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This Was Our Pact

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Do you ever have it that you are fully prepared to not like a book and then you are pleasantly surprised? This was my experience with the graphic novel This Was Our Pact. I haven’t quite finished it, but wanted to get this review done for you, so you can go out and order it for your graphic novel loving middle schoolers.

This was our pact

This was our pact.
Ryan Andrews
First Second
336 pages, 10-14 years, trade paperback
Reviewed for Raincoast books.
Friendship, Equinox, fantasy

It’s the night of the annual Autumn Equinox Festival, when the town gathers to float paper lanterns down the river. Legend has it that after drifting out of sight, they’ll soar off to the Milky Way and turn into brilliant stars, but could that actually be true? This year, Ben and his classmates are determined to find out where those lanterns really go, and to ensure success in their mission, they’ve made a pact with two simple rules: No one turns for home, no one looks back. ….. Together, Nathaniel and Ben will travel further than anyone has ever gone, down a winding road full of magic, wonder, and unexpected friendship.

This was our pact

The Details

A great deal of this story happens outside at night so many of the pictures are on a blue/black background. Ben and Nathaniel are caught up in the story of the Autumn Equinox Festival. Two boys who dads are friends, yet aren’t the friends their dads wish them to be. Over the course of the night, two boys learn friendship. They learn that different is not wrong, and in fact being different can be a good thing.

This was our pact

They meet a variety of interesting characters and have some magnificent experiences. The imaginative writings of Ryan Andrews were a delight to read.

The art work was well done, I loved how the solar system was displayed, and all those fish! It was .. I want to say amazing but that’s not the right word. Delightful? Not quite it either… stellar! 🙂 Really well done, the fit between words and images was spot on.

Learn more about equinox festivals here.

This was our pact
disclosure

Review: CrossWired Science

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We happen to love science in our household. A long time ago we learned that science encourages us to ask questions that cross a wide spectrum of study. CrossWired Science proved encourage the same type of questions. Walk with us through this question inducing science program with two main courses of study: Fluid Dynamics and Sound.

CrossWired Science

What I am Reviewing

Fluid Dynamics and Sound.
CrossWired Science.
On-line program
Science, Multi-level
Online Science Lessons, Learning Online, Homeschool Science

CrossWired Science

Who is CrossWired?

CrossWired Science (CWS) showcases a desire by the creators to share science with families and their children. Faith is central to how they put their online science program together. They want to help young people cement their knowledge of science and of how God fits into the bigger picture of it.

Through the use of scripture and the work of other individuals, they want to help youth understand the connection of God the creator and the bible.

What CWS intends to build is a science program that is put together as distinct projects. So far they have given us sound and fluid dynamics. They intend to give us additional projects as well.

The Finer Details:

As we were using CrossWired Science it was fairly evident that it was still a work in progress. It was fascinating to see the responsiveness of the creators with aspects that we liked, or would rather see modified. That is one of the joys of being Beta testers… seeing changes happen right before our eyes!

For instance, my son kept asking “In what order am I supposed to do things?” The response of the CWS crew? A calendar! The general goal is for each of these global projects to take a month to complete.

CrossWired Science

You can see the care they have for their students in the very fact that they don’t insist that there is only one way to work through their projects. They provide additional calendars such as this 1.5 month option.

CrossWired Science

The target audience is students aged 4 to 18. My son is currently 13, he worked on Fluid Dynamics, I worked on sound. There are two tracks to use, first times and second timers. At this point in the learning process my son and I haven’t found a lot of difference between the two.

As you can see from the calendars above, they do like to encourage their students to read. This was a bit of a stickler for my lad, “Mom, I have lots to read already, why can’t I just look things up online or watch a video?” I had to agree with him. He’s a fairly busy lad .. often working on his own projects or doing extra work for his schooling or programs he is involved in. I did go the library for him when he mentioned something he wanted to learn about AND….. got him to pose for a picture!

CrossWired Science

As much as we know CWS likes to encourage it’s students to read, when it comes right down to it, my lad lives in a digital age and has embraced that concept completely. He loves the immediacy of “I’m interested in learning more about vortices, and then searching out more information online”.

And just LOOK at all the options he has for learning! All these things to stimulate questions being asked and then answers being looked up.

CrossWired Science

Videos make up a big portion of each project, followed by worksheets (for each video), experiments, digging deeper, a choice of research projects, and more. They even suggest field trips you can do! I will mention some of the sections individually below.

CrossWired Science

They encourage students to share what field trips they go on so they can build a data-base of ideas for all the students to work from.

Videos

These are an important part of CWS. You watch the videos, and then answer a worksheet. You can either print them off or answer them online. There are the links they put together as well as (under General Links) links to helpful youtube videos. Below is one of them.

Experiments

CrossWired Science

As you can see they provide a lot of options for experiments. The experiments open up in PDF files. We found that each experiment page contained links for additional research as well as more than one experiment you could do. All those additional links we loved. They spawned additional research by the lad and myself.

CrossWired Science

The information on vortices led my lad down the path of airplanes which coincided nicely with our research on the airplanes of WW1. I decided with the shark video to learn more about dogfish sharks. The experiments did what was intended, helping us to dig deeper into the project. 🙂

I have to admit, we struggled with some of the experiments in that they didn’t give clear instructions on how to complete it. For instance, what are the ingredients for making a cornstarch oobleck?

CrossWired Science

Encouragement to see science in a bunch of different ways. Who would have thought that a study of Fluid Dynamics would lead me to watching a video on a shark dissection?

Gold Digs

These are longer study which led from one point to the next. Designed in such a way that older students could help younger ones. You can go indepth, or just touch the surface.

CrossWired Science

Each section when clicked leads directly to the named section, which is great for the point of convenience if you remember what letter you stop at. It’s a fairly long section so rather than complete it in one day, my lad divided it over three. Some of the information he knew already, but much he didn’t. He enjoyed this study on bones.

Thoughts and Recommendations

My intention was to keep pace with the lad as he went through his course. I um.. didn’t. I got distracted by spring weather and gardening! I absolutely love that I am not committed to following one project through before checking out the other project. I started with Fluid Dynamics just like the lad, but then he asked if I could do the other project so he knows what to look forward to.

His intention is to complete both projects, at his own schedule. He loves having the calendar to follow but doesn’t want to do as much in day as it asks him to do. It’s no mattering to me how long it takes him to complete it as I know he will get through it.

He has made some comments to me about how some of the videos aren’t very in-depth and seem for a lower grade level, they often have music playing the background which for him is distracting, and he wants to see more professionalism in them. All that said, after working through the course over these past three weeks he is commenting on how much he is learning and his freedom to follow rabbit trails.

Get it?

YES. My recommendation (and my son’s) is that you go out and get it. Their end goal is to have 25-30 projects by the time they are finished.

Their projects will encourage your children to ask questions, their experiments are set up so you don’t have to do ones you’d rather not, and the videos are easy to watch and build leads off of. It’s a solid science program that will help you connect God with creation and all that he has done BUT if you aren’t a person of faith, you can easily incorporate the science into your studies without feeling overly influenced. A solidly good program that is well on it’s way to becoming a stellar one. Creators who care about the people using it… CrossWired Science, it’s a win-win. 🙂

CrossWired Science.

I strongly urge you to check out all the other reviews. There are 80 of by the crew. You can find them here or by clicking the image above.

Lack

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I am writing this just before I go to bed. Tiredness rules this body today. Join us over at Miss Kate’s won’t you?

lack

Hours run 230-midnight
A hard-working middle aged husband.
The work is hard, not enough men
But the pay helps a household run.
One does not look a gift horse in the mouth.

A wife in support
Stays up late
Minding the house
As a good man works
But tiredness reigns.

Some nights, sleep overcomes
A comfy chair, a quiet playing show
Snores soon abound.
But sleep in a chair
Is not the same as
Sleep in a bed.

So the lack sometimes shows
Tiredness rules.
Accidents happen.
Tempers flair.
And mom learns
And hubby learns
that sometimes… bed calls loudly.
and it’s okay if
The wife
Does not
Stay up
for
a hard-working
man.

zzzzzzzzzzz

Gifts Kids Can Make

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Today I have a book I dragged out from my art shelves.  I keep thinking that I want to do some of these crafts just for me.  But for me or not, there are some rather neat crafts in this book for you and yours.   

Check out these terry bunnies…. I look at them and think, I know some 4H kids who would love to have these handy bunnies hopping around. 

The easy to follow instructions would make them a breeze to make.  The steps are lined up easily, and any pattern that needs a template has one provided for them. 

The Kitty Doormouse

I thought about sharing this kitty doormouse with my lad.  He loves to create things that might intrigue our cats.  What do you think?  Would it work?  The only problem I see is just where would we put it in our house?  We already have dangling shoelaces and cat dancers hanging off door knobs… so a big mouse?   Um… I dunno….

There are all sorts of fun ideas to peak your interest in gifts kids can make.  Some are ever so easy I could make them myself, and others would probably have me saying, hey son…. lend me your fingers for a moment.  🙂   He would then look at the clearly written (visual as well as textual) and help me problem solve my way through it.

Projects that intrigue

Some of the projects intrigue me for the doll making class I want to do like cotton babies and panty hose babies.  Other just look fun like the birdies and hobby horse.  The decorator basket seems a bit more complicated, but if I could make it I’d feel rather accomplished.  🙂  If I did them well enough, maybe I could even sell them or give them away as cute gifts!  Now wouldn’t that be cool!  🙂

Anyways, it’s a neat book, perhaps it’s one that would inspire you as well!

/Another kid friendly gift book is 50 Toys to Make.

Open in My Browser

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Every once in a while I want to clear out what is open in my browser and yet keep the links available.  Today is that day.  🙂  WOOT WOOT!    Make my hubby happy indeed!

Homeschool Related

I home school so it’s natural for me to be drawn to homeschooling sites. 🙂

50% OFF SCHOOLHOUSETEACHERS.COM
  • Picta Dicta – helps the lad and I learn Latin.
  •  Bonnie Rose.  I’ve been looking at some of her writing prompts and history materials. 
  • Punctuation Games. Looked these up for a reader and thought they looked interesting.
  • To Go along with my son’s algebra.  Math is Fun.
  •  

Business Related

For those who don’t know, I have a rabbitry.  I’m really far behind on writing blog post for learning, but I have ideas in mind.   

Writing

I am trying to be a better writer, so to that end I’m reading sites to help me with that. 🙂

Blogging

Blogging well.. you know… because I blog.  🙂

  • Design Bundles. I frequently go here as I like to check out their free stuff.  Some of it you can use for a blog.  Check the fine print.
  •  SiteGround migrator information.  I closed an old wordpress account and am trying to figure if I’ll import it into my rabbitry site or homeschool site… or just let it disappear.
  • SocialBee.   I got this cheap using appsumo for a lifetime of use, to help me manage my social media accounts.  It works well for facebook, twitter etc.  
  • Bloggers Guide to Royalty Free Images.  I prefer to use my own images, but it’s helpful to have free sites.
  • SocialPug.  Someone recommended it, still thinking on it.
  • 13 best social media plugins.

Odd-Balls

Since my son’s cat has diabetes I’ve been doing some research.

I have this urge to teach classes and maybe make some money.  I had a lot of fun doing a doll making class with my co-op group so have been thinking it might be fun to do again.

Rejoice, a New Year!

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It's a New Year
It's a New Year
It's a New Year Yes indeed
Happy New Year
Happy New Year
Let it be good for you and me.

This time of year people start making new years resolutions, or word or verse of the year decisions.   Every year I am tempted to join in.  And every year I start something, thinking of a verse or a word or a theme… and then I stop.

I’m always checked by two things.

  1. I don’t want to make a promise I can’t keep
  2. I don’t want to inadvertently limit myself or God. 

Maybe these fears are silly, these checks in my spirit.   Maybe they are unwarranted.   

I don’t know.

I just know that they exist.  That all these plans or hopes that I might have, I need to just let them rest.  To set them aside and be the person that I am.  One who rests and waits. Who does her best to take each day as it comes.  Perhaps it is simply that worrying on such things sets my heart to fretting and God would rather I not do that.  🙂 

Why write?

I want to encourage those of us who don’t make resolutions, or verse of the year, or word of the year that it is JUST FINE not to do so.  To not get caught up in all the plans and decisions made at the beginning of the year.

Read the posts … be inspired.   BUT don’t feel pushed to do something just because everyone else does.   If you are checked in your spirt, don’t ignore it.  God means something when he does that, even if we don’t understand.

Go into this New Year with hope!   We serve a risen saviour!   Battles will be fought, lost or won, but in the end, the main battle has already been won.

Rejoice oh believer… a new day is upon us.  See the wonders that God holds in store for us  🙂

Go into this new year with Hope! We serve a risen saviour! Battles will be fought, lost or won, but in the end, the main battle has already won. Click To Tweet

Sins Are Not Covered Up

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Have you ever noticed how God’s inspired word doesn’t hide the sin of his people?  The fact is that our sins are not covered up.  Even though it’s our natural tendency to make ourselves look better than what we are, none of the biblical authors covered over the sins of the people of God.   They didn’t. Do you ever wonder why that was?

Sins are not covered up,
Photo by ThÆ° Anh on Unsplash

Why is this?

Ian Hamilton says this “through the manifest weaknesses and sins of believers, God impresses on us the true character of the life of faith.” (p.116, the Faith Shaped life).  

Isn’t that an interesting statement?

Our weaknesses show the character of faith lived out.   Our faith is lived out in weak, sin-filled bodies.  It doesn’t matter who we are as believers, we will fail as we live out our faith.   None of us can live a life of perfection.

Click To Tweet

Our failures, a means of doubt

The very fact that we fail is often used by the devil as a means of questioning our faith.  The fact that we love God and want to serve him faithfully, and yet fail in our duties, in our desires.  Surely that shows our lack of faith and commitment!!!!  (at least this is how we often think).

And yet, if we look to examples of people of faith in the bible, we will see that they failed as well.  God didn’t hold that against them.  Punishment happened as a consequence of sin but God didn’t say “you aren’t good enough to be called one of my own”.   Not even once.

God continually offered grace to his people.  

Means of Encouragement

In offering up grace to his people, and letting us see examples of men and women of faith who have failed in living out their faith well.  These examples are an encouragement to us.  An encouragement that God doesn’t give up on his people. 

God is ever so kind to us. Letting us see how he helps his people, picking them up, forgiving them and getting them back on track.  This is why there is no white-washing in scripture.  We need to see this.