Printable Tales of History and Science for Older Learners

New resource for older learners who like history and science as well as the intrigue of mysteries.

Today's resource was written and contributed by Michelle Scott from Thinking Love, No Twaddle.  Granted this is not your everyday contribution for young learners, but older learners may just get inspired to learn more about Chinese History, life cycles, human anatomy, entomology, or criminal sciences.

This resource is provided in two parts.  Part one covers a historical murder during the time of China's Qing Dynasty and how justice was served due to information found in forensic entomology based on the work of Song Ci.

Part two includes more information on entomology, the study of insects, and how they can be helpful to forensic science.  She introduces such scientists as Franncesco Redi, Bergeret d’Arbois, and Hermann Reinhard.  You will also find fold able notebooking pages for Chinese forensic medicine.  Michelle has even included the answers to questions posed through out the worksheet packet.  These are very well done. 

Thanks for sharing, Michelle!! 


Click Here to download Part 1 of Chinese Forensic Medicine
Click Here to download Part 2 of Chinese Forensic Medicine


Blessings,

That Resource Team

When Your Perfect Homeschool Plan Isn’t Going So Perfectly

Most of us start the school year with great plans and high hopes but it often doesn’t take very long to realize that we just don’t live in a perfect homeschooling world.

Are any of the following true for you?

• Your children don’t like the curriculum.
• You don’t like the curriculum.
• Your meticulous scheduling isn’t working out very well.
• There are too many interruptions during the day.
• You’re already feeling isolated and cooped up.
• The house is getting messier by the moment.
• You are irritable and overreacting to minor issues.

If you see yourself in any (or all!) of the above scenarios, don’t despair. Read on for some ideas to help you move beyond these road blocks.

1. Be flexible. If something isn’t working, be willing to try something different. If there are tears or tensions on either side, put aside whatever you are working on and take a breather.  Try playing a game, reading aloud from a funny book or going to the park. Remember why you are homeschooling!  This is a whole-life experience and if you stop for one day it is not going to ruin any child’s life.
2. Limit scheduled activities. When the schedule starts feeling overwhelmingly full, you have the power to control it. Homeschool moms have a tendency to schedule way too many activities both inside and outside the home. Look over your schedule carefully and decide what is really necessary.  Say no to the ‘good things’ so you can say yes to the ‘great things.’
3. Get support. Get Dad involved (but you’re going to have to TELL him that you need his support and help; he’s not likely to just pick up on it).  Join and attend your local Homeschool Support Group. No group in your area? Join an on-line support group or a telephone support group.  YahooGroups.com has many homeschool related email groups. Hire a Life Coach who specializes in helping homeschool moms.
4. Change your teaching style or curriculum. If the curriculum isn’t working, give yourself permission to stop using it. Mary Pride suggests asking yourself: “Am I overdoing it? Am I making simple subjects too fancy? What can I eliminate?  Do I need to be doing this at all?  Is my child not ready for this subject?  Should I give it a rest?  Are there other worthwhile things we would like to study or do and come back to this later?”
5. Engage everyone in the household chores. Don’t do everything yourself!  Take time every day to train the children to pick up their rooms, do simple chores and keep the house in a general state of order.  It is well worth the time and energy it takes to get this part of your homeschool life organized.

When motherhood, homeschooling or life in general is overwhelming, stop and simplify.  So often when we see problems in our life, our tendency is to try and do a major overhaul.  Take some good advice from Charlotte Mason: implement only one new habit or idea at a time. With focus, diligence and consistency you will soon see improvement in this one area and you will not feel overwhelmed by trying to change too many things at once.  When the new habit is solid in your life, go ahead and move on to another one….but JUST ONE. Success in changing habits depends on setting one small goal at a time and achieving it.

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Charmaine Wistad has successfully homeschooled her own two children from pre-school through high school.  Now she is turning her attention toward helping other homeschool moms. Through personal coaching, Charmaine helps homeschooling moms thrive… not just survive! Visit her website to try a complimentary no-obligation telephone coaching session.

Source: http://www.homeschool-articles.com/when-your-perfect-homeschool-plan-isn%e2%80%99t-going-so-perfectly/

New Resources for Parables From Nature

A science nature read for moral training, fun, and learning

Oh, to learn about God's Glory in action though nature and reading at the same time!  It can be done quite neatly and easily. 

Today we offer the Big Book for Narration of Parables From Nature by Margaret Scott Gatty. This 4 part (series) book is on almost every Charlotte Mason reading list there is as it was directly suggested by Charlotte Mason.  Although Charlotte herself has this book listed as a read aloud for very young children such as grade 1, we have found it much better used as a jump-off to independent science study for grades 4-8.  This book is not the easiest to get through, but the stories are very well written and are filled with science as well as the Christian faith.

We offer the Big Book for Narration for each of the series in this book.  The Big Book offers our standard spot to narrate and draw a picture but additionally it offers two other pages which as the learner to pick out the spiritual theme/lesson from the book as well as a few concepts that present themselves from science.  This public domain text can be found online at most all of the usual online e-text sources.

As an added feature, we are also offering a parent check-off sheet to help plan your reading schedule, keep track of narrations completed, science themes, and any expanded learning done - this could include rabbit trails or slight learning diversions. :)  To help keep mums keep organized, there is also a space for noting the corresponding pages in the wonderful book Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock, another core book that should be in every Charlotte Mason household for reference as well as lesson use.

We hope you find these resources helpful and useful.

Click Here to download Series I of Parables From Nature by Margaret S. Gatty
Click Here to download Series II of Parables From Nature by Margaret S. Gatty
Click Here to download Series III of Parables From Nature by Margaret S. Gatty
Click Here to download Series IV of Parables From Nature by Margaret S. Gatty

Click Here to download our Check-off Record Sheet for Parables From Nature by Margaret S. Gatty

Blessings,

That Resource Team

Set #2 - History of Early Man - Children of Adam

Learning more about Early Man

Here is the next set of pages in the History of Early Man resources that Michelle over at Thinking Love, No Twaddle. has been sharing with us.

This set, Children of Adam, continues on from the first set. This family discussion type lesson set includes historical reading, go along online links for further exploration of topics, art and picture study, as well as introduces readers to our Holy Father of the past, Pius XII and his work, Humani Generis. So much here and lots to learn. This is a multi-age lesson but older readers will find much to think about and ponder here.

(More sample pages)

Thanks so much for sharing, Michelle!

Click Here to download this history resource, Children of Adam



Blessings,

That Resource Team