Element Experiment Extravaganza!

After completing our DIY Giant Periodic Table of Elements, I decided it would be the perfect time for the kids to explore elements in a hands on way, through experimentation.  So I set up several experiments today that utilized common elements, as well as an understanding of how electrons play a part in everyday things like electricity!  So join us as we explore...some ELEMENTS!

DIY Giant Periodic Table of Elements - Completed!

This project came out so good.  It is amazing what you can do with some cardboard, used egg cartons, a little paint and a fun Basher book!  It might be one of my favorite projects to date!  You won't want to miss the completion of this project, the roaring 20's fun and the funny surprise that awaited me and made this one of the most fun Wonderful Wednesdays, yet!

Painting the Periodic Table of Elements!

Wonderful Wednesday was the continuation of our Periodic Table of Elements board we are making.  We began working on this large project last week.  Today, the kids painted their periodic table according to the color scheme of Basher's The Periodic Table: Elements with Style! book.  We hope to finish up the final PTE boards next Wednesday!  They are going to look so cool when they are done!

Exploring the Elements! + O'Keeffe Pizzas!

Today our exploration dressed as Theodore Roosevelt, was a further understanding of the Periodic Table of Elements!  We also made some O'Keeffe inspired pizza flower designs that were...delicious!  So join us in today's Wonderful Wednesday journey!

Introducing the Periodic Table of Elements!

So if you were with us last week, we introduced the idea of chemistry and zoned in on atoms.  This week we had an icy start to our day, but we were able to still get together, albeit a little later!  Starting out, we built on last weeks' concepts and talked about the elements in the Periodic Table.  I reviewed the the atom, and then explained elements and molecules in more detail then last week.  We then took a big picture view of The Periodic Table and started with a simple project on the break down of the Table.

Introducing Chemistry!

Wonderful Wednesday is back!  School is back in session, and we are starting our exploration of chemistry!  I wanted to back up from the atomic number (which is week 13 for CC) to explaining what an atom is first, and how that fits in with our previous studies of anatomy.  I also wanted to back out and give them an overview of chemistry and introduce the idea of the periodic table of elements.  This is the basis from which we will explore the periodic table of elements and the atom in the following weeks!

Writing & Rhetoric Review, Giveaway and Discount!!!!

Happy New Year!  I have a terrific welcome to the New Year for you all!

A giveaway from Classical Academic Press for one free copy of their Writing & Rhetoric curriculum!  The giveaway includes the Teachers Edition, Student Edition and the Audio Files!

20% Discount Until January 11th!

If that isn't enough of a welcome to the new year, then there is also a hard to find discount of 20% on ANY Classical Academic Press Curriculum you purchase, from now until January 11th, when you use the code:  SGM20 -just for being a viewer of Solagratiamom™!  The discount is even good on their already discounted bundles!

(Want to buy, but afraid you would do so and then win, ending up with two copies?  No problem!  Just go ahead and purchase now at the discount, then you will get your purchase of Writing & Rhetoric reimbursed if you happen to win the giveaway!)  

2nd Semester SALE!!!

$14.95

***SALE***

Just in time for the 2nd half of the school year - 1/2 price sale on the Teaching Plans!!!

Are you looking for things to do that will enrich your memory work and provide extra hands on learning for your children throughout the week?  Is memory work alone getting a little stale and you're looking for some ways to re-engage your child?  I have just the thing!  Solagratiamom™ Teaching Plans!

Assessing Our Path- Gearing Up for the Next 12 Weeks!

It's almost time to start back in our Community and begin hitting the school routine in full swing again.  So for me, that means it's time to assess things.  Am I still on the path or did I end up taking a left turn somewhere?  These are the things I think about over my break.  It's part of my gearing up for the next twelve weeks, so I can hit the ground running that first full week of January.  Here are some of the things I do to help me assess:

Christmas Season Recap!

Merry Christmas!  December ran away with me.  How about you?  I almost can't believe it's gone in a few more days, along with this 2014 year!  Here is a recap of what we were consumed with this Christmas Season...

Mastering Your Multiplication Tables

My daughter and I have been working together during our break, to try and master her times tables for Memory Master this spring (Memory Master is part of Classical Conversations®).   This will be her first year requiring her to do the times tables for Memory Master, instead of just skip counting.

Review - Periodic Table of Elements Coloring Book

I'm always on the look out for creative people who can take something that is not thought of as fun or not traditionally geared towards younger kids, and then make it fun and gear it toward younger kids!  That takes talent and creativity, which I love. A subject like chemistry is definitely not something you think of introducing to a 2nd or 3rd grader, or would consider it fun -is it?  Let me share with you something that will totally change your mind!

Christmas Party -Wonderful Wednesday 2014

The month of December is a busy month!  It's so hard to fit everything in you want to.  Thankfully, we were able to get together for a small celebration of God's goodness in putting together this group of women and children, that we call Wonderful Wednesdays!  My daughter has been in the middle of long and late night rehearsals for a Christmas fundraiser play and I've been helping with costuming for it, so I didn't get too elaborate this year.  However, we did eat a yummy breakfast together, do some fun games and make a neat little craft.  

Learning About Blood and Inside Me T-shirts!

Today we touched one final time on understanding what makes up our blood and what it's function is within the body, which we covered in more detail when we focused on the circulatory system a few weeks ago.  We made our own t-shirts of our internal body organs/systems to tie up our last week of anatomy studies.  We ended our day with a very fun review of the previous twelve weeks of memory work via a fast paced "acting out the memory work with props" game!

10 Easy Kids Christmas Crafts! PLUS Huge Giveaway!!!

It's already that time of the year!  Hard to believe but it's true!  I am excited to be part of another fantastic giveaway - this time for the coming Holidays!  There are two prizes and 2 winners!  So don't forget to sign up at the bottom of this post!  There are also a lot of great gift ideas from a bunch of creative bloggers - so check out the link up below as well!

I always love making Christmas crafts with kids.  So I thought I would share my top ten easy crafts we made during Advent last year.  These are simple for kids to make and a great way to kick off the season!

Endocrine System!

Wonderful Wednesday was all about the endocrine system today.  The kids got the fright of their lives to start our day and then we ended our day with an Abraham Lincoln themed snack and review game, with fun learning in between.  We had some special guests today too - always love when a Grandparent (or two!) can come join our day!

Edible U.S Maps and More!

Today in Wonderful Wednesday, we stepped away from the science blitz format we've been doing.  We had already covered lungs in our previous week when we looked at the Excretory System and made a working lung model.  So, it seemed fitting to take a little break and focus on our geography and music theory, with a little abstract art for fun thrown in!

Battle of the Immune System!

This week in Wonderful Wednesday we focused on the amazing Immune System!  The kids dressed up as Vikings (a timeline event for this week) - which also fit with our end of the day activity of "fighting" germs!  The kids loved the immune system attack activity of the day, it was a ton of fun!

Reformation Day!

Repost:  For those wanting to celebrate Martin Luther's Reformation Day...here is a blog post blast from the past!  

I decided the day before Halloween that I didn't really want that to be the focus of our October 31st this year.  While you all KNOW I love to have kids dress up and enjoy that aspect of childhood (and occasional adulthood too) - I wanted to "shift" the focus a little bit while still allowing dress up and fun to ensue!  So....I decided to invite just a few kids over to dress up and learn with us about the Reformation and life of Martin Luther the Reformer!

So we were able to pull out two Martin Luther's and a Pope Leo X!  That works....I thought!

Circulatory System Fun!

This week we had a blast exploring the circulatory system!  We all dressed up as "medical professionals" (I joined in this week since all I had to do was pull out a pair of my old scrubs - so don't expect any other week to see me...haha!) - I loved the pharmaceutical sales girl with her briefcase.  There has to be at least one in every gathering of medical professionals, don't you think?

Exploring the Excretory System!

Today we explored the excretory system with the kids.  I had a couple models planned, along with a few demonstrations and a surprising end to the day for the kids!  We had cowgirls and boys for our history dress up this week.  I loved seeing some of the kids bring their mop horses I had made in September!  Sarah chose to wear a costume horse she had from a few years ago!

Tackling the Tin Whistle!

No subject can strike fear into the hearts of Tutors and Moms around the country, like teaching the tin whistle!  =)  Truth be told, it definitely has not been my favorite subject to teach.  It's not that I don't like music - I do!  It's more because I considered music to be something I was not necessarily good at.  I never had formal instruction playing an instrument and I never learned to read sheet music - so obviously, I was never taught any music theory before CC either.  However, it has definitely gotten easier as the years have ticked by and I have learned to find great value in music theory and even in teaching the tin whistle.  Here are a few things that I hope will encourage you and be of help, as you tackle the tin whistle this year.

Patriotic Copywork- "4 Pack" Giveaway!

I'm excited to tell you about a neat new offering from that sharp young lady, Amy Maze, who you may recognize from either Living and Learning at Home or Classical Copywork!  Amy has designed a Patriotic Copywork Pack and she is offering two (2) free "4 Pack" copies to giveaway, here at Solagratiamom™!  This is great copywork for Classical Conversations' curriculum users especially, as it lines up with Cycle 3 beautifully!  

Digestive System!

This week we got messy and tackled understanding the digestive system!  It was a very kid funny topic, that had some surprising results.  Our dress up this week - Pioneers.

Fun Ways to Jump Start for Essentials of English Grammar!

I have gotten questions from parents wondering how they can prepare their younger kids for the Essentials of English Grammar®.  If you are using the Classical Conversations® Foundations curriculum, then there is nothing formal that needs to be done, beyond memorizing the English Grammar memory work for each "cycle" (and definitely don't discount that one - it will go a LONG way towards making Essentials easier)!  (Essentials is Classical Conversation's class they offer children in 3rd Grade and up, focusing on English Grammar - you can go to their webpage for more information about their programs), there are few things that I think are fun that would definitely provide exposure to concepts, that they will be learning when they get there.  If you are not in Classical Conversations®, then these are just great ways to make English Grammar fun for anyone getting their kids ready for a formal Grammar program!

5 Senses - Models and Activities!

This week in Wonderful Wednesday, we focused on one of my favorite things to explore with children, sensory activities!  We made models for the tongue, ear, nose and eye.  It was a jam packed day and we ran long, but it was lots of fun.  Our dress up was George Washington for this week, with some creative costumes and fun!

The U.S. and Nervous System!

Welcome to the fourth week of Wonderful Wednesday!  We dressed up anything USA, to go along with learning the history of America's beginnings, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence!  We started out our day together like always, lap booking our way through the weeks' memory work.  We did a fun abstract drawing of a face in our lapbooks, which I have done previously.  It's great for Tutors to use in class for abstract drawing week!

Thoughts on Essentials/IEW From a First Year Mom!

So we have made it through the first four weeks of Essentials/IEW®.  Prior to fearfully entering the classroom, I had heard horror stories from first year shell shocked Moms, regarding how overwhelming this class was.  Phrases like "drinking from a firehose" and "intense" were often sprinkled somewhere in the conversation.  I was fully prepared that this was going to be an arduous year of grinding out papers and grammar all day long - just to keep up.  Well, let me share some good news for those who have yet to darken the doors of this class - It's NOT BAD!  At least none of those thoughts have come to my mind so far this year, though I can see how it might if I wasn't better prepared.  While I can see where it does certainly build upon one week after another, with increasing demands for paper writing and grammar charts, it's all very doable -but it does depend on a few things.  Here are the reasons why I think it's actually been great so far:

Muscles and Mohawks! Week 3 Wonderful Wednesdays!

BIRTHDAY BUNDLE DISCOUNT - ONE WEEK ONLY!

My favorite little guy, is no longer very little!  My Mason, is turning 15 on Monday the 15th and I am discounting my Teaching Plan Bundle $15 in honor of him, to celebrate!!!   This is a GREAT deal to celebrate his big day!  You get the Teaching Plan, Wonderful Wednesdays Plan and the Pin Maps document for an incredible $14.95 after the $15 discount is applied (use the code: MASON at checkout)!  Hurry though - this discount only lasts until Sunday, September 21st!

If you have been following me for a while, then you are aware that I have a special needs son.  You can read about him on a variety of posts by clicking here.

In honor of him turning 15, here are 15 things I LOVE about my special needs son:

Song School Latin Review!!

If you are tempted to hit delete on this post, because you aren't interested in Latin for your kids, then read on!  If you are thinking they are too young or you aren't able to teach it, then definitely read on!!  Your kids as young as 1st grade can learn it easily and you as the Teacher, do NOT need to have any previous Latin experience, or even know the first thing about Latin, in order to teach it!  How does that sound?  What if I also told you that you can begin to help your child in advanced studies in multiple subjects just by learning some Latin! Well it's true, and Song School Latin from Classical Academic Press makes it so easy, that even a young child and an old Mommy can learn it (at least old in my case -ahem!).

Cowgirl Hoedown Birthday Party!

My daughter turned 10 this past week!  We had a good time planning her birthday party together.  It's so much fun to put our creative juices together and sew what we can bring to life.  She decided she wanted a cowgirl hoedown, so here is what we ended up doing...

Making Mops Into Stick Horses

I haven't posted for a week because we have been on break from school and I have been busy planning my daughter's 10th birthday party.  She asked me to give her a cowgirl hoedown themed party.  She is creative and had visions of what this party would entail and the first thing in her vision was a stick horse for each guest!  Speaking of horses....whoa horsey!!!!......make 9 stick horses or worse yet, spend the money to buy 9 stick horses?  I don't think so!  So....I had to get creative to make it fit within the budget, fulfill this kiddo's birthday vision and pull it together within a matter of a few weeks.  What I ended up doing took about 20 minutes per horse to make and cost me less than $4.50 a horse - total!   Here's what I did...

Teaching From Rest (Review)

An e-book from Sarah Mackenzie entitled "Teaching From Rest -A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace", is a very worthwhile read for homeschooling Moms.  I purposely don't do many reviews because I covet my time and yours - so it has to be pretty good for me to agree to do a review.  This was definitely a book worth my time.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a confirmation of many of the things God has been showing me about my very own homeschool, this past few months.

Skeletons and Pilgrims! Week 2 Wonderful Wednesday!

This week we had Pilgrims, a Thanksgiving Feast, a lot of activities - as well as making a bone model, to better understand the human skeleton!  Join me in the recap of this weeks' journey!  

Wonderful Wednesdays is BACK! Types of Tissue Experiments!

Wonderful Wednesday is back!  It felt good to get a week under our belt and sing those familiar CC songs, see the kids fantastic history dress ups and enjoy the fun and fellowship of exploring this weeks' topic through experimentation mixed with silliness and a 3D model!  It was a great start to what I hope will be a terrific year for everyone!  

How To Pull Together History Dress Ups

Dressing up is a super duper fun part of our Wonderful Wednesdays' each week during the school year!  Kids love to dress up and become something other than they are.  It stimulates the mind in a way that not many other things can.  The process of pulling together costumes from a variety of places and utilizing a variety of items in new and possibly unique ways -is a very creative process for both the kids and parents.  When the day comes to actually pull off the dress up, I find that I end up having just as much fun as my child.  It feels like I'm creating individual pieces of recycled art, as I pull together the various elements to see them go from my minds' eye to real life.  Sometimes, they come out way better than I thought and other times, I have to change out an element or even start over because it doesn't go as well as I had hoped!  I thought I would share with you how I use the Wonderful Wednesday Plan to develop out my ideas for costumes and where I find my treasures!

Pin Maps Tutorial

One of my favorite things that my daughter and I have done the past couple years has been pin maps.  I love to be able to see the locations at the end of the year when they are all pinned!  It's a tangible reminder of all the work in memorization that my daughter has accomplished for each year of geography.  I wanted to share with you how I go about making the Pin Maps for my schoolroom...

Osage Orange Tree -Field Trip Discovery

We have been doing field trips this summer to keep things fun and educational for the summer.  We went on a field trip to Mordecai Historic Park .  When the field trip was completed, we stayed to have a picnic lunch together in the park.  While sitting there, my friend noticed this very interesting "fruit" on the tree we were beside.  I had never seen anything like it myself and so we began investigating....

Tutor and Parent Ideas for Memory Work

To help with those who are trying to figure out what they are going to do for tutoring this year or teaching your own kids at home, I hope this dig out of the archives will help!

REPOST.....
Below is my Top 20!  These are some of my tried and true methods I've used at home and as a Tutor that are guaranteed to be fun, silly and engaging for your kids or students - so give some a try!  Bear in mind that some of these will work for younger kids verses older kids and some ideas work for the classroom setting verses home - you decide!

Top 20

Discovering the Lake "Blob"

I haven't posted in a week or so because I've been out of town.  I was in New York for my brother's baby shower and then off to our local lake for some camping with friends.  I discovered two things this week while being gone; first, I am too old to want to start over with a baby and second, there are interesting things that live in the lake!  Let me explain and paint the scene for you...

LAPBOOK GIVEAWAY! Plus Secret Bonus Entry!

If you were with me last school year, then you know that Wonderful Wednesday was started each week by lapbooking through that week's memory work.  We are going on our third year of using Karen Gill's lapbooks from Wisdom and Righteousness for Wonderful Wednesdays!  There are other's that are out there but I really appreciate the colorfulness and interactive nature of Karen's lapbooks, specifically.  The option of making your lapbook into a notebook is the style we all preferred.  She gives you the option to do the traditional file folder style lapbook or the notebook style, as seen above.  As a group, the notebook style was preferred to provide enough room for everyone at the table and it also had more of a traditional "notebooking" feel.  If you have active learners, then these lapbooks are a great option.  Your child can flip, turn, pop-up, paste, and write their way through each week's memory work.  

Creating Your Own Science Based Dot-to-Dot Skip Counting Sheets!

The last time we did Cycle 3, I had used skip counting dot-to-dot sheets to do the math for my Apprentice aged kids.  It was a way for me to integrate the science memory work a little with the math and it was fun.  They enjoyed trying to guess what body part they were connecting dots and skip counting through to create.  I tried to tie the week's body parts to the week's skip count.  For example, when we did the circulatory system for our memory work that week in science, I would trace a heart for them to skip count to make.  We would drill the skip counts several times and then all pencils would start at the first number and together we would chant through each number and move our pencils to trace from one skip count number to the next in a fun and exaggerated way.  Then the picture could be colored while we chanted through those body parts for the science memory work next.

How to Start Young Kids Drawing the U.S.

I wanted to begin to teach my daughter how to draw the United States.  She looked at the map with all it's squiggly shapes and jets in and out and didn't seem too keen on even starting!  The outline map seemed tedious to her at this point - so I put it away and took a new approach.   I knew I had to come up with a simplified way of having her see the map to get her engaged.  So we broke it down into four sections and then came up with things we could "see" or "imagine" in each section that would help her remember some of the bigger features to that section and how to draw it.  Here is what we came up with....

Super Easy Bug Pinning!

Disclaimer:  If you are a serious bug person, then you may want to close your eyes quickly...because I'm about to do what will cause you to gasp in horror!  I pinned bugs without the right pins, without the right board, without noting the concordance, date, species etc.  I did do some things right though.  LOL!  I did catch each bug last year and put them in rubbing alcohol to preserve them before I froze them.  :)  However, that's as far as the politically correct bug pinning goes.