Hour of Code — do you have a budding programmer?

Received via email:

Last December, our friends at Code.org launched the Hour of Code. This year we are excited to offer a bunch of new ways for your child to participate!

What is the Hour of Code?
The Hour of Code is an hour-long introduction to computer programming designed to demystify coding and show students that everyone can learn the basics. At Khan Academy, we’ve crafted several custom-made tutorials for your child that require no prior experience.

Try Hour of Code on Khan Academy!

Hour of Drawing with Code: Your child will learn to program using JavaScript, one of the world’s most popular programming languages via two great options:

  • Drag-and-drop: block-based coding for younger children with less typing skills and children on tablet devices (ages 8+).
  • Typing: keyboard-based coding for older children (ages 10+).

Hour of Webpages: Your child will learn to make their own webpages using the basics of HTML and CSS (ages 10+).

Hour of Databases: Your child will learn the fundamentals of databases using SQL to create tables, insert data into them, and do basic querying (ages 12+).

Last year, 15 million students tried computer programming for at least one hour during Computer Science Education Week on Khan Academy and other platforms.

This year, our goal is to reach 100 million students.

Let’s join Microsoft, Google, Apple, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Malala, and millions of others around the world to make history. Start planning your child’s Hour of Code today!

Pamela Fox
Computer Science Content Engineer

PO Box 1630, Mountain View, CA 94042 | Our Privacy Policy

Silver Dollar City Homeschool Rates

Silver Dollar City has a homeschool weekend in the fall

Event Details

  • Exclusive Homeschool classes available! Tickets must be pre-purchased.
  • Continue to watch the website for a Homeschool Weekend Schedule of Activities.
  • Registration at Guest Relations Horseshoe from 8:30-Noon (pick up FREE goodies).
  • The Marvel Cave Mystery Tour is back in 2014! Join fellow spelunkers as you travel through Marvel Cave attempting to solve the mystery of what nearly wiped out our Gray Bat population a couple decades ago. Complete a student workbook as you go from station to station gathering evidence and solving equations to help you determine the culprit. Book early, only 1 tour available.
  • Meet master craftsmen and watch them in action as we Salute The Great American Cowboy during National Harvest Festival.
Event Ticket Prices
Adult (age 12+):$47.00 + tax $50.51
Child (age 4-11):$37.00 + tax $39.77Price includes 2-day admission.

Ticket Details

Meal tickets available and include buffets! These optional meal tickets are charged in addition the admission price.

• Adult: $11.82 ($12.70)

• Child: $6.33 ($6.80)

Or you can use this special Homeschool rate with a code anytime, it looks like. Check the web for all the details.

(Thank you, Kristen!)

Volunteers needed in Will County’s Heritage Village

Received via email:

Would you like to know how it feels to a be a Pioneer? Dress in a Pioneers Costume? Meet new people? Volunteers needed at the Will County Historical Society’s Heritage Village, in Lockport,Il

Our goal is to keep the Heritage Village open one weekend a month during the summer. It will take at least three volunteers to keep the buildings open & show people around.

We are looking for families or groups that would like to volunteer together. Children could play on the grounds with traditional toys, play games or just walk around in costume. Adults would monitor visitors to the school house, depot, farm house and calaboose.   Home school families could set up in the school house, sit at the desks and fell what it was like to learn in a one room school house atmosphere.

Costumes would be provided, but costumes are not mandatory.

Hours served will count toward community service hours for high-schoolers. Miles driven to the Village would be tax deductible.

If you , your family, or group would like to volunteer at the Heritage Village, please contact Sandy Vasko at 815-341-0226.

Speech and Debate Competition

Communication Festival

What: Art/Music/Forensics

Where: North Central College, Naperville, IL

When: March 25-27

Showcase your talents.Competition for all three including photography,painting,drawing, vocal,instrument,speech,debate.

Who: Grades k-12.for art and age 7-19 for forensics.

Organization Name: Lifelong communicators

Website: www.lifelongcommunicators.org
Contact Person: Diana Wolfson

Email: Lifelongcommunicators@gmail.com

West Suburban Home School Band

2014 Spring Open House and More


The West Suburban Home School Band will be holding an Open House during regular rehearsal times on Thursday, April 3, 2014.

All interested home schoolers are invited to come and watch any rehearsal in Cornelius Hall at Resurrection Church at the NW corner of Army Trail and 59 in Wayne.

Rehearsal times for the four different band levels are:

5:15-6pm Cadets (beginners),

6-7pm Concert Junior,

7-8pm Concert Senior,

8-9pm Symphonic.

Feel free to come any time and stay as long as you like. Free gifts for all who visit!

For more information or questions, please contact the director, Karen Borow, through the website www.wshsb.org.

Mark your calendar for the following performances–

The WSHSB’s 13th Annual Spring Concert at 7 pm, Friday, May 16, 2014, at Edman Memorial Chapel, on the campus of Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL. This concert is NOT a function of Wheaton College.Map and directions are on www.wshsb.org.

Thursday, June 5, the WSHSB will play from 12 to 12:30, just prior to the keynote speaker at the ICHE Convention.

Fermilab adventures

Check this out from Fermilab:

Fermilab Science Adventures — January – May 2014

Fermilab: Explore the Science Around You

The Spring Science Adventure class list, registration instructions and a downloadable registration form are available on our website. http://ed.fnal.gov/sciadv

In addition to many favorite classes, look for these new and returning adventures:

January 25, 2014 – Magnetic Magic, grades 1-4

February 1, 2014 – Snow Crystals, grades K-5

March 1, 2014 – Girls Scientific Salon, grades 4-7

April 26, 2014 – Creativity and Circuitry, grades 3-5 – NEW!

May 3, 2014 – The Bugs are Back! grades 2-4

Spread the word to your friends. To be added to our e-mail notification list, contact sdahl@fnal.gov.

Links to Upcoming Public Events:

Fermilab Family Open House – February 9, 2014, 1:00 – 5:00 PM

The FREE open house will be most appropriate for families with children in grades 3 and up. Tours restricted to those ages 10 and up. Go to the website to register for the tours. Watch the website for updates.

Visit the Fermilab Education Office at Family Science Days at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting

February 15-16, 2014, 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Family Science Days

Family Science Days are FREE and open to all. Explore interactive science exhibits, learn about cool science jobs, and have your questions answered by scientists! This free community science showcase features hands-on demos, shows, and other activities appropriate for K-12 children and their families. Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IlL 60601.

Wonders of Science (Ages 7-12) – April 6, 2014, 1:00 – 2:00 PM

Tickets: $4.00/person (nonrefundable). Contact edreg@fnal.gov (preferred) or 630-840-8259 with questions. Printable registration forms available on our website at: http://eddata.fnal.gov/lasso/program_search/wos_form.html

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)) High School Career Expo April 23, 2014, 5:30 – 8:30 PM

The program, held at Fermilab’s Wilson Hall, is FREE and no registration is required.

Fermilab Outdoor Family Fair (Ages 5-12) June 8, 2014, 1:00 – 4:00 PM

Activities include walking the emerging tallgrass prairie, netting for land and water critters and visiting the bison herd. The fair is FREE.

Get to Know the Lederman Science Center

Explore Fermilab science from a kid’s point of view! Bring your family for a guided tour of Lederman Science Center exhibits on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 AM to noon. No registration is required.

Fermilab Science Adventures is also a Facebook Group.

If you are a Facebook member, go to the top search box and search for “Fermilab Science Adventures” and click “Ask to Join Group” on the top right. As a member you can read and post questions and comments to the other members of this group. You can also have online chats with other members of the group.

Contact Program Staff

Marge Bardeen, Education Office Manager, mbardeen@fnal.gov

Susan Dahl, sdahl@fnal.gov

Andrea Cox, avarry@fnal.gov

New Field Trip opportunity


The C.A.K.E (CULTURE OF AFRICA FOR KIDS EVERYWHERE) Village is a new Cultural Center for Children the features African Cultural, Visual and Performing Arts. They offer enrichment programs for children such as Pottery Painting, African Fabric Printing, Bead Making and Painting, African Folktales Drama, African Musical Instruments, African Dance and Movement, and much more.

Day time and evening workshops are ideal for cross-cultural enrichment for homeschoolers.

Contact them here:

E-mail : info@thecakevillage.com
URL    : http://www.TheCAKEVillage.com

Homeschool Trampoline time

logo
HOME School Program
Home School Program will not be available during any Holiday breaks, as we will be open to the general public during this time.
1:30pm-3:00pm on Wednesdays, September through May.
$8/jumper for the 1st 4 jumpers
$6/jumper for additional siblings (more than 4)
Epic Air Park
1675 N. Lancaster
South Elgin, IL 60177

Phone: 847-608-0600
Fax: 847-608-0646
E-mail: info@epicairpark.com

Staycation around the country!

Maybe you’re sticking around Chicago, and maybe not. Here are some ideas from all over the country if you are looking for fun, frugal ideas wherever your family might find itself this summer.

Feel free to check out the links on pinterest if you are more visually stimulated: http://pinterest.com/happy1/staycations/

Mid Atlantic

NW (or all), Connecticut :: Parenting Miracles

Boston (or all), Massachusetts :: Maven of Savin

Central, New Jersey :: Our Good LIfe

Adirondak Mountains and Central, New York :: For This Season

Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York :: Ann’s Entitled Life

Syracuse, New York :: I am THAT lady

Erie, Pennsylvania :: Growing Kids Ministry

Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania :: Family Balance Sheet

Hershey, Pennsylvania :: Good Deal Mama

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania :: Beyond the Cover

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania :: The Coupon “High”

Poconos, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Scranton, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Midwest

Des Moines, Iowa :: Make the best of everything

Aurora, Illinois :: A Savings WOW!

Central, Illinois :: The Homeschool Scientist

Chicago, Illinois :: Chicagoland Homeschool Network

Naperville, Illinois :: The Sensible Mom

Schaumburg, Illinois :: Ravings By Rae

Fort Wayne, Indiana :: Simplified Saving

Indianapolis, Indiana (Metro Area) :: In Good Cents

Muncie, Indiana (Central IN) :: the daisyhead

Northern Indiana :: So Dough Savvy

Kansas City Area :: Kansas City Mamas

Metro Detroit, Michigan :: Saving Dollars and Sense

Grand Rapids, Michigan :: Give Me Neither

Oakland County, Michigan :: Bargain Shopper Mom

Minneapolis, Minnesota :: Creative Couponing

Rural Minnesota (either Southern our Lake Country) :: Mommysavers.com

St. Cloud, Minnesota :: Frugal Finders

Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas :: Kosher on a Budget

Springfield, Missouri :: Getting Freedom

Cincinnati, Ohio :: Family Friendly Cincinnati

Columbus, Ohio :: Cleverly Simple

Dayton, Ohio :: Savings Lifestyle: Dayton

Mansfield, Ohio :: The Traveling Praters

NE Ohio :: Raising Lifelong Learners

Northeast Ohio (Canton, Akron, Cleveland) :: Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring

Black Hills, South Dakota :: Little House Living

South Dakota :: Moms Mustard Seeds

Oshkosh, Wisconsin :: Adventures of a Stay at Home Mom

Mountain

Phoenix, Arizona :: Mom Endeavors

Scottsdale, Arizona :: Saving For Someday

Tucson, Arizona :: Desert Chica Ramblings

Colorado Springs, Colorado :: The Greenbacks Gal

Denver, Colorado :: Bargain Blessings

Helena, Montana :: The WiC Project

Omaha, Nebraska :: Mom Endeavors

Reno, Nevada – Lake Tahoe (Northern Nevada) :: Saving in Nevada

Pacific

Fresno, California (Central Valley) :: NerdFamily Blog

Los Angeles, California :: Savings.com

San Diego, California :: Good Cheap Eats

San Diego, California :: Life as MOM

Portland, Oregon :: Frugal Living NW

Seattle, Washington :: Thrifty NW Mom

South Atlantic

Arkansas :: Discovering Arkansas

Washington, DC :: Kidventurous

Clearwater Beach, Florida :: Bargain Briana

Jacksonville, Florida :: Saving The Family Money

Southwest Florida (Ft. Myers area) :: Chaos Is Bliss

St. Augustine, Florida :: Simply St. Augustine

Tallahassee, Florida :: SwagGrabber

Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: Hodgepodge

Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: The Couponing Couple

Annapolis, Maryland :: The Happy Housewife

Hagerstown, Maryland :: Cheryl Pitt

Asheville, North Carolina :: Paradise Praises

Charlotte, North Carolina :: from our front porch lookin’ in…

Raleigh/Southeastern, North Carolina :: Upside Down Homeschooling

Upstate South Carolina :: The Tween & Me

Charlottesville, Virginia :: How to Have it All

Richmond, Virginia :: Teachers of Good Things

Smithfield, Virginia :: Walking in High Cotton

Virginia Beach, Virginia :: The Coupon Challenge

South Central

Coastal Alabama :: Meet Penny

Huntsville, Alabama :: The Traveling Praters

Northern Kentucky :: Simply Sherryl

Chattanooga, Tennessee :: Living Chic on the Cheap

East Tennessee (Smoky Mountains, Knoxville) :: Finding Joy on the Journey

Nashville, Tennessee :: Montessori Tidbits

Arlington, Texas :: Grocery Shop For FREE

Austin, Texas (Hill Country) :: Ponder the Path

College Station, Texas :: How to Homeschool My Child

Dallas, Texas :: Surviving The Stores

East Dallas, Texas :: Funky Faith Girl

Fort Worth, Texas :: Coupons & Freebies Mom

Houston, Texas :: MomsToolbox

Houston, Texas :: MyLitter

Katy, Texas :: Moms Confession

McAllen, Texas (Rio Grande Valley) :: iLoveMy5Kids

San Antonio, Texas :: Melissa’s Bargains

Staycation 2013

Two years ago I posted my first Chicago staycation post and have really enjoyed revisiting this theme each May highlighting some of the limitless opportunities in the Chicago area for a family on a budget.

Since I could never attempt to represent all of the amazing outings available, each year I try to uncover something new.

If you have missed earlier posts:

– The first year I posted in fives (5 genres, 5 favorites, 5 free trips, etc.)

– The second year centered around activities geared to help you Get Active; Grow ‘n’ Learn; and Give Back.

While those posts easily gave you enough fuel for conversation around the family campfire and fun from June through August, I want to make sure you don’t overlook some of the attractions that you have to come to Chicago to enjoy. These places we “locals” too often miss (or forget to bring our kids to!) because we walk by them everyday and don’t realize the gems right under our noses. Some of these might exist elsewhere, but we have the good fortune of living just down the tracks from them, so don’t miss ’em!

Food:

You can take a tour of various food venues in Chicago, but you can also just pick a couple favorites to enjoy while you are there. Here are some don’t miss icons if you want to eat Chicago style.

Portillos

Ed Debevic’s

Eli’s Cheesecake. Tour and taste delicious!

– For pizza, check out Giordano‘s, Pizzeria Uno, or Gino’s East

– Or, sample it all at the Taste of Chicago July 10-14 in Grant Park

Free:

Chicago’s Air and Water Show – Coming to the lakefront on August 17th and 18th. We love sneaking a peak the day before the official start. No crowds, and perfect viewing for an amazing show. You never know what you’ll get the day before, and most people prefer to go on a day off work. It’s definitely a show worth fighting the crowds for though.

Money Museum

Federal Reserve — a recent find of ours. We enjoyed a little field trip to this quiet Money Museum near the Board of Trade. Kids can take their picture in a two dollar bill, design their own, catch the counterfeits, and see a million bucks (in ones, twenties, and hundreds). And, don’t forget to grab your free bag of shredded money. As the tour guide said, it’s $364 dollars, some assembly required. Be sure all adults entering bring a state issued photo ID for entrance.

Millennium Park — In addition to the “bean” and water play, they have loads of free activities throughout the summer. The best way to get there is the Metra on the weekend. $7 round trip for each adult and a limited number of kids ride free with you. Cheaper than parking in the garage next door. Millennium is an easy one mile walk from the stations.

Fireworks — of course on the Fourth you will find them all over the place, but every Saturday and Wednesday they are free at Navy Pier as well.

Shops — While you might not manage to leave without spending any money, you just have to make it to the American Girl store and the Lego Store are just two of many unforgettable shopping experiences.

Unforgettable:

Chicago has some amazing places that will cost you a little more, but thanks to groupon, coupons, reading incentive programs, and various deal sites you can include these in an affordable family staycation as well

Brookfield Zoo — Lions and Tigers and Bears, and penguins, and okapi, and giraffes, and wombats. Brookfield has long been a favorite in our family. We even splurged on a family pass this year instead of sticking to the free days. We can easily enjoy a whole day watching the animals and laughing over their antics. The Hamil Family Play Zoo is great for both sunny and inclement weather, so the zoo fits our agenda no matter what. Of course, Lincoln Park Zoo is free, and also worthy of a visit, so take your pick with two great zoo choices.

Medieval Times — Another overpriced entertainment venue if you go in paying full price, so don’t! Summer time they have lots of deals for free dads, grads, half price for everyone, kids in free, etc. (not all at the same time) Sometimes my kids got passes from the library reading program and with the other discounts we got 5 people in for less than $60. Every summer is different, but keep your eyes open if you have not yet enjoyed this dinner theater that only has a few homes across the nation.

Six Flags Great America — yes, this is almost as bad as Disney in terms of affordability, but if your kids do the Read to Succeed program and you try to get in earlier in the season (before July 4th) you can usually strike a deal. As a child I used to camp out nearby with my family and make a weekend of it. That’s when twickets were only a couple bucks, but you can still find affordable ways to enjoy this legendary theme park.

– Tour some of our local attractions for behind the scenes perspectives at places like Wrigley, the Board of Trade, be a trainer for the day at the Shedd,  or other favorites

Further away:

Jelly Belly Factory – not in Chicago, but a fun trip and tour. If you haven’t done it before, enjoy it once.

Amish Country in Indiana – another relaxing day trip with a unique backdrop without driving to Ohio or Pennsylvania.

However you decide to spend your summer vacation find something local that you have not enjoyed as a family and set a date to build some memories together. As my oldest approaches college age I see more and more clearly the need to treasure these years that pass so quickly. Enjoy the times together running through the sprinkler in the backyard and roasting marshmallows, and check out local attractions that won’t break the bank or require days off work for travel. There is so much around us to enjoy.

What are your local family favorites?