Today's gray skies seemed appropriate for the day we call "Good Friday." This is the day we celebrate or remember that Jesus died on the cross to make the payment for our sins. Do we celebrate it? Hmmmm... I guess it's more of a mindful remembrance (?). My 17 year old son asked today why we would even celebrate Good Friday. My response was something along the lines of, "We celebrate because this is the day that Jesus died for us, the day that allowed us entry into heaven." He countered with, "Well, isn't that why we celebrate Easter? To celebrate Jesus rising from the dead, having paid for our sins and giving us the opportunity to be saved?" Well, yes also. I think our celebration encompasses the full scenario--Jesus died and took the punishment for the sins that we have committed and will commit...and then he showed his power over death through rising from the grave. It's a big story with a big meaning.
Today, tomorrow, Sunday...I am so thankful to have a Savior who died and took my punishment and allowed me to benefit from His payment for me!
Friday, April 19, 2019
Monday, April 15, 2019
Stop Motion Animation Kit -- my REVIEW
The kids and I just watched a documentary on Walt Disney--he was such a talented fellow, starting out with animation at a young age! We got to see some of his early clips and he really had vision. My kids have made some stop-motion animated videos in the past, and when we were given the opportunity to review the Stop Motion Animation Kit by Stopmotion Explosion, we were interested to check it out!
For those of you who are like my son (and husband haha!) who like to unpack a box and jump right in, there's a quick start guide to get you started taking pictures and making animated movies right away! (I really appreciate quick start guides--they're kind of a half-way step between diving in without reading anything and reading a full instruction manual.)
This little box pops up and once you have named a file program to save, you have the ability to hit the "grab" button as you see the picture you want on the screen. You continue grabbing pictures, changing the scene, and grabbing another one. When you have enough, you can save the pictures, export them, or play them (at your chosen speed).
There are other options you can choose, things like resolution (the book tells you how to decide what is best for your computer and your project) and frames per second for the speed of each picture.
Do you know what I mean by "stop motion" animation? It's basically a video made out of a whole string of still shots--each with small variations that you then play one after another quickly so that it makes it appear that there is actual movement occurring. It's an old method of movie making--and is very fun to create--though also very time-consuming.
The Stop Motion Animation Kit by Stopmotion Explosion comes in a nice box, about the side of a thick book--and when you open it up, it is full of goodies!
For those of you who are like my son (and husband haha!) who like to unpack a box and jump right in, there's a quick start guide to get you started taking pictures and making animated movies right away! (I really appreciate quick start guides--they're kind of a half-way step between diving in without reading anything and reading a full instruction manual.)
There is also one thick book (276 pages!) which gives instructions that will allow the reader to create a huge variety of animations. It is super clear and easy to follow...from the directions about how to get started and put the software on your computer to how to write (and edit and re-write) a script. There are descriptions (and photos) of how to make a figure such as a lego minifigure or some other jointed figure appear to be taking steps for walking or running. There is a really neat illustration of how to make different mouth shapes to make your creation appear to be speaking the words/sounds in your script (I think this is so cool). There are segments which discuss different types of animations (and the history of animation). A chapter shows how to add sound or voices; another one clearly helps the reader learn how to do special effects and layering. From the beginner to the experienced film-maker, readers on a huge spectrum of animation experience will find ideas they can utilize.
You know what else is in this Stop Motion Animation Kit? A very cool and easy-to-use webcam which can hold onto something with a bendy attachment--and it makes great pictures!
This webcam, together with the Stopmotion Explosion program, makes it very easy to set up and take (and see) your pictures which you are snapping frame by frame, right on the screen of your computer (you can also download it onto a phone and use its camera--we did not try that method!)
This little box pops up and once you have named a file program to save, you have the ability to hit the "grab" button as you see the picture you want on the screen. You continue grabbing pictures, changing the scene, and grabbing another one. When you have enough, you can save the pictures, export them, or play them (at your chosen speed).
There are other options you can choose, things like resolution (the book tells you how to decide what is best for your computer and your project) and frames per second for the speed of each picture.
You continue taking photos and then you can save the pictures and use them with a movie-making program of your choosing (the book advises you to use Windows Live Movie Maker, which is actually no longer available to download...but there is a photo app on the Windows 10 platform which can be used--there are other options given as well).
Are you wondering how we used this set? Well, I had mentioned that my kids had make stop motion animated movies before -- check out their videos from many years ago about weatherization (Button-up Bob) and King Henry VIII and His Six Wives. When they made those, it was with an old digital camera and they had to take the pictures, transfer them to the laptop, then pop them into a movie-making program. With this Stop Motion Animation Kit, the webcam and the Stopmotion Explosion software, the actual taking of the pictures is so much easier--just hit the grab button and move along--and better yet--you can hit "play" and see a preview of your film before you even add it into a movie making program.
Also, since our experience was already with Lego minifigures, we were inspired to try different methods of animation--the whiteboard and marker :) (check out all of the great ideas in the book! We especially like the idea of the sand on a light box--that will be our next experiment!)
Are you curious to view one of the things we came up with? Here's a super-short movie which will hopefully give you a little chuckle. It is entitled "Hair".
Are you giggling?
At any rate, this is just a small explanation of the treasures which are found in the Stop Motion Animation Kit. I definitely recommend this kit--it would make a great gift for someone--and honestly it is not just for young kids--it is fun for high schoolers as well as adults--and is written in a way that even a beginner can be quickly succesful. I recommend you read some of the other reviews below to get a more full look at what this encompasses!
Click on the box below to read some other folks' information about this great product!
Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Old dog
Sadly we said goodbye to our old lab this week. He's been with us for about fourteen years--from the time he was a puppy, crazy-energetic, all long and gangly and thinking that he was a lapdog--to now, old and shaky and weak and disoriented.
I didn't even want a dog...and now that he's gone, I miss him...he was annoying, frustrating, and crazy...but we loved him :) Goodbye old friend.
I didn't even want a dog...and now that he's gone, I miss him...he was annoying, frustrating, and crazy...but we loved him :) Goodbye old friend.
Christian Heroes Then and Now -- C. S. Lewis -- my REVIEW
It is no secret that my family loves the Christian Heroes Then and Now series by YWAM Publishing. We have used several of them in our homeschool journey when we were using My Father's World curriculum, I have had the opportunity for my family to review some of the books, and my youngest daughter loves to read them for recreation (and has recommended them to friends and family as well--including her grandparents!) This month we had the opportunity to check out the book C. S. Lewis: Master Storyteller.
Most people are familiar with some of the works of C. S. Lewis, but this biography in the Christian Heroes Then and Now series gives some great information about the life of C. S. Lewis--as well as a little insight into why and how he wrote the books which he did.
The book follows his early years (including his eclectic mix of schooling) as well as his military and college years -- and his life after college. It gives glimpses into his family and pseudo-family (read the book, you'll understand what I'm talking about). It shares bits and pieces of his inspirations and intentions in some of his writings. It might even inspire you to look up more of his writings than most of us are familiar with (our family's familiarity ended with the Narnia series and the Screwtape Letters). Some of his famous friends and relationships are introduced and explained (J. R. R. Tolkien, among others). His early religious beliefs and then his conversion are identified. His brother's part in his life is shared.
As with the other Christian Heroes Then and Now, the writing is very engaging, and the readers find themselves quickly reading through, not wanting to put the book down. I think that this book covers a bit more of his formative years than some do--I felt like it gave us a really thorough picture of his life, more than some in the series do.
Back to the review--along with the book C. S. Lewis, I also had access to the downloadable unit study and curriculum guide. If you wish to use this book as the cornerstone of a unit study, this resource makes it very easy for you to do so--with elements such as comprehension questions arts and crafts projects, geography studies, vocabulary lists, a map study, a UK fact sheet, and more--if you are into unit studies, you will jump right into this one! This guide really makes it easy to develop more of a study than just reading a biography.
For our family, we used it as a book to read. :) As a biography, it is educational, but frankly, it is written so well and is so interesting that we (our family) classed it as recreational reading! Even my 17 year old son is interested in it (he wanted to learn more about C. S. Lewis and this resource is so easy to read and learn from!) My 14-year old daughter loved it just because she loves the series and learning about the lives of those highlighted in these books. I enjoyed it because it gave a nice picture of his life--and it was easy to read! It is not written just for younger folks!
I think that this book would make a stellar read-aloud as well.
We love these series by YWAM Publishing. We have many favorites, including Amy Carmichael, Billy Graham, and more. Check them out! They are not just for kids! :)
My family and I definitely recommend this book (and the accompanying study guides). If you would like to read more about what others had to say about C. S. Lewis: Master Storyteller as well as other Christian Heroes Then and Now or Heroes of History books that they read for review purposes, please click on the link below!
Most people are familiar with some of the works of C. S. Lewis, but this biography in the Christian Heroes Then and Now series gives some great information about the life of C. S. Lewis--as well as a little insight into why and how he wrote the books which he did.
The book follows his early years (including his eclectic mix of schooling) as well as his military and college years -- and his life after college. It gives glimpses into his family and pseudo-family (read the book, you'll understand what I'm talking about). It shares bits and pieces of his inspirations and intentions in some of his writings. It might even inspire you to look up more of his writings than most of us are familiar with (our family's familiarity ended with the Narnia series and the Screwtape Letters). Some of his famous friends and relationships are introduced and explained (J. R. R. Tolkien, among others). His early religious beliefs and then his conversion are identified. His brother's part in his life is shared.As with the other Christian Heroes Then and Now, the writing is very engaging, and the readers find themselves quickly reading through, not wanting to put the book down. I think that this book covers a bit more of his formative years than some do--I felt like it gave us a really thorough picture of his life, more than some in the series do.
Back to the review--along with the book C. S. Lewis, I also had access to the downloadable unit study and curriculum guide. If you wish to use this book as the cornerstone of a unit study, this resource makes it very easy for you to do so--with elements such as comprehension questions arts and crafts projects, geography studies, vocabulary lists, a map study, a UK fact sheet, and more--if you are into unit studies, you will jump right into this one! This guide really makes it easy to develop more of a study than just reading a biography.
For our family, we used it as a book to read. :) As a biography, it is educational, but frankly, it is written so well and is so interesting that we (our family) classed it as recreational reading! Even my 17 year old son is interested in it (he wanted to learn more about C. S. Lewis and this resource is so easy to read and learn from!) My 14-year old daughter loved it just because she loves the series and learning about the lives of those highlighted in these books. I enjoyed it because it gave a nice picture of his life--and it was easy to read! It is not written just for younger folks!
I think that this book would make a stellar read-aloud as well.
We love these series by YWAM Publishing. We have many favorites, including Amy Carmichael, Billy Graham, and more. Check them out! They are not just for kids! :)
My family and I definitely recommend this book (and the accompanying study guides). If you would like to read more about what others had to say about C. S. Lewis: Master Storyteller as well as other Christian Heroes Then and Now or Heroes of History books that they read for review purposes, please click on the link below!
Thursday, April 4, 2019
Fix It! Grammar -- my REVIEW
The grammar you use can define you, or at least make a large first impression on people. This is something I tell my children when they wonder aloud why I make such a big deal about them learning and using correct grammar, whether in writing or in speaking. I have some favorite grammar curricula which we have used through the years, but I'm always interested to check out new options. The latest grammar curriculum which we were able to sample for this review is called Fix It! Grammar and is a publication of the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW).
This is basically a program which stresses "real life" use of grammar, namely editing. Students read a sentence (passage), mark the parts of speech which have been reviewed/learned thus far in the book, and make any additions or corrections which are needed. There are some vocabulary exercises (looking up bolded words and writing those definitions in your notebook) as well as quite a focus on using strong, definitive words (called "dressing up") to say what you really mean in a clear way. At the ends of the lessons is a segment where the student copies the corrected sentence or passage into their notebook--joining it with the ones from the other weeks--until the story is completed and revealed. At the back of the book is a series of notecards to cut out to remind you of the parts of speech you have learned thus far. There is also a section which is entitled the Glossary, which is full of information about the parts of speech as well as other writing topics and norms.
The teacher's manual is very easy to use. The teacher's notes are full of good information about how to teach different topics and how to make it applicable to life.
I liked how this curriculum is really meant to be a supplement to grammar learning. In the introduction to the teacher's manual they actually suggest that this not be done for a "grade" but as a part of a larger learning system.
Although the student workbook contains directions to the student about what should be done each day, I think that the teacher book was very helpful and really smoothed the way through. So the way that this is created is that you would purchase the Teacher's Manual for the book you are using and then you may either purchase a spiral bound student book or you are actually given a download code in the teacher's manual so that you can download the student materials (along with some other helpful videos) for use with your students in your homeschooled family or in your homeschool class.
Since we had not used this program before, we began with the first book (Book 1) in the series, which is entitled The Nose Tree. When we received it and began to use it, we understood that Fix It! Grammar is not actually a full grammar curriculum. It is a supplement, really meant to be used for about fifteen minutes a day, four days a week, for thirty-three weeks (for a full schoolyear). For older students, the recommended use is to double up and complete a book in one semester. After my children had begun using this, we agreed that the semester usage for high schoolers was totally do-able (even within that fifteen minutes a day stipulation).
The student workbook is meant to be used with an additional notebook in which the student will do their writing/copying exercises.
This is basically a program which stresses "real life" use of grammar, namely editing. Students read a sentence (passage), mark the parts of speech which have been reviewed/learned thus far in the book, and make any additions or corrections which are needed. There are some vocabulary exercises (looking up bolded words and writing those definitions in your notebook) as well as quite a focus on using strong, definitive words (called "dressing up") to say what you really mean in a clear way. At the ends of the lessons is a segment where the student copies the corrected sentence or passage into their notebook--joining it with the ones from the other weeks--until the story is completed and revealed. At the back of the book is a series of notecards to cut out to remind you of the parts of speech you have learned thus far. There is also a section which is entitled the Glossary, which is full of information about the parts of speech as well as other writing topics and norms.
The teacher's manual is very easy to use. The teacher's notes are full of good information about how to teach different topics and how to make it applicable to life. 
We used this book by Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) with my high schoolers (9th and 11th grade). I am not sure how much they actually "learned" from it, but it is good review of critical skills for editing. I would recommend this curriculum in its capacity as a supplement.
If you would like to read more reviews by other homeschoolers about the books in the Fix It! Grammar series, please click on the link below!
Ice Fishing
One of the joys of wintertime in our family is ice fishing! It is such a different feeling to be out in the middle of a lake without a boat, catching fish (or at least fishing). Have you ever been ice fishing?
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