What's your child's (or your) Learning Style?

For the month of May, you can find out for free through an arrangement that Homeschool Buyers Co-op has made with Learning Success Institute. Click here for more info.

I love the Homeschool Buyers Co-op.  They always have good deals on homeschool curriculum, on-line programs, materials (like the Lego science kits), etc...  Deals change throughout the year.  I've been a member for several years now.

One more nice thing about the Homeschool Buyers Co-op is that you can get homeschool student and teacher IDs through them.  They are free if you print them out yourself (I laminate ours) or, for a small charge, they'll make up a credit card style one for you.

I don't get anything for posting this, I just really like them & wanted to share.

Animated Hero Classics: The Wright Brothers

Let me start by stating the I really don't like cartoon versions of history (don't get me started on Pocahontas), but, I was *very* impressed by this.  The characters were drawn to actually look like the real-life Wright brothers.  The video included real science and discussion of what breakthroughs the Wright brothers accomplished.  It also brought in additional related characters and events from the time period.  Finally, there were no made-up animal friends!

The video told the story in a straightforward, easy way to follow.  My 4 yo, 7 yo, and 11 yo all sat down to watch and enjoyed it.  Although she won't admit it, even my 13 yo was caught peeking.  I, also, learned new things. (I had no idea what wing warping was or why it is important.  But, now, the whole family knows.)

After watching the video, we took the quizzes that came on the DVD.  The multiple choice questions gave me the opportunity to evaluate how well my kids understood the video.  Each question has the option to watch a small snippet of the DVD again to learn the answer.

The video has language tracks in English & Spanish, and has subtitles in both languages.  It's available through the Whatcom County Libary System.

Evidently, this is part of a full series of DVDs.  To be honest, I'd probably not checked this out had I known it was part of a "character building" series.  It's not that I object to character building; it's just that often they tend to be too sappy for my taste.  After trying this one, I'm going to check out some more from our library.

When does life begin?

To listen to all the news on Abortion, one side is full of misogynists who want to keep women barefoot and pregnant, while the other-side is full of lazy, selfish, morally corrupt baby killers who use abortion as their only form of birth control.  We all know that those extremes don't really portray most people on either side.  Throwing those stereotypes around like mud doesn't do much to help get to the heart of the matter either.

There's talk about the mother's, the father's, and even grandparent's rights.  But, during all this debate, there is next to no mention of the fetus or baby, other than choosing which word to use to refer to it/he/she.  This lack of discussion confuses me.

I have my own opinions of course, but I'm curious what other people think.  At what point do the two cells become "living?"  At what point does the developing fetus become "human?"  At what point does it gain "human rights?"  Are those human rights different because the fetus lives in and is dependent upon another human?  How?  Do those rights change over the course of the pregnancy?  If so, how?  Does the fact that a woman is carrying a fetus change her rights?  Where do the two beings (woman & fetus) rights intersect?

I'm only interested in this small part of the topic of abortion.  Abortion is an emotional subject.  But, I ask that we try to keep the emotions in control.  I'm interested in serious contemplation and discussion.  The ability to sit back, cool off, and think about what I am going to say is one of the benefits of internet based discussion.

Homeschool Books Reviewed ~ Jane Goodall & The Chimpanzee Family Book

Book #1: Jane Goodall (Scholastic News Nonfiction Readers: Biographies) by Jo Kittinger

I'm afraid I don't have a picture of this one.  This is a simple, very basic biography of Jane Goodall.  It's a nice introduction to her & her work.  However, it is far too simple to be used with any but the younger grade school children.  It's published by Scholastic and is available in the Whatcom Co. Library.

Book # 2:  The Chimpanzee Family Book by Jane Goodall is a delightful story of one day in the life of a mama chimpanzee and her baby.  Jane follows them for one day & tells us all about what they do.  When I first flipped through this book, I thought I'd have to summarize the pages because there is quite a bit of text.  However, when I started reading it, I found that it was written in story-book fashion.  My kids enjoyed listening to it and looking at the pictures.  

Both books can be used for a study of Jane Goodall.  Her story provides a great launching point for lots of learning and discussion.  Here are a few suggestions.  They aren't all appropriate for all ages of children.

Personification:  Jane names the chimps rather than using the typical numbering system.  She also attributes human-like actions and feelings to them.  Is this a good thing?  How does it affect our views about the chimps?

Tool use:  Before Jane's observation of a chimpanzee using a stick to obtain termites to eat, it was believed that making & using tools was an ability only possessed by humans.  How does scientific discovery progress? what happens when we learn something that doesn't fit with currently held beliefs?  How do we currently determine what is a human?  What traits are uniquely human?

Treatment of animals:  Do animals have rights?  If so, what are they?  Do humans have responsibility to animals?  In what way do humans affect wild animals?  What about the Frodo's attack killing a human baby?  (Don't read this if you're pregnant; you'll cry. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0304/feature4/online_extra2.html)  Should he have been "put down?" How much interaction should people and animals have?

Science:  What did Jane expect to find?  What did she learn over time?  Did any of her theories change?  (For a long time she thought the chimps were kinder than people.  Then she learned that they can be very violent too.  Females at the top of the social order, sometimes snatch and kill other females babies.  Different groups of chimpanzees battle.)

History:  What has happened to baby Galahad in the last 20 years since the book was published?  (He died in a disease outbreak.)  What has happened to Jane Goodall?  (She's still alive and lecturing.  You can hear her greet you in "Chimpanzee" at http://www.janegoodall.org/media/videos/jane-goodalls-chimp-greeting)

I hope you enjoy learning about Jane Goodall and chimpanzees as much as we did!

What's in Your Purse? 2011 Version

I'm a little afraid to dive in there, but for history's sake, here are the contents of my purse today, April 2, 2011.

1 diaper
ziplock with a couple of baby wipes
Mini babypowder
ziplock with samples of paint colors
ziplock with cloth nursing pads
tissues
eye glass cleaning cloth
grocery outlet receipt
wic packet

pen

notebook

coupons

checkbook

uncashed check for $5

medical id cards

Red Cross training/instructor cards

assortment of store id cards/punch cards

black bag with:
tape measure
hand lotion
hand sanitizer
sunscreen
floss
tylenol
tic tacs (guess this has replaced the Princess Pez dispenser)
eye drops
asthma inhaler
thumb drive
"work" id tags
leatherman micra
ear buds
MRC "coin"

Most revealing is my wallet with: 
home school ID
Lowe's gift card
temple recommend
State of WA emergency worker card
Costco card
Ham radio license
a few bucks
library cards
"work" business cards
"family" business cards
drivers licence
credit card

What's frighting is that I (or a small family member or another) actually USE all this stuff.  When I go out, I add my Ipod & phone.  My purse is a backpack style for a reason.  There's even room to add small purchases, a change of baby clothes, errant toys, or a sling as needed.

What's in Your Purse?

This is a retread from a FB note in 2009.  Since then, we've added a baby to the family, so a diaper & ziplock with a few wipes have been added to my purse.  

What's in your purse?

by Dawnette Chumley Chadwick on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at 9:48pm

I was searching for something in my purse and was entertained by it's contents. Here's my list. What's in yours?

Digital camera
Bottle of Excedrin
Work ID badge
Granola bar
2 packages of "potty candy" aka Skittles
2 unused, but crumpled tissues
Cinderella PEZ container
Passport
1 piece unopened junk mail
Grocery receipt
Goodwill receipt
Bank deposit receipt
10 coupons (unexpired, for once)
2 business cards from other people
Medical Reserve Corps "coin" - gotta keep it with me to avoid buying drinks
2 quarters
1 penny
2 tubes of lipstick
Mechanical pencil
2 watch batteries
2 rubber bands
1 credit card I'd lost and was why I was cleaning out my purse
Redbox DVD "Sunday School Musical"
2 popcicle sticks carved and taped together to make tweezers?
Tag from a scarf
Fabric scrap that I want to match.

That's what was in the main pocket. I didn't get to the others.

St Patrick's Day Feast

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This year for St. Paddy's Day, I decided to see if I could come up with a less greasy meal.  It turned out great.  The kids ate **ALL** of the cabbage and raved about the meat.  In addition, we had Irish "Champ" (a sort of mashed potatoes) and Irish Soda Bread.  And, of course, we learned a bit of history.

Baked Corned Beef

BAKED CORNED BEEF
10 min prep, 2 hours baking

1 pkg (about 5 lbs) Corned Beef
Black Pepper
1/4 C Honey
1/4 C Brown Sugar
10-12 Whole Cloves
Foil

Drain corned beef & discard the spices that came with it.  Place meat fat-side up on a large piece of foil.  On top of  beef:  sprinkle black pepper "to taste",  spread with honey, then sprinkle brown sugar on top.  Insert cloves evenly, every couple of inches.  Since corned beef is already salty, you don't need to add any addition salt.

Wrap beef in foil, leaving a bit of room at the top.  Place on a shallow baking pan.  Bake 350 for about 1 hr 50 minutes.  For the last 10 minutes, fold top of foil back & broil or cook on 450 degrees to brown the top of the meat.

Use a larger cut of meat than you need.  You can use the leftover for Ruben Sandwiches or Corned Beef Hash.  Yum!

INTERESTING HISTORY:  Cows were a status symbol in Ireland.  So, the Irish tended to eat sheep & pig more than beef.  Corned beef is an Irish-American food though.  Probably because beef was a more economical choice than pig here.
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SAUTED CABBAGE & ONIONS

2-4 Tbsp bacon drippings or olive oil
1 large sweet onion, sliced
2 cloved garlic minced (I use the pre-cut ones that come in a bottle)
1 small head cabbage, sliced
Salt & Pepper



Heat oil or bacon drippings over med-high heat.  Add onions & saute until they are just beginning to brown.  Add garlic, cook for two minutes more.  Add in 1/2 of the cabbage.  Let it sit on the bottom of the pan & brown.  You need the skillet to be hot enough to brown the cabbage quickly without burning it.  Stir & add the rest of the cabbage.  Brown, then salt & pepper to taste.  I didn't salt this too much, since we were eating it with the corned beef.

INTERESTING HISTORY:  When an Irish recipe calls for "rashers", you can substitute bacon.  Rashers are like bacon, but with very little fat.
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"Champ"

CHAMP

2-3 lbs potatoes,cut into 2" cubes
1 bunch green onions, sliced incl. greens
1 C milk
2 tsp salt
4 Tbsp butter

Boil potatoes until tender.  Simmer green onions in milk for 5 minutes.  Don't boil.  Drain potatoes, then mash (or whip) them.  Stir in milk, salt & butter.

INTERESTING HISTORY:  Potatoes became a staple in Ireland due to severe poverty and famine.  I usually peel my potatoes when I'm going to mash them.  However, the peels have valuable vitamins and fiber.  The vitamin C found in the peels can help prevent scurvy.  (Not much of a problem in our society today.)
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 IRISH SODA BREAD
10 minutes prep.  40 minutes baking.

Irish Soda Bread makes up & tastes a lot like biscuits.  Good with butter & jelly.  Don't let the lengthy instructions keep you from trying this.  It's really easy & pretty quick.

3 1/2 C flour 
1 tsp sugar (optional)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 C buttermilk (OR 1/2 tsp lemon juice and 1 C milk)


Mix the dry ingredients well.  You want the baking soda well distributed.  Stir in the buttermilk.  (I rarely have buttermilk around & never think to buy it.  You can substitute by mixing 1 C milk with 1/2 tsp lemon juice or vinegar & letting it sit 15 minutes.  The flavor is a bit different, but not an issue.)  


You want the dough to be the consistency of biscuit dough - sort of stringy and thick.  However, you may need to add a bit more milk than one cup depending on the humidity, your flour, etc.  You can add just plain milk if needed.  


Once mixed, kneed it once or twice by hand.  It really doesn't need much. The reaction between the soda and acid starts right away, so you don't want to fuss around with this.  


Shape into a ball.  Take a sharp knife and cut half way down to make a cross shape in the bread.  Bake.


There are several ways to bake Irish Soda bread.  Check out Peters-Mums-Soda-Bread-Recipe for lots of ideas & more information.  It's a great site.  I chose to bake mine in a small dutch oven, but it can be pan cooked, baked on a stone or even on a cookie sheet.  


To bake in a dutch oven.  Pre-heat dutch oven at 475-500 degrees.  Flour the dutch oven.  Plop bread into it.  Replace lid & put into oven.  Bake for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 375.  Bake for another 10 minutes, then remove the lid.  Bake for 20 more minutes.  Remove from oven & remove from dutch oven.  


For a crisp crust, let sit on a cooling rack.  For softer crust, wrap in a dishtowel.


INTERESTING HISTORY:  In most areas, fuel was limited so bread was baked in a community oven.  However, in Ireland, fuel was much easier to obtain. Most people could make their own bread.