Pawpaw Holler Home

Did you know that volcanic eruptions sometimes create lightning?

Check out today’s Astronomy Picture of the Day, last month’s eruption of the Sakurajima volcano in southern Japan:

Sakurajima Volcano with Lightning

Here are some more images of volcanic lightning:

National Geographic: Volcano Lightning

University of Alaska: Volcano Lightning

LiveScience: Redoubt Volcano 

Blessings,

Denese

Today’s freebies are all about teeth and oral hygiene.

Free ebook from Homeschool Freebie of the Day:

A Child’s Book of the Teeth (PDF ebook) –A classic little book that teaches kids all about teeth: what they are, why we need them, how teeth do their work, animals & their teeth, baby teeth, molars, permanent teeth, wisdom teeth, the right way to brush, cavities, etc., etc. Very enjoyable text, and well illustrated with great line drawings.

Science experiments from HealthyTeeth.org:

Healthy Teeth Experiments and Activities –4 experiments for grades 4-6:

• The Power of Fluoride
• Acid Attack
• Hidden Sugar
• Floss is the Boss

Teeth Unit Studies:

• Let’s Talk Teeth –A dental health/teeth study for grades K-5.
• Homeschool Share Teeth Unit  –Includes mini-books, worksheets and hands-on activities. Uses the following books: “Throw Your Tooth on the Roof” by Selby Beeler, “Science Fair Bunnies” by Kathryn Lasky, and “Open Wide” by Laurie Keller.
• Animal Teeth –Includes activities and printables, grades K-6.

Online Fun and Games:

• Colgate Kids –Online games and activities for ages 2-9
• The Smilestones Teeth Cleaning Game –Brush away the germs that appear to keep the teeth healthy and clean.

Blessings,

Denese

For even more free educational resources, please check my educational freebies tag archive and my Free Homeschooling Page.

Some ice formations we found in the holler last week…

“Ice ribbons”

These form from plant stems and dead wood.

“Needle Ice”

Needle ice emerges from dirt.

“Frost flowers” form when the water in the ground –or plant stem or dead wood- is above freezing and the air temperature is below freezing. The best time to see them is after a heavy, soaking rain followed by a freeze.

If you live in a dry climate, you may not ever see these –but maybe you can create your own…during freezing temperatures, place outside: a pot of wet soil or a piece of dead wood that has been soaked in water.

To learn more about frost flowers:

Ice Ribbons, Ice Flowers, Frost Flowers or whatever they might be called –Web page by Dr. James R. Carter, Professor Emeritus, Geography-Geology Department, Illinois State University

Blessings,

Denese

Have you ever heard of The Happy Scientist?

Science educator Robert Krampf  is well known for making science fun with his exciting shows and hands-on experiments. Visit his website, TheHappyScientist.com, and you can sign up for the free “Krampf Experiment of the Week” newsletter, watch a neat science video and take a guess at the “Science Photo of the Day”.

If the free resources aren’t enough, become a subscriber at the Happy Scientist and get:

• All of the videos –137 so far
• 2 extra “subscriber-only” videos per month
• Hundreds of experiments from the “Experiment of the Week” newsletter archives, sorted by subject –346 and counting

A subscription to the Happy Scientist is only $20 a year and if you subscribe by December 31, it’s only $15 -a fantastic price for a year full of science fun!

(If you’re a school superintendent or teacher, check out the special “school district” subscription price –$100 per school gives complete access for all your teachers and students.)

You can also:

• Follow The Happy Scientist on Twitter 
• Find The Happy Scientist on Facebook

Now let’s go find out about the power of beans.

Blessings,

Denese

Writing

August Writing Prompts –freebie of the month from Fortunately For You Books.

Learning The Alphabet

Preschool Printable Alphabet Worksheets –weekly freebie from CurrClick.

Science Curriculum

Otter’s Science -“A homeschool science curriculum where you can combine a multitude of ages, use "living books" and do lots of hands on activities!”  3 versions -for different grade levels.

Related posts:

• Homeschool/Educational Freebies: Art Lessons
• This Week’s Freebies From Homeschool Freebie Of The Day
• Homeschool/Education Freebies And Citizen Science Opportunity For Learning About Fireflies (Lightning Bugs)
• Studying Nature with Children
• Homeschool/Education Freebies: Science Experiments, The Vikings, Patrick Henry and More
• Hands-on Science: Crystals
• Hands-on Science In Your Mouth!
• Fun Science: Bubbles

Blessings,

Denese

Sites About Fireflies

The Firefly Files –facts, resources and fun

What Makes A Firefly Glow?

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Synchronous Fireflies

Unit Studies On Fireflies

Fireflies Unit –free monthly unit from SchoolExpress (scroll down for link)

Fireflies: Twinkling Lights Of The Meadows –extensive online unit geared toward beginning readers, lots of hands-on activities. From Evelyn at Hands-On Learning.

Firefly Printables

Firefly or Lightning Bug Printout –science printable

Catching Fireflies Coloring Sheet

Citizen Science: Firefly Watch

Museum Of Science Firefly Watch –going on now. Sign up and share your observations of fireflies in your backyard to help scientists learn about the geographic distribution of fireflies and their activity during the summer season. Wonderful educational activity for the whole family.

Blessings,

Denese

Free Astronomy Fair

The Fifth Annual Southern California Astronomy Exposition takes place this Saturday, July 18th, from 10am-7pm at Oceanside Photo & Telescope, 918 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, California.

Almost forty astronomy product manufacturers & organizations will be on hand demonstrating their newest products, holding mini-seminars and offering special pricing plus there are three giant giveaways this year.

Astronomy Giveaways

• The SCAE Onsite Giveaway for attendees of the July 18th event, aged 14 & up.
• The SCAE Kid’s Giveaway, for kids up to 14 who attend the event on July 18th in the company of a parent or guardian.

(Over 25 prizes worth $20,000 will be awarded, must be present to win.)

And…

The Online Giveaway For Everybody

The SCAE Online Giveaway, where everyone, even those not attending the expo, can sign up for a chance to win one of four prizes worth a combined total of $12,000. Prizes include:

• Apogee U8300 CCD Camera and filter wheel
• FLI Microline ML8300 Color Imaging System
• Stellarvue SV80ST Telescope with M1 Mount & Accessories
• Orion Skyquest XX12 Intelliscope Dobsonian

One entry per person, must be 18 years old. Winners will be chosen at the SCAE on July 18th, 2009.

I’d really like to have one of those telescopes, wouldn’t you?

Enter today!

Blessings,

Denese

Need a microscope?

Lab Essentials, Inc. has a monthly microscope giveaway!

This month’s giveaway is a “My First Lab Duo-Scope”, a combination compound & stereo microscope, valued at $110.

To enter the giveaway, send an email with your name, address, and phone number to: contest@LabEssentials.com. On the subject line, put "Contest Entry."

Only one entry per family.

The drawing for this month’s winner will be held on July 31, 2009.

Blessings,

Denese

This week’s free product at CurrClick is a live science class from Questio Verum Academy.

Water,Water Everywhere -Students will learn about water by watching videos, completing assignments, writing about experiments, completing online quizzes, and participating in discussions about “water” with their classmates.
This creation science based class is designed for elementary students, sign up by April 3rd.

Related Posts:

Homeschool/Education Freebies: Science Experiments, The Vikings, Patrick Henry and More

Denese

Some Things We Do To Study Nature

• Nature walks.
• Identify, identify, identify everything. We invested in field guides for our area on trees, birds, insects, wildflowers, butterflies, reptiles and amphibians so we can correctly identify everything.
• Take pictures.
• Drawings.
• Record the the dates of wildflowers as they come up and when they bloom.
• Press flowers, ferns, leaves, moss.
• Bark rubbings.
• Use our nose; my children can identify by smell alone: sassafras, sage, peppermint, rose, pine and many others.
• Keep an ongoing nature collection.

Free Nature Study Resources

Spring Nature Study -vintage lesson guide for primary age students with poems and short stories about Spring, studies on seed germination, soil, rocks, earthworms, flowers, birds, Easter lessons, outdoor activities and much more. Available today only, from Homeschool Freebie of the Day.

Handbook of Nature Study -the classic for teaching children, by Anna Botsford Comstock. Part of a Charlotte Mason education, free from Google Book Search.

Overview of Charlotte Mason Nature Study

Nature Study: Charlotte Mason Style -great Squidoo lens with tons of resources for studying nature, Charlotte mason style. Includes; nature study basics, info on nature walks and journals, activities, links to free lesson plans and printables and much more.

Nature Study by Season -let the weather dictate your nature studies with these monthly ideas and activities from roamschool.com.

Related Posts:

Homeschool/Education Freebies: Flowers and Wildflowers

Neat Links: Nature and Spring

Denese