A good project for all ages.
Container Herbs
Many herbs grow well in containers, both indoors and out, making it possible for people without gardening space to grow herbs and to extend the growing season for tender herbs in cold climates. Herbs that grow well in containers:
*Basil
*Bay
*Borage
*Catmint
*Catnip
*Chervil
*Chives
*Greek Oregano
*Hyssop
*Lavender
*Lemon Balm
*Marjoram
*Mint
*Mint Marigold
*Parsley
*Rosemary
*Sage
*Savory
*Scented Geraniums
*Sorrel
*Tarragon
*Thyme
Garden herbs of any sort are right at home in these glimmering pots decorated with painted clay leaves.
What You Need:
Wax Paper
Red bakeable Clay
Rolling Bin
Tiny Leaf Cookie Cutter about 1" long
4" Terra-cotta Pot with Saucer
Knife
Cookie Sheet
Acrylic Paints in Metallic Copper, Green, Purple, and Blue
Paintbrush
Foam Plate
Natural Painting Sponge
Waterproof Adhesive, such as Liquid Nails
Time To Make Project 2 hours
Cost To Make Project about $2.00 Pot with Plant
What To Do:
If you are doing this with younger children you may want to prepare the leaf shapes beforehand.
Also may want to consider doing just a step or two at a time.
1. Place a piece of wax paper on work area. On wax paper, roll out clay to about 3/16" thick. Use a cookie cutter to cut out leaf shapes. It works to use a knife to cut out leaf shapes also if you don't have a cookie cutter.
2. Carefully pick up leaf shapes and press onto the pot, gently shaping to the curve on the pot. While leaf is on the pot, press in lines for detailing using a knife. Carefully remove the leaf shapes from the pot and gently lay onto cookie sheet, maintaining the leaf shape so it will fit the pot later. Let the clay dry at least one day, until it does not feel cool.
3. Bake the clay leaves in the oven according to instructions on clay label. Let the leaf shapes cool before handling.
4. Paint the leaves green and the saucer a solid color, such as metallic green or copper. Let the paint dry.
5. To paint the pots, place the desired colors of paint on a foam plate. Soak sponge in water and squeeze out excess. Dip sponge in paint and dab onto the pot surface. Alternate with different colors, rinsing paint from sponge each time you change colors. Dab the clean sponge onto the wet paint until the colors are blended. Let the paint dry.
6. Place a small dab of adhesive onto the back side of the leaves and glue onto the painted pot as desired. Let it dry.
7. Fill with potting soil and place in the desired herb.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Continued From Clutter/Lived-In-Look
Well organizing the shelves didn't take as long as I thought that they would BUT I did run into a problem, lol. What to do with all the extra stuff that doesn't fit on the shelves? Well for now until I am finished organizing my house it is in a few boxes and extra homeschool books are in the bedroom closets for now, not the way I want it or will keep it. But my shelves do look so very nice and I will keep them the way they are.
This will be quite a lengthy post so now on to the next section that I need to tackle...
2. Electronics takes about 1 hour to do also. If you are like me then you don't have a huge flat screen TV or even a fancy , multi speaker audio system, but chances are your electronics are the heart of your family or living room. The collection of media and equipment- whether large or small is usually anchored by the TV. But you probably do have a number of peripheral devices that work with the TV, including the cable or satellite box, a DVD and/or video player, a video game system, the home stereo system, and most likely the family's computer. Add to all this the cords, cables, and bits and pieces that naturally go with them - CDs, DVDs, remote controls, video games - and the potential for massive clutter is obvious. All this often starts our disorder. Because we buy it with little thought about how it will fit into the space that we have available, or when we move sometimes we don't consider if the space is large enough. That's why TVs often wind up unsafe, rickety side tables or inexpensive TV stands that leave little room for other components. Bringing order to this often chaotic area will go a long way toward keeping the whole room tidy, and will make watching TV and listening to music much more enjoyable.
You need to start by looking at the equipment and media you own now, and think about what you are likely to add in the short term. Then it is just a matter of measuring and matching to find the furniture and solutions to contain your entertainment gear and to keep the room neat.
Entertainment Center: A key piece of furniture for organizing electronic media, an entertainment center must adequately meet your needs if it it to prevent clutter. The right entertainment center can range from the modest television stand to a wall-filling, adjustable shelf system with custom conduits for cords and wires. You'll find a mind-boggling array of options in stores, or you may decide to to adapt an existing piece of furniture (as long as it it stable and durable). Either way the first step in finding the right entertainment center is to measure your electronics - depth, width, and height. Next figure out what you want to store in the media center and what you don't see. This should give you need, which will lead you to the right choice of entertainment center.
Adapted centers can be almost any large standing cabinet or shelf unit. You can use an old armoire to an unused dining room hutch. That is not specifically designed as an entertainment center. If all you're looking to do is to stack a couple of components underneath the TV. A sturdy table with a lower shelf may be all you need. The main requirement in this is that the piece be deep enough to center your TV, with a shelf or support strong enough to hold the weight. Adapted entertainment centers should comfortably hold the electronics that work with the TV, an attached back must always allow for holes through which cords can be run, and the center must permit proper component spacing and air circulation to cool the equipment. If you are storing CDs and such you will need room either inside the unit or someplace on the outside for hanging storage. If you have a small house like me with the living and dining rooms in one, the CDs and such could be placed on your other shelves that you may have. But remember the closer the CDs and such are to your entertainment center the better. The common drawback is the positioning.
Store-bought stands and racks are excellent choices if you simply want something to put your TV, cable box, DVD player, and VCR on. Stands and racks are sold by the size of the TV. If choosing a stand you will also want to look at containers for storing CDs and such. Do not put a TV on a wall-mounted shelf. Not only are the regular cathode-ray TVs to heavy, they also are off-center balanced and it makes them prone to tipping when they are not properly supported. Flat screen TVs are also prone to tipping, but they can be mounted to the wall with special hardware.
Complete entertainment centers are a better choice if you want to store your stereo with your TV and include other components such as a video game console. These are only limited to space and budget. Now if you are on a budget like me you are going to make do with what you currently have. Rule of thumb though is to always look for slightly more shelf space than you need: Shelf space rarely goes to waste in the living room.
Separate Stereo: Sometimes it makes more sense to keep the stereo separate from the TV. The acoustics may be better in a different part of the room. Perhaps the electrical outlet near the TV can handle only the TV and video components. Or maybe you just prefer to listen to music in a different part of the house. Whatever the reason, if it is separate the unit should have enough room for all the parts of your stereo. A mini or shelf stereo systems can simply be placed on a sturdy shelf. Component stereo systems those in which you have an amplifier, tuner, receiver, and CD player are separate units and require a more complex storage structure. Stereo racks come with adjustable clips or special shelves and many have doors. Use speaker stands if at all possible to keep speakers off the floor (vibration through a floor can diminish sound quality) or you could mount them on walls with speaker brackets.
Video Game Systems: The new video game consoles do more than just play games. Most also function as DVD players, and low prices make them attractive even if you use them only for that purpose. You will also need to find a place for the video games themselves. Some have different shapes. There are special cases and containers for these games, which are a very nice option because a child can move the entire set of games instead of just one or two, but it's often cheaper and easier to just set aside a portion of shelf space like I did or even a drawer space near the game unit. The controllers require their own storage. If you have enough space in the entertainment center they can simply be put alongside the game console. If space is tight, buy bracket to hold the controllers on the side or front of the entertainment center. You can find appropriate brackets at large home centers. When controllers have a place to go, they are less likely to end up on the floor, causing problems underfoot.
CDs, DVDs, and Movies: Music and movie collections can build up quickly to a substantial number of CDs or DVDs. You may also have a collection VHS tapes. Stored in loose piles these become the worst kind of clutter. You need to organize your media to keep it from overtaking a room. Many entertainment centers include shelves specially designed to store the unusual dimensions of jewel and DVD cases. You can also buy custom boxes designed to hold CDs, DVDs, or VHS tapes , and store the boxes on available shelf space. Often though there is no built-in capacity to efficiently store music and movies. In this case you will nee to use special racks or holders for your loose media. There are two basic types of holders: standing and wall-mounted. If you are storing CDs and DVDs in the entertainment center, look for one that has adjustable shelves. Swivel console towers offer abundant storage in a small space and are easily accessible. You can choose from a small unit for on a shelf or in the entertainment center, or a larger unit that stands on its own near the stereo or TV. Select according to your budget and space that you need.
Vinyl Records and Cassettes: If you like the older stuff you probably have a collection of these. Keep your cassettes in special cassette organizers, or stack them on a narrow ledge shelves. Deep shelves provide to much space and then cassettes become a loose jumble. Vinyl records need to be stored correctly to prevent damage. Don't store them near a heat source. Don't stack vinyl records; stand them on edge wherever you store them. You can put them on shelves, but the best place is in a cabinet with a door that will keep the records away from dust, dirt, and moisture. If your record collection is to much of a hassle you can convert them to CDs for a moderate expense.
STORAGE IN STYLE
Binders, Keepers: Cd and DVD collections can grow surprisingly large in a short time. It's not uncommon to have a hundred or more CDs. In a house full of listeners, that number can grow almost exponentially. All those jewel cases will take up a vast amount of shelf space. But you don't have to be a prisoner to the jewel case. You can store your entire CD collection in a small, well-organized space by using a CD/DVD binder. These range from functional canvas or fabrics to sleek leather or funky colored versions. All come with pages that have pockets for CDs or DVDs, with enough room for liner notes or box covers, and they all zip up to keep dust away from the disks.
THE INSIDE SCOOP
Converting Memories: You may be reluctant to part with VHS tapes you've shot. But you can reduce clutter and preserve precious images for decades to come by transferring home movies to DVD format. DVDs take up less room than the VHS tapes do, and if properly recorded and cared for, don't deteriorate as quickly as tapes do. The conversion process is relatively inexpensive. Contact your local photo lab or camera store. If you have a lot of tapes to convert, you might consider a home conversion unit that allows you to transfer images yourself..
This will be quite a lengthy post so now on to the next section that I need to tackle...
2. Electronics takes about 1 hour to do also. If you are like me then you don't have a huge flat screen TV or even a fancy , multi speaker audio system, but chances are your electronics are the heart of your family or living room. The collection of media and equipment- whether large or small is usually anchored by the TV. But you probably do have a number of peripheral devices that work with the TV, including the cable or satellite box, a DVD and/or video player, a video game system, the home stereo system, and most likely the family's computer. Add to all this the cords, cables, and bits and pieces that naturally go with them - CDs, DVDs, remote controls, video games - and the potential for massive clutter is obvious. All this often starts our disorder. Because we buy it with little thought about how it will fit into the space that we have available, or when we move sometimes we don't consider if the space is large enough. That's why TVs often wind up unsafe, rickety side tables or inexpensive TV stands that leave little room for other components. Bringing order to this often chaotic area will go a long way toward keeping the whole room tidy, and will make watching TV and listening to music much more enjoyable.
You need to start by looking at the equipment and media you own now, and think about what you are likely to add in the short term. Then it is just a matter of measuring and matching to find the furniture and solutions to contain your entertainment gear and to keep the room neat.
Entertainment Center: A key piece of furniture for organizing electronic media, an entertainment center must adequately meet your needs if it it to prevent clutter. The right entertainment center can range from the modest television stand to a wall-filling, adjustable shelf system with custom conduits for cords and wires. You'll find a mind-boggling array of options in stores, or you may decide to to adapt an existing piece of furniture (as long as it it stable and durable). Either way the first step in finding the right entertainment center is to measure your electronics - depth, width, and height. Next figure out what you want to store in the media center and what you don't see. This should give you need, which will lead you to the right choice of entertainment center.
Adapted centers can be almost any large standing cabinet or shelf unit. You can use an old armoire to an unused dining room hutch. That is not specifically designed as an entertainment center. If all you're looking to do is to stack a couple of components underneath the TV. A sturdy table with a lower shelf may be all you need. The main requirement in this is that the piece be deep enough to center your TV, with a shelf or support strong enough to hold the weight. Adapted entertainment centers should comfortably hold the electronics that work with the TV, an attached back must always allow for holes through which cords can be run, and the center must permit proper component spacing and air circulation to cool the equipment. If you are storing CDs and such you will need room either inside the unit or someplace on the outside for hanging storage. If you have a small house like me with the living and dining rooms in one, the CDs and such could be placed on your other shelves that you may have. But remember the closer the CDs and such are to your entertainment center the better. The common drawback is the positioning.
Store-bought stands and racks are excellent choices if you simply want something to put your TV, cable box, DVD player, and VCR on. Stands and racks are sold by the size of the TV. If choosing a stand you will also want to look at containers for storing CDs and such. Do not put a TV on a wall-mounted shelf. Not only are the regular cathode-ray TVs to heavy, they also are off-center balanced and it makes them prone to tipping when they are not properly supported. Flat screen TVs are also prone to tipping, but they can be mounted to the wall with special hardware.
Complete entertainment centers are a better choice if you want to store your stereo with your TV and include other components such as a video game console. These are only limited to space and budget. Now if you are on a budget like me you are going to make do with what you currently have. Rule of thumb though is to always look for slightly more shelf space than you need: Shelf space rarely goes to waste in the living room.
Separate Stereo: Sometimes it makes more sense to keep the stereo separate from the TV. The acoustics may be better in a different part of the room. Perhaps the electrical outlet near the TV can handle only the TV and video components. Or maybe you just prefer to listen to music in a different part of the house. Whatever the reason, if it is separate the unit should have enough room for all the parts of your stereo. A mini or shelf stereo systems can simply be placed on a sturdy shelf. Component stereo systems those in which you have an amplifier, tuner, receiver, and CD player are separate units and require a more complex storage structure. Stereo racks come with adjustable clips or special shelves and many have doors. Use speaker stands if at all possible to keep speakers off the floor (vibration through a floor can diminish sound quality) or you could mount them on walls with speaker brackets.
Video Game Systems: The new video game consoles do more than just play games. Most also function as DVD players, and low prices make them attractive even if you use them only for that purpose. You will also need to find a place for the video games themselves. Some have different shapes. There are special cases and containers for these games, which are a very nice option because a child can move the entire set of games instead of just one or two, but it's often cheaper and easier to just set aside a portion of shelf space like I did or even a drawer space near the game unit. The controllers require their own storage. If you have enough space in the entertainment center they can simply be put alongside the game console. If space is tight, buy bracket to hold the controllers on the side or front of the entertainment center. You can find appropriate brackets at large home centers. When controllers have a place to go, they are less likely to end up on the floor, causing problems underfoot.
CDs, DVDs, and Movies: Music and movie collections can build up quickly to a substantial number of CDs or DVDs. You may also have a collection VHS tapes. Stored in loose piles these become the worst kind of clutter. You need to organize your media to keep it from overtaking a room. Many entertainment centers include shelves specially designed to store the unusual dimensions of jewel and DVD cases. You can also buy custom boxes designed to hold CDs, DVDs, or VHS tapes , and store the boxes on available shelf space. Often though there is no built-in capacity to efficiently store music and movies. In this case you will nee to use special racks or holders for your loose media. There are two basic types of holders: standing and wall-mounted. If you are storing CDs and DVDs in the entertainment center, look for one that has adjustable shelves. Swivel console towers offer abundant storage in a small space and are easily accessible. You can choose from a small unit for on a shelf or in the entertainment center, or a larger unit that stands on its own near the stereo or TV. Select according to your budget and space that you need.
Vinyl Records and Cassettes: If you like the older stuff you probably have a collection of these. Keep your cassettes in special cassette organizers, or stack them on a narrow ledge shelves. Deep shelves provide to much space and then cassettes become a loose jumble. Vinyl records need to be stored correctly to prevent damage. Don't store them near a heat source. Don't stack vinyl records; stand them on edge wherever you store them. You can put them on shelves, but the best place is in a cabinet with a door that will keep the records away from dust, dirt, and moisture. If your record collection is to much of a hassle you can convert them to CDs for a moderate expense.
STORAGE IN STYLE
Binders, Keepers: Cd and DVD collections can grow surprisingly large in a short time. It's not uncommon to have a hundred or more CDs. In a house full of listeners, that number can grow almost exponentially. All those jewel cases will take up a vast amount of shelf space. But you don't have to be a prisoner to the jewel case. You can store your entire CD collection in a small, well-organized space by using a CD/DVD binder. These range from functional canvas or fabrics to sleek leather or funky colored versions. All come with pages that have pockets for CDs or DVDs, with enough room for liner notes or box covers, and they all zip up to keep dust away from the disks.
THE INSIDE SCOOP
Converting Memories: You may be reluctant to part with VHS tapes you've shot. But you can reduce clutter and preserve precious images for decades to come by transferring home movies to DVD format. DVDs take up less room than the VHS tapes do, and if properly recorded and cared for, don't deteriorate as quickly as tapes do. The conversion process is relatively inexpensive. Contact your local photo lab or camera store. If you have a lot of tapes to convert, you might consider a home conversion unit that allows you to transfer images yourself..
Friday, July 20, 2012
Secular Groups
I will add more as I come across them. The first one is my own that I just started recently.
Canadian Secular Homeschoolers
Secular Home School
Canadian Secular Homeschoolers
Secular Home School
Struggling To Enroll Your Children In Sports?
If you are wanting your children enrolled in any sport even something as simple as swimming lessons. But do not have the extra funds to do so, I have a few phone numbers here for you to call. Currently these places are taking Fall/Winter registrations.
Jump Start 1-877-616-6600
For registration the Winkler, Manitoba area contact:
Parks & Recreation
Rick Denison
1-204-325-8333 ext.27
e-mail: winklerrec@mts.net
Kid Sport 1-866-774-2220
This one may only be available in Manitoba I will edit this post as soon as I know.
Jump Start 1-877-616-6600
For registration the Winkler, Manitoba area contact:
Parks & Recreation
Rick Denison
1-204-325-8333 ext.27
e-mail: winklerrec@mts.net
Kid Sport 1-866-774-2220
This one may only be available in Manitoba I will edit this post as soon as I know.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Clutter/Lived-In-Look
As homeschoolers I'm sure you all know what I mean by the title. Especially if you live in a small home that does not have a room that can be dedicated to either a school room or even for just the storage of all the homeschool supplies. When this happens the normal spot for all that, is normally in the dining room or the living room, both which create a well lived-in-look, lol. If you have a small home such as I do.... Maybe these tips will help - I am currently working on putting some of these tips in affect in my home, and will share more as time goes on.
Best thing to do is conquer clutter/lived-in-look one zone at a time.
I am beginning in my dining/living-room area as to these two are connected and look like one room.
1. Shelves - Takes about 1 hour as I understand. Lol guess that would mean if you have everything you need on hand or can afford to go and buy what you need all at once.
Commonly these are dedicated to books, they represent wonderful, flexible storage options for things that don't fit in the entertainment center or other locations in the room. From display pictures to boxes and photo albums to candles and candle-holders, shelves can keep a variety of items in order and in view. Now if your homeschooling these shelves will more then likely consist of mainly textbooks, dictionaries, DVDs, and maybe even some science or other school supplies depending on the size of your home. The key to displaying these supplies in an orderly fashion is to go to a Bargain Shop, Dollarama or any other discount store and purchase some of their nice gift boxes or wicker baskets as to they come in a variety of sizes.
To make the most of this storage, shelf placement needs to be well thought out. Obviously, shelves can only be placed where they will fit, but they should also be placed as close as possible to where they will be used. For instance, a bookshelf will ideally be placed close to a reading chair and reading lamp. Available space and storage needs are the key determinants in what type of family- or living-room shelving you use.
Wall-mounted shelves fit in odd spaces, such as over sofas or above wainscoting
They are especially handy for keeping breakables, such as a collection of glass vases or figurines, out of the reach of young children or out of the general traffic flow. You have more latitude in choosing the style of wall-mounted shelves because they are such small decorative elements. Don't use wall-mounted shelves for heavy objects, such as a row of coffee-table books. The chances of the shelf falling are just to great. These with bookends or a boxed wall-mounted shelf are great alternatives to CD or DVD holders. They can be positioned to leave just the right amount of room for your music or movies, and they are often less expensive than buying a CD tower.
Stand-alone shelves provide more substantial support and far more storage space than wall-mounted units. They also offer more design options. You can choose from enclosed to box frame and back piece, shelves with an outside frame but no backing, and shelves supported by a base and vertical braces. When you need enclosed or hidden storage, pick shelving units that incorporate cabinets. In some cases, the floor or wall space where you want to locate the shelves are so awkward and oddly sized that finding shelving is quite difficult. You can deal with this by using tension-pole shelving systems The shelves themselves are sold in different widths and depths, so you determine how wide a given column of shelves will be and how many columns you'll use. The shelf positions in these systems are completely movable. If you're comfortable with a more permanent solution and have the money, you could also have custom bookshelves built or build them yourself to your specifications.
Regardless of what type of shelves that you use, organize books with the largest on the bottom shelves, and smaller ones on top. This keeps it from tipping and is a lot more pleasing to the eye also. To optimize shelf space, stack same-sized books vertically. They take up less shelf space this way. You should review your collection either every semester or every school year to make sure you aren't dedicating space on your shelves to books you won't need.
THE SHELF RULES
1. Have a purpose. Individual items must have a reason for being on the shelf. A picture is there to be displayed, and a candle is there to be lit on a special occasion. Your reading glasses shouldn't be there, nor should a pile of mail, notepads with a letter you've been working on or a tool.
2.Collect to declutter. Individual items that are part of a collection, such as figurines or a trio of decorative vases, should be grouped together in their own section of shelf. Alone they can become a part of shel clutter.
3.Contain when possible. Some items you might like to put on a shelf are best kept within a box or other container. Perhaps you use a group of votives for parties, or pencils and erasers. Rather than stack them loose, put them in a decorative wire basket or a handsome box at the end of a row of books.
THE INSIDE SCOOP
CD ABCs: Shelved CD collections can be vast, making it difficult to quickly find the right CD. Make it easier with alphabetic markers. You can use tabs or marked dividers and then alphabetize the CDs. You could make your own collection of dividers with thick poster board painted in an attractive way and printed letters, makes a good project with the older children.
STORAGE IN STYLE
Literary Divisions: Sturdy, freestanding bookshelves supply a lot of storage space, but they can also serve as room dividers. This is helpful in a large, long room. You could even use box-frame bookshelves with backing. Simply attach two units back to back. This creates a wealth of storage.
Best thing to do is conquer clutter/lived-in-look one zone at a time.
I am beginning in my dining/living-room area as to these two are connected and look like one room.
1. Shelves - Takes about 1 hour as I understand. Lol guess that would mean if you have everything you need on hand or can afford to go and buy what you need all at once.
Commonly these are dedicated to books, they represent wonderful, flexible storage options for things that don't fit in the entertainment center or other locations in the room. From display pictures to boxes and photo albums to candles and candle-holders, shelves can keep a variety of items in order and in view. Now if your homeschooling these shelves will more then likely consist of mainly textbooks, dictionaries, DVDs, and maybe even some science or other school supplies depending on the size of your home. The key to displaying these supplies in an orderly fashion is to go to a Bargain Shop, Dollarama or any other discount store and purchase some of their nice gift boxes or wicker baskets as to they come in a variety of sizes.
To make the most of this storage, shelf placement needs to be well thought out. Obviously, shelves can only be placed where they will fit, but they should also be placed as close as possible to where they will be used. For instance, a bookshelf will ideally be placed close to a reading chair and reading lamp. Available space and storage needs are the key determinants in what type of family- or living-room shelving you use.
Wall-mounted shelves fit in odd spaces, such as over sofas or above wainscoting
They are especially handy for keeping breakables, such as a collection of glass vases or figurines, out of the reach of young children or out of the general traffic flow. You have more latitude in choosing the style of wall-mounted shelves because they are such small decorative elements. Don't use wall-mounted shelves for heavy objects, such as a row of coffee-table books. The chances of the shelf falling are just to great. These with bookends or a boxed wall-mounted shelf are great alternatives to CD or DVD holders. They can be positioned to leave just the right amount of room for your music or movies, and they are often less expensive than buying a CD tower.
Stand-alone shelves provide more substantial support and far more storage space than wall-mounted units. They also offer more design options. You can choose from enclosed to box frame and back piece, shelves with an outside frame but no backing, and shelves supported by a base and vertical braces. When you need enclosed or hidden storage, pick shelving units that incorporate cabinets. In some cases, the floor or wall space where you want to locate the shelves are so awkward and oddly sized that finding shelving is quite difficult. You can deal with this by using tension-pole shelving systems The shelves themselves are sold in different widths and depths, so you determine how wide a given column of shelves will be and how many columns you'll use. The shelf positions in these systems are completely movable. If you're comfortable with a more permanent solution and have the money, you could also have custom bookshelves built or build them yourself to your specifications.
Regardless of what type of shelves that you use, organize books with the largest on the bottom shelves, and smaller ones on top. This keeps it from tipping and is a lot more pleasing to the eye also. To optimize shelf space, stack same-sized books vertically. They take up less shelf space this way. You should review your collection either every semester or every school year to make sure you aren't dedicating space on your shelves to books you won't need.
THE SHELF RULES
1. Have a purpose. Individual items must have a reason for being on the shelf. A picture is there to be displayed, and a candle is there to be lit on a special occasion. Your reading glasses shouldn't be there, nor should a pile of mail, notepads with a letter you've been working on or a tool.
2.Collect to declutter. Individual items that are part of a collection, such as figurines or a trio of decorative vases, should be grouped together in their own section of shelf. Alone they can become a part of shel clutter.
3.Contain when possible. Some items you might like to put on a shelf are best kept within a box or other container. Perhaps you use a group of votives for parties, or pencils and erasers. Rather than stack them loose, put them in a decorative wire basket or a handsome box at the end of a row of books.
THE INSIDE SCOOP
CD ABCs: Shelved CD collections can be vast, making it difficult to quickly find the right CD. Make it easier with alphabetic markers. You can use tabs or marked dividers and then alphabetize the CDs. You could make your own collection of dividers with thick poster board painted in an attractive way and printed letters, makes a good project with the older children.
STORAGE IN STYLE
Literary Divisions: Sturdy, freestanding bookshelves supply a lot of storage space, but they can also serve as room dividers. This is helpful in a large, long room. You could even use box-frame bookshelves with backing. Simply attach two units back to back. This creates a wealth of storage.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Curriculum and Classes in a Click
I think this site is worth checking out. All you need is a printer to be able to print off the things that you would like. Their fees are quite reasonable. They have curriculum, lapbooks, & homeschooling resources. CurrClick
They have
and things for
They have
and things for
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Canadian Homeschool Laws Province By Province
The Canadian Homeschool Society has very informative homeschool laws per province it is well worth taking a look at before you begin homeschooling.
I haven't found anything for New Foundland, New Brunswick, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut Territory. I will post these as soon as I am able to find information on them.
Just click on the link that's for your province.
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/canada-homeschool-laws-british-columbia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=canada-homeschool-laws-british-columbia
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/homeschool-laws-alberta/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=homeschool-laws-alberta
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/homeschool-laws-saskatchewan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=homeschool-laws-saskatchewan
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/canada-homeschool-laws-manitoba/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=canada-homeschool-laws-manitoba
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/canada-homeschool-laws-ontario/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=canada-homeschool-laws-ontario
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/homeschool-laws-quebec/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=homeschool-laws-quebec
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/canada-homeschool-laws-nova-scotia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=canada-homeschool-laws-nova-scotia
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/canada-homeschool-laws-prince-edward-island/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=canada-homeschool-laws-prince-edward-island
Here is a little bit of information on the provinces that are missing, from above.
Nunavut
http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/psb/home_education.html
Yukon Territory
http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/psb/home_education.html
Newfoundland - Labrador
http://www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/homeschooling.html
New Brunswick
http://www.gnb.ca/0000/publications/curric/hsib.pdf
I haven't found anything for New Foundland, New Brunswick, Yukon Territory, Northwest Territories, or Nunavut Territory. I will post these as soon as I am able to find information on them.
Just click on the link that's for your province.
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/canada-homeschool-laws-british-columbia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=canada-homeschool-laws-british-columbia
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/homeschool-laws-alberta/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=homeschool-laws-alberta
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/homeschool-laws-saskatchewan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=homeschool-laws-saskatchewan
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/canada-homeschool-laws-manitoba/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=canada-homeschool-laws-manitoba
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/canada-homeschool-laws-ontario/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=canada-homeschool-laws-ontario
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/homeschool-laws-quebec/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=homeschool-laws-quebec
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/canada-homeschool-laws-nova-scotia/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=canada-homeschool-laws-nova-scotia
http://www.canadianhomeschoolsociety.com/2012/04/canada-homeschool-laws-prince-edward-island/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=canada-homeschool-laws-prince-edward-island
Here is a little bit of information on the provinces that are missing, from above.
Nunavut
http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/psb/home_education.html
Yukon Territory
http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/psb/home_education.html
Newfoundland - Labrador
http://www.ed.gov.nl.ca/edu/k12/homeschooling.html
New Brunswick
http://www.gnb.ca/0000/publications/curric/hsib.pdf
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
A Three-Stick Kite
When the fresh spring winds begin to blow, you and your friends want to get out to an open field and fly your kites. Part of the fun of kite flying is making ones own kite. A standard three-stick kite is easy to build. It is also a good flyer.
How to do it: You need three 1/2" dowels or thin wood sticks, newsprint or some other thin paper for covering, string, scraps of cloth, and white glue. Cross two 36" long dowels and a third one 30" long (see A, B, and C in the drawing below). Tie them together at the center joint. Cut a notch in both ends of each stick and stretch string between the notches to outline the shape of the kite. Wrap string around the ends of the sticks to keep them from splitting (see drawing). Lay the frame on the paper and draw an outline 2" bigger than the frame. then fold the paper over the string and glue it in place. Fasten a length of string from one end of stick A to the other end. Fasten two other strings between the ends of sticks B and C. At the point where these three strings cross, fasten a ball of string for flying the kite. For a tail, tie a length of string between the ends of sticks A and B and at the center point fasten a 36" string to which cloth strips have been tied.
How to do it: You need three 1/2" dowels or thin wood sticks, newsprint or some other thin paper for covering, string, scraps of cloth, and white glue. Cross two 36" long dowels and a third one 30" long (see A, B, and C in the drawing below). Tie them together at the center joint. Cut a notch in both ends of each stick and stretch string between the notches to outline the shape of the kite. Wrap string around the ends of the sticks to keep them from splitting (see drawing). Lay the frame on the paper and draw an outline 2" bigger than the frame. then fold the paper over the string and glue it in place. Fasten a length of string from one end of stick A to the other end. Fasten two other strings between the ends of sticks B and C. At the point where these three strings cross, fasten a ball of string for flying the kite. For a tail, tie a length of string between the ends of sticks A and B and at the center point fasten a 36" string to which cloth strips have been tied.
Decorated Paper Pinwheels
Here is an awesome summer art project for younger children.
Pinwheels are happy things. They are bright and whirl gaily in a breeze or when you blow on them. Another nice thing is that they are really easy to make. Even children who haven't started school yet can make them with a little help.
What you need: Stiff poster paper is best to use because it doesn't tear easily, but you can also use heavy construction paper. Decorate your pinwheel with a crayon, poster paint, or felt pen designs. You will need scissors, a straight pin, scotch tape, a small cardboard circle about a half inch wide, and a stick for a handle.
How to do it: Draw a square 6" by 6", cut this square from a piece of stiff paper. Make sure to mark the letters B on the upper left corner, A on the upper right corner, C on the lower left corner, and D on the lower right corner. Mark a dot in the middle of the square. Also, draw the lines that go almost to the middle, then cut along these lines with your scissors. Now bend (DON'T FOLD) the points marked A,B,C, and D to the middle dot and tape them together. Push a straight pin through the center of the small cardboard 1" - 2" circle, then through the taped points, and into a stick (an eraser of an unsharpened pencil, or a straw). Then blow and watch it spin!
Pinwheels are happy things. They are bright and whirl gaily in a breeze or when you blow on them. Another nice thing is that they are really easy to make. Even children who haven't started school yet can make them with a little help.
What you need: Stiff poster paper is best to use because it doesn't tear easily, but you can also use heavy construction paper. Decorate your pinwheel with a crayon, poster paint, or felt pen designs. You will need scissors, a straight pin, scotch tape, a small cardboard circle about a half inch wide, and a stick for a handle.
How to do it: Draw a square 6" by 6", cut this square from a piece of stiff paper. Make sure to mark the letters B on the upper left corner, A on the upper right corner, C on the lower left corner, and D on the lower right corner. Mark a dot in the middle of the square. Also, draw the lines that go almost to the middle, then cut along these lines with your scissors. Now bend (DON'T FOLD) the points marked A,B,C, and D to the middle dot and tape them together. Push a straight pin through the center of the small cardboard 1" - 2" circle, then through the taped points, and into a stick (an eraser of an unsharpened pencil, or a straw). Then blow and watch it spin!
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