Activities Abound!

by Kami Huntzinger

Originally published in September of 2007 under the LDS-NHA Leaders' Post

Homeschoolers are an eclectic bunch with all different kinds of personalities, needs, and time constraints. In addition, homeschoolers lead very busy lives. For this reason, it is important to make our activities be natural and valuable extensions to our homeschool curriculum. As homeschool leaders, the challenge is to balance group activities so that there is something for everyone. Here are different types of activities that will appeal to different families and individuals:

1. Clubs.

There can be a club for just about any interest, skill, or timeframe. You can have book clubs and hiking clubs and girls clubs. There are crafts clubs, cooking clubs, chess clubs, drama clubs, entomology clubs, and sports clubs. There are homeschool Scout Troops and American Girl Clubs. And don't forget writing clubs, archery groups, and leadership clubs. Any kind of interest can lead to the formation of a club.

These are often the most time consuming of homeschool activities because they require a regular commitment. But they can also be very rewarding as your children meet others with similar interests and create lasting friendships.

2. Academic Activities.

These activities can supplement your homeschooling in a very real way. Academic activities such as Science Fairs and International Nights give your children a chance to share what they have been learning. My children work hard on their Science Fair projects, knowing that they will be talking to other people about it and being judged. The simple ribbon given there is a reward that I can't match at home.

Other academic activities, like Geography or Spelling Bees, give your children needed motivation for learning a subject that they might not find so interesting until it is presented as a competitive game. 

Some activities might actually steer the direction for what you study at home. Getting together with other people can be a real incentive for learning. Several years ago, someone in our homeschool group organized a Medieval Night. My family really wasn't scheduled to study that for a while, but my children were so interested in it that we chose to get into it right then with the purpose of attending that activity. 

Academic activities are a very important component of our homeschooling program. I try to keep abreast of the homeschool and community calendar to determine if there are activities that can help shape our curriculum. In addition, if I know that we are going to be studying something specific, I quite often look around for a group of people with similar interests and organize a group to get together-sometimes just once; other times monthly, quarterly, or weekly-to do activities related to that topic. My children love it and it gives us the motivation to put together larger activities that we might not do on our own.

3. Performing Arts Activities. 

Believe it or not, there are some people crazy enough to volunteer to take a group of rowdy kids and turn them into a first-rate choral group! Participating in a homeschool play or musical is a great opportunity for kids to work hard on something fun while making new friends.

It can be fun to have a homeschool music night where everyone brings their instruments and jams together. Younger children can play triangles and bongo drums-it's a bit crazy, but lots of fun. Or you can limit it to a smaller group of more mature musicians for a more sedate, but fun, experience. Or you might organize a homeschool band or orchestra. A Talent Show might give a much-needed venue for performing.

Also look around for people willing to teach homeschool music, dance, or art classes. Often it is great for teachers because they can have students while everyone else is in school. They might even give discounts (it's always worth a try!).

4. Crafts Activities. 

There are so many ideas I can't even begin to name them all. You can have a clay play day or a collage party or a bead-stringing workshop. There is origami, mask-making, and homemade paper. You can have candle-making, knitting, or soap- making classes. You can get together and make Christmas gifts or Valentine crafts. And, of course, everyone loves Tie-Dye Day. You can have crafts clubs (for older kids or younger kids or even the moms!). Homeschool scrapbooking groups can be a lot of fun.

"Middle Ages" crafts or "Astronomy" crafts. There are lots of ideas on the Internet and at the library.

5. Sports Activities. 

Because homeschoolers aren't in organized P.E. classes, they don't always get the chance to play different sports. It can be fun to have a homeschool sports day in which you alternate the sports they play each time (try kickball, dodgeball, soccer, baseball, basketball, etc.) Or you can have a mom or dad teach a one-day or multi-day class on one particular sport. My children had never played tennis until a mom in our group organized a tennis day. She explained the rules, showed them some drills with the balls, and let them practice. Not the equivalent of professional lessons, but exactly what my kids needed to learn the rudiments of the game. We can't put our kids in every sports league, so these kinds of activities give them a chance to try something new.

In addition, you can ice skate, bowl, canoe, or snowshoe with homeschool groups. Sometimes you can get discounts on any of these activities if you do them during school hours. Our local ice-skating rink gives free one-hour classes to school groups and the homeschoolers qualify. Check out your local resources.

6. Team-building Activities. 

Many of the activities already discussed may qualify as a team-building activity, but I made this a separate category because I believe that it deserves attention of its own. These types of activities build lasting relationships that are important to homeschoolers.

A team-building activity may be a one-time event that allows the children to work together as a group to accomplish a purpose-for example, a scavenger hunt or a field day. Or it may be a group that meets together regularly to accomplish some purpose, such as preparing for a Mock Trial or putting on a play. Whatever the activity, it allows for kids to have something to do while they take the time to relax and open up. These types of activities can be very important for building group identity and strengthening friendships
. 
7. Field Trips. 

Everybody loves to explore new places. Many field trips are just a phone call away. Last year, our homeschool group did a science week. We organized 11 field trips to science-oriented companies in our little valley. Most of these trips were not done through contacts or people we already knew. Instead, we cold-called companies that we knew did something with science and engineering and asked if we could have a tour. All but one or two were more than happy to let us come. If you have an interest in anything, find a place that does it and visit. Many people are happy to share their work with us. 

For more standard field trip destinations, large groups often get discounts or special tours. Don't hesitate to ask. Field trips are a great way for homeschoolers to meet others while learning something new. 

8. Service. 

Service activities help us to look outside of our own lives and see the needs of others. Doing service with a group can make it more fun. And by putting it on the calendar, we make sure that it will be done! (How many times have we thought about a kind service that we could do, only to have it slip through the cracks of our busy lives?) In addition, by allowing our children to spot the opportunities and organize the activity, we are teaching them compassion and leadership skills.

9. Social Activities and Special Events. 

These activities have socialization as their primary purpose. Play groups, Park Days, and Ice Cream Socials. Christmas and Valentine Parties, Fall Festivals and Homeschool Dances. They are lots of fun and definitely need to be a part of all homeschool groups. However, as a parent, I want these activities to be special occasions instead of weekly time-fillers.

10. Parent Support. 

Finally, we come to the moms and dads! Parents need activities, too. As a mom, I look forward to meeting with and talking to other moms in the same situation as myself. In addition, I love to attend conferences and classes that teach me an array of skills to improve myself. It is nice to socialize with moms during the children's activities, but it is also nice to have an occasional adult activity. Book clubs, Parent Nights, and Conferences all meet those needs.

I haven't even scratched the surface of the variety of activities available to homeschoolers. You are only limited by time and imagination. 

About the Author

Kami lives in beautiful Cache Valley, Utah, with her husband and four children. She started homeschooling as a child when she used to make her little brother and sister sit down for lessons. She is an active leader in the Cache Valley Homeschoolers, where she puts on a yearly Science Fair and accompanying activities.

Duty to God...

As I sat in on the Young Men President’s introduction to the new Duty to God program a few weeks ago, I was stuck by two things - how well this program trains the young men to be ready to use the “Preach My Gospel” program when they are missionaries, but also how well the new model for the program will and should be working for us in our home schools.

The greatest changes to the program are the Learn, Act, and Share. The young man is instructed to learn about a topic and then set goals that will help him make what he has studied a part of his life. The goals are personal and can be big or small as the young man chooses. After setting the goals the young man then acts by working to accomplish the goals he has set. Once he has set and accomplished the goals he is asked to share his experiences with his quorum, friends or his parents. This is a form of return and report and, as the manual says, will strengthen his testimony of what he is learning and will strengthen the testimonies of those he shares with. This will help the young man share personal experiences with those he teaches not only on his mission, but throughout his life. The gospel teaching becomes personal, not just academic.
  
I was struck by how this is the model we need to follow in our homeschools. This is the next step in our search for excellence and a Zion education for our children.
   
When we use the public school as our measuring stick of how our homeschools should run, it is easy to get overwhelmed and frustrated that we cannot accomplish all that is required in the 12 years allotted to us. There is so much! But when we take the time to break it down to what we really want our children to be when they graduate from our homeschools, for many of us academics is not at the top of the list. At the same time we want our children to ready for college or whatever their life’s mission has in store for them.

How can we use the model of the new Duty to God program to help us?  First, we prayerfully consider what our goals are for each of our children for the coming year. What are their weakness and strengthens? What do we think are the most important things to be done in the coming year?  What can we do to help them develop their talents and abilities? Do they need help in certain areas either temporally or spiritually? We need to choose only a few- too many and it will be overwhelming and discouraging for both us and our children. 
 
One of the ways that our family does this is with school blessings at the start of the school year. Then I meet with each of my children and we talk about the things Heavenly Father thinks they should focus on and encourage them to find ways to work on those things.

After we have those areas of focus, then we help them set goals that help get them where we want them to be. When our children have input into their goals, then they own them and are more willing to accomplish them. 

As they work at achieving their goals we have them report their progress to us, not to brow beat them but to encourage and redirect as necessary. As they study throughout the year we can have them report at FHE, for example,  or at the dinner table, the things they have studied that interested them most or gave them the most trouble before they finally conquered it.  This will help them see they are actually accomplishing and learning right through the year.
   
My family has used the return and report idea in several ways. At dinner the kids like to tell their dad the things they did that day for school or something they learned they think is cool.  That can lead to some interesting discussions and debates! Another thing we like to do is have a game night where we play a Trivia game with questions from the science or history unit we have just completed.  I have had my elementary  aged kids give their older siblings a run for their money! We also like to do history nights where we have food from the country or time in history we have studied. Then we have displays or plays or whatever the kids come up with to round out the evening.
  
One of my kid’s favorites is our monthly talent night. Sometimes this bombs, but more often than not it is a great way for my kids to show off. They can play a song they are learning, showcase art work, recite a poem, tell a joke,  or perform a skit- it doesn’t matter.  Everyone has to do something, even mom and dad. Sometimes they combine their efforts and can come up with some really fun stuff. Since my kids are musically inclined the evening usually ends with a sing-a-long, building memories and strengthening family ties. 
  
I am always amazed at the development of the new programs in the church. They are moving us step by step toward our Savior and our Heavenly Father. I believe we can do the same things this program teaches with our families and our homeschools as we work to perfect a Zion education.
 

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Dana

Problem or Strength?

I talked with a frustrated parent the other day, her child had been labeled as a disruption.  At her wit's end, she confided that she knew deep down her child was not a failure like the teacher had declared.  She had high hopes and aspirations for her child and saw talent and worth where the teacher only saw a talkative restless child.

I pulled out this list that someone gave me long ago (source unknown) to share.  It had calmed my fears then, and continues to give insight now.  

Is your child's behavior a problem or a strength?
How YOU perceive a behavior may hinder or enhance it's real meaning.

Problem

Strength

quiet

Inner directed

bossy

Good director/leader

clingy

Connected

tattle tail

Justice seeker

stubborn

Focused/committed determined

fussy about food, clothing

Discriminating

talks back

Courageous/honest

too talkative

Relates well to others

Finicky eater

Future gourmet/discriminating

Doodles

Creative

Dawdles

Easy going

Nosey

High curiosity

Non-conformist

Likes attention/independent/
Assertive/persistent

Mouthy

Expressive

Spoiled

Loved

Mean

Power-seeker

Crabby

Speaks out needs

Wants attention

Speaks out needs

Sneaky

Inventive

Compulsive

Efficient

Silly

Fun loving

Goofy

Untamed creativity

Loud

Expressive

Plain

Natural

Shy

Inner directed

Timid

Careful

Dependent

Connected

Domineering

Charismatic

Conceited

Self loving

Fearful

Careful risk taker

Rigid

High sense of order

Guarded

Watchfully observant

Hysterical

High level of emotion

Troublemaker

Bored/sees the activity as irrelevant

Jokester

Highly intelligent/looks at things in new ways

Day dreamer

Optimist/future thinking

We all know a Brianna who was fussy about her clothes and later worked in a clothing store, (besides looking great all the time!) Or, Tom who was always domineering, and now runs his own successful business.

Your stubborn child may use that intense focus to become a successful athlete or the child that is compulsive in her school work now excels in her very detail-orientated accounting job.  Often we must see beyond the world's immediate judgment of our child and recognize their strengths to build them into the men and women they were meant to be.

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Kari

What I Learned On My Summer Vacation...

by LDS Homeschooled Students

We asked homeschooled students of all ages to write short essays explaining what they learned during the summer vacation. These are the responses we received... originally published September 2006

My neighbor Rachel was selling cool-aid to save money to buy a motor scooter. My sister and I decided to help her sell cool-aid. I rode my bike to tell other neighbors about the cool-aid stand. I did get some friends to come buy cool-aid drinks. I was very tired but I learned that I felt very good helping someone instead of getting money for myself.

Hitomi Hilton, age 7 Smithfield, Utah 

This summer I learned some pretty important lessons. I learned both spiritual and temporal lessons. The most important lesson is that Heavenly Father does answer our prayers. My family and I were taking thirty-two hour driving trip from Texas to California. Before we left, I said a personal prayer and asked for “a safe and eventful trip” because the drives are always boring. My prayers were answered. We were safe, but it was an eventful trip. After three hours of driving, the air conditioner in the car went out. Temperatures reached 109 degrees. That night, just as my parents had decided that they would drive all night and sleep in a hotel during the day so we would travel in the cooler time periods, we blew a tire. That was another of the eventful parts. The safe part of it was that we were in the right hand lane of the highway when the tire blew and could pull off easily. We had a spare tire. The exit was less than a quarter of a mile away with both a hotel and a tire repair shop. If you have ever traveled in West Texas, you would know that there are stretches of miles with nothing around. This was definitely a blessing. This summer has had its important lessons. Whether spiritual or temporal, they have been life-long lessons. One of the biggest lessons I learned is to be careful of what you pray for because Heavenly Father does hear us. 

Ricky Blomquist, age 14 Houston, Texas 
 

I learned about Ancient Egypt and how the people would bury and mummify pharaohs. I learned how to fish and I learned how to swim (except I already knew how to swim because I do swim lessons every summer). I learned that you must have patience even though you don’t want to and that you don’t have to call everything you get mad at stupid. I learned from my aunt that you should play with toys anyway, even if you don’t want to clean up. I had a great summer and I learned a lot. 

Ptolemy Takis, Age 10 Nibley, Utah 

I love learning about Egypt. I love watching movies about Egypt. I love it very much. I love drawing pictures of Egypt. I like the Scooby Doo movie* because it’s really, really funny. *Scooby Doo in “Where’s My Mummy” 

Ptobias Takis, Age 5 Nibley, Utah 

We’re doing a unit on ancient Egypt this summer. Egypt is in the desert. A desert gets less than ten inches of rain per year. The desert is the hottest place in the world. The Nile River is the only flowing water in Egypt. Without the Nile the Egyptian civilization would have never existed. I made a model of the Nile River valley. I learned how the ancient Egyptians mummified the pharaohs. We are mummifying a chicken to make our own mummy. We also got to play “Archaeologist.” It has been a great summer learning about Egypt. 

Ptolian Takis, Age 8 Nibley, Utah

Independence and Appreciation

It’s the 4th of July today and my family has had no barbecue, no fireworks.  We’ve participated in none of the usual Independence Day traditions, yet it’s been the best celebration of independence and America ever, and I am ever so grateful. Today we’re finishing a two-week road trip that has shown us much of America, and I can’t help but reflect on a few particular freedoms that are especially dear to me as a homeshooler.

I am thankful for this beautiful, promised land.  In the past 2 weeks we’ve been in 8 states. Katherine Lee Bates penned it well when she wrote “America the Beautiful.”  I can’t top that, but I can relate. And so can my children.  “Amber waves of grain,” “purple mountain majesties,” and “fruited plains” greeted us throughout our journey, along with lone farm houses and skyscrapers—testaments to both God’s grace and power and man’s toil and industry. I am grateful for the foresight and preservation that keeps National Parks and Monuments unspoiled and accessible; for the passion of historians who restore and protect, that the voices of those who’ve gone before can still be heard by my children and their children.  I am thankful that as homeschoolers we can not only study geography and history (and geology, biology, paleontology, etc.), but we can see it, breathe it, live it—every day.  The world is our classroom.

I am thankful for the friendly faces of Americans everywhere who enjoy the same freedoms we do.  There were families needing to see our car so they could mark off Utah on their License Plate Bingo cards.  There were park rangers and missionaries who took large amounts of time with my children and shared their love of learning.  There were patriots stirring a love of God and country in my children through song and ceremony and recognition of veterans.  We met so many people who enjoy the same sights, sounds, smells, and pastimes we do. There were differences among us, yes, but we had far more in common with all of them than one might suspect.  I am glad my children can learn not to judge books—or people—by their covers.

As we spent every second together for the last 2 weeks, I was glad to see that it wasn’t a strain because we always spend time together.  Older siblings helped and watched out for younger; everyone knew what would interest another family member; there are many, many things the entire family mutually enjoys.  I am so appreciative of each one in my family.  How grateful I am that through homeschooling we get to share the best hours, days, and years of our lives voyaging mortality together.

I am eternally grateful for my family’s knowledge of the gospel and for the guidance and safety it provides.  As my children encountered lifestyles contrary to our beliefs, we were able to openly discuss modesty, chastity, and the Word of Wisdom and why we live the way we do.  When the missionaries we met shared their experiences and enthusiasm, they inspired us and reinforced resolves to serve missions.  Standing in holy places throughout America touched our hearts and strengthened our testimonies.  In our travels we were able to find and share analogous lessons that demonstrated gospel teachings.  I was reminded of a conversation I overheard in a bookstore a few weeks ago, wherein a public school teacher, who was looking for some bargain books, was telling her companion that she couldn’t use any books that taught or promoted values in her classroom because it was against the rules.  I was so sad for her students (and her), and so thankful that in all I do in my homeschool I have the freedom to do just that—teach and promote values and correct principles.

It’s been a wonderful adventure.  At the close of this article, we’re getting our 4th of July fireworks after all. We are somewhere in the middle of Wyoming, where a little community is having a large and amazing  fireworks display, oddly disproportionate to the size of the town, but a fitting finale for our trip.  As we pull over to watch, my 5-year-old daughter suggests, “Mommy, let’s sing the flag song.  You know—the one from the baseball games.”  My thoughts and our journey come to an end.  I sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” with my little one, and marvel again at every second of this excursion.  My attention begins to turn to the familiar, and yet it’s cliché, it’s true:  there’s no place like home.  That goes for learning, too.  I’m just glad my home is America.

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Sasha

Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime?

Here's the season's most frequent question: Do you continue with school through the summer? This question comes from people who obviously don't realize that children really are learning all the time, summer or not! So, yes, I let them put their math books away but other than that summer looks about the same as the rest of the year. Here's a glimpse at some of the things we've been "studying."

In April my older boys and I visited a Macaw rescue facility. We learned about everything from macaw mating habits to the reasons for rainforest destruction. The field trip fit in nicely with what's turned into a year-long study of birds. My nine-year-old studied birds for Science Olympiad, and my twelve-year-old just finished his bird merit badge, all the kids have been pouring over our bird encyclopedia from Costco and we've been closely watching the nest of baby robins hanging over our deck. We’ve also been very busy learning how to raise chickens this spring. You'd never believe how excited the boys were when we spotted a red cardinal in Illinois (my nine-year-old informs me that the cardinal is their state bird). 

My oldest son has spent several hours this spring working with his Aunt to paint a mural on the wall of his bedroom. Art is a never ending event around here. Sometimes I think it would be nice to just have one single day where the school table wasn't littered with paper, colored pencils, pipe cleaners, markers, scissors, tape, glue guns, beads (you get the picture) but I don't really have it in me to stifle their creative impulses! When my seven-year-old isn't busy drawing he's usually building something. Here's a picture of one of his creations (it's  a boat going under a bridge). 

My olderboys are learning to scuba dive this summer.We gave them lessons for their birthdays last year and it's taken us this long to get around to doing them! They won't be doing any open water dives but they are having a great time in the pool and my oldest is already begging to do his open water class.

Cooking has been all the rage this spring. The boys are both becoming rather accomplished chefs. My twelve-year-old has learned to bake a whole list of Gluten Free items (I’m gluten-intolerant so his help is much appreciated!) and my nine-year-old has started inventing recipes for his first cookbook. Tonight he made gluten free, cinnamon/ chocolate/maple bars and they were amazingly good! 

When we went camping both the older boys learned how to chop wood. This is not a subject they teach in school but maybe they should. My husband said a couple of college guys came by and asked to use our ax, the only problem was neither of them knew what to do with it!

After all that chopping the boys worked on their fire building skills. Later that night as we watched the fire my twelve-year-old  actually ran to get a notebook so he could write down words describing fire. He wanted them so he could write a poem when he got home.

This summer my nine-year-old decided to become a reader. He's been a good reader for a long time but he never really liked to read, then last month he finally caught the literary bug. Now he's tearing through 3-4 books a week. It's hard to be too annoyed that I can't get him to do anything because he always has to "finish his page".

Our other passion this time of year is the garden. My second son is growing 11 different squash plants and my oldest just built a raised bed for his herb garden, he also volunteered several times this spring at a local nursery. My daughter loves to help with anything that involves dirt!

And last but not least we are learning how to play Frisbee golf! I don't think there is a better way to spend a summer evening!

Summer is a wonderful time tostep back from traditional studies and see how much children are learning when we aren’t “doing school”!

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Lisa

Art is Messy

by Kim Kuhn

Art is messy.  If you have a toddler in your house then you may think that’s an understatement.  Perhaps you have dreams of teaching art and art appreciation to your little ones, but have nightmares of paint dripping all over the floor, chalk being eaten by your two year old (that’s what one of mine did) or trying to scrape clay off the table.  I can’t give you magic cleaning solutions, but how about a few tips. 

1. Make sure your children who are doing any kind of paint work wears a paint shirt.  Even when they are just using clay, I have them wear a paint shirt.  This helps reduce the arguments about which mediums need a covering and which don’t.
    
2. At the end of the project, make sure everyone helps clean up.  There are quite a few things the little ones can help with like pouring the water from the cup of water with the paintbrushes, and putting the paints and other mediums away.
    
3. Do your art outside.  My daughter loves to take her easel on our porch and paint there.  She also spray paints outside, but we cut up either newspapers or large brown paper bags and lay them down before her actual project can be painted.  After her project is done, the clean up with the newspapers and paper bags is easy.
    
4. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.  Since toddlers love to get dirty and messy, go ahead and put a large piece of paper like butcher paper (you can get this at the grocery store) on the floor.  Then, you and your child can have fun finger painting and toe painting all over your “canvas.”  To make this even more fun, put some music on where you can paint dance on the canvas.

Don’t let a little messiness stop the creativity in your child.  Just find ways to make clean up easier and have fun!

If you have any suggestions for future articles, whether it’s for music or art, just let me know. You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Kim

We are Proud to be American

I don't know about you, but every 4th of July I am always surprised and disappointed at, how many people, young and old, do NOT show respect to our beloved colors as Old Glory passes by, not to mention, stand when our national anthem plays. What has happened to us? Didn't their mother's teach them?

More and more each year, I think we take for granted the precious freedoms that we enjoy each and every day. Have we forgotten the courage and sacrifices of the many men and women that so willingly gave their lives so we can enjoy liberty? Are we unaware of how few rights other countries have? 

I determined a long time ago as this ‘behavior' was becoming more commonplace, that I wanted to make a difference, to be part of the solution and not the problem. But where to start? Well, "There's no place like home!" Why not? We are each raising future American citizens in our homes. Don't we want them to be the best they can be? Don't we want to raise responsible, law-abiding American citizens? Do they know what it means to be a good citizen? Teach them about our brave God-fearing founding fathers and our inspired Constitution. 

First, we became more diligent about standing with our hands over our hearts with one child holding our little classroom flag and leading us in the Pledge of Allegiance as part of our daily devotionals. We also studied the words to the Pledge and what the colors of the flag stood for, as well as how to take care of our flag. [This goes great with some of the scout requirements.] We played lots of great patriotic music to get us in the mood.

When our children started getting a little older we began a tradition of having a block party every 4th of July. We invited people from the ward and our neighborhood - we've had as few as 12 and as many as 60. We worked hard to put it all together, but the good feeling stuck with us long after the last person left. We spent the weeks before cleaning up the yard just right, sending out invitations, making or buying that ‘special new decoration' for our celebration, planning games, and buying fireworks for the evening show. These simple "tasks" taught our children - service, pride in the work they did, creativity as they designed our invitations and after time, our oldest daughter even took over dad's job of designing our yearly patriotic t-shirts that we wore as a family. 

As for the food - we had an old-fashioned potluck. Everyone brought something to share, their own choice of meat to cook, and chairs or blankets to sit on. We figured if we ended up with 7 bags of chips then we had chips, but we usually did just fine. As a general rule, we provided an ice chest of canned drinks, a thermos of water, the paper goods, and the grill.

After everyone had eaten and visited, we cleared up the food and began the games. Sometimes I asked for help and sometimes we just did them all. This is where we shared a lot of laughter and learned to really come to love our neighbors and friends. We played all sorts of games from "Do You Love Your Neighbor?" to Charades, and one year we even had a living game of Checkers using people for the tokens. It was a hit!

Finally, the long anticipated moment would arrive - darkness! Time to pull out the glow sticks, and set up the fireworks; but first we would all gather around our flag, and together, recite the Pledge of Allegiance. At about this point many of us would have tears in our eyes and I would know people still love their country.

Oh how everyone, young and old, delighted in the fireworks. Our evenings ended on this quiet and peaceful note as we thrilled at the colors and the beautiful designs bathing the night sky; and together we thanked our Heavenly Father for all we have. 

Those of us still at home feel the emptiness on the 4th of July these days as most of the children have grown. We have taken a rest from our yearly tradition. We miss the opportunity to express our patriotism and share our friendship. We have joined in again with the grandchildren, and so the tradition continues.....

Yes, WE ARE PROUD TO BE AMERICAN!

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Starla

High School Science

by Katrina Fujisaka

Whether your student has his sights set on college or not, high school graduation still requires a couple of science classes. At least two full credits (more for college bound kids) need to be included from Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. And these need to include labs….ACK! There goes the kitchen!

Actually, there are many, many great resources available for safely homeschooling these subjects. Some are so good you don’t need to be familiar with the subject material at all. They are designed to be complete and will allow your student to complete the work independently. Because science is easily quantified, grading is pretty straight forward as well.

The most commonly followed high school science track is Physical Science in 9th grade, Biology in 10th, Chemistry in 11th, and Physics in 12th. However, there is no hard and fast rule on this. My kids start this track in 8th grade – receiving high school credit because it is high school level work. If your student only needs two sciences, pick the two they are most interested in and enjoy. If you have a more scientifically minded student you can do more. There are even some resources for doing AP level science courses at home.

Here’s a quick list of some of my favorite science resources.

Apologia Educational Ministries is the current gold standard for homeschool science curriculum. It is taught from a Christian, creation perspective. They have courses in General Science, Physical Science, Biology, Marine Biology, Advanced (AP) Biology, Chemistry, Advanced (AP Chemistry), Physics, and Advanced (AP) Physics. They also offer necessary lab supplies.

D.I.V.E

Digital Video Interactive Education

CD-ROMS that provide college preparatory, interactive video lectures and labs that teach physical science, biology, chemistry, and physics. Can stand-alone or be used in conjunction with Apologia Science.

Beginnings Publishing

The Rainbow

A two-year General Science and Biology curriculum. Approach is conversational and engaging and experiments reasonable. All necessary supplies are included in the lab kits you purchase. They have separated their lab kits into durable and consumable categories. The durable kit only needs to be purchased once – as the items are re-useable for multiple students. The consumable kits are just that… the stuff you consume during the course of the labs and will have to replace for the next student.

The Spectrum Chemistry

High School Chemistry in the same engaging style.

Science Shepherd

I have not actually used this curriculum, but have heard good things about it. It is written by homeschoolers for homeschoolers. It is possible to purchase a DVD that includes step-by-step video presentation of all 19 labs and expected results. You can choose to do the experiments along with the DVD, or just use the DVD alone for the lab portion of the class. They have courses in Life Science and Biology.

High School Level-Chemistry, 2nd Edition

DVD Lecture Course taught by Frank Cardulla
Available from The Teaching Company

OUTSTANDING basic Chemistry course. We used the first edition to supplement Apologia Chemistry. Many of the concepts that were confusing in the textbooks were made crystal clear through this course. The new edition has 36 – half hour lectures, and a workbook with over 400 questions (solutions included).

Backyard Ballistics

By William Gurstelle

A little paperback book of 13 awesome ballistic devices that can be built in your garage or basement workshop using inexpensive household or hardware store materials. Clear instructions and illustrations. GREAT physics supplement.

And now, in an effort to save your kitchen, here are a couple of alternatives to the standard Biology and Chemistry lab kits.

Biology

Froguts– Virtual Dissection Labs
For $30/year you can virtually dissect 8 different specimens. Complete lessons with quizzes. FANTASTIC resource! All the benefit of dissection without the ‘gross’ factor.

Chemistry

Virtlab – A Virtual Laboratory
Free
“Virtlab is a virtual laboratory that provides: 
A visual aid for your lectures.
Student homework that is fun, motivating, and insight building.
A supplement to laboratory exercises.
Opportunities for independent exploration for your highly motivated students.
Opportunities for thoughtful visualization for your struggling students”

.

As with all high school level work, you need to keep a record of what your student is doing. Stay organized and keep all completed and graded work together in one place. And my personal favorite - try taking pictures or video of experiments. It is additional proof of the work, provides great feedback to the student on more complex experiments and projects, and can turn out to be funny and memorable to boot.

Hey! Maybe we should have a science experiment video contest…what do you think?

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Katrina

Read Aloud

by Doreen Blanding

"Is this a kissing book?" is one of my kids' favorite movie quotes (from the 1987 movie "The Princess Bride").  Whenever we read a book as a family, my kids like to ask this question within the first two pages. With five boys and only one girl, our kids identify with Fred Savage's character's aversion to romance and this has become something of a family joke.  We have read the book by William Goldman upon which the movie is based as a family and we love it, but it is only one of the hundreds if not thousands of books we have read together as a family.

When I was a little girl, my mom took the time to read books to me. I remember her breath in my hair as she read Dr. Suess, Robert McCloskey, and Lucy M. Montgomery.  I remember getting up early just so our family could read the scriptures together.  I remember lining up my dolls and reading to them. I remember reading aloud to the children who I was babysitting. I remember dreaming how wonderful it would be to read to my own children. These are wonderful childhood memories for me.

One of the classes I took back in college was a class on children's literature. I wish I could remember the name of the class but I guess what really matters is what I learned in that class.  I learned that reading aloud to children really does make a difference, it isn't just a good thing to do. Our text book was Jim Trelease's "The Read-Aloud Handbook." I devoured that book because I wanted to be a super teacher and (eventually) a great mom.  I never did get my teaching certificate or graduate from college but I do believe that I became a great mom--at least so far as reading to my kids is concerned.  I don't think there are many days that have gone by that my husband or I haven't read to our children. 

We have been reading to our children now for 19 years. The first book that I read to my oldest son was my favorite childhood book "Where the Wild Things Are" by Maurice Sendak. That was just the beginning.  We have read every type of book from simple pictures books to the complicated plays of William Shakespeare.  We have gone on some great adventures, been exposed to different kinds of literature, received a wonderful education and along the way had fun together creating those childhood memories which will live forever in the minds of our children.  My five boys have even sat through some "kissing books" and my daughter has sat through many warrior books.

Unit studies is the method of homeschooling that our family has chosen. This makes picking read-aloud books very fun. We try to pick books that go with the topic we are studying.  We read "From the Earth to the Moon" by Jules Vern when we studied Astronomy.  It was fun to discuss the science in the book as well as laugh at some of the mistaken ideas people had in the 1800's.  We even paused a few times to check some of Vern's calculations and see if he got them right.  I find that my kids get more excited about a subject when they spend 30 to 60 minutes each day listening to a well written and well constructed story.

A good story can take you places that you couldn’t otherwise go. We have gone on treasure hunts with Robert Louis Stevenson in "Treasure Island".  We have gone to war in "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier and fought in the Seven Year's War in "With Wolfe in Canada" by G A Henty.  We have walked the roads of Rome with Elizabeth George Speare in "The Bronze Bow" and gone to the holy lands with the crusaders in" Winning His Spurs" by G A Henty. There isn't a better way to escape than with mom or dad reading a great book.

Along with the adventure, comes exposure to authors, styles and genres that my children may never acquire on their own.  I'm positive that my sons would not have picked up "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen by themselves.  Thanks to me, they've heard the language of that wonderful time period as well as been exposed to foreign and long forgotten customs.  Reading "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain brought up close and personal the language of the American South in the 1800s.  Mark Twain was a wonderful story teller and his use of raw language has exposed my children to something they would never have experienced otherwise.

My boys already loved science fiction but reading Jules Vern's take on science fiction back in the 1800's was an eye opener to them.  They may laugh at his ideas about what life is like under the sea in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" but they get an idea of why people in the late 1800's might have been afraid of the ocean, particularly as sea travel was a prevalent way of travel.  They have also noticed how some of his ideas pop up in popular TV shows and movies, just in a different setting.

If there ever was an author that screams to be read aloud it would be William Shakespeare.  His plays are very difficult to follow unless they are read aloud. It was great to sit around the family room with my children reading "The Taming of the Shrew" with each of us taking a part or two.  It was much easier to follow when each child voiced a character.  It also allowed each of my children the chance to see the creativity and genius of Shakespeare as they read his words as well as spoke them aloud. 

Along with adventure and exposure comes the education that naturally just spills out of the pages and seeps into the minds of those listening (and reading).  Reading Shakespeare's treatment of certain subjects brings conversations on history, justice and morality.  One can't help but increase ones vocabulary when reading Shakespeare.  Even Dr. Suess lets children experiment with words, syllables and rhyming.  A good reader will stop when a certain form or function presents itself as a teaching moment.  Moral lessons and human behavior often present themselves for discussion in a very non-threatening way while reading aloud, sometimes even after the cover of the book has been shut. 

We have even taught our own family's history by reading aloud.  In Gerald Lund's series "The Work and the Glory" he mentions a group of men who would accompany Brigham Young to the Salt Lake Valley. One of those men was my children's great-great-great-great grandfather.  We paused our reading to get his book out and read, from his own journal, his thoughts on the journey that Elder Lund so wonderfully brings alive in his novel.  My children had heard me tell the story before, but when combined with the emotions they had encountered over the nine book series, there was more passion and emotion in my reading from Grandpa Holladay's book.  The education gained from reading aloud good books is valuable and to do it as a family is a bonus.

Going on adventures, being exposed to new stuff and learning isn't the only reason we read aloud at our house.  The number one reason we read aloud at our house is because it is fun and we do it together.  Just as I have fond memories of when I was a child sitting on my mother's lap, I want my children to look back on their childhood with fond memories.  I don't recall all of the books that my mom read to me but I do remember her reading to me.  As Elder Bednar said,

 "Each family prayer, each episode of family scriptures study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. … Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes" (Ensign, Nov 2009).

Our family not only reads the scriptures together daily (perhaps the best reading aloud a family could do), we also read great literature together.  We have created many memories, shared great experiences and have always had fun.  I don't mind hearing "Is this a kissing book?" when I start a book because we also like to quote another part of "The Princess Bride" when, upon opening his present, the grandson asks, "A book?"

Grandpa: "That's right. When I was your age, television was called books." 
Grandson: "Has it got any sports in it?"
Grandpa: "Are you kidding? Fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love, miracles."
Grandson: "Doesn't sound too bad. I'll try to stay awake."
Grandpa: "Oh, well thank you very much, very nice of you. Your vote of confidence is overwhelming."

My children have stayed awake. They have even enjoyed the kissing books.

You can leave your thoughts, comments or suggestions here on my feedback page. Thanks!

- Doreen