Good Schooling Stuff

Apologia Physics experiments

The following experiments go along with the Apologia Physics textbook.

Gravity Visualized

Experiment 2.1

Experiment 2.2

Experiment 2.3

Experiment 10.1

Experiment 11.1

Experiment 14.1

Experiment 16.1

Experiment 16.2

Speeches and Biographies Recommended

Check out the collection of speeches and biographies that AmblesideOnline.org has for different grades. Here is where to find these for 11th and 12th grade.

11th Grade Scroll down where it says "Supplements, Speeches and Documents" You will see a list of speeches. Also check out the biographies they recommend. To find it quickly use "ctrl" and "f" on your keyboard. This will open a search window. Then enter the word "speeches" and the enter the word "biographies". Hit the enter on your keyboard.

12th grade Scroll down where it says "Supplements: Speeches" You will see a list of speeches. Also check out the biographies they recommend. To find it quickly use "ctrl" and "f" on your keyboard. This will open a search window. Then enter the word "speeches" and the enter the word "biographies". Hit the enter on your keyboard.

12th grade

Subject Examinations and Scorekeys From NewYork Schools

Following resource contains examinations to different subjects and the scoring keys that one can use in testing students knowledge base. They have a very nice flow. I would print them, review them first, then have the kids take the test. Afterwards I would use the test to check what weaknesses they have and that need reinforcement. Check out the link below. After that see the different subject by clicking the tabs on menu bar:

New York Schools Subject Examinations and scoring Keys

FREE SAT prep course

The following resource is very good and details examples of New SAT problems. Explained clearly so student can follow a step by step process.

Free SAT prep course

Physics Crash Course

Looking for some interactive way of learning physics. Check out Physics Crash Course

Math resources at DadsWorksheets:

For teachers looking for materials to benefit a whole room full of kids. There is also math tools available that are very useful for in-class or homeschooling use. They are also great for students and parents practicing at home.
Math Worksheets
Multiplication Table
Fraction Calculator
Percentage Calculator
Prime Factorization Calculator
Factoring Calculator
Online Timer

History Revealed and Resources

So our family has really gotten into learning history with more enthusiasm with the curriculum by Diana Waring: History Revealed. This is very interactive and hands on curriculum. Kids can choose from so many ideas or create their own to demonstrate their knowledge.

Dive into three categories that you can start in middleschool and complete in highschool. It comes with teacher and student book, companion cd's and maps booklet.

Ancient Middle Ages Modern

When we did Ancient Civilizations curriculum we also used books from the library (for visuals) and the Drive thru history DVD's. We also celebrated easter (passover) at a synagogue to get a Biblical experience.
We are doing American history and here is the lesson plan: US history
Romans, Reformers, and Revolutionaries has the acronym "RRR" and World Empires, World Missions, World Wars has the acronym "WWW".
Following are resources to enrich the experience even more for the modern history and the books:
Resources for teachers
Charlote Mason schedule

Movies we have watched alongside this curriculum:
Amazing Grace
First knight
Pride and Prejudice
The Patriot
Little Women
John Wycliffe

Yet to watch or to review:
Liberty Kids
Drive Thru: History American History
Monumental
Brave Heart

Days to Celebrate:
Reformation Day
4th of July
Veterans Day
Memorial Day

Links to explore:

Timeline of English history

SAT personalized track Khan Academy

Spanish Resources

They loved it! My two oldest completed going through the entire course and had a blast following along this full of suspense drama series that teaches Spanish in a very interactive manner: "Mi Vida Loca" The setting is in Madrid, Spain and this journalist is running away from the mysterious pursuer to keep her away from doing her work.

Now onto another recommended program: Destinos. Its like a "telenovela" style but it also comes loaded with vocabulary and practice exercises.

An idea I have is to get movies in DVD form the kids have watched and set the language into Spanish. Ask them to write a few words for vocabulary build up.

Trying to make sentences and using what they learn is essential to getting a better grasp of the language.

Computer Science

One fun way that my kids have gotten involved into computer science has been using scratch. It is geared towards kids ages to 8-16 and grades 3rd grade to high school. It uses a visual programing language. If you think that learning Chinese and Hebrew is hard then you will find it hard to start to learn computer languages. But the best way my kids have enjoyed computer science is by using this visual programing language. They also take Khan Academy's computer programing free classes. Javascript is a programing language that is used in one of their favorite video games-Minecraft. Khan Academy's Javascript lessons are fun. If you are child is able to be in dual enrolment at the college your student can take computer science classes for free while in highschool.

Check out:

Scratch (create an account)
Khan Academy (create an account):

Computer Programming My kids have taken this one.

Computer Science

Hour of Code

Pixar in a Box My kids have taken this one too.

Check out dual enrollment at the college for free courses during highschool. Student has to pass the PERT test to be able to be dual enrolled. Check out free PERT classes and practice tests here
W3schools lessons from left menu or click next. Follow lesson all the way through the end. Lots of practice here. This website is great as a resource and cheat list.
Code.org

The following are online resources where you pay a fee for computer science courses but you can do them at your own leisure and pace. Jquery, HTML 5, ASP, Cloud Computing, Python, C, C++, Javascript, PHP, SQL, web and app development are all part of the world of computer science.

Coursera offers online computer science courses for a fee
Codecademy free to a certain extent. I have tried this one myself and I really enjoy it. I have done some PHP, Javascript, and HTML classes with them (their free ones). I would pay gladly if the level requires it. Not there yet.

Animation:

Blender It is as professional as what Pixar uses for their animations only difference it is free. This program uses python and you can tell by your favorite animations and movies that use visual effects that software like this can really be an amazing tool. We have taken tutorials online. I figure with 50 tutorials you shoulg get the hang of it,

Physics

Are perpetual motion machines possible?

You Tube Channels for Homeschooling

I want to keep this resource handy for youtube channels that are good for homeschooling:
Best educational channels for homeschoolers

As always view the videos before letting your kids watch.

Horse Animal Science

Check out these resources for horse animal science:

Equine Science

4H Horse Science

Netflix and Youtube Educational Resourcesl

Cross and Quill Media has a list of educational resources that can be found in Netflix and Youtube. Just click the tabs on the top of the page to find the list.

Swimming Techniques

Breaststroke Swimming Technique
Backstroke Swimming Technique
Butterfly Swimming Technique
Freestyle Swimming Technique

Pert and ACT prep

Mometrix is full of prep videos and resources:

ACT Math prep

ACT Science Prep

ACT Reading Prep

ACT English Prep

Khan Academy videos for ACT prep

PERT Test Prep Course

PERT Practice Tests

Study Materials

Algebra: Functions

Study Functions with Khan Academy:

Algebra 1 Functions

Algebra 2:

Manipulating Functions
Polynomial expressions, equations, and functions
Radical equations and functions
Rational expressions, equations, and functions
Exponential growth and decay
Trigonometric functions
Advanced Functions

Celebrating Pi Day!

"Celebrated each year on March 14th (3.14), Pi Day is dedicated to the mathematical constant, Pi. First recognized 30 years ago in 1988 by physicist Larry Shaw, Pi Day observers often celebrate with a slice of their favorite pie in honor of the number’s delicious sounding name.

Notated by the Greek letter “𝛑”, pi represents the ratio between a circle’s circumference (perimeter) to its diameter (distance from side to side passing through the center), and is a fundamental element of many mathematical fields, most significantly Geometry. Though modern mathematicians have calculated more than one TRILLION decimal places beyond the standard “3.14,” pi is an irrational number that continues on to infinity! It’s an important ingredient in the formula for the area of a circle, A=𝛑r²." (Google)