Interesting Pages You should look at

Monday, December 17, 2012

Curriculum Review - Apologia Land Animals

Young Explorer Series
Zoology 3 Exploring Creation with
Exploring Creation with Zoology 3: Land Animals of the Sixth Day




This is the book my girls used for Science for the fist semester of the 2012/13 school year.  This book was so well laid out that I didn't need a teachers book to explain it (they took it at co-op any how).   There were plenty of colorful photos, easy to read text, and exciting activities.

At the end of each lesson is a What do you remember section.  The student is to review/write the answer to a few questions regarding what they learned in that lesson.  Along with tracking, notebook activities, and mapping skills are fairly easy experiments.  We didn't do each one, but the ones we did were simple enough and did not require a huge trip to the store (love it!)

While taking this class at co-op, the students were also challenged to make a zoo and add animals to it each week.  The new animals were to be the ones they had learned about that week.

We really enjoyed learning about the animals, then taking a trip to the zoo to see them in "real life" and talking about what we had just learned.  I really believe that the girls will retain so much more information from this class than any other.

Along with the text book, you can also get a note booking journal.  I got a jr journal for my 4th grader, but would not do it again.  It would be fine for a student who really does not like to write or for a younger child, but there were too many coloring pages. 

My older daughter (5th grade) had a regular journal.  There are pages to color small pictures of what you learned about, and write info about the creature, mini books and penmanship practice as well.

In co-op we did the entire book in one semester.  That was way too fast.  If you spend an entire year and really enjoy the book, you will get a lot out of it, and retain the information.  As with all home schooling - you only get out of it, what you put into it.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Hot cocoa mugs

Hot Cocoa Pudding Mugs
 
 
These were just too cute to pass up!  And so easy to make.  The original recipe was found in the coupon section (go figure!).  I also found it on the jello website.
 
 
  • What you need 

  •                    
  • 2-1/2 cups milk
  • 2 env. KNOX Unflavored Gelatine
  • 2 oz. BAKER'S Bittersweet Chocolate
  • 1 pkg. JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
  • 12 miniature pretzel twist
  • 1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP Whipped Topping
  • 1/4 cup               JET-PUFFED Vanilla MALLOW Bits

    • Reduced Sugar Version
    • Save 30 calories and 4g of carbs, including 4g of sugar, per serving by omitting the bittersweet chocolate, reducing the MALLOW Bits to 2 Tbsp., and preparing the desserts with fat-free milk, 1 pkg. (1.4 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Fat Free Sugar Free Instant Pudding and COOL WHIP Sugar Free Whipped Topping.

    How to make it                                               
    • Add 1-1/2 cups milk to dry gelatine in small saucepan; stir. Let stand 3 min. or until gelatine is softened. Cook and stir on medium heat 3 min. or until gelatine is completely dissolved. Remove from heat; whisk in melted chocolate. Cool 5 min.                            
    • Beat pudding mix and remaining milk in medium bowl with whisk 2 min. Whisk in gelatine mixture. Spoon into 24 shot glasses sprayed with cooking spray. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm.                              
    • Unmold desserts onto tray just before serving. Insert pretzel half into side of each for the mug handle. Top each with 1 Tbsp. COOL WHIP and a few MALLOW Bits.