Little Passports: Egypt

The kids both have fun with their monthly subscriptions to Little Passports.  I'm so excited that this month's package was on Egypt which they are studying right now in their Tapestry of Grace program!  

Here are all of the goodies they received:

We always start with reading aloud the letter from Sam and Sofia, two imaginary kids who travel the world and send letters, games, activities, and passport stickers to my kids each month.

Then each kiddo finds the location on their world map.

Nicholas placed his sticker right on the delta of the Nile River.

They learned about hieroglyphics and used the translator key to interpret some words.

I love that they have fun together with Little Passports.  The activities are quick and easy for Nicholas but he hasn't had much exposure to geography so he enjoys it.

Next they worked on a word scramble of cities and countries around Egypt.  It is a great way to get them looking more closely at their map.  They are "learning while doing".

I always make them save the activity for the end.  This month it is a dig kit!!  They each got a pyramid that has a hidden treasure in it that they have to excavate!

We took this project outside because I knew it would produce a lot of dust.  But oh how fun!

They got so excited when they chipped away a piece of pyramid and found a little piece of something hidden inside!

I use small cookie trays for projects like this because it makes clean up a breeze!  They each have their own.  I bought them at the dollar store and they are only used for projects, never food.

They both excavated a gold mummy from their pyramid!

Little Passports offers three programs.  Early Explorers for ages 3-5, World Edition for ages 6-10, and USA Edition for ages 7-12.  You can choose a monthly plan, 6 month plan, or 12 month plan.  

First Day of School 2015

The school day was half over today when I realized that I hadn't taken our traditional "First Day of School" pictures.  Sometimes we take the picture on the couch while they are in their pajamas, because sometimes that is our homeschool uniform for the day (because we can!).  But today they were all dressed and wanted to take the pictures outside.

Rachel is 6 years old and starting 1st grade.

Nicholas is 11 years old and starting 6th grade.  Middle School!!!

Look how big they are!  Wow, what awesome kids they are.  I am one blessed mama to be able to stay home and help them learn about the wonderful world God has blessed us with.  There is no better job in the world!

Race to Escape: Back to Homeschool Edition

Our kids love a puzzle/logic TV show called Race to Escape on the Discovery Science network.  The show is based on two teams locked in two identical but separate rooms.  Each team has to get themselves unlocked and then solved a series of puzzles in order to be able to get out of the room.  The first team to escape wins the game.

I usually do a fun thing the night before we start back to homeschool in the fall.  This year we decided to do a Race to Escape themed event.  It was a hit!

Of course they had to start locked up in some way.  We decided to handcuff them together and then make them work together to retie their shoelaces.  

Ahh, there I go sneaking a little cooperation and team work into the fun.  We should have made this task a little more challenging though.

Once they both had their shoes retied, a paper airplane came sailing towards them with a clue that led them to the kitchen where they each had to solve a sequence puzzle.  When that puzzle had been solved, a flying pig came at them delivering a piggy message.

They tried to figure out the pig clue but it was a challenge for them at first.

They first looked for HAM in the refridgerator!  Ha ha!  Good guess but nope that's not it!

Finally Nicholas figured out that it referred to ham radio and he checked the ham station where they found the key to their handcuffs as well as the directions for the next challenge.

Nicholas got them both out of their handcuffs and they were off to the next game.

I used an old printer's tray drawer that used to hold alphabet ties for printing presses.  I have it with a great craft in mind but that just hasn't happened yet so I was happy to be able to put it to some good use.  The tray held blue and green cups for Nicholas and red and pink cups for Rachel.  They were each given a jar of pom poms.  They were instructed to stand in place and drop or toss the pom poms into the cups.

It seems easy enough but look at all of the pom poms that didn't make it into the cups!

Once all of the pom poms were gone, they counted up the ones that landed in cups to see which of them got the most in. 

The winner was Rachel so she got her back to school goody bag first.

 

I always give them a little something at the start of the school year.  It usually contains some school items like the timer, Subraction Wrap Ups activity, 100 piece puzzle, and a mini-crystal dig kit.  I also include something for them to fidget with while I read aloud to them.  This year I found this cool Mega Twiddle thingymabob.  I had fun playing with it in the store!  There is usually candy and something just for fun like the cool light up cube.

We start back to school tomorrow and I'm excited.  It's going to be a great school  year!

Tinker Crate Drawbot {Save $10 on your first crate!}

Nicholas received his new Tinker Crate subscription in the mail.  Tinker Crate is an amazing hands-on project kit that is delivered each month.  The projects are based on science, technology and engineering.  

This month Nicholas will be making a Drawbot drawing robot!  How cool!

(Want to know more about Tinker Crates or the other fun project and craft crates that are offered for different ages?  Just click this link and learn more plus get a $10 credit toward purchasing your first crate!)

Every month Tinker Crate sends him a box with all of the supplies needed except things like scissors.   This kit includes a bot base, battery pack, velcro strips, velcro coins, 2 AA batteries, sticky foam donuts, paper, markers, modeling clay, motor and bushings and gear.

He began the Drawbot assembly by making the motor.   This will bring the bot to life!

Next he began assembly of the bot body.  The instructions are always easy to follow and come complete with pictures for each step.  I like to watch him build his creations but he never lets me help him.  He likes doing these projects independently which makes me a proud mama, especially since he always does a great job of completing them correctly and rather quickly.

The Drawbot body is complete.  Once the motor is attached this little guy will draw on its own!

Presenting his own Tinker Crate Drawbot!

The Drawbot is so much fun to watch.  It bee bops around the big sheet of paper all on its own.

Nicholas learned to adjust the path and pattern of the Drawbot by changing the shape of the clay on the motor or by changing the position of the motor or battery pack or even by adjusting the height of the makers.

For more information about Tinker Crate, check out the Kiwi Crate website.  If you use my affiliate link you will get $10 off your order of one of their many awesome crates - http://www.kiwicrate.com/m/referral/?i=KimberlyC68

They offer Koala Crates for kids ages 3-4, Kiwi Crates for ages 4-8, Tinker Crates are building projects for ages 9-16+, and Doodle Crates are craft projects for ages 9-16+.  You can purchase one box or sign up for a subscription and save money!

Rachel gets the Kiwi Crates and Nicholas gets the Tinker Crates.  They both love finding their crates on the doorstep each month.  

Note: By clicking on my affiliate link, I get a small credit on our account to help pay for next month's crates for my kids.  However, it will also give you an awesome $10 credit to go towards your first crate purchase!

Discover the Beauty of the Japanese Garden {Fort Worth}

The kids have been learning about Japan so we decided to take a family field trip to the Japanese Garden at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens.

The Dry Landscape Garden was interesting.  Rocks, sand, and simple patterns drawn in the sand. We never could figure out how the workers easily got into the garden to make the designs as there are no gates to get in.

Throughout the garden we found beautiful Japanese sculptures and statues.

There was even Japanese writing on the bathrooms to denote "men" and "women".

There are ponds throughout the garden and even feeding stations where you can buy pellets to feed the koi fish (bring LOTS of quarters!).  

The fish literally come right up to you if you have food in your hand!

They swarmed us as we fed them.  Some splashed hard and jumped on top of other fish.  It was so entertaining to watch!

Nicholas noticed a Red-Eared Slider Turtle while he was feeding the fish.

The scenery in the Japanese Garden is just breath-taking.  Ponds, bridges, waterfalls...

And of course, beautiful foliage everywhere.

And this little beauty was just taking it all in.

Nicholas found a shady spot on a rock under a tree.  It was a good spot for watching fish.

We loved the fun of the stepping stones over the water!

And no one got wet!

Everything is so green and beautiful here.  You can't help but feel tranquil.

The kids loved this little walkway in the water.  They could bend over and just touch the fish with their bare hands.

Nicholas was just in love with the fish and he fed them and touched them any chance he got.  Stuart thought it would be funny to sneak up and startle Nicholas while he was mesmerized by the fish!

Rachel liked the Japanese Teahouse and wished that we could actually go in and enjoy some Japanese tea.

It is August and although there is green all around us we did find a few hints of fall in the trees.  I just know this place will be gorgeous when in full fall colors!

Nicholas, our photographer-in-training, caught a picture of Stuart and me on the bridge.  I love this picture!

We found many little creatures to study in the garden.  Nicholas found this Eyed Click Bug.  It has big fake eyes to scare away predators but also makes a funny clicking sound when it gets flipped over on its back.  So interesting!

And of course, if there is a lizard around, Nicholas must catch it.  He loves these little Anoles.

Rachel enjoyed exploring the garden.  She loved the bridges, looking at leaves, and finding birds in the trees.

Nicholas never got tired of those fish.  He would sit quietly in one spot for 20 minutes just watching them and trying to pet them.  I think we need a little koi pond in our backyard!

About the Japanese Garden: The Japanese Garden is part of the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, located at 3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth.  Entrance to the Japanese Garden is $5 adults and $3 for children ages 4-12, children 3 and under are free.  For more information, please visit the Fort Worth Botanic Garden website or visit them on Facebook.