The kids are learning about metals this week in science. We use Ellen McHenrys Chemistry and Usbornes Encyclopedia. It talked about an experiment with electricity today and we just happen to have a kit so the kids made a little light. 
The Periodic Table game. I found this on an amazing site. Ellen McHenry's Basement workshop. http://ellenjmchenry.com/
I printed of the game, laminated it and watched the kids have fun!
Even my 9 year old gets to learn about the Periodic table!We have offically gone with Ellen McHenry's Chemistry for our Science this year. We are throwing in a few Hobby Lobby chemistry kits too.
We just ordered the Chemistry from her a few days ago, so we haven't started yet. But the kids are enjoying some of her free stuff already.
The Periodic Table game has been a wonderful learning experience for them. They are really getting into the periodic table.
This week they will also play the Quick Six card game that is about the Periodic table.
Some time this year we plan on playing the "Element Connections" bingo game, making the Periodic table pillow cases and playing the Organic Molesules card game.
We are trudging along with our lessons. Even through the summer. Our medieval times unit is coming along slowly. I had to make changes to it already. We haven’t even assembled anything in our lapbook and I’m already making changes. Lol. We started reading Adam of the Road together but we all found it extremely boring, despite the activities that went along with it. So, we put that aside for A door in the wall. Which is working well for my oldest. My youngest will start reading A tale of castles & battles soon as the book arrives from paperbackswap. It’s an I can read level book so it’s perfect for him. He will also read Knights of the Round Table for Literature. My oldest will also be reading an Eye witness book Arms & Armor and Swords: An artist’s devotion starting next week. I have also ordered a couple medieval coloring books for the boys that I think they will really enjoy! For Science I have ordered George's Secret Key to the Universe from Amazon for my oldest. My youngest will be reading The planets in our solar system for his Astronomy and Dolphins for his Oceans unit. For Language Arts my oldest will be continuing with A door in the wall and my youngest will start his new language lessons, next week hopefully. He will be doing Learning Language Arts through Literature, The Red book since he’s a bit behind on his language skills.
I have to figure out when I can work in a William Shakespeare unit study sometime before February. In case I haven’t mentioned this before, our “school” year is from February to February. We do it this way because we usually get our income taxes back in February and that’s when we purchase any items we need for the year. We can’t really purchase much during the year. I know its different but it’s what works for us.
I have yet again changed the boys science. I am trying something different. Thanks to some wonderful suggestions from one of my homeschooling groups. My youngest will be reading, on his own, some I can Read books about Oceans, Dolphins. My oldest will be be starting a new book series soon, George's Secret Key to the Universe. I think he will really enjoy it. They will read along with doing several hands on activities. I'm looking forward to this.
I was sent an email this morning from one of my group. (Well Trained Mind) NASA Science is offering free DVD's and info about supernovas.
"Thanks to NASA, supernovas will soon be going off in classrooms around the country—no safety glasses required. It's done via a DVD called Journey to the Stars. Teachers can request a free copy along with supporting lesson plans and activity sheets at journeytothestars.org.
"We want every classroom in the country to have a copy," says Lika Guhathakurta of NASA's Heliophysics Division in Washington DC. "Kids of all ages from K through 12 will enjoy the show—and never look at the night sky the same way again." (from their website) http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/07jun_journeytothestars/
At the bottom of the page, you'll see "The journey begins here" - click on the word "here," and it will take you to the order form for the free DVD.
Its worth checking into.
For our Science I have been using “How the Earth Works” for our Earth Science. It covers just what the boys need to know as well as some experiments. I basically plan their entire curriculum. I try to include some reading, note taking, writing, research, activities, art and an experiment. It seems to be working well. We will be using “How the Universe works” as well as some NASA curriculum I was able to get FREE. (Gotta love free) We plan on starting with the planets this month, then next month move in to rockets. My husband has been dying to do rockets with the boys. We are devoting an entire month to rockets, if we can. The boys will be making some from scratch and we will try to purchase one from Hobby Lobby. The NASA curriculum we have has worksheets, badges, budget forms and everything they use for their planning, tracking and such. It should be exciting. This might take more than a month. LOL
