Chicagoland Homeschool Network» Special offers

Events at Midwest Museum of Natural History

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:31:04 +0000

Got this information via email, and looks like some intriguing events! Note that with this first one if you mention that you heard it here, at the Chicagoland Homeschool Network, they will let one adult attend for free! Be sure to tell them thanks from all us homeschoolers.

“Hoo’s” for Dinner: Owl Pellet Dissection

Thursday, February 23, 7-8:00 pm

$7/person, Members: $5/person (adults and kids)

Space is limited, call to register: 815-895-9777

It’s almost time for owlets to begin appearing! And we’re celebrating by dissecting owl pellets. Owl pellets are balls of fur and bones that the bird cannot digest and coughs up. We’ll walk through the dissection of pellets and identification of the remains found inside. Each person gets their own pellet. Designed for ages 6+. Special offer: Mention this blog and get one free adult!

Jack Hanna: Into the Wild Live

Sunday, March 11, 2:00 pm

$20 adults, $15 children and students, premium seats available

Show will be held at the Egyptian Theater in DeKalb: 135 North Second Street, Dekalb, IL 60115

Jack Hanna’s Into the Wild Live show features many of his favorite animal friends, as well as fascinating and humorous stories and footage from his adventures around the world. Everyone from the youngest child to the oldest adult will be entertained and inspired. Tickets on sale now: http://www.egyptiantheatre.org/

The Natural History of Coffee

a lecture by Gene Powers

Thursday, March 15, 7-8:00 pm

$4/person, members free, ages high school to adult

Big Run Wolf Ranch

Saturday, March 31, 1-2:30 pm

Ages 8 and up

$10/person (kids and adults), fee includes Museum admission for the day

Member rate: $8/person

Space is limited, reservations required: 815-895-9777

Big Run Wolf Ranch is a non-profit, federally licensed, educational program which specializes in education and conservation of North American wildlife. During their presentation you’ll meet a live coyote, skunk, groundhog, porcupine, and wolf. Space is limited and reservations are required: 815-895-9777. Ages 8+ by request of the presenter.

Safari Sprouts

Wednesday, March 28, 10:15-11:15 am

4^th Wednesdya of every month

Ages 3-5

$8/child (or purchase a 4-class card for $28), adults free

Call 815-895-9777 to register (walk-ins welcome too)

Spend a morning discovering nature at the Museum through games, crafts, stories, and songs, plus a live animal visit each month! Designed for ages 3-5 with an adult.

For more information:

Midwest Museum of Natural History

425 West State St, Sycamore IL 60178

815-895-9777 www.mmnh.org

Tues-Sat, 10-5:00

Sunday 12-5:00

closed Mondays

Barnes and Noble Educator Days

admin — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:22:23 +0000

Scholastic Warehouse Sale

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:08:34 +0000

Another great warehouse sale over at Scholastic, just in time for the holidays.

Click their link to check out a location near you with dates and more info. If you register online you also get a coupon for either $10 off $50 purchase or $25 off $100. Spending $50 is pretty easy, and gets you a ton of books to use for your home library or gifts for kids, or whatever you need them for.

The video on the site gives you an idea of what to expect if you have not been to one of their sales before. It is an open warehouse with enormous row after enormous row of books at discounted prices, aka homeschoolers’ heaven.

Homeschool days at Walt Disney World

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 15:01:31 +0000

Check out Disney’s site for more information and to register for the event coming in January. Their ticket prices are phenomenal . . . here’s the link to the ticket package page as well. They range from a three day pass including the program for $139.01 per person to a 5 day park hopper pass (with the program) for $187.01. These are special homeschool prices. You can also add on other classes that they have available on that day and other surrounding days for $28 per class. Not cheap, but if you have a kid interested in physics, animation, marine science, or other related fields this could be a great opportunity to build on that interest.

So, here’s the scoop, straight from Disney:

Disney Homeschool Days Presents: A Conversation with Author Ridley Pearson
Celebrate Literacy Week at Walt Disney World® Resort

Date & Time: Thursday, January 26 at 1:00 p.m.
Location: Premiere Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®
Grade: All age groups of 10 or more students

Ridley Pearson, author of Kingdom Keepers and Peter and the Starcatchers book series, will share with students his inspirations and experiences as an author in this special presentation in honor of Literacy Week. Offering insights on his inspirations, writing process and literary career, students will learn to look at narratives with a new point of view and may even be inspired to become an author themselves.

Following the one-hour presentation, Mr. Pearson will participate in a question and answer session with the students.

Meeting Location: Premiere Theater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®

SPECIAL VALUE! For this event only, you will receive the newly released Kingdom Keepers Quest* self-guided educational adventure through the Magic Kingdom® Park with the purchase of your multi-day ticket package. As students search for clues to help the Keepers save the magic from the Overtakers, they will practice reading, math, critical thinking, and teamwork.

*Families will receive one (1) Kingdom Keepers Quest themed map per student, one (1) Kingdom Keepers Quest Student Guide per family, and one (1) leader guide family. Materials will be distributed at the Conversation session check-in. (Please note Kingdom Keepers Quest is available year-round at the Magic Kingdom® Park for groups of ten (10) or more students)

Great America — homeschool days and more

admin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 03:09:34 +0000

Found out about these events from the Six Flags’ website:

HOMESCHOOL DAY — AUGUST 18th

Six Flags hosts the 16th annual Home School Day event on August 18. Enjoy a fun filled day at the park with your family and friends. A special all-you-can-eat Home School Day picnic is also available in our private picnic grove. Contact SFGAMspecialevents@sixflags.com for additional information.

CATHOLIC FAMILY DAY — August 14th

Six Flags Great America is excited to announce Catholic Family Day on Sunday, August 14th. Enjoy a fun filled day with your family and friends at Six Great America and Six Flags Hurricane Harbor. In the evening join us for Mass in our Southwest Amphitheatre sponsored by the Young Adult Ministry Office – Archdiocese of Chicago. Please contact SFGAMspecialevents@sixflags.com for more information.

AUTISM AWARENESS DAY — July 30th

Six Flags Great America and the Autism Society of Illinois are proud to announce the Second Annual Autism Awareness Day.

Including the Chicago Children’s Theaters Red Kite Project. Join us in our Wilderness Theater for interactive, multi-sensory
performances courtesy of the Chicago Children’s Theaters Red Kite Project. There will also be a designated Quiet Area near the Wilderness
Theater that will provide sensory exercises for guests throughout the day from 10:00AM–5:00PM

More details on this event and special discounted tickets on the AutismIllinois site.

And, for more educational benefit from Six Flags:

Make Six Flags Great America your outdoor learning lab

Six Flags Great America is not only the entertainment capital of the world but also a unique outdoor learning lab. We have designed specific learning materials for both students and teachers that gives experiential learning a new meaning. Let Six Flags be your outdoor learning lab and use the free materials below to plan lessons and make learning fun. Whether it’s calculating (or experiencing) the velocity of the America Eagle or learning how an entertainment giant like Six Flags markets themselves.

Educational Resources:

Illinois Curriculum Standards correlations to Six Flags Rides
Wisconsin Curriculum Standards correlations to Six Flags Rides

Physics Day Teacher Manual
Physics Day Student Manual

Math and Science Day Teacher Manual
Math and Science Day Student Manual

Marketing Day Commercial Guidelines

Six Flags Great America recommended amusement park physics websites for further learning:

The Physics Classroom

Amusement Park Physics

Funderstanding

Thinkquest

The Physics of Amusement Parks

Physics Education

CPS Webinar Presented by Nathan Unterman for Preparation for Physics Day Field Trips
Office of Science / Physics Day Webinar – April 14, 2011

Physics Day Vest Data

Don’t forget to use your Reading Reward free tickets before they expire.

We just enjoyed the day there yesterday and it was once again a great incentive for my kids. They look forward to it every year.

Scholastic Book Fair

admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:27:44 +0000

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Our Biggest Warehouse Sale of the Year Offers You Up to 80% Savings!

Join us for our special book sale, exclusively for school and district employees, home schoolers, Book Fair chairpeople, and school volunteers. You’ll find BIG savings on books for home, school, and classroom libraries.

•	Most items discounted at least 50%!
•	Hundreds of items for $2.00 or less!
•	Get more, save more with Build-a-BOX! (Participating locations only.) Fill a Build-a-BOX with books from a great collection of pre-selected clearance items. Pay ONLY $24.95 for each box you build! Locations participating in Build-a-BOX are identified with this symbol.

Find a Sale Near You &
Get Discount Coupons!

Free Educator Screening

admin — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:36:06 +0000

Free Educator Screening

Born to Be Wild IMAX 3D

Teachers! You and one (1) guest are invited to a Free Educator Screening of Born to be Wild IMAX 3D Additional guests will be charged $8.50 for children, $9.50 for seniors and $11.50 for adults.

Date: Friday April 8, 2011

Time: 4:30pm (please arrive a half hour prior to showtime to check-in and register)

Place: Randall 15 IMAX – 550 N. Randall Rd. Batavia, IL 60510 Get Map

RSVP: Email or Call 630-659-6762. RSVP by noon on Thursday April 7. IMPORTANT - Please leave us your first and last name, school name, theater, email address, and number of people attending. If registering via email, you will receive an email confirmation. If registering via phone, you will not receive a phone call to confirm your space.

Born to Be Wild: An IMAX 3D Experience

Born to be Wild 3D is an inspired story of love, dedication and the remarkable bond between humans and animals. This film documents orphaned orangutans and elephants and the extraordinary people who rescue and raise them-saving endangered species one life at a time. Stunningly captured in IMAX 3D, a heartwarming adventure transporting moviegoers into the lush rainforests of Borneo with world-renowned primatologist Dr. Birute Galdikas, and across the rugged Kenyan savannah with celebrated elephant authority Dame Daphne Sheldrick, as they and their team rescue, rehabilitate and return these incredible animals back to the wild. Narrated by Academy-Award winner Morgan Freeman. Website Educator Guide Educator Microsite Featurette Trailer

Free Webinar from BrainPop

Teachers – visit BrainPOP for an educator webinar titled “Using a Multimedia Approach to Teach Earth Awareness.” The webinar is taking place at 3:30pm PST/6:30pm EST next Wednesday, March 30^th. Educators who RSVP to http://imaxbp.eventbrite.com/ will learn about all of the extraordinary online and free resources for Born to be Wild.

Visit our website for more information on IMAX and Teacher Resources at www.GQTIMAX.com

Free stuff in Chicago!

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 02:46:20 +0000

Budgets of course limit our opportunities. But, here’s a great site that offers lots of ideas for free stuff that you can do or access.

Check out the Free Things to Do in Chicago for more, but here are a couple highlights from recent posts:

**Upcoming Mini Model Build**:

Build a free LEGO Chick: Tuesday, April 6, begins at 5:00pm until supplies last.

Bring your kids to the free monthly LEGO mini-model build at any of the four Chicago area LEGO stores and take home a free mini-model that your child has constructed! On the first Tuesday of every month, LEGO has this free event and your children can learn how to build a cool mini model, and take it home – for free! A new model will be available every month and will be specially themed to that month – Quantities are limited and offer is good while supplies last only. One free per child. Event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only. See store for more details.

The** Chicago History Museum **is free on Mondays so come out in April 5, April 12, April 19 or April 26 2010 with the kids and family to see this Chicago museum devoted to collecting, interpreting, and presenting the rich multicultural history of Chicago and Illinois. Check out the outstanding “Abraham Lincoln Transformed” exhibit which closes on April 12 after a long run.

**Free Audio Download!** Each month Christianaudio.com gives away a premium audiobook download for free. How does it work? Well, they give away one audiobook download (that they have published or that a partner has allowed them to give away) absolutely free; available only during that month and only once, ever.

During April, ChristianAudio.com is offering a free audiobook download of “Stuff Christians Like” by Jonathan Acuff. To get the deal, use promo code “APR2010”.

Lots more free stuff to be enjoyed. Check it out!

HSLDA membership deal

admin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:26:07 +0000

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

Limited number of free tickets to the auto show!

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:46:00 +0000

The 2010 Chicago Auto show will take place at the McCormick Place from February 12 through February 21. The nation’s largest show and the nation’s longest-running show, Chicago is well regarded as the “consumer show.” (According to the CAS blog)

Regular admission to this annual event are as follows:

Adults	$11
Seniors (62 and older)	7
Children (age 7-12)	$7
Children (age 0-6)	Free

School groups (this would be a great field trip for your support group, co-op, or other group of homeschoolers):

Student groups of 20 or more will receive a discounted rate of $5 per ticket. This is available on weedays only. Tickets may be ordered in advance by printing out a form and completing it. You may send it via fax or regular mail.

Student and Group Ticket Sales Order Forms:

2010 School-group Ticket Reservation Form (PDF)

2010 School Ticket Order Form (PDF)

2010 Group Tickets Order Form (PDF)

Other discounts are available on certain days:

Tuesday, Feb. 16

Women are admitted for $7. Manufacturers will present special women-oriented programs on the purchase and lease of cars and maintenance.

Wednesday, Feb, 17,
Thursday, Feb. 18,
Friday, Feb. 19

Show patrons who bring three cans of food, donated to the Chicago Christian Industrial League; will receive coupons for $7 admission tickets.

Now as for the free tickets . . . If you fill out this form from the Chevy Drives Chicago website and bring the confirmation that you then receive (either via email or printed directly from the site) into a participating Chicagoland or Northwest Indiana Chevy Dealer, you should receive a pair of tickets to the auto show as long as supplies last.