 3. Baking soda, and 4. table salt.  Cup 5 is the control.  Under this row, I drew another row of cups and walked the kids through  two different combinations of compounds: 1+2, 1+3, 1+4, 2+3, and 2+4.  In the third row, I drew another series of cups with three different mixtures: 1+2+3, 1+3+4, and 2+3+4.  After a minute to explain the mixtures, the kids dispersed to weigh, mark cups, locate the different chemicals, and trouble shoot.  We decided to weigh the apples and write their respective masses on individual cups.  This takes time.  We made sure everyone had a chance to weigh with a digital balance using the tare button.  After, the kids noted their predictions regarding which mixture would dry the apple most and copied the blackboard into their notes.  Next week, we'll look at the mummies and weigh the apple pieces.  Finally, we'll look at their predictions to see if the evidence supports or refutes their hypotheses.  Yes, this is a lot more work.  The result is a lot more science.  This apple mummy lab is similar and can be adapted to add more salts.

Notebooks

This fall, I'm teaching a class of elementary age children with Apologia's Young Explorer's Human Anatomy.  The series has companion notebooks for both younger and older elementary students.  So, I'm going to use both the Junior and regular notebooks with the class.  My emphasis is always to use 'hands-on' instruction; the book series suits me.  What's new for me is the integral focus on notebooks.  Don't get me wrong.  My kids have used notebooks for their classes.  I've never had a dedicated workbook I liked and which have some flexibility.  Apart from science camps or college courses,  I haven't taught mixed aged classes either.

Here's my plan.  First, I want to include book activities and photos of activities from class to make the notebook more of a scrapbook or lapbooks-ideal for portfolio submissions.  We'll add Montessorri album ideas, mini-books, and pockets.  Montessori Three Part Cards are useful to introduce nomenclature.  You can follow my adventure with notebooks and Young Explorers at my science blog.  Look for the Young Explorer headings.

How about a Co-op?

Many Home-school families turn to Co-ops for help.  These Co-ops vary.  In our area, parents club together to assign teaching duties; classes meet weekly.  The Priory nearby offers Latin classes.  At our church, three adults offer Biology, Accounting, and Spanish, one a retired teacher, one a retired financial controller, and a native speaker.  The Classical Cottage School at the Baptist church has several retired teachers who act as independent contractors, whom parents pay directly.  They offer a wide range of courses two days each week.

The Home-school families I work with asked me to teach science classes several years ago.  The families were a bit intimidated by the subject matter and materials needed.  The families asked me to help.  We meet on Wednesdays, three hours,  from September to May.

  How do you find a Co-op?  First, ask around to see if there's a home-school network.  Access the network to locate a Co-op.  None in your area?  Does the private school allow part-timers?  Does your pastor teach a Latin class?  What about retirees?  Ask!  Create your own!  See if your church can offer space.  Meet with a few like-minded home-schoolers to gauge need.  Network!  Ask about retirees!  Put a notice in the church bulletin.  Be brave!

Last week, sisters from a new convent came to our church yard sale to pick up furniture and household goods.  The sisters are from Mexico.  The Mother Superior spoke with me and mentioned her need for English lessons.  My friend, Suzy, just retired--she was an ESL teacher.  I spoke with her after Mass.  See?  Network!  Ask around!  You can do this!

Easy Ways To Add Technology

The local, public schools have a Chromebooks initiative.  Too often adding technology means watching a video or PowerPoint slideshow from a Smartboard or typing answers to questions and emailing them to the teacher.  Instead, the hunt should be for meaningful ways to inject a little technology-other than Khan Academy!  Why not create a blog yourself?  My home-school students make videos, posted them to YouTube, and linked them to their own blogs.  Check out A Half Eaten Muffin's blog. The kids were instructed to imagine they were addressing a home-schooler in Alaska or Montana, isolated, and in need of help.  For my kids, this is a means of assessment.  If you can teach a lesson, I think you probably understand it.  Their blogs became part of their digital portfolios.

This fall my kids are going to write and illustrate their own children's science books.  Fun, right?  You can, too!  Pick a topic germane to your lessons.  My kids are going to select an animal, any animal. Together, the kids and I will develop a rubric, a guide to determine just what constitutes a completed project.  We'll set a reasonable time-line to finish, say two weeks or so.  I'll ask the kids to scan their illustrations (or use images from Creative Commons-with citations!) and send me their books.  Once they're finished, we look for ways to publish.   These book creator tools look promising.

One more idea: create an app.    Start by learning to code at Code Academy or do an Hour of Code with Khan Academy.  Try an App Maker's templates to create an app.  Now, isn't this more meaningful than jousting watching an Internet video?  This time the kids will be watching YouTube for tips to improve their app!    Too ambitious?  My Bio kids are going to evaluate apps, such as Plant ID,  House Spiders (Spida in Da House), and Merlin, a bird ID app.  I may have the kids write reviews to evaluate these apps.  Now, isn't this practical?

Project Ideas: Backyard Habitat

I'm always looking for new ideas.  This year my Co-op class is meeting at church and a Head Start class meets in the Knights of Columbus building on the church campus.  I'd like the Co-op to do some outreach with the little ones.  I've done this successfully in the past.  My students assemble activities to teach young children.  It's a great way to assess understanding.  Right now, the church has a playground out back.  I think we can do better.  Why not create a backyard habitat?  Our church has a woods, stream, and over 50 acres.  We're going to start by polling the Co-op class to see what they'd like to do.  Easy ideas can include building bluebird boxes, a bat house, a raised bed with native plants or pollinator plants, a vertical pallet garden, a toad abode, bird feeders, and even a bird bath!  Want to learn more about creating a backyard habitat?  Below are loads of resources.  You could even get yours certified!


Backyard Habitat
How-to Guide Part 1
How-to Guide Part 2
How-to Guide Part 3
How-to Guide Part 4

Create a Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat
Schoolyard Habitat
Common Qualities for Excellent Schoolyard Habitats

What's Your Habitat? An Elementary Habitat Lesson
Who Can Live Here? High School Habitat Lesson

National Wildlife Federation Webinars

TI 84 with EasyLink

The easiest way to collect data is to use a TI 84 graphing calculator, an EasyLink, and a sensor.  Voila!  You're digital.  The TI 84 has EasyData preloaded.  This app enables the calculator to collect data.  Collecting data is a cinch.  If you connect the EasyLink to a sensor, such as the temperature probe, and connect the EasyLink to the calculator, the TI 84 will identify the sensor and display data on its screen.  Accessing this data is another matter.  The manual has details-too many for a novice.  If you collect data, it's stored in the Stat function.  Watch these!

Go!Temp

Another choice is GoTemp, a Vernier temperature probe and Logger Lite software.  The GoTemp has a USB connector for a laptop.  Logger Lite is a free download from Vernier.  Go!Link is a USB adapter for computers to use with other types of Vernier probes. These probes are intended for elementary school instruction.  The equipment is suitable for any lab requiring a thermometer.  Here are screen by screen instructions to set up Go!Temp in Logger Lite. Vernier has preview labs for evaluation, such as Are we cool, or what?  or Get Started with Go!Temp? I bet you're asking what is the advantage to using probes in science.  The probes are a means of collecting a large set of data quickly to analyze or graph.  Here's the thing.  I think it takes more of an investment of time and effort to wade through the Vernier  probe and software than with Pasco Pasport probes.  But for around $30 you can buy a temperature probe, download the free software and roll if you have a computer.  Let me leave you with this tutorial of how to collect data with Logger Lite.

Try some technology: Pasco

I use both Vernier and Pasco sensors.  If you have an iPad, you can download tons of free labs called SPARKlabs.   The Pasco sensors require an interface. The Airlink2 is a Bluetooth device for the iPad.  The Pasport sensors lock into the Airlink2 to collect data.  Where to begin?  Try a temperature probe. I have had good luck buying used sensors.  The Pasco user guide explains how to use the probe.  Here are some ideas for elementary science labs once you get the hang of the probe.

Probes or Sensors: Integrating Technology

Technology is a controversial topic.  If you're interested in adding some technology to your curriculum, consider using sensors or probes.  I use sensors in science for a few labs each year just for the exposure.  You need an interface platform and probes.  The two main science companies selling interfaces and probes are Pasco and Vernier.  Their respective probes are not compatible, much like Apple and Windows.  I think Pasco is easier to use-more intuitive.  However, if you have a TI 84 graphing calculator, it connects with Easy Link and most of the Vernier probes connect.  The Easy Data app is loaded on the calculator.  (The EasyTemp temperature probe connects directly to the TI 84 calculator without the Easy Link.)  Start with a temperature probe.  Once you are comfortable with the probe, try this lab idea to begin.  You can also use the temperature probe for the air and water  temperature at the stream for a water quality study.

Watersheds: What's next? Trees!

Your kids have accomplished a few simple projects and are clamoring for something more involved.  The answer depends on the site. But many properties could benefit by having more trees.  Tree planting is a good fall project.  Trees mitigate excess stormwater runoff and often are front and center in mitigation or restoration projects.  Talk to the local forester and get advice.  What species of tree?  Where is it best suited?  How big of a hole?   How many?  Do they need to be staked?  What can we do to protect the tree from deer? How do we notify utilities?  Do we have to?  See?  Call the Division of Forestry and say, "Could I get advice before my Co-op plants trees?"

Meet with your Co-op and start by asking the kids what types of trees they had in mind and where they want to put them.  See if the Forester can meet with all of you at the same time to go over ideas.  Chances are the forester will recommend planting natives, which are hardier.  The best location depends on the tree.  For example, a native black willow likes water.

Once you've selected the type of tree, it's availability, and the location for planting, make a plan.  In your plans include a call to the utilities, a trip to the nursery, a place to store the trees temporarily before planting, a date, and tools.  (Ask volunteers to mark their shovels and rakes!)  Stage an area with the trees and tools before planting.  Have the kids bring water and clean clothes to change into after the planting!  Have a ball!  You're going to be amazed how much the kids appreciate this project.

Watersheds: Step Two

If your Co-op has successfully completed a small project without coming to blows, it's time to expand the scope a bit.  Has your group installed a rain barrel or planted a pallet garden?  Did you hang a rain chain or stencil storm drains?  Do you want a restoration project?  Cacapon Institute's Project Page  can give you ideas.  What about a  raised bed with native plants?  Last fall, the kids at Winchester Academy scavenged landscape ties and got soil, plants, nails,and mulch donated.  You can paint untreated lumber to protect it.  Raised beds are easier to maintain.  Use native plants which are hardier.  Be sure to label the plants.  Ask kids to research their botanical names.  Create a garden plant map.  Ask them to look up the advantages of raised beds.  Take photos and document the process for your blog, lapbook, or electronic portfolio.

Watersheds 101: Step One

Did you ask your Co-op group or family if they want to do an environmental project?  If their answer was a resounding 'yes', then it's time to consider examples of watershed projects.  The project does not have to be complicated or expensive to resonate with kids.  Two ideas are planting a vertical wall and installing a rain barrel.  My kids have constructed vertical green walls from pallets.  This is very economical.  You will need a pallet, landscape fabric, burlap, soil, and plants.  We did not have any luck germinating seeds in a vertical wall.  We did some long term experiments with herbs over the winter with mixed results.  Our original purpose was to try to cultivate native plants inside with a vertical wall to replant outside later as part of another mitigation project.  I still like the idea.

We bought, painted, and eventually installed rain barrels, too.  The rain barrel is set up to collect water from a down spout attached to gutters surrounding the roof of your house.  Kids like to paint them.  Projects like these must belong to the kids to be successful.  They must research designs, instructions, tips, etc.  The kids should be prepared to explain how their project impacts the local watershed.  They should make calls to locate supplies.  The kids should budget.  The more you let them do, the better.  The success of small projects pave the way to larger projects.  Take a big breath and let the kids run the project.

Watershed Projects 101

Why Watershed?  There are scores of ideas and resources available.  Are you interested?  Start small. When I started Apples Get Wet at Musselman High in Inwood, WV, I had environmental experience at two different schools and had learned a few lessons.  The first thing I did was to contact the EPCD because the strong partnership I had forged with the John Marshall Soil and Water Conservation District.  Both agencies have education specialists trained to work with teachers and contacts with public and private agencies to help you network.

I met with the education specialist at EPCD and explained that I wanted to start an environmental program from scratch.  She gave my contact information to a bunch of local agencies.  I met  The Cacapon Institute.  Together we forged a plan to start a club and do a project.  Several other agencies got involved to help.  The first year a dozen kids helped plant 16 trees in a low-lying field to collect water and mitigate excess storm water runoff.  Over the next eight years the club grew to about 100 active members who improved a wetland, installed a rain garden and green roof, built two large raised beds, landscaped a new Rec Center, and planted over 400 trees on campus.  The club took on two big planting day projects every year, spring and fall.  The kids did any number of smaller projects for the school all year. (Cacapon Institute Projects. Look for Musselman High's projects.)

Ask your Co-op what they would like to accomplish.  Line up some ideas and call the local Conservation District.  What about Boy Scouts?  Are they interested in a partnership?  Are there any projects you would like to do at your church?  Do the Co-op's interests and those of your church intercept?  Kids love to plant trees.  I can't offer any explanation except they derive enormous satisfaction from pointing to a tree they've planted themselves.

Great Chemistry Textbooks for High School

I have taught Science for many years, especially Chemistry.  The best textbook was Chemistry Experimental Foundations.  This text uses the Socratic method for its instruction and includes provocative headings, such as 'Why We Believe in Atoms'.  These textbooks are usually cheap to buy--even the teacher's guide! This teacher's guide is complete: notes, answer keys, quizzes, and labs, all in one guide.  The basics in Chemistry haven't changed.  Just a warning--this textbook is challenging both for the student and the instructor.

Another solid textbook is the fifth edition of Introductory Chemistry. Get a copy of an instructor's edition.  Zumdahl believes in problem sets, hundreds of problem sets.  These older editions are well edited.  Rarely are there errors.  So, you won't waste 45 minutes pulling out your hair trying to understand what you did incorrectly only to Google it an learn the error is in the textbook!  Cheaper, harder, and better edited.  A trifecta!

Anatomy Academy or A&P-- This Time for Teen Projects!

My Home-school Co-op class resumes this fall and I'm teaching Biology.  Even though Apologia omits anatomy from its general biology course, I like to include a unit.  Yes, I'm obsessing about projects AND anatomy.  But, how can anatomy be a project?  Let me show you.


If you are looking for Human Biology Science Fair project, Science Buddies  and Science Fair Projects World have some ideas.  (No, your science fair project does not need to be an original idea.  It's not cheating to use one from a list.). Incidently, now is the time to start thinking about Science Fair.  The International Science Fair is sponsored by Intel.  Anyone can participate.  Note that most schools follow the Intel rules and guidelines.  Here is a link with a sample.  Look on the right side of the page.  I've written a number of blogs about science fair at mrsstevenschemistryclasses.blogspot.com

What else?  Yes, you might sculpt models, color anatomy pages, or make a lap book.  In fact, those are all perfectly adequate ways to learn about anatomy.  But, as a teen, it's time for you to take charge of your education.  Would you like to shadow a doctor or vet?  Call the local hospital and explain that you are interested in a medical career.  Does the hospital have a job-shadowing program or internship?  Do they offer special camps or outreach events?  Is it possible to volunteer at a health fair?  Be persistent.  Chances are your first phone calls will be intercepted by the hospital auxiliary volunteers.  Ask them to redirect you to the hospital staff or Human Resiurces office.

How do you feel about a completely conventional approach?  Take a course!  Carnegie Mellon University's Open Learning Initiative has an A&P class for you.  Try it! It's free!

Anatomy Projects for Elementary Aged Kids

Are you looking for a family project for your elementary aged children?  Let your teens help prep the lessons, too!  Elementary children often obsess over cooties.  Let's teach them about germs using glitter.  If you are preparing anatomy lessons for a bigger group or Co-op, consider investing in a Glo Germs kit and has an excellent lesson  with a little history tossed in.  (Amazon sells a UV flashlight and Glo lotion for less.)  Here's my inspiration to craft fake germs.  When I do an outreach event, I bring the book, Germs Make Me Sick and fake germs with my Glo Germ kit.  Tracking a Virus is a terrific tool to teach contagious diseases.  Home Training Tools sells the phenolphthalein for the lab.  Here is a Germs lapbook available to download free.

Let's launch anatomy with Body Bingo and see what your kids already know.  I love these anatomy t-shirts to color.  I'm dying to try this with my Biology class this fall.  Before you print copies of the human skeleton or other body organs, let's build models!  Make this model of the lungs and explain how the balloon is analogous to the diaphragm.  Video a 'shoe and tell' of your kids making and demonstrating the model for your electronic portfolio.  Let's see how the heart pumps blood.  Make up a big batch of clay and go to down sculpting ears, eyeballs, brain, or heart.

Try some physiology experiments: the Stroop Effect (from Neuroscience For Kids), test muscle fatigue, measure CO2 output, and gauge your reflexes.  The entire family can do these labs together. I

If you want to make this project more consistent with Project-Based Learning, consider taking this show on the road.  Field test some of the labs at home and then lead your home-school Co-op through the different labs or show-case your anatomy models.  Write your own blog and share your photos.  The blog can be part of your electronic portfolio.

Can't get enough?  Apologia has an anatomy and physiology course for elementary aged students.  Live and Learn has a free sample notebook for Anatomy.

Anatomy Projects for Elementary Aged Kids

Are you looking for a family project for your elementary aged children?  Let your teens help prep the lessons, too!  Elementary children often obsess over cooties.  Let's teach them about germs using glitter.  If you are preparing anatomy lessons for a bigger group or Co-op, consider investing in a Glo Germs kit and has an excellent lesson  with a little history tossed in.  (Amazon sells a UV flashlight and Glo lotion for less.)  Here's my inspiration to craft fake germs.  When I do an outreach event, I bring the book, Germs Make Me Sick and fake germs with my Glo Germ kit.  Tracking a Virus is a terrific tool to teach contagious diseases.  Home Training Tools sells the phenolphthalein for the lab.  Here is a Germs lapbook available to download free.

Let's launch anatomy with Body Bingo and see what your kids already know.  I love these anatomy t-shirts to color.  I'm dying to try this with my Biology class this fall.  Before you print copies of the human skeleton or other body organs, let's build models!  Make this model of the lungs and explain how the balloon is analogous to the diaphragm.  Video a 'shoe and tell' of your kids making and demonstrating the model for your electronic portfolio.  Let's see how the heart pumps blood.  Make up a big batch of clay and go to down sculpting ears, eyeballs, brain, or heart.

Try some physiology experiments: the Stroop Effect (from Neuroscience For Kids), test muscle fatigue, measure CO2 output, and gauge your reflexes.  The entire family can do these labs together. I

If you want to make this project more consistent with Project-Based Learning, consider taking this show on the road.  Field test some of the labs at home and then lead your home-school Co-op through the different labs or show-case your anatomy models.  Write your own blog and share your photos.  The blog can be part of your electronic portfolio.

Can't get enough?  Apologia has an anatomy and physiology course for elementary aged students.  Live and Learn has a free sample notebook for Anatomy.

Anatomy Projects for Elementary Aged Kids

Are you looking for a family project for your elementary aged children?  Let your teens help prep the lessons, too!  Elementary children often obsess over cooties.  Let's teach them about germs using glitter.  If you are preparing anatomy lessons for a bigger group or Co-op, consider investing in a Glo Germs kit and has an excellent lesson  with a little history tossed in.  (Amazon sells a UV flashlight and Glo lotion for less.)  Here's my inspiration to craft fake germs.  When I do an outreach event, I bring the book, Germs Make Me Sick and fake germs with my Glo Germ kit.  Tracking a Virus is a terrific tool to teach contagious diseases.  Home Training Tools sells the phenolphthalein for the lab.  Here is a Germs lapbook available to download free.

Let's launch anatomy with Body Bingo and see what your kids already know.  I love these anatomy t-shirts to color.  I'm dying to try this with my Biology class this fall.  Before you print copies of the human skeleton or other body organs, let's build models!  Make this model of the lungs and explain how the balloon is analogous to the diaphragm.  Video a 'shoe and tell' of your kids making and demonstrating the model for your electronic portfolio.  Let's see how the heart pumps blood.  Make up a big batch of clay and go to down sculpting ears, eyeballs, brain, or heart.

Try some physiology experiments: the Stroop Effect (from Neuroscience For Kids), test muscle fatigue, measure CO2 output, and gauge your reflexes.  The entire family can do these labs together. I

If you want to make this project more consistent with Project-Based Learning, consider taking this show on the road.  Field test some of the labs at home and then lead your home-school Co-op through the different labs or show-case your anatomy models.  Write your own blog and share your photos.  The blog can be part of your electronic portfolio.

Can't get enough?  Apologia has an anatomy and physiology course for elementary aged students.  Live and Learn has a free sample notebook for Anatomy.

Projects: How about Anatomy Academy? Start with tots.

Do you have a large family?  Would you like an idea for your Co-op group?  Consider Anatomy Academy.  I have anatomy on the brain because I'm planning next summer's science camp.  My 'go to'  resources for an anatomy camp all have loads of hands-on activities.  Let's start with a bunch of fun resources for your children.  Your older children can help prep.  Borrow The Magic School Bus Ride Inside the Human Body book and video from the library to read and watch together.

Next up are the five senses.  Start with mapping the tongue.  Draw a giant tongue for kids to mark as sweet, bitter, sour, or salty.  Save their drawings for your portfolio.  Try animal ears on for size.  Now your ear can hear, my dear.  Test several sized paper and stryrofoam cups in different sizes.  If you are feeling ambitious, make a chart.  In fact, you may want to extend sounds to include telephones, like this experiment from the Exploratorium.  The older kids can assemble the sound matching toy and the     smelling bottles.  (Teens will include imaginative odors.  How about dirty socks?). One more sensory idea: a touch bag.  Ask your older kids to locate some toys or familiar food for the bag.

Since our target audience is young, let's include Adorable Wearables.  Your teens can make copies and cut them out for the tots.  I would try the 'chest vest' with the organs, first.  Everyone can color together.  Print color copies of the brain hemisphere hat on card stock.  Adorable Wearables has a black and white brain hat, too.  Martha Stewart's Pasta Sleletons or Q-tip skeletons, if you're off carbs are a fun way to learn about the skeletal system.  Amazon has compiled a 100 children's anatomy books to locate in the library for more ideas!

Watershed Projects

Please take a look at my Science blog for this Watershed Project, Technology overview, and the use of Blogger to document the project.

Home-School Projects: Outreach

What do I mean by outreach?  My students frequently plan science presentations for young children.  My Chemistry students planned experiments for neighboring schools.  My Physical Science students set up demonstrations for younger children at Winchester Academy.  What types of demonstrations?  Often, the class performed labs they had just learned themselves, based on themes, such as force and motion: Centripetal Motion with a penny in a balloon (or ping pong ball), Transfer of Energy or Rocket balls, Pail of water spinning, Egg Toss with sheet, and coin drop.  The class would demonstrate each activity and then allow the students to try each one.  To prepare, the class would select the demos, assemble all of the materials, schedule a time with the elementary teachers, set up, and perform the demos.  I use this outreach as a form of assessment.  The class had to explain the underlying science.  Your child can do this, too by filming her demos and posting them to You-tube.  There is nothing like a public audience to prompt kids to give their best.  See if your Co-op is interested in demos.

Home-School Projects: More Ideas

I bet you want to know what type of projects I do with kids?  I like to write grants with my kids.  I ask them this question: If money were no object, what project would you like to accomplish?  Then I cover the board with their ideas.  I explain to the kids that there's a lot of grant funding for environmental projects and I'm passionate about getting funding for their projects.  Kids tend to want to make improvements to their school setting, such as the church property, or do outreach programs.  A Headstart class meets right on our church campus.  I'm betting the kids will want to work up lessons for the pre-schoolers.  The kids can decide the theme, pick the activities, select books to read, schedule the event, and conduct it.

Here's the plan to take on 100 kindergarteners in one morning.  With large groups, it pays to plan.  Once I have a date and have all of the materials on hand, I go over directions for each of 12-14 activities.  We practice.  We collect plastic grocery bags and old t-shirts to cover the children's clothes.  Then, we pack all of the materials and supplies to deliver the evening before the actual event.  We set up 12-14 stations in a large multi-purpose room.  This gives me a chance to double check for materials at each station, locate tons of garbage bags, and a hose. During the event, the children are distributed among the stations.  As they finish each station, they look for another which is open and continue in this fashion until they've hit all of the stations.  Clean-up takes an hour.

Here are 12-14 favorites: UV Beads (threaded on to pipe cleaners) and color changing fingernail polish, a coloring station, Cartesian Divers (Save bottles.), tornado tubes (Use one-liter bottles.), Magic Sand (Set up bowls with spoons and water.), Instant Snow (Stock this station with paper towel, paper cups, and water.), Grow beads (this requires cups, spoons, and water, too.), Optical Illusions (including Flipsticks the kids can make, Hello, Red Fox, and an optical illusion bank--a show stopper!), Oobleck, Slime (Stock loads of paper towels!), Colorful Lather Prints ( this requires paper plates, toothpicks, and shaving cream.). Glo Germs (Germs Make Me
Sick is optional.), Super Bubbles (outside), Sidewalk Chalk, and Volcanos.  We use tempera paint for pigments.  The big kids love watching the little ones do all of these cool experiments!

Home-School Projects: The Inquiry Project

I ran across this Edutopia article about engaging projects which included The Inquiry Project.  Now this curriculum is meaty for elementary grades.  Is this your first PBL?  Are you asking what a PBL is?  PBL is 'project based learning' and goes beyond individual projects, such as Flat Stanley.  A PBL is a unit based on a 'driving question' which frames the entire project or series of projects and usually culminates with a product or experience.  Bucks Institute for Education has planning forms, rubrics, and sample projects, such as this elementary level project A Home For Everyone.  Use one of these PBLs--they're consistently excellent.  Yes, the idea is to come up with your own driving question for a student-driven original project.  Sure, once you have some experience!  Okay, if you get stuck, ask yourself three questions: Waht do I already know?  What do I need to know? How am I going to find out?   Pick one project that doesn't seem too intimidating and try it!

Flat Stanley-another project!

Flat Stanley is a paper doll who travels.  I've met him both in a home-school and public school context.  One family used Flat Stanley to promote writing and make it fun.  One of the chaperones brought another Flat Stanley on a trip to Washington D.C.  She took loads of photos of the paper doll everywhere for her daughter's class project.  You need to register on the website to locate a list of participants. I'd hunt for another home-school family across the country.  Once you make your own Flat Stanley (or Flat Stella), half the fun is planning a local tour.  What about local history?  Where does your town's name originate?  It can be personal, too!  Is there a terrific playground or favorite ice-cream shop?  Funny road names?  Interesting exhibits at the library? Pose Stankey reading a favorite book.  Prop him beside a basket of apples at the fruit market or on a hay bale.  Your family can decide what best depicts your town or region.  I live in a region rich in Civil History with scores of battlefields and museums.  Historic houses and buildings dot the area.  I would have Stanley conduct a driving tour, not necessarily cool, but educational, and insert quirky photos to spice things up.  Look at the website to browse for ideas.

Home-School Projects: GLOBE Surface Temperature Field Protocol

One last idea for a project: GLOBE Surface Temperature.  You'll need an IR Thermometer and an oven mitt.  Basically, the kids use a temperature gun to collect data.  It's quick and fun.  Try it!

Home-School Projects: Weather Station Long Term Data Collection

Does your family like collecting weather data?  Are you collecting cloud and temperature data? You're ready to collect more weather data.  GLOBE's Atmosphere Investigation form has students collect temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity, precipitation, and clouds.  I like the data sheet.  You can print one, attach it to a clipboard and head outside.  Okay, send the kids outside.  This form includes the main factors needed to follow the weather.


Let's build a sling psychrometer to measure relative humidity.  Surprise!  GLOBE has a protocol for relative humidity.  Now that your family is collecting a wide variety of weather data on a regular basis you may want to build the instrument shelter and invest in a maximum minimum thermometer and try your hand with the maximum minimum temperature protocol using the field guide, data sheet and referring back to original current temperature protocol, without crying.  GLOBE indicates that data should be collected within one hour of solar noon.  Remember, the GLOBE program is international and has strict protocols.  Here GLOBE explains the measurement times.

GLOBE offers a challenging program with detailed (bordering on obsessive) field protocols for EVERYTHING. But, where can you go and find a similar program of this caliber free?

Home-School Projects: GLOBE Air Temperature and a Weather Station

Ready for another project?  If you browsed through the GLOBE website, you became overwhelmed and cried.  Just kidding! You home-school!  You're much more resilient  than that.  The GLOBE website is just like the NASA educational website--overloaded.  Don't let the website or teacher's manual intimidate you!  Locate a thermometer and get ready for another project!  A weather station!

The first thing you need to know about locating information on GLOBE is to use Google rather than the search engine on GLOBE's site.  Really. First up is thermometer calibration.   I pull out all of my thermometers, digital, analog, etc. and have my kids use these instructions to calibrate them.

 The air temperature protocol, like all of the field protocols is intended for schools to collect, post, and analyze data.  Typically, a school sets up a weather station, housed in an instrument shelter, and kids take turns collecting data.  (Scroll down on the page.  GLOBE has plans to build an instrument shelter.)  If your kids collect cloud and air temperature data regularly, and  note precipitation, they're collecting weather data.

Let's build a thermometer!  Is it involved?  Very.  Have the kids follow the directions explicitly, even the scripted questions.  They'll come away with a much better understanding of temperature and thermometers.  You'll come away with an experiment for the portfolio.  One way to assess this activity is to ask your kids to explain what temperature is and how it's measured with a thermometer. Don't forget to take a video.

Home-School Projects: GLOBE Clouds

Have you heard of GLOBE?  It's an international initiative sponsored by NASA in the United States.  West Virginia's GLOBE outreach and training programs are facilitated by Todd Ensign, who may be able to help you locate a NASA or GLOBE contact in your area.  There are GLOBE trainings session available.  The trick is finding a facilitator.  I finally attended a NSTA conference to find a training session in Virginia Before meeting Todd and taking several programs of his in West Virginia.

GLOBE offers environmental programs.  Typically, elementary schools use GLOBE.  You don't need a membership or training to use the program.  Where to start?  Try this introductory training module. Even their training sessions are available!  Now, try the cloud training module on the same page.  I use this to teach kids about identifying clouds.  I have them sit down and go through the module on a computer.  You can see where this is headed!  Yes, a cloud project.  Print a cloud chart and try the Cloud Protocol or Observing Cloud Types.  All of GLOBE's protocols have very detailed instructions, questions, and field guides.  Maybe too detailed.  Did your family like identifying clouds? Younger children enjoy making this cloud ID tool, making clouds in a jar, and the layers of the atmosphere foldable.  I'm kidding!  Kids groan when they hear the word, foldable.  Too bad!  It is perfect for the portfolio.  I'm all about inquiry projects.  Look up different methods to make clouds.  Which method produces the most clouds?  A glass, baby food jar or a plastic, 20 oz soda bottle?  Or a 2-L bottle?  Video the kids making clouds and save it for your electronic portfolio.

Do you have younger children? Sky Color is for young elementary students. This unit has a simplified daytime sky report, which is hilarious!  I imagine the nighttime sky report would be dark. The storybook NASA produces for this activity is Do Clouds Have Names?  The activity complements the activities above and will help younger children feel included.

Home-School Projects: Watersheds

Watershed projects can be as simple as identifying macroinvertebrates in a creek to long-term projects.   Let's say, you got your nerve up and coordinated a stream assessment with your Co-op.  No one seemed repulsed by your ignorance of the subject.  The kids had a ball looking for critters in the creek.  You even explained that some critters meant the creek was clean and others like worms indicated that the creek trip was over.  Head for the van!  Would you like another idea for similar projects?  See if you like this activity simulating a watershed.   Want one more idea?  The Incredible Journey takes more of an investment of your time.  It's good for a co-op group.  I made up a set and keep it in a bin to use for camps, classes, or workshops.  The Incredibke Journey is from a program called Project  WET.  (Project Wet workshops are free and worthwhile.  Call the local conservation district to locate a trainer.)  The Incredible Journey has kids become a drop of water, a blue bead on a piece of string or a pipe cleaner.  I use colored beads for each rotating station: clouds, glaciers, soil, etc.  print the dice and the signs, cloud,mglaciers, soil, etc.  Gather a dozen different colored beads and place them in yogurt containers with lids.  In a room, you tape the images around the room and place the cups of beads and paper dice below each image.  The kids become a drop of water.  Separate the kids to different images arounfpd the room.  They move to other stations according to the dice.  At each station, they put a bead on the pipe cleaner to remember where the drop of water has traveled.  Kids of all ages like this activity.  I had older kids assemble the dice, sort beads, and read over the directions.  After the kids go through the Journey, ask them to explain where the drop of water traveled.  Were they stuck anywhere?  Where did the water drop spend the most time?  When you scout for beads, you might want to get the foam animal beads for the animal station.  This may not seem like a project; if you get older kids involved making up this kit and do it at your Co-op, it will take on more of the qualities of a project.  The older kids may want to lead the activity with younger kids.  Watch out!  If you keep this up, the kids will be doing outreach programs!

Home-School Projects: Why not watersheds?

Okay, do I have any other ideas for projects.  Why not watersheds?  No, it's not daunting!  If you have ice cube trays and a thermometer, you have all of the equipment needed to start.  My friends at Cacapon Institute have an eschool with information on benthic macroinvertebrates or insect larvae in streams which characterize the water quality of the stream.  Cacapon even has a virtual stream to learn how to identify macroinvertebrates before going out to a real stream.  Stroud has a Frey dichotomous key to print and use at the stream.  Still intimidated?  Contact Trout Unlimited to locate a local chapter to see if a volunteer is available to go with you and your family to do a stream assay.  Another association is the National Association of Conservation Districts to locate your local district. I've worked with representatives from conservation districts for years.  They serve as a clearinghouse for other agencies and sometimes have an education specialist.  I usually invite a stream specialist with my group to go outside.  You can, too!  Once you try a stream assessment, you're going to want to do more projects!

More project ideas!

Young children like nature; early childhood science centers on plants and animals.  What about a few ideas for projects that aren't too daunting but still have some substance?  How about making giant bubbles?  The recipe calls for glycerin.  Go ahead and substitute Kayro syrup or honey or molasses.  Here's how to make it a project.  Test three or four different dish detergents, liquid soap, or shampoo. Test one detergent at a time.  Use the same volume and temperature of water and amount of Kayro  syrup or honey.  Which mixture produces the best bubbles?  The longest-lasting bubbles?  The most bubbles?

Have the kids make homemade chalk.  Use different pigments: tempera, Kool-aid, house paint, etc.  I use primary colors and make the kids mix up blends.  Have white on hand to vary the hues. Encourage the kids to make a mural or trace their bodies!  How about one more idea?  CD spinners! Experiment with different designs like this one.  Markers work well.  Let your child try crayons versus markers, designs on the CD, or a black and white spiral.  This is one of my favorite projects.  It's cheap and lends itself to experimentatio and could lead to optical illusions.  Start with the one on the back of 'Hello, Red Fox!'  Try a project!

Going beyond the textbook. Projects!

I know! You don't want to rely entirely on textbooks!  My advice is to create a core curriculum as a safety net.  If your child is working for two hours each day on the four core subjects, he is likely to get a solid foundation.  Now, let's talk about projects.  Begin with projects you can do at home.  Why not print and post a backyard bird checklist.  The kids will want to make birdfeeders to attract more birds to your yard.  (We made super simple birdfeeders by coating squares of cardboard with Crisco and rolling them in bird seed to hang from branches.)  Audubon has more advice about bird feeders.  My suggestion?  Make it an experiment.  Test cardboard birdfeeders with peanut butter versus Crisco.  Does one type attract more birds or different kinds of birds?  Does the height the feeder is hung matter?  What about the dimensions of the square?  (This approach is called inquiry-based science.)
What else can you do to make your backyard bird friendly?   Once your child gets started along this path, he may want to learn how to diversify the habitat in the back yard.  She is going to have all manner of questions.  What is a native plant or an alien plant?  Projects should be fun!