Posts Tagged ‘Chinese’

« Older Entries

Free Virtual History Textbook & Games!

January 26th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Thursday, January 26, 2012 and time for Social Sciences at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
KidsPast.com

Age Range: 8-12 (approximately, with parental supervision)

ClickScholar Renee reminded me of this website in the KidsKnowIt Network that we’ve featured previously. It offers an engaging online history textbook, history games, and interesting historical quotes.

When you get to the ad-supported site, use the menu and click on “World History” to access a sort of virtual, interactive textbook containing a variety of articles on topics including:

  • Prehistoric Humans
  • The Ancient Greeks & Romans
  • African, Indian, and Chinese Civilizations
  • The Byzantine Empire
  • Medieval Europe
  • The Renaissance
  • The Reformation
  • The American Revolution
  • The French Revolution
  • And Much More!

The articles are easy to read, interesting, and enhanced with pictures and illustrations. Note: It may take a minute or two to fully download each chapter – but your patience will pay off. :)

Once you’ve read the articles, use the menu to click on “History Games” and try playing the innovative arcade-style games that help kids retain the history facts and concepts in the articles.

You can also explore “Historical Quotes” from the menu that offers interesting comments from historical figures in every walk of life.

KidsKnowIt Network also provides fun history songs that kids may enjoy. Just click on the icon that says, “Play A Song for This Topic,” just below the menu on the left side of the screen.

No comments »

Posted in history

Tags:

Homefires’ Chinese New Year Sale Ends TODAY!

January 26th, 2012


 

Just a reminder that the Homefires’ Chinese New Year Sale is ending tonight at midnight!

Below is my original email:

The Year of the Dragon is Upon Us!

According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon–the ultimate auspicious symbol signifying success, happiness, power, and intelligence. In honor of this mythical creature, and inspired by our love of learning, we’re proud to present the…

Homefires’ Chinese New Year Sale!

For FOUR DAYS ONLY
Get 20% Off Our Most Popular Product:

Unschool Your Teen Audio Seminar and Resource Guide

Plus You Can Take $50 Off Homeschooling-California Style!

Sale Starts TODAY, Monday, January 23rd and

Sale Ends Thursday, January 26th at 11:59 PM (PST)

Just enter the coupon code “NEWYEAR” on the order form when you place your order and a whopping 20% will be automatically deducted from the price of our

Unschool Your Teen Audio Seminar & Resource Guide

This rave-reviewed product explains you how your teen can bypass high school and standardized curriculum and still get into a competitive college and have a terrific career! Includes 5 informative audio presentations and a comprehensive Resource Guide. Choose from two versions:

Hard Copy Version (includes comprehensive manual and CDs) is $167.00 – Take 20% Off and Pay Just $133.60! Save $33.40!

Electronic “Green” Version (delivered in downloadable mp3 and pdf format) is $117.00. Take 20% Off and Pay Just $93.60! Save $23.40!

*****

In addition to this fantastic savings, we’re also offering our all-inclusive course manual and resource guide Homeschooling—California Style for only $127.00! Regularly priced at $177.00, you’ll get a savings of $50.00! No coupon code necessary. But you’ve got to act fast—there are ONLY 5 COPIES AVAILABLE!

Homeschooling – California Style!

This is a step-by-step audio program and resource guide to help you get started homeschooling in California and thrive doing it! Contains in-depth information and California-specific resources that you will refer to over and over again.

This is a Hard Copy Product that includes a comprehensive manual, 6 audio recordings on CD, plus a CD of linked resources mentioned in the manual to make access easy. There are only 5 remaining in inventory. Valued at $177.00, You Pay Just $127.00! Save $50.00!

Hurry! The Homefires’ Chinese New Year Sale takes place for

FOUR DAYS ONLY on January 23, 24, 25, & 26!

May the Year of the Dragon bring Good Luck and Great Savings to You!

 

 

Diane Flynn Keith
for ClickSchooling
http://www.ClickSchooling.com

 

Diane Flynn Keith began publishing “ClickSchooling” in the year 2000 while she and her husband, Cliff, homeschooled their sons. Now, Diane’s sons are grown, and she is an internationally recognized voice in education outside the traditional classroom walls.

Diane is the author of the rave-reviewed book, “Carschooling: Over 350 Entertaining Games & Activities To Turn Travel Time Into Learning Time” with games like Windshield Entomology, Road-Cut Geology, 18-Wheeler Chemistry, and Drive-By History that are guaranteed to turn your kids into “Road Scholars”.

Stop by the Carschooling website for tons of resources and activities for you and your family to enjoy at www.Carschooling.com.

Ms. Keith is also a popular speaker at education conferences throughout the U.S. To learn more about booking Diane for a lively presentation at your next event email: editor@homefires.com

Diane is the editor of www.Homefires.com that provides information and resources along with free monthly teleconferences on homeschooling, unschooling, and educational alternatives.  She provides support for parents who want to help their preschool-age children learn at home at: www.UniversalPreschool.com.

Diane’s best-selling program is her new “Unschool Your Teen Audio Seminar & Resource Guide.” It shows parents how to collaborate with their teens to bypass high school and standardized curriculum and still get into the college of their choice and/or have the career of their dreams. Learn more at www.UnschoolYourTeen.com.

Diane’s latest program, “Basic Building Blocks for Homeschool Success,” is a step-by-step guide to homeschooling filled with resources and information on how to begin homeschooling and thrive doing it! Learn more at www.Homefires.com/buildingblocks.

Today, Diane guides and mentors families through her websites, coaching programs, and live events. She is driven to liberate families from the constraints of conventional schooling so that they can live happy, fulfilled, extraordinary lives.

To contact Diane Flynn Keith
Email: Editor@Homefires.com

 

 

 

 

 
 
© 2012 Diane Flynn Keith


Homefires

180 El Camino Real
Millbrae, CA
94030
US

If you no longer wish to receive communication from us:
Cancel

To update your contact information:
Update

No comments »

Posted in unschool

Tags:

Learn to Speak Japanese!

October 29th, 2011

Hi! It’s Saturday, October 29, 2011, and time for Foreign Languages at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Kids Web Japan

Age Range: 4 to 12 (with parental supervision)

This website, created by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), is designed to foster appreciation of Japan among American children and introduce them to the Japanese language!

The simple artwork, the openness of each page, the soft color scheme and intuitive navigation, are all immediately attractive to young ones. And the content is top-notch! Here’s what you’ll find:

*Lessons 1-8 – Nicely illustrated formal language lessons, complete with audio examples, English and Japanese text, and pronunciation in text form. (Typical lessons contain dialog, vocabulary/grammar, and an exercise.) 

*Animated Japanese – There are 3 scenarios on this page with 3 menu choices each. The 3rd link in each scenario is the ONLY one that works – but it opens terrific interactive cartoons. Click on the numbered speech balloons sequentially (as many times as you like) to hear the dialog in Japanese and read the captions in English, Japanese, and phonetic transcription. Learn fun sentences like, “Welcome home, Master!” and “Let’s play together until our spaceship gets fixed.”

*Quick Kanji – Here you can play with a fully interactive drawing of a scene in Japan. Click on any part of the scene to watch the picture evolve into a Japanese/Chinese character. This is a winner!

*Hiragana and Katakana Charts – Japanese alphabets. Click any letter to hear it pronounced.

*Numbers – Learn to speak and read the numbers from 1 to 100.

And under Related Articles:

*Language – The older kids and adults will appreciate this clear article about the Japanese language.

*Hiragana Matching Game – Click and drag the Japanese word to the picture. If you guess correctly, you hear the word pronounced and learn to write it correctly. Even if you are just guessing wildly, you will still learn something by playing this game. (You probably won’t want to play it past level two, tho ugh, unless you already know some words and letters.)

And last but not least:

*Gesture Game – This hidden gem is listed under “Games” in the left column. Look at the gesture and try to guess what it means. These gestures are also used in Japanese Sign Langauge.

You may also wish to spend some time on the rest of this website; some additional Japanese vocabulary (origami, manga, ninja,..) is presented in the context of the culture and history of Japan. Parents, as always, should preview the site and supervise Internet use.

No comments »

Posted in history

Tags:

Tangrams!

September 26th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Monday, September 26, 2011 and time for Math at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Tangrams

Age Range: All (Young children and non-readers will need assistance. Parental supervision required.)

A Tangram is an ancient Chinese puzzle made with seven flat pieces called tans. By combining these seven tans, thousands of shapes or pictures can be made that help teach geometric concepts including shape recognition, area, perimeter, symmetry, etc.  Plus, it improves problem-solving skills.

This commercial website sells tangram puzzles, but it also offers terrific information about tangrams along with free puzzles and solutions.

When you get to the site, you can read an introduction and learn about various tangram puzzles made from bone and mother of pearl.

Look for the red icon menu on the left side of the page and use it to explore:

*History – Read about the history of tangram puzzles and how they became so popular.

*Make It – Get instructions to make your own set of tangrams pieces.

*Puzzles – Print out free tangram puzzles along with a set of rules, and use your skill and intuition to find solutions.

Click on “Tan Links,” “Downloads,” and “Play” to find links to other websites that offer information and activities. Note: We did not review the linked sites, so PARENTS MUST PREVIEW the sites to determine suitability of content.

This site provides a great way to engage in some hands-on geometry with tangrams!

No comments »

Posted in history, math

Tags:

Free, Fun, Art Appreciation Lessons for K-12

September 10th, 2011

Hi!  It’s Saturday, September 10, 2011 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website: The Walters Art Museum: Integrating the Arts

Age Range: 5-18 (Grades K-12 with emphasis on Middle School; parental supervision advised.)

ClickScholar Meike of New Zealand suggested this website that offers online art exhibits and free interactive art appreciation activities and lessons for students in grades K-12.

The website is the online companion to The Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.  You’ll find virtual exhibits that feature a collection of art that was amassed by two men, William and Henry Walters. The collection includes a sampling of world art from pre-dynastic Egypt to 20th-century Europe including Greek sculpture, medieval Old Master paintings, Art Deco jewelry,
and 19th-century European and American masterpieces.

When you get to the “Integrating the Arts” page, you’ll find two, free, multi-media activities that use visual arts to teach concepts of social studies, science, language arts, and math.

They include:

1) Mummies, Manuscripts, and Madonnas – Assemble a life-sized version of a Roman sarcophagus, create a suit of armor, and restore an ancient Mesopotamian relief back to its original color!

2) China – Trace the evolution of Chinese writing, follow a red dragon through an ancient tale, and learn about Chinese symbolism.

Don’t Miss the “Lesson Plans” – Access an array of FREE art appreciation lesson plans for grade K-12 that cover topics such as:

  • Ancient World Storytelling
  • Egyptian Symbols
  • Interpretations of the Golden Rule
  • Personal Coat of Arms
  • Warhol Stained Glass
  • Clay Stories
  • Perspective on Pavimenti
  • Monsters
  • ~And Much More!

You can download a pdf with complete lesson instructions, links to the artwork discussed in the lesson (available on The Walters Art Museum website) and ideas for extension activities and further learning.

BONUS! This site also offer a fun interactive, multi-media adventure for kids called Waltee’s Quest: The Case of the Lost Art. Kids will have fun learning all about works of art while
trying to solve a mystery! 

No comments »

Posted in history, math

Tags:

Free Illustrated Antique Books & Zero Tuition College

June 1st, 2011

Hi!  It’s Wednesday, June 1, 2011 and time for Language Arts at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Children’s Books Online: The Rosetta Project

Age Range: All (Mostly children’s books for ages 4-12, but some books for teens and adult readers as well.)

ClickScholar Theresa recommended this website that is a free online library of illustrated antique (out-of-print) books that include stories, poems, rhymes, and chapter books. As she noted, “The illustrations alone are worth taking a look!”

The brain-child of one man and an army of volunteers, this site not only has free books online, but it translates many of them into a variety of languages including Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, Farsi, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, and more!

You can use this not only for Language Arts but for Foreign Language practice as well!

When you get to the site you can click on either:

*A link to “Free Online Books and Translations” that will take you to a list of the free books available to read.  Click on any one and a new page opens where you can access the book.

*A link to the “Online Books and Translations Indexed by Reading Level and Language” where you’ll find an icon menu leading to the books sorted into the following categories:

  • Pre-Reader and Very Early Readers
  • Early Readers
  • Intermediate Readers
  • Advanced Readers
  • Adult Readers
  • Books in Multiple Languages

Note that you’ll also find links to “Multi-Media Books” and “Books with Audio” that are available for sale at the website. 

If you just want to access the free books then click on the appropriate reading level and a new page opens to a menu of free books in that reading category.

You’ll also find an alphabetized “Super Index” of the books too.

This is a remarkable collection that you’ll want to bookmark so you can return again and again.

No comments »

Posted in language arts

Tags: