Making science come to life!

Life science should include live observations when applicable. Here are some science lessons your child will never forget by making science come to life:

  

*Peak your child’s fascination by planting seeds in a garden to teach your child how plants grow and the different parts of a plant.  

*Witness the magic of biology as tiny larvae bloom into beautiful ladybugs.

*Discover the incredible life cycle of a frog by raising tadpoles.

*Teach the process of metamorphosis with a butterfly kit, and observe how the insects transform into beautiful works of God. After observing your butterflies, experience the joy of releasing them into your backyard.

 

*Experience the timeless classic of an ant farm by getting a glimpse into the amazing underground world of the ant.

 I have used all four of these kits several times with my boys and they love them! I even gave these kits to my nieces and nephews for bithday gifts- very unique!

Fantastic video to prepare for science projects!

Have you ever realized that some of the best educational tools are invented by students themselves? While attending high school, Kevin Temmer noticed how students were dreading science projects, so he decided to do something about it. Since Kevin wanted to encourage others to participate in the science fair and pursue science careers, he created a video that simplifies the scientific process in an engaging, award-winning film. This unique film teaches science project terms right on the children's level and it is entertaining and very funny, too!


Kevin's animation has been featured on several sites including NASA, the National Science Foundation Knowledge Network, National Geographic Kids, PBS Kids, George Lucas Foundation-Edutopia, and Intel's Inspired by Education site.

Kudos to Kevin for inspiring children to love science!

Check out this video now. I guarantee you'll love it!

Kevin Temmer Presents: Prepare for the Science Fair

Enjoy!

A $30.00 FREEBIE from a rocket scientist!

I am thrilled to come home and find in my email an incredible FREEBIE from a rocket scientist!

Aurora Lipper is a NASA rocket scientist, university professor, pilot, and mother. She is dedicated to making science intriguing and fun for children. Aurora has developed science curriculum, Supercharged Science, for schools and homeschoolers.

I have used Aurora Lipper's science curriculum,  Supercharged Science, for the past few years and she has a gift of getting children absolutely hooked on science. Even in the summer months, my kids are completing her projects. I just love it when my kids are learning for fun!

In her freebie, she is offering a complete mini-science learning series, including a workbook with videos explaining the lessons. This is regularly priced $30.00! {CLICK HERE} to instantly access your from Supercharged Science.

Enjoy!

Sensational Science Sites

Here are some of my favorite sites that I continuously learn so much from when looking for science teaching tips.

Steve Spangler Science is created by an author, professional speaker, Emmy Award winner, and science teacher. Steve has such unique and creative ways of teaching science.

More Science Toys

The Futures Channel is an awesome website that shows children how math and science is used in the real world. Parents and teachers can use these video clips to enliven curriculum and give their children an opportunity to see real life jobs. Make sure to bookmark this site because you'll be using it again and again.

Discover how a pinch of curiosity can improve your cooking with the Science of Cooking. Explore recipes, experiments, activities, and Webcasts that will enhance your understanding of the science behind food and cooking. The whole family can learn from this amazing site!

Supercharged Science is created by a NASA Rocket scientist, university professor, pilot and mom. Aurora Lipper is dedicated to making science intriguing and fun for children.

Check out these sites and enjoy making science FUN!

My favorite science books!

Here are my two ABSOLUTE FAVORITE science books for teaching children.

Play and Find Out about the Human Body by Janice VanCleave is just plain awesome!  It has wonderful experiments that are simple and FUN for preschoolers to elementary-age children.

If I had to purchase only one book to use in science ever, this would be the one (and after 20 years of teaching, I have purchased quite a few). It's not Magic, It's Science! by Hope Buttitta teaches science in an entertaining and engaging way that makes concepts stick for elementary children (and even middle schoolers). I just love this book!

Enjoy Science Week!

Fall Art Projects

Hi everyone! Here are some of my favorite fall art projects that I'd like to share with you.


Fall Sponge Painting

Draw a tree trunk with branches on brown construction paper. Cut and glue the tree trunk on white construction paper. Cut out small leaf shapes from a new sponge. Dip the sponges into different Fall colors, and press them on the construction paper with the tree trunk.

Fall Wreath

Trace your child's hands on fall-colored construction paper or thin sheets of colored foam and cut them out. Glue the hands on a large circle. (You can cut out the center of a paper plate for this and leave about an inch thickness around the edges.) Glue decorations such as acorn shapes and a bow, as well as a piece of yarn to use to hang it. This is a keepsake that you can decorate with for years.

Johnny Appleseed Art

Slice an apple in half. Dip the halves into red poster paint, and press them onto white construction paper. Next, paint stems and leaves. For a variation, you can also use yellow and green paint to represent the different colors of apples.

Enjoy!

Play Book Bingo!

This is one of my favorite resources to use to encourage my children to read a variety of books. I even use this in the summer months, too.

 Click on the image to download.

This is from one of my all-time favorite sites- 

www.superteacherworksheets.com

Enjoy!

Art Skills products rock!

I love using Art Skills products and so do my children. Just take a look at some of the fantastic art projects they recently created.

Making sand art 

They thought this was super cool.

Making projects with clay

I had never seen this project before so it was fun to try something new.

AAA Safety Poster Winner- woo hoo!

I am sharing a Mom moment with all of you! My oldest son recently won the AAA Safety Poster Contest for high school. His prize was $750.00, which he used to purchase two laptops- one for himself and one for his brothers. (Yes, he is good about sharing and they really needed one this year for homeschool.) We were all thrilled! Below is his award winning masterpiece. The theme was distracted driving for teens.

Last day to purchase your ticket!

Click on the image above to learn more. 

Hope to see you there!

Build and Grow Program

Look what my boys made this weekend for FREE at Lowe's! My kids have attended the Build and Grow Clinics for almost ten years. They love them!

Here is a photo of my little man. He is so hard to photograph because he's always in perpetual motion.

Just in case you haven't heard of the free workshops that Lowes offers, make sure to {CLICK HERE} for more information. These stores really treat the kids very special with aprons, pins, patches, awards, and even cookies and juice. (FYI- Home Depot has a similar program, too.) Both stores even offer field trips for schools and homeschool groups. Check it out!

Enjoy!

What's your cardboard testimony?

I posted this a few years ago but it is so powerful and encouraging that each time I watch it, it reminds me of God's amazing grace and His incredible love for us. I am not even close to being perfect but I pray that everything I do will bring glory to God. Oh how He loves us even when we don't feel worthy of His love.

Below is my cardboard testimony. ☺

Paragraph Train Freebie

All aboard the Paragraph Train!

I am jumping up and down about this freebie I have for you! I searched for the past year for a paragraph train to help teach my younger children how to write a paragraph. This method of teaching was popular years ago when I taught elementary school and I even used it for my oldest son. But this train supposedly traveled on out of cyberspace. 

So I first panicked and then I took a few deep breaths and enlisted my amazing TBA partner, Leslie from Kindergarten Works, to hook me up.  I still do not know how to create those cutsie lil' printables that so many of you make. Boy, I wish I did! 

Anyways, this is how the paragraph train works. Write one descriptive topic sentence on the engine. Write three detailed topic sentences on the box cars. Write one amazing concluding sentence that wraps up your paragraph on the caboose. After writing your sentences, cut out the train templates and glue them together to make the paragraph train. 

Chugga-chugga choo-choo!

{CLICK HERE} to print the activity.

Enjoy!

Lego Math Activities

To say that my boys are hooked on Legos is really an understatement. We even had a Lego birthday party last year. Here is the cake with Lego candy as proof of their obsession.

So I was very happy to find a FREE E-book that is filled with FUN Lego
learning activities. {CLICK HERE} to download your copy from www.littlebrickschoolhouse.com

Enjoy!

Turn your blog into a book!

I just received a package in the mail yesterday and I am super psyched to share this concept with you!

About two months ago, I wondered if there was a way to print my blog as a personal keepsake. I have posted topics about teaching and my family for over five years and I wanted to have my blog in a hard copy format. I also was worried that if my blog someday would disappear from Blogger by mistake (very unlikely I know but it's a possibility), I would be devastated since I do not save my posts anywhere else. When I tried several times to copy and paste my blog into a word document to bind it myself, it just messed things up and it looked really bad. 

So I did some research. I found a company that provides this service, Blurb, who was very prompt and helpful. BUT, just wait for this, they not only answer my questions, they offered a gift certificate for a giveaway for the readers of the two blogs I have founded- Teaching with TLC and Teaching Blog Addict-AND the amount they offered was incredible! I was super thrilled!

I created my blog book before announcing this giveaway because I do not like to recommend products I have not tried out first. I am completely honest. If if is not high quality, it does not go in a post on my blog. So I attempted to create my book. I did have to enlist my husband to help me out. Many may think I am very techie because I have two blogs, but the opposite is the real truth. I still do not have the skills to upload pictures on my computer yet. ☺

My husband got the book all set up and then I edited it and sent in my order. In my husband's opinion, the program was very easy to work with. I did the editing process and it was simple enough for a nontechnical person like me to figure out, even though it took me awhile. (I am a bit slow with new programs but once I figure them out, I'm all set.) I removed time-sensitive posts, like giveaways, special deals, links to other sites, etc., and I used just the main content of the blog.


When my book arrived yesterday, I was shocked with how nice it was. I love the soft finish of the pages and cover (MUCH better than typical photo books I have ordered from on-line companies.) The pictures were clear and colorful. It was first class all the way!

But the best part of the blog book was I had no idea how emotional it would make me. To see my posts that I have spent hours upon hours writing over five years made into a book was a little overwhelming. I never realized that I have written another book of teaching tips before. This book is more than a nice keepsake that I had originally intended it to be, it is actually a piece of my heart and represents who I am as a mother and educator.

With that being said, I would HIGHLY recommend this product. I just love it!

If you would like to enter the giveaway at Teaching Blog Addict, please {CLICK HERE} to sign up to win a $75.oo gift certificate so you can turn your blog into a book! Good luck!