Skip to main content

Apologia Astronomy project #1 – Balloon Solar System

Written by Joy
6 Comments
Apologia Astronomy project #1 – Balloon Solar System

I am excited about our science this year.  My younger kids decided they wanted to learn about Astronomy.  What better curriculum to use than Apologia’s Exploring Creation through Astronomy! This past week, the kids and I have been reading lesson one in the Astronomy book.

Project #1, Balloon Solar System from Apologia’s Exploring Creation Through Astronomy.

 

The kids have learned what Astronomy is and why God created the Universe.  We talked about God making the planets and what scientists have named them.  We also talked about why scientists don’t consider Pluto a planet anymore.

We have learned words such as; gravity, constellations, instinct and gravitational pull.

The kids and I read about the scientists Nicolas Copernicus and Galileo Galilei, who believed the sun was the center of the solar system and the planets revolved around the sun.

However, I think the best part of the lesson was at the end and getting to make our own Solar System.  The kids and I had a great time trying to blow up the balloons to the dimensions that they gave us.  While we didn’t hang the balloons like they suggested, still had a fun time with the project.

The kids are really enjoying the Apologia Astronomy and can’t wait to read the second lesson and work on the project.   I am just happy that we are having fun and learning about science!

What are you using for science? Are you and the kids having fun?

 

 

2012, homeschooling, , , ,

Register Now for the Teach Them Diligently Conference!!

Written by Joy
Register Now for the Teach Them Diligently Conference!!

I am so excited about the Teach Them Diligently Conference!  I can not wait for our family to attend the event that is being held in Omaha, Nebraska.  That’s right!  The amazing conference that happened in Spartanburg, SC back in March of this year, is now being held in THREE locations in 2013!  You will have your choice of Spartanburg, SC (May 2nd-4th), Nashville, TN (May 16th-18th) or Omaha, NE (May 30th-June 1st).  They will have a lot of amazing speakers coming to each of the conferences   Yes, some of the same ones will be back from this past year, however, new speakers will also be there like Pam Tebow!

Okay, so I am getting a little ahead of myself.  Not for sure what Teach Them Diligently Conference is all about?  David and Leslie Nunnery, the organizers behind this conference, says it best:

“The Teach Them Diligently Convention was born out of a recognized need for more events celebrating the focus of Christian Homeschool Families—which is to disciple their children to glorify God.”

I have said before that one of the main reasons why we homeschool and will continue to homeschool is so that as parents, we will teach our children to glorify God!  Then to have this couple to obey God, to put together a conference where there are many speakers that come together to help parents, to encourage parents to teach their children at home to glorify God, is just what our family needed.

Now on to some of the amazing speakers that will be the Teach Them Diligently Conference this year.  Not all speakers will be at all three locations.  I am just going to mention a few of the speakers that I truly am excited about, that will be at the Omaha, NE Conference.  As I already mentioned earlier, Pam Tebow will be speaking in Omaha.  I love their family story of being missionaries, homeschooling and being the parents of a child that her doctor recommended aborting because of her being so sick while pregnant.  Pam Tebow, trusted in her faith of God and had a healthy baby boy who is now the most talked about Quarterback of the NFL, Tim Tebow.

We will also be blessed by having Voddie Baucham speaking in Omaha this year.  Omaha will be the only Teach Them Diligently Coference that he will be speaking at.

Ken Ham, spoke in SC last year and will also be speaking this year in all three locations.  Ken Ham is the founder and president of Answer in Genesis.

I had the pleasure of hearing Rachael Carman and Heidi St. John speak at another conference back in April.  I am so thrilled to be able to hear them once again in Omaha.  Rachael’s husband, Davis Carman will also be speaking.  The story of how the began homeschooling and how they came about of buying Apologia is truly wonderful.

 Several years ago, I had the pleasure of listening and meeting Hal and Melanie Young.  I was also excited to hear that they would also be speaking in Omaha.  They are such a sweet and God fearing couple raising their 8 children to glorify God.  It will be so good to listen to them once again.

As you can tell, there are a lot of amazing speakers that will be in Omaha.  Not only Omaha though, but also at the other two locations.  Be sure to go to the Teach Them Diligently Speaker’s page to learn who all will be at each location.

Not only does the Teach Them Diligently Conference have amazing speakers for the adults, they have 2 programs set up for the younger children and the teenagers.

Banner4Truth

From what I have heard about the children’s and teens programs, my children are excited and can’t wait to attend this conference either!  Teach Them Diligently has truly thought of the whole family!

Now on to some exciting news!  If you register either today or tomorrow,  and use the code: BESTOFFER, will receive $20 off early bird pricing!   That will put your registration less than the early bird pricing for 2012! This deal is only good through Tuesday night, so hurry and register!  

Let me know if you will be attending the conference in Omaha.  I would love to meet you and your family!

**This post contains affiliate links.

 

2012, family, , , , , , , , ,

first week of school

Written by Joy
8 Comments
first week of school

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

While we had done a couple of weeks of school back in August, right after we moved to Colorado, this was our first week of school with our curriculum that I shared here.  Over all, I think it went rather well.  We do have some tweaking to do with our routine, but I think once we get a couple of weeks under our belt, we will be doing just what we need to be doing.

Samuel working on handwriting and Claire working on Math.

One of the things I have enjoyed the most about our week?  My children have gotten up, ready and have eaten breakfast and then got their books out to do school work.  They were so ready to get back to our regular routine.  They love to learn and that does warm my heart.

Now this isn’t to say that we haven’t had a few tears this week.  Even momma has had to talk with daddy during the day to get calmed down.  We have all been a little stressed with the move and that has played a big part with some of our attitudes (ahem), me included.  That is when we closed our books for a few moments and just talked.

Sarah working on math.

So what has really worked this week.  Well, mostly all of the school work, has worked!  haha   Seriously though, the Illuminations program that I am using, I like it a lot.  The kids are enjoying their school work.  They love the Mystery of History that we are doing.  The books we are reading, we are enjoying.  They are loving the Apologia Astronomy that we are reading.

What didn’t work this week?  Well, we are trying to get a hang of all the Language Art components.  Mostly that was my fault though.  I wasn’t nearly as prepared with the lesson plans as I had intended on being.  Also, changing from one subject to the next is going to take some work.  It has come to my attention that all three of my kids can not be working on math at the same time.  Especially, when it is 3 different grade levels of math.  I will need to find some independent work for the younger children, while I am helping their sister.

First week of school is a success!

Like I said, over all the week went pretty well.  I am happy with it.  I am looking forward to this year!

How did your week go?  Did you do any special projects?

Romans 12:2

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2012, homeschooling, , , ,

curriculum changes for the new school year …

Written by Joy
7 Comments
curriculum changes for the new school year …

A lot has happened since I last posted about what we will be using for our curriculum for this school year.  The biggest, we moved.   So, as I am getting ready to start school again, there have been a few changes in our curriculum.  We will be using Illuminations.  They give many suggestions on what to use and even offer an awesome scheduling tool to help you prepare your lessons.  We will be using a lot of the suggestions that Illuminations gives.  One of the main reasons why I am going with Illuminations this year?  All three of my children will be using a lot of the same materials.  Especially my younger two.  I am hoping this will help scheduling and teaching them  slightly easier this year.

So what is Illuminations? Bright Ideas Press says it best in their description.

“Illuminations is an all-inclusive *curriculum, covering Bible, Language Arts (grammar, writing, copywork, spelling and vocabulary), Literature, Science, Humanities (poetry, theatre, music, and art), Geography, History, Life Skills, and Projects. Illuminations is built to compliment our Mystery of History or All American History Series.”

 So, what will we be using with Illuminations Year 1?  We are still using Mystery of History: Volume I.  We finished about a 1/4 of the book last year, so I thought I would save some money and just continue to use it this year.  All three of my children will be using this as their History.

For Language Arts, we will be using what they recommend.  For the younger kids, Natural Speller (Spelling), WriteShop (Writing), English from the Roots Up (Vocabulary) and Winston Grammar Basic Level AND The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation (Grammar).  They also give a great list for the Literature section.

I am excited about incorporating the geography that they are recommending; The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide and Hands-On Geography.  We will also be using WonderMaps.  We have used it in the past and it is one of the best programs that I have seen.

I love Apologia Science curriculum, so we will be continuing on with it this year.  The younger two kids have asked to study Astronomy.  My oldest daughter, who is now in 9th grade, will be doing Biology from Apologia.

For Math, we are sticking with Bob Jones for Samuel and Claire.  Sarah, she will continue with Teaching Textbooks.  If it works, I see no need of changing it.

We will also continue to use See The Light for our art curriculum.  My younger two have absolutely enjoyed using this and have learned a lot.  I love how Pat Knepley teaches the art and then shares a scripture at the end of the lesson.   As for Sarah, she will be using Artistic Pursuits.  I think she will be challenged by this art curriculum.  I am also wanting to add Harmony Fine Arts at Home.  We will also be using the Young Guide to Composers curriculum.

The most important book of all we will be using, is the Bible.  It is important to me for my children to learn about God and to love Him with all their heart.  We will also be using the Who is God? curriculum from Apologia, for a family bible study.  I am excited to be able to use this with all three of my children.

While it does seem like a lot, it really does not take long to complete the work that is involved.  Illuminations has this amazing scheduling tool that I can use to schedule the curriculum out the way I need to.  I am excited about this curriculum and look forward to sharing with you all we learn this year.

I would love for you to share with me some of the curriculum you are using this year.  Is it working so far?  Have you had to change anything yet?  Let me know in the comments!

2012, homeschooling, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,