Virtual Vacation

Just For Fun, Parenting

Written by Christine Sutton
Published with Permission
www.TOSMagazine.com

 

Sam’s mom opened the “get well” card he’d made her and smiled. He had cut out pictures of lots of summery things: blue sea, a big yellow sun, a sandy beach, and some pretty shells, and stuck them around a picture of a glass of iced lemonade, with silvery trickles running down the side.

“Oh, it’s lovely, Sammy,” she said. “I can see you’ve put a lot of thought into that; thank you. I’m sorry we won’t be going to see Auntie Laura and Jack tomorrow after all. You must be so disappointed.”

He shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Dad phoned Auntie this morning, and she said we can go at Christmas instead.”

Mom sighed. “It will be cold then, though, won’t it? You won’t be able to go on the beach with Jack—and all because your silly mommy slipped on the stairs and hurt her leg.”

Sam gave her a hug. “It’s okay,” he said. “You just get well soon and come home.”

Mom’s smile was sort of wobbly as she kissed him good-bye.

All the way home, Sam couldn’t help thinking how much he’d been looking forward to going on their summer vacation. (more…)

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How Do I Do Science Labs at Home?

Burn Out, Classroom Help, Informative, Just For Fun, Projects

Written by Gena Suarez, Publisher of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine
www.TOSmagazine.com

Hey Mama,

For our homeschool, the kitchen is usually our science “lab.”  After all, cooking is basically a series of chemical reactions. Plus the kitchen is usually the best room in the house for experiments and the messes that go with them. Here are some articles with ideas for your budding scientists, “Kitchen Lab: Edible Experiments and Other Mad Scientist Recipes” or “Ultra-Cool Science Experiments to Mystify Your Kids.”  If you’re looking for something less messy, Andy Harris tells how to build a virtual science lab with free resources in his article “Build a Virtual Science Lab With PhET.

Now here’s a quick message, I want to share with you. It’s ironic. I don’t know; I just found it funny and had to tell you.

You know how you have been kinda down on yourself about certain things lately? You look at your friends (and then in the mirror) and feel inferior. They can homeschool better, you say. They have a cleaner home, you lament. But guess what? You are going to crack up when you hear this . . . .

Just as you are looking to them as some sort of model or something, they are looking at YOU because they feel the same way–only in different areas. (more…)

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