I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom.
fiance, student, homeschool retiree, preschool teacher wannabe, Senior Living Coordinator, writer of many things unsaid, blogger, lover of the creative, most cheerful depressed person, devourer of books, crafty wanna be, amateur tech support, internet junkie, facebook stalker, tweeter of tweets, Pagan, friend, sister, daughter, aunt, karaoke super-star
Pass it on, this is also available for homeschoolers. Contact Val below with any questions.
Dear Parents:
The Idaho State Department of Education is pleased to inform you that the SDE has a NASA grant to provide a program for students who are interested in science, math, aerospace and engineering. The Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars (ISAS) Program is a competitive program that challenges Idaho’s high school juniors to take an engaging online course in Space Exploration that teaches a broad range of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills aligned with Idaho Content Standards. The course was developed by NASA, Idaho Digital Learning Academy and the State Department of Education. Based on their course performance, students may be selected to participate in an all-expense-paid, week long residential Summer Academy at Boise State University and NASA Ames Research Center in California. If your student meets the qualifications he/she has the opportunity to participate in this outstanding program. Information about the program and applications are available at http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/science/ISAS/index.htm
The applications are due December 20th. Should your student be selected, he/she would enroll through IDLA at his/her local public high school for the coursework. If you have any questions about the application process, please feel free to contact Val Schorzman at 208-332-6920 or VJSchorzman@sde.idaho.gov or Sarah Poe at 208-332-6956 or spoe@sde.idaho.gov We hope your student has an outstanding year.
We got this great idea over at Latter-day Homeschooling blog. She found it in a book called Blast Lab or under a second title Super Science Lab by Richard Hammond.
Soap Monsters
Basically you need: bar soap (no strong scents) We used Lever 2000 because we had it on hand knife plate paint paint brushes
Cut the soap into a chunk. Place on plate and microwave for up to 2 min on High. Let dry for 30 min to an hour. Add details to your monster with paint to make it come alive.
Some tips we learned when doing this project
use smaller pieces of soap (you could quarter one fullsize bar and get good sized monsters)
No need to microwave for a full 2 minutes just stop the microwave when you are happy with your monsters look, if you do for full time you risk burning the soap and it smells REALLY bad
Place outside to dry ( it was cool here so they set up faster)
Use dry brushes with the paint, the water makes the soap dissolve
This was a great project for learning about the nature of water molecules. We watched this little video over at TeacherTube before we started to review. Then I wouldn't let the boys paint the monsters until they told me why the soap turned into a monster. They were all able to tell me. I think this is much more graphic way to show that water molecules expand when heated then other experiments we have done.
Learning Science is a free interactive science website full of science resources for grade K-12. The website is divided into seven categories; Science Inquiry, Physical Science, Earth and Space Science, Life Science, Science and Technology, Science and Society, and The History and Nature of Science. Each section lists grade level appropriate topics, with web resources for learning about that topic. All resources are web based, of high quality, and interactive.
The site also includes a Tools to Do Science section, with a list of helpful science tools to use online for gathering and collecting scientific data. This section also includes rulers and graph paper to print.
One of the perks of living in Idaho is the amazing bird watching opportunities and the fact that we are the home to a large population of birds of prey. If you have never seen a hawk soar and scream or seen a peregrine falcon perched along the road, you are truly missing out. Idaho is home to the World Center for Birds of Prey (it is on the south end of Cole Rd in Boise and well worth the drive).
This past weekend they hosted a Grand opening for the new Condor Habitat. I am a Condor fan, I think they get a bad rap because of their humble looks. Condors are very interesting birds. They are extremely helpful in eliminating waste from carrion ( think about how you love to see road kill on the side of the road..eww.Thanks for taking care of it Condors!!). They are also huge! They have the largest wingspan of any bird of prey-at 9 feet. They are larger that the bald eagle and way smarter! The most important fact is they are a endangered species so the work at the Center is very important.
The two birds now housed at the center will be used to bred new Condors to release into the wild. It is all very exciting!
If you'd like to learn more about Condors or other birds of prey check out the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, ID. Admission is only $7 General and $5 for kids. It is a great family outing or homeschool fieldtrip. They also have some great educational programs you can schedule for school, homeschool, or scout trips.
The school year is well underway and the boys have begun working on their chapter science experiments here are a few we've done so far.
Kaleb and his mealworms (yuck). He was observing traits of living and non living things.
Josef and his Jello and fruit plant and animal cells. The animal cell (top) did not turn out well as his little brothers kept poking the bag while it was setting up in the fridge. Science is hard with Little brothers around. It was supposed to be sort of rounded and oblong...hmmm.
It's that time of year again! The National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology are having their Great Backyard Birds Count on February 13-16th.
Our family loves participating in this each year. It is a nationwide, collections of data that scientists really use and YOU get to help. All you do is look outside on any of the days above, at any time, and count the birds you see. Have binoculars and a bird book handy! Then visit the website and submit your list of birds seen. You can also take photo's of the birds you may see and enter them in a contest to win prizes.
Incorporate this activity into your homeschool, it covers Science (observation, species identification, and data collection) and Math (counting).
Visit their website today to print off a list of birds common to your area and mark your calendars!
“After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul, and you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning and company doesn’t mean security, and you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts and presents aren’t promises, and you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open, with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child, and you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans. After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much. So plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure… that you really are strong, and you really do have worth.” ~Veronica A. Shoffstall
A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive. ~ Pearl Bailey
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Disclaimer:
Read this blog at your own risk. In the writing of this blog typos have been made, words may have been scandalously misspelled, and grammar rules have been broken. Often ideas and thoughts come so quickly they are beyond the mundane restrictions of the English language.Critiques are gladly accepted!
