Blood

My girls have been learning about the components of blood this past week.  Today, they made a blood model.  I love activities that they can do on their own!

I labeled the first picture with the ingredients, but I fear it may be a bit small for many of you to see.
Red Blood Cells: cinnamon candies  White Blood Cell: white jelly bean  Platelets: candy sprinkles  
Plasma: light corn syrup


                                       

Though it was "edible" the "blood" was awfully sweet, so we have to discard it in the "Hazardous Waste" bin!
Great way to visualize the substance which gives us life.  Try it with your children and then discuss how Christ gave His blood to save us!

MidWest Homeschool Convention

If any of you are looking for a homeschool convention that is worth going to, you may want to check out the MidWest Homeschool Convention taking place at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati, OH
March 31-April 2, 2011.  In recent year's, the convention in our area has become exorbitantly priced with very few good speakers and fewer vendors.

Though we will have to pay gas and hotel, my husband and I think the MidWest Conference will be worth going to this year.  If you register by November 18, the cost for a FAMILY to attend all three days of the conference is ONLY $40!  There are over 300 workshops with such speakers as Ken Ham, Ted Tripp, Carol Barnier, Todd Wilson, etc.  Saturday night will cap off the weekend with a presentation by the Duggar family ($1 reservation for family).  A bonus is that the convention is not far away from the Creation Museum. 

For more info (there is a lot of it!), follow this link.  To find out the prices after the early-bird deadline, be sure to check out the registration pricing page.  The earlier you sign up, the more you save, but the prices are reasonable for the next month or so.  Be sure to book your hotel early as they will sell out early.

Not for the Easily Nauseated

Tuesday's science lesson with Katrina involved dung beetles, flies, & maggots.  You think I'm kidding.  Seriously, a whole 3 paragraphs on the dung beetle.  Do you know there are parts of this world where people will special order dung beetles to help clean up the excess...well, you know...dung...in their areas?

Then there was the interesting tidbit about flies vs. cockroaches.  Did you know that one fly landing on one part of a slice of bread will leave more bacteria behind (and, yes, they did inform us from where!) than a whole troop of cockroaches marching over the same slice of bread?  I live on a farm, people.  This is NOT what I need to know!

And, what about those maggots?  I finally learned how dogs and  cats go about getting worms.  Worms, which, apparently like to feast on Rover & Fluffy's insides.

I need to learn to do science AFTER lunch.  Way after lunch.

Missionary Stories

We enjoy reading Christian biographies in the morning - especially missionary biographies.  A month or so ago, we finished the book, "The Adventure of Missionary Heroism" and last week we finished "Cowboy Boots in Darkest Africa."  Both are fantastic books with true heroes for our children to learn about.

However, I realized the stories were really staying with my children when, a few days ago, my 6-year old came running through the kitchen chasing my 3-year old.  As they raced through, the 6-year old said, "I'm a cannibal and I'm chasing my supper!"

Monday, we started reading "In His Steps."  I'm thinking my kids are ready for something a tad less violent. :)

Applied Science

The other day, Anna and Katrina were heading outside when Katrina tripped.  Anna, who has been studying the skeletal system in science, asked, "Did you hurt your femur?"

I'll take that as a success.

Field Trips

A good friend of mine told me years ago that the best time to visit some of the museums in our area was during the first week the public schools are in session. I have taken her advice often and it has always been great. Yesterday, I took my kids to the local Science Center and we only had to share it with about 3 other small families.

While planning your field trips this year, look to schedule them in the early afternoon. If a school does have a field trip to that particular place, they will be leaving shortly after lunch time in order for their students to catch the bus and you and your children will have the place to yourselves. Also, schools rarely plan field trips for Mondays. When you don't have to share a place of interest with 300 other school children, guides will have more time to talk with you and answer questions and your children will be able to handle any hands-on displays without being rushed.

Just some helpful homeschool hints!

Science Fun

I love that my son sees experiments in his book and goes ahead and tries them without my prompting.  It's also great entertainment for the whole family!