Science Naturally {A Review}

A fun way to fit in science, one minute at a time.

Science Naturally

The Essentials - What you need to know 

• Company: Science Naturally
• One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve with Science
• Ages 8-12
• Soft bound book.
• Cost: $9.95

The Review 

One Minute Mysteries: 65 More Short Mysteries You Solve with Science is such a fun book.  It reminds me, in every good way, of the Encyclopedia Brown mysteries I loved as a kid.

This book is a great way to wake up the mind, foster curiosity and promote discussion.  All of the mysteries are a page or less in length with the solution and a photo illustration on the back of the page.  There are a wide variety of science topics including , life, earth, space, general, physical and chemical.  In addition there are five bonus mysteries and five bonus math mysteries.  Each mystery is a mystery first.  What I mean is there is not anything that says "We are going to learn about geysers" but rather the book tells a quick, fun tale of hot hikers and the answers tell why walking in a geyser's mist would not cool them down.  The smaller sized paperback is nice to throw into a bag to take along, whether to the grocery, the beach or on a road trip across the country.

We used this as a warm up to Science, and on a couple of occasions to our day. It was a nice way to limber up the brain.   Zippy would read aloud the mystery then we would take a couple of minutes to discuss how the problem might be solved. The book relies exclusively on prior knowledge. This is fun because all the mysteries are believable real life scenarios. Sometimes Zippy knew the answer straight away because she had the scientific knowledge. One mystery in particular, dealt with whales, a subject she studied in depth earlier in the year. Sometimes she could puzzle out the answer. She would know the how but not the why. Sometimes she did not know the answer at all. There were lots and lots of "I wonder" and "ah ha" moments.

The thing that I personally liked was the good writing and the names. There are so many fabulous and culturally diverse names. One mystery  was about Amir and Hakim. When I was a substitute teacher in the public school I had lots of Amirs in the classroom. This mystery came alive for me because I could picture the boys puzzling through their problem. Zippy even found her brother's name, which was fun.

I would recommend this book to homeschool families of all ages. Not only does this make a nice science time book, but it also is a great jumping off point for some stimulating dinner conversation. I would also recommend this to regular classroom teachers. A minute mystery would be an appropriate jump start for the beginning of class or a time filler at the end of class. I would most especially recommend this for substitute teachers. When I did sub regularly I was always looking for quick, interesting things to with the kids. This book definitely fits that bill.

Weekly Round Up - with the dead battery

Woke up this morning to find my computer battery dead.  Now seeing if there might be a different way to blog without a computer.

Guess What We Did Yesterday

Or Plastic Surgery at 12 Or Why I am glad we are homeschooling.

Yesterday's procedure  was some time in the making.  In the first year of life there appeared on Zippy's pinky finger a something, we argued about whether it was a mole or blood blister.  It was a mole, and not a particularly big one.  A few months ago I noticed it wasn't so little anymore, and it was kinda funky looking. I asked at her annual physical if it might be an issue.  I was thinking cancer. 

They referred us to a dermatologist who referred us to a plastic surgeon.  Why a plastic surgeon?   The littlest finger does not have a whole lot of skin, and this is huge.  The chance that Zippy would need a skin graft was likely.  No one thinks that it is cancer, but it will be biopsied just to be sure.  We had a consultation with the plastic surgeon and a surgery date was scheduled.  We went through the University of Michigan Hospitals for this one.  They are very good and I am pleased with everything they have done. 

Plastic Surgery at 12

The procedure was outpatient and only took a few hours.  Ivy was sedated so I got to sit out in the waiting room.  I was reminded why I do not watch daytime television and was extraordinarily grateful for my smart phone and Pinterest. Zippy did have the skin graft and in the end her hand looks like this:

According to Zippy it looks worse than it is, she is almost no pain and has only taken a couple of Motrin.  This lovely dressing stays on for a week, then she gets it removed and a different dressing goes on.  All told it will take a little more than a month to completely heal.  She can't get it wet, she can't write, and she can't ride her bike for at least a couple of weeks.  

Why I am glad that we homeschool

During this whole process the question came up a lot: so where do you go to school?  I cringed, waiting for the disapproval and condemnation when I or Zippy answered with homeschool.  Mostly it was met with relief or happiness because they did not have schedule around school.  For the several appointments we worked on schoolwork before or after, in the evening if we had to.  She gets a couple of days off, but even today she said she wanted to do a little school because her pain is not so great.  The mole was on her right pinky, she is right handed.  This would be a problem for traditional school, but no biggie for us.  She do most of her work orally until her hand is healed.  She can use her left hand for some computer related things.  In some cases we will be working together, her telling me what she needs to write down.  The flexibility of homeschooling is allowing us to take this in stride, before summer.  Yay.

Spanish for You Fiestas {A Review}

Fun Spanish Unit Study

Spanish for You - Fiestas 

The Essentials - What you need to know

• Company: Spanish for You
• Fiestas (check out a sample)
• Grades 3-8
• Spanish curriculum based on the Fiesta (celebrations) theme.  There is a digital download (pdf and mp3 files) and soft bound book.
• The whole set (grades 3-8) cost $64.95.  Two grade set (either 3/4, 5/6, or 7/8) cost $39.95, extra books cost $12.95

 Review

This is a fun way to learn Spanish.  There are three sets available Fiestas, Estaciones and Viajes.  We reviewed Fiestas.  All of our material was digitally downloaded, but if you purchase the product you will get a soft bound book with digitally downloaded support material.   I wish that we had had the book.  There are five different components to the curriculum, the book, worksheets, audio, lesson guide, and flashcard pictures. 

The lesson guide is laid out four days in a week, about four weeks to a lesson.   It gives detailed instruction on precisely what is done each day.  Each of the five lesson covered a Hispanic celebration including birthdays, Day of the Dead, Carnival, Holy Week and April Fair.  I really liked that in addition to learning the language, Zippy got a taste of Hispanic culture as well.  There is also a mini lesson on colors and numbers right at the beginning. 

The beginning of the student book is full of great ideas for learning. There are thirteen ideas on how to use flashcards and lots of fun educational game ideas.   There is also two pages briefly describing the celebrations.  Each lesson is broken into small bite sized pieces with lots of fun games along the way.  Zippy's favorite activity was making her own flashcards and doing the games that required drawing.  She loves art and this was an easy way not only to learn Spanish but also indulge her artistic nature.  

Flash cards are not the only way to learn in Spanish for You Fiestas.  There are worksheets that help the students practice new words and phrases.  Each worksheet pdf file contains both the worksheet and the answer key.  There are MP3 files with the download.  When learning a language it is so important to hear it.  The audio adds an extra dimension to the learning experience. They are used extensively throughout the lessons We really enjoyed learning how to sing Happy Birthday in Spanish.  It is great to add a new song to our repertoire of birthday favorites.     

This was a great experience for both Zippy and I.  It was easy to implement, interesting and fun.  It only took about 20 - 30 minutes a day.  The bit of Hispanic culture was interesting and informative.  

I for I-Pad Apps

Top six iPad apps for tots and tweens.

Little Dude's Top Three iPad apps

1. Tea Party by Toca Boca   Cost $2.99, but there is an An open ended game that allows the child choices of table cloth, beverage, food and other things.  We love all the games by Toca Boca.  When I am in need of a diversion for the Little Guy this is my go-to game.  He can play this for an hour.  His big sister can play with him too.

2. Letter School - Cost $2.99 but there is a free Lite Version This is the Little Dude's new favorite game, but it isn't a game.  It is learning how to write letters.  He loves it.  There are so many fun surprises as the child identifies and learns to write his letters. There are three letter sets and two levels that lead the child to greater and greater independence in writing.  

3. Fish School by Duck Duck Moose Cost - $1.99 Another app that allows the child to play around with the alphabet, numbers and colors too.  It also has nice music, a plus for mom.

Zippy's Top Three iPad apps

1. Mittens by Disney  Cost $.99 (there are also optional in game purchases).  The user has to get the cat from point A to point B.  Lots of problem solving and physics.  

2. Where's My Water by Disney Cost $.99  (there are also optional in game purchases).  Another physics based game, the user solves water based problems. 

3. Candy Crush by King Cost Free (there are optional in game purchases).  This is a math them up game.  Lots of different kind of puzzles based on the match three.  There are several kinds of goals.  Really addictive, we all are playing this in our free time.  

I am blogging through the alphabet with Marcy over at Ben and Me. 

Mother's Day

Papa's Pearls {A Review}

A jewel of a book that shares some of life's lessons

Papa's Pearls by Diane Flynn Keith

The Essentials - What you need to know

•  Papa's Pearls, A Father's Gift of Love and Wisdom to His Children and Grandchildren. 
• A thin, softbound book that is easy to read with ample story and wisdom.
• $14.97

I've decided to write my review as a letter to the author. It just seemed right after reading this fantastic book.

The Review

Dear Mrs. Flynn Keith,

I've just finished your book, Papa's Pearls.  I am delighted.  It was easy to read and pulled me in at the first chapter.  I am so glad that you included a picture of your Papa on the dedication page.  When I first picked up the book it was just a picture.  By the time I finished the book he was a person and I am glad to know his face as well as his character.  The book is as much biography as it is how to live because, I think, your Papa showed how to live by living and you tell his story beautifully.

I was drawn in the first chapter by the story of a depression era kid and the lessons he learned.  Some of the description in the story reminded me vividly my husband's Grandpa who is still telling stories of his youth at age 96.  I love that you do not camp on the pearls of wisdom that are at the top of each chapter, rather you draw them out, telling the story of the saying, how he used it and how it was a force in your Papa's life. 

As a business woman myself, I am always on the lookout for shrewd advice from successful people on how to run mine.  I poured over the sections where you dealt with your Papa's business practices and advice.  It made me turn inward to examine my own attitudes and practices.  So many of the pearls were ones to think about.  I like that they were not cliche, but rather truly nuggets of wisdom that prompted thought and reflection.

The best thing about this book is how you put your Papa's positive attitude and love front and center.  My favorite pearl of the book is "I love you. You know that, right?" It reminded me that I need to verbalize my love for my own children.  All of the wonderful references in the book are ones to plant and let grow.  I was especially impressed how positive thinking, prevalent in so many of the pearls of wisdom, had an impact on your father's life.  Importantly he did not spend his life wishing and dream, but worked really hard.  

This books has so many possible applications for homeschool and I appreciate that you are a homeschool mom.  Each chapter contains life lessons that prompt writing and discussion.  I am always on the lookout for short, interesting, quality stories that my daughter can use for reading comprehension.  Your book is simply brimming with short vignettes of your Papa's life.  It can also be a jumping off point to remember and write our own stories.  Your Papa, the plumber, reminds me of my own Grandpa, now passed, who was a butcher.  I cannot smell raw meat and cheese without thinking of my Grandpa's butcher shop.  I don't know that I've shared his stories with my own children.  This prompted me to do so.

Thank you so much for sharing the life of your Papa.  As Father's Day is on the horizon, I am recommending this book to my family, friends and readers.