Our seven year old daughter has quite a fertile mind. She’s quite creative, precocious and funny, as you’ll hear. Maddie’s daddy has been podcasting and broadcasting on the internet for years – I actually have a business teaching people how to do this –  and she has felt for some time now that her time has come to join the family trade.

The actual title for this podcast is: Feline Biology, Songs & Crystal Wall. I insisted that Maddie prepare (“but, do not script”) this show herself. This originated completely in her mind. She decided on what was important to discuss. She practiced the song (one of many from her vast repertoire!) on an old, beat-up, out-of-tune children’s guitar – which, try as a might, I can’t keep in tune. Besides, she much prefers to pluck out melodies on a keyboard. But daddy plays guitar, so she wants to play guitar. The song is called, Going On A Trip With Your Lizard. Cracks us up every time we hear it! She also jotted down notes about her favorite place ever: Crystal Wall! A place of wonder that exists entirely in her cute little head. As far as Feline Biology… well, we make no claim that the information given has any basis in reality. “Tentacles in their skin?!”

Anyway, this is the 1st episode of the Famtasticast and this is what I’ve always wanted the HMHS Podcast Network to be.

We hope you enjoy. We also hope that it will inspire you and your family to create content. Please leave Maddie a comment below. She would appreciate it.

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Well, after a vacation to visit family and friends out in California we’re back with a new installment of HMHS Vintage Video. And just in time for the holiday season!

From 1951, the Homemade Homeschoolers Podcast presents: A Day of Thanksgiving.

Like many, the family in this film is unable to afford a turkey for their Thanksgiving meal, but use the opportunity of the holiday to focus on the things that they have been blessed with. After all, that is what a day of Thanksgiving is really about, just as the chorus of the beloved hymn encourages us to do every day: “Count your blessings, name them one by one; Count you blessings, see what God hath done”.

Use this film in a discussion of the true meaning behind the 1st Thanksgiving holiday with your children.

We would also encourage you to read our Thanksgiving post from last year titled “Thankfulness”. And as we enter this time of the year you may also want to consider our PDF download lesson on writing a proper Thank You letter. The file includes stationary with designs for use all year long.

How have you taught your children the true meaning of Thanksgiving? We would love to hear from you. Use our comment section below; it is both easy and convenient.

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From 1949, the Homemade Homeschoolers Podcast presents: Sharing Work At Home

This educational film shows the importance of the concerted effort of each family member, as much as ability allows, and how it contributes to the maintaining of a home. Of course, just as with any of the films of this genre and era that we present, there will be those that will be tempted to belittle the material; and that is to be expected. Real life rarely works like this, but the principle stands: Every one should have their part in the up-keep of the home.

As a homeschooling family our focus is not on the minutiae of an immaculately clean home; it is on the proper care and feeding of our children, their training and education, their understanding of God and what he expects of them. And we expect that these things are common amongst a majority of homeschool families. However, the responsibilities of chores around the house are an important part of their education. We just wish that they would do chores with a smile on their face, too. Ha!

We encourage you to watch this film as a family. Discuss the message being presented. What are your thoughts on creating an attitude of co-operation within the family in regards to the upkeep of the home? Please leave us comments about your family’s discussions below this post. We would love to hear them, and get some good advice and ideas from you!

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From 1947, the HMHS Podcast Network is very pleased to bring this Favorite Story production of Jules Vernes’ 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

Favorite Story, a radio dramatization bringing classic literature to radio through high-quality half-hour programs, ran from 1946 – 1949. The show originally aired on KFI radio in Los Angeles before leaping to national broadcast. Later, Favorite Story transitioned to television.

This production of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea will certainly have you and your children riveted to the speakers as you listen. And it is our hope that, if your children haven’t done so already, this will inspire them to read the classic novel by one of the greatest authors in history, Jules Verne.

Look for more episodes of Favorite Story in the future!

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From 1955, the HMHS Podcast Network presents this animated film produced for Pan American World Airways, Sentinel in the Sky.

This is a fun, simply-animated explanation of how radar works, and its use in airliners to provide a comfortable and safe flight. This is sure to be enjoyed by children and adults alike.

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The Homemade Homeschoolers Podcast Network presents, from 1949, another episode of Mr. President – Thomas Jefferson.

Remember: Don’t tell your children who the president featured in this episode is; see if they can identify him correctly after listening to this dramatized event from his presidency. Enjoy some family time together gathered around the computer or mp3 player and enjoy this installment of Remembering Radio!

Also, make sure you have listened to Mr. President – George Washington that was posted right here on the HMHS Podcast Network.

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From 1956, the Homemade Homeschoolers Podcast Network presents part 2 of Science in Action: Submarines.

Dr. Earl S. Herald continues this episode with a short presentation of the California Academy of Sciences before resuming his discussion about Submarines with Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood. Topics include: the selection of personnel, use of the Munson Lung, the operation of a Submarine under full activity, and the “Submarine of the future”.

The episode ends with the Animal of The Week segment featuring the Toucan.

Don’t miss Science In Action: Submarines Pt. I

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From 1943, the Homemade Homeschoolers Podcast Network presents: Adventures In Research - Piece of Silk.

Adventures in Research, produced in cooperation with the Westinghouse Research Laboratories, was a radio docu-drama that was heard in the 1940′s and 1950′s. Originally the show was in a questions and answers format, but was changed to present dramatized accounts of important scientific discoveries and inventions while remaining historically accurate.

This episode, Piece of Silk, tells the story of Andre-Jacques Garnerin – the French inventor of the frameless parachute. His first jump was from approximately 3,000 feet in 1797 and in 1802 he successfully completed an 8,000 foot jump in England. We are certain that you and your family will find this show informative, entertaining, and exciting!

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From 1956, the Homemade Homeschoolers Podcast Network presents part 1 of Science in Action: Submarines.

Science in Action was a San Francisco TV program produced at the California Academy of Sciences and hosted by Dr. Earl S. Herald at 7 p.m. once a week for 14 years, between 1952 and 1966. Dr. Herald was superintendent of the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences, and an expert on fish.

This episode, in Kinescope, is devoted to submarines – their design, operation, and the duties of the crew. Guests include Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood to explain the technology behind Submarines of the time, such as the famous nuclear-powered Nautilus (the first vessel to complete a submerged transit across the North Pole), using models, diagrams and film footage.

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We have been studying Spanish for the last few years and have been blessed to own
Rosetta Stone.  It is a wonderful program that fully immerses you in the language by reading, hearing, and typing.  It is easy enough even for my 6 year old to associate the pictures with the given words.  However, as with any language learning, I wanted to bring our Spanish experience beyond “computer time” with the Rosetta Stone program.  I came up with a VERY simple way to incorporate language learning throughout the day.  I simply use Post-It notes throughout the schoolroom and house with the Spanish words for specific items.  It is exactly the same as labeling items for early readers of English.  I have labeled windows, doors, pencils, bookshelves, desks, washer and dryer, tables, chairs, etc., etc.  When I ask the kids to get a paper and pencil, I try to say “consiga un papel y el lápiz” instead.  When they are labeled, it’s easy for the kids and I to remember!  FreeTranslation.com is a great site for converting English to many other languages and very easy to do!

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