Building the Periodic Table in Minecraft

As a mom, I love it when my kids choose to spend time together. As a homeschooling mom, I am elated when it also involves learning. The cherry on top is that I had absolutely nothing to do with it! 

Related Links:

• Bookshark Science - (shannafern.com)
• Science: The Digestive System - (shannafern.com)

BookShark Science

Performing their electricity related experiments with foil wire they made themselves. 

As a homeschooling parent, I have to work around my own weaknesses as a teacher. Historically, I have never been one to plan out a detailed homeschooling schedule as I find it to be a giant waste of time when I know life "stuff" happens and I won't be able to keep up to my good intentions. All this causes particular angst when the subject is something I, as the teacher, don't feel particularly knowledgeable or excited about to begin with. Science has been that subject for me. When the kids were younger, I made up for our lack of science learning at home by taking them to lots of science centers and exhibits, having various science related books about for them to read, and watching lots of NOVA's and other science documentaries that intrigue them. I have been using a Math and history curriculum for years that works well for me, but I have never found a science program or curriculum that would fit my criteria.

This year though I was motivated to look harder given that I have two middle schoolers literally begging me to do science. Kids this age are naturally curious and I do not want to hamper their curiosity. Who can say no to a kid begging to learn and curiosity is a valuable asset when it comes to learning science. So.... enter BookShark Science. 

BookShark offers boxed curriculum that pulls from many different resources and best of all has a teacher schedule and guide all laid out. All of their curriculum regardless of subject is strongly literature based which my husband and I really appreciate. Homeschoolers can purchase curriculum for an entire grade level or by subject. Looking through the options under science, I chose to start with Science 4 on Electricity, Magnetism and Astronomy. We are three weeks into this curriculum and I have to say I am very pleased. Once again I find myself learning right alongside my children. I don't have to have a full understanding before we dive in and it includes nearly all the materials required for each week's experiment. Therefore any pre-planning on my part takes less than 15 minutes a week.  So it seems that I finally found a good science curriculum fit for our family thanks to BookShark.

Elisabeth learning about current, circuits and cells in a series.

Related Articles:

• Maker Faire Orlando 2015 (shannafern.com)
• Homeschool Science: Plant Absorption (shannafern.com)
• Hydroponics Project with Daddy (shannafern.com)
• Daddy is Teaching Computer Science (shannafern.com)

Science: The Digestive System

I discovered a science show called Horrible Science on Amazon. After watching the first episode, we read a couple of excerpts from books about the digestive system. I then tasked my 12 and 10 year old with drawing a diagram of their own digestive system. The results were pretty interesting!

By Jonah

by Elisabeth

Inspiring a Future Geologist?

Elisabeth spent her own allowance on a Discovery Kids Rock & Gem Dig Kit. She was so excited to get home and begin her quest to unlock the treasures inside. It was good to see her spend her money on something educational. The box recommends ages 12 and up, but, after reading the directions, she couldn't fathom why. She spent a couple of hours on this little project and her enthusiasm inspired big brother to get involved as well. Afterwards, she declared she wanted to be an archaeologist. I gave a brief explanation of an archaeologist (who studies human artifacts and remains), a paleontologist (studies fossils) and a geologist (who studies the actual earth) which resulted in her declaring that she in fact wants to be a geologist. 

Maker Faire Orlando 2015

Our family attended both days of the Maker Faire Orlando this year. The first time we went to a Maker Faire it was many years ago and held in a rented space in a strip mall in Durham, NC. That was where we were first introduced to a 3-D printer and we were amazed by the little 2-inch creations. 3D printing technology and Maker Faire have come a long way since then - both bigger and better.

3D printed sculpture and vase

tabletop 3D printer with product and man-sized floor model in the background

There were several opportunities for hands-on "making" during this years Maker Faire at the Orlando Science Center. The kid's each had an opportunity to screen-print a shirt. (Watch video of Elisabeth making her shirt.) My husband was happy that we all were introduced to soldering while making our own little blinky-eyed maker pins. While, there were many tech-makers represented, there were almost as many crafty makers and vendors there as well. Elisabeth was able to sample the pottery making with Super Awesome Cool Pottery and did a simple looming craft that really piqued her interest.

Soldering workshop at Maker Faire Orlando 2015

Jonah screen-printing a shirt

Shirts screen-printed at Maker Faire Orlando 2015

There were lots of interesting things to see as well. My son has been obsessed with dinosaurs since this summer's release of Jurassic World. So we absolutely had to go check out the visiting baby ankylosaurus. (Video link here) It's amazing how well the actor made him seem like a puppy; it reminded us of the Ankylosaur in the Disney's Dinosaur movie.

Jonah "feeding" the ankylosaur

R2D2 Robot by R2-D2 Builders Club

One highlight of the Maker Faire was getting to see one of large combat robots from the most recent season of BattleBots - Witch Doctor.  Saturday's Maker Faire attractions included a contests between smaller combat bots. We only stayed for one match but it was exciting.  Watch it here!

Witch Doctor from Battlebots @ Maker Faire Orlando 2015

We also attended the Tesla Coil show. I didn't really know what to expect and it turned out to be the highlight of our second day at the Maker Faire. There were Tesla coils of various sizes demonstrated for the audience. Watch our video of the small coil making electricity to Star Wars music and then watch the Big Tesla Coil create larger lightning bolts in the auditorium.

Another well attended attraction was the Human Powered Snow Cone maker. There were more kids than adults in the line but anyone can make a snow cone on the giant hamster wheel. (Watch Elisabeth and Jonah make theirs.)

The kids enjoying the snow cones they made at Maker Faire Orlando 2015

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Homeschool Science: Plant Absorption

We picked up this book at the Science Center: Cool Biology Activities for Girls by Kristi Lew. Here are the components and result from her first experiment on plant absorption.

Hydroponics Project with Daddy

Kelly ordered this from Woot!  

Now where do we put this thing?!