Number Lines

Yesterday, at a party, one of my favorite seven year olds explained she failed a test in subtraction.  Last night, I thought about this issue and remembered number lines.  I think we forget how abstract math can be for younger children. Teachers used to tape number lines on to desks.  You can use a ruler or yard stick to show kids how to add or subtract.  Once the child understands the concept she won’t need it.  But what a boost for a child struggling.

Science Help

My passion is teaching Chemistry.  My husband and I are teaching Chemistry for high school and Apologia’s Young Explorers’ Chemistry and Physics for the elementary siblings concurrently.  The blog is https://mrsstevenschemistryclasses.blogspot.com/. The Young Explorers series are all excellent.  The labs are easy to understand and replicate.  The lab notebook journal has the syllabus.  We just started the Young Explorers class.  Many families are intimidated by science instruction.  Check out the blog!

Open Court Phonics

Once upon a Time, schools used Open Court Phonics to teach kids how to read.  The program used Phonics Cue Cards and stories, such as Millie and the Cowboy, to teach vowels and constants.  This program’s resources are here.  If you want more background on Open Court basal readers, try Let’s Kill Dick and Jane.  I recommend using the older Open Court basal readers for primary students, such as The Headway Program.  (Scroll down through the testimonials for a list of titles in the series with tables of contents and titles.). These books contain a variety of fiction, fables, poems, etc.  Fabulous!  I’m old enough to remember reading all of the stories in my readers—probably when I should have been paying more attention to math!

NSTA Review: 'Who Made My Lunch?'

Librarians, looking for a series to support National School Lunch week?  'Who Made My Lunch?' by Bridget Heos and illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman is ideal.  This six book series includes all the components of a typical child's lunch: peanut butter, jelly, wheat bread, cheese, ice cream, and chocolate.  The six titles are 'From Milk to Ice Cream', 'From Milk to Cheese', 'From Cocoa Beans to Chocolate', 'From Grapes to Jelly', 'From Peanuts to Peanut Butter', and 'From Wheat to Bread'.  Few children grow up on farms.  Instead children are disconnected from the origins of the food from the grocery store.  What offers more appeal than chocolate bars and ice cream or a classic PB& J sandwich?  The series is intended for the early elementary grades, K-3.  The text is clear without condescension.  For example, in 'From Wheat to Bread', the authors explains, " The wheat sprouts quickly.  But this is winter wheat.  During the cold months, it goes dormant.  That's sort of like taking a nap."  (p.6).  In 'From Peanuts to Peanut Butter', Heos includes interesting details, "At the peanut butter factory, you'll roast the peanuts in a hot oven.  The tray moves up and down so that the peanuts shake while they bake.  This way, they cook evenly." (p.15). At the end of each title is a map displaying where the grapes, peanuts, cocoa beans, etc is grown.  (p.23). On the last page (p.24) are brief glossaries, websites, and bibliographies.  The websites, while brief, are germane.  In the Chocolate book is a link to Fair Trade information and Peanuts includes a site about peanut and tree nut allergies.  The Grapes, Wheat,and Peanuts books could serve as springboards for class discussions about plant growth and cultivation before a science lesson planting seeds.  Any of these titles dovetail with nutrition lessons.  I'm confident children will find these books engaging.  The 'Who Made My Lunch?' Series would make an excellent addition to any library or classroom.

Chemistry at home...

This fall my husband and I are teaching a home-school Co-op at the local library.  The librarian mentioned she is friends on social media with a young man in Sri Lanka.  Really.  He doesn't have many resources--but has a strong interest in science.  He followed us last year when we taught Physics.  So I'm working on resources to learn Chemistry at home.
1. Home Science Tools has great ideas for Chemistry projects.
2.  Typical home chemistry projects, like slime.
3.   Shakashiri hosts 'Science is Fun'.  He does annual Christmas science demos.
4.   Instructables Home Chemistry Lab has tips for scrounging materials to create lab equipment.  Great ideas--but this is about creating a full scale lab in the garage.
5.  Kid Chemistry has bath bombs. Yes!

Summer Science!

Try these!

TOPS Science

If you haven't heard of TOPSScience, try this sample lesson.  All of their lessons use simple equipment and materials, even Electricity and Magnetism.  I've used these two for Physical Science.  Stellar resources!

Google Classroom!

Guess what?  Google Classroom is available to anyone with a gmail account!  Free!  I used Google Classroom a few years ago when I worked part-time for a private school.  I loved how easy it was to assemble assignments, notes, and materials for my students, especially when they were absent.  Home-school moms and Co-ops may want to take a look.  You can post videos, blogs, and PDF files. I like how it organizes the material into classrooms or topics.  Try it!

Themes for Fall

The D. family uses themes to teach.  Last year, the election year provided Civics as a theme.  A local school received a grant for their courtyard garden and will have Gardens as a theme for their children:    organic gardens, pollinator gardens, heirloom gardens, pumpkins, native plants, and vegetables.  Loads of lessons: raised beds, plant compatibility, zone planting, soil pH, rain barrels, weather station, etc.  Don't get me started.

What other themes?  My bias is science.  The D. family also built a shed.  This type of project can be a theme.  The S. family has plans to convert an old barn into a garage.  The family wants a heated concrete floor.  What are the costs?  The dimensions?  How much concrete?  Are their different types of floor heating systems?  How do they differ?  See?  I recommend detailed notes on spreadsheets.

Another family friend flips houses with his boys.  Think of all the lessons!  Start with paint.  We just rehabbed our new house--after nine months prepping our old house for sale.  Ask me about paint.  The paint choices can be overwhelming.  Start with the choices for painting kitchen cabinets: Chalk paint, Behr Cabinet paint (an alkyd semi-gloss), Benjamin Moore's Advance, Olde Century Paint (acrylic latex) and Old Village Paint.  Actually, you could compare latex and oil paint.  Research low VOC paints and exactly what low VOC paint is or means.  (We used Olde Century paint for our cabinets after scads of research and testing both with and without an acrylic top-coat.)

Does this give you ideas for your family?  Sometimes we overlook all of the Economics, math, and science inherent in these projects.  I think a lesson about types of household molds, health risks, and its treatment makes for a good lesson.  Just ask our favorite seven year old, Paul.  We call these life lessons.

While I'm thinking about it...Civics

I usually think about ideas for fall in June, when I'm reviewing portfolios for home-school families.  The D. family uses themes to teach.  For example, last year was an election year.  The D. family decided to teach Civics.  The Center for Civic Education, The National Constitution Center, and The Atlantic are replete with lessons.  I would start with The Declaration of Independence and follow up with these activities from Loudon County Schools.  Ordinarily, I don't like worksheets; but, the original documents have difficult text to read and understand.  Pick a few of these activities for your lesson.  BTW, have you read the Constitution?  This is a straight forward worksheet for the Bill of Rights. 

This worksheet for the Cabinet is a timely exercise.  Which positions have been filled?  By whom?  What is the person's background?  What is the line of succession under President Trump?  (Many of the liberal news media have posted this reference.)  I avoid any mention of politics!!!  I do make a policy of respecting elected officials in government.  Period.

The cool thing about Civics is that the lessons are applicable from Grade Three to Grade Twelve.  I can see lessons about the Supreme Court analyzing each member's record.  What is meant by the term, 'constitutionist'?  Which members of the Supreme Court are constitutionists?  Here's one last tip.  Can you pass The US Citizen's Test? 

A few science suggestions

It's the time of year when I review home-school portfolios.  Generally, I review the curriculum and work samples in order to write a letter for the local school board.  I like to make a list of suggestions. One of the children raised Crested geckos as a science project.  Another home-school family is raising German Shepherd puppies as a business, along with rabbits and Cavalier Spaniels.  I love animals as a source for science lessons based on a child's or family's interest or income.  For example, the family raising German Shepherd puppies has researched those costs and pitfalls outlined here.  Many families participate in 4H and compete at the local fair.  Think how motivated your child will be to learn as much as possible about Bunnies or Chicks when a prize is at stake.  Our family likes birds; we have two Identiflyers and several bird cards.  (We have two because it's hard to share one with friends.  Both were purchased 'used' from eBay.) Cardinals will respond to the bird sing played by the Identiflyer.  Cornell Bird Sleuth is the place for more bird information.

Summer is the time to garden.  I'm starting plants for my hydroponics tower--currently failing.  I'm working with a local school, which has received a grant to build a courtyard garden.  We're in the planning phase before building raised beds and planting this fall.  Here are a few pix from previous projects.