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DuPage Engineers Week

Last year I heard about an event geared toward K-8th grade students that would help them understand and explore the various worlds of engineering. I had no idea how much we would enjoy this event.

Here’s the info on the event for this year:

Join us for a fun, free, family interactive event with displays and presentations that will excite children about science and engineering. The DuPage Engineers Week Expo includes cryogenic freezing with a few controlled explosions, model airplanes and a wind tunnel exhibit, robots, bicycle power, load testing and destruction, static electricity, levers and pulleys, building molecules and hands-on activities with ZOOM®, Design Squad, LEGO® Robotics, and the DuPage Children’s Museum. See a list the free public events.

You do not have to be an engineer to enjoy the 28th Annual DuPage Area Engineers Week Expo. The Expo is geared toward children in K-8th Grade, however, all ages will enjoy this event!

Details:
When: Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Where: Illinois Institute of Technology: 201 East Loop Road, Wheaton, IL (Directions)
Cost: Free, and open to the public

Lunch and snack items will be available for purchase as a fundraiser from Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

IIT Alumni – Call for information on a special Alumni-only Breakfast!

If you are free and looking for something to keep your kids engaged, I would encourage you to check this out. It was packed last year, but we still managed to navigate our stroller through the hallways somehow. Our whole family enjoyed the event immensely, although our then 8 month old did not like Mr. Freeze’s explosions. If you have seen his show there or elsewhere, you can probably understand why.

Expect parking to be a nightmare, and the building to be crowded, but also prepare for your kids to enjoy themselves and not want to leave. We all learned a lot of new information.  Some displays have kids helping out, but many are staffed by engineers eager to share about their background, their education, the career choice, and their displays. They want to engage your student and help them learn about engineering and the various fields it encompasses.

The program for the event is now available online, so check that out to get a good idea of what to expect from the displays.

Free science classes

I received the following information via email. Please contact the teacher at the bottom of the invitation for more information.

A Special Invitation!!!

Dear Parents of Home School Students:

I am an instructor in the Teacher Education Department at Judson University
and would like a pre-service teacher that I am instructing to have an
opportunity to work with a multi-age group of students. I would like to invite
you and your second through sixth grade home-school students to come to
four special science/math learning experiences.

Mr. Matt Langston and I will be preparing four hands-on integrated science,
mathematics, and language arts experiences. There would be no charge for
the lessons but parents must attend with their students. (Please do not bring
children who are younger than second grade.)

Where: Judson Teacher Education Building – (Creekside)
Located at the bottom of the hill on Jerusha Street, Elgin, IL

When: 8:30 – 10:30 Monday, February 13

8:30 – 10:30 Monday, February 27
8:30 – 10:30 Monday, March 19
8:30 – 10:30 Monday, March 26

Thinking Like a Scientist – Process Skills
Ramps and Rollers – Physical Science
Fractions and Geometry
Height and Hands – Life Science

Please RSVP at lfiggins@quixnet.net. I need to know the dates you can attend
and the number and grade levels of the children who will be attending with
you. It is not necessary to attend all sessions but I think the experiences would
be very beneficial for all learners. (Please include the names of all participants
as well as a phone number.)

Feel free to call me with any questions of clarification.

Dr. Linda Figgins
630-319-7913

Steve Demme coming to the area

Next week! This ICHE sponsored event is coming soon, and if you can’t attend in person you can register to attend online. Steve Demme is an incredible speaker and well worth taking the time out of your weekend to give a listen.

Please join ICHE and CHOSEN, the Freeport area support group, in welcoming
Steve Demme to the greater Rockford area!

Steve will be sharing his unique and encouraging insights on family life.  Steve and his wife have raised four sons by God’s grace.  He has worked as a math teacher and a pastor, but many know him as the author and founder of Math-U-See.

The desire of Steve’s heart is to see a balanced bilblical view of the family restored.  We are very excited to hear from a man who has seen first hand how our homes and families can be impacted by the love and grace of our Savior.

Check out their website for all of the details about this family discipleship seminar.

This event is an exciting first for ICHE.
If you cannot attend in person, we are offering a live webstream of the event!

To view the live webstream, register online and check the box that says live stream at the end of the registration form.  You will receive an email shortly before the event with instructions on accessing the website and video stream.

Essay contest

Midwest Creation Fellowship, PO Box 952, Wheaton, IL 60187 PH: 847-223-4730

Have you entered the essay contest? A couple months still to get your entries in. Take advantage of being stuck indoors by having your kids do some writing with a purpose. All the details below and at Midwest Creation Fellowship’s site.

Here’s some info to get you started (but, fyi, I think their ages are switched on their categories):

Purpose:
To encourage the development of skills in research, analysis and logical reasoning through preparing an effective presentation of a thesis in a creation-oriented paper.

Prizes: Senior High Level (Ages 11-14*)

  • $250 First Place
  • $100 Second Place
  • $75 Third Place

Junior High Level (Ages 14-18*)

  • $100 First Place
  • $50 Second Place
  • $25 Third Place

* Entrants 14 years old on April 30 may enter either Junior or Senior division

Topics: must strongly relate to the subject of creation vs. evolution, from a creationist perspective. Suggestions:

  • Why do cultures around the world…
    …have the same star constellations?
    …have very similar legends, such as a gigantic flood?
    …offer blood sacrifices to their god(s)?
  • Reasons why I believe in creation
  • Vestigial organs: a vestigial argument
  • More topic suggestions

Veritas Press free gift card

Veritas Press makes some absolutely amazing stuff and here is an opportunity to get it at a discount.

Every person that signs up with them (email only required), will receive a $5 gift card to use toward their curriculum purchase. Then, share the link they give you with your friends and you will get an additional $5 for each person that signs up through your link. So, this is a way to help us both out! Pleas sign up using the link below and we will both be on our way to some $$ off our next Veritas Press purchase.

http://www.VeritasPress.com/launchrock.html?lrRef=59l8t

Thank you, and enjoy!

Evolution presentation

Information from the Midwest Creation Fellowship:

Is Evolution True? The Field Museum’s Proof

Click for website of Evolving Planet Exhibit at Field MuseumJim Orme

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

6:45 p.m. — Refreshments

7:00 – 8:30 p.m. — Presentation and Q&A

The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago states unequivocally that evolution is one of the best-proven theories of science. Come and assess for yourself the quality of the evidence that the Field presents to support their view. You may be surprised.

Presented By: Mr. Jim Orme frequently visits the Field Museum, and is the author of “Evolution: Fact or Fiction?,” one of the Field Museum guides on this website. Jim retired after 34 years as a systems analyst and developer for Bell Labs, AT&T and Tellabs. His responsibilities were as varied as the simulation of a spy satellite system, analysis of telecommunications traffic, development of real-time operator systems, and development of domestic and international telecommunication standards. more

Location: 25W560 Geneva Road, Carol Stream, IL

No charge. We also plan to have light refreshements, and a table of resources for sale.

For more information, call 630-702-9061 or email wscmcf@hotmail.com.

Giveaway winner

We have a winner!

Random.org chose #8:

Giant Sis

We love sports movies in our family! It’s so hard to find GOOD family movies – but this one looks like it’s just that!

Congratulations, Giant Sis! Be sure to get back to me within the next two days with your info so I can pass it along and get that movie out to you asap. Enjoy!

Upcoming opportunities at Judson

2012 Opportunities for Homeschoolers at Judson University
Prep Program:  High School students ages 16 and up can earn both high school and college credit simultaneously. Judson deeply discounts their regular tuition fee for Prep students, so it’s a great deal. Contact Jaimee Bartha at Jbartha@judsonu.edu for more details.
Music Lessons:  The Judson Community Music School is currently enrolling students of all ages for next semester which starts January 14, 2012.  Lessons in most instruments and voice are available, from beginner to advanced.  Visit www.judsonu.edu/JCMS and click on “Music School” for more information.
Music Camp: The Fox Valley Music Camp at Judson University will take place June 25-June 29th, 2012 for students K-12th grade. Lots of music making fun! Visit www.judsonu.edu/JCMS and click on “Music Camp” for more information.
Family Concert:  The “Magic of Music” Benefit Concert and Magic Show will be held on Saturday, February 11th, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. in Herrick Chapel. This magical family event will feature the “Amazing Carringtons” – musician-magicians (aka ESO musicians Michael and Daniela Folker), as well as Judson music faculty.  The concert is free for students and children under 18.  Bring your kids for a fun and educational time!  Visit www.judsonu.edu/JCMS and click on “Magic of Music” for more information.
Band and Orchestra:  These ensembles are open to high school age students through adult musicians at no charge.  The Orchestra meets from 7:30-9:30 pm on Monday evenings, and the Band meets at the same time on Thursday evenings. Contact Chip Gross at cgross@judsonu.edu for more information

Review and Giveaway: A Mile in His Shoes


For kids that struggle with special needs or whose parents find them trying to manage a diagnosis they might sometimes feel trapped into what society “allows” them to do. Now and then someone enters that scene and sees only the potential and can bring hope and opportunity where none had existed before.

When a coach of a struggling farm team stumbles on a teenage boy with an amazing pitching arm, he doesn’t let Asperger’s blind his eye to the potential in this young man. The father unwillingly lets his son go, not ready to release his protection over the unpredictable nature.

My family enjoyed the story of this bright boy that just needed a chance to shine. The story is inspiring and engaging, the actors believable, and the ending satisfying.

It could have done without the discussion of the difference between a “player” and a “playah,” although it stayed pretty innocent. And, the father’s protective role was portrayed as anger-filled at times. But, in the end the family is intact and healthy and the good guys win. A good, clean movie that we were able to watch as a family.

For more info check out their links:


And, you to can get a copy of this movie for free! I have the privilege of hosting a giveaway:
To be entered in a giveaway for this family film, please leave a comment on this post. For a second entry, share about this giveaway through some social media outlet and come back and leave a second comment. Contest open to US continental residents only. Make sure I have your email address so I can contact you as well.
The contest will close on January 29th in the evening.

“Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above for free in the 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.”

Fitness incentive program

plunge

We all may be seeking fitness motivation that keeps our New Year’s goals rolling, and while this incentive is for the students, maybe it will help us keep our own plans in line.

Raging Waves Waterpark offers an incentive program that will really get kids moving.

From their site:

Welcome to the 2012 Plunge into Fitness Program

Children Kindergarten through 8th grade are invited to Plunge into Fitness this spring as Raging Waves Waterpark joins the battle against childhood obesity. The fitness initiative runs March 5 through April 30, and each child completing the program requirements during this seven-week period will receive a free Raging Waves full day admission pass.

The Plunge into fitness program requires a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise each day, which totals 25 hours for the seven week period. Any activity that increases heart rate qualifies including: walking, running, biking, playing team sports, skateboarding, swimming, jumping rope and hopscotch. For the duration of the program, each child will complete a fitness log provided by Raging Waves. Once complete, a parent will sign it and the child will turn it into his or her teacher by April 30th. All children kindergarten through 8th grade, including homeschoolers, are encouraged to join this program and earn a free Raging Waves full-day admission pass.

They even have posters to download and all the info right there on their site.  Sign in doesn’t actually start until April 30 when you may use your log in id and password they provide to upload all participating students at once. Everything must be received online only by May 15, 2012.

They say they also give you an opportunity to buy additional tickets for 25% off!

Check out all the details for their Plunge into Fitness program.