Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Black Bean Chili


Nothing can have a better start than bacon, can it? As you may know, I love cooking with beans, and I recently got a great deal on some dry black beans. (Clearance shelf at Safeway!) So I cooked them up using my usual overnight method, and froze them in bags. Having that all done made this a quick and easy soup to assemble. My hubby declared it one of his new favorites. *score!*

Ingredients:
1/2 pound bacon
1 onion
1/4 cup flour (or corn meal if gluten free)
1 quart of black beans fully cooked and frozen (or 3 cans from the store)
1 quart frozen sweet corn (or 2 cans creamed corn)
1 can diced tomatoes with green chilies 
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 Tbs salt
2 tsp cumin
4-6 cups water
cheese or  sour cream to garnish

In a large kettle: brown bacon over med heat, and when crispy, remove bacon and set aside. In bacon fat, cook the diced up onion until opaque. Add flour and mix until all grease is absorbed and flour begins to brown a little. Add beans, seasonings, corn, and tomatoes, mixing well after each addition to blend with the flour. Add 4 cups water. Return to boil and then turn down to simmer. Ladle about half of the mixture into a blender and process until smooth. Return to pot. Add remaining 2 cups of water as needed for desired "soupiness". Simmer at medium heat for 20 minutes. Just before serving, crumble the bacon back in, and garnish with cheese or sour cream.

Linked:


The Chicken Chick



©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Monday, April 29, 2013

G is for Graduations

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy. *

This photo is a treasure to me. When I graduated with my associates degree, my grandfather was able to present me with my diploma. He had been a professor at that same school years before, and they invited him to do the honors. It was a special day.

I have my associates degree in business and accounting. When I attended my Doula training in Philadelphia, they asked what my major was. . . The response: "You were really running from this calling weren't you?!" :)

If I went back to school now, I don't know if I'd go for elementary ed. for teaching my kids, nursing for more Doula knowledge, or finish my business degree. Even so, I'm sure I've learned more in life than I ever did in school.

My, then-fiancee / now-husband, took this photo:

Grandpa Virgil, me, and Grandma Bettie


Over the next several weeks we have many graduation related events to attend. There will be a pinning ceremony, several graduations, and receptions. Nearly two or three every weekend. My head is spinning. I've been surfing pinterest to find grad gift ideas. The year I graduated from college, a family from our church gave me a copy of Stepping Heavenward by E. PRENTISS. It is a fictional diary of a young girl all through her life as she grows in the knowledge of the Lord. This book was a complete hit with me, and spoke into my life in so many ways. It has become my go-to grad gift for girls. I'm still looking for a good gift book for boys, so it may hay have to be gift cards for now. :)

So what is your favorite grad gift to give?

Linked:
Blogging Through the Alphabet
©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com *This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy. *

Friday, April 26, 2013

Adventure in Kansas City: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art



We recently had the joy of visiting Kansas City, MO, for three days. While Ben was in work meetings, the kids and I explored the city. My only requirement for our outings were that they would be free and educational. It turned out that Kansas City has plenty to offer in either realm!

One of our favorite stops was the The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. As an art museum, this place is amazing, and that it was free was mind-boggling. The only cost was the parking garage, and that was well worth the $5 to walk right in and be greeted by the friendly staff. No walking blocks to arrive, and since we went during bad weather, the garage parking was an even greater blessing.

The first thing we did was visit the coat check. Yes, my kids are easily entertained. After checking Wyatt's coat, we went to the information desk, where we checked out free iPods to listen to the audio tour. They gave each of the kids one, and a headset. It was on a lanyard so we couldn't break it, and whenever we had troubles operating the unit, a nearby security guard was always helpful to figure it out. (Yes, we took advantage of this multiple times. lol!)

The museum had art collections spanning from ancient art to modern. It really covered it all. Categories included:
  • African
  • American
  • American Indian
  • Ancient
  • Chinese
  • Decorative Arts
  • European
  • Japanese
  • Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park
  • Modern & Contemporary
  • Photography
  • Prints
  • South & Southeast Asian
We spent the greatest time in the European collection, but really enjoyed it all. When the kids got a bit tired of being quiet and peacefully studying the galleries, we took a breather and walked around a bit on the grounds to see the sculpture park. Due to a late season snow storm we couldn't see much, but we really enjoyed seeing up close the Shuttlecocks and The Thinker

I wanted at first to name each of our favorite works. . . but there were too many. If I lived in Kansas City, I would be at this museum on a very regular basis, just to drink it all in. As it was, a day was not enough. My recommendations: 
  • Try and clear out a whole day for this one. We were there about 1/2 hour after it opened, and left only 15 minutes before the museum closed. We could have easily spent more time and still not have seen it all. 
  • Pack a lunch. Especially if the weather is nice, a picnic on the grounds is a great idea. We just took a break at our van and ate. We discovered the ipods still had a wifi signal there, and we listened to more audio tour clips while we ate. 
  • Wear good shoes. Lots of beautiful marble floors are not forgiving to the feet after a whole day. 
  • When you pick up your audio tour, grab several of the family gallery guides. They have fun activities for kids to complete in each gallery as well as extra info on exhibits and recommended reading lists.
This was a great day for us, and we hope to go again! With a price-tag of free, there's no reason not to whenever we are in Kansas city. 




©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Frugal Tip: Make your own Sour Cream


This past week I tried something new, home made sour cream. Because I trust the dairy where I obtained my raw milk, I had no trouble souring the cream right on my counter top. For really good instructions on the how and why of home-made sour cream. Please visit this link. :) I couldn't say it better myself, so I won't. (Plus, I'm no expert!) I will say this, the sour cream was SO easy, and so yummy, I will not be buying sour cream at the store again.

How is this frugal? Considering I pay $4 for my milk, and get about a quart of cream each time, I paid about $1 for my quart of sour cream. Generally, a pint of sour cream costs about $2 on a good sale, so I saved 75% making it myself.

Don't have access to raw milk or cream? I tried this one from allrecipes, and it worked just fine. It just didn't taste as yummy as the sour cream from raw. I will use that pint for baking. :)

Wondering what to bake with sour cream? Here's a favorite one from my grandma:


Linked:

Frugal Family 2013 

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Homeschool Snow Days


So, everyone knows homeschoolers do school in their PJ's. Actually we don't very often. But another thing that makes us different (as if we weren't before... lol), is that we take our snow days differently. Two of the last weeks we have had late spring snow storms. One was pretty severe, but both left us with a good bit of snow. Thank you Lord for moisture!!!!

So as the snow fell I made cookies and hot chocolate for those coming in from frigid chores. And then I got out the school books. No sense going out in a blizzard, so we had better do school! Every day we would check the school closings, and then get out our books. Then the day came: the public schools were open! The roads were clear, and the good sledding hill was DESERTED. Then we took a snow day!




©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Monday, April 22, 2013

Review: Math Rider

We have had the pleasure of receiving a free download of Math Rider: Math Facts Game for review. This game retails for $47 for a lifetime copy, which includes free updates for life. This program is ideal for children in grades 2nd-6th, but even my K and 1st grader were able to use it.

 photo mathriderlogo_zps7d664106.jpg

When I heard about this program, I was unfamiliar with it. I went to the website and downloaded a free trial version (a one week key). We had so much fun with it I knew we would love to review it. We received a one year key for our review, but if you were to buy it, you would receive a lifetime copy.

This is a fun game with a very straightforward set up. It allows children to practice math facts by "mastering" each level. There are 4 levels for each of the 4 functions:
     photo mathrider-product-box-v5-200x209_zpsf141caec.jpg
  1. Addition facts, numbers 0-5
  2. Addition facts, numbers 0-10
  3. Addition facts, numbers 0-12
  4. Addition facts, master level (only unlocked after you master the first 3 levels)
  5. Subtraction facts, numbers 0-5
  6. Subtraction facts, numbers 0-10
  7. Subtraction facts, numbers 0-12
  8. Subtraction facts, master level (only unlocked after you master the first 3 levels)
  9. Multiplication facts, numbers 0-5
  10. Multiplication facts, numbers 0-10
  11. Multiplication facts, numbers 0-12
  12. Multiplication, master level (only unlocked after you master the first 3 levels)
  13. Division facts, numbers 0-5
  14. Division facts, numbers 0-10
  15. Division facts, numbers 0-12
  16. Division facts, master level (only unlocked after you master the first 3 levels)
At the beginning of each level is a short story about the quest you are on. The stories include adventurous reasons why you are riding your horse on this journey, including:
  • Your mother is sick and needs a magical flower to heal her.
  • The elves have lost a magical jewel and you must return it.
  • A princess has been taken captive and you have to deliver a message to her father, the king.
  • After you complete all of these with 100% proficiency, you can take on the master level with a surprise ending.
To achieve mastery, you go on a series of rides along the quest of each level. There are hurdles for your horse, and by answering the math question on each hurdle, you can jump it. Not only answering correctly before reaching the hurdle, but also by shortening the time in which you type your answer, you show improvement in mastering the facts. If you miss a question the game adapts and brings the math fact around again until you get it right. Here's a video which shows what I'm talking about:



How we used it:

All four of my kids created accounts in the program. Each player can create a password and can log in or out. By having separate accounts, the game can track each player's mastery and response time, and show the amount of improvement. The kids played it almost every school day, after finishing their math lessons. I used it as a kind of incentive.

Tyler started out in the division facts, since that is where he is in school. Emma started working in the addition level 0-12. Mayda was working on addition and subtraction in the easier levels. Wyatt worked on the lowest level for addition. Since he is in kindergarten, and had only recently learned basic math, I was impressed at how easy it was for him to understand the controls and play the game well.

I also created an account for myself and played the game all the way through. Of course, I had to do this for the benefit of you, my reader, so I could give a thorough review. The gratification of beating the game was only a side benefit. ;) While you can start out at any level, I quickly learned that the best approach for anyone of any age is to start at the lowest level and progress upward only when you have finished a quest with 100% mastery of that level. Mastery was reflected as not only correct scores but also speed in answering. As I went, I earned little tokens of reward on my home screen for each 100% I completed.

The statistics screen was my favorite feature. I was able to track how much the kids had increased in proficiency. Overall, in just a few weeks:

  • Tyler increased in his addition proficiency by 28%, and increased in his division proficiency by 39%
  • Emma increased in her addition proficiency by 23%
  • Mayda increased in her addition proficiency by 49% and her subtraction proficiency by 28%
  • Wyatt increased in his addition proficiency by 38%
  • Even I increased in my proficiency of all four functions by and average of 22%

What I liked:


  • The statistics it compiles.
  • The lovely graphics. This is a quality game, no cheesy graphics or quirks.
  • The challenge it is for all grades.
  • The simple controls that do not complicate the game.
  • The reward system.
  • The difference a mastery of all functional combinations of 0-12 can make in math.
  • The way the game adapts to the players needs.

What I didn't like:


  • Magical elements to all of the stories, including: unicorns, elves, sorcerers, and dragons.
  • The pressure for better and faster times is pretty intense, and some of my kids didn't respond well to that.

Bottom Line:

This is a fun game that can easily help kids memorize their math facts quickly. It is easy to use, adapts to their needs, and rewards kids for mastering a function. There are magical elements to the story-line I don't appreciate, but the kids and I talked about those things and moved on, since the were only just part of the story, and not part of the game-play. I think all of my kids benefited from trying out Math Rider. Even I benefited from trying it out, having facts I knew, now on "rapid recall."

Be sure to read other reviews of Math Rider here:

Photobucket

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com


 photo DisclaimerGraphic1_zpsf612f371.gif



*Prices and links are accurate at the time this is published, and are subject to change.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Chickens in the Bible

I looked, they are in there. :)




Matthew 23:37"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing."



Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary23:34-39 Our Lord declares the miseries the inhabitants of Jerusalem were about to bring upon themselves, but he does not notice the sufferings he was to undergo. A hen gathering her chickens under her wings, is an apt emblem of the Saviour's tender love to those who trust in him, and his faithful care of them. He calls sinners to take refuge under his tender protection, keeps them safe, and nourishes them to eternal life. The present dispersion and unbelief of the Jews, and their future conversion to Christ, were here foretold. Jerusalem and her children had a large share of guilt, and their punishment has been signal. But ere long, deserved vengeance will fall on every church which is Christian in name only. In the mean time the Saviour stands ready to receive all who come to him. There is nothing between sinners and eternal happiness, but their proud and unbelieving unwillingness.


Scripture and Snapshot

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Friday, April 19, 2013

Adventure in Portland: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

As part of our series, Adventure Fridays, we will be exploring low cost educational adventures for families all across the country. Read here about  the series, and we hope you join us here every Friday! 

Today I am pleased to host my friend, Gwen, as she shares about their recent field trip to OMSI. You can find Gwen writing over at Feed the Fish... Walk the Blog. I have always admired her writing, and was pleased as punch when she agreed to share this with us!

~~~~~~~~



Smiddy left on a week-and-a-half business trip Friday morning, and I decided to take the kids on an adventure in an effort to get the time without him off to a good start.  Since we’ve just moved to the Pacific Northwest, everything is new to us, so I asked a homeschooling mom her advice on the best thing to do in Portland.  She suggested OMSI: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

OMSI is located in downtown Portland, right on the river.  Between the GPS and lots of signs, we found our way with no problem.  Admission was quick…and would have been expensive, had it not been for my reciprocating pass.

One of the best investments we make is an annual membership to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science and a family membership to the Riverside Zoo in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.  While we might not visit either of these locations more than once in any given year (especially now that we live in Oregon), both have good reciprocation programs.  Many museums and zoos participate in a reciprocating program, which means discounted rates when we visit them.  (Check the website of each museum or zoo to find out which, if any, program it participates in.)

We chose to do the regular admission and spring for passes to the current exhibit, Mythbusters.  We debated between Mythbusters and the submarine tour, but finally decided that while the submarine will always be available, Mythbusters is a temporary exhibit, and we wanted to see it while we could.  Three students and one adult cost me $22, a $39 saving off the published price.

OMSI is laid out in two perpendicular wings that intersect at the admissions desk.  It took me a while to figure this out, and for the first couple of hours I was a little disappointed in the small size of the museum, as I perceived it.  Once we figured out that we had only toured half, I felt a lot better about the value for my dollar.

The first wing we hit housed the temporary Mythbusters exhibit, which was loud and crowded.  It didn’t hold a lot of true educational value (in my oh-so-esteemed opinion), but did have some fun activities. For instance, we graphed the probability of toast falling on the floor butter-side-up using a variety of methods to knock it to the floor, tried to pull a tablecloth out from under dishes without upsetting them, and attempted to change into a super-hero outfit in a telephone booth within the space of 60 seconds.

At the end, there was a demonstration on response times, and I wound up standing on stage with two other adults, hoping that I would have the slowest response time so I wouldn’t have to try to dodge a speeding paintball.  They did a good job of explaining responses, formed a hypothesis, tested it, and recorded the results.

The remainder of the first wing was so-so, in my opinion.  One section focused on the energy industry, while the other was based on healthy living.  After finding a spot for our carry in snack, we headed over to the second wing.  This portion of the museum had a large main room with various small exhibits and smaller rooms off to the side, each based on various elements of chemistry and physics.  It was in this wing that we spent the bulk of our time. We learned about 3-D printers; we played in a room that had hoses, vacuums and balls with targets to shoot at and paths to create; we learned about water and air pressure while shooting off water rockets; we learned about electricity in the physics lab.  Highlights included using a double pendulum to draw some pretty nifty designs and working with a museum volunteer to discover the effect of changing air pressure on marshmallows.

We didn’t see every exhibit in our six hours at OMSI, but we left excited to return and check out the submarine and revisit our favorite  attractions from the day.


Tips:


  • Check into reciprocating programs.  If you visit a lot of museums and/or zoos, the price of an annual membership at one location will save lots of bucks for future visits at that location and others.
  • Bring a lunch.  No one wants to shell out even more money for pricey eats, but you also want to get your money’s worth out of the visit and not have to leave after just a couple of hours. Most places have a “sack-lunch” area where you can spread out your picnic and make it part of the adventure.
  • Pay attention to the time of year.  We hit OMSI on a Friday morning in the spring, which is prime field trip season.  The Mythbusters exhibit was overrun in the morning, but the crowd thinned out towards afternoon.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gwen Griffiths (known as Thora on her blog) has been given the blessing of serving beside her husband in ministry, as well as raising and educating their three children. Over the past sixteen years, they lived in Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Kansas--before following God's direction to move to Oregon, where they serve with Village Missions. Gwen loves this journey and is thankful for all of the things the family has learned along the way.

Thanks Gwen! Join us next week in Kansas City, and be sure to dig out your field trip posts, because it's a link up! Details here.

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Spring Cleaning on the Farm


"Every spring I dream of deep cleaning my house. . . as I tug on my muck boots and hit the back door. That's ok, dust is just part of life here in Nebraska. The furniture wouldn't know how to survive without it. "


Today I'm the guest over at Homemaking Organized. I couldn't be more excited! My name, and something titled "organized", in one place. It's really too much! :)

So head over there to read my 7 day plan to getting the farm-yard ready for spring. I promise, there are lots of lovely farm-y pictures too.  <3

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Ever Present Help


Today, a day of excitement and joy for those running the Boston Marathon, turned into a day of fear and pain, in the blink of an eye. My first thoughts were: But God is there.

We ask, "How could this happen?" People tweet "What is wrong with our country?" We rage about the fear that has taken up residence in our lives. Don't we know half of the world lives with this every day? Of the 10,283 terrorist attacks (worldwide) in 2011, more than 95% of them happened in the Eastern Hemisphere. This same day there was a new story about the American Pastor Saeed's declining health due to increasing beatings at his prison.

And the storm clouds gather on the horizon.

Where is God when we are hurting? Afraid? Terrorized?

He is there. Ever Present. Nothing surprises Him. He knows the pain and damage this sin-war causes. And he longs for us to run to Him, our Helper and Refuge in times like these. 

I've seen a quote circulating today:

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words, and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers--so many caring people in this world."
From The World According to Mister Rogers

The comfort to look for on days like today, is to see the helpers. The ever-present help that is our God. The refuge.
Psalm 46
1 God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Monday, April 15, 2013

Boast in the Lord!

The other day I was having attitude problems. So of course I wrote about it. :) Today, I'm writing as a guest over on the FFS blog.

Would you be so gracious and click here to read how the Lord worked in the most amazing way to get my attention off of. . .  *ahem*  me? What does it have to do with a frog? Well, you'll have to click through to see!

Our God is amazing, and to give Him glory for how He works in our lives, Anne Marie has invited us to  "Boast in the Lord" over on her blog:


Sunday, April 14, 2013

Newborn Babes

I Peter 2:2b-3 "...like a newborn baby, desire the pure milk of the word. Nourished by it, you will grow into salvation, since you have tasted that the Lord is good."


These are Mayda's kittens, which her cat, Fluffy, hid under the summer coop the week before our blizzard. I went out in the snow at 11 pm that night and discovered that the snow was blowing under the coop and momma cat and babies were covered in snow. So I crawled under there (holding a flashlight in my mouth) and brought them all in the house to keep warm. We've enjoyed having kittens in the house. :) More snow projected, so they will have to stay in for a bit.
Scripture and Snapshot

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Friday, April 12, 2013

Homeschool Adventures: join us?

Welcome to the launch of a new weekly series,
Adventures Fridays: when learning hits the road!

For the next several Fridays, for as long as I have material to cover, we will be exploring one of my favorite aspects of homeschooling. . . the flexibility to take it with you, and to bring your kids the world. Why Fridays? We schedule our school week so Friday is our day for wiggle room. If all goes well it's a day of adventure and field trips. If it's a bad week, it's a make up day.

Over the past several years of homeschooling, we have had the opportunity to see and visit many wonderful places. Sometimes this means being able to go along on daddy's work trip without missing any school, taking in a major city while visiting family for a wedding, or just taking a day off to be a tourist in our own town. Either way, this is the best part of this education we share, the flexibility to go and do like no one else. The hardest part is the budget, so I'm going to endeavor to share low or no cost adventures in a variety of cities.

Want to come along? Great! Meet us here every Friday! My friends and I will be sharing our adventures here. Have a low cost adventure in your favorite city to share? Contact me (via the tab above) with your idea, and we'd love to host you! I'm always looking for guest authors. Please submit your idea for a, yet unpublished, piece, and I will get the details to you about scheduling.

Finally, we on the last Friday of each month, we will host a link up. You can share any blog post you've written about a field trip in  the past year. I only ask:

  • That it be low or no cost, and homeschool family friendly.
  • That you include the community graphic (Adventure Fridays Button seen on the right) in your post.
  • And that you title your link with the City/Region name so we can quickly find your post when we want to visit that place!


First stop, Portland! Thanks to my friend, Gwen. See you there next week!




©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Review: Supercharged Science

 photo science_zps3636642f.jpgOver the past month we have enjoyed an online subscription to Supercharged Science's program E-Science, which costs $37 per month for K-8, or $57 per month for access to K-12th grade programs of study. While I don't have any kids in the 8-12th grades, I was given access to all grades for the evaluation and it was great to see the caliber of work available on all levels.

"Aurora [Lipper] is creator of the curriculum and teaches 80% of the material herself.  Here's some quick background on her:
Aurora is a real rocket scientist.  She worked for NASA, has designed rockets, has 3 patents for her inventions, holds a graduate degree in mechanical engineering, did PhD work at Stanford University, has taught on the faculty of Cal Poly University (she was the youngest faculty member ever hired by the Mechanical Engineering dept.), has taught K-12 science to well over 10,000 kids, is a licensed pilot, and currently serves as president of the California Central Coast Astronomical Society.  AND, she is a stay-at-home mom to our 4 kids."
~ Al Lipper, Director & CEO
This was pretty impressive to me, and I was excited to be working with a family-run company. You can tell that science is their passion, and Aurora has a talent for communicating her passion. Her teaching style immediately appealed to my children. We just couldn't wait to get started. You can get better acquainted with Supercharged Science on their Homeschool Blog.

We utilized this mainly with Tyler and Emma ( who are in 5th and 4th grade), but often found that Mayda and Wyatt wanted to join in, and often could. Some of the experiments and projects were noted to be geared for 9th grade and up or included special instructions on how to expand an experiment for this older age group. But other than that, this program provides the information in a one-size-fits-all kind of way.

 photo escience-full-600px_zps738b5d59.jpgThis online program includes over 900 science experiment videos and 2,000+ pages of lesson plans.  It is an online science lab with everything you need to explore a comprehensive list of science disciplines:
  • An introduction to the Scientific Method
  • Mechanics
  • Motion
  • Matter
  • Energy (2 units)
  • Sound 
  • Astrophysics
  • Chemistry (2 units)
  • Light 
  • Electricity
  • Magnetism
  • Alternative Energy
  • Thermodynamics
  • Electronics
  • Life Science (2 units)
  • Biology (2 units)
  • and Earth Science (coming soon)
A regular subscription unlocks the first several units, and then each month more units are unlocked. If a subscriber needs access to a unit not yet unlocked, a simple email can usually get that worked out. Each unit has an introductory video and lessons plans, and is broken down into 2 to 6 lessons ( usually 3 or 4). Each lesson further consists of:
  1. Highlights: an overview of that lesson, so you know the key concepts.
  2. Reading: textbook material to take the concept as in-depth as you need. (online or pdf format)
  3. Experiments and Videos: several fun experiments to illustrate the text. Each with a supply list, instructions, and an in-depth video. 
  4. Exercises: quiz sheets (and answers), so you can check what your students absorbed. (online format)
During the review period we used the program two different ways. First as a supplement to our current science curriculum, and then we used it as a stand-alone program.

This program can be used in conjunction with whatever curriculum you are currently using. They even offer a spreadsheet to match up the Study Units with the syllabus of many commonly used science curriculum. Our curriculum wasn't on the list, but I found it easy to match up with units, since the one we are using is quite deep into one topic, but not very broad into other topics. If we had wanted, they offer to create a syllabus for curriculum not on the list. 

So we spent two weeks doing our regular studies into aquatic life, and matched it up to the lesson plans and experiments in the first Study Unit of Biology, and a bit of the videos in the Life Sciences Unit. We found that the videos/experiments were the main tool that enhanced what we were already studying separately. While the program could be used that way (as a supplement), I don't think that this was how this program really shines. Also, considering the cost of subscription, I don't think it would be practical to pay that much to only use this as a supplement.

The second way I used the program, really the main way to use it, was to use it as a complete curriculum. This program is massive, as broad as it is deep. It hits every learning style: with plenty of reading, plenty of hands-on, and plenty of video. For this period, we worked deeply through the Unit on Matter. It had two lessons: Atoms & Density and Solids. We first watched an introductory video, and then I downloaded the pdf lesson plan for the unit. It was 33 pages and included: a shopping list for the experiments; key vocabulary; a description of the unit; the text of the lessons; instructions and questions for the activities, experiments, and projects; exercises for both lessons; and the answers to the exercises (like a simple quiz sheet). 

Since we were going out of town for the week of Easter, I printed this and took it along. (It would be wonderful if this program came with a mobile app for the videos!) We were easily able to watch the videos and do a couple of the experiments at home before we began studying the unit text. Aurora suggests in the instructions that you should let the kids do a few experiments first, to get them interested.

It's important to explain the way this program is taught is completely inside out, and that is why it seems to work so well. Instead of teaching a concept and illustrating with an experiment, this program asks kids what they are interested in and turns it into a fun experiment. Then the text is there to offer science facts and answer the questions that should naturally follow. 

After a few introductory experiments, we spent a week reading through the text. This took time because the text was pretty in depth and we had to discuss and work through it. After that we watched more of the videos that went along with the unit and did several more experiments. We then talked through the questions and answers at the end of the unit. 

All together it took us almost two weeks to work through the two lessons, but we went pretty in-depth. I think some of the material was a little over their heads, as it would be with any one-size-fits-all program. If you wanted to get through all of the units in a school year, you would not be able to do all of the experiments, but you could hit on the ones that interest your kids best.

Our kids really understood the stuff they saw and tried for themselves. It was awesome to see how excited they were about creating plasma energy in the microwave oven, and so much more. I'm including some pictures of our favorite experiments. Aside from the unit on Matter, we also did experiments that came in the regular emails. We made a hovercraft from a bottle top and a CD. That one was a real hit! 

Since I'm mentioning the emails, I must note that over a period of 5 weeks, we received 20 emails from E-Science. It was a bit much for me, but it did remind me to get the kids online and use the program more. I think I'd prefer to get fewer emails. 

Other features on the Study Units page include:
Science Fair Projects
Mathemagic
Parent Resources
Science E-Camp
When we started using this program I was really interested in the kids creating a science fair project to enter in the science division of our local 4H fair. In this section I found instructions for 8 different fair projects (two of them were for 9th-12th grade). Sadly, none of them fit within the science categories offered through our fair, but they did each cover the basics of how to do a fair project properly from start to finish, and how to make it fun! I hope to adapt that process this summer to still put a project together before fair.

The Parent Resources page was a huge help to me. There we found a fun game you can print and construct for a space version of Monopoly. My kids LOVE monopoly and I had a space game similar to this when I was young, so I'm sure this will be a new favorite here. The Parent page also had links to a Science Activity Manual and Video Series (in 5 parts), a great description of the Universal Troubleshooting Process (UTP), and a Science Experiment Guide.

What I liked:
  • Being able to print the entire Lesson Plan for each Unit.
  • This program covers all the bases very well.
  • Aurora and Al are wonderful teachers, and in the videos you can see that they love science and teaching children.
  • I LOVED that most of the experiments did not require a trip to the store, or a hefty bill from a science supply company. These were everyday items. 
  • This curriculum focuses on observable science and leaves the origins of the earth out of the picture. I never found one item that would conflict with the Biblical worldview we employ in our homeschool.
  • While this is a digital product, it is not dependent on printing a lot of material. I LOVED this. 

What I didn't like:
  • No way to access the files and videos without a computer, it would be great on a laptop or iPad though.
  • The biggest trouble was that if I had not been able to review this, I would have never been able to afford the subscription.
  • It really isn't suited or priced to be a back up for other science curriculum, but it would work ok that way if they offered a cheaper subscription to just the videos or something of that nature. 

Bottom Line:
This science curriculum works best as a stand-alone product, and it really can stand alone. It covers everything needed for a comprehensive science education. The monthly cost is a bit out of my budget for a single subject, although being able to use it for all of my students at once helps to spread the cost. While it is offered for K through 12th, I think I would recommend that a 7-10th grade student to work through this in-depth for about 2 years and would then be completely ready for advanced high school science courses. The inside out way of approaching science, coupled with Aurora's passion for teaching it, makes for a really great product. You can try out a free sample of the program and see if you agree!

For more reviews, visit the rest of the Crew:

Photobucket

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

*Prices and links are accurate at the time this is published, and are subject to change.


 photo DisclaimerGraphic1_zpsf612f371.gif

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

After Hours



Monday night we had a blizzard (and all day Tuesday). Hubby was at work and had to drive home in it. What normally takes him 45 minutes, took him 6 hours. He couldn't see the road and had to just stop for a bit to calm his nerves. There were cars and trucks littering the ditches. He picked up a stranded co-worker and took him home too. Not far from where he works another stranded motorist left her car. She was only a mile from home they say. She never got there. *sigh*

Needless to say I couldn't sleep until he was home. It was a very late night.

Lots of praying. Lots of drop-to-your-knees-where-you-stand kind of praying.
Lots of nervous housework.
Made some awesome cinnamon rolls.
Talked to a friend until the wee hours.

I'm so thankful God brought him home! We have been snowed in for two days. It's hard to believe we were planting the spring garden last week. I will post snow and garden pictures soon, I promise. (Yes, those things go together here in Nebraska).

So what do you do after dark? I really should go to bed. But I don't.

Blessings, Laura

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Monday, April 8, 2013

What are you reading?

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy. *
Today I'm joining on a Blog Cruise called A Good Read. I hope you will join us too! Find out what the crew is currently reading, and comment here about what you are reading too. I'm always looking for a few more good books!



Lately I've had a few books to read for review added to my book pile. It's been a lot of fun getting new books in the mail. Here's a summary of what we are reading, have read, and what we thought of them. I also have some tips for you on how to get more good books without breaking the bank.

The kids and I just finished reading Hilda the Briton, by Emma Leslie, for the TOS Crew. This book was a wonderful historical fiction work, written well over 100 years ago. It follows the story of a girl from ancient Briton, who is taken into slavery in the Roman Empire. Touching on real life characters from the first century Church, it was a delightful adventure. We really recommend this book, as well as the other 11 in that series. Click the link in the title to read my full review.

I just received Papa's Pearls, by Diane Flynn Keith. We are only two chapters into it, but I know we will love this book. Another TOS crew review, I was super impressed that the copy I received was autographed by the author. I'm reading this one aloud to my kids, and they really enjoy the style of storytelling Diane is using. She tells the story of her Father's life in a way that focuses on the life lessons he learned, and how he turned them into "pearls" of wisdom for his family. Look for that review here the first week of May.

I'm also reading Love No Matter What: When Your Kids Make Decisions You Don't Agree With by Brenda Garrison. I got this one through Booksneeze, and it will be my first review for them. This book is about choices our children make as they grow and become more independent, and (more importantly) how we as parents respond to them. While I do not yet have a teen, I know that these issues are just around the corner. I've seen enough to know that believing "I've raised them better than to do that" is plain naivete. I haven't finished the book yet (although I'm close), so the verdict is still out. The author has already made some great points, especially in pointing out how our Heavenly Father loves us.

These are just new newest books on the pile though, as I'm still working through my "To Be Read List". Be sure to check out the full list HERE. 

So, what are you reading? Please share!

Ok, for the frugal tip I'd promised: A good friend put me onto this (thanks B!). I have mentioned before about swapping for free books on Paperback Swap .com. She took it the next level on her smart phone. There are apps (for both Android and iPhones) you can download to link to your PaperbackSwap account. They are able to use your phone camera to scan barcodes of books and see if they are on wishlists of other swappers. She suggested that I use this feature to pick up cheap books for swapping. This past week I was at the library, and they had a "stuff a bag for a buck" fundraiser. I flipped through the shelf, scanning books and checking their "wishing" status. I filled a bag with books I already knew I could "swap" on the site. And since my daughter already has 5 more books picked out to request with those credits, this is a great thing! My only cost? The postage for mailing off the books (usually about $2) and about 10 cents to buy them.


Photobucket
©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy. *

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Considering "Water Lilies"


Luke 12:27-31 
"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."







Linked:
Scripture and Snapshot

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...