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Homeschool showcase in Naperville

Naperville Public Library

The Naperville Public Library will be hosting a Homeschool Showcase

When: May 6 from 7:00pm – 8:30pm at

Where: Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson, Naperville IL.

What: This is an opportunity to “show us your stuff”. We invite homeschooled students to display any projects they have worked on. Set up time will be any time between 5:00 and 7:00. The program is not advertised in the library’s program guide, but will be open for all library patrons to visit.

Please invite your family and friends to visit your display.

Please contact Anne Bultman, abultman@naperville-lib.org or 630-637-6106, by April 30th if you are interested in displaying your work. Also, we ask that each family bring a snack either as part of your display or to put on a snack table. Work may be displayed by small groups, families or individuals. Please help make this a success by forwarding this information to other groups you may belong to that serve the Naperville area.

Also coming up in Naperville: .Curriculum Share Night on Monday June 3rd will allow homeschoolers to get together and show curriculum materials they like and talk about how they used them. This will be a great opportunity to network with other homeschoolers and learn from their experience as well as help the librarians know how to better assist homeschoolers.

Robots in Elgin

got robot? - FTC Team #5037 - Elgin, IL

got robot? – FTC Team #5037

The team “got robot?” is the feature demonstration for a Pop-Up Art Exhibit in downtown Elgin to promote the new Artspace Lofts, 51 S. Spring St. Elgin.

The promotional flyer from “Calling All Robots, A POP-UP Art Exhibit” lists the following information:
Opening Reception.
Friday, April 5, 6pm-11pm.
First Friday Special Event
(The only evening that the exhibit is open to the public.)
Unique mix of 2-D and 3-D art from local, regional & international artists. Displays of vintage and reproduction robot toys, refreshments and much more…)
Robot Parade.
Saturday, April 6, 10am-1pm. Have your child bring in his own 2-D or 3-D robot creation as we celebrate a fun day for kids. Kids are encouraged to show up in their own robot costume. Not sure how to make a robot creation or costume? (Check out links in the details of the event page www.facebook.com/CallingAllRobots )
Event sponsored by the City of Elgin and the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission.

Review: Janet’s Planet

Website: http://www.janetsplanet.com

Need a fun, reasonably priced science DVD to supplement your study of space or gravity? Janet’s Planet has exactly what you are looking for.

Janet Ivey takes you to the edge of space, quite literally. The DVD will walk you through some history of our understanding of gravity, check in with a scientist to further clarify our current knowledge, and even hear from some kids about their thoughts on gravity.

The video moves quickly and teaches you about microgravity (because there is really no such thing as zero gravity).  You pick up lots of interesting facts, despite a few groans at some of the comedy that isn’t really well delivered. The best part comes after all the teaching when she actually heads up into a zero G plane to show us what gravity on Mars, the moon, and in outer-space would look like. That was pretty amazing, and in my opinion better than shelling out $5000 to experience it myself.
The whole DVD is about a half hour long and was perfect for a rainy afternoon and a little break from our current study of anatomy.

If you plan to study space, gravity, Newton, or have a space buff in your family, you will definitely want to add this to your movie collection.

From Janet Ivey

“For the past decade, science education has been my passion and America’s children have been my inspiration.  It is incredible to see how excited children can become about the world around them when the information is presented in an accessible and fun way.  That is the mission of Janet’s Planet, and I look forward to continuing to support better science education in the years to come.”

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Summer Camps at Judson

Quicklinks

Received via email:

2013 Summer Camps at Judson University (Elgin, IL):

  • Fox Valley Music Camp (see below)
  • Art Adventure
  • Architecture Discovery Workshop
  • Sports Camps  ( soccer, volleyball, girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball)

BBK Soccer GBBKVolleyball

Visit www.judsonu.edu/camps for more information.

Judson’s Fox Valley Music Camp offers  a great week of music-making for students in grades K-12 . This summer’s camp is set for the week of June 24-28th, 2013.

  • Young campers in K-2nd grades have a half day camp where they will have fun playing music games, making crafts and singing together on stage at the recital.
  • Elementary students in 3rd–5th grades have an opportunity to try out a variety of instruments in an instrument “petting zoo” throughout the week, as well as take optional private lessons if they have already started an instrument.
  • For Middle and High School students, the camp offers both a Classical Track and a Contemporary Worship Track. The Classical Track is for students studying traditional band and orchestra instruments, piano and voice. The Contemporary Worship Track is for students who play guitar, drums or keyboard  (traditional instruments are welcome as well) and who want to play in a contemporary worship band.
  • For High School students who intend to audition for District and All-State Competitions in the fall of 2013, the camp offers a unique IMEA Preparation Program. This year we are expanding the IMEA option to include brass and wind instruments, in addition to strings.

Check out our web-page at www.judsonu.edu/FVMC for further information and an on-line registration form.  Early Bird Discount:  $20 off per registration if received before May 24th. Sibling Discount: Oldest camper full price, each younger sibling $20 off. There are also a limited number of volunteer opportunities that can lower your cost by an additional $25 or $50, depending on the job.  Contact Cheryl Richardson at Cheryl.richardson@judsonu.edu or   847.628.1110 for further information.

Homeschool Resource Fair in Elk Grove

Information for participating (and attending):
Each year we invite a wide variety of organizations to display their offerings for the homeschool community. From co-ops to museums, specialty classes to park district events, support groups to clubs.
We would love to have you join us for this event which will be held Tuesday evening, April 23 at the Elk Grove Village Public Library from 7-9pm.
Vendors: For a nominal $5 fee you will receive a reserved spot and table space at the fair and be part of our contact list which will be distributed to all participants of the event. To register, please click here. You will be contacted within a few days with a confirmation.
We hope that you will join us this year. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have. We look forward to another successful event!
Thank you.
Amy Burnha
Beacon Homeschool Support Group
**please note that curriculum will not be sold at this event. Our curriculum sale will be held in May.

For homeschoolers – check out what’s new!!

STEM explore at Midwest Museum of Natural History

Midwest Museum of Natural History

STEM Exploration Lab this Saturday!

STEM Exploration Lab
This Saturday, March 30, 10-4:00

The Museum will be packed with 50 hands-on science experiments. From lasers and lights to magnets and mirrors, this event will be a blast for the entire family!

Admission (ages 3+):
$10/non-members, $8/members
Because the event will be throughout the Museum, this fee applies to all guests on 3/30
– OR – purchase a membership (or add a year to your existing membership) and get in for FREE!

STEM Exploration Lab is presented in partnership with NIU STEM Outreach and sponsored in part by CMJ Technologies, the Mary E. Stevens Concert & Lecture Fund, and 89.5 WNIJ

Learning Vine info for the year ahead

Passing along:

The Learning Vine has just published its 2013-2014 Enrichment Program catalog at the LV website:

http://www.thelearningvine.org/enrichment-courses.html

We offer 48 different courses this year, including graded high school electives that can count for credit. These include Music Theory, Advanced Art, Photography, Pottery, and Creative Writing.

We offer courses in athletics, life skills, visual arts, music, literature study, creative writing, and science enrichment for all ages.

New this year: Cartooning, Children’s Choir, Do-Re-Mi Music, Cinematography,
E-Commerce, Supreme Court Simulation, LEGO Robotics, and Young Investors’ Simulation.

Registration opens to the public on April 5th. Please see details at the website.
http://www.thelearningvine.org/enrichment.html

Blessings,
Karine Bauch
LV Director

www.thelearningvine.org

Upcoming Robotics Competition

Check out all the details at their website: http://www.ilfirst.org/frc/events/midwest-regional.html

April 4-6, 2013

UIC Pavilion · 525 S. Racine Street – Chicago, Illinois

The Midwest Regional is Open to the Public – Admission is Free!

The FIRSTRobotics Competition Midwest Regional is an international, intense three-day event showcasing robots developed and operated by teams of high school students. The competing robots are the result of 6-1/2 weeks of high school students and professional engineering/science mentors teaming up to solve the engineering challenges presented in the Season Challenge/Robot Game. The robots represent the product of focused brainstorming, real-world teamwork, dedicated mentoring, and managing project deadlines. The mentor/student interaction is integral to the FRC program. It takes a lot of hard work to develop a competitive robot, and it shows when you see them in action at the Midwest Regional.

FRC robots are big, measuring up to 5 feet tall and weighing 120+ pounds. In the competition, two alliances (red and blue) each composed of three robot teams play each other on fields that are the size of a basketball half-court. All day Friday through Saturday morning a series of Qualifying Rounds matches are played between randomly generated alliance teams to determine the top eight seeded individual teams. These top eight individual teams will now select two other teams that they would like to join them in forming an alliance for the Elimination Rounds matches. Saturday afternoon starts off with the eight alliances competing in the Quarterfinal Matches, four alliances will move on to the Semi-final Matches, then the Finals where two alliances will vie for the title of Midwest Regional Champion!

Dubbed the “grand-daddy” of all FIRST Regional Events, Midwest is a highly competitive, exciting and fun premier spectacular! It is a spectator-friendly competition environment that has the feel of both a major sporting event and a rock concert, complete with cheering fans, crazy costumes, special lighting, up-beat music, a large video wall, and energetic emcees/announcers. In essence, the Midwest Regional is a celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics!

We hope that you will join us on April 4-6 for this year’s Midwest Regional at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion. Like all FIRST Robotics Competition events, Midwest is free and open to the public! If you do plan to attend, please remember to wear closed-toed shoes and bring along a pair of safety glasses so that you can visit the pit area to meet the robots and the students who built them. And remember…our team members, coaches, mentors, volunteers and Regional staff are all very friendly and will be happy assist you and to answer any questions that you may have.

Teaching Homes for Christ curriculum sale

Website: http://www.teachinghomes.org/

Annual Used Book/Curriculum Sale

Where:
First United Methodist Church of West Chicago
643 E. Washington St. (Geneva Rd.)
West Chicago, IL 60185
(1 block east of Walgreens on the corner of Washington & Rt. 59)

When:
Saturday, April 27th
2-5 p.m.

The contact person for the sale is Terri Moore. booksale@teachinghomes.com Please contact her if you have questions or are interested in selling. All sellers will be assigned a seller number to put on the official tags. You may not drop off materials for the sale without a seller number.

Review and Giveaway: VeggieTales The Little House That Stood

We have enjoyed talking to tomatoes and smiling with squash for as long as we’ve had kids. Our two year old has now reached the age of enjoying Larry’s silliness and Bob’s wisdom as well.
They continue to crank out enjoyable kid-friendly, God-honoring videos as the years go by. This time around VeggieTales has taken some well knows nursery rhymes and combined them with the truths of Scripture with a healthy ensemble of vegetables.
My kids enjoyed this twist that combined the parable of the wise man building his house on the rock with the three little pigs. The story line keeps moving, and even though they know both stories well, it didn’t seem overly predictable to them, until they had watched it over and over and over throughout the week. Even then, they asked for it again.
I always like to interact with my kids over their media interaction, and VeggieTales even helps with that. Check out their website for printable coloring pages and some discussion questions.  Help these great lessons sink in even further!
About The Little House That Stood
When the Three Little Pigs roll into Cabbageville looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation – following the wise plans from the Master Builder’s Handbook! Will the Little Piggies make the right choices when it comes to building their houses – and their lives – on solid ground? Find out in this parable that shows kids when they follow God’s blueprints, then can stand strong when the storms come!
Be sure to pick up your own copy maybe for someone special’s Easter basket!
If you would like your own copy of this movie, please leave a comment. I will choose a winner on Thursday evening March 21. You may leave extra comments for additional entries by sharing about this giveaway elsewhere (facebook, twitter, email, etc.)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.