New Review!!! Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space from Bright Ideas Press!

Well, hello there!!!  I'm so glad you stopped by!  :)  I bet you'd like to get my posts delivered right to your inbox, now wouldn't you?  So why not sign up for Feedburner?  Check it out, it's right there in my sidebar!  Thanks!!  :)

About the product/service: As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received a free copy of Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space from Bright Ideas Press so I could review it and let ya know what I think!  :)  This book is part of a whole series of science books created especially for those in elementary school or even junior high. (Here's where you get to tweak!) 

There are 24 lessons and six unit review which are meant to take one week to complete, giving you 30 weeks of material.  The book covers all the obvious stuff about earth and space such as the earth's structure, the atmosphere, weather, the planets, etc., all from a decidedly Christian perspective!  Check out a sample unit here. 

What are the pros of this product? I think these books are very well put together and would work with about any learning style.  There are lots of hands on projects for those who learn best that way. 



What's not to like? I have not found anything negative when using the book with my daughter.  (Nor have I when using other books in the series in the past.)


The Crazy Mom take:  I'm not at all new to the Christian Kids Explore series.  I already have used the biology, chemistry, and physics books.  So, obviously I like them.  :)  Actually, Dode Man is using the biology book this year, and Princess the physics, so I decided it would be a good idea to let Bear, 9, help me review Christian Kids Explore Earth and Space.  She LOVES it!  She even thanked me for getting it for her the other day!  :)

(NOTE:  We also use the Mystery of History series too!)

To be honest, we haven't spent a ton of time with the Earth & Space book due to illness and some very heavy duty co-op homework, but what we have done, Bear has thoroughly enjoyed.  She loves the coloring pages. :) We will continue to use the book even after the review is posted.  I think these books are great for younger kids and even I learn a lot from them.  Who could ask for more?  LOL

Happy science!!!



What's the bottom line? $29.95

I am going to give Earth and Space 4 out of 5 smileys!!!

Check it out! http://brightideaspress.com/?p=261


See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783393/





*The Smiley System:

I can't really recommend this product.

I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!


Disclaimer!!! I reviewed this product because I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I was given the product by the vendor to use and evaluate in my home so that I might share my insights with others. Other than receiving the product, which I kinda have to to be able to assess the product, I am not compensated for my reviews in any way. I am in no way obligated to give a positive review. I do try to point out negatives when I see them, though I am admittedly a pretty easy going gal! What you read are my honest assessments of the products I receive.

As with all products, you must do the research before buying. Please visit the the other crew members' blogs, the vendor websites, and any other review sites you might find before buying. I can't guarantee that a product will work for you. You must decide what will fit with your teaching style, and your child(ren)'s learning style(s). I do not judge anything other than the educational value of the products I review. I am not qualified to make judgements as to the safely of any product, and I make no guarantee that the products I review are safe for you, your family, or anyone else. I am simply giving my opinion; only you know what is best for you and your family.

Don't use your blow dryer while you sleep or take a bath. Don't read my reviews in the tub either, and please do not read them when you are asleep, though I do not guarantee that you won't fall asleep reading them!

Copyright 2010 Ramblings from the Crazy House 2

New Review!!! Yuck! From Buckets-O-Fun!

Well, hello there!!!  I'm so glad you stopped by!  :)  I bet you'd like to get my posts delivered right to your inbox, now wouldn't you?  So why not sign up for Feedburner?  Check it out, it's right there in my sidebar!  Thanks!!  :)

About the product/service: As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received four free samples of YUCK! from Buckets-O-Fun.  What is Yuck?  Well, it's some weird stuff, let me tell ya!  LOL  There are four kinds of Yuck:  Chunky, Saucy, Snowy, and Sticky.  Basically, it comes as a white powder and you it buy in one, five, or 50 pound buckets. You simply add water and you get, well, yucky stuff!  Words cannot explain, so check out these pics!  :)

Chunky

Saucy

Snowy

Sticky

What are the pros of this product? Well, it's certainly different!  I suppose even the most reluctant schooler will jump at the chance to try this!  LOL  If you're real clever, you can make it a science project.  These products are made of polymers, and come with some interesting information if you're into that kind of thing.  :)

I only got a very small amount of each kind of Yuck, but if you purchase a pound or more there are all kinds of interesting crazy, messy games you can play with this stuff.  They actually suggest putting a little Saucy Yuck into a water balloon or squirt gun.  As matter of fact, they actually sell Yuck accessories on the Buckets-O-Fun website.  (Oh, and I should mention, they actually sell all sorts of crazy stuff like finger rockets, 8 ft. beachballs, and rubber chickens!  LOL  I always wondered where you could get a rubber chicken.  Okay, not really, but it's kinda good to know.  Just in case.) 




What's not to like? Well, it's messy.  You have to be really careful not to get it everywhere.  I would say, this is best used outside.)  Also you CANNOT put it down the drain or you'll likely be sorry.  Remember, the stuff expands in water.  Probably not a good pick for a cleanie or one who does not enjoy messy, slimy, gooey stuff.  My friend was over when my kids made the Sticky Yuck, and she was completley grossed out.  My kids, on the other hand loved it.  LOL 

Ever washed a disposable diaper or one of those potty training pants in your washer?  You know all those little gel balls that get everywhere?  (Don't ask me how I know.)  Well, I'm pretty sure it's basically the same stuff.  NOT fun to clean up if you get it everywhere.  So just be careful.  Also, germs can live in it, so keep that in mind.  Please read all the instructions that come with Yuck VERY carefully before you use it. 

And please DON'T EAT IT!!! 


The Crazy Mom take:  Needless to say, this was interesting stuff.  I am glad I didn't get buckets full!  LOL  The tiny little packs we got (about the size of a sugar packet) were plenty enough for me.  Because my kids are all messies like me, I wouldn't trust us with any more than that.  As it was, it was a challenge to keep them from getting it everywhere.  Some did end up on the floor, and it's kinda hard to pick up.  LOL 

I did have them read the info that came with it.  I don't know whether they really learned anything from it or not.  Because we aren't doing chemistry right now, it's not really relevent to anything we're doing.  My idea was really to just let them have some fun and check it out for review at the same time.  Fun was had, though I wish now I'd have had them make it outside.  They did end up making quite a mess, but we did get it cleaned up and we survived. 

The kids mostly liked the Sticky Yuck.  Personally, I liked Snowy Yuck because though it looked like snow, it was nice and warm.  I joked to the kids that it was "Global Warming Snow."  You know, if snow felt like that, I would really like winter a whole lot more!

So what's my final take?  I'm not sure!  It was fun, but I'm not sure I'd want to buy it just for my family.  It does seem to be marketed to bigger crowds.  I mean, I can't even imagine how much of this stuff a 50 gallon bucket would make!  It would be fun for a large event, but it isn't exactly fun to clean up.  You can't just throw your clothes in the washer, everything has to be thrown out.  Well, not your clothes, I just mean the Yuck has to be thrown out.  LOL  The paperwork said it is biodegradable and can simply be thrown in the garden, but I did wonder if animals would eat it.  I'm guessing no, but I was sure to put it in the trash in a can. 

So, I dunno.  I think it is fun to play with, would be a blast to have at a large event, but I think I'll avoid volunteering for clean up!  LOL

Happy playing!!!



What's the bottom line?  $16 - $20 per one pound bucket.  Larger quanties are also available.  Get the same free samples I got by writing
orders@buckets-o-fun.com. 


I am going to give Yuck 3 out of 5 smileys!!!

Check it out! http://www.buckets-o-fun.com/index.html



See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @

http://homeschoolblogger.com/homeschoolcrew/783298/





*The Smiley System:

I can't really recommend this product.

I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.

This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.

Most homeschool moms will find this useful.

This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!


Disclaimer!!! I reviewed this product because I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew. I was given the product by the vendor to use and evaluate in my home so that I might share my insights with others. Other than receiving the product, which I kinda have to to be able to assess the product, I am not compensated for my reviews in any way. I am in no way obligated to give a positive review. I do try to point out negatives when I see them, though I am admittedly a pretty easy going gal! What you read are my honest assessments of the products I receive.

As with all products, you must do the research before buying. Please visit the the other crew members' blogs, the vendor websites, and any other review sites you might find before buying. I can't guarantee that a product will work for you. You must decide what will fit with your teaching style, and your child(ren)'s learning style(s). I do not judge anything other than the educational value of the products I review. I am not qualified to make judgements as to the safely of any product, and I make no guarantee that the products I review are safe for you, your family, or anyone else. I am simply giving my opinion; only you know what is best for you and your family.

Don't use your blow dryer while you sleep or take a bath. Don't read my reviews in the tub either, and please do not read them when you are asleep, though I do not guarantee that you won't fall asleep reading them!

Copyright 2010 Ramblings from the Crazy House 2

R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Earth & Space (level 1)

 

About the product:  As part of the TOS Homeschool Crew I received a free copy of R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Earth & Space (level 1) from Pandia Press.  This book  contains a year's worth of of science for your first through fourth grader.  Throughout the book are tons of pages that you can copy for your student to fill out.  According to the introduction, if the book is used just once or twice a week, you will cover everything you need for the whole year without any supplementation.  It is written so that the non-scientific parent can teach successfully with no additional scientific background or research.  To quote the author, it is a "minds on," and "hands on" approach to science. 

Here's a list of topics you'll cover:

The Earth

Weather and Seasons - monitoring weather, understanding seasons

The Water Cycle

The Earth's Interior - crust, mantle, outer core and inner core


The Earth's Surface - water and land


Minerals - what they are and how to identify them


Rocks and the Rock Cycle - igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks


Erosion - wind, water, ice, and biological erosion


Soil


The Solar System


The Earth/Moon System


The Solar System - the sun, planets, and asteroid belts


The Planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.


Pluto is studied as a dwarf planet


Space


Stars, Comets, Meteoroids and Asteroids


What´s Not in Space?

Warning!  It is clearly stated in the introduction that "if you hate to touch dirt, wouldn't think about letting your child to stay out late to look at stars, or have no intention of getting gooey and dirty, RUN NOW!!!"  LOL 
 
What are the pros of this product?  This is well organized, and, as I stated above, complete.  Lots of labs and hands on activities to keep your child engaged!



What's not to like? My only issue is that I didn't have everything available to me to do many of the projects.  That is simply due to a lack of time and poor planning on my part, but it's one of the reasons I tend to avoid hands on stuff.  For example, the first lesson required a weather thermometer.  However, a more organized person (yeah, I'm NOT one of those) would check out the handy list at the front of the book which lists all the supplies needed for every lab.  Also, the supplies are also listed at the beginning of each lab page. 

My problem was that I (and my daughter Bear) wanted to jump in as soon as we got the book, but you do need to do a little pre-planning.  This is one of the downfalls of just having something show up on your doorstep!  (But, oh, how I love it!)  Another bit of pre-planning would include copying the pages for additional children.  I suppose if you only have one child you could have him or her work right in the book.  BTW, the copyright does allow you to copy the pages for use within your own family.  Other than that, you should be good to go!  Oh, and there is an electronic version available which makes it much easier to copy.  No scanning!  (Did I mention I hate scanning?  I hate scanning.)

 The Crazy Mom take:  Well, I kinda went over the first lesson, even without the thermometer.  Then we made the rain gauge.  That was fun, and I felt like a good mom making something "sciencey" with the kids.  Of course, they loved it.  Then, even though I was too lazy to copy the pages, (OK, someone is ALWAYS on the computer, so I didn't want to have to kick anyone off) we drew pictures on copy paper for our "weather journal."  I also had all the kids go out and really observe the weather. 

Now, since my kids already all take a science class at co-op, I didn't want to really add this in as a permanent part of our school day.  So, for the sake of the review, other that what we did above, I just looked through the book myself.  Now, I am one of those who would probably tend to heed that RUN! warning, as I am simply not hands on.  I learn by sitting in a chair and simply reading.  I've always been that way, and that has been pretty much my teaching style.  I select books, and the kids read.  They do a TON of hands on stuff in co-op, so I don't feel too guilty.  LOL

However, my kids really did love this stuff, and I'm honestly considering adding it to the schedule for next year.  I'll just make sure I put together a shopping list and get what I need before I open the book to do a lesson!  :)  (You can get a list of necessary materials if you click here and scroll down.)  I doubt I'll finish in a year, but it will be fun to have some hands on learning around here.  Well, other than learning to cook, clean, and do laundry.  That they do!!!  ;)

Happy science!

 
What's the bottom line? $38.99 for the e-version ($21.99 for student pages only) which can be downloaded directly from Pandia Press and $44 for the print version which is not available directly from Pandia Press, although they provide links where you can buy them. 

I am going to give R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey Earth & Space (level 1) 3 out of 5 smileys!!!

Check it out!  
http://www.pandiapress.com/earth_space_level1.htm



See what my fellow TOS Crew members have to say @ 
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/HomeschoolCrew/773217/






*The Smiley System: 

I can't really recommend this product.

 I doubt this product would be helpful to many people.
 This is a good product, but isn't right for everyone.
 Most homeschool moms will find this useful.
 This is great, and I would recommend it to anyone!!!

Disclaimer!!!  I reviewed this product because I am a member of The Old Schoolhouse Homeschool Crew.  I was given the product by the vendor to use and evaluate in my home so that I might share my insights with others.  Other than receiving the product, which I kinda have to to be able to assess the product, I am not compensated for my reviews in any way.  I am in no way obligated to give a positive review.  I do try to point out negatives when I see them, though I am admittedly a pretty easy going gal!  What you read are my honest assessments of the products I receive. 

As with all products, you must do the research before buying.  Please visit the the other crew members' blogs, the vendor websites, and any other review sites you might find before buying.  I can't guarantee that a product will work for you.  You must decide what will fit with your teaching style, and your child(ren)'s learning style(s).  I do not judge anything other than the educational value of the products I review.  I am not qualified to make judgements as to the safely of any product, and I make no guarantee that the products I review are safe for you, your family, or anyone else.  I am simply giving my opinion; only you know what is best for you and your family.

Don't use your blow dryer while you sleep or take a bath.  Don't read my reviews in the tub either, and please do not read them when you are asleep, though I do not guarantee that you won't fall asleep reading them!

Copyright 2010 Ramblings from the Crazy House