Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Taking a break from my Christmas break to post a great quote!
I heard a great quote on Focus on the Family's radio show yesterday and I just had to share. The guest was Chuck Colson and he quoted the following:
"Suppose someone invented an instrument, a convenient little talking tube which, say, could be heard over the whole land. ... I wonder if the police would not forbid it, fearing that the whole country would become mentally deranged if it were used."
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard 1813-1855; Danish philosopherIt would be interesting to know what his contemporaries thought when he made that statement!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
File this under "I wish I'd thought of that!"...
The great lady over at The Crafty Crow is posting a Book & Activity Advent this month, with a new book and related activity each day of Advent!
Also check out the post HERE that links to the pictured craft - an Advent calendar made of recycled toilet paper tubes!
PS: In keeping with the Christmas theme, click HERE for a printable nativity scene!
Monday, November 30, 2009
A lovely Christmas web site!
(Image from Christmas with Love - another great web site!)
Here is a link to a wonderul Christmas-themed web site called Cathy's Christmas Cottage! There are stories, poems, Christmas Carols, and Christmas Funnies. There's also an online Advent Calendar where you can click each day and find a Bible reading, a craft, a Christmas Hymn, a Christmas Song - and more for each day!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling!
Don't forget to send in your post for the next Carnival of homeschooling! The deadline is always the Monday before the Carnival each week before 6:00 pm PST. The Carnival will be up every Tuesday.
If you participate in the Carnival, please make sure you promote it on your blog and let your readers know to be looking for your contribution!
There are two ways to submit a post for the Carnival of Homeschooling:
1. You can send your post via BlogCarnival. Just go here and follow the instructions.
2. You can email your entry to : CarnivalOfHomeschooling@gmail.com by 6:00 PM (PST) on the Monday evening of the week. It will be greatly appreciated if the submissions come in earlier. Please send the following information:
Title of Post
URL of Post
Name of Blog
URL of Blog
Brief summary of the post
(With "carnival" or "submission" in the subject field of the email.)
Thursday, November 26, 2009
How to make an origami wreath from activitytv.com!
Activity TV has a video tutorial showing kids (or anyone) how to make an origami Christmas wreath from origami "puzzle pieces" that you fold and fit together! We did our entire Christmas tree in origami wreaths last year, and even gave some away with Christmas gifts - they were a hit!
For even more Christmas decor:
Activity Village has directions for a Christmas tree bauble.
Stamping Expressions has a link to directions on how to make a beautiful Sonobe origami Christmas ornament.
Here is a tutorial at Instructables on how to make another origami Christmas ornament.
Here are instructions for a standing fold-up Christmas Tree from Bloomize.
There is a list of crafts at Craftzine that includes a wreath and a pretty ornament (scroll down the page).
Last, but certainly not least, Eclectic Homeschool Online has a list of Christmas origami tutorials - you're sure to find something you would like to try!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Singing Science
(Picture from Ebay auction)
Here is a web page that has mp3 versions of songs from a vinyl record collection for children called Singing Science. These songs are for elementary-aged children. They cover topics like "Why Do Stars Twinkle", "What is Gravity", and "Kinetic and Potential Energy".
This brings back memories of my white and orange GE record player I received one Christmas! I loved to listen to records and, although I never had science-themed records, it did provide hours of listening to stories (remember the records with read-along books?) as well as music!
For older kids, check out the Kids Know It Network for educational songs, videos, and more!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling!
Don't forget to send in your post for the next Carnival of homeschooling! The deadline is always the Monday before the Carnival each week before 6:00 pm PST. The Carnival will be up every Tuesday.
If you participate in the Carnival, please make sure you promote it on your blog and let your readers know to be looking for your contribution!
There are two ways to submit a post for the Carnival of Homeschooling:
1. You can send your post via BlogCarnival. Just go here and follow the instructions.
2. You can email your entry to : CarnivalOfHomeschooling@gmail.com by 6:00 PM (PST) on the Monday evening of the week. It will be greatly appreciated if the submissions come in earlier. Please send the following information:
Title of Post
URL of Post
Name of Blog
URL of Blog
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(With "carnival" or "submission" in the subject field of the email.)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Image at Science News for Kids - Shuffling Shenanigans
Tom DeRosa at I Want to Teach Forever has some great tips on how to use the ultimate manipulative - an ordinary deck of cards - to aid in teaching children early math concepts.
It's never too early to start working with your children on counting and grouping, and you can use just about anything. I'm partial to using a deck of cards, though, because they are so simple to use for this and so many other activities as your child gets older. This basic activity is designed for young children up to the Kindergarten level.Click HERE to see the post in it's entirety.
I used an ordinary deck of cards with my oldest when practicing math facts for addition/subtraction as well as multiplication. It only took a few minutes - and she really seemed to like it. I would like to think that she enjoyed the face to face time with Mom as much as the game! ;)
More great links on this subject:
Math Card Game for All Four Operations
Game Time!
Make at Home Math Games
Deck of Cards for Math Fun! - Explanation of games for different age groups.
The Schoolbell - Math gameboards used with a deck of cards.
Math a Big Deal (product for purchase)
Penrose's Corner (products for purchase)
Friday, November 13, 2009
Send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling!
Don't forget to send in your post for the next Carnival of homeschooling! The deadline is always the Monday before the Carnival each week before 6:00 pm PST. The Carnival will be up every Tuesday.
If you participate in the Carnival, please make sure you promote it on your blog and let your readers know to be looking for your contribution!
There are two ways to submit a post for the Carnival of Homeschooling:
1. You can send your post via BlogCarnival. Just go here and follow the instructions.
2. You can email your entry to : CarnivalOfHomeschooling@gmail.com by 6:00 PM (PST) on the Monday evening of the week. It will be greatly appreciated if the submissions come in earlier. Please send the following information:
Title of Post
URL of Post
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(With "carnival" or "submission" in the subject field of the email.)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Here's the answer to yesterday's word puzzle!
Toby chose the lizard.
Kara chose the turtle.
Hope chose the kitten.
Leon chose the hamster.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Word puzzle Wednesday!
Toby, Kara, Hope, and Leon went to the pet store together. Each took home a different kind of pet: turtle, hamster, lizard, or kitten. Using the following clues, can you figure out which pet each friend took home?
Clues
No person picked a pet with the same first letter as his or her name.
Toby's pet does not have fur.
Neither Leon nor Hope picked a turtle.
*This puzzle was found in the April 2007 issue of Highlights Magazine! See their kids site with puzzles, picture finds, and games at Highlights Kids!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Arts and crafts for Fall and Thanksgiving!
(Image from V and Co - pattern for sale on Etsy)
I have learned of so many good crafts for all ages for this Fall/Thanksgiving season that I had to post more than just one or two!
Check out the pipe cleaner turkeys at One Minute Crafts!
Here are video instructions for a cute turkey finger puppet that you can make "talk" with just a straw, some tape, and string!
Here is a nice list of free Thanksgiving-themed paper toy projects that you can print and put together!
For the younger set, here are some Thanksgiving Turkey coloring pages from Animal Jr., as well as a virtual cornucopia of turkey-themed cafts - including a turkey mask to print!
Also for the younger 5 to 7 year old kids, CurrClick has a fun study about Thanksgiving Dinner - and it's on sale for only .50!
Activity Village has a list of printables and crafts for your Thanksgiving pleasure!
Gail Bartel - That Artist Woman - has TWO turkey crafts you can try - Turkey #1 and Turkey #2.
Kathy Barbro of Art Projects for Kids and Sewing Projects for Kids has a Thanksgiving/Fall themed project that uses oil pastels, crayon, or watercolor, as well as a few other projects!
On Kathy's other web site, Art Projects for Kids has illustrations on How to Draw a Turkey!
FamilyFun has a whole table-full of decoration ideas that will light up your Thanksgiving decor!
If you would like to show off your fall craftiness or writing abilities, head on over to CurrClick and sign up for their "Live" class on Thanksgiving called "Dear Mr. Turkey", being brought to you by Lessons worth learning. The class is only $5 and will take place on November 17th at noon Central time - but hurry and get registered so you can pick your project! (This would be a wonderful class to teach children about deadlines and how to choose a project and follow through to completion.)
Don't forget to make a fall-ish treat like Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies to enjoy after all that work!
Whew! Now THAT should keep you busy for a while! ;)
Send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling!
Don't forget to send in your post for the next Carnival of homeschooling! The deadline is always the Monday before the Carnival each week before 6:00 pm PST. The Carnival will be up every Tuesday.
If you participate in the Carnival, please make sure you promote it on your blog and let your readers know to be looking for your contribution!
There are two ways to submit a post for the Carnival of Homeschooling:
1. You can send your post via BlogCarnival. Just go here and follow the instructions.
2. You can email your entry to : CarnivalOfHomeschooling@gmail.com by 6:00 PM (PST) on the Monday evening of the week. It will be greatly appreciated if the submissions come in earlier. Please send the following information:
Title of Post
URL of Post
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(With "carnival" or "submission" in the subject field of the email.)
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Send cards for charity...
(Image from Cheep Stickers)
In keeping with my previous post about Noah Biorkman check out this link to Make A Child Smile - a charity that features three children per month with devastating illnesses that would love to receive cards!
Please pass this on!
Start your Christmas cards early and help out this little guy!
(Image from Raffertales)
I got this from Amanda Bennett's Facebook page. Believe me, I'm a cynic, so I checked it out on Snopes and it's true.
From a friend: A 5yr old boy named Noah Biorkman , is in the last stages of a 2 1/2yr battle with Neuroblastoma Cancer. The family is celebrating Christmas next week and Noah's request is to get lots of Christmas cards...Lets get him some.
Please send cards to:
Noah BiorkmanThank You! PLEASE REPOST!
1141 Fountian View Circle
South Lyon, MI 48178
Let's see How many cards we can Get to this Little guy,
Here's the answer to yesterday's Mango Math word problem!
Image from Forestry Images
If the ant crawls half the distance - six inches - in twelve seconds, that equals 2 seconds per inch. The ant covers five more inches at 2 seconds per inch, so the answer is ten seconds!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Mango Math Word Problem Wednesday!
Image from Forestry Images
An ant crawls across the top of the ruler starting at the 12-inch mark. It covers half the distance in 12 seconds. How much longer would it take the ant to reach the 1-inch mark?
Try to solve the problem and come back tomorrow to see if your answer is correct!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Kids - can jazz up their room with a rug, a matching bulletin board, and even curtains!
I am so reluctant to admit this...but my plans for this year included teaching my middle daughter - and myself - to sew. Yep. I was going to buy the simplest-to-operate (and cheapest!) sewing machine I could find, scour the internet, and learn to sew WITH her. Somehow those plans got put on the back burner. But, thankfully, I subscribe to a couple of kids' sewing blogs to give me that little spark of inspiration - and guilt - to get us started! lol! One such blog is Kids Sewing Projects.
Actually, for this craft, I would think you would only need a needle and thread, if you have a careful, patient child like my middle dd is.
These projects are very cute, and it would be fun to go with your child to pick out the fabric!
The Blog: Kids Sewing Projects
The Projects: Click HERE for the rug. Click HERE for the bulletin board. Click HERE for the curtain.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
This way to the links!
Lately I have noticed that my link/blog list was getting quite out of hand, and was not really well organized. So, I took some time this weekend to make another blog (because I can't do "real" web pages!) that contains my links. I will keep the links up on the blog for a while at least...I haven't yet decided. However, the new blog will contain only the links and nothing else. You do still have to scroll down quite a bit, but I found there were some broken links or web sites had moved and was able to weed a couple out.
At any rate, if you just want the links, go HERE.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Some great music for your Friday!
Although this has nothing specifically to do with homeschooling, I thought someone might enjoy this! I first saw this video on Facebook. I'm not sure how old these kids are - they can't be very old - but their voices have such a tight harmony and, I feel, their abilities go way beyond their age. They do other music besides Christian music, and have their own YouTube channel - and will soon have a web site.
Send in a post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling!
Don't forget to send in your post for the next Carnival of homeschooling! The deadline is always the Monday before the Carnival each week before 6:00 pm PST. The Carnival will be up every Tuesday.
If you participate in the Carnival, please make sure you promote it on your blog and let your readers know to be looking for your contribution!
There are two ways to submit a post for the Carnival of Homeschooling:
1. You can send your post via BlogCarnival. Just go here and follow the instructions.
2. You can email your entry to : CarnivalOfHomeschooling@gmail.com by 6:00 PM (PST) on the Monday evening of the week. It will be greatly appreciated if the submissions come in earlier. Please send the following information:
Title of Post
URL of Post
Name of Blog
URL of Blog
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(With "carnival" or "submission" in the subject field of the email.)
Fun Friday! It's a song...it's a video...it's a recipe - all rolled into one!
This video is suitable for everyone to watch!
For the record, I looooooove guacamole!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Here's the answer to yesterday's word problem!
Picture from Castles.org
Here is the answer, as explained by Dierdre and Thomas on the Mango Math Facebook page:
Dierdre: At any of the four outer corners of the moat, the distance from the shore to the castle will be approx. 14 yards. The knight can take one of his planks, and lay it on the diagonal connecting the two outer sides of the moats and making a little isoceles triangle with the plank being the longest side -- the two adjacent sides of the moat the isoceles sides and the vertex being the point where the two adjacent moat sides meet. Then, he can take the other plank, and lay it perpendicular on the first plank and then across over to the castle side. The farthest the first plank can be out from the edge of the corner would be five feet -- that would give him enough space to use his second plank to bridge the space from the plank's edge to the corner.
Thomas: Actually you could go out from the corner as much as 6 yards. The distance from the board to the corner or the castle would then be about 6 yards and the 9 1/2 yard plank would be more than long enough.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Halloween crafts from Activity Village...
Spooky Classical Music for the Season!
My 11 y/o and I visited the web site Classics for Kids on Monday, where we learned about several composers who conjured up some spooky-sounding music! Actually, we learned about one in particular and are saving the others for later in the week. We listened to the Classics for Kids show about Igor Stravinsky...Igor is rather an appropriate name, don't you think?
Stravinsky composed that controversial piece, The Firebird. Back in Stravinski's time, this style of music was considered quite shocking as, up until that period, the music was melodic and sweet and didn't have the whirling quality of songs like The Firebird.
To hear the Classics for Kids show for Halloween, click HERE.
For more "Musical Mayhem" brought to you by NPR, go here to see their top five!
Free Carschooling Newsletter!
Flying Fish Car from The Toymaker
Author Diane Flynne has a web site based on her best-selling book Carschooling. She offers a free newsletter that includes a monthly "carschooling calendar" as well as product reviews and resources. When you sign up for her newsletter you will immediately receive a free multi-level carschooling games and activities chart!
Check it out!
Mango Math Wednesday Word Problem...
Picture from Castles.org
A square castle is surrounded by a square moat whose width is 10 yards. A knight is attempting to cross the moat, but only has two 9 1/2 yard planks, and no way to fasten them together. How can the knight bridge the moat?
Don't forget to come back tomorrow for the answer!
Source: Mango Math
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The American Math Challenge!
Here's a free math challenge open to all students ages 9-14!
The American Math Challenge is an online math challenge or "competition" where students aged 9-14 from across America can compete in a safe, multiplayer game environment.
This is from the same folks that brought you World Math Day back in March!
Students will have the task of answering as many correct questions as they can in 60 second mental arithmetic challenges LIVE, against other students. Or, they can also solve questions based on the national curriculum at their own pace.
Why would you take part?
It's about having fun with math. In fact, there's a good chance your students/children will love it.
It's absolutely free. Nothing to lose if you participate. In fact, during the practice week you can find out if your kids like it or not.
If your children or students really get into it, they can vastly improve their mental arithmetic and basic facts.
Week 1: Nov. 2-8 is Practice week
Week 2: Nov. 9-16 is the actual American Math Challenge
Register at http://www.americanmathchallenge.com/
H/T Maria Miller at Homeschool Math Blog.
Magic Leap Frog Math!
In keeping with the post earlier this week about the Fibonacci sequence, here's some math magic you can try to astound your friends! This is from Mudd Math Fun Facts from the web site hosted by Harvey Mudd College Math Department.
Give your friend a card with ten blank lines, numbered 1 through 10. Have your friend think of two numbers between 1 and 20 and write them down on the first 2 lines of the card. Now in each of the successive lines, have your friend write the sum of the previous two lines. For instance, in line 3, write the sum of lines 1 and 2. In line 4, write the sum of lines 2 and 3, etc. until finally in line 10, your friend has written the sum of lines 8 and 9.How to Cite this Page: Su, Francis E., et al. "Leapfrog Addition." Mudd Math Fun Facts. http://www.math.hmc.edu/funfacts.
Ask your friend to total the numbers. If you've practiced the Multiplication by 11 Fun Fact, you'll be able to tell your friend the total faster than she can add the numbers (because the total will be just 11 times the number in line 7). Also, you can announce the quotient of line 10 divided by line 9... to 2 decimal places, it will be 1.61!
Let's do an example. Suppose your friend tells gives you the numbers 3 and 7. Her card will then have these numbers:
1.7
2.3
3.10
4.13
5.23
6.36
7.59
8.95
9.154
10.249
The total is 649 (which is just 11 times 59, do this in your head with the Multiplication by 11 Fun Fact.
The quotient 249/154 is 1.61 (to 2 decimal places). Presentation Suggestions:
Write down the quotient 1.61 on another card, and place it in an envelope before the start of your magic trick. Then you can have your friend open that envelope after she has computed the quotient.
The Math Behind the Fact:
The trick works for the following reason. If the number X is in line 1, and the number Y is in line 2, then the number X+Y will be in line 3, the number (X+Y)+Y=(X+2Y) will be in line 4, and so on. Continuing, you will find that line 7 contains (5X+8Y), line 9 contains (21X+34Y), and line 10 contains (55X+88Y), which is indeed just 11 times line 7.
For the ratio of line 10 divided by line 9, we appeal to a property of "adding fractions badly": for positive numbers A, B, C, D where (A/B) < (C/D), it is a neat fact that the fraction you get by "adding badly": (A+C)/(B+D), must lie in between the values (A/B) and (C/D). So the ratio (55X+88Y)/(21X+34Y) must lie in between (55X/21X)=1.615... and (88Y/34Y)=1.619...
An even more stunning fact is that if you continue this leapfrog procedure with many more lines, then the ratio of successive lines will approach the golden ratio: 1.6180339... (If you know some linear algebra, this follows because the leapfrog procedure can be written as a 2-dimensional linear system of equations, and the largest eigenvalue of this system happens to be the golden ratio.)
This magic trick may be found in the delightful book in the reference.
Reference: A. Benjamin and M. Shermer, Secrets of Mental Math, Three Rivers Press, 2006.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Don't forget to send in your post for the next Carnival of homeschooling! The deadline is always the Monday before the Carnival each week before 6:00 pm PST. The Carnival will be up every Tuesday.
If you participate in the Carnival, please make sure you promote it on your blog and let your readers know to be looking for your contribution!
There are two ways to submit a post for the Carnival of Homeschooling:
1. You can send your post via BlogCarnival. Just go here and follow the instructions.
2. You can email your entry to : CarnivalOfHomeschooling@gmail.com by 6:00 PM (PST) on the Monday evening of the week. It will be greatly appreciated if the submissions come in earlier. Please send the following information:
Title of Post
URL of Post
Name of Blog
URL of Blog
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(With "carnival" or "submission" in the subject field of the email.)
Next week's Carnival will be hosted at Consent of the Governed!
I found a great multiplication video game - Arithmemouse!
We have three girls, ages 4, 8 and 11. When it came to learning the times tables, our oldest had to learn them the old, boring way - with games and flashcards (ugh! - I loathe flashcards!). By the time our middle child was ready for times tables, I had downloaded the "demo" version of a particular computer-based game - and all you really need is the demo version, which helps children learn the times tables from two to twelve. If you want different graphics and options, you can purchase the complete version, which gives you several options for different settings. This demo has ugly monsters and is rather scary-looking and violent - your character can die if you get the answer wrong enough times! However, the game did seem to be quite effective.
Although I'm sure the "full" version is worth the money, it's more than we really wanted to spend on a video game. I was leaning toward purchasing the "full" version, though, because I thought it might have some scenarios that aren't as scary - our 4 y/o LOVES to play this game...but I was uncomfortable with it. Our 8 y/o has really learned her times tables using the "old" game, so I really was torn between being uncomfortable with the graphics and having something that really works.
In doing some research for a previous post, I stumbled upon Arithmemouse in the sidebar of a blog I was visiting (thank you, Kathy of Education Tipster!). It sounded pretty interesting, so I decided to check it out - and it turned out to be something that I didn't mind my girls playing - and they enjoyed it as well. There is a free demo for you to download that only lets the child practice the "2's" times table and get a feel for the game. However, this game is HALF of what the full version of our previous game would have cost! So, of course we snapped it up. The 11 y/o - who could recite her times tables in her sleep - even loves to play it, as does 8 y/o. Even though our 4 y/o really doesn't understand what a "times table" is, she has memorized her 2's and 3's from the previous game and is excited about playing this game as well - and I'm not as reluctant to let her play it. Our children do have limits on time spent in front of the computer and TV, but I could give them a few extra minutes to play this game.
When playing Arithmemouse, you control a little mouse that travels through doors in a maze, each with a different multiplication set (such as 4's or 8's) and you practice that particular set of times tables by guiding your mouse through the maze by choosing the correct answer. There is no penalty for choosing the wrong answer - you just get to try again. On the walls as you speed through the maze is a multiplication fact, and at the end of the maze section you cross over a hole in the floor and go up a level by taking the path with the correct answer. There are different colors and/or themes for each level. The mouse looks like a robot and is friendly looking, as are all of the other mechanical mice that scurry around.
So, what are the results as compared to the other game? I'm not sure yet because, quite honestly, we've had it less than 24 hours. However, if for some reason I decide this game is a bust, I'll be sure and let you know! There is a money-back guarantee, so if you buy it and don't think it's the greatest thing since...sliced cheese, you can get a full refund.
Also at their web site you will find a printable papercraft model of the Arithmemouse! If you feel badly about your children spending too much time in front of a screen, you could make up your own IRL (computer talk for "in real life") game!
Again - A big "thank you" to Kathy Stemke!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Spreadin' the "Linky Love" around! ;)
Image from Good Deal Gal
This has been a great week here at MiaZagora's Homeschool Minutes! I've been the recipient of two completely undeserved "random acts of linky love" (with apologies to the late President Ronald Reagan).
The latest was from freelance writer/author/educator, Kathy Stemke, who has a great blog named Education Tipster. Kathy writes a free newsletter called "Movement and Rhythm" - to which I am a subscriber - and can be very helpful if you have a preschooler (or more than one preschooler) at your house! Kathy has written an e-book for download (only $3) that aids preschoolers in remembering and spelling the days of the week, which is titled "Moving Through all Seven Days". She has another ebook in the works titled, "Trouble on Earth Day". From the web site:
Check out Education Tipster!Our movement activities, book reviews, and parenting tips will help parents and teachers teach children phonics, math, writing and science!
The first random act of linky love came from Janet (a.k.a. Latte Lady) over at Homeschooler Cafe'! You should make time to head over to the Cafe' for a heaping helping of book reviews and lots of personal stories about her family's journey through homeschooling - along with a veritable buffet of pictures of her family! Janet and her husband have two boys, who she amusingly refers to as "The Espressos"! She refers to her husband as her "Dream Latte"! (Love the "coffee" theme...wish I'd thought of it!) If you like blogs with the personal touch, you will certainly enjoy your visit to the Homeschooler Cafe'!
(The above picture is a print entitled "Coffee Drinker" by Oliver Ray.)
Here's the answer to yesterday's Mango Math Wednesday Word Problem!
Henry and Buck have two horses worth a total of $560 and $840 in cash, for a total of $1400. Henry is entitled to 390/840 or 13/28 of the $1400 or $650. Since he is keeping the two horses worth $560, Buck should give Henry $90 and keep $750.
To find out more about Mango Math, go to their web page or visit them on Facebook!
Cool man...Fibonacci Numbers as explained by Ken Nordine...
This is by Ken Nordine of WordJazz.com. It's actually a pretty good explanation of it, even though he's not a math expert. He's a "voice" guy who you have probably heard on commercials over the years - such as Levi's or Natural Gas.
Now - for the educational stuff!
See this excellent video on the Fibonacci Sequence which explains the history and - most importantly - what makes it useful. There is also an explanation of the golden ratio, golden triangle, golden rectangle - all of the "golden" proportions. This is also a pretty good video by TeacherTube about the golden ratio.
For some reading on the subject, see the most comprehensive web site about Fibonacci numbers that I have found on the web at Fibonacci Numbers and the Golden Section - this is the site of Dr. Ron Knott which includes multimedia presentations suitable for everyone. This is an excellent web site with many hyperlinks and so much material that it would keep any interested upper elementary or middle/high schooler busy for many hours. If your child is especially interested in mathematics - or you just wish they were (lol!) - you might want to introduce them to interesting math-y topics like this.
I can't talk about Fibonacci numbers without talking about the Penrose the Mathematical Cat books, in which mathematical concepts - like Fibonacci numbers - are introduced in the form of a story about a cat named Penrose and his adventures.
Related: Fibonacci numbers in nature
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wednesday Word Problem from Mango Math!
Buck and Henry bought three horses of equal value for $840. Buck contributed $450 and Henry contributed $390. By the end of the day, they had sold one horse for $840, and decided to end their partnership. How should they divide the cash fairly if Henry keeps the two horses?
Come back tomorrow to find out the answer!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Send in your post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling!
Don't forget to send in your post for the next Carnival of homeschooling! The deadline is always the Monday before the Carnival each week before 6:00 pm PST. The Carnival will be up every Tuesday.
If you participate in the Carnival, please make sure you promote it on your blog and let your readers know to be looking for your contribution!
There are two ways to submit a post for the Carnival of Homeschooling:
1. You can send your post via BlogCarnival. Just go here and follow the instructions.
2. You can email your entry to : CarnivalOfHomeschooling@gmail.com by 6:00 PM (PST) on the Monday evening of the week. It will be greatly appreciated if the submissions come in earlier. Please send the following information:
Title of Post
URL of Post
Name of Blog
URL of Blog
Brief summary of the post
(With "carnival" or "submission" in the subject field of the email.)
The current issue is still up and running at Nerd Family!
The next issue will be up at No Fighting, No Biting! on October 20!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Free printable math game with instructions...
Picture from: Pumpkins and Place Value on Squidoo
Aussie Pumpkin Patch has a free printable piggy-bank-themed math game to print!
Click HERE for details!
Here are some fall-themed Squidoo lenses, like the one on pumpkins linked above:
Lumpy Bumpy Pumpkin Unit Study
Raccoons and Ripe Corn Unit Study
Autumn Unit Study
Tobias Turkey
Friday, October 16, 2009
Amanda Bennett $5 Friday is here!
Amanda Bennett $5 Friday is here again! This is the day she has select unit study CD-ROM's on sale for $5 - usually $14.95! But you have to hurry, because the sale ends at midnight tonight!
Today's sale is on:
Baseball Unit Study
Athletes of the Bible
Scrapbooking Unit Study
These are only $5 each, with $1 for shipping, no matter how many you buy!
Click HERE to check it out!
The fascinating history of Monopoly!
During World War II, as the number of British airmen held hostage behind enemy lines escalated, the country's secret service enlisted an unlikely partner in the ongoing war effort: The board game Monopoly.It was the perfect accomplice.To read the entire story, click HERE!
Included in the items the German army allowed humanitarian groups to distribute in care packages to imprisoned soldiers, the game was too innocent to raise suspicion. But it was the ideal size for a top-secret escape kit that could help spring British POWs from German war camps.
The British secret service conspired with the U.K. manufacturer to stuff a compass, small metal tools, such as files, and, most importantly, a map, into cut-out compartments in the Monopoly board itself.
"It was ingenious," said Philip Orbanes, author of several books on Monopoly, including "The World's Most Famous Game and How it Got That Way." "The Monopoly box was big enough to not only hold the game but hide everything else they needed to get to POWs."
British historians say it could have helped thousands of captured soldiers escape. So how did a simple board game end up in a position to help out one of the most powerful military forces on the planet? Silk and serendipity.
Read more on this subject:
Debbie Hall's Map Forum
Hasbro History of Monopoly
HERE is About.com's extensive history of Monopoly, as well as information about an "Anti-Monopoly" game invented by an economist!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Please accept my apology!
Picture from CBBC Newshound
I am mortified!
I subscribe to all of my blogs listed in the sidebar via my Google feed reader, and I received the latest from one of the math blogs I subscribe to and I am livid! There was a very inappropriate picture - especially for an education blog!
If you clicked on it and were offended, please accept my apology! That blog has been removed and I am in the process of checking my other blogs.
Answer to yesterday's Mango Math word problem!
Since Mr. White answered the man in the blue shirt, he can't be wearing blue unless he is talking to himself.
Mr. White can't be wearing the white shirt since none of the men are wearing the same color shirt as his name.
So Mr. White must be wearing gray.
Since Mr. White is wearing gray and Mr. Blue can't wear blue, Mr. Blue must be wearing white. That leaves the blue shirt for Mr. Gray.
Word problem from Mango Math!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Wednesday Word problem from Mango Math!
At a class reunion, Mr. Blue, Mr. Gray, and Mr. White sat together. The man with the blue shirt said "Have you noticed that although the colors of our shirts are the same as our names, none of us is wearing a shirt that is the sam...e color as his own name?" "Yes, you're right," answered Mr. White. What color shirt was each man wearing?
Come back tomorrow for the answer!
Funny flight attendant!
This has nothing to do with homeschooling, but it will add a little levity to your day!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Corliss Archer - The Algebra Problem
This is a video of a 1950's sitcom called "Corliss Archer". I had never heard of it, but that was back in the day when whole families (children and adults) could watch TV together! It's about how an algebra problem frustrates the students and the families!
Go HERE to play the movie or download.
(H/T: Kitchen Table Math)
Send in your post for the next Carnival of Homeschooling!
Don't forget to send in your post for the next Carnival of homeschooling! The deadline is always the Monday before the Carnival each week before 6:00 pm PST. The Carnival will be up every Tuesday.
If you participate in the Carnival, please make sure you promote it on your blog and let your readers know to be looking for your contribution!
There are two ways to submit a post for the Carnival of Homeschooling:
1. You can send your post via BlogCarnival. Just go here and follow the instructions.
2. You can email your entry to : CarnivalOfHomeschooling@gmail.com by 6:00 PM (PST) on the Monday evening of the week. It will be greatly appreciated if the submissions come in earlier. Please send the following information:
Title of Post
URL of Post
Name of Blog
URL of Blog
Brief summary of the post
(With "carnival" or "submission" in the subject field of the email.)
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The Fun Theory!
Can "fun" make people change their bad habits? (In my opinion, it would be more well received than another government mandate.)
I want one of these installed in my house! It would make going up and down the stairs with laundry baskets almost enjoyable!
The Fun Theory
(H/T Joanne Jacobs)
Friday, October 9, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
DIY wrapping paper, and bows from recycling...
A Little Hut has instructions on how to make your own wrapping paper.
Click HERE
How About Orange has instructions on how to make a bow for your present from recycled magazines!
Click HERE
Here's the answer to yeterday's word problem!
Answer: The answer is 16 days. In the first 15 days he makes it 15 feet, having slipped back overnight. On the 16th day he makes it to 20.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Wednesday Word Problem!
How long will it take for the worm to reach the top?
Come back tomorrow to see if you got the correct answer!
(This word problem is brought to you by Mango Math.)
*Inchworms are the larvae of moths that belong to the family Geometridae.*
Here are some bookmarks for your fall reading!
Here are some bookmarks you can download and print to use for your Fall reading:
Click HERE
Source: The Crafty Crow
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Carnival of Homeschooling is up....
"Carnival" by Barron Holland
The host is Jacque at Walking Therein. There are a lot of good tips at this week's carnival - so go check it out!
Hey, and don't forget to turn your speakers on!
School discipline based on "hue".
Source: Right on the Left Coast: Views from a Conservative Teacher
Back in the "civil rights era" of the 50's and 60's, the goal was a colorblind society--a society whose laws did not treat people differently because of their race. Laws--ignored today but still on the books--state that people will be treated without regard to their race, or without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin.(Read the post in it's entirety HERE.)
So imagine my surprise when I received this link via email today:
The board is calling for a two-tiered form of student discipline. One for Black and Hispanic students; one for everyone else.I've written about this kind of thing before (here's just one example), and I always come to the same conclusion: Promoting Thurgood Marshall's and Dr. King's dreams of a truly colorblind society--not one that ignores race, but one that doesn't allow race to separate people before the law--would alleviate both kinds of racism (identified in the first paragraph above). Here's a post I wrote about race and education, quoting Marshall as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1964--do you agree with Marshall, or with the race-baiters of today?
With the goal of creating a "restorative school culture and climate" that conveys a "sense of belonging to all students," the board is insisting that its schools reduce its suspensions and/or expulsions of minority students to the point that the data reflect "no ethnic/racial disparities"...
Offenses by students will be judged, and penalties meted out, depending on the student's hue.
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