Summer Study of US Geography using the U.S.A. Activity Bundle {Review}

We aren't doing our regular homeschool work over the summer but I still have the kids doing a few short studies that we can wrap up before the regular school year starts back up.  I'd rather keep their brains active a little bit each day than have them get into a summer slump.  It is so hard getting back into a routine after their brains have turn to mush.

One of the things we have been doing this summer is going over U.S. Geography.  This is new work for Rachel and review for Nicholas but it has been fun.  It's been easy on me because I signed up to review the USA Activity Bundle from The Crafty Classroom and it has been the perfect fit.  The USA Activity Bundle is a PDF download that includes three products: USA State-by-State Activity Notebook, USA State-by-State 50 Mazes, USA State Birds.  I downloaded all three products and then bound the Activity Notebook and Mazes so they had their own workbook for those products.  We used the State Birds packet a little differently though.

We start our work by learning about a new state.  The USA Activity Bundle includes information about the state birds and flowers but not much else.  It is more of a consumable product for children to compile on their own the information they have learned.  So I read aloud a brief history from a geography book of my own.  While I'm reading to them, the kids work on the maze for that state.  It is a rather easy maze but a great way to review the shape of the state.

Once I've taught them about the state, they use that information to fill out their USA State-by-State Activity Notebook.

I just love how all of the information for each state is laid out for them.  It will make for a beautiful reference tool for them once we have completed all 50 states.

The USA State Birds packet includes a printable page for each state.  The page contains three parts, each of which can be cut out and used on their own.  There is a picture of the bird along with lines to write additional information about the bird.  Next, there is an outline drawing of the bird to be colored.  Finally, there are two small blocks that include a picture of the bird and the name and state for the bird.  These can be used as a matching game to test knowledge of the birds and their corresponding states.

We love learning about nature and wildlife so my children have really enjoyed using the State Birds packet.  One way we have used it is by having the children color the birds then I laminated the pages and cut out the blocks.  They can use these as identification when we are on nature walks but they also use the cards to quiz each other.  One of them picks a card (not letting the other child see it) and describes the bird aloud while the other child tries to guess the name of the bird being described. 

We have used other downloadable products from The Crafty Classroom in the past.  Here are a few other products that you might be interested in:



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Make Kids Crafts Fun with Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit {Review}

We love making crafts in our home.  We make crafts for fun and we use them regularly during our homeschool studies to bring what we've learned to life.  Here's my take on crafts and homeschool: You can simply read a book about the Spartans and move on or you can read about them, build your own Spartan helmet and sword, and then have pretend Spartan battles with your friends.  Which way do you think children will remember more about their studies of Sparta?



I saw that the Homeschool Review Crew had an opportunity to review the Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit by ACTIVA Products.  I'm always trying to learn new ways to craft so I was excited to sign up for this review.  We've now had a chance to play around with with both products and they are amazing!  I can't wait to tell you more about them.

First, I downloaded the FREE eBook of ACTÍVA's Favorite Sculpture Kids Crafts.  It contains 12 simple projects to make with Rigid Wrap and CelluClay.  Then our kit arrived in the mail!  Included in the box is 2 rolls of Rigid Wrap, 1 bag of CelluClay, and a project sheet.

We started with the Rigid Wrap.  I wasn't sure what to expect because I had never of this product before. The packaging says it is plaster cloth and you can create amazing shapes in under 30 minutes.  Sounds great!

The kit came with 2 rolls of Rigid Wrap.  Each roll is 4 inches wide and 5 yards long.  Rigid Wrap is like having paper mache embedded in a roll of gauze but it is dry and ready to use.  It is really an interesting concept.

We cut strips of Rigid Wrap ahead of time.  To activate it, simply dunk it in water then rub it with your fingers until it is soft and creamy white.

Rachel wanted to make a bowl so I used plastic wrap to cover and protect one of our dinner bowls and she used that as her mold.  She just wrapped the strips of wet Rigid Wrap over the bowl and smoothed them out.

Once she had covered the inside and outside of the bowl, she set it aside to dry.

Next Rachel wanted to use the Rigid Wrap to make her own beads.  There are instructions for making several different shaped beads but the concept is pretty much the same.

To make the beads, you use a narrow strip of activated Rigid Wrap and fold it in half lengthwise.  Next you wrap the strip around a drinking straw and let it dry.  Rachel had fun making these!

Once they were dry, we got out the paints.  Rachel painted two Rigid Wrap bowls and lots of beads.

She had fun making and painting the beads. She said she was going to make a necklace and a charm bracelet with them. 

Rigid Wrap is a neat product.  It is like using paper mache but you don't have to measure out the mixture and it is actually much neater than regular paper mache.  

Next we got out the CelluClay to play with.  The kit comes with an 8 ounce bag and it is like instant paper mache.  The picture on the left is the dry CelluClay and the picture on the right is CelluClay activated with water.  

Rachel used the CelluClay to make some little polka dots for her Rigid Wrap bowl.  She just molded them in her hands and then pressed them on the bowl.

Once it was all dry, she painted it with a rainbow theme!

Next Rachel wanted to use cookie cutters as a mold for the CelluClay.  She placed a cookie cutter on the table and then pressed the CelluClay into the shapes to form a thin layer.  For the heart, she used a wooden skewer to press into it to make a hole for threading.  Once they were dry, she just removed the cookie cutters and she had some cute shapes.

CelluClay is a little like used clay to mold and shape creations but it dries very quickly and the finished products are not heavy like clay.  Rachel used the Rigid Wrap beads with the CelluClay heart to make this pretty necklace for me.  It is a very lightweight necklace. I would not have wanted to wear this if it had been made out of heavy clay.

She also decided to add some bling to some of the other cookie cutters creations.

Since it is summer and we are not working on school, we just experimented and had some fun with Rigid Wrap and CelluClay.  However, once we get back into our homeschool routine, I definitely plan to use these two products in our school activities.  They are perfect for projects in which you might usually use paper mache or clay but they are neater, dry very quickly, and lighter.  Two projects I'm already thinking of is to make models of different Native American homes as we study Indians on the frontier as well as forming electrons to make models of atoms and molecules for chemistry.  I can also see this will be great to use at the kids' theater when I need to make a prop for a play.  We really love these two products and highly recommend them.  

For more information about these products, please check out ACTIVA Products online:

Website: https://activaproducts.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Activaproductsinc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/activaproducts
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/activaproducts/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/activaproducts/

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Gnome Cones in Argyle (All Natural Snow Cones)

We have discovered a great place the for the perfect summer treat and a little whimsical fun!  




It's called Gnome Cones and they are located in Argyle.  It's a fun place to hang out with friends.

Not only is the decor simply adorable but these aren't your regular snow cones.  These are all natural so you don't have to worry about your kids eating artificial colors and flavors.  It's just natural goodness in a cute little gnome cup!

They have a relatively short list of flavors compared some regular snow cones shops I've visited but I love the unique choices offered (plus I hear that they have added Cherry Limeade since we were last there!).  I ordered Cherry and both of the kids ordered Sour Lemon.  You can add ice cream, coconut cream, or fresh cream for just a small fee.  We might have to do that next time!

They started making our order right away so they were passed out to us in just a matter of minutes. 

So sweet and delicious!  Gnome Cones are very refreshing on a hot summer day and I just love that they are all natural!

Nicholas pointed out that the ice is shaved so finely that it almost feels soft to the touch.  

Gnome Cones is located at 421 US 377 South in Argyle.  They are open from 11:00 am - 10:00 pm every day.  You can connect with them on the Gnome Cone website or Gnome Cones on Facebook.

Doctor Aviation {Review}

Nicholas has always been interested in "anything that flies".  Last summer, he attended a Youth Fire Academy camp for middle schoolers at our local fire department.  They had a CareFlite helicopter land on-site and the pilot and technicians talked to the students about CareFlite and how they help people in an life-threatening emergency.  Right then and there Nicholas decided that he wants to be a CareFlite helicopter pilot when he grows up.  Since then I have been seeking out more books for him on aviation and trying to get him as much exposure to the field as possible.  I learned about Doctor Aviation through the Home School Review Crew and eagerly signed up to review the aviation video training course.  What a perfect fit it has been!

This aviation video training course is taught by Daryl Smith (aka Doctor Aviation).  Mr. Smith has 24 years of experience in the Air Force where he was an instructor and research pilot.  He has taught at the United States Air Force Academy and has also authored a book on aviation. 

Nicholas has been working through the Doctor Aviation lessons over the summer.  It consists of 15 online lessons of about 45-60 minutes each.  Each lesson is comprised of three parts.  First, Technical Trivia which includes learning about important points like radar, how to maneuver an airplane, and the different types of jet engines.  Second, the lesson introduces a Notable Innovator like Chuck Yeager or Amelia Earhart.  Lastly, the lesson covers a Legendary Event like Breaking the Sound Barrier or a Legendary Aircraft such as the F-14 Tomcat.

The video lessons are taught by Daryl Smith.  He is very knowledgeable and his lessons are straight forward and easy to understand.  It is helpful that throughout the videos he also includes slides and demonstrations to help explain the concepts visually.

Included with each lesson are Guided Notes.  These contain several pages and they serve as an outline of the presentation with gaps for the student to fill in as they learn.  

Each lesson also includes a To Learn More section that includes recommended books, websites, writing assignments and hands-on activities to bring the newly learned concepts to life.  Nicholas enjoyed reading The Bishop's Boys by Tom Crouch which was one of the recommended books about Orville and Wilbur Wright.  He has added a few of the other book recommendations to his summer reading list.

You can view the lessons on a computer or table but we have internet connected to our television in the living room so we watch the lessons there so the whole family can learn together.  I have enjoyed watching the course as much as Nicholas.  You will want to connect to a printer to make a hard copy of the Guided Notes.  Before Nicholas began the course, I printed out all of the Guided Notes and the To Learn More pages and put them in a 3-ring binder so he could use them while he watched each lesson.


Doctor Aviation costs $99 for six months of access to the course.  It is intended for ages 16 and up but Nicholas is 13 and has done great in the course but he already had a good understanding of aviation concepts.  The course is thorough and could definitely count as a half credit for high school but if the student completed all of the additional activities it would probably take a full year and could count as a full high school credit.
For more information about Doctor Aviation, please check them out online: Website: https://www.doctoraviation.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctoraviation Twitter: https://twitter.com/draviationguy If you are interested in reading additional reviews from other Home School Review Crew members to see what they thought of the Doctor Aviation online aviation course, please click on the banner below:

Fascinating Chemistry {Review}

The Home School Review Crew has been reviewing several different online courses from Fascinating Education.  The courses are intended for high school but middle school students who are strong in math skills can do well in these courses too.  They offered us three courses to choose from: Fascinating Chemistry, Fascinating Biology, and Fascinating Physics.  They recommend taking their courses in that specific order so I chose Fascinating Chemistry.  




The course was created by Dr. Sheldon Margulies, a retired neurologist and professor at several impressive medical schools.  He has also published three educational textbooks.  As you look through the Fascinating Education website, you will see that Dr. Margulies has a passion for science that he is excited to share with others.  He has created these courses with moving slides and audio presentations together to help ignite "right brain" learning, making the educational experience more complete than simple reading a text book.
The Fascinating Chemistry course is taught over 18 lessons.  During the lesson, Dr. Margulies stops and asks questions for the student to think about and there is always a review of the material that has already been covered.  There is also a printable transcript of the lesson if your student wanted to just print it and read it.  However, those are simply not as interesting as watching the presentations.
You can view the complete course outline for Fascinating Chemistry and even try a sample lesson HERE.
There are chemistry labs in most of the lessons.  They typically use basic household items but there are some chemicals and other supplies that you will probably need to purchase.  As with any science experiment, students are encouraged to use safety gear like eye protection and adult supervision is required.  

Each lesson has an online test which is automatically graded and the student can review his results to see what he missed.  There are also printable tests and answer keys if you want to administer the test to your student on your own.

Fascinating Chemistry does not retain the test scores so if you want to keep a copy for your records then be sure to review the quiz results and print them right away.  It does mention this on the website but I did not remember that until I went back later and couldn't find Nicholas' earlier test results that I had not recorded.
Other members of the Home School Review Crew have tried Fascinating Chemistry as well as other products such as Fascinating Biology and Fascinating Physics.  If you would like to read reviews from crew members on any of these products, please click on the banner below: