State Post Card Exchange Book Peek

Thought I would share what the Post Card book looks like-I still need to get the few cards so that I can get it bound, but then we will have a really nice display for the state name/scene and map cards.  When we get into the actual study, we will be using the Lapinder approach, with a few pages per state (larger map, basic info about it, more post cards, etc) -which I expect to take at least 2 or 3 semesters to complete.  I want to take our time and not slam the kid with the material so fast that he gets nothing from it.  Anyhoo-this is a peek of it pre-bound/finished.  I probably will upload the "State of the Union" sheets on Scribd for ya all-the only "learn from doing it" advice I have for ya-trim down the paper by at least 1/4-1/2" so that the edges laminate better (since you are putting 2 pages back to back and with the 4 post cards-it is a bit thick)...

I am showing one state here-but again-I have them 2 per page.  The top is the state name/scene card and the bottom the map.  I will be doing a different book for the capitals. 

I am working on wrapping up my postcard book-and need help

I am short a few postcards to finish this project and am looking to my bloggie pals for help.
We need a few more states (either one with a map of the state and/or one where the state capital building is on the front-usually they have the state's name too)-now I don't care if it has writing on the back (like if Aunt Polly sent ya one from HI whilst on vaca) b/cuz we glue it down to cardstock-we just need to get this done and I have exhausted most avenues to finding them-short of flying to that state to pick up a couple-LOL.  If you have a post card or 2 on our list and would be willing to donate to our project, or trade for a MI one (I also have some from other states to trade-so if you are doing a postcard swap too, maybe I have one you need) in return, please leave a comment (I won't publish those with details-I get them first to review, so I can keep them private) .  I want to start the states study in the spring and am looking to get everything ready and waiting.

Here is our list:  I really need the state map ones first, to finish the State Map and Card book we are making.

Cards with state maps on it:
Maine,  Illinois, Wyoming, South Dakota, Hawaii

State Capital Buildings:
Alaska, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nebraska,  New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Washington

If you have or can get one or more of these, please let me know-

Thanks so very much!

HS Blog Awards final voting is up

HS Blog Awards final voting is up.  I see that my blog , Homeschooling on a Wing and a Prayer,  made two categories.  I am so honored and actually, stunned that I made a final roll call list.  I certainly didn't expect that-so thanks to all who voted me into the second round-I am honored.  I wanted to point out that anyone who maintains a blog is worthy of an award-it is a work of love coming from the heart of the author who pens it. I am so grateful for all the fine blogs out there that inspire and encourage, make me laugh and cry, and offer great tips and links so that I can carry on with this great work called Homeschooling.  I truly know that without all of your blogs-I would be a bore. So thanks again to all of you-regardless if you received a nomination or actually come out the top blog dog from these awards. 

If you are curious-I am under 2 sections:  Best Encourager and Cyber Buddy.

Again, thanks to all of you who stop by and read my dribble,  and also who comment and encourage me to keep up with the blogging.  I have never blogged for the sole purpose of gaining awards-because my real reward is knowing I can empty some of this junk from my head, and have it actually help some of you out-and I will continue to do so-award or no award.  May God bless you and your blog so that it too, will continue to bless others. 

Apologia Exploring Creation Through Astronomy Elementary Lapinder update

The Lapinder pages for the Intro to the Apologia Astronomy Course-after completing the mini-booklets, we organized and placed them into binder. We are just about done with the Sun section-just a few more to go, then we'll post those. With the added use of the Science Center and various extra books-this is a great study. We're looking forward to learning about Mercury now (kinda sick of the sun-LOL).

I believe in a previous post, I mentioned the sources for these. If not-I will come back later and post those for you.

Crafty pumpkin by Buddy

We did the 2nd grade project from the Spears Art Studio program.  They worked on each section of the pumpkin-making different doodle lines/shapes. He had fun, and it was easy to do.  He was so anxious to have it up on the blog-so as promised to my boy-here it is.

Guess this is becoming my Artsie blog-well, here is a neat project

Isn't this pretty?  I think so anyhoo.  Well, I had my daughter do this assignment that was in the Elementary Spears Art Studio [grades 6-8], under the line-up for October.  It is the Pointillism Tree lesson.  Using several fine-point markers, she followed the directions and sample, and came up with this as the end result. 

It is all dots.  Neat heh?

You can read my review on the Spears Art Studio Christian Art Curriculum [K-8] and the High School one over on my 1 of 100 (Plus 25) TOS Crew Review Blog.  This was one of my favorite items to test out last year.  The projects are easy to do, and the results speak for themselves.

I had her do this, so she would be working on an art project that is somewhat similar to the one I am having her brother do (also in the lessons), using the same technique (which I hope to post soon). She also lamented about the fact that in her Acrylics Painting class (through the Homeschool Group) she had to paint trees, and was very frustrated about how difficult it was. Figured she could use the extra  practice.  This is one project we simply didn't get to last year, and yet-it was worth the wait.

Hot Diggety Dog Lapbook (from Hands of a Child)

We did the HOAC lapbook on Hot Diggety Dog.  It was fun to learn about the hot dog's origin and all those wonderful good things you never even thought of in regard to a hot dog!

The lapbook is designed to open top to bottom-I didn't use the suggested layout.  I then did the glue spray adhesive deal to the black construction paper, and stuck em down to the backs of the file folders. I remembered to packing tape the extra (cut down a tad) folder to the main one first (which I usually think of afterward). I just built a hot dog out of my scraps of card stock, then used my Quickutz (Snowman) letters to make the title. I did cover this puppy with packing tape because I didn't want pieces falling off (and most likely, they would have). That is not something I do with every lapbook, but this one screamed to be taped up on the cover.

 

 

Lots of info we enjoyed learning about-and so glad we finally wrapped it up-as it took forever to work thru it because we had to squeeze it between a lot of other activities this fall.

Oh, and it is still their free semi-annual download-so you can do this too-head over to the HOAC homepage and click the free icon, sign the download agreement and there you go!

 Hot Diggety to you all!

Peek at my daughter's art portfolio

My daughter still finds herself busy working on the 'puter drawing and I thought I would share some of her work-b/cuz as a proud momma, it is simply the thing to do.

The Japan Fox was designed for my pal Lynn's daughter for the Summer Exchange-and since Nina likes foxes and Japan-Sis drew this for her:

And recently she sent a fellow TOS Mate Tina's daughter (Courtney) this for her Bday (and the cool thing is the girls celebrate their birthdays only days apart, and were born the same year-cool!)

Sis designed this for herself. She likes Scooby Do stuff and Velma especially, so this is what she came up with:

She has a lot more, but these are the few she'd let me show-kids! LOL.

Bravest of Us All Lapbook

Finally, it is done. You can see most the elements in the picture show of it. You can find all the downloads for it (FIAR level 4 study) at Homeschool Share-Bravest of Us All Lapbook

My Lapinder© for Astronomy

Well, to go along with my organizing goals, I have constructed the binder for my son's future notebooking, mini-bookletting, and other info in regard to his study on the Solar System this year. We are using Apologia's Exploring Creation through Astronomy (Elementary book)as our backbone source, and will add in various other books, activities and projects to round it out. I used black and yellow cardstock and images I found in my MS Word images section, to create the section dividers (I am showing only a couple of them-figured you'd get the idea...I have it start with the sun and move along all the planets, the earth's moon comes right after earth [obviously], and then followed the lead of the chapters of the book for the rest); and then when we have a lapbook component, notebooking page, drawing or what have you-he will put it in (on subsequent black or yellow cardstock) the correct section as we go. I have a few different lapbooks on space and astronomy, and various other website downloads to add to this project. I am excited to see how this will come together over the next few months. The Lapinder^© will provide a lovely visual memory of our study for years to come.