Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival

It is time for the August edition of the Hands On Homeschool blog carnival!  As the new school year quickly approaches, these entries are sure to inspire you.

Laura Grace Weldon presents Save Moments In A Memory Jar posted at Laura Grace Weldon.

Pamela presents Dinosaurs and Crazy Ladies at Lake Powell as well as Besides the tent posted at Blah, Blah, Blog.

Jen presents Sorting, Matching, and Pattern Fun posted at Frugal Kids.

Nikki presents Finding maths moments.... posted at Our Journey in Him.

Shirley Ann Vels presents New Planner posted at Under An English Sky

And I present Charles, Boyle, Divers, and Balloons posted at At Home Science. Be sure to check out other activities to go with the Science of the Universe middle school physics series by clicking on the Our House tab under the banner.

A great line up considering it is August.  Thank you for letting me be your host this month.  Enjoy!

Hands On Homeschool Carnival

Yes, I've learned how to make screencasts for an online class I am teaching at the college, so I thought I'd have a little fun with the carnival this month.  (BTW, I am teaching my kids, too, so they can make narrated electronic presentations...but more on that if and when it ever happens!)

The carnival this month has a few good ideas to think about as the school year quickly approaches.

This Thursday look to the night skies for learning.  I present Planets and Meteors August 12 posted on At Home Science.

Cheryl has moved to Blogger and her new design looks great!  She presents Preparing Your Hands-On Classroom posted at Talking to Myself.

Also, I have tips for using more maps in your homeschooling and keeping them protected from less-than-gentle-handling in Maps and More Maps! on this blog.

Melissa presents baby bluebird bonanza...well, not really a bonanza...but bluebirds, for sure! posted at Bugs, Knights, and Turkeys in the Yard.

Nadene presents Practice Art In The Frame posted at Practical Pages.

Angie in Ga presents Don't leave it out posted at Live, Love, Learn,.

And finally I present Creativity posted on my hands on nature study blog, A Private Eye Nature.

Enjoy!

Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival

Welcome to the February edition of the Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival! Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, President's Day, and importantly the start of Lent--February is a full month, and so is our carnival!

Ritsumei presents an entry after my own heart, Vinegar! posted at Baby Steps.

Becky presents Rain, With An Occasional Cool and Cloudy Break posted at Wide Open Campus. That bottom picture is just wonderful!

Angie presents Winter Outdoor Hour:Nature Close To Home-Cattails posted at TheOneThing. What fun!

Angie also presents great skill building in #5 Handicrafts/ Life Skills Challenge also posted at TheOneThing.

Angie's been hoppin' and she also presents Fun Friday and Why I Home School posted at TheOneThing. Why do you homeschool? "Why wouldn't you," I say!

Pamela presents Not Kidding... posted at Blah, Blah, Blog. I can see why she's Not Kidding anymore!

Deana presents Make-Your-Own Word Family Review Cards posted at The Frugal Homeschooling Mom. She writes, "Here’s a simple, cheap way to practice rhyming words and word families with your preschooler. It’s also a great way to review phonics. Don’t go out and buy word family review cards at the homeschooling supply store or teacher’s store! It’s so easy to make them yourself." I agree!

On my other blog, I started Journey North Mystery Class project. It's not too late to start as we've only done the first week! Journey North Mystery Class Preparation posted on At Home Science.

Anyone who hosts blog carnivals knows you get a lot of spam. Though this next entry falls into that, it actually has a lot of fun printables for kids so I thought I would include it. Car Color-by-Number Mosaic posted at Printables for Kids. At least it's not a "Top 10 sites for..." whatever site!

Our blog carnival creator, Cherylinma, presents Spaghetti Trestle Bridge posted at Talking to Myself - Homeschool Blogger. Looks like a must try book!

Rachel presents Tips for Moms, Activities for kids by Quirky Mommas » Blog Archive » Using M&Ms to Graph with your Preschooler posted at quirkymomma.com. This is colorful and tasty. It will have your kids asking to do math, lol!

Brenda, now at her new web site, presents Creative Photography posted at Brenda. This is a really great project to do.

This next submission is from DreamBox Learning math program, but it is a homeschooling company and the blog post was about math field trips--two things you don't typically put together! Tracy Beach presents Math Learning Field Trip Ideas for Homeschoolers posted at Math Learning, Fun & Education Blog : Dreambox Learning.

Finally, I have submitted my post about our recent History Fair posted at Science Of Relations.

Enjoy the carnival--I certainly have.

Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival #12

School is back in session for just about everyone now, and our kids are getting busy doing hands-on projects! Here is the place to get inspired.

Cheryl is starting an official mailing list for this Carnival. Please drop her an email...CherylinMa at gmail dot com...if you would like to get a email when a new edition comes out. She's looking for hosts, too!

Let's begin with the many, many ideas Jimmie gives us with Living Math with Factors, Multiples, and Primes posted at Jimmie's Collage.

Jimmie also has a neat narration tool, Puppets for Narration posted at Heart of the Matter Online, a Christian homeschooling group blog full of information.

Go out and get your hands dirty! Katie give several suggestions for Using Nature Study to Study all Areas of Science posted at Katie's Homeschool Cottage.

This science lesson is after my own heart that Teresa blogs about in Best Lesson Ever posted at higher education.

Barb shows the beautiful art her children created in Geography Through Art: Ivory Chessmen posted at Harmony Art Mom. The book recommendation looks great!

Martha gives us a different perspective of "hands on" as she describes Today's Extraordinary and Amazing Event posted at Sunrise to Sunset. She also added in a hilarious post about a sign during her family's recent visit to the zoo in Texas is a Country, really! posted at Sunrise to Sunset.

Interested in making a simple, large, timeline display? Dana describes hers in Our Timeline posted at school for us. It is really impressive!

More on history, Sarah in the woods shows her family enjoying a day in ancient Rome in To The Republic! posted at The Forest Room. The Roman bath is just precious!

Finally, Yours Truly has a wearable science, or is it art, project Solubility, Capillary Action, Math, and Art on At Home Science. I'll also be sending this one on to Miss Julie's fabulous new kids' art carnival, The Gallery. It's well worth the visit!

Thanks for visiting the back-to-school Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival. I'm really looking forward to more wonderful ideas throughout the year!

Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival #9

Welcome again to another inspiring issue of the Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival! The carnival will be coming out monthly for the summer to reflect our more relaxed pace of things.

This time around I thought I would present the submissions by writer rather than by subject to highlight all the neat blogs out there. I hope you all love these as much as I did!

Cheryl (our carnival organizer) of Talking to Myself

• Studying New England

Brenda of The Tie That Binds Us

• Is There a Northwest Passage?
• Ideas from My School Room
• Memorial Day

Jimmie of One Child Homeschool Policy

• Fun Grammar
• Hands-on Estimating
• Hydrogen and the Hindenberg

Jimmie's new web site Jimmie's Collage

• Building a Straw Tower

*Kris* (that's me) of Science of Relations (sometimes God puts the hands on lesson right outside your window...)

• Robin outside our window
• Robins have hatched
• Robins have flown

*Kris* (also me) of At Home Science

• Science Saturday Challenge #9
• Science Saturday Challenge #10

Sarah of SmallWorld

• Mystery Folders: Encouraging Independent Work

Mother Hen of Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

• He’s Musical

Momma Snail of The Snail's Trail

• What's In The [work]BOX? Handmade Word Family Game (really cool and creative!!!)

The Family of Once Upon a Family

• The flower and the bees (twenty years isn't that long ago, LOL!)

Misty of Homeschool Bytes

• Timez Attack! The best and FREE multiplication game ever!

Teresa of higher education

• Let's be Thankful

Jenafer of Cage Free Monkeys

• "I've Got A Mule And Her Name Is Sal" Biking on the Erie Canal
  

Enjoy the carnival as much as I did, and thank you so much to all the contributors! The next Hands On Homeschool blog carnival will be July 13th at Our Journey Westward

Hands-on Homeschool Carnival #8

As we all start to think even a little about next year, here are some wonderful ideas you can sneak in for the end of this year or plan to include in the next. I am sure you will be inspired!

Jenafer presents Our First Camping Trip of the Season Completed posted at Cage Free Monkeys.

Brenda Sain presents Albrecht Durer, a German Renaissance Artist posted at The Tie That Binds Us.

Martha presents Oz Land posted at Sunrise to Sunset.

Shannon presents Wild and Wonderful Weather: Odds and Ends posted at Song of My Heart.

Cheryl, our wonderful blog manager, presents Penny Toss Game posted at Talking to Myself.

Cindy presents Science Activity Bags posted at Our Journey Westward.

~Kris~ presents Step-by-Step: Making a Castle Presentation Board posted at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

And finally I present France Projects posted at Science of Relations.

Relax and read :o)

The Charlotte Mason Blog Carnival

Blessed Easter everyone!

"Education is the science of relations," is the expression at the center of Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy. Below you will find many excellent ways to make those relations in so many subjects.


Art & Artist Study relations
Lizzie presents Charlotte Mason Art Study~Van Gogh posted at A Dusty Frame.

Julie Moses presents Kids Art Projects and Lessons at Ms. Julie's Place: Oh My Gosh it's a Bosch! Part Two the Art Lesson posted at Kids Art Projects and Lessons at Ms. Julie's Place.

I present Creating an Artist Study posted on this blog, of course.

Nature Study relations
Amanda presents A Few Spring Nature Study Ideas posted at Hearts and Trees.

Molly Evert presents Empowering Kids to Run with Their Ideas posted at Counter-cultural School.

Andrea presents A handful of Chickadees and Nuthatches posted at Kids and Nature.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom presents Tulips in the Garden: Wednesday Flower Study #3=Fresh Faces posted at Handbook of Nature Study.

Literature & Shakespeare relations
Shannon presents A Great Introduction to Shakespeare posted at Mountaineer Country.

Geography relations
Jessica presents Geography and Paddle-to-the-Sea posted at Established Work - Homeschool Blogger.

Marie Watson presents A Virtual Field Trip toThe Last Best Place.... Montana posted at Teaching Charlotte Mason One Day At A Time.

Music & Composer Study relations
Makita presents But I'm Serious posted at Twinkling Stars Family School.

Angie presents Our March Composer: Vivaldi posted at THEONETHING.

Charlotte Mason
Katie Glennon presents Please Take Our Survey to help her develop more Charlotte Mason materials posted at Katie's Homeschool Cottage.

Brenda presents What % of your homeschool is inspired by Ms. Mason? posted at The Tie That Binds Us.

Beth Bellinder presents Considering Charlotte posted at Apples and Jammies.

Lisa presents Ouch! You got me there, Miss Mason! Letting her read it herself! posted at Hopewell Takes On LIFE!.

Barb-Harmony Art Mom presents Reflections on a Charlotte Mason High School posted at Harmony Art Mom.

Homeschooling Inspirations
Renae presents The Children's Hour posted at Life Nurturing Education.

Sunday presents Reason #129 to Homeschool.... posted at Pickles, Pumpkins, and Peanuts.


Now isn't that just some kind of blog carnival? What a pleasure it is to host! Thank you all for sharing your gifts. :o)

Hands On Homeschool Carnival, 5th edition

Are you relaxing with a nice cup of tea by your computer? I hope so because this Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival is so full of fabulous ideas you will want to savor them as much as your favorite comfort drink. Please leave comments as you go, and when you try a project visit again to leave a link to your post about it!


Hands On Art and Art Appreciation:

Julie Moses presents Chinese Dragons posted at Kids Art Projects and Lessons at Ms. Julie's Place.

Brenda presents Renaissance Artists posted at The Tie That Binds Us.

Pam Barnhill presents Art Galore! posted at Everday Snapshots Explores Homeschooling.

Hands On History:

Shannon presents Colonial Days and The American Revolution posted at Song of My Heart.

~Kris~ presents Step-by-Step: Making Knights' Shields posted at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

Hands On Creative Writing:

Dana presents Tall Tall Tall Tales posted at school for us.

Hands On Science:

Mouse presents Make your own solar cookies posted at The Science Mouse.

*Kris* presents Studying the Heart posted on At Home Science.

Hands On Foreign Language:

Cherylinma presents Language Lessons posted at Talking to Myself - Homeschool Blogger.

Hands On Projects That Work for Many Subjects:

Brenda presents Clown of God and the Renaissance posted at The Tie That Binds Us.

Christie presents Fabric Crayon How-to posted at Boys+ Academy.

Dana presents Homeschooling and learning things more deeply posted at Principled Discovery.

Martha presents Zoo Fun posted at Sunrise to Sunset.


How this carnival has grown after only five editions, and what outstanding bloggers are submitting. Thank you all--what gems are here! If you are interested in submitting an article, see the submission guidelines on Cherylinma's blog, Talking To Myself.

Hands On Homeschool Carnival is up!

The carnival is up at Talking To Myself and it is another high quality collection. Check it out!

Hands On Homeschooling #2

Here is the second edition of Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival. What a great place to find inspiration!

Hands On Science:

Cheryl has a fabulous lung capacity experiment on her Talking to Myself blog. If you get wet you've done something wrong.

Dana does some Shadow Watching for Journey North at her School for Us blog.

Hands On Art: (with science and geography, too!)

Erica shows a beautiful Ocean Mural at her One Busy Mama blog.

Yours Truly shows our Color Wheel in Clay, a great tactile art project.

Michelle shows how to make paper lanterns to celebrate Lantern (Yuan Xiao) Festival at Practice Makes Perfect.

Hands On Foreign Language:

Suzanne shows her iFlipr Prima Latina flashcards and has them available for downloading for your iPhone or iTouch on her Aventures in Daily Living blog.

Jena helped her daughter make Spanish flashcards and worksheets and has them available to print through Scribd on her Yarns of the Heart blog.

Hands On Reading Encouragement:

Kris has an inspiring Works for Me Wednesday: Reading Bingo idea at her Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers blog you should check out.

Visit and please leave comments, and revisit to comment when you have tried them out yourself!

Blessings, Kris

Charlotte Mason blog carnival #35

A new edition of the wonderful Charlotte Mason blog carnival is posted at A Peaceful Day. There's close to 30 entries for this one, including a couple from here :o) This is a great carnival if you are interested in learning more about Charlotte Mason homeschooling or if your in a February funk and looking for something to enliven your program.

Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival--First Edition

The first edition of the Hands On Homeschool Carnival is posted on Cheryl's blog, Talking to Myself.

The carnival has had a wonderful response; it has over a dozen great homeschooling projects. I can't wait to read through them. Be sure to leave comments for the contributors.

I pray the Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival is a blessing to your homeschool.

New! Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival

My friend, Cheryl, over at Talking to Myself has created a new blog carnival that should be a great resource for homeschoolers.

Hands On Homeschool Blog Carnival is the place to post or view great homeschool learning projects. I am always looking for more hands-on activities so I can't wait to see the submissions. The first edition is scheduled to post on February 2nd so please drop by to submit an entry or browse the carnival!

Radial Patterns in Secondary Colors

First thing this morning the kids played Blurt! instead of doing PLL or ILL. After finishing MEP and reading St. Thomas Aquinas and the Preaching Beggars, I looked through the Using Color in Your Art and put together this project.

I used the small radial cutter to cut 6 circles out of finger paint/wet media paper. I folded the circle 3 times to produce 8 segments. The boys outlined the segments and painted the same pattern in each using only secondary colors.

I asked what a radius was, and Ds#1 knew from reading Sir Cumference books.

They made some wonderful creations! As the book suggested we also looked at the use of secondary colors in The Green Violinist by Marc Chagall.

Living Media

"'Education is the Science of Relations'; that is, that a child has natural relations with a vast number of things and thoughts: so we train him upon physical exercises, nature lore, handicrafts, science and art, and upon many living books, for we know that our business is not to teach him all about anything, but to help him to make valid as many as may be of––
'Those first-born affinities,
That fit our new existence to existing things.'"

Charlotte Mason, A Philosophy of Education with a quote from The Prelude by William Wordsworth

She goes on to state, "The children I am speaking of are much occupied with things as well as with books, because 'Education is the Science of Relations,' is the principle which regulates their curriculum; that is, a child goes to school with many aptitudes which he should put into effect."

Miss Mason lived until 1923, just at the time of radio's development and long before television, computers, or the Internet. While living books will always be the cornerstone of our homeschool, I am also always searching for living audios, videos, software, and web sites. We do not exclude any sources (though certainly families do for their own good reasons); instead I evaluate all these things in the same way I do our books.

A living book:

...is written by a single author with expertise and enthusiasm for a subject;
...is well written in an engaging style such that they are an enjoyment to read;
...has high quality information in terms of its depth as well as in relation to good character formation.

One does not have to stretch that definition too much in order to apply it to other media forms. Certainly we can find absorbing programing that has little educational value, or worse, with moral values counter to a family's own. We can also find boring educational media, or educational material that is over-simplified or not of "literary" quality (the recent fad of gross-based science materials comes to mind.)

Finding engaging, challenging media presented in a quality format, i.e. living media, can be hard to find in a world of media twaddle. Then again, finding living books in a world of twaddle is not easy, either. When we see our children forming a "relation" with material of which we approve, then we know we've found a living media.

Feed their minds nothing but the best.