DNA Accident!

This was a total accident!
I've been printing pages for Biology for the kids I'll be having in my class, and I know how the first few pages can tear where the holes are punched.
I wanted to label and cut a piece of cardstock in thirds to use as a buffer.  I made the letters purple, to match the 1st Edition, even thought we'll be using 2nd now.  (I still like purple.)


I thought it looked dull, so I looked for some clip art to add.  I found frogs, flowers, leaves, and DNA.  I decided to put different ones on each cardstock strip, and began with the DNA.
I rotated the image and dragged it over the print, trying to figure out where it would look best.  I dropped it a little earlier than I meant to, and it landed smack-dab on the l in Biology!
It looked so great there, I skipped the frogs, etc., and did them all that way!  =)
Here's the page that I printed if you want it, or want to crop/edit it.
Click image to make it larger, and save to your computer.

Birthday present or gag gift? LOL

Pets can be a lot of fun!  They can also be a lot of work!  You'd have to really love one to put up with it.

Three years ago for their 10th birthday, my twins got hermit crabs for their birthday from their aunt.
Sandy and Hermy.
They were not much trouble.  They mostly just needed certain living conditions provided.
Clean sand or other substrate like shredded coconut to hold in moisture, heater thingy attached to one end of the tank so they could go near or away if they were too hot or cold, a coconut hut to hide in, things to climb on, both salt and fresh water, and food.  They needed a thermometer/humidity gauge that needed to be kept within certain ranges, so we had to keep the shredded coconut moist, and regulate how far the lid was open depending on our current weather.

For their 11th birthday, their aunt gave them a dog they named Levi.  (He would have been Oscar, but JohnDavid got outvoted.)
Levi has been the most trouble.  He smells, needs to be played with, needs to be fed, fresh water in this hot weather, needs to be brushed, fresh cedar wood chips in his doghouse so he won't smell as much, (a doghouse he no longer goes into), chew toys, (and don't leave your shoes on the porch!) and just needs more care.
He chases birds that fly 50 feet above him; he chases everything!  He is afraid of file folders or anything you are carrying that he does not recognize.  He lays on his back to sleep with all 4 paws flopping outward.  He is one silly dog!

Last year, someone gave them a hamster whose name became Oscar.  (Yay!  JohnDavid has a pet named Oscar!)  He's not as much trouble as Levi, but his cage needs to be cleaned often, food provided, fresh water (and make sure the bottle doesn't leak if you hang it wrong!) and he needs to get out and run around. 

Pets can be a lot of fun, and the kids do love their animals, but I think I will inform their aunt (and others) we do not need any more pets for birthdays.
(who wants a present with a built-in chore!?!)

New Playlist - like or dislike?

Wondering what my readers think of the new Playlist?
I did put it near the top so readers could see it early, and mute it if they wanted.
I love hearing the music, but when I'm halfway down the blog and want to watch a video, I have to scroll back up to mute the Playlist.  =\
And if I'm at the bottom of the blog, and click Older Posts, the Playlist starts over.

So, I'm thinking, I love to look over my old posts (this blog is my baby, after all!), but probably no one else does, so they probably won't scroll down that far, and maybe they don't have a problem with the Playlist? 
So I want your opinions, and you can even vote anonymously (or not) by leaving a comment.
So...
Do you like it, or is it just okay?  Or is it annoying!?!
I'm sure you mute/pause it to watch videos.  But do you mute it first thing every time you come to the site?  Or just let it play. 
Or do you listen, only to find it bothersome to have to scroll later to find it and hit mute!
Opinions, please.  =)

ETA:  It even got to annoying me!  If I'm working on my blog, and have it open in 2 tabs so I can reference something, it has 2 players going on different songs!
So it is set to play ONLY if you click Play.  =)

I L♥ve This!!! =)

I just love this!
This is a design on a T-shirt, sweatshirt, or a tote bag at GreatHomeschoolTShirts.com.
They also have coffee mugs, mousepads, and bumper stickers.  =)  They're on sale!
Other colors and designs available.

Apologia Science Question of the Week

Apologia Science Question of the Week.
Kids ages 13-18 can submit answers and win prizes. Each contest runs 12 weeks, and the one(s) with the most correct answers win.
New questions come out each week.
A new contest should begin in a week or two. (not sure of the dates on the site)
But go see what the current question is like anyway! They're hard, I tell ya!
← Posting link in side bar for future reference.  Look under "Links for Kids and Teens". 

Meteor Shower, (er, sprinkle)

I let my kids stay up to watch the meteor shower last night. 
Together, they saw a total of nine.
Nine meteors.
Well, at least they got to see a few!  =)

Watch a video on youtube.  (It loops about 3 times.)

My Attempt at a Schedule (of sorts) for Science

Update 2014
This is a summary of how we did Apologia Science:

I started having a class with my oldest daughter and 2 cousins, and it grew to include friends and siblings.  We generally had classes once a week. 

For Apologia, I took 2 weeks to do a module/chapter, and reserved 1 day for test, 1 day for the study guide, 2 days for experiments (1 class each week), and divided the chapter into the remaining 6 days.  What days the experiments fall on depend on how the chapter is laid out. 

On harder chapters we sometimes took 3 weeks, and on chapters with math, we had 2 classes a week.  

Pretty much I was studying/planning as I went, so the moms and I worked out schedules when things like this came up.  

On super easy chapters, we just had 1 class.  I think there was just once or twice we did that in the 5 years that I had classes.  

I had started by having kids begin the chapter at home a few days before class day, because I did not want to do experiments on something they had not at least read about.  
That did not always work, so I changed it and things worked much better.  If you are doing a class w/ a group, then I would suggest having a class to do an overview of the chapter and some small/shorter experiment(s) before beginning the chapter.  I found that an overview really helped the kids see where we were headed.  Then if you are doing classes weekly, you might have one more class for additional experiments.  

Occasionally I would allow 3 weeks for a chapter if there was a lot more vocabulary than usual, material that I thought would be quite new to the students, or a lot of math.  I also made up extra math/formula problems for classwork and for practice.  I do not still have those, unfortunately.  

Sometimes I would have visuals or handouts for them to look at along with me, or to read aloud.  We discussed as we went...  The kids knew there would be a "quiz-game" at the end, and they could win chocolate, so they listened pretty well.  =) 

Near the end of class, I asked questions aloud and they all wrote the answers on small dry erase boards and showed me when they saw me looking their way.  I wouldn't tell who was right or wrong until all had answered, and they got one try.  We tried several different ways, including written quizzes on paper, but we all agreed that this was our favorite way.  I loved that *all the kids got to answer each question, and that we could discuss each answer as we went.  Often I would ask a question more than once especially if some missed it, or would just ask it in a different way.  
Each kid got a point for each correct answer. 
Chocolate was awarded at the end of the quiz -- 1, 2, or 3 pieces.  I tried to make sure each kid got something.  If one or two kids did not do well, I may give them 1 piece, and the others got 2, 3, or 4.  

Usually I had already gone over most questions during the 'teaching' time, questioning them as we went, re-questioning ones they missed, etc.  So they learned to pay attention and did pretty well when we got to the quiz-game.

The below was written in 2010. 

I have so thoroughly enjoyed doing science experiments these past 6 months!  If you've been on my blog even a few times, you will know science has become one of my loves. ♥  lol.
Rebekah did a block schedule with history and science last school year (2009-2010), and started science in late January.  However, after several weeks, I knew neither Rebekah nor I were going to be able to understand that science.

I do not remember where online that I found out about Apologia science, but when I read that it was written specifically for homeschoolers whose parents may not know much about science, I gave it a second look!
We started using Apologia science in March (2010), so we've had to speed it up a little, doing more per week than is intended.  We're still finishing up Physical Science.  We should be done in a couple of weeks!

Then we get to begin Biology!  =)  (Aug. 2010)

I have been asked a couple of times (yes, that means 2 whole times) how I schedule our science, when we do the experiments, etc.
They are intended to be done as your child comes to them. 
However, I have 2 other kids come to do experiments with Rebekah, and we do it once a week. 
We do experiments each Monday on the material they have already covered.  (This was later changed, as explained above.)

We started out doing the lab reports together for the first several weeks, which took longer, but I wanted to be sure they knew how to do them.  I do make them write it all down in a notebook, and not use a form.   Now they seldom look at the examples I gave them.  I also gave them a sample blank form to look at.
Then they were to finish them on their own at home.
They bring them back the next week and get points for completing them.
They win chocolate. 😊

We discuss each Monday what pages should be done which day of the week, and they write it down.
I do have a set # of pages for the week, but as homeschoolers, some days get filled up with outside appointments, etc. and may need to be scheduled a little differently for each family.

I reserve Mondays for class/experiments (although some experiments may be done at home), and schedule the chapter reading/questions to be done Tuesday - Friday the first week, and Tues-Wed the second week (as well as watching any videos I've posted).  The Study Guide will be on Thursday of the second week of that Module, and the Test on Friday.  The parents are responsible for checking and grading these, except in cases where the parent is not sure of the material, and not able to judge whether an answer is acceptable.  

On Monday, we've been quizzing out loud, having a "Quiz Game" where they can win points.  This has motivated them a lot!  =)
And ended up being more discussion than I planned.
Which is good.  They're learning.

Probably only a handful of people in the world would be interested in this post, but I wrote it anyway. 🙂 

Found More Resources! (I L♥ve homeschool forums!)

• QUIZinator - import images to enhance quizzes you make (geometry, chemical symbols, maps, other diagrams, etc)
• Big Red Hat - Learn interesting stuff with the Discovery Twins, see what you can create with Oliart, or tour Europe with The Traveling Trio.  Three kids whose parents are really interested in letting their children discover and learn.

These are now added to Educational Links.

Personalize Your Child's SOS Report Card

Want to know how to personalize your child's Switched-On Schoolhouse Report Card?

Instructions here show how to put in your school name and address, or whatever you like in place of "Switched-On Schoolhouse" at the top of the printable report card.

Apologia Physical Science - Elements

=)

More Molly! =)

Molly the Owl is back w/ more owlets!  =)
Live feed of barn owls in a nest box in San Marcos, California.  Scroll down to mute the second camera if you need to.  It appears that it has some advertising as well as live feed.

← old pic (from March), tucking her eggs under her.

My post of eaglets and of Molly from back in March.

Contact Paper

I like to cover my books with clear contact paper.  I just really want them to stay in good condition.
I do love my books.  =)

I have always loved to read.  As a child, I collected every good book I could acquire, finding many at Goodwill or other places.  I kept every one, even the old raggedy ones.  When I was 12, my Mom got me a big box of used books, mostly Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew.
That was my favorite gift!

One was printed in 1925, and I have since learned it was one of the original Hardy Boys that still had the 25 chapters in it.

← I even kept this old book.  It is a book after all, and readable!  =)  See my lovely duct tape?  Well, I was 12!  LOL!

A few years ago, I wanted to fix it up.  My other Hardy Boys books had blue on them, so I cut a blue file folder to fit my book.  I used three file folders before I got it just right!  =\
I looked online for a picture of the cover of the exact book.
Then I cut white paper for the inside front, since the front page was torn and stained.  (The torn page is between the white paper and the folder.)  I lightly glued it all in place to hold it so I could get the contact paper adhered.  I also glued the picture to the front cover of the folder.

  
I wrapped the contact paper around the folder/front torn page/white paper together, and across the next page.
In the back, I ended up wrapping the contact paper around the folder, around both sides of the whole entire back page, and onto the next-to-last page.  The pages in the back were more loose, and there was nothing to connect the file folder to otherwise.

I was pretty proud of my result.  It took me long enough!  I'd say nearly 2 hours, including hunting and printing the picture, and my trials and errors.
It's a sturdy little book now!  =)

If you want to cover a book, and you're new at this, you might want to have a helper to hold the top edge of the sticky plastic as you smooth it onto the book.
If you get bubbles, you may be able to smooth them out.
If not, I prick a tiny hole w/ a pin and let the air out.
Here are directions at wikihow.
I don't start from the spine, tho.  I just fully complete one side of the book, flip it over and press the contact paper to the spine, then do the other side.

More Biology Links!

• CELLS Alive!  Interactive animations.  Under Cell Biology:  Cell model, click on diff parts; Web cams of cells multiplying; Mitosis, Meiosis, full animation, or click to pause on a phase.  There are also puzzles, quizzes, and more!  Also see Microbiology, Immunology, & Microscopy.  VERY good!  =)
• The Biology Corner - a GREAT resource!  Click on Cells, then another link (one that says virtual lab).  In the directions is a link to copy/paste to a virtual microscope!  =)  There's a tutorial and several slides for practice.  There's more, including plant and animal cell coloring pages, some experiments, and powerpoint presentations.  And that's just under the "Cell" category!  
• Awesome Virtual Cell - More 3D than flat, highlights portions of the cell with names.  Click on parts for closer view.  Some can zoom or rotate.
• Department of Biological Sciences - I haven't checked this one out much.  It's nearly midnight, and I'm going to bed!  But it looks promising!

These are now listed under Educational Links.  Oh, yeah!  I love these sites.  =)

Ashokan Farewell ♪♫

I think this song is so beautiful!  My girls have learned to play some of this.
This is the beautiful original version, composed and played by Jay Unger, and later used in the soundtrack of a documentary of The Civil War.

LOL! Module 11 (part B), The Forces in Creation

Module 13 did not have any experiments (but I did post videos for Module 13), so I told the kids to study the last several Modules, and we would have a QuizGame today.  And they could win chocolate!  Abigail was the winner by 2 points.
I was pleased with how much they remembered.  As I was asking questions, and sometimes pausing for discussion, I came to an experiment in Module 11 that we had skipped because of it's simplicity.
(Ohhhh yeah, I had this planned!)

Experiment 11.2 - The "Bent Space" Theory of Gravity.  Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
The kids didn't know what page I was on, but willingly got ready for this (unknown to them) VERY simple experiment.  I handed out goggles, and told them to wear coats and gloves.  And the girls especially might want to wear something over their hair.  (But I didn't say it was necessary!)
I explained I would just let them read and get together what materials they needed, and I would just video.  They didn't do the experiment quite right, but that wasn't the point today, lol!
I could hardly keep a straight face!!!

Bethany snapped a few pictures as I videoed them reading, following the steps, and waiting for something to happen...
Just see their faces as they realized this extremely simple experiment was totally over, and nothing had exploded!  😄
Rebekah looked up at me, slightly incredulous, "Why are we dressed like this?"
And then they all realized what was going on.  It was hilarious!!! 😂
Caleb was funny! "Stupid goggles.  Made me mess up my hair for nothing!"
Rebekah -- "I was just waiting... WHAT'S gonna happen?"
Abigail thought it was going to blow up!
Rebekah answered, "Yeah, she put explosives in the cantaloupe???"  ROFL!! 🤣
Just watch the video...


Still ROFL!

I Found More Elements! (not really)

I found another resource!
Dynamic Periodic Table.  All I can say is go look and see what all it does.
Thanks, Michelle at Applie's Place!