A Net in Time

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Science

Tabs Open in My Browser

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So, you know how it’s so easy to have all kinds of tabs open in your browser?  Well, I’ve got a few to share with you today.


Mirasee.   I’ve been reading from this blog off and on, trying to learn new things.   it’s good to look beyond your comfort zone with your life and blog sometimes.  This one pushes me to think a bit more. 

A google search on the isthmus of panama.   I know you may be thinking what???   My lad and i were reading a book and the lad didn’t know what this was.   In case you didn’t know: 

Robotics Workshop.  I was looking at this kit for the lad for Christmas but he wants something else very specific.    He also did a robotics class through HOPE so this isn’t quite what he needs right now.

Create and Sell Digital Products.  Walks a person through the different formats. 

Learning about the tailorbird and how they build a nest.  We were fascinated!

50 books your child should read before 12 years old.  Not sure I agree these are all must reads, but  many of them are good reads. 🙂

Learning what a Pilum is. One of our history books mentioned this weapon, which caused us to look through our weapons books after doing a bit of on-line research.

One day I was wondering how to make my own non-toxic cleaner.  I honestly can’t remember why because I use a damp cloth and rag and consider it good if I don’t see dust.   AND I do have a high tolerance for dust unless my mother is coming for a visit. 🙂  Anyways, if you are curious, I found something here that looked simple enough to be doable.

You know how we have the bermuda triangle?   Did you also know there is a DRAGON Triangle?   I know…shocking!  (at least I was shocked).  We learned about it in the wonderful series “The Unwanteds”.   We still need to finish that series yet… Image from here.

Troutwife’s Pizza quiche which I would like to try sometime. 

Story Spiel by my friend Lori.  I need to figure this method out a bit and see if I can implement it with the lad.  

A girl in my homeschool group CONSTANTLY listens to music, it’s part of her special needs to block out extraneous noise.   She highly recommended I listen to Kim Collingsworth, and she was write…GOOD music.  Here’s a piece you might like. 

My hubby actually sent me on this quest.  How to build a stone oven. I think it would be rather neat to put one together, though it would take some learning on how to do.   But imagine…fresh baked bread you made outside?  Be rather neat I think.

Free Civic Air Patrol Curriculum.  Looked intriguing at the time, haven’t really looked into it a whole lot yet. 

We’ve had two miscarriages in this family, so occasionally I read articles like this one.  Some of thoughtful and others well…better left unsaid.  This one I thought was well written.   10 ways to honor your baby after miscarriage or infant loss. 

Anyways, this list is getting a touch long, so I’ll write more in another post!  🙂

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. 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. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: The Big Earth Book

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You know what?  I love Lonely Planet Kids books.  I find them to be well made and very interesting.  The Big Earth Book is no different. You are invited to discover how earth, air, fire and water shaped the world that we live … take a tour to discover the past, the present and the future of our world. 

 

The Big Earth Book starts off by introducing us to the fab four. Earth, Air, Fire and Water.   The entire book is divided into those four sections.
Here are some of the topics for each.

Earth:
Structure of the Earth, Geothermal, Digging for Treasure, The World Today

Air: 
Layers of air, Into Space, El Nino, Playing with the wind.

Fire:
Before Fire, Wildfire, Oil Rush, Beacons of Light.

Water: 
Origins of Water, Water and Farming, Canals, The Future of Water.

Colourful illustrations draw the eye in, helping you to want to learn the facts that Mark Brake wants to impart to us. Most of the pages are full of illustrations by Brendan Kearney. Occasionally full colour photos are added.  Aren’t they well done?   You can just see how the ocean currents and the air movements work together can’t you?

This isn’t just a book about four elements, we get history, geography, science and so much more.  The bright colours, the easy reading text, the well placed photos, all add up to a book chock full of good information for your upper elementary to middle school students.

The text is written at an easy to understand level without talking down to the student.  The purpose is to educate with good vocabulary to help the student think, but with enough good material so as to be informed.

I just love how the whole package fits together.   I learned so much leafing through the pages.  For instance, did you know that “trade winds” got their name because at the time “trade” meant “path” in the English language and these winds follow a path as they move about, sailors used them to trace a path across the Atlantic ocean…Neat eh?!

My Thoughts:
Lonely Planets Kids is not a christian organization, and as such follows the old earth frame of reference, this does not need to detract from the great information contained within it’s pages.  It’s bright, colourful pages provide numerous talking points, and help show what the text is referring to.  It’s well worth a look at whether you are secular or Christian.   I think it would be a great resource to add to any library or to leave sitting around for a curious minded child to pick up and leaf through.

The Big Earth Book
Mark Brake
Dr. Mike Goldsmith (consultant)
Lonely Planet Kids
256 pages
Ages 8-12
Hardcover, earth, geography, history, science, resource

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books. 

 Where can I find it?
Amazon.ca: The Big Earth Book.
Amazon.com: The Big Earth Book.

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. 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. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: Thinking Like an Engineer

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Do you like it when your children and students ask questions, and have interest light up their eyes?  I would not have thought of my lad as being an engineer….but for the past few weeks he’s been designing,creating and asking questions as we work through Thinking Like an Engineer by Innovators Tribe. It has been fascinating watching his mind at work and his delight that genetic engineering is considered ENGINEERING!!!

So what can I tell you about Thinking Like an Engineer?


I can tell you that my son loves this program.  He doesn’t fight the learning but eagerly approaches his lessons, and when he tries a project he keeps at it, making sure to follow the rules laid out for him.  It’s a self-paced, STEM program that focuses on engineering, using hands on challenges to motivate the student.  Students can work through the program at their own speed, and they can go back and watch lessons again if they want to. It’s a very user friendly program, easily operated by a 12 year old.   The only thing he needed help with was downloading the software program.

When you login you come to this page, which shows you how far you are through the program.  Right now my lad is about 8% through the course, working at it three days per week, which occasional extra time on Friday.   We have missed the odd day due to the start of “cold” season, overall he’s been pretty consistent.

From there, you’ll find yourself on a page like this.   Where you are in the course on one side, the video on the other. That green arrow advances you in the lesson.

Sometimes in the lesson you will see a picture of Mr. Koeplin as he teaches, other times you see a variety of slides. 

The challenges were spelled out clearly, which was great for my precise lad.  He managed to make a tower about 6 feet tall, that would stand longer than 10 seconds as long as there was no wind at all.   Wind, even a very gentle breeze would cause it to topple over.

My lad was wondering what he’ll send up doing with the software, so I showed him the course outline.  Can you imagine his delight when he learned that he’ll be making a rollercoaster and a bridge!  🙂   So good to see excitement in a young fellow.

The book stack surprised me.  I expected maybe forty books all told.   But that lad ended up with much more than that.  I unfortunately walked in on him as he was putting a book on top …without it being centered (my bad!) and the books toppled over.  He did his best to recreate it for the pic but it just didn’t work the same.   

  
My Thoughts:
As I virtually had nothing with the program beyond setting it up and asking my lad where he was and what he needed to be doing… my thoughts are based on what I saw and heard.   Oh… and taking some video and pictures.  🙂

LOTS of questions and conversation.  “Mom, did you know…..”  “Mom, this was fun to do.”  “Mom, come see what I did!!” 

Some frustration “But mom, they said if it fell over at all I had to start over completely”… which led to me asking “Well, can you tell me why it fell down?”  His response: “A wind made it fall cause I moved.  I followed up with:  “So is that the fault of what you built or circumstances upon your control?”   Learning happened, understanding dawned, and he learned all the different factors that engineers have to take into account.   I think it would be good to build those questions into the program, to help the students work through potential issues they run into, and perhaps they have, but I haven’t listened to the entire program.   If they did, my son doesn’t remember them doing so.

 My Son’s Thoughts:
My overall opinion: “They did a good job.  I liked it.” 
Specifics: “They did a good job explaining all of the stuff.  They were really good at explaining how to do the 123d software.”  
Didn’t like: “It would be nice if their full screen would actually become full screen, cause their screen is kinda small.”
Recommendation:  “Get this program, because if you are at all interested in engineering of any kind, they will teach you about it.”


Innovators Tribe
Thinking Like an Engineer

Note: A single subscription can be used for an entire household. We received a 2-year subscription. 
Good for grades 6-12. 
Taught by Wayne Kroeplin.
Online video and hands on STEM course.

Guess what…until November 11 they are having a sale…35% off, check it out eh?  

Also reviewed by the crew: Thinking Like an Architect.

75 members of the homeschool review crew have checked out their two programs.  Click here (or on the image below) to see what others had to say.

http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/thinking-like-an-architect-or-engineer-innovators-tribe-reviews/

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you! ©2006-2017 A Net In Time. 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. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: Flashes of Genius Series

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Today I have for you four books in the Flashes of Genius Series by Luca Novelli. They are Darwin and the True Story of Dinosaurs, Einstein and the Time Machine, Leonardo da Vinci and the Pen that Drew the Future, and Newton and the Antigravity Formula. 

Quirky, that’s what I want to call these four little books.   None of them are very long, between 112-128 pages, making for a quick read, especially since most pages have at least one drawing on them.

Each book follows the life of one famous person from the past, telling their story in the first person, told in a very expressive fashion.   In Darwin’s case, he explains that he was accused of saying man comes from monkeys “even though I never said that”.

There are numerous pages of facts, delineated by a grey outline around the page.   The print on these pages was smaller than in the rest of the book, making them very easy to discern.  These pages gave facts not otherwise talked about in the rest of the book.  For instance, I learned the Newton “one time, he fixed one ee on the sun until he nearly ruined his eyesight“, and in Einstein’s book “small amounts of matter can be turned into large amounts of energy“.   The facts all differed, but where very interesting.

I have to admit, I am not really sure what I think of these books.  I’m put off by the story in the first person, I find myself wanting to dismiss what it says, and I’m not entirely sure why.  Each book closes with a glossary on the scientist involved, explaining some terms relevant to the topic.  This section also included black and white photos. 

I thoroughly appreciated that Darwin’s theory of evolution was indeed presented at a theory, though at other points the book pointed to it being a fact.  Which I don’t believe.  Evolution hasn’t been completely proven, and should be seen as a theory not a fact. 

Do I think these four books are worth looking at?
Yes.   You can be amused at the line drawings as you learn real facts about the scientists life and the work they engaged in.  There is some solid material in these books and that should not be discarded. 

With Leonardo we learn about how he was the greatest thinker of the Renaissance, he had his hand in so many pies and he kept thinking and learning.
Einstein and how he learned about light and put together his Theory of Relativity.
Newton with his laws of motion, developing calculus and laws about gravity.
Darwin and his theory of evolution and his journey around the world. 

All fascinating topics that every student should learn about.

Four different books (titles below)
Flashes of Genius Series
Luca Novelli
Softcover
Middle School
112-128 pages each.
Reviewed for: Chicago Review Press

Where can you find them:
Amazon.ca:
Darwin and the True Story of Dinosaurs
Einstein and the Time Machine
Leonardo da Vinci and the Pen that Drew the Future
Newton and the Antigravity Formula. 


Amazon.com: 
Darwin and the True Story of Dinosaurs
Einstein and the Time Machine
Leonardo da Vinci and the Pen that Drew the Future
Newton and the Antigravity Formula.

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. 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. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Fun Friday: Art is Science plus printable

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 As you may or may not remember I’m teaching a class called mudworks where we are experimenting with making different types of doughs out things you might not expect.

Up this week were doughs from bread, starch, shampoo and toothpaste.   Four stations with children at each of them.  Stay tuned for printable below.

I told the children that doing art like this was also doing science.  You have the basic ingredients, but things like weather and humidity can affect the amounts that you use.

Shampoo dough… I have to admit.. I LOVED the feel of this dough.   Like a silky smooth playdough.  Forms flat objects nicely, takes FOREVER to dry out.  🙂   This recipe took a lot more flour than expected.  I could roll that nice smelling dough around in my hands all day long felt so delectable.

Starch dough.   The recipe we used called for cornstarch, but the scientist in me had us also try out potato starch and tapioca starch.  They all gave a different feel to the dough.  Tapioca gave a very stretchy feel to the dough.   Potato starch felt like homecooked playdough with an extra solid feel.  Cornstarch was very moldable.    All three of these dry quickly.

Bread dough takes ALOT of working and proved to need a bit of fiddling with.   One person found added a touch of water made the dough more workable, some of the children gave up, and another added a touch of flour and made a lovely sculpture from it.

Toothpaste dough proved to be the bane of most of the youngsters who tried it out.  The recipe needed ALOT of fiddling, and it could have been the toothpaste I bought or the weather or .. I dunno, but it proven the perfect ground of experimentation for the two boys who stuck through out.  I gave them carte blanche and talked them through different ideas to try until they both ended up satisfied with the end result, which for both boys was quite different, one wanting a gloopy feel and the other wanting a more solid feel.  They both loved the toothpaste smell to this dough.

Now it is your turn!

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. 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. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: When I Was A Turkey

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I have to admit when I first saw this book when I was a turkey I thought what kind of a crazy character lives with turkeys, like seriously?!?!?!  And if I’m to be perfectly honestly, I didn’t even want to read about it, who wants to read about crazy people?  I chose to read it anyways, and found, much to my surprise, he wasn’t as crazy as I thought.  🙂  Good thing eh?   AND I was so surprised by this book I talked about it with friends.  

As a wildlife photographer, for Joe Hutto, raising these turkeye gave him the perfect opportunity to become intimately aware of how turkeys live and gave him ample opportunity to take pictures that otherwise we wouldn’t have.

Throughout this book you will find multiple pictures of turkeys in various stages of their life as well as pencil drawing of the turkeys and the wildlife and landscape surrounding them.

Joe says in the beginning of the book,

Nature always proves to be more interesting and complicated than we expect. As a naturalist and anthropologist., I am familiar with uncovering the science behind experiments in nature. What I didn’t expect was finding such an intriguing new family among the wild turkeys; together we shared a world of excitement and wonder. This is my story. I hope you enjoy it.


It was interesting to read all he learned about turkeys.  Learning how they sleep, what they eat, how intelligent they were, and how they acted if separated from their family. He learned how integral he was to their well-being.  He learned to copy their speech and in doing so learning how varied it was, and that they are surprisingly sensitive to colour.

All in all I was very pleased with this book, even becoming sad as he lost some of his beloved turkeys, sometimes for reasons known (predation) or for reasons unknown.. when they died unexpectedly.   His horror when Turkey Boy, the bird closest to him decided he was a rival…and needing to beat him off to save his own life.  Joe became very bonded to these turkeys and it was hard for him when they matured and started to go their own way, neighbours letting him know when his hens started having poults. 

Joe learned much and showed us much in his two year adventure with the turkeys.   I can’t say I still really understand his connection to them, but it was an interesting read, and I learned more about wild turkeys… which was the intent.  🙂

When I was a Turkey
Joe Hutto with Brenda Z. Guiberson
Christy Ottaviano Books
176 pages
Softcover
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Where can I Find it?
Amazon.ca: When I was a Turkey.
Amazon.com: When I Was a Turkey: Based on the Emmy Award-Winning PBS Documentary My Life as a Turkey

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. 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. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites

Review: Marine Science for Kids

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Marine Science for Kids is part of the for kids series put out by Chicago press. These books are fantastic resource for helping children explore a particular topic, in this case Marine Science.

In this book you will find career highlights, 21 different activities, clear well-developed images that show the vast variety of fauna and flora in the underwater environment.  Did you know there was such an animal as a tripod fish?   I had no clue a fish could use it’s tail for balance… did you?

Explore careers such as whale researcher, an aquarium director and others.  I really appreciated the human element they showed in these career highlights, giving the path the individuals took to get there, and what inspired them along the way. 

Walk with me as I show you how great a resource this is for your classroom whether you are in a public school or in-home school. The myriad of activities include writing assignments, hands on science experiments, art and many more.  There are 21 activities to expand your learning and cement it in well.

Seven chapters highlight our journey through Marine Science, with lots of pictures, readable text that draws you into the Marine environment.

The table of contents spells out the activities contained with the chapter making it easy to choose which one you want to work with.  Geared for a variety of ages making this book a delight to use with multiple students.

The clearly written activities spell out well the items you need to complete the activity as well as step by step walking you through what you need to do for successful completion.

I had a firm appreciation for all the images found throughout, breaking up the text nicely and adding sight to what words can’t fully convey.

My 12 year had little difficulty reading the passage that I had him test out, but I don’t know if he would be able to read the whole book and understand it all.   The text is definitely geared for middle school and up.   The well written headings, and good chapter outlines would make it easy for him to find the information he was looking for though.   The glossary and index at the close of the book would definitely be of aid as well. 

I am sure that you will be delighted with this book as much as I am.  I am looking forward to using this book with my lad, probably in grade 8 or 9 to teach him marine science. 

Marine Science for Kids: Exploring and Protecting our Watery World
Josh and Bethanie Hestermann
Series: For Kids
Publisher: Chicago Press
Pages: 132
Type: Science, Activity, softcover,
Elementary to Middle School
Reviewed for: Chicago Press

Where can I find it?
Amazon.ca: Marine Science.
Amazon.com: Marine Science for Kids: Exploring and Protecting Our Watery World, Includes Cool Careers and 21 Activities (For Kids series)

This post may contain affiliate links – using affiliate links from A Net in Time helps fuel this blog and our homeschool – thank you!

©2006-2017 A Net In Time. 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. A Net In Time . We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites