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Review - Gryphon House, Global Art

7/26/2013

 
Art, now who doesn't like art?  Seriously, most everyone must like art in some form or other.    AND I have a artsy lad.  He loves to create and tell stories and make things fit.  He likes to decorate and draw.  It is just part of who he is.  So when this review came along I thought WOOT WOOT, this is right up the alley for my boy child.  
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Vendor: Gryphon House
Product: Global Art: Activities, Projects, and Inventions from Around the World
Age range: K-5
Price: $16.95

From the book: Global art is an activity book filled with over 130 art ideas from around the world.  Some are based on customs, some on celebrations, others on discoveries or inventions and still others on native materials used in open artistic expression. ..... The activities leave room for the artist to use imagination and exploration, keys to creativity.
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How Did We Use this Book?

Well.... quite frankly we used it to make art.   We didn't have much rhyme or reason.    I started the book with the brilliant idea of combining it with a 60 day study of the world through focus on the family, but that fell to the wayside when the craft we were interested in doing proved to be rather difficult.  (thereby showing us the importance of understanding the levels 1-3)   We still haven't completed the first attempt since it takes a lot of thinking through, but we will complete it at some point.  (It's just sitting there in the back of our heads). 
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Here my son is working on the Level 3 art project called Dreamtime.
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My lad enjoyed making these tiny minions. You can't see the detail, but he made faces on them to show the differences in them. He actually had to show me what I was doing wrong as my first try as ... well...let's just say reading instructions is something I occasionally fail to do well. :) Level one work.
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The minions are showing off our handiwork here. :) (level 2)
We learned there is a definite skill difference between the levels.  Level one, as long as you follow instructions well, these projects are fairly easy to do.   Level two, follow instructions, but be prepared to learn a new skill that's not too difficult to pick up.   Level three.... if doing specific art is a new skill, many of these projects will offer you a bit of a challenge.

Each project comes with a short write up on why it was included.    This section is called "did you know?"      For the level one project the write up said "North America represents the "melting pot of the world," a place where people from all over the world can live together, joining in work and play and sometimes building new families whose cultures come together as one."    The craft we did fit in really well with that description.    The Dreamtime one told us about an artist named Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri who did Dreamtime Painting.

The book is divided into regional sections to make it easy to use for geography studies.  The activities are clearly labelled as to the level they are, what type of art they are, and how much preparation is involved.

I liked using this book.

I plan to use it to actually do an art class with my homeschool group in the fall.   Should be fun. :)  My recommendation is, if you have a  desire to add art to your geographic studies, or just like doing random art that has a learning element to it, get this book.   It really is a handy book to have around and has stretched my non-artiness nicely.  :)
Please do go and read what some other fine reviewers have to say about Gryphon House products.   Click to read more reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew  :)
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and have fun learning some new skills and learning that art comes in lots of different forms. :)
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Review - Circle Time: Plan the Best Part of Your Homeschool Day!

7/26/2013

 
It's funny.  When I signed up to do the review for Preschoolers and Peace and the ebook Circle Time I had stuck in my brain the vision of little children sitting around in a circle learning the letter A and singing silly songs and then running around like crazy children to some type of rhyme.  That had been my exposure to what circle time was previously.

So when asked what I would do with circle time I thought... i dunno.. do some music???

BUT as I read the book I learned that my supposition of what circle time was correct BUT that it was limited.  I hadn't considered the circle time could look different depending on the age of the child or children involved.

Circle Time (the book) talks about how circle time (the activity) is a regular coming together time.  It's a time to learn together, to share time with each other, to just spend time in an organized fashion together.   In a busy busy world that we live in (yes, even as homeschoolers) Circle Time calls for us to just stop and come together. 
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Vendor information

Vendor:  Preschoolers and Peace
Product: Circle Time
Price: PDF book, $4.99
Age Range: any age
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How we used it

As I said in the intro... I had to revamp my thoughts on what circle time was.  And to my delight, I was ALREADY doing circle time, but I was reminded of just how important it is in our family.   Of course as I read through the book (a PDF file) I thought of all the other things I could incorporate into what I call our morning routine, but one can't do it all, or make too many changes at once.    Our morning routine is somewhat flexible as well... we ALWAYS have our devotional time (which Dad often joins us for) and we usually read two books, browse through the paper, and do our conversation jar.   

I can see that at some point I'll want to add specific things to practice, like learning landforms, learning the prime ministers of Canada and such like.   Just making it a regular thing of ...this week lets learn this.    I could see making a shoebox full of factoids that I want the lad to learn, and then every Monday pulling out a sheet and discovering what we'll work on that week.   But we're not there yet..it's the summer, we don't stress too much in the summer. :)
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So what do we do in our morning routine/Circle Time?

1. We do our devotions.  Normally we do Keys for Kids, but lately we're doing a Bible study through the ages.   We're really enjoying this and I hope to buy the next in the series when we are done this book.  I like the hands on aspect of it and we're able to build our knowledge in doing specific parts of bible stories.
2. We read a fact book.  Right now we're reading "The Burgess bird book for children".  Learning all sorts of information about birds.
3. We read a good book.  Right now we're reading "warriors".  It's about a cat clan and the various things that happen to them.
4. We browse the headlines of the paper and talk about what they mean.  What does it mean when "homeless women hit radar".   The lad thought the policemen were being chased by homeless people..and why would they do that mom?   (that's not what the article is about).  But it gives us a chance to consider how words are used and to see what's important in the eyes of some on a given day.  
5. Conversation Jar.  Pick a piece of paper out of the jar.  The lad reads it if he can, if he can't I help.   If it's a joke and it's funny laugh, if not... figure out why it's not funny.  If its a factoid, check to see if it's true.    If it's something we're to do, well.. do it.  :)   I wrote more about our Conversation Jar here.   We used to do it at supper but it works better to do it at breakfast or lunch.

NOTE: we're fluid.  There are times in our lives that we simply cancel the paper as we are too busy to bother.   If we have to run out the door quick we dump the Jar and the learning book.   If we have more time, we'll read two chapters out of our reading book, or if pictures intrigue the lad, we'll learn more from our factoid book.    It's all good.  It's "OUR" time together and we like it.
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So what might YOU do in your circle time?

You might add or do
1. Facts... math, history, science, vocabulary, spelling words. (the whole world is your gambit here).
2. Read together.  Non-fiction or fiction.  Take something that grabs the interest of your child/ren and run with it.
3. Get a bunch of art pictures, talk about them, see if you can duplicate them.
4. Listen to music, maybe even learn a new dance step or two.
5. Learn how to do some skills such as letter writing, learning what to do in case of a fire or another emergency
6. Learn your genealogy.

It's endless what you can do.  The only caveat is make it doable for you and your children.  If they are getting antsy, perhaps you're asking them to sit still too long and you need to run around the house together, or perhaps you doing something they simply aren't interested in (so you change it).  Focus on the needs of your children and just enjoy starting (or ending) your day together.  The important thing is, draw your family in together.

The end result of this review is.
If you want a book that will help you figure out how to make a "coming together time" for you and your family, this book will help you.  Doesn't matter if you have one or 12 children or any number in-between, you can create a coming together on purpose time (circle time) for your family as well.

Several other members of the crew have reviewed Circle Time as well, please click to read more reviews from the Schoolhouse Review Crew.
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Canadian Geographic YouTube Channel

7/21/2013

 
When I get back from Holidays I want to spend more time browsing through the YouTube Channel of Canadian Geograhic.

It would be very cool to watch more of their videos.

Summer Words

7/20/2013

 
Dictionary.com Summer Words For the Summer Learning Lull
Dictionary.com Summer Words For the Summer Learning Lull infographic

Island of the Blue Dolphins

7/20/2013

 
My boy is sad.

We finished "island of the blue dolphins" tonight.

He wants it so badly to continue.  He was all caught up in the lives of the girl with her dog and her birds.

She got rescued and found out all her people were dead, she was the only one left....

He's so sad about it....

it was such a good book....go out, get it, read it with YOUR children. :)   (but don't tell them the spoi

NOW... to me this is a good thing.  He got so caught up in this book.   Ah... it's such a good thing.  :)   But it is sad that he's sad about the book being done.
Gives us a good reason to find ANOTHER good book to read.

SO Suggestions?   What should I go to the library to find???  

Busy Day Today

7/19/2013

 
Today I'll be doing some packing for our camping trip, so we aren't doing much in the way of schooling today (book work type that is, as isn't everything schooling of one sort or the other?)

Did our Bible Study through the ages material today.   The lad continues to enjoy it.   He likes that we have pictures he can use as idea reminders.

We then worked on Reading Kingdom.  This program went okay this morning, not great, but okay.   No major points of frustration.  :)

We also watched a video from Dole about growing Bananas.  The lad is thoroughly enjoying playing with his various minions, and as you should know minions LOVE bananas.   The dole site has lots of banana videos.
This post wouldn't be complete without showing the infamous Banana Song.
And the words for those wanting to follow along.  :)
ba-ba-baa, ba-baa nana (2x) na-na-naaa, potato naaa

na-na-naaaaa to kary lo potato lee ka nee malo mani ka noty. ba-ba-baa. ba-baa nanaa.

lu pla nufuu lapa nunu too maavaa nanaa laka moopie talamoo pananaa-ba-ba-baa, ba-baa nana (POTATOOooo)

to kary lo potato lee ka nee malo mani ka noty

ba-ba-baa, ba-baa naNAAAAAAAAA (punch)

And I'll leave you with that song running through your head for the rest of the day.  I've got to go pack!  :)

Review: Picaboo Yearbooks

7/18/2013

 
I have to tell you that this has been one of the funnest reviews I've done to date.  Seriously... it was just fun.  Not only to do, but to share the results with others.  Picaboo Yearbooks is an on-line company that allows any group to put together a yearbook easily.   Make a portfolio, input memories, make a book about each individual child, show your successes as a business, show off what you've learned and done throughout the year or more.  
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The Vendor and Product information

Vendor:  Picaboo Yearbooks
Product: 20 Page Softcover Yearbook
Price: shipping to Canada is $10.99. $1.99 for each additional copy, with 50 copies getting free shipping.   Price for the 20 page softcover yearbook is $8.49.   So for $20 you get a yearbook shipped to you.  Can't really complain on that can you?  You can also add pages for 22 cents each.
Ages: anyone can do this who has the skill to upload photos, follow directions and pick out a colour scheme.

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How We Used it

I used Picaboo to create yearbook showing the different things my son has done throughout the year.  From learning about Canada, to trips with homeschool groups, field trips and so far.   Could I fit everything in that we did?  No, it was only 20 pages, but it was 20 pages of memories and laughter.

I'll admit.. I did the layout.  I picked out the pictures, uploaded them, chose their positioning and everything.  It was fun.   Though at times frustrating.  If I loaded a picture because I wanted to use it in one section, I struggled with figuring out how to use it in a different section.  BUT overall I found it very easy to navigate and use.  I appreciated that they gave examples of layouts you could use to help provide inspiration.

My son picked the backgrounds.  He had a definite liking for various shades of blue, I actually had to talk him out of it at one point and say, let's try this gold one here... see how it makes the pictures look brighter?  

One of the things that impressed was that that you could have multiple editors.  Instead of everyone having to get together to decide on photos and wording you could actually (if doing this for a larger group) assign pages to individual people to do, and then review them together.  Quite easily edited and formatted.    It's in essence, scrap-booking made easy.  :)
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So how do you go from the thought to the action?
1. Decide on your categories
2. Upload your pictures
3. Determine your page layout.  Either out of your own imagination or from provided ideas.   Change as desired.
4. Insert pictures and captions.   Chose your font, size, colour, etc. Position it all as desired.
5. Add decorations (page backgrounds etc)
6. Order and wait for it to arrive.  They say up to three weeks, I got mine in about 1.5 and I live in Canada.  I thought that was quite impressive.
7. Show to family and friends.

I know that I showed it to a few of my homeschool friends and they were quite impressed.  I am hopeful to get folks on board to do this as a group next year.  It's so affordable and easy to do.  Wouldn't it be fun to get a whole homeschool group involved...all those shared memories.  :)

If you are stuck on ideas, they have an ideas page.  You can also, if doing as a group, create personalized pages at the end of each yearbook.  :)

For other reviewers

To see what others had to say, please click on this link.   They'd be delighted if you stopped in to see what they have to say as well.  :)
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The Making of a Pooter

7/17/2013

 
The other day I posted about my lad's interest in a pooter and could we make one.    Today I promised him we would make one, but he had to do the leg work to find the necessary materials.

He did so.  :)
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We had looked at a variety of sites, and decided to cobble together our own idea of how to make one.   We used tubing from an old aquarium, a mason jar with a wide mouth lid, ring, some screening from an old mosquito hat and kleenex plugs up an end to keep bugs in once they are trapped and we are looking to transport them.  Hubby helped with the drilling of the holes.   I learned the HOT water is a very helpful aid in putting the tubing into the holes.
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I wanted to attach the screening with glue but the lad was quite insistent that tape would do the trick.  And it works, I just wanted something a bit more permanent.   BUT lack of permanency may be a good thing as well, time will tell.
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One of the things we were consistently warned about is the need to make sure you are sucking through the correct pipe!  If you don't, you may end up with a bug down  your throat.   Not what one wishes to have happen.  :)
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he has some dirt stuff in the tubing. We worked it out and he did a hard blast to get the rest out.
Here the lad has a leaf hopper in the jar.  :)  He had a bunch of ants already that he sucked up.   One thing to be aware of when catching ants on a dug up dirt hill.... when you suck up the ants you will also suck up some dirt and that might clog the tubing.
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One of the advantages of using a large diameter tubing then what they called for in the various pages we looked at, is that we can catch somewhat larger insects.   It is a rather cool invention and we're very happy to have learned about it.    it will be coming on vacation with us.
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Ants are VERY quick and hard to catch. BUT when they are crawling on you it is easy to scoop them up with the pooter.
Some of the helpful links we discovered.

Pooters, the Insect catcher.
Bugs Ed.
Bug Club.

this post was shared at Share It Saturday.
Teach Beside Me

Wordless Wednesday - Minions and Art

7/17/2013

 
I asked the lad, what should I post for wordless Wednesday?
the response "my minions!"
So minions it is. :)
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Wordless Wednesday on Only Passionate Curiosity

Global Art and more

7/17/2013

 
This week we've gotten back into doing some homeschooling. :) 
Last week the lad was at a church day camp where he did some woodworking, swimming, learning bible stories and such like.
On Tuesday afternoon we celebrated Dad's birthday by lunch out and watching Despicable Me 2.

Today we did Sunday School for all ages, Reading Kingdom and Global Art. 
The lad likes doing the Sunday School for all ages and I can see us purchasing this curriculum when we are done with this review.    
Reading Kingdom he's getting quite frustrated with.  We have managed to get past the skills assessment area.   He finds it doesn't give him enough time to get the tasks completed and he finds that quite stressful.
Global art was just fine as you shall see below.
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supplies needed: hammer, board, items to hammer with, and metal lids.
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Choose your hammering item, apply hammer. Normally when the lad hammers we have a short hammer for him. But it's gone missing and is most likely stored somewhere in the quagmire that is his room.....He had some difficulty controlling the larger hammer but persevered and was pleased with the results.
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Try very hard (well okay not too hard) to not get distracted by very interesting fun little bugs that come to join you. This bug was perhaps 3 mm long, did a really neat curl up thing with its tail, washed itself, did some really short hop/flights until it soared off across the kitchen with an eight year old hot on it's tail. The lad ended up catching him and releasing him to the wilds of Ontario. :)
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our efforts met with Milo's approval, and he helped by reminding us where scattered nails went (he scratched his one up from under the board).
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The minions showing off our finished creations. I tried a planned one (in the middle) of a bike. But also made a go with the flow on (end nearest foot) and the lad made a purple minion replica. He was quite pleased with the end result.
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The three purple minions.
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    2014 TOS Reviews
    Science4Us.com

    Egglo Entertainment.
    ScienceandMath.com
    Supercharged Science.
    Philippians in 28 weeks.
    CTC math
    The Brinkman Adventures.

    Maestro Classics.
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    Other Reviews

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    30 Days of Bible Study...
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    Lead me Home
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    Can't wait Willow
    Hey God....
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    What I wish I knew at 18
    Classical Composers
    Seeking Christmas.
    Raising boys by design.
    The Ruby Ring.
    Knowing God By name.
    The Jesus Bible, NIV. 
    One Realm Beyond.
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