Homeschool Showcase #29

Welcome to the August 10, 2009 edition of Homeschool Showcase, where we spotlight all the the encouraging, inspiring, hands-on, and just plain fun ways that homeschooling families live, learn and enjoy life together.

We'll start this week's carnival off with Joesette, who is a little worried about the nature study taking over her family's dining room (and who, incidentally, has the same dining chairs that we do), but don't all homeschoolers' dining rooms look like that? I know ours does! And, I've got to confess, I love the bug jar. I've got some of that screen stuff in my garage that is just gathering dust. I think I'm going to put my husband and son to work building us some bug boxes. Doesn't that sound like a great father-son project?

Be sure to visit Joesette's blog, Learning Curve, and see what ideas you can pick up from her post, Nature Studies (Up Close and Personal).

photo by joesette

Vera Lang presents a fantastic, end-of-the-summer craft, How to Make a Shells-Adorned Picture Frame on her website, Fine Craft Guild .com. What a fun way to display your summer memories with treasures gathered during a family trip to the beach! Vera also invites visitors to her website to explore her list of summer craft books for kids.

Linda Jones offers a great list of 50 Books You Should Read Before Entering the Real World posted at JobProfiles. (I'm assuming that the "real world" is anything after high school.) Many of the books on this list are mentioned in the great little book I picked up recently, Reading Lists for College Bound Students, so this would make a great reference tool for those with college bound high school students.

I always love all the art project ideas that Julie Moses shares and this week's is no exception. In her post, Dog Gone It Toto!, posted at Ms. Julie's Place, Julie shares a step-by-step tutorial, with pictures, on how to make an adorable canine-themed art project.

photo by ms. julie

Giving us a wonderful example of how she tailors her daughter's curriculum to suit her interests, Jen shares Princess Curriculum on her blog, Best Family Adventures. Jen says, "I hope it helps others think outside the pre-packaged curriculum box - there's so much MORE out there!"

Cindi wants to know, Where are all the homeschoolers?? If you live in or around Kerrville (I don't, so I have no clue where that is, but if you do, you know who you are!), visit her new blog for folks in that area, Homeschooling In Kerrville.

Is Oobleck! not one of the funnest substances known to man? Erica Lynn, of One Busy Mama shares the recipe and photos of her family's adventures with this not-quite-quite-liquid-not-quite-solid substance. And, after you read Erica's post, I highly recommend that you watch this awesome clip from an episode of Discovery Channel's Time Warp. It may inspire you to make your own giant vat of Oobleck.

You know, I'm starting to wonder if kids ever get tired of playing dress up. I mean, I know younger kids probably enjoy it on a more regular basis, but even adults enjoy dressing up and taking on new "identities" every once in awhile. Susan Howe offers a great list of 25 Incredible Kid’s Costume Ideas and Resources for Parents posted at Star Costumes Blog.

I love this idea from RaisingOlives! I confess I have never heard of "play silks," but after reading this excellent hand dyed playsilks tutorial, posted at Raising Olives, I think I want to make some just because they're so pretty...and a really fun-looking project.

photo by raising olives

Penney Douglas share a sentiment that many of us homeschooling parents have shared as she wonders aloud, Who's Learning More Here? Me or the Kids? posted at Penney Douglas. I know that I have definitely learned more about many subjects by teaching my kids than I ever learned about them in school.

On her other blog, Penneymarie's Blog, Penney answers the question, How We Homeschool With Ten Kids, with words of wisdom and wonderful photos of her beautiful family.

Stephanie, of Stop the Ride!, shares an inspiring story of her son's Hard Choices at Eleven. I really enjoyed reading about the money-management skills that eleven-year-old Kellen has learned at such an early age -- skills that will serve him well throughout his life. I hope I'm more like Kellen when I grow up.

Workboxes are all the rage right now. I'm starting to think that I'm the only homeschooler on the planet who isn't using them...and I've gotta tell you: I'm tempted. Especially with Jolanthe's post, How We're Using Workboxes, in which Jolanthe shares the adaptations she's made to the workbox system to make it work beautifully for her family. Visit Homeschool Creations and be inspired!

photo by jolanthe

If you need some ideas of what to put in your workboxes, Karen @ Growing in Grace presents Alphabetical Order on her blog, Growing in Grace. This is a great activity made hands-on and fun utilizing the versatile alphabet strip that Karen made for her kiddos.

photo by karen

Want to see how my family is using photo books as learning tools? I think we'll be finding many more ways to utilize those little books as we go through our school year.

I know when I say I love this or that post, y'all probably think I'm just saying that, but, as proof that I really do love the ones I say I love, we've already tried this one from amida. It doesn't hurt that it was food-related. If you've ever eaten a chocolate-dipped frozen banana you know how yummy they are. If you haven't you don't know what you're missing and you need to run -- don't walk! -- to Journey Into Unschooling and get Amida's recipe and instructions for making some Magic Monkey Bananas of your own. You'll be glad you did!

photo by amida

I've never thought of adding a Folk song study to our lesson plans, but after reading Erin's ideas for doing so, posted at Delighting in His Richness, I may have to reconsider. Her family's study of "Follow the Drinking Gourd" sounds really fun!

Looking for fun ways for your kids to study their spelling words? Try Kelly's Spelling Task Cards! Visit the Homeschool Parent to download your set. I did!

Jennifer shares Week ONE The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe Unit Study posted at schooling memoirs. My kids love The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, so I can imagine what a fun unit this would be. Visit Jennifer's blog and get some ideas for your own unit study of one of C. S. Lewis' best-loved books.

That concludes this edition of Homeschool Showcase. Mark your calendars for the next edition, scheduled for August 24, and submit your blog article by 4:00 PM (EST), Sunday, August 23, using our carnival submission form. If you've never joined us before, or it's been awhile, please read the post submission guidelines. Past posts can be found on our blog carnival index page.