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August
1 ,
2007
 Dear
Oklahoma Homeschool Subscribers,
I
just completed my first semester back at college. Remind
me never to take two classes in summer session again! However,
I did manage to get an A in Speech and College
Algebra. Amazing, for a 57-year old brain! Now, I have
three weeks off, then it's back to college again! I've
got lots of catching up to do during this three weeks,
including this newsletter. I'm also going on a mini vacation
with my daughter to Dallas as a reward for our good grades.
(My 30-year old daughter and I are both going to college
together so we decided to reward our A's with a mini vacation!)
By the way, if you're interested in my take on public college
today, read my blog: Empty
Nest Mom Goes to College.
I
imagine you all are getting ready to go back to school,
also. This issue of the OKHS Newsletter includes a review
of a US history curriculum, a unit study in electricity
that I just completed, and two new webpages on unit study
resources. I hope you enjoy!
Have
a great, new school year!
Cindy
Downes
Oklahoma
Homeschool Newsletter, August 1, 2007
 Index:
What's
New on the Oklahoma Homeschool Website?
NEW! Unit
Study Resources for History and Unit
Study Resources for Science. For those of you who have been asking
me to get this done! This is still a work in progress
but my goal this year is to make a big dent in it!
Oklahoma
History Online Update!
For those of you who subscribe to my Oklahoma
History Online curriculum, I have created a printable
book list of all the books recommended in the curriculum.
(Thanks to Rachel Ossenbeck who gave me the idea!)
You can print it off and take it with you to the library
or order books directly from the booklist online. You'll
find this list on the "How to Use This Curriculum"
page under "Optional Supplies and Instructions" when
you log on with your user name and password. I hope
you find this helpful.
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Curriculum/Book
Reviews:
 Book
Review: All American History, Uniting America's Story, Piece by Piece by Celeste W. Rakes.
When I first received Volume 1 of this curriculum, I
thought it was going to be just another history textbook.
However, I was pleasantly surprised! This one is unique
and worth considering for your children.
The
reader is excellent and the information is well presented.
I think students will enjoy the text. Each
unit includes easy-to-read text, illustrations of famous
people and events, maps, and a section on the impact
of the unit's events on our nation. The illustrations,
however, are black and white which makes it somewhat
less interesting than a similar book in color. Maybe
a future edition will add color illustrations.
What
I like the most is the activity book! Each unit includes
activity worksheets to accompany the text. The fun
part is that Celeste has included small images of famous
people and flags to cut out and paste on the worksheets. Visual
learners and your younger children will like
this part and it will help them to remember what they
learned. The worksheets also include a fill in the blank
and multiple choice quiz to check older student's memory,
as well as map work and additional ideas and resources
for further study.
This
curriculum comes in three parts: The Student Reader,
a Student Activity Book, and the Teacher Guide with Answer
Key. Normally, I don't like having to purchase a separate
teacher book, but in this case, it's not that expensive
($16.95) and it is well worth getting. It includes a
lot of background information as well as additional activities
that will make multi-level teaching a lot
easier. For instance, in the lesson on the Revolutionary
War, students will make invisible ink secret messages,
create a newspaper, make candles, go on a nature hike
to identify trees and animals, learn how to fly and store
a flag, and much more.
I
particularly recommend this to parents who have visual
learners and who have to teach multiple grade levels
at one time. The author recommends it to be used for
grades 5-8, but I would not be afraid to use parts of
it with younger children.
Book
Review: Exploring the World of Mathematics by John
Hudson Tiner.
 Since I was taking College Algebra last semester, I picked
up the book, Exploring the World of Mathematics, to read
in order to supplement my understanding of math. Great
choice! Not only did I learn more about mathematic principles
but I learned more about the history of math, how math
applies to everyday life, and even how math is used in
scriptures!
I suggest that sometime during your child's 5th-8th grade
years, you go through each chapter with him - maybe as
a summer course or one day a week on Friday. Most kids
will like the book, too, as it teaches them how to solve
logic problems that can fool their friends! Like this one:
Have your friend secretly choose a number from one to ten.
Tell him to add six to the number, double the results,
and divide his answer by four. Next subtract half of the
original number. When he is done, you can tell him what
his number is 100% of the time. You'll have to read the
book to find out how!
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Marva
Collins - An Educational Philosophy Recommended for
all Educators
 Mandatory
reading for anyone educating children should be the story
of
Marva
Collins. She founded the Westside Preparatory School
in 1975 in inner city, Chicago. During the first year,
Marva took in learning disabled, problem children and
even one child who had been labeled by Chicago public
school authorities as borderline retarded. At the end
of the first year, every child scored at least five grades
higher proving that the previous labels placed on these
children were misguided. The CBS program, 60 Minutes,
visited her school for the second time in 1996. That
little girl who had been labeled as border line retarded,
graduated in 1976 from college Summa Cum Laude. It was
documented on the 60 Minutes programs in 1996. Marva’s
graduates have entered some of the nation’s finest
colleges and universities, such as Harvard, Yale, and
Stanford, to mention just a few. And, they have become
physicians, lawyers, engineers, educators, and entered
other professions.
I strongly recommend that you read her educational philosophy.
It WILL change your thinking about school!
Bio: http://www.marvacollins.com/biography.html
Philosophy of Education: http://www.marvacollins.com/philosophy.html
More info: http://www.marvacollins.com/comments.html
To
read more about her techniques which you can use at home,
I highly recommend, Marva
Collins' Way.
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FREE
Forms: Electricity Thematic Paper
Thematic
Paper - Free:
Electricity Thematic Paper to use when teaching
about electricity http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/forms.html
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The
Checklist & Multi-Level Teaching: Electricity
1. NEW! Electricity
Unit Study by Cindy Downes
2. Ben
Franklin Unit Study by Cindy Downes
3. Be
sure to add what your children did for the Electricity
Unit to your copy of The
Checklist!
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Oklahoma
Centennial Events:
September
Events :
Mustang's 31st Annual Western Days & Open
Rodeo,
Sep 7, 2007 - Sep 8, 2007, Mustang, OK. Mustang's
single and largest event with crowds estimated at
50,000. Events include a chili cook-off, carnival,
gospel sing, and an open rodeo. Other events are
the Fun Run 5K, car show, food vendors, arts and
crafts, parade, entertainment on stage, street dance,
pet show, horse and buggy rides, hot air balloon
rides, inflatables, petting zoo, carnival, and Armed
Forces displays. Contact: Phone: (405) 376-2758,
E-mail: mustangc@icon.net
Hennessey's HRC Pony Express, Sep 8, 2007,
Guthrie, OK. Starting in Guthrie, "The First State
Capitol",
a proclamation of statehood will be carried throughout
the state, pony express style, using horses, tractors,
and motorcycles. The proclamation will be delivered
finally to the State Capitol in Oklahoma City. Contact:
Susan Henry at sumhenry@pldi.net
Blackwell's A Century of Heritage -- 100 years
of Kay County, Oklahoma, Sep 11, 2007 - Sep
15, 2007. Blackwell, OK. Highlighted events include
a special section of the fairgrounds reserved for
1907 era exhibits with exhibitors dressed in 1907
era costume, music, prizes, food and games. There
will be a special designated area for Native American
cultural exhibits, dances and tribal history. Performances
by high profile music artists from Oklahoma. The
attendance for the annual event is over 20,000
visitors. Free admission. Contact: Phone: 580-363-4195;
E-mail: blackwellchamber@4grc.com
Oklahoma Centennial Exposition 2007, Sep 13, 2007
- Sep 23, 2007. Oklahoma City, OK. This exposition
will commemmorate 100 years of statehood and will
spotlight our state's history, heritage and culture.
It will focus on the achievements of our state and
its people, and offer a glimpse into Oklahoma's future.
Oklahoma State Fair 2007 (Centennial),
Sept 13-23. Website: http://www.oklahomastatefair.com/
Sulphur's Murray County Antique Tractor Show, Sep
14, 2007 - Sep 16, 2007. Sulfur, OK. Re-live old-time
farming methods with live demonstrations of wheat
threshing, hay baling, corn shelling, log sawing,
black smithing, broom making, rope making and more.
View steam and gasoline tractors, small gas engines
and a tractor rodeo.
Oklahoma Centennial Botanical
Garden Celebration, All Day Saturday and Sunday Sept.
14 and Sept. 15, 2007. 5323 West 31st Street North,
Tulsa, OK. Free Event. In the planning stages
for seven years, when fully developed the Botanical
Garden will be a world-class cultural institution
and a model of horticultural excellence, covering
210 acres in the rolling hills just seven miles northwest
of downtown Tulsa. The $40 million Garden is to be
added to the Osage Hills 7 miles northwest of downtown
Tulsa. It will have 15 major theme gardens, 60 smaller
ones, a 17-acre lake, 3,000-seat amphitheater, visitor
center, 3-story observation tower, conservatory,
hiking trails and more. The 2-day celebration will
begin at dawn and extend into the night with walks
through woodlands and prairie plus educational and
entertainment programs for people of all ages and
segments of the state. Contact: Pat Woodrum 728-0707
or Pearl Garrison 728-2707
Shattuck's A Centennial Celebration Under the
Windmills,
4-8 pm. Sep 16, 2007. Shattuck, OK. The event will
take place in a park containing 46 vintage windmills.
On site are a reconstructed dugout and a turn of
the century farmhouse which will be a part of early
Oklahoma farm and ranch demonstrations. A western
music band will entertain during an authentic Chuck
wagon supper.
Tulsa's 47th Annual Greek Holiday, Sep
20, 2007 - Sep 22, 2007. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox
Church, Tulsa, OK. Greek Holiday, Tulsa's oldest
ethnic festival, gives 5,000 to 6,000 guests a taste
of Greek culture during its annual 3-day run. Six
groups, in authentic costumes, will perform dances
from Greece. Phone: Phone: 918-583-2082.
E-mail: deme.bereolos.atty@cox.net
Cyril's
Centennial Celebration, Sep 21,
2007 - Sep 22, 2007. Cyril, OK. Art and photography
displays, by the community, will exhibit both past
and present. Historical slide shows will play continuously
with pictures & history
of the community. Saturday enjoy old fashioned chores
like churning butter or old fashioned games like
the cow patty toss and horseshoes. Storytelling,
music, entertainment and a Native American pow-wow
are also included. "Walk Through Time" activity
allows visitors to take a walk through the history
of the community from 1900's to 2007. Celebration
will end with a fireworks extravaganza.
Major County Old Time Threshing Bee,
Sep 28, 2007 - Sep 30, 2007. Fairview, OK. Experience
pioneer life with threshing, plowing, sawmilling,
straw baling, and grain milling demonstrations with
antique steam and gas powered tractors. Also harvest
corn during the show with antique equipment. The
blacksmith shop will be open with active smithys.
A large display of antique farm machinery will be
on hand and a restored pioneer church, school house
and original train depot are open for public display.
Contact: Betty Harrison, (580) 227-2265.
Slaughterville Grape Harvest and Wine Festival,
Sep 29, 2007. Slaughterville , OK. A festival to
taste locally produced grape juices, wines and honey.
Activities to include stage entertainment, crafts,
food, and children's activities. Also included is
the grape stomp, Busy Bee Pumpkin Patch, big belly
bar-b-que, and farm and antique auto shows. Contact:
Marsha Blair, Phone: 405-872-3000. E-mail: slaughterville@sbcglobal.net
2.
For discount coupons and more travel info about
these events, check TravelOK.com.
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Internet
Resources: CHECK!!!!!
-
Geo
Bee Quiz: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/
-
Geo Spy
Game: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geospy/
-
Fin,
Fur and Feather Bureau of Investigation (FFBI): http://www.fffbi.com/
-
Geonet: http://www.eduplace.com/geonet/
-
Maps.com
Online Games: http://www.maps.com/FunFacts.aspx?nav=FF
-
My wonderful world: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/MyWonderfulWorld/
-
website idea: Online scrapbook: http://sb1.everydayexplorer.com/
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Quote:
"Sixty
years ago, I knew everything; now I know nothing; education
is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance." — Will
Durant
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Please
feel free to forward this to anyone who may be interested.
Please forward in it's entirety.
If
you'd like to be added to the Oklahoma Homeschool Newsletter
mailing list, please email back with "Subscribe"
in the subject line, along with your city and state or country
and how long you have homechooled.
COPYRIGHT
NOTICE: This newsletter is ©Copyright
2007 by Cindy Downes. All rights reserved.
PRIVACY
POLICY. Your name and email address will always remain
completely confidential. I do not sell, loan, or share any
subscriber or customer information for any reason. Your information
will never be used for any purpose other than delivery of
my e-newsletter and to occasionally inform you of updates
to http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com.
If
you want to be removed from this mailing list, please
send a blank email with the word "unsubscribe" in
the subject line.
Have
a great day!
Cindy
Cindy
Downes
OKLAHOMA HOMESCHOOL
Website: http:www.oklahomahomeschool.com
Email: cindy@oklahomahomeschool.com
Blog: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/EmptyNestMom
Have
you seen The Checklist? It's
an assessment tool, lesson planner and K-12 Recordkeeper created
for Christian Home Educators: http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/checklist.html
Oklahoma
History Online is
now available! Check it out at: http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/okhist.html
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