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Great Science Stories for Elementary Readers

September 29, 2015 by Amy Leave a Comment

My kids love science, but they love to read, too. They get especially excited when those two subjects collide. These are some of our very favorite science-based adventure books.

Currently, there are only a few books/series on this list – because I have very high standards. While science can be pulled into many, many books, the ones on this list are focused on hard science. They’re the best that I’ve found so far.

Edison’s Gold is a fantastic book about the fictional great-great-grandson of Thomas Edison and his efforts to uncover secrets buried by his ancestor and a secret society. Tom uses his scientific knowledge to unravel secret codes and dig his way out of trouble spots, much like McGuyver on the old TV show.

Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab: A Mystery with Electromagnets, Burglar Alarms, and Other Gadgets You Can Build Yourself is a part of the Nick and Tesla series. Written by a pair of scientists, each book in the series contains several sets of experiment plans. They’re written simply but are very engaging to kids. The books themselves are exciting but written simply; however, they’re easy to read and convey fun scientific information – definitely worth a read. New books continue to be written in the series:

Nick and Tesla’s Robot Army Rampage: A Mystery with Hoverbots, Bristle Bots, and Other Robots You Can Build Yourself

Nick and Tesla’s Special Effects Spectacular: A Mystery with Animatronics, Alien Makeup, Camera Gear, and Other Movie Magic You Can Make Yourself!

Nick and Tesla’s Secret Agent Gadget Battle

Nick and Tesla’s Super-Cyborg Gadget Glove: A Mystery with a Blinking, Beeping, Voice-Recording Gadget Glove You Can Build Yourself

Copernicus Legacy (3 Book Series) is an exciting, Indiana-Jones style set of books. The Kaplan family stumbles upon a centuries-old mystery involving a machine built by Copernicus and hidden by other scientists of the era. There are great pieces of historical and scientific information between each action-packed scene.

The Copernicus Archives #1: Wade and the Scorpion’s Claw is a novella connected with the Copernicus Legacy. There is a Copernicus Archive book, which is much shorter in length than the Legacy books, that was written between each Legacy one. These are just as good as the longer books and also feature historical scientists.

What would you add to this list?

Book Club: “The Sign of the Beaver”

September 28, 2015 by Amy Leave a Comment

We kicked off our new year of book club events with a fantastic story:

Learning Spanish with Foreign Languages for Kids – Review

September 22, 2015 by Amy 1 Comment

When we started homeschooling, one of the biggest benefits I anticipated was the opportunity to study a foreign language at an elementary age. My education professors in college drilled into us the many benefits of doing so, but they’re not taught in our local public schools. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to make this happen, however.

That’s why I’m so excited that we’re learning Spanish with Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids. This video-based, immersion curriculum is both fun and easy. The kids and I are learning new words together every day without stress, struggle, or tears (like in other programs we’ve tried).

We log onto the website each morning at breakfast. I put our laptop at the end of the table, and we start the video while we eat. Each one is an average of 5 minutes long, so sometimes we watch more than once or go back and watch earlier ones if we feel the need.

The videos are expertly made. I love that they begin with a review of recently-learned material before moving on to new concepts. The format is reminiscent of ‘Sesame Street’ for big people. Each video features kids as they go about their day. After a short verbal exchange, the screen changes to show the new vocabulary words. Sometimes there are funny skits involved to demonstrate the meaning of the words being used.

My kids both love the videos. They walk around throughout the day, singing the words and phrases to themselves. They talk along with the videos as they play, and they anxiously await their turns to use the online workbook.

After not quite three weeks, we’re on Lesson 8. The kids are picking up the vocabulary quickly and they’re eager to learn new words. When we watch a new video, we watch it for several days in a row until both kids are confident in their ability to remember the new vocabulary and concepts. Because the videos are so funny, even I’m picking up new words.

The program includes an online workbook and quizzes. Both kids took the first set of quizzes last week and aced them. The new information that they’re learning is definitely being retained.

I’m glad that we’re using Foreign Languages for Kids by Kids this year. If you want to check it out, click on the banner below. It’s definitely worth a look!

I received free access to this curriculum in exchange for an honest review.

Our Third-Grade Curriculum for 2015-16

September 4, 2015 by Amy Leave a Comment

Disclosure Pic

We’re super excited about this new school year, but I must admit, my kids make it easy. While My Little Man is not a fan of writing, he loves to read and to build things, and so I need only to bring books home. He’ll find them, devour them, and remember much of the text word for word.

Our Third-Grade Curriculum for 2015-16 @ A Nest in the Rocks

My Little Man and My Big Helper are so close in age and ability, most of our schoolwork happens together. They do most of the same assignments, study the same topics, and do most of the same projects. When their work differs, it’s usually only in scope or the difficulty I expect from them – and math. They do separate math assignments.

With that in mind, this is what we’re planning for this coming school year. We’ll be starting next week – although the kids have already started reading their books and making up their own assignments. (I don’t think they understand the meaning of ‘vacation.’) For this to make sense, though, you need to know how we do school. We incorporate as many subjects as we can into one thing – an interdisciplinary or project approach, also called unit studies – but we’re pretty eclectic about the way that we do things, too. I choose history and/or science topics for us to focus on and then we read biographies, historical fiction, non-fiction, videos, documentaries, build things, take field trips, and write, so …

History: Mostly we’ll be reading the types of books listed above. We fill in gaps between major time periods with Drive Through History: Columbus, the Pilgrims, and Early Boston‘>this video series for a big world overview of what’s happening in a given time period.

Science: We’re going to be matching up scientists and discoveries with the time periods that we’re studying. We’ll learn about the science of navigation during our exploration unit, about the changes in weapons and warfare throughout our war studies, and other important ones in between. The kids’ book clubs will be reading a fun trade paperback that makes use of physics and circuits, too – more on that to come. When we want more information, in addition to biographies, the ‘Net, and documentaries, we’ll be reading

Spanish Curriculum on Sale Now!

August 28, 2015 by Amy Leave a Comment

I’ve just been introduced to a new Spanish curriculum, and we’re excited to be using it this year! I’ll have lots more to share about it in the months to come, but it’s on sale right now. You can get 20% all store products today!!

Initially speaking, this curriculum makes use of short, entertaining videos with Spanish-speaking kids as the actors. Vocabulary words are written throughout the video, adding to the visual impact of the video. Quizzes, workbooks, and flashcards are also available.

If you’re in the market for Spanish lessons for your kids, check out Spanish for Kids by Kids now!

10 Adventure Stories for Elementary Readers

August 21, 2015 by Amy Leave a Comment

My kids love to read adventure stories, and I love how enthused they get about reading when they find a good one. There are also great lessons to be learned from adventure stories – lessons about being brave in the face of danger, of trusting God when the path is unknown, and of embracing new things, among others. There are the character-building lessons and literature ideas you learn from these books, too. So for the past month I’ve read lots and lots of kids’ books to find the perfect ones for our book club meetings and school plans. these yet, they should be added to your TBR pile immediately. 1. Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein This story features middle-school characters but is I’ve tested out many more books than I’ve chosen, too, because I’m a picky reader, and I have high expectations for what my kids read. The following list includes my most favorite adventure stories for upper elementary readers, though, and if you haven’t read clean and fun. The characters are involved in a Survivor-like contest in a high-tech new library and must figure out an escape from a series of well-formulated clues to win an enormous price. 2. Capture the Flag by Kate Messner This is the first book in a trilogy about a secret society of people descended from the world’s greatest artists and whose mission it is to protect their ancestors’ work from those who seek to steal or destroy it. The main characters are three unlikely kids, all with different skills and talents, who work together to bring down some serious art thieves. 3. The Secret Island by Enid Blyton This is another first-in-a-series, this time about kids who are living in poor foster situations and decide to run away together to live on an island in the middle of a nearby lake. They build shelters, cook for themselves, store food for the winter, and otherwise survive on their own for months. It’s a great story of survival skills and working together. 4. The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein This Grabenstein book also features older characters and touts great literature. How real are the things we imagine? Can our imaginations fuel real change to our world? These themes are explored when the main character writes himself into many classic stories and barely escapes with his life over and over again. 5. The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone This first book, and the three that follow it, follow two kids through adventures through time, righting wrongs and learning about history. Their time travels are centered around the Sixty-Eight Rooms, a real exhibit in a Chicago museum. Find out how to turn this story into a real learning adventure here. 6. George Washington’s Socks by Elvira Woodruff I’ve always had a thing for time travel, as evidenced by several of these choices, but that’s because it’s a great vehicle for bringing the excitement of history alive. Woodruff does that in this story by sending a group of friends back in time to the night that Washington crossed the Delaware. In the melee, they are helped by Native Americans, run into Redcoats, are captured by Hessians, and rescued by Patriots. How much more excitement could you handle in one night?? 7. Honus and Me by Dan Gutman While time travel is my thing, sports are not – and yet I love this series. The main character, a tween boy, has the ability to travel through time with old baseball cards, and in each book of the series he travels to a different time and place, meeting the old greats and trying to correct wrongs – all while learning about the history of baseball. Of course, things never go as planned, and he’s captured by mobsters, lost without money, chased by angry managers, and much more. Find out how to turn this story into a real-life learning adventure here. 8. Edison’s Gold by Geoff Watson This is one of my son’s favorite books. When Thomas Edison’s a-bunch-of-greats-grandson learns of his ancestor’s secret discovery, he and his friends race to find and save it – before the competition destroys his family. With explosions, chase scenes, and neat science tricks, it’s a super fun story – and you’ll learn something, too. Find out how to turn this story into a real-life adventure here.

9. Missing on Superstition Mountain by Elise Broach This story, and the rest of the trilogy, explore the mysterious past of a real mountain range in Arizona. With legends abounding, as well as a race to find a lost gold mine, you won’t be able to put this series down.

10. Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett This story will make you think, as the author combines history, art, and philosophy – but she does so amidst the biggest art heist in history, and when some kids discover the trail to the thief, adventures fly. Find out more about how to turn this book into a learning adventure here.

Do your kids like adventure stories? Which are their favorites?

Recording History with Homemade ‘Baseball’ Cards

August 19, 2015 by Amy 1 Comment

How do you help your kids understand the cause-and-effect of history?

I spent a long time trying to figure that out. I love the idea of a timeline-in-progress, but they can be difficult to work with. A visual on the wall sounds great, but who has that much space? The kind you can photocopy look professional and would be fast to use, but will the information be retained if the kids don’t actually do it themselves? I spent lots of time debating these issues with myself.

Then I remembered baseball cards. Small pieces of paper that have a picture on the front and important information summarized on the back.

We began to record our history lessons with our own ‘baseball’ cards.

I cut cardstock into 2.5″ by 3/5″ pieces. I got a simple binder for each kid, and I filled it with plastic baseball pockets.

Each time that we engage in a history lesson that involves an important person, landmark, or event, the kids each create a ‘baseball’ card for that. They draw pictures on the front of their cards and a summary of why that person, place, or event is important. When the cards are finished, they’re placed in the baseball card protectors in chronological order. The pages are placed in order of ages. We don’t stress about getting each and every card in exactly year-order, but instead in getting the cards into the proper age. The proper century or sweeping era. By doing that, they’re able to connect events easily and see how time periods flow from one to another, as well as what is happening in different parts of the world at the same time.

After doing a few of these, the got the hang of it. They now work through their ‘baseball’ cards quickly, with detailed summaries written onto the back. Their binders are slowly filling up with beautiful cards, which are great reminders of fun lessons and of important historical information.

‘Baseball’ history cards work well for us – so well, in fact, that while we do lots of hands-on projects, we take lots of field trips, and we discuss all sorts of things, we rarely do any sort of history ‘worksheet.’ These mini-reports are excellent for cementing information in our brains while giving us the freedom to dig deep into our work.

How do you keep track of your historical studies?

These are the supplies that we use.

Touring NC: Sliding Rock State ParkS

July 21, 2015 by Amy Leave a Comment

While on our trip to the mountains a few weeks ago, we decided it was important to explore the mountains. To find out what makes North Carolina unique.

Sliding Rock State Park seemed like the perfect example.

Sliding Rock itself is a natural waterslide deep in the mountains. It’s in a creekbed and is 60 feet long with a water temperature of 40 degrees. A metal handrail has been installed on one side of the creek, and with lifeguards watching, people walk up the rock and slide down.

One side of the rock slides quickly, while people on the other side go slowly. Both kids decided to stick with the slower side, and they absolutely loved it.

At the end of the slide, riders are dumped into a seven-foot deep section of the creek.

Despite the depth and the chill, these two spent hours climbing the rock and sliding down – over and over again!

Doesn’t it make you want to head to the mountains?

Early American History Unit Study Review & Sale

July 15, 2015 by Amy Leave a Comment

I love American history, so I was excited to have the opportunity to review this new Early American History Unit Study from Kristie Mobley.

Written in the Charlotte Mason style, centered heavily around quality fiction books and copywork, there are some great activities connected with the study as well. The length of time intended for the study is loose so that you can fit your children’s attention spans and interests. Because the study is so loosely structured, you can arrange the sequence of activities to fit your family – which is a major bonus in my book.

The unit studies the Christian beginnings of the United States with the Pilgrim settlements. Their lives, beliefs, and struggles are examined closely. In today’s rocky political climate, I think it’s more important than ever that we know this history.

The study includes great links. Many are to printable coloring sheets that illustrate that day’s lesson. While there are more than we would use, these would be great for children to color while you read – or to children to make into their own books as a final project for this unit. Others are to more primary resources where you can learn additional information or see great pictures to illustrate new concepts.

The study focuses primarily on history, handwriting, and faith-based concepts, but music, religious freedom, and economics also come into play. Great discussions could be had on these topics with the thought-provoking questions included in the lesson plans.

The study comes recommended for children in first through fourth grades. I think kids in the upper end of that range might enjoy some additional reading or writing activities. The unit also does not include any creative writing. With this time period being one of my favorite to teach thus far, I’ve spent a lot of time here, and there are loads of fun creative writing activities that could be included. Perhaps that’s not very Mason-like, but our children do need to learn to write their own thoughts as well as copy others. This could be easily added to the study, however. (Want to see some of our Pilgrim study activities? You can read about them: Life as a Pilgrim: Cooking (Part One), Life as a Pilgrim: Everyday Life (Part Two), Life as a Pilgrim: Fun & Games (Part Three).)

If you’ve been wanting to try a literature-based unit study, this is a great one to give a test run. The planning has been done for you, the activities are meaningful but simple, and it includes great discussion questions. Best of all, it’s on sale for a few more days for only $3.95 when you use the coupon code ‘History.’ Read more or purchase a copy here.

* I received a free copy of this unit study from Kristie Mobley of Family Home and Health in exchange for an honest review.

History in Action: Gem Mining in NC

July 8, 2015 by Amy Leave a Comment

We’ve been studying North Carolina – our home state – this year in school, and I was shocked to learn that this state was the site of our nation’s first gold rush back in the early 1800s! That opened my eyes to the long history of mining that this state has – which thrilled My Little Man, since he’s been wanting to go gem mining for years.

We decided to visit Emerald Village in Little Switzerland, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway and near Mount Mitchell.

Emerald Village had more to offer than most mining sites. For one thing, there were a total of 12 working mines on the property at one point in history, one of which was the source of the main ingredient for Bon Ami soap. Another was its offerings. Besides mining, you could also tour an actual mine, shop, and visit 13 stories of historical displays on site. We spent hours hanging out here!

The sheer beauty of the place was impressive. The mountains featured huge rock faces everywhere you turned, and you could walk right up to the entrance of this mine. This was the backdrop of the actual gem mining operation, which made it even more exciting.

My Little Man was so excited to be on the property of actual gem mines that he kept his eyes to the ground everywhere we went. He was constantly stopping abruptly to snatch up a rock and shout, “I found something!” Considering his study of rock books over the past few years, I’m sure he’s right about some of them.

After visiting some of the other attractions, we got down to the business of mining. You can choose to pan for gold or go gem mining, but while you’re guaranteed to find gems in every bucket, there’s no such guarantee for the gold. (There are also more rustic options available, but we stuck with the simplicity.) We chose to go the gem route, although My Little Man wouldn’t mind trying his hand at gold mining someday.

After purchasing a large bucket of dirt and gems (all of this material came from the Emerald Village property), we were directed to the sluices just outside the mine entrance in the picture above. We each grabbed a sieve and began. The men working the counter directed us to let anything white or gray go down the sluice, but to keep anything of color. That was harder than it sounded, but surprisingly fun.

We found mostly smallish gems, but several were much larger, and we’re eagerly polishing our favorites. We can’t wait to see what they’ll look like when they’re cleaned up.

Gem mining was really fun! We all want to do this again, and we left with big bags of colorful gems.

The site of the sluices just outside the mine entrance.

After mining – because honestly, none of us could wait any longer to try that – we headed to the mine for our tour. It began off the gift shop in a building full of historical displays about the history of mining at Emerald Village and the Bon Ami mine. There was even a video to teach you about the mining life.

From there we ventured out to the mine – shown here behind the kids.

It was not what I was expecting; there were no dark tunnels through the mountainside, but it was well done. The tour was self-guided, and when you purchase tickets you get a booklet with numbered descriptions. Each of the displays throughout the mine have numbers to match these, and so you can walk around and read about everything at your own pace. There even museum-type displays and a phosphorescent display in the mine itself.

We had a great time learning more about North Carolina mining at Emerald Village, and the weather was absolutely perfect for it. If you’re ever in the area, this is definitely a fun place to check out.

Have you ever been gem mining?

Want to know more about North Carolina and the history of mining? Check out these books:

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