Posts Tagged ‘history’

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Incredible Art & Design Activities!

January 28th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Saturday, January 28, 2012 and time for Art at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
National Gallery for America’s Young Artists

Age Range: 5-18 and beyond (Grade Range K-12)

This website features a variety of free interactive art activities to engage the budding Pollock, O’Keefe, Rodin, or Frank Lloyd Wright in your home.

When you get to the site you’ll see a menu featuring three main sections as follows:

I.  Free Art Sites: Experiential – Click on any one of 5 links to virtually draw, color, paint, build, and experiment with color and 3D design online. 

II. Interactive Activities About Art – This collection of fun activities provides multi-media lessons in art history as well as art media and technique. Learn about color symbolism, how to make prints, bronze casting, take a tour of the Vatican artwork, find out what’s in an artist’s toolkit, and learn all about cave art.

III.  Online Art Galleries – Explore other online art galleries by clicking on links to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the British Museum, the National Museum of African Art, Native American Art, and a great online exhibit about myths and legends in art. All of these galleries use multi-media to enhance art education.

You could design an entire art curriculum around the information and activities archived here.  Be sure to bookmark it to return often.

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Virtual Field Trip to Kazoo Factory!

January 27th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Friday, January 27, 2012 and time for a Virtual Field Trip at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Eden Kazoo Factory & Museum

Age Range: All (with parental supervision)

Tomorrow, January 28th, is National Kazoo Day! At this website, you can read about the history of METAL kazoos, developed in 1840 in Macon, Georgia. Learn how the device was patented and manufactured by The Original American Kazoo Company, and how it is manufactured today. See an NBC video of the Eden Kazoo Factory including aspects of the manufacturing process.

Of course, this info is likely to lead to a strong desire to play the kazoo. It’s a fun musical instrument that even young children can learn to play. All you have to do is start humming, place the kazoo in your mouth, and the humming turns into kazoo music.

By the way, you can purchase inexpensive plastic kazoos at most toy stores, or get them at Kazoobie Kazoos. They offer info about kazoos on their website, including a video that shows aspects of the PLASTIC kazoo manufacturing process at the Beaufort Kazoo Factory.

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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.

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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


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Virtual Field Trip to La Brea Tarpits

January 20th, 2012

Hi! It’s Friday, January 20, 2012 and time for a Virtual Field Trip at ClickSchooling!

Recommended Website:
Tarpits.org: Timeline

Age Range: 9 and up (with paretal supervision)

ClickScholar Karla suggested this website that offers an interactive, mini timeline tour of the La Brea Tarpits in Los Angeles, California – the “only consistently active and urban Ice Age excavation site in the world.”  The tarpits trapped unfortunate prehistoric critters who were fossilized in the goo.

When you get to the site, read a brief introduction and click on the “start” arrow to learn more about:

*Pleistocene Period – Meet the American Mastodon, Saber-Toothed Cat, Yesterday’s Camel, Dire Wolf, Harlan’s Ground Sloth, Western Horse, and the Ancient Bison. See an artist’s sketch and a picture of a skeleton excavated from the tarpit.

*Prehistory/History – Learn about humans who settled in the Los Angeles area.

*Discovery/Excavations – Meet a founder of the La Brea Tarpits excavation site, learn the history of the La Brea Tarpits Museum. 

When you’re through taking the timeline tour, poke around the rest of the site to learn more.

 

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Fun Renaissance Interactive!

January 19th, 2012

Hi!  It’s Thursday, January 19, 2012 and time for History at ClickSchooling! 

Recommended Website:
Learner.org: Renaissance

Age Range: 14-18 (grades 9-12, with parental supervision)

This website is part of the extensive Learner.org resource for teachers. It offers an interactive exploration of the Renaissance (14th-16th centuries), a time of scientific, artistic, economic, political and social rebirth as Europe (and Italy in particular) emerged from the Middle Ages. 

When you get to the site, you’ll see a brief introduction. Navigate this interactive by using the menu on the left that includes:

*Out of the Middle Ages – Learn how the bubonic plague (aka “Black Death”) resulted in a new middle class population, the resurgence of city living, and a new economy. Click on links to primary source documents, museum exhibits, and more.

*Exploration and Trade – Find out how scientific improvements in navigation tools and cartography led to advancements in exploration and trade. Don’t miss the interactive, “Become a Spice Trader” and find out if your trading skills will lead to riches or ruin.

*Printing And Thinking – Discover how Gutenberg’s printing press forever changed the lives of people worldwide as they transitioned from papyrus to paper. It launched a rebirth of classical studies in Latin and Greek, and led to the emergence of “The Humanist Philosophy” and also the Protestant Reformation.

*Symmetry, Shape, & Size – Explore Renaissance architecture and music. See how the merging of art and science affected mathematical perspective and consequently Galileo’s work in astronomy, Fibonacci’s numbers, and more.

*Focus on Florence – Find out why this Italian City was a focal point of the Renaissance period. Meet the Medici family. Learn about the spiritual and religious beliefs that were prevalent. Discover the art of Boticelli and Michelangelo.

In every section you’ll find links to additional resources to explore. A few lead to error messages, but most of them work. That said, if you click on the links you’ll visit other websites that I have not reviewed. So parents, as always, should preview and determine suitability of content.     

 

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