Science activities in Rockford next week

Mike Riddle, an Answers in Genesis speaker, will be in Rockford, IL at Maywood Free Church on March 27-29.

On March 28th and 29th he will be speaking for an Answers in Genesis conference.  Here is the schedule for this event:

Sunday, March 28, 2010
8 a.m. Mike Riddle Do You Have a Biblical Worldview?
10:30 a.m. Mike Riddle Do You Have a Biblical Worldview?
6 p.m. Mike Riddle Apologetics 101: Answering the Challenges
7:30 p.m. Mike Riddle 4 Power Questions to Ask an Evolutionist
Monday, March 29, 2010
6:30 p.m. Mike Riddle Apologetics 201: Answering More Challenges
8 p.m. Mike Riddle Cloning, Stem Cells and the Value of Life

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And Jay Wile will be speaking in Rockford on Friday the 26th and then participating in the Northern Illinois Regional Science Fair on Saturday the 27th.  Check out the Illinois Regional Science Fair site for more information.   He will be speaking at 7:00 about homeschooling high school science.

Field Trip Opportunities at the Old Town School of Folk Music

Thanks to Kate for sending information about this upcoming field trip opportunity:

Thursday April 22, 2010 | 10:30am

Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall :: 4544 N Lincoln Ave.

Ricky Recycle — a 45 minute show about all things recycling.

Tickets: Call 773-728-6000

Admission: $5 (Free chaperon ticket with every 10 kids, and additional discount for groups of 100)

Ages: Grades K-5 | For Reservations: 773.728.6000

Earth day is upon us. Expert recycler and 20 year veteran children’s performer Ricky Recycle encourages kids to laugh, scream and sing along with his simple yet infectious round, “I like to recycle… I like to recycle… I like to recycle.” This interactive, high energy program teaches how to reduce waste, the dos and don’ts or recycling, all about garbage dumps and landfills, preserving natural resources and how to be respectful and responsible towards our mother earth

RickyRecycle.com

Check Old Town’s website for more information and a number of other field trip opportunities. Check out their Field Trip series of shows that take place at 10:30 on different days each week. They offer various topics and appeal to various age ranges. Definitely something for everyone!

Homeschool skate in Aurora

Another reader, Kristen, sent this information along about a homeschool skate in Aurora:

Homeschool Skate

When: Thursdays, 10am – 2pm
Description: Exercise, fun & games, and fellowship during our weekly roller skating session for homeschooled children and parents (parents skate free).
Admission: $5 (includes rental skates, if needed). Snackbar will be open.
Music: Christian based and Disney radio approved.
This takes place at Aurora Skate Center. Looks like a great way to get out of the house and get some exercise each week. Check their calendar or give a call to confirm this event, but it is posted as a weekly event from 10-2 each Thursday.

Live Feed of Owl’s Nest

Barn Owl

Reader Helen passed along this great comment and link to share:

I’ve been enjoying this live feed of a barn owl who is incubating five eggs; an owlet is due to hatch any day now!

The website there has this information:
This is a live feed of a wild female barn owl named Molly. The owl box is located 15 feet off the ground. Expecting owlets mid March. The male(McGee) has a white chest and face. He usually shows up after dark but has spent an entire day with the female.  For more Information about Barn Owls, Click Here We hope you enjoy the cams.  One egg broke.
Egg 1 2/13/10 12:15 PM Est. Hatch 3/14-17th
Egg 2 2/16/10 07:23 AM Est. Hatch 3/16-20th
Egg 3 2/18/10 09:13 AM Est. Hatch 3/18-22nd
Egg 4 2/20/10 11:07 AM Est. Hatch 3/20-24th


Egg 5 2/22/10 02:00 PM Est. Hatch 3/22-26th
Egg 6 2/25/10 09:35 AM Est. Hatch 3/25-29th
Enjoy this simple nature study from the comfort of your own home!
~Thank you, Helen!

History resources

The History Channel is giving away a free DVD to all schools, and they have some other web based resources that you might find useful:

History in the Classroom

HISTORY™ provides free curriculum resources for middle school and high school classrooms. Explore our This Day in History teacher’s guide

Idea Book for Educators

The Idea Book for Educators is our free biannual teacher’s magazine. Sign up to receive the Idea Book today!

HISTORY MULTIMEDIA CLASSROOM

Learn about History Channel interactive lesson plans. Visit History Education to learn more.

BIOGRAPHY CLASSROOM

Explore significant personalities from throughout history at www.biography.com/classroom.

TEC Open House

Spring is in the air and excitement is building around TEC plans for next year!   On Monday, March 22, there will be a “TEC Open House.” You and anyone that you know that might be interested in joining TEC are welcome to come and observe the classes in action.  Also, a “Teacher Expo” will take place from 12-1 to give you the opportunity to preview what the TEC teachers are planning for next year.

Tri-Cities Enrichment Co-op

Open House

Tri-Cities Enrichment Co-op is a Christian homeschool co-op designed to foster academic excellence through once-a-week selected classes taught by some member-parents and other qualified instructors. Course content is developed and taught by these respective course instructors. Classes are held once a week on Tuesdays for 24 weeks (30 weeks for high school courses). We offer classes for grades kindergarten through high school.

Information on the Open House:

Date:   March 22, 2010

Time:  9am-3pm

Place: Lord of Life Church

(Rte 38 and LaFox Rd)

To RSVP or with further questions, please email: tricitiesenrichmentcoop@gmail.com

Homeschool Resource Fair in Elk Grove Village

The BEACON Homeschool Group is hosting their 4th annual Resource Fair .

Date: Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Where: Elk Grove Village Public Library

When: 7:00-9:00pm

The public is invited to come and browse and talk to the leaders of various organizations about the many different opportunities available to the homeschool community. Representatives will be on hand from various co-ops, enrichment programs, horseback riding programs, field trip opportunities, art classes, roller skating, park district programs, academic programs and much more.

The first 75 attendees will receive a resource booklet to take home with additional information.

For more information, check out their website: www.beaconhomeschool.org

HSLDA membership deal

Join today & get Drive Thru History for free!

Dear homeschooling friend,

For a limited time, when you join HSLDA, you will receive a free DVD set of Drive Thru History—America! Join for two years and double your family’s learning fun: you’ll receive Drive Thru History—Greece and Rome along with the America set!

In addition to acquiring free history DVDs, you’ll find that your HSLDA membership is brimming with other benefits for your family. Along with our legal services, HSLDA membership provides you with staff who can assist with your special homeschooling questions, such as homeschooling a struggling learner, a high schooler, a preschooler, or elementary and middle school students. Membership also provides access to making purchases in the HSLDA Curriculum Market and many discounts through our PerX Program. Read more about these benefits here.

To receive your free Drive Thru History DVD(s), you must use this link to submit your HSLDA membership application by midnight, March 31, 2010.

NOTE: This offer is only available to new members joining online through the link provided in this email. This offer is not available to existing members or to new members using the monthly payment plan or mailing in paper applications. It expires at midnight on March 31, 2010.

There is also a similar deal for renewing members. Check out all the details at HLSDA.org

Curriculum sale – May 10th

The following was received from CHOICE homeschool in Wheaton. I have heard that this is a great sale for both buying and selling. Also, check out the details about their new information exchange that is new this year. Looks like a great place to gather resources!

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.   Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

C.H.O.I.C.E. 2010

Curriculum ReSale & Kids’ Sale

Monday, May 10th, 2010

Sale: 4:00-7:00 p.m.

College Church, Commons Hall, Wheaton, IL

* * * We need 15 volunteers in order to host this event! * * *
Please contact Debbie Johnson for information on selling

Monday, May 3, is the deadline to reserve your spots

Any educational material is acceptable
(curriculum, supplementary materials, books, games, etc.).
Kids may sell anything (no nuts or red drinks allowed in the church).

Schedule for Monday, May 10, 2010:


3:00 — 4:00 p.m.

Sellers can drop off and sort their pre-tagged items. Volunteers are available to help

4:00 —7:00  p.m. SALE

SHOP  buyers, bring your own bags, boxes for transporting purchased items

7:00 — 8:00 p.m.

All sellers return to sort books.

NEW: 2010-2011 Activity Flyers

Advertise your homeschooling activity, co-op, service project,
or field trip for this summer, next fall, or next winter.
Create a flyer (81/2 x 11) with your ideas, dates,
rules, and contact information.
Contact all of the places or organizations that you participate in
as a homeschooling family, and have someone create a flyer
(band, math team, dance, music studios, gym classes,
art classes, science co-ops, etc).
Bring 50 copies!
We hope this will help your planing and organization
over the summer.
Links:

For more information see the full flyer online.

Kline Creek Farm — Maple Sugaring

Looking for something to do this weekend? Head over to Kline Creek Farm for their Maple Sugaring event. This takes place on Saturday and Sunday from 10-4 both days.

From their website:

See how 1890s farm families tapped trees and boiled the collected sap into maple syrup and sugar. Then, try to tap a tree yourself. Activities ongoing. Free. Registration not required.

Also happening at Kline Creek this weekend is “A Nickle’s Worth“:

Find out what a nickel could buy in the 1890s and how consumer preferences were changing. Free. Registration not required. Tours begin on the hour.

And, Blacksmith demonstrations (Saturday only from 1:30-3:30):

Stop by the wagon shed to see the blacksmith repair equipment and demonstrate the tools and techniques of the trade. Free. Registration not required.

Call (630) 876-5900 for more information.

Kline Creek is a great place for family outings. The visitor’s center has indoor bathrooms, a gift shop, and sometimes hosts other displays and activities. This addition to the property makes a visit to Kline Creek a bit easier on families with young children.

Other highlights a visit to the farm can bring:

The farmhouse was the center of domestic activities and today contains original artifacts and reproductions that enhance its homelike atmosphere. House tours start on the hour from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and present topics from baking, canning, quilting and spring cleaning to preparing the house for special celebrations.

Depending on the time of year, staff and volunteers plant heirloom fruits and vegetables in the kitchen garden, tend to the orchard, work in the wagon shed or cure sausages in the smoke house. Percheron work horses help plant and harvest crops of corn, oats, and other small grains; and resident livestock, such as the farm’s Southdown sheep, Shorthorn and Angus cattle, and chickens, occupy the farm’s coop, barn, fold, and pastures.

Come with your questions and curiosity, and this time of year come prepared for some mud as well. We have found the staff there helpful and knowledgeable. A great place for creating memories.