Educator’s Night at the Museum in Sycamore

Midwest Museum of Natural History

Hi Homeschool families!

The Midwest Museum of Natural History is holding an educators’ open house on Thursday, February 28, 4:30-6:30 pm. The event is for teachers, scout leaders, homeschool parents, and other educators in the community. Explore the Museum, enjoy refreshments, and learn about the resources the Museum has to offer. The event is free. Please rsvp by calling the Museum at 815-895-9777 or reply to this email.

We hope to see you there!

Molly Trickey

Executive Director

Calendar of Events
A quick view of events, classes and other things of interest. Enjoy!

Coming up…

Heart Dissection
February 16

Big Run Wolf Ranch
March 16

STEM Exploration Lab
March 30

Educators’ Night at the Museum

Thursday, February 28, 4:30-6 pm

You’re invited! Join us for an open house for educators at the Midwest Museum of Natural History in Sycamore.

Explore the Museum, enjoy refreshments, meet our live animals, and learn about the programs we offer, including our new Educator Resource Boxes.

The event is FREE, but please RSVP by calling 815-895-9777 or email information@mmnh.org

Educator Resource Boxes are supported by a grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

Where: Midwest Museum of Natural History
425 West State Street • Sycamore, Illinois 60178
Phone: (815) 895-9777

Website: www.MMNH.org

Homeschool Labs at Museum of Science and Industry

Hands-on Labs for Home School Students
Add a hands-on science lesson to your Museum visit! Our home school Learning Labs provide a facilitated, engaging experience for students. All sessions are held from 1 to 2:15 p.m. and cost $15 per student. Space is limited! Call (773) 684-1414 to register.

ER/OR, Feb. 11, ages 12 – 16: Explore medical careers and cutting-edge medical technologies.

Simple Machines, March 11, ages 7 – 11: Push and pull larger-than-life simple machines to learn how distance affects work.

Moving With Newton, May 13, ages 8 – 13: Explore Newton’s three laws of motion through hands-on activities.

Crime Lab, June 10, ages 8 – 13: Use fingerprint analysis, chromatography, white powder analysis and more to solve a crime.

Meet Scientists on Feb. 9
Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to be a scientist? Challenge your curiosity, experience fun activities and interact with real scientists during our Junior Science Cafés! Our sessions on Feb. 9 explore the chemistry of Cupid.
Learn More »
Learn Science Online
Explore science anytime online or on the go with our new games and mobile apps! Learn about the human body systems in Code Fred: Survival Mode, start a virtual food fight with Chew or Die, create simple machines to help Twitch work and more.
Learn More »
Animal Inside Out Opens March 14
Tickets On Sale Now
Animal Inside Out, a BODY WORLDS production, offers the unique chance to explore the intricate biology and physiology of some of the world’s most spectacular creatures. The exhibition showcases more than 100 animal specimens — from goats to giraffes and octupuses to ostriches — that have been preserved through Plastination. This exhibit requires an additional, timed-entry ticket.
Learn More » Buy Tickets »

Activities just for Homeschoolers in Glenview

Forwarded via email:
Introducing…. Home School Week at The Grove!
For the first time ever…
The Grove is dedicating one week exclusively for Homeschoolers to experience our hands-on programs!
Historical and Environmental Educational programs are available for homeschoolers from grades K-8.
For more information or to register for a program, please contact Kris (224) 521-2101 or Judy (224)521-2105 by February 20, 2013. Late registrants may be accepted based on availability. Please note that payment in full is required at time of registration (children 4 and under are free).
For a full description of our programs and to see a video of our field trips, please  click here.
The Grove is located at 1421 Milwaukee Avenue in Glenview, IL 60025
Grove logo w acorn
Monday, March 4, 2013
Pioneer Skills:
Think your chores are tough today? Learn what life was like for pioneer children-from candle making to weaving, students will experience what it took to be a pioneer firsthand! This program ends with a delicious lunch prepared by students featuring: tomato based beef stew, cornbread with freshly churned butter, applesauce and snickerdoodles for dessert!
Who: Grades 4-8

When: 9:30am-12:30pm

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Fee: $13.50 adult + child (lunch included), each additional child $6.75

Max/Min: 30/15

Log Cabin:

Do you think it’s possible for a family of six to live together in one or two rooms? Students will discover what life was like living in a 1850s log cabin, and what children were expected to do-from tin punch to drawing water from a well-these hands on experiences will make students appreciate the difference between pioneer life and the modern world! A pioneer lunch is included in the program-see above description for menu.

Who: Grades K-3

When: 9:30am-12:30pm

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Fee: $13.50 adult + child (lunch included), each additional child $6.75

Max/Min: 30/15

Pack Your Wagon:

Imagine having to load up your car-for a trip from the east coast to the west coast. Would you be able to pack enough food/clothing/soap to last for weeks at a time? Work together to determine what’s important enough to bring along and what can be left behind and pack The Grove’s wagon to ready for a trip westward!

Who: Grades 1-8

When: 12:30pm-2:30pm

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Fee: $10.50 adult + child, each additional child $4 (within same family)

Max/Min: 30/15

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Kent Fuller Air Station Prairie

2400 Compass Road, Glenview, IL. 60025

Parking is available along Compass Road and along Lehigh.

Mighty Wind:
Harness the power of the wind in this fact filled program in which students will work in groups to build a kite! Learn about some of the alternative forms of energy being produced at the Tyner Center.
Who: Grades 1-8
When: 9:30am-11:30am
Fee: $10.50 adult + child, each additional child $4 (within same family)

Max/Min: 30/15

Recycling 101:

Do you know how long it takes a shoe to decompose in a landfill? Learn all about the 3 R’s and how making small changes can make a huge impact on the Earth!
Who: Grades 1-8
When: 12:30pm-2:30pm
Fee: $10.50 adult + child, each additional child $4 (within same family)

Max/Min: 30/15

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Schoolhouse

Travel back in time and learn what school was like in the 1850s at The Grove. Experience a typical school day in our reproduction Schoolhouse, where a schoolmarm or school master will lead students through lessons in history, math, spelling and geography using slate boards and quill pens.

Who: Grades 1-8, Fee: $10.50 adult + child, each additional  child $4 (within same family)

When: 9:30am-11:30am

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview, IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Max/Min: 30/15

Native North Americans:
Learn all about the Potawatomi Indians’ culture and heritage, and the historical ties between this native group and the settlers around The Grove. Learn about the traditions of the Potawatomi and how they impacted the land, and try your hand at using some of their tools and playing some of their games.

Who: Grades 1-8,Fee: $10.50 adult + child, each additional child $4 (within same family)

When:12:30-2:30am

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview, IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Max/Min: 30/15

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Seasonal Changes:

Walk along our trails with one of our trained interpreters as they explain the significance of the changing seasons and what signs to look for along the trails. Meet some of the native animals that reside at The Grove and some of the natural artifacts in the Interpretive Center.

Who: Grades K-3

When: 9:30am-11:30am

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Fee: $10.50 adult + child, each additional child $4 (within same family)

Max/Min: 30/15

Dynamic Earth:

Ever seen a glacial erratic up close? Discover all the forces that have shaped the Earth through time, as well as learning how to look for evidence of glaciers.

Who: Grades 4-8

When: 9:30am-11:30am

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Fee: $10.50 adult + child, each additional child $4 (within same family)

Max/Min: 30/15

Habitats and Lifecycles:

Dig into the soil and discover what’s in the ground! Learn all about the lifecycles of different animals and the types of habitats that can be found at The Grove.

Who: Grades 1-3

When: 12:30pm-2:30pm

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Fee: $10.50 adult + child, each additional child $4 (within same family)

Max/Min: 30/15

GSI:

Dissect an owl pellet as part of your investigation into the crime that was committed at The Grove. To solve the case, students learn about predator/prey relationships and use this understanding to eliminate suspects to come to a logical conclusion.

Who: Grades 4-8

When: 12:30pm-2:30pm

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Fee: $10.50 adult + child, each additional child $4 (within same family)

Max/Min: 30/15

Friday, March 9, 2013

Letterboxing:

Letterboxing is a fun way to go on a hike and explore new places at the same time. Each participant will receive a journal and learn its use, and how & where to find the Letterboxes.   Participants will hit the trails in search of The Grove’s Letterboxes.

Who: Grades 1-4

When: 9:30am-11:30am

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Fee: $14.50 adult + child, each additional child $5 (within same family)

Max/Min: 30/15

Blacksmithing:

Participants will learn how to work with the forge, anvil and hammers that a Blacksmith uses to make useful household items. Everyone will take a finished project home.

Who: Grades 5-8

When: 9:30am-11:30am

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave, Glenview IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building

Fee: $14.50 adult + child, each additional child $5 (within same family)

Max/Min: 10/5

Grove Adventures:

Take a hike in the woods to find animal homes and their footprints. Then gather around the camp fire to roast marshmallows, make s’mores and sing songs. Dress for the weather. Program may be modified due to inclement weather.

Who: Grades K-8

When: 12:30pm-2:30pm

Where: The Grove, 1421 Milwaukee Ave., Glenview, IL. Please park in the West Lot, staff will direct you to the correct building.

Fee: $14.50 adult + child, each additional child $5 (within same family)

Max/Min: 40/15

Science math learning opportunity in Elgin

Received this via email from Dr. Figgins:

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.

Karlee Westra and I will be preparing four hands-on integrated science,
mathematics, and language arts experiences. There would be a one time
charge of $5.00 per student to cover the cost of materials. 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:

Tuesday, February 26 — 9:00-11:00 — Physical Science
Tuesday, March 19 — 9:00-11:00 –Fraction Fun
Tuesday, April 2 — 9:00-11:00 — Life Science
Tuesday, April 9th  — 9:00-11:00 — Geometry Fun

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

New Homeschool Gym Class in St. Charles

The homeschool mom that worked to get this going submitted info about this new opportunity: http://www.facebook.com/SportsplexHomeSchoolGymClass

This is cut and pasted from the facebook page:

This group was created to share information about a Home School sports class being offered in St. Charles.
Day: 2nd & 4th Friday of the month
Time: 1:30-3 pm the 2nd & 4th
Cost: $30 (per student) for a 3 month class
Age: 5+ (to optimize the coaches time we need to keep this class for school aged children K-12th grade range)
Class info: The facility has the ability to teach many sports including – Flag Football, dodge ball, t-ball, kickball, soccer, capture the flag.

HOW TO REGISTER:
Log onto www.sportsplexstc.net.
Click on Registration. Families will have to set up New Membership accounts in order to register.

Once they are New Members, click on Register across the top. Choose the following for each child:
Register— Pull down and select child. It will only allow children ages 3-18.
Pull down Program Type and select “Classes & Camps”
Pull down Season and select “Home School Classes Spring 2013”
Pull down League/Group and select “Home School Spring Classes”

At that point, the class information will pop up and you can click on the blue “Register”
You will be asked if there are medical concerns for that child. Click “Continue”

At that point, you will go to checkout, and a list of all dates/times will be shown. It shows that you are paying for 6 classes at $5.00 each, but it is not possible to pay for fewer than 6 classes at this time. If you miss, you miss. The $20.00 Membership Fee is waived for your families for this class.

Each participant MUST sign a liability waiver on their first visit to Sportsplex. We will have a stack of them and your guests can sign them when they arrive. If parents want to play too, they can pay $5.00 the day of.

I love that parents can play, too.  🙂

Homeschool classes through IIT in Wheaton

Here is a fantastic looking opportunity, and very affordable! Hat-tip to the Naperville Home Educators Yahoo group for sharing.

Hello Home School parents~

I would like to invite your child to participate in the Illinois Institute of Technology science offering, Let’s Be Water Wise! Home schooled students will meet together for 8 weeks (Thursdays), beginning February 21st, at the IIT- Rice Campus in Wheaton. See http://www.iit.edu/rice/about/directions.shtml for directions and location. The class will run from 8:00 AM until 10:30.

The group will be comprised of six to ten students, aged 11-15, and interested parents. I will facilitate. I have taught biology, chemistry, physical science, environmental science and methods in science education for 36 years, working with students aged 6 through adult. After examining the attached syllabus, if you would like your child to participate, respond to this email with your child’s name and age. Next, please send a check for $25 payable to the IIT School of Applied Technology, to my attention at the address below. This will reserve a spot for your child and will cover the lab fee for the class. There may be field trip entrance fees and transportation costs as well, but there will be no other course fee. If you have other questions, let me know.

Looking forward to this new IIT collaboration,Susan
Susan Camasta, PhD
Adjunct Faculty
School of Applied Technology &

Department of Mathematics & Science Education
Illinois Institute of Technology
Rice Campus201 East Loop Road Wheaton, IL 60189
(630) 408-8054

This pilot program, supported by the IIT School of Applied Technology, will run for 8 weeks, meeting once/week at the IIT Rice Campus in Wheaton.  Each session will be approximately 2.5 hours. Field experiences will meet off campus, and at least two are planned.  Six to ten students will be enrolled; the intended audience is young people, aged 12-16. Parents are welcome participants.

Please contact her for more details and a preliminary syllabus.

Crystal Lake Park District’s homeschool classes

Kathy Wentz shared this tidbit over at her blog, Wentz Educational Services:

Winter Session classes at the Crystal Lake Park District begin soon!

At the Crystal Lake Park District I am offering a 6 week Junior High and High School Genetics class on Monday afternoons and Math & Science Club classes for the younger set on Thursday afternoons. The winter session’s Math and Science Club “over view” topics will be oceanography and decimals.

To register for these classes and many more (including Cooking, Art, and Karate) please visit the Crystal Lake Park District web page.

It is definitely worth checking out the classes they have available. If you are near but not in Crystal Lake even their non-resident rates are reasonable and the variety they have available is amazing! Be sure to take advantage of these if you are nearby.

And, if you aren’t familiar with Kathy Wentz, make sure you check out her site as well with the many services, resources, and information that she shares with the local homeschool community.

Free STEM workshop in Dekalb

SciGirls Professional Development Training

Date:  Tuesday, February 12, 2013 – 8:30am – 4:00pm

Location:  Holmes Student Center – Skyroom 340 Carroll Avenue Dekalb, IL 60115

Thank you for your interest in the SciGirls Professional Development Training.

SciGirls is a PBS Kids television series out to change how tweens think about science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM! In each episode, join bright, curious real girls in putting STEM to work. Then check out the website to play games, watch episodes, share projects, and connect with other SciGirls in a totally safe social networking environment!

SciGirls Trainings integrate inquiry-based STEM instruction with a commitment to gender equity. Educators attending SciGirls Trainings will learn the latest research for exciting and engaging girls (and boys) in STEM; experience hands-on STEM activities; and gain access to free materials for hands-on, video-enhanced activities that put a creative twist on teaching STEM.

There is no fee to attend this training.

For more information and to register: http://www.ngcproject.org/scigirls-professional-development-training-3

Dual enrollment available at Trinity

Received via email:

I would like to let you know about a new program from Trinity International University (TIU).  Starting in January 2013, we will be offering a Dual Enrollment Program for Advanced High School Students.  This program allows academically qualified students who are currently in high school to take college level courses at TIU.  Upon successful completion the students will earn college credit for the course(s) taken.

Further details are on our website www.tiu.edu/dualenrollment as well as a sample of classes that are available.  Other classes which might be available include:

Bio 111      General Biology

BI 101        Understanding the Old Testament

BI 111        Understanding the New Testament

ENG 111   Critical Thinking and Writing

GEO 100   World Geography

HI 122        U.S. History II

HI 202        World Civilization II

POL 111    Introduction to Political Science

SP 122      Elementary Spanish*

* Subject to placement.

After reviewing the web site, if you have any further questions, you are welcome to call me at 847 317 7168.  I will be out of the office between Dec 15 and Jan 9.  The associate dean Karen Wrobbel, (847 317 7178) is also available for questions.  Please remember that TIU offices are closed December 24 to Jan 1.

I would appreciate you spreading the word about our new program and hopefully we will see your son or daughter at Trinity in the future.

Sincerely,

Dori Karlesky.

Associate Professor and Chair,

Chemistry Dept

Trinity International University