Rest of the World History Project - Open to all homeschoolers

Join your fellow homeschoolers in creating a history presentation.

Who: Any homeschooler or group of homeschoolers
What: Create a presentation about an aspect of a country or culture outside of Europe (any time period, any subject)
When: Presentation displayed at Homeschool Expo, Late April/Early May. Final date to be announced soon
Where: Brandywine Town Center in N. Wilmington, DE (by Target off of 202 & Naaman's Road)

Why? To help us remember that it is a big world out there!

Homeschoolers can participate as long as they contact Patti with a country & topic by Dec 15.
There is no promise of available space after that date.

How to Register:
Please email Patti with the names of the participants & the project country name.

Here are some focus topics that have been submitted so far:

Personal Stories from Algeria
Mendhi (henna body art) & India's culture
The Changing Dynasty Structures in China Through History
The Use of Shadow Puppets in Japan

Just because you see a country here, don't feel that you are limited. Countries can overlap; topics can't. Exhibits will be clustered by the country (for example: all projects about India will be put together).

For complete information, please click on the link to download a pdf version of the brochure.

http://www.organized-chaos.info/rest.pdf

For more info, please contact Patti Beaumont at pattiobb@yahoo.com

Free Science Class for 7th & 8th graders at Delaware Technical Community College!

Who: 7th & 8th Grade Students
When: October 20th & 27th (Saturdays)
Time: 9am-1pm
Where: Delaware Technical Community College, Wilmington Campus

Cost: Free

Including: Breakfast, Lunch, science activities, and more.
Perks: They will be raffling a Microscope on each Saturday and have plenty of other goodies to give away!

This program is funded by a grant through Delaware EPSCor.

For more information contact Margaret Bello at DTCC
# 302-292-3889

* I spoke with Margaret today (10.15.07)
They plan to continue taking registrations through Friday.
They even anticipate taking some walk in registrations on Saturday, though I would strongly advice calling ahead.

October is Educator Appreciation Month at Barnes and Noble

Educators Discount
Pre-K to 12 educators, media specialists, and homeschoolers will save 25% in Barnes & Noble stores on most books for personal and classroom use during the week of October 13-21. You'll also save 10% on most CDs and DVDs.

In addition stores will be hosting other special offers and events for educators throughout the month. Visit your local Barnes & Noble store for details. *You will need to present your Barnes and Noble educator's card and a state issued photo id to receive the discounts.

*Barnes and Noble Educator Cards:
Homeschoolers can save 20% year round with B&N's educator's card.
To obtain an educator card you will need a photo id and proof that you are a home educator. I showed them a copy of my homeschooling confirmation letter from the state. I think they also accept the BVHERO membership cards as proof.

October is National Popcorn Popping Month!

Popcorn growers have been unofficially celebrating Popcorn Popping Month for more than 25 years. In 1999, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman made it official, proclaiming October as National Popcorn Popping Month because October is when the popcorn harvest takes place each fall in the Midwest.

Popcorn is one of the oldest American foods. In 1948 archaeologists exploring a cave in west central New Mexico discovered ears of corn dated back roughly 4,000 years! 1,000 year old popcorn kernels found in burial grounds in the coastal deserts of North Chile would still pop!

So maybe it is time to pop a bowl, have fun, and learn more about this favorite American treat!

* Here's a lesson plan from the Education World Website.
* About.com has a number of crafts, games and activities to explore.
* The National Popcorn Board's site contains a whole slew of recipes.

Earth and Sky For Kids!

Why Leaves Change Color?

This is the latest podcast & article you can explore on the Earth and Sky for Kids website.

I first stumbled upon Earth and Sky as an astronomy radio broadcast, years and years ago. Now we use their website and podcasts to enrich our homeschool experience. Their approach to science leaves us with a sense of awe and wonder and an immense sense of stewardship for this unique and frail planet.

This is how they describe themselves:

"Since 1991, Earth & Sky has worked with thousands of scientists to produce more than 5,000 radio spots on night sky astronomy, and on sustainability needs and strategies for the 21st century.

Science is not perfect. It’s a process, not a body of facts. History tells us that some of today’s scientific “truths” will inevitably turn out to be wrong, or only partially true.

Still, science leads to profound insights about the natural world that are as true as anything can be here at the beginning of the 21st century.

Earth & Sky tries to build a bridge between scientists and you.

Earth & Sky is a joint project of Earth & Sky, Inc. and EarthSky Communications, Inc.

...committed to describing humanity’s work to understand itself and its relationship to the Earth."

Homeschool Happenings! has won an award!

Homeschool Happenings!
has been named a
Web English Teacher Outstanding Resource!

Ashland Nature Center: Three Fall Programs Remain!

Don't Miss Out:
Three Fall Home School Workshops Remain!
The cost for each program is $7 per student.

Colonial Farm
Date: October 19th
Time: 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Led by: DNS Staff
Discover farm life as a child in colonial Delaware. Turn cream to butter after learning how cows turn grass to milk. Prepare corn from field to flour and explore the old fashioned refrigerator made of stone! Program meets at the Coverdale Farm.

Stream Ecology
Date: November 2nd
Time: 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Led by: DNS Staff
Determine a stream’s health by examining its biological, chemical, and physical attributes. Catch and classify stream macro-invertebrates, and use test kits to record pH and dissolved oxygen. Discuss how humans and wildlife impact stream health and identify four basic types of stream pollution. Program meets at the Ashland Nature Center.

The Lenni Lenape
Date: November 16th
Time: 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
Led by: DNS Staff
Explore the culture and customs of the early inhabitants of Delaware. Take an interpretive walk to discover pre-colonial Delaware history. Learn how Native Americans used nature to meet everyday needs and visit a replica wigwam for a hands-on experience with tools, animal furs and hides, clothing and musical instruments. Program meets at the Ashland Nature Center.

Good News!

If you called before and were disappointed because these programs were full, now is the time to call again! David has brought in a third teacher to meet the demand for these popular programs!

A third teacher means that those older students - 12 and up - will continue to be broken off into their own subgroup. These students will be challenged with age appropriate content and material within the workshop's theme. My son Teddy, who is turning 13, is enrolled in each of the programs and there have been several other students ages 12-16 attending participating along with him. I have been so pleased to see this hard to fit age group getting the attention they deserve!

Ashland Nature Center is located in Hockessin, DE. Their web site: www.delawarenaturesociety.org

Programs are designed to meet state and national standards and are appropriate for students of all ages. If you are a homeshool parent or organizer and are interested in programs for older students or topics that are not covered in our fall offerings, please contact David Pragoff, School Program Coordinator at 302-239-2334, ext.133 or davidp@delawarenaturesociety.org to request a copy of our School Program Brochure.

Advance registration for all programs is required.

A Spook-tacular Overnight Safari at The Academy of Natural Sciences!

It's Philadelphia's Creepiest Camp-In!

October 26th-27th
Sleep over in the murky and mysterious museum next to Mesozoic monsters, a mummy, and marvelous mammals.

Here's some of the many Weird and Wonderful Things Planned:

Creatures of the Night
Nocturnal animals prowl and growl for your pleasure at this special Halloween Live Animal Show.

Eating Habits of the Prehistoric Dead
There's something lurking the Academy and it's been dead for millions of years! Join Dino Dude in a discourse on the prehistoric menu: Herbivores, Omnivores and Carnivores, Oh My!

Spooky Specimens
The mad scientists of the Academy of Un-Natural Sciences will delight ghoulish guests with the best of the beastly, bloodless and batty specimens in the collections. Look forward to seeing the skeletons, skins and skulls that fill the deep dark recesses of the Academy’s collections.

Things to do in the Dark
Watch mouths glow with a strange blue light and faces disappear into the ether as you learn the ways of night vision. Giggly games and terrific tricks make this the most fun you’ll have in the dark!

Screamingly Scary Shirts
Make your own scary, spooky or surprising shirt design and bring it home to show your friends!

A Halloween Parade
Costume contestants could win prizes for Most Creative, Scariest, Best-Overall and Best Group Costumes. Start the night with the costume parade then change out of your costume (or not) and enjoy the fabulous Halloween activities planned.

Time:

6:30 pm to 9:00 am; Check-in is 6:30-7:00 pm.

Ages:

Safari Overnights are appropriate for children ages 7-14.

One adult is required per 3 children.

Fees:

Children: $35/child for members; $40/child for non-members

Adults: $30/adult for members; $35/adult for non-members

Cost includes snack, breakfast and next-day admission.

For more details visit their website

For Information and Reservations Call:
215-299-1060


Extending the Fun:
To get in the mood you might want to check out these:

* Movie: Night at the Museum

* Book: Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc

Sputnik: Zome's October Model of the Month!

Sputnik is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age, with Russia's successful launch of the first human-built satellite on October 4th, 1957. "Sputnik" literally means "one who travels along [with the earth]."

I know my kids are going to build this one!

Zometool is your travelling companion for exploring the structure of space, whether in 1, 2, 3 or higher dimensions! To get just the parts you need to build Sputnik, click here.

More Curriculm Connections:
* Watch the movie The Iron Giant!
* Watch the movie, October Sky.
* Read the book, The Iron Giant.
* Check out Sputnik on Nasa's website.
* All Things Considered Story on NPR: Science Education Legacy.
* NPR: Shock of the Century.
* NPR: Sputnik Deisgners Did Not Fathom Its Impact.
* NPR: Sputnik in Space and Song.
* Read about Laika the First Dog in Space on Space.com

Web English Teacher

Here's another site that links to reading and discussion guides for children's literature. This site lists materials by the author's name: Web English Teacher

The resources offered on this site are not limited to reading discussion guides and not just to fiction. Web English Teacher is the brainchild of teacher Carla Beard who urges visitors to think of her website... "as the faculty library and faculty workroom on a global scale." Carla is based in Indiana and specializes in effective technology integration in education. Her site is truly a gem!

This is how Web English Teacher describes itself: "Web English Teacher presents the best of K-12 English / Language Arts teaching resources: lesson plans, WebQuests, videos, biography, e-texts, criticism, jokes, puzzles, and classroom activities. "

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