Favorite Films: Winged Migration

After talking with Lucy the other day, I decided we need to start a new section on this blog, for favorite movies.

This is a documentary that was released in 2001, and so many of you probably have not heard of it.  It is one of our family's favorite movies, and the kids are completely mesmerized by it.  It's all just gorgeous filming of birds migrating.  That sounds really boring, but it is the opposite.  It would be a great movie to watch with the kids if you were learning about birds, seasons, or geography.

I found this official site that gives a trailer, and other potentially interesting and informative links.

I am sure you can get the movie through Netflix if you have their DVD plan, but I saw it is also available for download through Amazon Prime.  Hold on--EVEN BETTER: the library has it! 


If any of you Vintage Homeschool Moms want to make your own film reviews here on the blog, please feel free!  Some of you are "authors" so you can just make a post.  If you are not an "author" then please email me with your text and I'll post it for you. : )

How Earthquakes make Tsunamis

Here is a good link if any of you want to follow up recent current events with scientific facts:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12739417

a few resources for China studies

If your family is interested in a unit on China, here are some fun and interesting sites I recommend to get you started.


A really neat map of China and its provinces with a key that your child can color-code:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/16586491/China-Coloring-Map-FREE-from-Berkshre-Publishing

Look up your child's name and see how it looks in Chinese characters:
http://chineseculture.about.com/library/name/blname.htm

How to count to 10 in Mandarin:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2306214_count-ten-mandarin-chinese.html

A youtube video of cute kids counting in Mandarin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dijFA3kqDaU

I found lots of good free printable coloring sheets too, and can send anyone interested files--just don't think I can do that here.

And there some very good videos on China available for instant download through Netflix at the moment:
http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Wild_China/70099791?trkid=2361637

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Discovery-Atlas-China-Revealed/70058855?trkid=438403#height1338

(Don't forget Netflix offers a free trial membership, so if you are not already using their services, you can get a couple of weeks or even a month for free, just the right amount of time to study a topic like China. : ) When you watch these titles, you have to read between the lines--everything is so beautiful and the narrator overall so positive about China. But throughout there are subtle hints of the less positive side of China that you can catch and then talk about with your kids.)

If anyone is interested, I can also recommend a couple of really neat Chinese stories for your younger kids.

Must. Read.

If you have ever considered sponsoring a Compassion child, if you already do, or *if you are looking for a motivation for your child to practice writing*--please read this blog entry I stumbled upon this evening.  It is so, so, so good.  And important.

Maybe I should have titled this post Must. Write.

love,

lisa

some neat sites for homeschool

hey friends! I am SO enjoying the internet once again! Here are a bunch of neat sites that would be wonderful if you were to be studying weather, geography, and more!

Weather! awesome lesson plans, print outs, links to more info, songs, even lots about clouds, forecasting or meteorology!

This lady (from The Education Cafe) has a long list of links for free lesson plans, print outs and unit studies, if you are into that kind of stuff. I haven't personally checked these out, but they came with great recommendation!

I especially like the National Geographic Xpeditions site!! Everything is geography based, with some science, health and history mixed in there. I also LOVE the link for maps!!

Especially this one :)

If any of you like these links - we can add them to the sidebar, for easier access. If you have other links too = please share! Hope you are enjoying the summer weather!
Love Ali Mc

The Worldwide Adventures of the Flat Sisters!

Hi Vintage Moms!

Remember way back when we had our "kick off" for the Old School Monday 2009-10 homeschool year? It was at the end of the summer, and some families brought displays of what they had done that summer? (hint: we will do this next year too!) And do you remember we started doing some geography at OSM and I was introducing the idea of "Flat Stanley" and suggesting we all consider doing them to help our kids continue the whole travel/adventure/geography thing?

WELL! I never did. I wanted to do it, and just kept putting it off. Until now! A few weeks back a new cousin by marriage sent us HER flat stanley, and that was the impetus I needed to get us underway! So, without further ado. . .

THE TRAVELING FLAT SISTERS!

I am posting this in the hopes that it may be inspiring to you all as well. Look at the fun things you can do with this project! The Flat Sisters have their own travel blog!!! Not only will I be posting pics of the Flat Sisters on their worldwide adventures--I am hoping the blog will encourage people to send pics to us!--but I will also be encouraging the girls to write stories about adventures the Flat Sisters are having, and post them on the site too. (Had the idea last night when we were in the car for several hours and G told us a story about the Flat Sisters going to Haiti!) I also might have the girls make little reports about the different places the Flat Sisters visit, and then post them there too. The idea is just to make it fun and interactive!

So, this is your opportunity to jump in on the fun! Please consider starting some travelling flat people with your kids this Spring--it is not too late!

If you want to share the Flat Stanley books with your kids, I am sure the library has them, or we were just given the whole set and can share!

Here is a great website to read before you make your Flatties.

And if you want any help making a blog (free!) for your Flatties, I would be glad to walk through it at some OSM.

Jump on into the adventure!