Homeschool Skills

Partnerships

2011-09-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

As you may have noticed, Homeschool Skills didn't make it back after the break. This summer has been a wild one for my family. I appreciate your ongoing support and readership.

I have been asked to contribute to other homeschool publications, and I look forward to contributing to those projects. Homeschool Skills will remain here, just like it is now, for reference. My new work will appear elsewhere, but I may update this site with links occassionally.

Until then, check out this new blog for everything homeschool. I will be making occassional contributions to this site, and I look forward to seeing you there! The site is new, so there isn't much there yet. My first post is

Click here

We'll Be Back After the Break!

2011-05-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hello, Homeschool Skills readers!

I sincerely apologize for the inconsistent posting over the last month or so. As you may know, Homeschool Skills is run by just one person--me! Although I had hoped to be able to continue posting three times a week to this site, it looks like I will be unable to sustain that goal. If I could, I would--I love writing content for this site much more than I like working at my other jobs!

I will be taking a brief break from this site as I work on other professional endeavors. Starting June 14, posting will resume on a weekly or twice-weekly basis.

Please contact me at homeschoolskills@gmail.com if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for future posts. If you would like to be featured as a guest blogger, please let me know! I am interested in beginning a bi-weekly family feature that shares homeschooling stories from my readers. (I can see the stats! I know you're there! :P)

Thank you for your continued support and patience,
~Nicole

Tornadoes

2011-05-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

With record-setting tornado outbreaks across the United States, now is an ideal time to introduce your children to these fierce phenomena. Already, the incomplete 2011 tornado season has set many records. As of today, it is the ninth deadliest tornado year on record. Sunday’s tornado in Joplin, Missouri, is the second deadliest single tornado in the NOAA-NWS Official record that dates back to 1950. The fourth deadliest single day in tornado history was April 27, 2011.

In addition to emergency preparation, this is an excellent opportunity to teach your children the science behind tornadoes.

Tornadoes are columns of air made from fast-moving wind. These storms can achieve wind speeds of 300 miles per hour. Typically formed during thunderstorms, tornadoes are caused by instability in the atmosphere, when a downward flow of cold air meets a rising flow of warm air.

Tornadoes can range in severity from ‘F0’ to a ‘F5’ on the Fujita-Pearson scale, with each category representing a different amount of speed and damage.

F0	40 – 72 mile per hour winds cause light damage, such as breaking limbs from trees.
F1	73 – 112 mile per hour winds snap trees and damage roofs.
F2	113 – 157 mile per hour winds demolish mobile homes, uproot trees, etc.
F3	158 – 206 mile per hour winds overturn trains and lift cars.
F4	207 – 260 mile per hour winds level homes into debris and throw cars several hundred yards.
F5	261 – 318 mile per hour winds blow away homes and throw vehicles like missiles.

Tornado in a Bottle

Create a tornado in a bottle. Fill one two liter bottle halfway with water. Remove the cap from a second two liter bottle and set it on top so that the openings connect. Tape the bottles together with generous amounts of tape. Turn them over so that the bottle with the water is on top, and swirl the bottle to create a tornado inside the bottle.

Use a stopwatch to time the water as it drains into the lower bottle through the tornado. Flip the bottles over again and record the time it takes the water to drain without creating a vortex. Notice that the water drains into the lower bottle much faster after the vortex, or tornado, is created. This is because the hole in the center of the vortex allows air to come up into the upper bottle. This allows the water and air to move simultaneously.

Get Involved

One of the biggest benefits to homeschooling is the ability to get involved and ‘humanize’ the curriculum. You don’t just have to study tornadoes—you can make a difference.

Teach your children about the ongoing damage and suffering caused by this year’s tornado season. Share stories and news pieces of the damage. Share pictures and videos as you deem appropriate, based on the child’s age and maturity level.

Decide today to make a difference and teach your children compassion, something more valuable than science and current events. I encourage everyone who is able to donate to the relief effort through the American Red Cross (https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?df_id=5110&5110.donation=form1&s_src=RSG00000E000&s_subsrc=stateofmissouri-pub). The minimum acceptable donation amount is $10.

Officials have estimated that $15 will buy one family clean-up kit. $60 will provide sanitary kits for four victims. $80 offers a night in a hotel for a displaced victim. $115 buys one week’s groceries for a family of four. A very generous $500 gift will provide a disaster victim with medical supplies, equipment, medication and mental health counseling.

Please know that Homeschool Skills does not have any involvement with and does not recieve profit from the gathering of donations by the Red Cross.

Teaching Different Ages

2011-05-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

Most home school families (62%!) have three or more children at home. Teaching three or more children of different ages can get complicated! The good news is that it is and can be done. While not every strategy works for every home school family, there is a strategy that will work for you. The trick is finding it.

Dealing with Babies and Toddlers

Children too young to participate can complicate matters. Trust me—I know firsthand!

While some families prefer to coordinate school time for the older children with nap time for the younger children, I encourage parents to try to keep their little ones close by during school time if possible. I have been amazed to see how fast my young child learns as she watches her brothers. She usually supervises from her perch in the high chair, where she happily snacks or colors pictures. Some parents have found success dedicating a box of toys specifically for use school time, so that the unfamiliar toys hold the child’s attention longer.
If the younger child is detracting from the learning of older siblings, the children should be separated. Put the child in naptime or separate them into different rooms.

Work Together

Homeschooling takes a lot of hard work and dedication from the parents. However, there is nothing wrong with letting a skilled child practice with or even teach a younger child (with supervision). Do you have a child who is talented at math or reading? Encourage them to teach what they know to a younger sibling.

Do you have a child who needs to practice reading, and a child who loves to be read to? Set them up together and let the reader practice reading aloud to a sibling.

Teach the Same Thing

With the exception of certain skill-based material, such as reading and math, the children can be taught together in history, science, etc. While older children will be more prepared to tackle complex information and remember it, younger children will still be able to learn some of the content.

Take advantage of “Unit Studies” which allow the family to learn the same thing at their own independent level. This allows the entire family to learn and work together, without placing unrealistic demands on younger children or cheating older children of a challenging educational experience.

Encourage Independence

Independent learning is a wonderful skill that can be taught and acquired in a home school environment. Older children can be given tasks and encouraged to work without direct supervision.

Keep Perspective

A hundred years ago, one room schoolhouses with all age groups were the norm. Those children survived and thrived, producing educated individuals that excelled beyond the capacity of most modern-day graduates. It takes work and devotion, but homeschooling families with different age groups is very rewarding. Keep up the good work!

Questions & Doubters

2011-05-16T14:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was once again asked The Question. I have a son who recently turned five, and people are very interested in where he’ll be going to school and when he starts. Everyone seems to have lots of opinions.

I always answer resolutely, “He’s already in school. We’re homeschooling.”

Reactions vary after that. Some people are enthusiastic; others don’t care. Some get downright irritated (and I’ll admit—sometimes their reactions irritate me! But I am starting to develop a thick skin about the whole thing). However, almost everyone says one or more of the following comments:

“I don’t know how people can homeschool! How can you stand being with your kids all day?”

“Aren’t you worried he isn’t going to learn anything?”

“He’ll never have any friends that way.”

“Is that even legal?”

“Do you homeschool all of your kids? How can you do that?”

“What made you decide to do a thing like that?”

It is important to remember that people who ask these questions usually do so out of a genuine concern for the children. There is significant misinformation out there about homeschooling, and every homeschooler is confronted by some misinformed person at some point or another. Some of us are more fortunate than others, and do not experience much confrontation. Others encounter it from all sides—family, friends, acquaintances, and passersby.

The way these questions are answered depends on the individual family. However, it is generally wise to have your answers prepared before the questions arise. I have been caught off-guard a few times and one or two ill-meaning adversaries have taken advantage of my surprise. Now that I have experienced significant opposition, I am prepared for the comments that people make.

One of my favorite ways of answering homeschool doubters is to have my five-year-old begin explaining what he has learned recently. They can usually tell by his vocabulary that he's a smart kid. However, I haven’t always been able to push the answer off to him.

One of my favorite techniques is to argue with myself. I wrote my reasons down and argued with myself. It can be very beneficial to see your ideas on paper. It gives you the chance to identify and clarify any points that seem weak. Challenge your own statements. Arguing with yourself may sound stupid, but may make you sound a lot smarter when you are approached by naysayers.

How do you handle questions and doubters?

Strategies for FT Homeschooling Parents

2011-05-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

The decision to home school is always a major, life-altering decision. Parents who work full-time are often faced with a terrible conflict when faced with the decision. Single parents, as well as parents who work for a much-needed second income, don't have the luxury of quitting their job even if homeschooling is the best choice for their child.

There's good news: with hard work and devotion, you can do both.

Establish a Routine

Establish a routine. If you have a rotating work schedule, a solid routine can be difficult to maintain. However, at least document how much time every day you want to spend doing various tasks. Knowing what needs to get done and when creates organization and order. In the mad rush of life, this organization can dispel feelings of chaos and stress by keeping you on track and giving you a standard by which you can measure success.

Encourage Independence

Older children can work independently and can stay home while you are at work. During school hours, lay down the expectations for the next day's independent study time. Provide assignments or projects for the children to work on while you are at work. This will keep them focused and learning for at least some of the time that you are at work.

Prioritize

Many of us feel driven to be the best, most productive and most impressive people we can be. Often times, this leads to over-committing our time, energy and resources to a variety of tasks.
Homeschooling parents who work full-time must prioritize their time and learn how to say “no” to opportunities they don't have time for—even if they are good ones. It can be very difficult to say “no” to a good opportunity, but it is essential for successful. You only have so many hours in a day, and spending all of that time with extra work, volunteering, planning, etc. will detract from time spent teaching.

Make a prioritized list of things you need to accomplish in a day and write the list down as a visual reminder. Top priorities get done first, so make sure that homeschooling is near the top of the list.

Coordinate with Other Homeschoolers

When possible, find a home school family (or find another working parent who wants to home school their children) and coordinate schedules so that your child can be cared for in a home learning environment while you are at work. Be sure to offer to take the other family's children when possible.

Sacrifice Perfection on the Altar of Reality

Ultimately, all parents must sacrifice their dreams of perfection. Only a superhero can keep their house immaculately clean, their children cared for (let alone educated!), and be wildly successful at their job all the time. Things are going to come up short sometimes. The trick is to balance as best you can, and be okay with the results. Set realistic goals and don't browbeat yourself for short comings.

All full-time working, homeschooling parents deserve praise and admiration, no matter what the house looks like or whatever else they sacrifice in their lives. Kudos to you for your remarkable decision to home school, despite the limitations on your time and energy. You certainly have my respect and admiration (and sympathy—I know what it's like!).

In the Comments: Do you have any questions/comments about homeschooling and working full time? Do you have any success stories? I'd love to hear from you!

Handling History

2011-05-11T10:43:00.000-07:00

History can't just stay in the past. It's an essential part of curriculum and, when properly covered, can give students and parents a unique perspective on today's events. After all, it was history that brought us where we are today.

If you are struggling to engage and enjoy the study of history, consider these ideas.

Find the Lesson

History enables us to learn from our mistakes. Have you ever touched a hot stove? Touched the thorn of a rose? Got a cavity? Most people have done at least one of these things, and learned a valuable lesson from it – don't touch hot surfaces, be careful with thorny plants, etc. Because of your history, you know to avoid these things.

Looking farther back into history can let us learn from the mistakes of others. When studying history, look for the lesson. What important lessons do we learn? How does it apply to life today?

Read it Firsthand

Find firsthand accounts of the history. Textbooks can be dull and distant, and remove the human elements of emotion. Reading a journal of someone who lived through the period being studied can pull emotional strings and make the study more engaging. For very recent history, try to locate a survivor in your area and interview them about their experiences.

Act it Out

Cast roles. Give each person a part to play and act it out within realistic and appropriate limitation. Becoming part of the action pushes players to learn their roles while gaining empathy and understanding by acting out the roles.

Eat It, Sense It

Engage the senses. As much as possible, incorporate tastes, smells, sounds and touch into the lesson. Make foods from that culture or period. Sing songs. Be creative.

Please comment! How do you handle history?

Homeschooling in the News

2011-04-27T17:42:00.001-07:00

I cannot stress it enough -- know your rights and know what's going on in your community. Knowing your rights isn't enough if you don't use that knowledge to defend yourself--and knowing what's going on won't do you any good if you don't know your rights. Be aware.

We endeavor to keep you well-informed about issues in the community, but we can't monitor every action in every community. In many cases, we don't even know about an issue until after it's been resolved.

Homeschoolers in Mississippi recently had their rights challenged by Judge Joe Dale Walker of the 13th Cnancery District Court, who issued a court order in late March that ordered attendance officers to give him the names and addresses of all homeschooling students and parents in his jurisdiction. Thankfully, the families who received letters from those attendance officers obtained assistance from HSLDA, who challenged it in court. Thankfully, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled in favor of the homeschooling families.

While seeking names and addresses may seem innocent and harmless, Mississippi homeschool mom Natalie West Winningham pointed out, "If I were a vigilante judge who got my hands on a database of homeschoolers’ names and addresses, perhaps I would cross-reference it with past criminal records, DHS cases, driving records, credit histories, tax information, etc. And if I thought I could get away with it, maybe I’d send someone to your home to interview you and hope that you don’t know your legal rights. I’m not saying that Judge Walker would do those things. But there are many possibilities and none of them are pleasant." (Quote taken from the article in The New American... Read more about the case and about Natalie Winningham on her blog, Ramblings Rants & Remedies)

HUMOR: "Homeschool Family" song

2011-04-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

Build Sight Reading Skills

2011-04-22T14:35:00.000-07:00

Reading is an essential life skill that challenges many parents and students. Even individuals who know how to read aren't often interested in exercising that skill. For many, reading takes too much time and effort.

Sight-reading is very beneficial. It increases reading speed and allows the reader to focus on the meaning and not the phonics of the words. Skilled readers often recognize the shape of the word without analyzing the individual letters. Building this skill in yourself and your children will make reading much faster and easier!

To encourage my children to sight read, I labelled everything in the house. I used wide strips of paper and a bold permanent marker to clearly write the names of all the large items in the house. The couch, refrigerator, door, wall, windows, bathtub, computer--everything was labelled. Visitors thought I was crazy, but the strategy is effective! It allows children to see the word and the object at the same time.

Flashcards are another easy and successful sight reading method. Make flashcards of the most commonly used words (listed below) and words that you frequently use, such as names of family members. Use a stopwatch to see how long it takes your child to recognize all the words. Set time limits and have the children compete against the stopwatch.

Another way to practice sight reading is by reading Dr. Seuss books aloud. These books are made up primarily of the most commonly used words, and they are excellent practice. Parents can improve skills by reading to their children. =D

The 100 most commonly read words are:

the
of
and
a
to
in
is
you
that
it
he
was
for
on
are
as
with
his
they
I
at
be
this
have
from
or
one
had
by
word
but
not
what
all
where we
when
your
can
said
there
use
an
each
which
she
do
how
their
if
will
up
other
about
out
many
then
them
these
so
some
her
would
make
like
him
into
time
has
look
two
more
write
go
see
number
no
way
could
people
my
than
first
water
been
call
who
oil
its
now
find
long
down
day
did
get
come
made
may
part

For a list of the 1000 most commonly used words, visit http://web1.d25.k12.id.us/home/curriculum/fuw.pdf

Homeschooling in the News

2011-04-18T18:56:00.000-07:00

Several news reports caught my attention recently, and I would like to share them with you.

#1: Homeschoolers Prevail in Illinois

Despite the dangers and failings of Chicago schools, Illinois state senator Edward Maloney (D-Chicago) has decided to crack down on children who do not attend public schools. Maloney, the sponsor of Illinois' Senate Bill 136, said, ""We're not after private school students... What we want is to know where homeschoolers are."

He can't understand why approximately 4,000 homeschooling parents and children gathered at the state capital in February to protest the bill. However, the bill has since died.

Although the bill has died, Senator Maloney is still trying to find ways to regulate homeschoolers. I urge you to read the entire content of the article found here. If you live in Illinois and would like to express your concerns about home school regulation to Senator Maloney, he can be contacted via email (emaloney@senatedem.ilga.gov). Additional contact information is available on the contact page of his website.

#2: HSLDA Helps Out in Ohio

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) came to the rescue of an Ohio family who had listened to the well-intentioned but inaccurate advice of friends instead of consulting a legal professional. She wisely applied for an expedited HSLDA membership and received the help she needed. The entire article is very brief, so I have posted it in its entirety below. (For more information on the HSLDA, please read our April 1 post titled "Legal Organizations.")

"HSLDA Arrives: Superintendent Does 180" (taken from HSLDA)

When Ms. Manning (name changed to protect privacy) opened a letter from her local school district she was alarmed by this message: “I am denying your request [to homeschool].”

The superintendent was refusing to excuse the Manning children from compulsory attendance because he had not received receipts for their curriculum, and the children had received allegedly poor reading assessments. The reading assessments were the result of a surprise testing appointment set up by Ms. Manning’s former spouse. “Failure to enroll the children in school by the end of this week,” the superintendent wrote, “will result in filing truancy charges.”

Unfortunately, Ms. Manning had relied on a friend’s inaccurate advice and had not notified the school district of her intent to homeschool at the beginning of the school year. After being contacted by a truancy officer and learning about the requirement to submit a notice of intent, Ms. Manning complied with the law. She then found out about HSLDA and applied for a rush membership.

Because the superintendent was not following the law, HSLDA Staff Attorney Michael Donnelly communicated with him on Ms. Manning’s behalf to clarify Ohio’s homeschool law. The matter was referred to the school’s attorney, and after further correspondence, the superintendent excused the Manning children from public school attendance.

While being connected to other homeschoolers is important, it is just as important to get competent legal advice. HSLDA exists to help homeschoolers comply with the law but also to defend them when ignorant or zealous school officials overreach their authority. Had Ms. Manning been a member before she started homeschooling and sought our assistance, we could have assisted her and likely prevented a very stressful and threatening encounter with the school.

In an email to HSLDA, Ms. Manning wrote:

“I just wanted to express my deep gratitude to the both of you for the work and time you put into my case, and the support you have given me. I have received a letter from the Superintendent excusing my children from compulsory school attendance. Another victory for HSLDA! You guys are the best! Thank you so much again, and may the Lord bless you both and your organization abundantly!”

#3: Homeschooling Faces Increased Scrutiny Abroad and in the US

The above articles seem to verify this article's statement that "an expert has noticed a 'marked increase' in the scrutiny that parents and students can face when they choose to pursue an education at home.' In some countries, parents are being fined and children are being removed from homes simply because the families are homeschooling. A suspected reason for the scrutiny is the increasing population of homeschoolers who "disproportionately represent the best and brightest." I strongly recommend reading the article, which can be found here. (http://www.gofbw.com/news.asp?ID=12750&fp=Y)

Rock Candy Science Experiment

2011-04-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

It's been a long, long while since I've eaten rock candy, but the kids and I made some last week as part of our science studies. It's easier to make than you might think!

You'll Need:
Clean wooden skewer (for each piece of rock candy)
A clothespin (for each)
A clean glass jar (for each)
Water
Sugar
Pan

The Process:

Boil water in a pan. Add food coloring if desired. Once the water is boiling, encourage each child write a hypothesis about how much sugar will dissolve in the water. Be sure to keep track of how much sugar you are adding to validate these hypotheses!

Add 1/4 of sugar at a time until no more sugar will dissolve in the water. Remove the mixture from the heat and cool for 20 minutes.

Dip each skewer into the mixture and roll it in sugar. Set the skewers aside and let it cool completely. (Investigate why rolling in the skewers makes the sugars grow faster!)

Pour the sugar water into each jar until the jar is at least 3/4 full.

Place one skewer in each jar with the sugar-coated side downward. The end of the skewer should be approximately an inch above the bottom of the glass. Use a clothespin to hold the skewer in place over the jar. Allow it to cool and wait 3 - 7 days for the sugar crystals to grow.

Thoughts about PE (Physical Education)

2011-04-13T17:29:00.000-07:00

For many reasons, PE (physical education) can be a major homeschooling challenge. Although it is not a mandatory part of the curriculum in all states, it is required in some places. If you are struggling with PE in your homeschool environment, consider these ideas:

Active playtime counts! You don't need complex equipment or an expensive gym membership to exercise. Take time every day for active play--tag, Frisbee, dodgeball, basketball all count.

Chores are exercise, too--especially if strenuous outdoor work is involved.

Incorporate exercise into a family service activity. Clean up a park, or help build a playground! Go door to door and gather food for a food bank, or collect used magazines for an abused women's shelter.

Purchase fun exercise DVDs.

Visit parks and playgrounds! Older children may enjoy a visit to a skate park instead of a playground.

Have a dance! Turn up the music real loud and dance around.

Enroll children in community sports.

Field Trips for Less: City Pass

2011-04-11T04:52:00.000-07:00

One of the more memorable family field trips we made was wrapped in a vacation last spring. While a lot of learning took place very quickly, we all had a great time. It was not cheap, but it was worth it. For families who can afford the expense, I strongly recommend a family learning vacation.

Although travelling to a distant city can be especially entertaining, it carries an extra expense. Budget-conscious families can always travel to the nearest big city, or explore their own city.

We purchased a Seattle CityPass, which gave us admission to several main Seattle attractions for a single discounted rate. Although it has changed since we used it last year, the Seattle CityPass costs just $59 per adult and $39 per child. For that price, each person gets admission to the Space Needle, Pacific Science Center, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises Seattle Harbor Tour, Experience Music Project & Science Fiction Museum, and a special ticket that can be used at either the Woodland Park Zoo or the Museum of Flight. These passes also allow the holder to skip the normal ticket lines at these attractions.

As you can see, these locations are both exciting and informative. We had great learning adventures surrounding science, animals, music, and local history and culture.

Because we lived a fair distance from Seattle and we wanted to really enjoy the use of our pass, we opted to stay in a hotel nearby for an entire week. We ate at cheap restaurants and lived like tourists. In addition to the locations on the passes, we went to nearby free attractions as well. It was a great adventure.

CityPass offers packages for Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Hollywood, Houston, Southern California, San Francisco, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Toronto. If none of these cities is near you, look for a similar deal package that could create fun learning experiences and memories for your children.

Check out the CityPass site at www.citypass.com.

Gardening 101

2011-04-08T05:50:00.000-07:00

Periodically over the next few months, Homeschool Skills will highlight different lessons that can be taught through gardening. This is the first of that series.

Seize the opportunity this summer to plant a garden as part of your homeschool curriculum. Gardens provide enormous cross-curriculum opportunities for learning. Science and math have obvious applications, but gardens can also be tied into literature, geography, and history. In addition to curriculum applications, gardening provides children with a beneficial life skill--and it can help save money on groceries!

Worried about space? A full-scale garden is not necessary for these lessons. Plant a few items in a small garden box, a window box or even in cleaned out trash cans! If you will be growing your garden in containers, review this helpful article.

Some plants can be grown upside down. For more information on what plants can be grown in these conditions, read this. Other plants can be trained to climb poles, posts or fences.

The first step of gardening is planning. Plan the location, size and contents of the garden.

Choose a convenient locaton that recieves six to eight hours of sunlight every day. Ensure that there is adequate drainage and that the soil will not become waterlogged. If the soil is excessively wet. the plants will not grow properly. If the soil is inadequate, build raised beds and purchase better-quality soil. (Science -- Experiment to find the areas in your yard that have the best sunlight and soil.)

If you are planting in raised beds, outline the area where the bed

will be. Raised beds are usually built in rectangles so that all areas are easily reached. (Math -- Measurements.)

Determine the material that you will use to outline the raised beds. Wood, bricks, and stones are all excellent choices. However, pressure treated wood should never be used because the chemicals used to treat the wood can affect the soil and plants. (Science -- Experiment to find out what materials work best. Math -- determine the measurements for the required materials and the total area of the garden.)

Fill the raised beds with commercial soil or with a soil-compost mix. Raised beds are more vulnerable to extreme temperatures and dryness than other gardens, so be sure to water regularly. (Science -- learn about composting and fertilization. Perhaps you want to create several different, smaller garden areas to create a season-long growing experiment using different types of soil, compost, watering schedules, etc?) More information on raised garden beds here.

Select seeds that will grow well in your area and within the limitations of the garden you are planting. You don't want to plant something that spreads, like pumpkins, if your entire garden is only 2 or 3 feet square... unless, of course, you want to train the pumpkin plants to climb up a nearby shed, fence, or other surface. For more information on that, look at this page.

Taller plants should be planted on the north end of the garden so that they don't cast

shadows over the shorter plants.

Add some history to your garden by Introducing a traditional Native American gardening combination called 'the three sisters' to your garden. Plant corn closely together in a clump and plant climbing beans around the edges. The beans will grow up and around the corn stalks. Plant pumpkin around the edge of the beans, so that the vines will creep in and around these plants and keep the weeds away.

Focus on cultures you will be studying by growing culture or region-specific produce. If you are studying Mexico, grow a variety of peppers, tomatoes, and onions and celebrate the end-of-season harvest with a fresh homemade salsa. Irish studies can be augmented by growing onions, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and green beans, which can later be used to create this Irish recipe.

Surviving Math

2011-04-06T04:50:00.000-07:00

As students, many of us shuddered at the word. As homeschool parents, we still don't like it much.

One of the most common questions homeschoolers get asked is, "How do you teach subjects you don't like or aren't very good at?" This is truly one of the biggest challenges of homeschooling. Not every homeschool parent is great at every subject, and some of us stumbled as students in math, science, language arts, or another major subject.

For those of us who struggle with math, how can we teach it?

Learn Along

Homeschool parents who began teaching their children from the start have the benefit of learning alongside their children. Since math is learned in a definite sequence, starting to learn alongside your children and reviewing the basics can help you refresh and be better able to grasp difficult concepts.

Make it Fun

Have fun with numbers. Small children may enjoy using Goldfish crackers to help sovle equations. They can physically build the equations by making piles of crackers, and learn addition, subtraction, multiplication and division by manipulating those piles.

Older children can enjoy playing games online and offline that build math skills.

Apply It

Look for real-life applications to the various math functions you are teaching. For example, paint a fence to learn about area. Go shopping and calculate how much you have saved using coupons. Encourage sports-minded children to calculate statistics. For more ideas on applying math to daily life, consider books like "Mathematics for Consumers" or "Life Skills Mathematics" (available in the Homeschool Skills store (http://homeschool.storenvy.com/collections/20835-books-math)).

Refresher Course

As a college student, I have the added "benefit" (some days it feels like a curse) of taking several required math courses for my degree. I seize these opportunities and try to dread them less because I realize that these classes better prepare me to teach my own children. I strongly recommend parents who have the time and resources to attend classes at a local community college, online school or other institution. It can be a wonderful experience, and it helps you teach your children by example the great value of continuing your education.

Tutors

If math is a subject you feel you can't handle, hire a tutor to teach in your home. Sit in the lessons with your children, and learn how to grasp those concepts. Like attending outside college classes, this helps teach your children the value of continuing learning.

Homeschool Conventions

2011-04-04T07:22:00.000-07:00

he season of homeschool conventions is upon us. From coast to coast, there are dozens of major homeschool convention planned before the end of summer. These conventions feature keynote speakers, workshops, fun activities for kids, vendors, and so much more.

While the cost and time demands may deter participation, the opportunity is often worth the cost. Those who have previously attended homeschool conventions can and usually will attest to the benefits of attendance.

The following information is a simple crash-course introduction to the general world of homeschool conventions. For more information, research the specific homeschool convention you will be attending. Links to convention calendars at the bottom of this post!

What

Homeschool conventions are large events organized by homeschool groups, individuals or businesses. Most conventions feature prominent speakers, workshops, exhibits, vendors, and luncheons. Some feature family nights, contests, graduations, talent shows, and other planned activities.

There are several common convention terms that convention-goers should be familiar with.

Keynote: 'Keynote' addresses are speeches given by a speaker of significance, usually a highly credentialed or commonly recognized figure in the homeschooling community. Keynote events are given special importance and are often scheduled without any conflicting or concurrent activities. The names of keynote speakers are easy to find, as they are usually prominently included in all advertising material.

Workshops: Conventions often feature many concurrent workshops that attendees can select from. These workshops are often short and cover a wide variety of homeschooling topics.

Vendor / Exhibitor / Sponsor: These people are attending the workshop to show and sell their products. Usually, these products are assembled in a large vendor exhibit area where attendees can view them.

Who

Homeschool conventions benefit prospective, new and seasoned homeschoolers.

New and prospective homeschoolers benefit immensely from the knowledge and expertise of their seasoned counterparts. The information given by keynote speakers and workshops can be priceless.

Seasoned homeschool pros can benefit from the ideas, encouragement and products presented at these conventions. The annual homeschool convention season can revitalize bored homeschoolers and inspire homeschooling families for the next year.

Why

At the very least, conventions are very encouraging. Being in the company of hundreds (or more!) fellow homeschoolers sends the clear message that, despite how you may feel some days, you are not alone. Conventions can also invigorate the homeschooling spirit by infusing tired, curriculum-weary homeschoolers with new ideas and goals.

Since conventions are area-specific, they give homeschoolers the opportunity to meet and forge friendships with one another.

Speakers usually have significant experience and credentials in their areas of expertise. They are able to provide guidance and direction that can help give your homeschool direction and purpose. If you are struggling with any aspects of homeschooling, look for a convention that offers workshops on those subjects. Attending those workshops can help strengthen those areas of weakness and enrich your homeschool experience.

Conventions attract the best homeschooling products to one central location. Instead of shopping around at different retailers or buying and trying products that don't really fit your needs, shopping the vendors at a convention bring the products to you, in one room. The newest and best products are usually exhibited there, and you may be surprised at what you find! Deals and trial memberships are also common convention offerings.

When & Where

Find homeschool conventions in your area by searching the Internet or contacting your local homeschool organization. I recommend the following sites:

http://www.homeschoolconventions.com/
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=1140380&sp=1016&event=1016
http://thehomeschoolmagazine.com/HomeschoolConventions.php

Legal Organizations

2011-04-01T09:25:00.000-07:00

Last Monday, Homeschool Skills featured an article about a New Hampshire homeschool student who was ordered to attend public school. While this case was certainly unique in many cases, it is nonetheless alarming.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states. However, state laws vary in complexity and, just because it is legal, doesn't always mean that homeschooling is easy. Although there is a brief overview of each state's homeschooling law on the Laws page of this website, the laws for some states are extremely complex.

While this may seem overwhelming, it doesn't need to be. Several different organizations exist to help homeschoolers with the legal aspects of homeschooling.

The two most prominent of these organizations are HSLDA (Homeschool Legal Defense Association) and HLA (Homeschool Legal Advantage). Both of these organizations are dedicated to defending homeschooling.

Below is a brief overview of each organization for your consideration.

Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) (http://www.hslda.org/)

HSLDA is a nonprofit that defends and advances homeschooling. Tens of thousands of homeschool families maintain membership in this organization. Membership is paid for in one year, two year, five year, lifetime or monthly increments.

As a nonprofit, all of the membership fees are directed toward operational expenses. HSLDA uses the fees to directly defend homeschool members in legal cases, monitor and influence federal legislation, assist state legislatures in creating homeschool-friendly environments, advocate in the media, research and present information about homeschooling.

The cost of membership is the only price that members pay. If a legal situation arises and the family seeks help from HSLDA, there are no further charges. All attorneys fees, travel expenses, and other related charges are paid by HSLDA. Legal advice is available 24/7 via telephone.

HSLDA membership also offers additional benefits, such as access to an Online Curriculum Market, HSLDA PerX program, and access to coordinators that specialize in high school homeschooling, homeschooling struggling learners, and homeschooling younger children (preschool to middle school).

HSLDA does not accept families who use charter schools, public school independent study programs, or similar distance-learning courses as members. Membership discounts are available to discount groups, full-time pastors, full-time missionaries, or active/retired/disabled military service members. Special membership offers are available here: http://www.hslda.org/join/offers.asp

Homeschool Legal Advantage (HLA) (http://homeschoollegaladvantage.com/)

HLA has defended more than 8,000 cases and maintains a network of full-time and affiliated attorneys throughout the United States. As an outreach of the Christian Law Association, HLA offers its members free legal representation in cases that involve religious liberty but are not directly affiliated with homeschooling (such as workplace discrimination).

Membership fees for HLA are based on suggested donations instead of flat fees. The suggested donation for membership is $65 for the first year and $51 per year after that. Would-be members who cannot afford the full suggested donation are welcome to pay less. According to the HLA website, "If you cannot afford any donation at this time, but would still like to join, please contact us and we'll be glad to provide you with a complimentary membership. Whatever your circumstance, we want to be of service and will never let finances stand in the way." (Widows and widowers can enter "James 1:27" in the registration code field for a complimentary membership at any time.)

HLA members also receive a last will and testament drafted by an attorney, a 20% discount on resources from the Christian Law Association and 10% off admission to the Creation Museum (near the Cincinnati airport). HLA also operates a 24-hour emergency legal help line.

Nurturing Natural Curiosity

2011-03-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

The ultimate goal of all educators is to teach. Anyone who invests their time teaching wants to know that their students are going to take something away from each discussion and lesson. Homeschooling parents are no different.

However, homeschooling is a unique scenario that balances teaching and parenting. Sometimes, the busy parents in us can squash the natural curiosity right out of a child without even realizing it. After all, how many times can any person be asked “Why?” without exploding?

The most important fundamental of any educational environment must be to nurture that basic curiosity that all children possess. Children are born wanting to learn, but most children learn somewhere along the way to hate learning. Why?

Most of us have heard at least one teacher say, “There is no such thing as a stupid question.” Children must be able to believe that. Once they’ve been shamed for asking a question, they may become discouraged from asking more. Repeated shaming or negative responses can kill the desire to ask any more questions.

One of the benefits of homeschooling is not being forced to adhere to a strict curriculum. If you deviate for a day, hour or week to discuss something you hadn’t planned to cover, things are still going to be okay. Nurturing that curiosity, especially at a young age, is more important than racing through other “more important” material.

Learning must be fun. It must be interesting. If we are going to instill a lifelong love of learning, and not just the basic knowledge needed to survive, our children must have a reason to love learning. At a young age, they naturally do. This is the perfect time to nurture and encourage that love.

Children are also more likely to retain and remember information that they wanted to know.

I have been asked hundreds of questions at inconvenient times, and I will admit that I am not perfect at putting this philosophy into practice. Nevertheless, I know that it is extremely important and I try to make answering questions a priority. If I am unable to answer immediately, I write the question down and promise to answer it later.

If your children have stopped asking questions like “Why” and “How” and seem to have lost their natural curiosity, it does not mean that all hope is lost. Reignite their curiosity by asking them questions. Trust me –there’s nothing more fun than bugging a child with persistently asking “Why” after everything they say (I’m sure it’s not because it feels like revenge or anything. =D). Ask “Why” and “How” until they reach the end of their knowledge and start guessing. Then, seize that opportunity to teach them something new.

NEWS: NH Court Orders Home schooled Girl To Public School

2011-03-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

Last Monday (March 16, 2011), the New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld a previous ruling that ordered a homeschooled girl to attend public school. This decision, which was made against the wishes of the mother, was sparked by a debate between the child’s divorced parents.

Although the decision closely inspects the impact of religion and homeschooling in this girl’s life, the Supreme Court statement included this disclaimer:

“The particular circumstances of this case bear emphasizing… While this case has religious overtones, it is not about religion. While it involves home schooling, it is not about the merits of home versus public schooling. This case is only about resolving a dispute between two parents, with equal constitutional parenting rights and joint decision-making responsibility, who have been unable to agree how to best educate daughter.”

The parents, who divorced in 1999 when the little girl was just an infant, have continually disagreed about whether she should be home schooled or public schooled. The daughter attended private school for kindergarten, but the mother began homeschooling in first grade.

Since that time, the father repeatedly fought this decision. His arguments were primarily about the influence of his former wife’s religion on their daughter and that homeschooling amplified that impact. He blamed the religion for his daughter’s failure to accept his new wife and child. He asserted that the religion “had the effect of isolating daughter from her peers” and that she could “experience diversity and improve her ability to accept differences in his home” if she were homeschooled.

THE RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE

In January 2007, the father filed a motion that stated,

“At her mother’s insistence, and against [his] wishes, [daughter] is homeschooled through a program that is affiliated with a church that both [mother] and [daughter] attend on a regular basis.” He continued to claim that his daughter was withdrawn and could not accept his new wife and child. His daughter’s therapist agreed that their relationship was suffering because she “strongly identified” with her mother’s religious beliefs.

The Supreme Court admits,

“There is no doubt that mother’s and child’s religious convictions have been a pervasive part of the parties’ school placement dispute… The trial court referred to the evidence presented that involved mother’s and daughter’s religious beliefs, including: the (guardian ad litem)’s account of daughter’s interaction with her counselor in which daughter “appeared to reflect her mother’s rigidity on questions of faith”; the GAL’s concerns about the impact of daughter’s religious beliefs on her relationship with her father; the father’s desire to expose daughter to different viewpoints to decrease his daughter’s “rigid adherence” to her mother’s religious beliefs; and mother’s acknowledgement of the strength of her and daughter’s religious beliefs. The trial court also remarked that daughter’s strong adherence to religious convictions that align with her mother’s beliefs likely was the effect of “spending her time school time with her mother and the vast majority of all of her other time with her mother.””

The blatantly religious overtones of this trial complicated the position of the court, which asserted that the decision had “not considered the merits of [daughter’s] religious beliefs, but considered only the impact of those beliefs on her interaction with others, both past and future.”

The court also states, “The evidence about faith is only relevant because [daughter] was unhappy that her father does not love her enough to want to spend eternity with her by adopting her faith.””

According to the father,

“If somebody doesn’t believe in [daughter’s] religion, she has a real, real hard time with it. If there’s ever anything that goes against what she believes in, she doesn’t really know how to respond and she automatically thinks that somebody’s attacking her or somebody is going up against her… When you have a serious discussion with [daughter], when you question her beliefs, or you present another idea to her about a religious belief, she doesn’t know what to do. She clams up. She turns away. You know, she just really can’t go any further.”

The court states that it:

“considered the importance of daughter having the ability to openly communicate with others who have a different viewpoint on a subject matter, whether or not the topic is religious in nature. It also considered the benefits of group learning, group interaction, social problem solving and exposure to a variety of points of view.”

However, the court asserts that it:

“did not express disfavor regarding the religious nature of daughter’s beliefs or disapproval regarding her vigorous defense of her religious beliefs. Neither did the court criticize the merits of mother’s and daughter’s religious convictions. Indeed, as the trial court emphasized, its order did not impose any restrictions on either parent’s ability to provide daughter with religious training or to share with daughter his or her own religious beliefs.”

THE HOME SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

The court also states:

“The dispute between the parties in this case did not revolve around the relative academic merits of public and home schooling. Their dispute centered upon which academic experience would be in daughter’s best interests.”

In fact, it is interesting to read the court’s evaluation of the academic merits of the homeschooling experience in question. Although the mother was in complete compliance with homeschool laws, the daughter excelled academically and socialization needs were met, the court took issue with the fact that the daughter watched recorded lessons on a computer at home. The mother checked her work, answered questions, engaged in discussions with her daughter, and replayed lessons as necessary. The court cited evidence that the daughter was “bored” and “lonely” in this environment.

The guardian ad litem determined that “daughter’s best interests, and particularly her intellectual and emotional development, would be best served by exposure to a public school setting in which she would be challenged to solve problems presented by a group learning situation and by the social interactivity of children of her age.”

“The trial court’s acknowledgement that daughter successfully participated in several activities outside of her home, performed well academically with home education and is “generally likeable and well liked, social and interactive with her peers” does not render its decision that attending public school was in daughter’s best interests an unsustainable exercise of discretion.”

For more information, read the decision for yourself here: http://www.courts.state.nh.us/supreme/opinions/2011/2011026kurowski.pdf

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Despite the court’s assertion that this decision is isolated to this case and that it has nothing to do with homeschooling or religion, the decision seems monumental. Statements such as ”(the court) also considered the benefits of group learning, group interaction, social problem solving and exposure to a variety of points of view” seem to have a much greater scope.

What impact do you think this decision will have on homeschooling? Do you believe this decision is fair? What should the mother have done differently?

I look forward to reading your comments.

Freelance Writing Opportunity

2011-03-27T16:35:00.000-07:00

Homeschool Skills is seeking experienced homeschool families to provide content for an exciting new guest feature series! These contributors will write one or more articles related to nearly any homeschooling subject they choose.

The subject matter is very broad, so please email your suggestions! Although all ideas and submissions are appreciated, these subjects are of particular interest:

Compliance with difficult laws
Homeschool student’s perspectives
“Day in the Life” type stories
Overcoming challenges in homeschooling
Graduation, prom and similar stories

Although we recommend submissions be at least 300 words in length, there is no limit on how long a submission is or how many submissions one contributor can submit.

Contributors, especially bloggers and site admins, should include biographical information and links to their site. I fully expect to include a plug to your site at the end of each post. =D

If you are interested, please email homeschoolskills@gmail.com for additional details.

Regrettably, we cannot guarantee that every submission will be used. Used submissions may be edited for clarity, grammar, spelling, and formatting. We appreciate your understanding.

Field Trips for Less: Discounts, Deals & Freebies

2011-03-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

Shaking up the educational experience with a field trip can keep learning fresh and interesting for busy children and bored teens. It’s not necessary to spend hundreds to go to unusual and exciting places, however.

Another great way to save money is to look for discounts and coupons.

First, check for any discounts you may be eligible for. Veterans, seniors, disabled individuals, etc. can often get a few dollars or a certain percentage shaved off of their price just by showing an ID.

Look for discounts and deals in the community. Entertainment Books for most areas can be found on Amazon.com (click the product link and do a search for your specific area!) contain many coupons, but the initial price can be steep. Many places offer coupons on their website that can be printed, so always look online before planning a trip. Some grocery stores offer discounted tickets to certain places, such as water parks.

Homeschooling groups that organize field trips together can benefit from group discounts. A later post will provide more information about homeschool groups.

While families on a budget may wonder what they can do to supplement their educational experience, there are many options.

Watch for the word “free.” Free is my favorite price! In Seattle, there are several museums that participate in a free museum night on the first Thursday night of every month. During certain hours, entry to these places is totally and completely free. In Olympia WA, the children’s museum is free on the first Friday evenings of each month. Look for free events in the community and don’t miss them!

Summer is an especially easy time to find free events. Keep tabs on local newspapers and kid’s magazines. A magazine called “Seattle’s Child” offers a calendar of free and fee events in the Western Washington area. Getting a subscription to magazines like this can provide you with periodic reminders to check for freebies (which can be very useful because, let’s face it, homeschoolers are busy!).

Also, simple searches like “Free events Seattle” or “Free events Houston” etc. can find free events in major cities near you (of course, that only works if you search for cities near you… I don’t generally look in Houston. =D)

What are you favorite ways to find low-cost or free field trips? Share your ideas in the comments below, or in the discussion forums (in the 'Discuss' tab at the top of the page!)

Field Trips for Less: Passes

2011-03-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

Field trips aren’t just for public schools—in fact, field trips are ideal for homeschool students. Since homeschool parents do not have to take 20+ children with them, spur-of-the-moment detours and regular errands can become memorable teaching moments. For example, grocery stores can be a very educational place for vigilant homeschooling families (more information on grocery store trips will be posted on a later date).

Families can go to (almost) every single place that the schools go—planetariums, zoos, museums, theater performances, etc. While admission to these places can be expensive, families can get more for their money by considering season/annual passes.

For example, my children love exploring the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, Washington. One trip alone would cost our family $35 or more (definitely more when you include paying for parking!). However, we spent $80 on our first trip and purchased an annual membership that allows six named individuals unlimited admission to the regular exhibits, plus 15 free regular IMAX film passes for the year and five free guest passes to the regular exhibits per year. We added my husband’s parents to the pass for an additional $10 apiece—that’s annual admission for less than the cost of a single one-time adult admission! Now, we can take the kids to the Science Center (or their grandparents can) anytime during the year without worrying about the price of admission. In the first month of owning the pass, it’s already paid for itself. Parking, of course, is still a pain.

Another side benefit of certain membership plans, such as the one for the Pacific Science Center, is reciprocal admission programs. By holding a Pacific Science Center pass, we get free admission to more than 290 science centers that participate in the ASTC Passport Program. Since we often travel out-of-state, we are eager to explore all of the science centers we will be able to visit free of charge.

Zoo passes have similar benefits. The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington, is an amazing place. Their passes are based upon how many people are in your family, and their ages. Adults are $42 apiece and children 3-18 are $11 each. However, you are also granted free or half-price admission to nearly 150 additional zoos and aquariums across the country.

Also consider buying passes for places that aren’t strictly “school” based. One of our favorite places to go as a family is the water park. Homeschool may seem like just a great excuse to justify the expense, but our children have learned the principles of buoyancy (positive and negative), current, etc. by playing in lazy rivers and wave pools. Other principles, like inertia and gravity can also be taught there.

Be creative. Create memories. Have fun! Always remember that school can be more than just an educational experience. It can also build and strengthen relationships.

Check back Friday for more field trip savings ideas!

Buying a Curriculum

2011-03-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

Buying a curriculum isn’t for everyone. Some homeschooling parents really enjoy the ability to teach without stressing about curriculum development; other homeschoolers can feel burdened or restricted by the idea of a purchased curriculum.

There are some definite pros and cons to purchasing a curriculum. Before you decide to, consider the following:

PROS

Ready lesson plans

The curriculum makes school easy for parents, because it eases the burden of preparation. Everything that needs to be taught is laid out in the curriculum material.

Resell-able

Used curriculums can be resold, which can help mitigate the effects of the steep initial price. However, to get the best benefit from reselling, workbooks should be unused. This can lessen the convenience of the curriculum.

Reusable

Statistics show that most homeschool families have three or more children. If you are going to re-use the curriculum with another child, however, you may be unable to find another workbook when you need it. For most effectiveness, copy the workbook pages and do not write in the actual workbooks—or order additional workbooks if possible.

CONS

Expense

Purchasing a curriculum can be pricey, and can leave the family with less funds for “fun stuff” like field trips. Some families may feel obligated to continue using it, even if it doesn’t work well for the family, because of the cost involved.

Buying a used curriculum or re-selling it can help lessen the expense.

Learning & Teaching Style

Some curriculums can feel very similar to classroom school-work and lack the opportunity for curiosity that homeschooling naturally fosters. Did you choose to homeschool because your child wasn’t doing well in a classroom-style school environment? You may want to consider that before buying a curriculum. Is your student ahead or behind of the average student? You will want to consider this also, because most curriculums are designed to be at an average level.

The classroom-like qualities of a curriculum can be mitigated if the family uses the curriculum as a guideline for their work without actually adhering to each activity and assignment. However, this can lessen the cost-effectiveness of such a purchase.

Ultimately, it is important to make sure that the curriculum caters to your child’s learning style—and your teaching style.

Do you use a purchase a curriculum? Why/why not? What are your experiences?

Grocery School

2011-03-18T14:11:00.000-07:00

The grocery store holds more teaching opportunities than most people recognize. Few people recognize just how many things there are to learn there!

Here are a sample of the things that children can learn and practice at the grocery store (and/or at home, after the grocery trip). This list is not all-inclusive. If you are interested in more grocery store homeschool ideas, let me know and I’ll make another list!

Young Children (Preschool & Younger):

Colors
Shapes
Names of produce
Sorting

Math

Write a grocery list and have children guess the prices you will spend. Compare to the end receipt.
Have children keep track of how much you are spending on calculators. Or, have them keep track of how much you are saving by buying items on sale or using coupons.
Determine unit costs. If something costs $6.79 per pound, how much is it for an ounce? Two ounces? How much can you buy for $5.00? Challenge children to find the cheapest item by unit (instead of the price per can, determine the price per ounce, etc)
Before you leave, have children clip coupons and determine how cheap the shopping trip can be. If they decide it is cheapest to shop at multiple stores due to coupon or discounts, have them factor the cost of gas to travel to both stores. Compare the end results of the shopping trip to their predictions.
A scientist, Dan Meyer, determined a mathematic formula to determine what checkout line is fastest. Each item takes 2.9 seconds and each person takes 48 seconds to get through the line (ergo, it is faster to be in line behind one person with more items than three people with fewer items) (Orzel, 2009). Have children guess which line will be fastest, based on this formula. Have each child stand in line with an item and “race” to see who finishes their transaction first.

Science

Learn the meanings of the food labels. What does it mean if something is pasteurized? Homogenized?
Cooking itself an act of chemistry. According to the MIT class Kitchen Chemistry, “Cooking may be the oldest and most widespread application of chemistry and recipes may be the oldest practical result of chemical research” (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2009). Discuss how different ingredients and methods of cooking produce different textures, flavors, etc. (Ideas on specific Kitchen Chemistry experiments in a later post!)

Geography & Nature

Where does your food come from? Make a map when you get home. Or, before you leave home, decide to experience a culinary world tour, and deliberately by meals from different countries.
Where are pineapples grown? Bananas? Peanuts? How do they grow? Can you grow them in your area? Why or why not? How would your diet change if you could only eat locally-grown produce?

History

What did people do before grocery stores existed? What would life be like for you if you couldn’t run to the grocery store?
Did you know the first self-service grocery store was called Piggly Wiggly? It was opened on September 9, 1916 in Memphis, Tennessee. In 14 years, there were 2,600 Piggly Wiggly stores and other stores began changing to self-service.

Reading

Read the labels and discuss what is in each item. There are some pretty weird food ingredients out there. Do you know what polydimethylsiloxane is? It’s a common fast food ingredient… and it’s also used in Silly Putty, head-lice treatments, and breast implants (Science Channel, 2009). You may not come across polydimethylsiloxane in your grocery trip, but you will most likely encounter (at least in passing) foods that contain high fructose corn syrup (candy), phosphoric acid (soda), etc. If you don’t know what an ingredient is, look it up when you get home and learn!
Play a game where your family decides to avoid a certain item (like tomatoes or corn syrup) during the shopping trip and anyone who places an item containing that ingredient into the cart gets a penalty. If you have multiple children, encourage success by offering a reward for the person who makes the fewest mistakes (rewards could include a treat or not having to unload groceries at home)