A great web resource for getting kids to think about where their "stuff" comes from, and where it goes when they are done with it. . .
http://pbskids.org/loopscoops/
I am definitely checking this one out with my kids--perfect for discussions about material goods, mindful consumerism, recycling, downcycling, stewardship, etc.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Operation Christmas Child party!
Hello all!
We have been collecting little things for Operation Christmas Child for a long time (since we do this at every birthday party in lieu of gifts) and it is time to have a party and get together and fill shoeboxes! This fun event will be open to any and all homeschool families and friends. We can even make it a little holiday themed party, where we talk briefly about being Thankful and Giving in the name of Love. : )
We can all pool our resources, so feel free to bring a packet of pens, or a collection of combs, for example, and we will share them in our boxes. (In fact, that's why I am announcing this plenty early, so you can keep your eye out for special deals on erasers, pencils, little things that are perfect for these boxes.)
So, everyone interested, please bring:
--empty, clean shoeboxes (if you have extra, we can use them!)--some people use plastic shoeboxes.
--small new items to put into them (see the Operation Christmas Child website for ideas)
--cheerful wrapping paper and tape, if you have it on hand.
--$7 for each shoebox your family makes, to help pay for the cost of shipping the shoeboxes.***
***I strongly encourage any of you wanting to be part of this fun project to visit the OCC website before the party, so you can see a new feature--paying for the cost of the shoebox shipment online, and receiving a tracking number for your family's shoeboxes so you can find out where they went! We are SO going to do this! Perfect for a lesson not only in compassion and sharing, but also in geography and world cultures!
****Please do still come and help make shoeboxes even if you don't have the $ for the shipping donation. If all you can bring is an empty shoebox, great! The main thing is putting these together with one another. : )
These shoeboxes really go to the hands of children around the world who don't have much--can you imagine the feeling the child might have, to realize that loving people somewhere else in the world put together a box full of fun and useful things just for them? We have seen this in action! We help support an orphanage in India, for boys who are orphans due to HIV. When my in-laws visited the orphanage, they were so surprised to see that there was a special cupboard in the orphanage, in which were each boys' cheerfully wrapped Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes! The boys are well cared for, and loved, and have all their basic needs met, but those boxes and their clothes were all they had for their very own.
(For more feel-good moments, you can also look up youtube videos to see kids in other parts of the world receiving their boxes!)
WHEN: Friday, November 18, noon-2:30
WHERE: the preschool classroom there at Vintage Faith Church (children's ministry building)
WHY: to spread love, help our kids learn about the world and to clear out our over-accumulated gift bins! (ok, maybe that last part is just me)
Please leave a comment if you have any questions, and please spread the word!
We have been collecting little things for Operation Christmas Child for a long time (since we do this at every birthday party in lieu of gifts) and it is time to have a party and get together and fill shoeboxes! This fun event will be open to any and all homeschool families and friends. We can even make it a little holiday themed party, where we talk briefly about being Thankful and Giving in the name of Love. : )
We can all pool our resources, so feel free to bring a packet of pens, or a collection of combs, for example, and we will share them in our boxes. (In fact, that's why I am announcing this plenty early, so you can keep your eye out for special deals on erasers, pencils, little things that are perfect for these boxes.)
So, everyone interested, please bring:
--empty, clean shoeboxes (if you have extra, we can use them!)--some people use plastic shoeboxes.
--small new items to put into them (see the Operation Christmas Child website for ideas)
--cheerful wrapping paper and tape, if you have it on hand.
--$7 for each shoebox your family makes, to help pay for the cost of shipping the shoeboxes.***
***I strongly encourage any of you wanting to be part of this fun project to visit the OCC website before the party, so you can see a new feature--paying for the cost of the shoebox shipment online, and receiving a tracking number for your family's shoeboxes so you can find out where they went! We are SO going to do this! Perfect for a lesson not only in compassion and sharing, but also in geography and world cultures!
****Please do still come and help make shoeboxes even if you don't have the $ for the shipping donation. If all you can bring is an empty shoebox, great! The main thing is putting these together with one another. : )
These shoeboxes really go to the hands of children around the world who don't have much--can you imagine the feeling the child might have, to realize that loving people somewhere else in the world put together a box full of fun and useful things just for them? We have seen this in action! We help support an orphanage in India, for boys who are orphans due to HIV. When my in-laws visited the orphanage, they were so surprised to see that there was a special cupboard in the orphanage, in which were each boys' cheerfully wrapped Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes! The boys are well cared for, and loved, and have all their basic needs met, but those boxes and their clothes were all they had for their very own.
(For more feel-good moments, you can also look up youtube videos to see kids in other parts of the world receiving their boxes!)
WHEN: Friday, November 18, noon-2:30
WHERE: the preschool classroom there at Vintage Faith Church (children's ministry building)
WHY: to spread love, help our kids learn about the world and to clear out our over-accumulated gift bins! (ok, maybe that last part is just me)
Please leave a comment if you have any questions, and please spread the word!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
local art classes, taught by a Vintage Mom!
Two moms from Vintage Faith Church have daughters in these classes, and they praise them highly.
All I know is that I have long been impressed with the work of 4 year old Analise, one of the students:
Those pictures do speak louder than words! The classes must be so fun for the kids.
Here is the site:
http://blueapplestudios.blogspot.com/
All I know is that I have long been impressed with the work of 4 year old Analise, one of the students:
From her mom Nini's blog.
Those pictures do speak louder than words! The classes must be so fun for the kids.
Here is the site:
http://blueapplestudios.blogspot.com/
Storytelling with Jim Weiss
Some of us did this last year, and the kids really enjoyed it! Is anyone interested in going again this year? (this is strictly an Ocean Grove event)
lisa
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact your ES if you wish to attend.
________________________________
CP22339 - Jim Weiss- Storytelling Friday, October 14, 2011 10am-4:30pm
Registration opens September 19th and closes September 30th at 4:30pm.
Mr. Weiss is a nationally renowned storyteller who will give our students a day of storytelling and storytelling skills. He will concentrate on stories for K-5 from 10:00 - 12:30 and 6-12 from 1:30 - 4:30. Lunch is on your own form 12:30 to 1:30pm. It is recommended that students bring sack lunches with which to picnic on the grounds of the Resource Center, fast food options are limited in the area.
Location - Ocean Grove Resource Center, 16900 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, CA, 95006
Cost - To Be Determined (The cost of the event, $950, will be distributed among the students. 10 students = $95, 100 students =$9.50. Last year the cost was $11 per student)
The scheduled sessions will not exclude the other age groups, but are for parent knowledge and preparation. Parents with pre-school age children may attend, but are asked to remove children who become restless. There is a play area on the premises.
lisa
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact your ES if you wish to attend.
________________________________
CP22339 - Jim Weiss- Storytelling Friday, October 14, 2011 10am-4:30pm
Registration opens September 19th and closes September 30th at 4:30pm.
Mr. Weiss is a nationally renowned storyteller who will give our students a day of storytelling and storytelling skills. He will concentrate on stories for K-5 from 10:00 - 12:30 and 6-12 from 1:30 - 4:30. Lunch is on your own form 12:30 to 1:30pm. It is recommended that students bring sack lunches with which to picnic on the grounds of the Resource Center, fast food options are limited in the area.
Location - Ocean Grove Resource Center, 16900 Highway 9, Boulder Creek, CA, 95006
Cost - To Be Determined (The cost of the event, $950, will be distributed among the students. 10 students = $95, 100 students =$9.50. Last year the cost was $11 per student)
The scheduled sessions will not exclude the other age groups, but are for parent knowledge and preparation. Parents with pre-school age children may attend, but are asked to remove children who become restless. There is a play area on the premises.
Pine Mountain Arts FYI
Lisa here--
Another email from my inbox, sharing what sounds like a FABULOUS class. I don't think the program would accept Ocean Grove funds (but I guess it would never hurt to ask), but it sounds just so cool! And the woman who posted it is interested in carpooling!
(Even if none of you want to do the class right now, I strongly urge you to check out their website below, so you know what they offer. SO COOL.)
------------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to send my son to the Wednesday class (descried below) for 9 to 12 year olds. They need just three more students, bringing it to the minimum 5 students to make a class. Is anyone interested, but hesitant because of the drive? Let's talk about carpooling, we're in Soquel.
Thanks,
Tese
Let your child become one with the beauty of nature, we not only experience the journey through changing elevations and micro climates, but are immersed in the mysteries of nature itself. As we explore the different regions, build observation shelters, hunt mushrooms, pick berries, track and observe wildlife, we become aware of the daily and seasonal changes in nature and in ourselves.
In these 8 week courses your child will participate in several activities each day the class meets, such as archery, forging copper or iron in an iron age forge, working with stone, wood and bee keeping. Drawing and modeling of objects in nature are also part of the activities. The exact course content is worked out in accordance with the need of the individual students and the group. Some activities change during the course of the year / seasons. In occasional parent meetings, Bodo Langen will give feedback to parents and discuss plans for activities. Social activities include building consensus for decision making, sitting at times in council to practice active listening and expressing ones feelings and thoughts. This practice may also be used to resolve conflicts or plain misunderstandings. Working as teams or in partnership will be practiced as well.
In this 8 week course, your child will also learn archery, bee keeping, copper smithing, forging, stone arts, clay arts, wood arts and jewelry making. We will meet every Thursday from 9 to 2:30 in Davenport. The classes are styled in 8 week blocks and are taught by teacher Bodo Langen, a Waldorf Teacher with 28 years of experience teaching arts and practical arts to students grades K-12.
This class is available to children ages 6 to 8 1/2. A class for children ages 9 to 12 will be on Wednesday.
We're planning on having an introductory meeting with the parents, during which we will also talk about the structure of the first block (8 weeks), once we have a group of 5-7 children to start the class. We hope to start this class between middle and end of September.
For more information about Pine Mountain Arts, go to http://www.pinemountainarts.org/
and for more information about joining the Wednesday or Thursday Homeschool Day, contact:
Paola Rodarte
paolarodarte+pinemountainarts@gmail.com
650 223 5690
Another email from my inbox, sharing what sounds like a FABULOUS class. I don't think the program would accept Ocean Grove funds (but I guess it would never hurt to ask), but it sounds just so cool! And the woman who posted it is interested in carpooling!
(Even if none of you want to do the class right now, I strongly urge you to check out their website below, so you know what they offer. SO COOL.)
------------------------------------------------------------------
I would like to send my son to the Wednesday class (descried below) for 9 to 12 year olds. They need just three more students, bringing it to the minimum 5 students to make a class. Is anyone interested, but hesitant because of the drive? Let's talk about carpooling, we're in Soquel.
Thanks,
Tese
Let your child become one with the beauty of nature, we not only experience the journey through changing elevations and micro climates, but are immersed in the mysteries of nature itself. As we explore the different regions, build observation shelters, hunt mushrooms, pick berries, track and observe wildlife, we become aware of the daily and seasonal changes in nature and in ourselves.
In these 8 week courses your child will participate in several activities each day the class meets, such as archery, forging copper or iron in an iron age forge, working with stone, wood and bee keeping. Drawing and modeling of objects in nature are also part of the activities. The exact course content is worked out in accordance with the need of the individual students and the group. Some activities change during the course of the year / seasons. In occasional parent meetings, Bodo Langen will give feedback to parents and discuss plans for activities. Social activities include building consensus for decision making, sitting at times in council to practice active listening and expressing ones feelings and thoughts. This practice may also be used to resolve conflicts or plain misunderstandings. Working as teams or in partnership will be practiced as well.
In this 8 week course, your child will also learn archery, bee keeping, copper smithing, forging, stone arts, clay arts, wood arts and jewelry making. We will meet every Thursday from 9 to 2:30 in Davenport. The classes are styled in 8 week blocks and are taught by teacher Bodo Langen, a Waldorf Teacher with 28 years of experience teaching arts and practical arts to students grades K-12.
This class is available to children ages 6 to 8 1/2. A class for children ages 9 to 12 will be on Wednesday.
We're planning on having an introductory meeting with the parents, during which we will also talk about the structure of the first block (8 weeks), once we have a group of 5-7 children to start the class. We hope to start this class between middle and end of September.
For more information about Pine Mountain Arts, go to http://www.pinemountainarts.org/
and for more information about joining the Wednesday or Thursday Homeschool Day, contact:
Paola Rodarte
paolarodarte+pinemountainarts@gmail.com
650 223 5690
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Handwriting resource online
More from my inbox:
Here's a nice resource from Handwriting Without Tears-- some letter
formation charts for both print and cursive. They show the letter in
various stages of being formed and use the vocabulary for describing the
strokes that HWT uses.
http://www.hwtears.com/files/Letter%20Formation%20Charts.pdf
Heddi (of the Discovery Learning Center)
Here's a nice resource from Handwriting Without Tears-- some letter
formation charts for both print and cursive. They show the letter in
various stages of being formed and use the vocabulary for describing the
strokes that HWT uses.
http://www.hwtears.com/files/Letter%20Formation%20Charts.pdf
Heddi (of the Discovery Learning Center)
MONDAY AFTER-SCHOOL SCIENCE SERIES
The Mad Molecule Science Store
presents
presents
MONDAY AFTER-SCHOOL SCIENCE SERIES
The Mad Molecule Science Store is pleased to announce a new after-school science program. Every Monday young scientists will participate in exciting and instructive lab activities. On the second through fifth Mondays in October, we will explore the periodic table and a variety of chemical reactions including spectacular color-changing chemicals, huge eruptions, and many more amazing experiments. Ages from 5 to 14 are welcome. Older and younger students will be organized into separate groups.
Labs will be led by Steve "The Science Guy" Heuer.
Labs will be held at the Aptos Grange from 3:30 to 5:00 starting October 10 and continuing through October 31. One low tuition fee of $75 (plus $20 lab material fee) covers the four October sessions. The Aptos Grange is conveniently located near Cabrillo College at 2555 Mar Vista Dr., Aptos. Call The Mad Molecule Science Store at 688-ATOM (688-2866) to sign up.
The Mad Molecule Science Store
275 Center Ave., Aptos, CA 95003
688-ATOM 688-2866
FREE KITTIES
Just in case anyone out there has been wanting to add a cat to the family, here is something that came to my inbox today:
I am a volunteer at the SPCA and right now they are having a special promotion. All adult cats (ages 6 months & older) are FREE!!
The Monterey Co SPCA is in the process of building a new shelter facility, so they are trying to find FOREVER homes for as many of these animals as possible, before the big move in December.
All adoptable animals are vacinated, microchiped, spayed or neutered; they even come with a 10lb bag of Science Diet.
There are also feral cats available, so if you are interested in these animals be sure to ask.
The FREE cat promotion is ONLY til the end of September, btw.
Follow the Adopt link & then search adoptable animals: cats/kittens to see available cats. (The feral cats are not listed on the website, btw)
http://www.spcamc.org/index.html
Thank you all for your patience :o) Stephanie in Seaside
I am a volunteer at the SPCA and right now they are having a special promotion. All adult cats (ages 6 months & older) are FREE!!
The Monterey Co SPCA is in the process of building a new shelter facility, so they are trying to find FOREVER homes for as many of these animals as possible, before the big move in December.
All adoptable animals are vacinated, microchiped, spayed or neutered; they even come with a 10lb bag of Science Diet.
There are also feral cats available, so if you are interested in these animals be sure to ask.
The FREE cat promotion is ONLY til the end of September, btw.
Follow the Adopt link & then search adoptable animals: cats/kittens to see available cats. (The feral cats are not listed on the website, btw)
http://www.spcamc.org/index.html
Thank you all for your patience :o) Stephanie in Seaside
Monday, September 12, 2011
online chemistry resource
Another email that came to by inbox, from Suki (another local homeschool mover and shaker):
Hi all,
I'm doing middle school chemistry with my kids and happened upon an excellent, free resource. ChemMatters magazine, which is written at a MS/HS level, has many of their articles/issues archived online and downloadable for free! http://tinyurl.com/43qx4sa
was planning a bit of work with thermometers, and I searched and found a great article on thermometers, how they're used, the history of thermometers, etc. Totally cool.
Suki
Susana (Suki) Wessling
blog.SukiWessling.com
Hi all,
I'm doing middle school chemistry with my kids and happened upon an excellent, free resource. ChemMatters magazine, which is written at a MS/HS level, has many of their articles/issues archived online and downloadable for free! http://tinyurl.com/43qx4sa
was planning a bit of work with thermometers, and I searched and found a great article on thermometers, how they're used, the history of thermometers, etc. Totally cool.
Suki
Susana (Suki) Wessling
blog.SukiWessling.com
Free comic strip generator, with idea for a comic diary
Here is the text of an email I received today from Heddi, over at the Discovery Learning Center:
Heddi writes, Here is an idea from Make Beliefs Comix about using their free comic
making site. I thought it might be interesting to homeschooling families!
If you're looking for an exciting new literacy activity for the new school year why not start a daily 20-minute comic strip segment during which your students create a comic diary about something they learned or read or experienced that day? Creating such daily comix diaries provides a way for students to digest and integrate key material that they are taught as well as to reflect on their lives and experiences. And what better way for all students, including English Language Learners, to improve writing, reading and storytelling skills!
To help educators, MakeBeliefsComix.com, the free online comic strip generator, has launched a Daily Comix Diary Page offering many ideas at http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Daily-Comix-Diary/
Students can also draw their own comics with pencil or crayons and use stick figures or pictures cut from magazines. By making their own comic strips, students will realize that they can create stories and make art. They will learn that they, too, are capable of generating their own learning materials, their own memoirs, and that their `'take'' on the world is so very special – everyone sees things differently.
What to draw and write about?
For starters, why not have students create autobiographical comic strips about themselves and their families or summarizing the most important things about their lives? Let each student select a cartoon character as a surrogate to represent him or her. They might also summarize what their individual interests are or some key moments in their lives.
Maybe students create a comic strip with a new ending for a book that they've read, or an extension of the story, or a deeper exploration of a character in the book.
Maybe theirs is a comic strip using new vocabulary learned that day.
Maybe their comic is about a concept they learned in science or in social studies.
Maybe their comic captures an interesting conversation they overheard.
Maybe their comic is about something sad or bad that happened to them, such as someone bullying them. Or about something special, such as a birthday wish.
Maybe their comic is about something fun or wonderful that they or a friend experienced – perhaps an adventure they had. Or, about a great or important memory they will never forget.
Maybe their daily comic contains a joke they heard or something funny a parent said to them recently.
Maybe they're exploring a problem at home that's bothering them, such as a sibling who's driving them crazy.
Maybe their comic strip is a fantasy story that came to their imagination.
Or, how about creating a political comic strip commenting on some new development in government or a news event?
Now, imagine the student's comic-filled sketch book or folder containing daily diary entries created over the course of a year that will trace each child's thoughts and learning, that will reflect what was important to her or him. They'll have composed a comic book diary that they will treasure for the rest of their lives.
Most important, the 20-minute-a-day daily comix diary challenge offers students the chance to become creators as they find their voice, rather than just passive learners. What better gift can you give them?
Sincerely,
Bill Zimmerman,
Creator, MakeBeliefsComix.com
wmz@aol.com
Heddi writes, Here is an idea from Make Beliefs Comix about using their free comic
making site. I thought it might be interesting to homeschooling families!
If you're looking for an exciting new literacy activity for the new school year why not start a daily 20-minute comic strip segment during which your students create a comic diary about something they learned or read or experienced that day? Creating such daily comix diaries provides a way for students to digest and integrate key material that they are taught as well as to reflect on their lives and experiences. And what better way for all students, including English Language Learners, to improve writing, reading and storytelling skills!
To help educators, MakeBeliefsComix.com, the free online comic strip generator, has launched a Daily Comix Diary Page offering many ideas at http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Daily-Comix-Diary/
Students can also draw their own comics with pencil or crayons and use stick figures or pictures cut from magazines. By making their own comic strips, students will realize that they can create stories and make art. They will learn that they, too, are capable of generating their own learning materials, their own memoirs, and that their `'take'' on the world is so very special – everyone sees things differently.
What to draw and write about?
For starters, why not have students create autobiographical comic strips about themselves and their families or summarizing the most important things about their lives? Let each student select a cartoon character as a surrogate to represent him or her. They might also summarize what their individual interests are or some key moments in their lives.
Maybe students create a comic strip with a new ending for a book that they've read, or an extension of the story, or a deeper exploration of a character in the book.
Maybe theirs is a comic strip using new vocabulary learned that day.
Maybe their comic is about a concept they learned in science or in social studies.
Maybe their comic captures an interesting conversation they overheard.
Maybe their comic is about something sad or bad that happened to them, such as someone bullying them. Or about something special, such as a birthday wish.
Maybe their comic is about something fun or wonderful that they or a friend experienced – perhaps an adventure they had. Or, about a great or important memory they will never forget.
Maybe their daily comic contains a joke they heard or something funny a parent said to them recently.
Maybe they're exploring a problem at home that's bothering them, such as a sibling who's driving them crazy.
Maybe their comic strip is a fantasy story that came to their imagination.
Or, how about creating a political comic strip commenting on some new development in government or a news event?
Now, imagine the student's comic-filled sketch book or folder containing daily diary entries created over the course of a year that will trace each child's thoughts and learning, that will reflect what was important to her or him. They'll have composed a comic book diary that they will treasure for the rest of their lives.
Most important, the 20-minute-a-day daily comix diary challenge offers students the chance to become creators as they find their voice, rather than just passive learners. What better gift can you give them?
Sincerely,
Bill Zimmerman,
Creator, MakeBeliefsComix.com
wmz@aol.com
Articles debating the value of homework
Ok, ladies, prepare for the onslaught. I have been coming across so many interesting articles on education in general, on project ideas, on local events you might want to know about, etc. that I will be posting a lot this week. You have been warned.
First, two articles on homework that came my way this week. I wonder if there is a movement beginning in the intellectual/theorhetical realm of educational that would eventually trickle down to better practices involving homework in the nation-wide educational system. . . here's hoping!
#1: Rethinking Homework by Alfie Kohn.
#2: The Trouble With Homework by Annie Murphy Paul. Enjoy! If you like reading about educational movements, that is.
First, two articles on homework that came my way this week. I wonder if there is a movement beginning in the intellectual/theorhetical realm of educational that would eventually trickle down to better practices involving homework in the nation-wide educational system. . . here's hoping!
#1: Rethinking Homework by Alfie Kohn.
#2: The Trouble With Homework by Annie Murphy Paul. Enjoy! If you like reading about educational movements, that is.
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