The Study of Stories {freebie}

I love to study genealogy. I find it fascinating to look at lists of names and dates that tell me who my ancestors were, when they were born, and when and how they died. I enjoy reading those long lists of names in the Bible and figuring out who was alive when various events took place. I even love visiting cemeteries and reading the gravestones. It is interesting to see what names were popular at different times and what each family thought was important enough to record on the headstone. But what I really love is the stories that are hiding behind all those names and dates. That's also why I love geography- it is the study of stories that are still being lived.

There are many wonderful resources available on the internet to help you start learning these stories from many nations. Harvest Ministry is even offering a complete free downloadable homeschool curriculum with an emphasis on missions. Teaching With God's Heart for the World is a two-volume world missions curriculum by Ann Dunagan. The curriculum includes day-by-day teaching plans, missionary highlights, motivational mission stories, crafts, songs, prayer projects, and hundreds of ways to incorporate a passion for the lost into nearly every subject (including Bible Study, Family Devotions, Reading, Writing, Geography, History, Art, Science, and even highlights for Math).

Everyone, in every part of the world, has a story to tell and every story is different. But no matter how different, they all have one thing in common. Your story and my story and every other story from Adam until the end of time are all part of a bigger story- HIS story. No matter how different we all may be, God can still use our lives for His glory. And even though the world may seem like a very large place, there is no place so far away that God's love cannot reach it.

The Study of Stories

 The Study of Stories

I love to study genealogy. I find it fascinating to look at lists of names and dates that tell me who my ancestors were, when they were born, and when and how they died. I enjoy reading those long lists of names in the Bible and figuring out who was alive when various events took place. I even love visiting cemeteries and reading the gravestones. It is interesting to see what names were popular at different times and what each family thought was important enough to record on the headstone.  But what I really love is the stories that are hiding behind all those names and dates. That's why I also love geography- it is the study of the stories that are still being lived.

 

There are may wonderful  resources available on the internet to help you start learning these stories from many nations. Harvest Ministry is even offering a complete free downloadable homeschool curriculum with an emphasis on missions. Teaching With God's Heart for the World  is a two-volume world missions curriculum by Ann Dunagan. The curriculum includes day-by-day teaching plans, missionary highlights, motivational mission stories, crafts, songs, prayer projects, and hundreds of ways to incorporate a passion for the lost into nearly every subject (including Bible Study, Family Devotions, Reading, Writing, Geography, History, Art, Science, and even highlights for Math).

 

Everyone, in every part of the world, has a story to tell. And each story is different. But despite the differences, they all have one thing in common. All stories- from Adam until the end of time- are  part of HIS (bigger) story.  And even though the world can seem like a very large place, there is no place so far away that God's love does not reach it.

There's No Such Thing as a Free Lunch

If you have studied economics you are probably familiar with the expression "There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch." As homeschool moms who face an abundance of teaching resources, available at the click of a mouse, with no cost to us personally, it is easy to forget this fact. But the truth is, none of those "free" resources are really free. Each and every one of them has cost somebody something to create them or host them and it is by their generosity that these resources are available to us. In return, we ought to consider it our duty to show gratitude for the benefits we receive.

Here are three easy ways to demonstrate your appreciation to these "silent heroes" of the curriculum world:

1. Don't forget to say "thank-you". This ought to be obvious, but how often do we really send out notes of thanks for the freebies we receive? Most of these individuals ask for nothing more than to know that they have made a difference in someone's life. Be diligent to encourage those who otherwise receive no recompence for their labors and they will feel that all their time and effort was well spent.

2. Be fair in your critiques. Have you ever downloaded something and thought, "What a waste of my time! I could have done a better job than this!" or "This isn't what I was hoping for!" Yet the fact that you have no need of that item doesn't make it less valuable to others that might download it or make its creator any less generous for offering it.

As both a reviewer and a publisher on the Currclick website, I like to keep up with the comments posted there. Over the past several months I have noticed some very bad reviews being given to products which are offered as freebies. People download a file because it costs them nothing, then give a review based on how the product fit their needs, rather than on the quality and merits of the product. They do this without stopping to think what it cost that publisher to offer it in the first place or to consider what their review will do to the overall reputation of that publisher. I wonder how many of these publishers, after making such a sacrifice and receiving such a poor thanks, will have the desire to make that mistake again?


3. Respect copyrights. It is easy to assume that because a publisher is willing to give his product away, he has given up all rights to it. Yet this is not the case. Many publishers use free promotions to draw traffic to their websites and generate income to support themselves. Others offer freebies solely for the gratification that comes from helping others. No matter the reason, and no matter the price, these items are still under copyright. It is up to the publisher to decide where they are posted and who receives them. And it is also up to the publisher whether or not these items should remain free.

Too often I've seen examples of files being copied from various websites and posted on Yahoo Groups or on file sharing sites without the permission of the original creator. I 've also witnessed conversations concerning limited time freebies. Someone who has missed out on the opportunity to download a previously posted freebie will request that the item be forwarded to her and someone else will send it. We may see these as harmless acts, but if intellectual property rights are not respected, more and more publishers will decide that these "free" products are not worth the cost.

I'll end with a quote from Jessica Feliciano of Notebooking2Learn. I believe she voiced the thoughts of all our "silent heroes" when she wrote:

"For those of you who have been blessed by the free resources that you find here and elsewhere among generous homeschooling mom's, please don't take them for granted. They truly are labors of love and many times cost their creators much more than time. What some may not realize is that the cost of clip art, printer ink and paper to make these resources and to make sure that they "work" before they are shared can really add up. If you are blessed by a free resource, consider taking the time to say thank you. It is a little gesture that goes a long way. Be considerate of the creators and make sure you link others back to their work and don't just share a resource because it was free. Be grateful for the resources that are available and don't make a habit of expecting more."

Local Flavor, Mountain Style

Civil War doctor's kit

Ever since our house sold, the children and I have been taking photographs of our hometown in anticipation of our move to Michigan. We plan to use these to create a special notebook for the children to look through when they are homesick. We even took pictures of the local Food Lion because it's my three-year-old's favorite "restaurant."

A small part of the arrowhead collection

We've also been photographing some of the fun places nearby that we don't usually take time to visit. Last month, we made a trip to a boot shop in a neighboring town which is home to a small, private museum. The owner has a huge collection of artifacts, newspaper clippings, and photographs. There are cases full of Indian arrowheads, Civil War bullets, pioneer items, and some more unusual items. The kids had a great time and made even more wonderful memories to carry with them. 

A few of the many antique tools

And the most memorable items in the collection . . . The stuffed calves

The Hidden Art of Homemaking

I've been working on a lapbook to go along with The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer. This is an excellent book with lots of wonderful ideas on how to realize your full potential, while creating a fuller, richer homelife for yourself and your family. Mrs. Schaeffer works from the premise that everyone has God given talents, gifts of creativity given to us by a creative God, and we shouldn't allow our present circumstances to keep us from using those talents. For instance, Mrs. Schaeffer describes how to create a "home" that reflects your own personality- whether you are renting in the city, single and "waiting", living in a nursing home, or even living in a drainpipe. She also points out how stifling our talents hurts us and those around us, and gives pointers on ways that everyone, even a mother with many young children, can use their gifts of music, drama, drawing, or writing to bless their own small audience.  This book covers a multitude of other topics as well, including cooking, flower arrangement, clothing, creative recreation, and even integration. It is not a "how-to" manual, but rather an idea manual, guaranteed to get those creative juices flowing. 

In the process of re-reading this book, I was convicted of an area where I have been sinning against my children.  While I am all for art and creativity, I also have this practical side which can't tolerate what I consider to be a waste. So, when my children spend hours creating elaborate, artistically decorated notes, I get rather impatient with them. Why spend all that time and effort, not to mention the "waste" of paper, on something which could have been spoken in a matter of seconds? Yet I now see that this just one of their ways of practicing "hidden art." It is a good thing, given to them by a God who created all things to be good.  And just like Him, it is their desire to fill the world with beauty. (And they didn't even need a book to tell them how!)

The Hidden Art of Homemaking is an excellent book with lots of wonderful ideas on how to realize your full potential, while creating a fuller, richer homelife for yourself and your family. It covers a multitude of topics including cooking, flower arrangement, clothing, creative recreation, and even integration. It makes a great study for mothers to do alone or with their daughters.

Slime Science

Let's face it, most kids love to make a mess! And, yes, slime can be messy. But it is truly amazing how many different things you can learn while playing with this sticky, gooey goop. Keep reading and I'll introduce you to just a few of the many scientific topics which can be explored using different types of slime.

MOLECULES

Molecules are small particles that make up matter. They are made up of even tinier particles called atoms. Some molecules have as few as two atoms while some have millions of atoms. Each molecule has its own special shape that allows it to interact with other molecules. These interactions allow living things to do the things which are characteristic of being alive, such as moving and reproducing.

POLYMERS

The word polymer means "many parts". A polymer is a large molecule made up of many smaller molecules linked together like a long chain. Polymers have many distinct properties which allow them to be used for lots of different things including car parts, food storage, adhesives, packaging and protective coverings.

There are polymers almost everywhere in nature. Proteins that make up hair, feathers, cartilage, and other body parts are polymers. So are the starches in our food, and cellulose in wood, leaves, and other plant parts. Bone, horn, cotton, silk, rubber, paper, and leather are all polymers. Even DNA is a polymer!

There are many manmade polymers as well. Fabrics such as rayon and polyester, polystyrene (used in Styrofoam coffee cups), and PVC (used in pipes) are common examples of manmade polymers.

Flexible Molecules

Materials:

Ziplock bag
sharpened pencil
water
wooden skewer
balloon
vegetable oil

What To Do:

Fill the plastic bag almost full of water. Seal the bag. Hold the bag over a sink or bucket or over the ground outside. While you hold the bag, your partner should slowly push the point of the pencil through the side of the plastic bag and into the water. Did any water spill? Don't take the pencil out. Why do you think very little or no water spills? Look closely at the plastic bag surrounding the pencil. How would you describe the way the plastic bag fits around the pencil? Do you think the pencil can go all the way through the water and out the other side of the bag with no water spilling? Ask your partner to slowly push the pencil all the way through the other side of the bag. What happened?

Try to poke a wooden skewer through a balloon without popping it. This takes some practice! Rub a little vegetable oil along the length of the skewer. Carefully poke it through the thick, unexpanded material near the knot of the balloon. Then twist the skewer as you move it through the balloon. Poke the skewer out through the thickest part at the other end of the balloon. Is there anything about long thin polymer strands that might help explain why the pencil can do this?

How it works:

The plastic bag and the balloon are very flexible because of the long, stretchy molecules called polymers from which they are made. When a sharp pencil or skewer is poked through, some of the long thin polymer strands shift over and then flex enough to squeeze back around the pencil or skewer. This flexibility creates somewhat of a seal so that the water or air does not spill out much. Rubber tires on cars also work this way. A gummy layer on the inside of the tire seals around any nails or sharp objects that poke directly into the tire.

Skim Milk Glue

Materials:

skim milk (whole milk won't work because the fat molecules separate with the casein and interfere with the glues structure, making it too weak)

vinegar

glass jar

cheesecloth

baking soda

What To Do:

Place 1/2 cup skim milk in a glass or jar. Add 1/8 cup vinegar and stir for a few minutes. Small lumps, which are curds, will form. Let them settle for a few minutes, then pour off as much liquid (the "whey") as possible. Filter the remainder through a cheesecloth until the curds are dry, and return them to the glass. Add about 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (for neutralization) to the curds, and mix. You should see some slight foaming. Keep mixing until the curd becomes smoother and more liquid. The curd has now become glue. If the mixture is too thick, add a few drops of water. If it is too lumpy, add another pinch of baking soda, and stir. You should see some foaming. Don't be afraid to experiment by adding more water or baking soda to improve the consistency of your glue. The finished product can vary from a thick liquid to a thick paste. This depends on how much curd there is, and how much water and baking soda are used. Use your new glue to paste together pieces of paper. It may take 15-30 minutes to dry depending on how much you use, but it should work as well as a traditional white school paste. Cover your cup of glue with plastic wrap and let it sit for a few hours, or even overnight. The consistency should become smoother and clearer. Dispose of the wet glue in the trash within 24-48 hours or it will start to spoil and smell like spoiled milk.

How it works:

When you added the vinegar to the milk, it caused the milk's protein, the polymer casein, to separate from the liquid part of the milk and clump together to form solids. The baking soda neutralizes the acid in the vinegar. When the curd no longer has acid in it, it returns to a more liquid form. The liquefied casein protein is a natural glue. The foaming you see when the baking soda is added to the curd is carbon dioxide gas, which is made when the baking soda reacts with the acid in the vinegar. Casein has a lot of industrial uses. It is used in food products such as non-dairy creamers and as a raw material in adhesives, paints, and even plastics.

BONDS

Molecules are held together by bonds. Some bonds are stronger than others. Two types of bonds are covalent bonds (formed by the sharing of electrons) and ionic bonds (formed by the attraction of oppositely charged ions).

ELASTOMERS AND PLASTICS

Two important polymeric materials are elastomers and plastics. Elastomers and plastics are groups of polymer chain molecules held together by secondary bonds. If the molecules aren't stuck to each other too much, they will form an elastomer. Elastomers allow movement of individual polymer molecules. They can be stretched and will return to their original shape. But if the molecules are well-attached to each other, you get a plastic. Plastics are a large group of man made polymers containing many polymer molecules locked into place.

We can use cooked spaghetti to help us understand elastomers and plastics better. When a pile of spaghetti is taken out of the pan, the strands flow like a liquid. The long "molecules" are slippery and slide past each other easily, almost like a liquid. After a while, the water drains off the pasta, the strands start to stick together in a few places, and the spaghetti takes on a rubbery texture. Then the substance behaves like an elastomer. Wait a little while longer and the pile of spaghetti turns into a solid mass. The "molecules" become stuck together, just like a plastic.

Stretching Bonds

Materials:

one sheet each of newspaper, typing paper, construction paper, writing paper, and cardboard

gummy candy

candy containing chewy caramel

marshmallow

standard (metric) ruler

What To Do:

Hold the sheet of newspaper so that it looks as if you are holding a rectangle. With your hands, pull (in opposite directions) both ends of the paper. Notice what happens. Rip the sheet of newspaper in half. Notice how easily it rips and the shape formed on each piece of paper after it is ripped. Repeat steps 1 and 2 with each type of paper. Carefully and slowly stretch a marshmallow to the point where it is ready to separate into two pieces. Using the standard (metric) ruler, measure to the nearest inch (centimeter) the farthest distance that the bonds in the marshmallows stretched. Repeat steps 4 and 5 with a piece of gummy candy and with a piece of candy containing chewy caramel.

Slime

Materials:

school glue

Borax brand powdered soap

Ziplock bag (quart size)

Empty plastic soda bottle with cap

Water

What To Do:

Add 1 tablespoon of Borax powder to 1 cup of water. Remember that one cup of Borax water will make many batches of Slime. Measure 2 tablespoons of glue into a plastic cup. Add 1 tablespoon of plain water to the cup and mix. The additional water makes the glue very runny. Add 1 tablespoon of the Borax water to the bag of watered down glue. Mix completely. What is happening to the runny glue? What changes are taking place? Is it a solid? Is it a liquid? What is this slimy stuff?

How it works:

When you poured the Borax into the glue solution, your blob of glue did not act like regular glue anymore. It became stretchier and was not as sticky. This change happened because of a change with the polymer in the glue. The polymer in Elmer's glue is a liquid polymer called polyvinyl acetate. The molecule strands are not joined so they slide past each other as the glue flows. A chemical in the Borax solution connects the polyvinyl acetate molecules to make a large network - rather like a flexible scaffolding-so they can't slide as much. This is called cross-linking. This turns the liquid polymer into an elastomer which is soft or stiff depending on the amounts of glue, water, and Borax you use. The molecules aren't fixed in place so they can still be stretched, unlike a hard plastic.

Putty

Materials:

glue (wood glue works well but white glue will work too)

Epsom salts

water

measuring spoons

plastic spoon

2 small cups

waxed paper

What To Do:

In one cup, put 1/2 tsp Epsom salt and 1/2 tsp water, stir to dissolve salt. (NOTE: It may not all dissolve.) In the other cup, put 1 tablespoon glue. Add the Epsom salt water to the glue and stir. Watch as your new material starts to form. Pull out the putty and put it on the waxed paper. You can experiment with it to find out more about its properties. You can store the new putty in a plastic bag.

How it works:

The glue with Epsom salts polymer is similar to the Borax polymer. The way that these strands are connected by the other chemical gives each polymer its unique characteristics.

NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS
Back in the 1700s, a scientist named Isaac Newton studied fluids and wrote down what he learned about their behavior. He observed that the viscosity of an ideal liquid could only be changed by changing the liquid's temperature. Viscosity is a big word which means "resistance to flow." If a liquid is heated, it tends to become less viscous (it flows better); and if cooled, it tends to be more viscous (it flows more slowly). Liquids that pour and behave like the liquids Newton wrote about are called Newtonian fluids. But some liquids don't follow Newton's model of viscosity. Their viscosity can be affected by things other than temperature. These are called Non-Newtonian fluids.

Ooblech

Materials:

One box of corn starch (16 oz.)

Large mixing bowl

Cookie sheet, square cake pan, or something similar

Pitcher of water

Spoon

What To Do:

Pour approximately 1/4 of the box of cornstarch into the mixing bowl and slowly add about 1/2 cup of water. Stir. Sometimes it is easier to mix the cornstarch and water with your bare hands. Continue adding cornstarch and water in small amounts until you get a mixture that has the consistency of honey. Notice that the mixture gets thicker or more viscous as you add more cornstarch. Pour the mixture onto the cookie sheet or cake pan. Run your fingers through it slowly and quickly. Notice the different ways it reacts. Slap your hand on the surface, or pick some up and let it run through your fingers.

WARNING:

Over time, the grains of cornstarch will separate from the water and form a solid clump at the bottom of the plastic storage bag. It is for this reason that you must not pour this mixture down the drain. It will clog the pipes and stop up the drain. Pour the mixture into a zipper-lock bag and dispose of it in the garbage.

How it works:

Your Oobleck is a non-Newtonian liquid that becomes more viscous when force is applied to it. It acts this way because it is made up of tiny, solid particles of cornstarch suspended in water. Chemists call this type of mixture a colloid. Colloids or colloidal suspensions are mixtures of solids and liquids in which the solid particles remain suspended but do not dissolve. When you squeeze the colloid or stir it quickly, the particles don't have time to move out of each other's way. This causes them to pile up on each other and makes the liquid act as if it were a solid.

GELS
Gels are polymers made of long, thin molecules that are cross-linked to form a random network. This network has microscopic gaps that trap and hold liquids. When the gaps in the network are empty, the gel is shrunken and stiff. But when liquid creeps in, the gel expands and becomes softer and wobblier.

Diaper Dissection

Materials:

diaper (large, disposable and super-absorbent)

Ziplock bag (1 gallon size)

water

small cup

clear plastic cup

paper towel

food coloring

dropper

measuring spoons

WARNING:

The powder found in the diaper (sodium polyacrylate) will irritate the nasal membranes if inhaled. Avoid eye contact; if it gets into eyes, they will become dry and irritated. Be sure to wash hands after use.

What To Do:

Use a pair of scissors to cut off the paper or plastic edge around the entire diaper. Place the padded middle part of the diaper into the zip-closing plastic bag. Reach into the bag with both hands and separate the cotton, paper, and plastic layers of the diaper. Leave all material in the bag. Seal the bag and shake it for about 1 minute. Look at the bottom of the bag as you tilt it to one side. You should notice white granules collecting in the corner of the bag. Now, without opening the bag, move the cotton, plastic, or other large pieces of material toward the top of the bag. Keep the material up there as you shake the bag again. This will allow the granules to fall down to the bottom without getting picked up by the cotton again. After you have about a teaspoon of granules in the corner of the bag, slowly open the bag and remove the large pieces of material. Throw them away. Now, carefully pour the granules into a small cup. Wash you hands.

Place about a cup of water into a small cup. Add two or three drops of food coloring and swirl to mix. Place a small mount (about 1/8 teaspoon) of the powder onto the center of a paper towel. Add one drop of the colored water to the granules on the paper towel. Continue adding one drop at a time to the granules and observe. What do the granules appear to be doing? How many drops can you add to the granules before the water spreads out much on the paper towel?

Take the rest of your granules and pour them into a clear plastic cup. Predict the number of tablespoons of water the granules can gel. Now try it by adding 1 tablespoon of water at a time. Watch what happens. What do you observe? How close was your prediction?

How it works:

The gel particles inside disposable diapers are made of sodium polyacrylate which is a man-made polymer. The sodium ions are the gel's secret weapon for luring water molecules inside its structure at a reasonably low temperature. The polymer gel in a dry diaper only has about one percent water, so the particles are very small. When the diaper gets wet, water molecules

More Slime-y Fun

Edible Slime

Have fun playing with (and eating) this slippery, slimy stuff!

Materials:

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

1 T. cornstarch

10 to 15 drops green food coloring

What To Do:

Pour the can of condensed milk into a saucepan. Add cornstarch and cook over low heat, stirring constantly. When the mixture thickens, remove from heat and add food coloring. Cool before using.

Soap Slime

Make clean up fun!

Put small scraps of bar soap in a jar. Cover with warm water and seal the jar. Allow to sit for a couple of days until slime forms. You may also want to add some essential oil or lemon juice to make it smell nice.

Our Favorite Science Supplier

Home Science Tools

Not only does this site have a great selection of affordable science supplies, but they have a free newsletter which is very informative and contains lots of fun science projects. I buy almost all of my children's science stuff here.

Friendly Strangers Are Dangerous Too!

My online blogger friend, Jimmie, recently posted a blog entry on how to deal with unwanted attention that foreign children receive in China. Her advice got me thinking about similar issues we have been dealing with here in America.

Our children are very friendly and outgoing. In the past, we taught them to respect adults and to always answer when you are spoken to, but recently we have had to rethink things.

There are many times when complete strangers will engage my children in conversation, offer them candy (while I'm standing there and without asking me first), ask them for hugs, or even ask them if they want to go home with them!!!! And my children don't think twice about who this person is. As the saying goes, "They've never met a stranger." Yet, while these people may be well meaning (even if they are rather thoughtless), not everyone has good intentions. Not all adults are worthy of respect.

I've seen that my reaction to these incidents has given my children the wrong idea. By smiling at these "friendly" strangers, I've taught my children that it is OK to take things from strangers, to let them touch you, even to go with them if they want to take you somewhere. I ought to be reacting with indignation. After all, this person just threatened to kidnap my child!!!

We need to be teaching our children to set boundaries. We need to tell them it's OK to avoid uncomfortable situations. Although our goal should be to be polite, if possible, sometime situations call for a bit of rudeness. The safety of our children is worth a few hurt feelings.