Crack the Egg

A Good Read-Aloud Book on Insects? Yes!

    Jean Henri Fabre liked to lay on the ground observing ants crawling and digging.  I've observed this tendency in my own son.  Whether or not he will do what Fabre did remains to be seen.  Fabre became a famous French entomologist.

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    The Dover translation of Fabre's Book of Insects is just plain fun to read, but is also an excellent book for any nature-loving kid or the kid who might think that bugs are boring.

 Sixteen Chapters include:

• the Praying Mantis
• Grubs
• Locusts
• the Anthrax Fly
• and the Glow-worm.

     He also includes a chapter on his first lessons in nature watching and why he wished to have his own bare spot for identifying and observing insects. 

     I love that Fabre's writing shows how he took his passion to a level beyond most people by patience, diligence, and persistence. 

• While he describes for us the Sacred Beetle rolling his ball of ground matter, he is also, unconsciously, describing how to observe nature in it's own setting. 
• When he writes about the bedroom and tunnel of the Cricket, he is causing us to see what the life of the insect consists of. 
• When he describes the queer body and head of Empusa with the "delicate appetites of the invalid," he is building for us a fascinating word picture of the world of entymology.

      Get this book and enjoy it with your own budding entomologist! 

 Robin

Creative Home Learning

 

 

 

 

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Is This History Book On Your Shelf? It Ought To Be!

    Historical fiction at its best!  Escape From Warsaw by Ian Serraillier should be on everyone's booklist or bookshelf.

    Follow the struggles of the siblings Ruth, Edek, and Bronia who are left alone in Warsaw after watching their mother being hauled away by the Nazis, in 1942.  Their father, after escaping from a camp, finds his home blown up and the children gone.  He travels to Switzerland in hopes of finding his wife while not knowing that his children are alive.

    The Balicki children struggle to keep sane, keep hope, and keep alive.  They are befriended by another orphan, Jan.  Their adventures involve a chimp, a dangerous canoe ride down a river, harrowing escapes from soldiers, a rooster named Jimpy, and a small silver sword. 

    Excellent for historical studies of Poland and World War II, this book is also perfect for reading out loud to your kids as you can talk about

• why the children were alone,
• whether it could happen again (compare to orphans of Somalia making their way to refugee camps today),
• how difficulties can change us for good or bad,
• and the effects on someone who has gone through something horrible and the need for compassion.


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    Escape From Warsaw is a gem.  Written for fourth through eight grade, it's a classic that other ages will enjoy, too.  Realistic and touching without being overly dramatic or graphic, this is can't-put-down historical fiction. 

    And, although the characters are fictitious, many place names are real, so a map can be consulted or drawn up to add to your study. 

  

Robin

Creative Home Learning

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Reminder: Posts follow this schedule: Monday, Parents: Straight Talk and Inspiration; Tuesday, Best Homeschooling Resources; Wednesday, Great Hobbies, Activities, and Games; Thursday, Mini Unit Study; Friday, Entrepreneurial Club Info & Updates.

 

 

 

 

Homeschool History: Nineteenth Century Whaling and Japan

• The lives of Japanese fishermen. 
• Nineteenth century whaling history. 

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• The California Gold Rush. 
• Commodore Perry and the opening of Japan. 
• The life of a samurai.

    All these are found in the life of one man - Manjiro Nakahama.  His fascinating story is found in the children's nonfiction book Shipwrecked! by Rhoda Blumberg.  (If you haven't read her award-winning book Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun," combine it with this book for an excellent look at the (forced) opening of Japan in 1854.)

    He began his odyssey - for an odyssey it was - at the age of nine when his father died.  Needing to support his family, he hired out as a fisherman only to be marooned on an isolated island for months. 

    Rescued by the American whaler, the John Howland, he spent the next few years learning whaling techniques, navigation, English, horseback riding, and even farming.

    He wrote observations on everything he saw, such as "A man sits on a chair instead of the floor," and "Ordinary men carry watches."

    Eventually lifted to the level of samurai (unheard of at that time), Manjiro became the consultant during negotiations with Perry on the treaty between America and Japan.  Afterwards, he educated others on railroads, telegraphs, steamships, ship engineering, and navigation. 

    Manjiro's story sounds like a movie script, but it's true.  Blumberg does an excellent job bringing it into the realm of children's nonfiction.  Definitely a good buy and a keeper.

    If you live anywhere near Fairhaven, Massachusetts, they hold a Manjiro Festival every two years.  The next festival is in October, 2011!  Check for more information here: http://manjiro1.tripod.com/.

Robin

Reminder: Posts follow this schedule: Monday, Parent Personal Development and Inspiration; Tuesday, Best Homeschooling Resources; Wednesday, Great Hobbies, Activities, and Games; Thursday, Mini Unit Study; Friday, Entrepreneurial Club Info & Updates.

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Nuts, History, and Geography In a Book

    Did you ever think you'd find a nonfiction book about nuts and nut trees that was actually interesting?  Hard to Crack: Nut Trees is that book.  It reads a little like a textbook, but the history of the nut trees, where they are found, how nuts are produced commercially, and how various cultures use the nuts is a great way to study world history and geography.  Here's what you'll find in the book.

Nuts that are covered: 

• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Almonds
• Pistachios
• Cashews
• and Macadamias.

Chapters include:

• Recipes for using each type of nut
• Origins of the names of nuts
• Health benefits
• Origins of nuts
• How they travel to world markets

Learn:

• How the Diamond Walnut Growers, Inc. handles eight million walnuts a day during harvest
• Who introduced marzipan to the Crusaders
• How pistachios reached America
• How cashews have their toxic cashew nutschell liquid removed and uses for CNSL
• Which U.S. state is the leading producer of macadamias and which country is close behind
• Why pecans went to the moon

    The author, Meredith Sayles Hughes, has written other children's books about food and is a co-founder of the Food Museum in New Mexico.  If food history is appealing to you, you can go to their exhibits or check out it out online at www.foodmuseum.com.

Robin

 

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Arctic History and Admiral Peary: Children's Book for Homeschooling

    Kids love to read about other kids, so this book ought to be a hit, whether you're studying adventurers, the history of exploration, or the Inuit of Greenland. 

 

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    The Snow Baby: The Arctic Childhood of Admiral Robert E. Peary's Daring Daughter by Katherine Kirkpatrick fully explores and describes the birth of Marie Peary in the cold north and the years she spent there as a child.  I particularly like that this children's book, in spite of the historical detail, remains a children's book throughout.  The author doesn't forget to whom she is writing. 

    The book would work as a read aloud and could fill a few sittings for history reading.  An older, more independent reader will find plenty to learn and should not be put off by the fact that it's a children's book.  It rounds out the picture of Admiral Peary and his travels, although it is firmly fixed on Marie's life, not her famous father.

 The book is worth getting just for the photographs.  Black and white, they are clear and numerous.  Subjects include Marie with sled dog puppies, Peary's ships, Marie's mother and other family members, Inuit friends, icebergs, sled dogs, and a few of Marie's later years as she championed her father's accomplishments.

    There are only two paragraphs you may choose to skip when reading to your young child.  These deal with Peary's intimacy with an Inuit woman and the birth of two sons whom he never acknowledged. 

FRONT and BACK MATTER    

• A map explaining Peary's Expeditions at the beginning gives a geographical context for the story. 
• An afterword explains the controversy over who reached the pole first and who could prove it. 
• It also gives information on what happened after this feat to Admiral Peary, Matthew Hensen, his partner, and particularly Marie. 
• List of the five children's books which Marie wrote herself in later years about her childhood.

     An unusual topic, but a great resource and a gem for learning more about the Inuit and their early way of life. 

EXTRA:  The Snow Baby is best read with a cup of hot cocoa in hand and under a furry blanket.

Robin



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Image by The U.S. National Archives via Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homeschooling: History of US Marshals, Outlaws, and Bass Reeves

    Do you remember learning about Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal, in history class?  I don't, but perhaps you did if you grew up in Oklahoma.  This man served for thirty-two years in the Indian Territory, before Oklahoma became a state.  Called the "most feared deputy U.S. marshal that was ever heard of," Bass went after gunslingers, murderers, cattle rustlers, train robbers, and horse thieves.  Supplied with their warrants, he took off on his horse, found them, and brought them in "dead or (but usually) alive."

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   This remarkable man was known for being big, fearless, completely honest, and a crack shot.  In fact, he even brought in his own son who served ten years in prison.  He also, from what I can tell, had a very sure and active faith in God, which he tried to pass on to the outlaws he caught. 

    I was totally captivated by this book.  It almost read like a tall tale, except that so much of it is verifiable.  Once, Bass was lying on the ground taking a nap.  A skunk wandered up and the bandits in the prison wagon threw rocks at it, hoping it would spray the sleeping man.  Instead, Bass woke up, stretched out a hand, and pet the skunk on the head. 

    My ten year-old kept asking questions.  What's a posse?  What's a gunslinger?  What's a tumbleweed wagon?  Why, why, why?...

    Which leads me to this -- The great thing about children's nonfiction books these days is the ample amount of backmatter, the extras at the back of the book.  Sometimes a glossary of terms or translations of foreign words, sometimes lists of "Further Reading," or websites to check out for more information.  There might be a timeline, an author's note, or an illustrator's note on what medium they decided to use and why.

    Why do you care?  Because all this back matter - notes, bibliography, resources, dates- helps make your homeschooling job easier AND saves you time!

    I showed my son that many of his questions could be answered by flipping to the back.  He learned to find a definition under "Western Words" and read "More About Judge Isaac C. Parker," someone we were both unfamiliar with.  Although we had studied the governmental movement of the Indian nations to the Indian Territory (later Oklahoma), this book presented yet one more turn of the glass for understanding what happened and why.

Robin

 

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Homeschool Science Resource & Biography: Gregor Mendel and Genetics

    Genetics is probably not the first topic you think of when finding science books to read to your kids.  But, if there is a great resource, why not, right? 

    I came across an outstanding biography that introduces genetics gently and well.  Yes, a biography.  My favorite way to learn history or science.  And this biography of Gregor Mendel, now known as the Father of Genetics, is a good read-aloud for very young kids with a moving story line.  Independent readers will learn the fascinating story of a man who wanted to know about growing things and what he did about it, even when others weren't interested in what he was doing.

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Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardoe describes Mendel's journey to answer the question, "How do parents pass down traits to their children, be they sheep, apple trees, or humans?"

    What thrills me is that the author spends time actually explaining Mendel's early pea experiments. She describes the manner in which he pollinated pea plant flowers and the results he discovered.  Two full-page pictures show the three successive generations of pea traits he watched, primarily the colors of yellow and green.  The reader is gently led to his conclusion that "parents" each give one building block to each of their children.  Today, we call these building blocks "genes."

       Mendel relates his discovery to patterns found in mathematics.  What a wonderful way to show the interconnectedness of subjects and disciplines.

    Although Mendel's research was not met with excitement during his lifetime, others "rediscovered" his research many years later, realizing, finally, the importance of his scientific experiments and the conclusions.  In fact, recent research has found that it was not three scientists coming independently to the same conclusion as previously thought, but four, and that the two brothers (of the four) communicated and shared their work with each other. 

     This book makes a nice addition to your science library and could even open up a number of discussions about Mendel's life, his character, and the choices we may make.

• How did Gregor find a way to pursue his dream when it seemed impossible?
• What did he sacrifice?  What did his family sacrifice?
• What character qualities did Mendel show that allowed him to make his discoveries?

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     I like this book and the way Gregor Mendel's life is portrayed.  Although it wasn't written when my kids were real young, my ten year-old is reading it now.  Perhaps it will inspire him!  Perhaps it will inspire your child!

    Robin

 

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Homeschooling With Merit Badge Booklets

     In a previous post, I encouraged you to consider joining the Boy Scouts of America if at all inclined.  However, if your family simply can't commit to a weekly program or you do not have any boys, you can still take advantage of their Merit Badge pamphlets.

    These pamphlets, really more booklets,  are excellent for a plethora of reasons.  Here's why you ought to consider them:

• These books may be written for boys, but are not boy-specific.  A girl can use them readily.
• Not only are they often available in your library, the books can be purchased from the official Boy Scouts website (www.scoutstuff.org/bsa), Amazon, or you may find used booklets at garage sales.
• New editions do show up, but the information is so solid, that using an older edition is not a disadvantage.
• New subjects and merit badges are introduced, too, to stay current with technology and resources.  Robotics is their newest book and merit badge to date.

    The books do more than introduce a subject, they explore it.  You can utilize the books in a number of ways whether you unschool or have a relaxed or eclectic homeschool.

• Give copies to a child who expresses an interest in a subject, like leatherwork. It will answer many questions about tools and the process as well as give instructions on actual projects.
• Give a copy on photography or graphic arts to whet their appetite for further study in that subject.  If a student has been wondering how radios work, "Radio" may answer their questions and even spark an interest in building and using their own.
• Use a pamphlet as a unit study.  Much can be done as a self-study by the student alone.  The parent acts as the "mentor" who determines whether the requirements have been met or who helps find resources, or with travel to a site, if required.  They allow for flexibility as a study.  Decide with the student ahead of time which requirements you'd like to see fulfilled and which can be skipped.
• Use as a base "text" for a study of your own.  Because they provide a foundation of information, it's easy to expand upon the topic using these as a starting point.
• Use for career exploration through either reading or working through a book.  If your child is interested in the outdoors, give them Forestry, Soil and Water Conservation, Architecture & Landscape Architecture, Fish & Wildlife Management, Geology, and Nature.  Your student will get descriptions of possible careers that would allow them to spend time outside or working to shape the outdoors. 

 

    The Merit Badge Pamphlets are written to the student, middle to high school, him (or her) self.  The emphasis is on learning and doing.  Isn't that what we want?  After all, knowledge combined with action creates the best kind of learning - experience.

 

Robin

 

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Homeschooling, Hank, and Laughter: Audiobooks For Fun

    Life and homeschooling can get a little intense around our house.  Even in the summer we try so hard to relax we forget what the point was.  Get up and go fishing, take a bike ride, the sun came out, everybody outside, did you pack enough socks for Scout camp, why isn't the laundry done, what time do you have to be there, did anyone remember the salad spoon...

    The remedy for us is to listen or watch something that really makes us laugh.  Out loud.  And a real laugh, not just chuckles.  "The experts" say laughing is good for your mental health and physical health.  I knew that from experience.  God knew that because He designed us that way.  Now we can all agree it's true.

    But, do we do it?  Sometimes, one of the kids will come out with something that makes us howl.  But, you never know when that will happen.  It's not just the kids, of course.  Have you ever walked into a glass door thinking it will slide open for you?  I didn't laugh as hard as other people, but I realize it was pretty funny.

    When things get too intense or we need a break, our family's favorite reading for belly laughs is Hank the Cowdog, bar none.  Here are our top five reasons.

1. Hank adds new words to our vocabulary.  Like throatalary, bonkeywhoofer, seriousest, fallophobia...
2. We learn new sayings like 'potted watches never boil.'
3. It's fun listening to buzzards argue.
4. You learn new songs like "Don't Ever Step in a Trap" and "The Heavy Moral Decision Song."
5. You will not have nightmares about the awful situations Hank finds himself in, such as getting stuck in a tree, eating aged mutton with a pack of coyotes, or vomiting toxic grass, but you may get a stomachache.  We've agreed laughter is good for you, but I don't know how that works when you laugh so hard you get a stomachache. 

    We think the Hank the Cowdog audio books are even better than reading the paperbacks.  John R. Erickson, the author, is also the narrator and his range of voices is amazing.  It's best to start with No. 1 to get the setup of the characters, but for the most part you don't need to read them in order.  You have at least 50 more books to choose from and they're all good. (Three books or so have an owl character, Madam Moonshine, kind of like a witch.  If you don't want that, read what each book is about and avoid the few with her character.) 

    We started listening to Hank the Cowdog when the kids were around seven years old, about eight years ago.  Two of my kids are in their teens now, but they still ask for the audiobooks as gifts, because they're fun.   

     Gifted kids like the humor and play on words in the books.  Reluctant readers like the story lines and characters.  Everybody likes Hank's outrageous and seemingly logical plans to save, protect, and take care of the ranch and its owners.  Need a good laugh?  Get Hank!

Robin

 

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Shakespeare For Kids: An Introduction

    Macbeth for young kids?  Why not, said Lois Burdett, and introduced her second-graders to the famous bard.  They produced one comedy or tragedy by Shakespeare per year in their classroom.  The kids performed the parts, drew pictures, made costumes, and wrote about the characters.  Now a book series - Shakespeare Can Be Fun! - her rhyming stories are printed with drawings and comments by seven to ten year old students. 

    Want to familiarize your young kids with Shakespeare?  These books offer a fantastic way for them to learn the stories and characters of many of Shakespeare's plays.  As Lois Burdett puts it in an introduction, "Shakespeare has become a friend, not someone to be feared.  His plays are looked upon as exciting stories, not drudgery."  What a wonderful gift! 

    Those that are available include Macbeth for Kids, Romeo and Juliet For Kids, The Tempest For Kids, A Midsummer Night's Dream For Kids, Much Ado About Nothing For Kids, Hamlet For Kids, and Twelfth Night For Kids.

    At the back of each book is a To Parents and Educators section in which she lists other activities to add to or round out a Shakespeare study.  Suggestions are made for research, history, geography, language, writing, discussion, and, of course, theater, and art.

    Shakespeare is not my favorite read, but I saw no reason to keep the kids from enjoying him and learning about his writing.  Even I didn't mind reading these books over again and my young kids liked seeing the other student drawings.  It's so easy to lead into "How would you draw Puck?"  "Why do you think Macbeth got angry?"

    And the discussions that come out of his stories are certainly worth the effort, even, or especially, at this young age.  Kids do notice things about human nature and behavior.  How much they notice is often disconcerting.  (When you homeschool, there are so many opportunities for this noticing to go on, yes?)

    For those homeschooling who like a Charlotte Mason approach or any other method that involves reading (!), the books provide an easy approach to introducing great literature. 

Robin

 

Did you enjoy this article?  Subscribe for FREE by RSS or email.  Thanks!  As always, these books and other great resources for your gifted and creative kids are available through my Amazon associate link under the Creative Home Learning Store button at the top of the page.  Enjoy!