Hands on Projects and Free Books

...a weekly wrap-up

This week has been full - full of hands on projects!

• Our youngest built a model of Saturn {idea from Exploring Creation with Astronomy, Apologia}. This was a project done during the science co-op class I teach. 
• Our younger daughter is building another AWANA Grand Prix car. This year she opted for a wedge shape. You can see last year's car here.
• All the children worked together to create a one of a kind birthday banner for a special loved one.
• The two oldest children are partners for the Mouse Trap Vehicle competition in our state's Science Olympiad.
• Since our youngest is studying Asia, I attempted to make him a movable dragon puppet. It actually works. The idea and directions were found in Animal Crafts, by Iain MacLeod-Brudenell. {We borrowed it from our library.}

Some great resources we came across this week include:

Art Appreciation - A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin, by Jen Bryant
This library book prompted an interest in Horace Pippin. We found him fascinating. You can read about him here and find lesson plans here and here.

Music Appreciation - We finished our study of Johannes Brahms. Once we finished, our oldest declared he was going to find a biography on Brahms to read on our next library visit. We based our studies off of this biography, but I also found this free composer unit study recently.

Math - Some of our children have enjoyed these Math Challenge DVDs from time to time. This week, we borrowed Doubles and Halves and Complements Making 100 and 1000. We also found this book called A Fair Bear Share, by Stuart J. Murphy. It was a perfect compliment to our youngest's math lessons as he was learning to group items by ten and regroup when necessary.


Some great resources and ideas for Valentine's Day:
I have been collecting these from around the web for next week...

• Logic puzzle by Minds in Bloom
• Free printable copy work from Blessed Beyond a Doubt
• Teaching Kids to Show Love Through Kindness (with a free printable) at Upside Down Homeschooling
• 5 Days of Valentine Activities from Beyond the Cover
• 5 Fun Valentine's Day Books from The Usual Mayhem
• Be a Valentine Bookworm with a free download at Homegrown Learners
• How to Make Yarn Hearts at Parents
• Paper Heart Garland at How About Orange (easy to do, with a neat result)

Now, if I can just fit them all into next week's four days, hmmm.

Free Books
Another homeschooling family blessed us with a stack of books. Many we will use in the years to come (1a), but a few are perfect timing for this year's studies. We have just finished learning about World War I in our history studies. These three new-to-us history books will be perfect compliments to upcoming lessons (1b).



Find more weekly wrap-ups at:
Weekly Wrap-up at Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers
Collage Friday at Homegrown Learners