Mr. Q of E=MCQ has produced a second course for homeschooling families. Called Elementary Earth Science, the first chapter is available for download free of charge so you can evaluate the material. The course is designed to be completed over 36 weeks, and comes with both student and parent materials. It includes readings, worksheets, tests and lab work for kids aged roughly 7-10.

The Elementary Life Science course, also 36 weeks for the same aged kids, is still available free for download PLUS Mr. Q has added extra resources. The full text of the new earth science course, if you decide to buy it, is $50 for the complete material (parent & student texts.)

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My autistic son has been very busy with scissor work lately. It’s taken him about 4 years to get the hang of using scissors, and he’s still kind of awkward in the way he holds them. But he’s really starting to do a good job of cutting around an outline. Not terribly close to the lines as yet, but still he’s preserving the general shape of a thing, which is super!

I got a simple scissor work booklet earlier this summer, which my son & his youngest sister have been enjoying these last few weeks. If you are looking for scissor work for your preschooler or special needs child, it’s still available free at CurrClick: Simple Scissor Practice by Middaysnack.com.

Today’s freebie from Homeschool Freebie Of The Day, though, was a neat surprise. It was unscheduled, as the expected download was temporarily unavailable. The replacement, When Mother Lets Us Cut Out Pictures, has lots of really cool outlines for kids to choose from. It’s an early 20th century book that’s been scanned, and all the “patterns” are negatives so kids can colour the plain white interior of their shapes, once they’ve cut off the black exterior. These are more complex than the easy scissor practice, and the book also provides written instructions on how to cut a variety of shapes and objects. This is a good book for older children. It might lead to an interest in papercutting as a craft.

If you want a free copy from the abovementioned site, you must go before the end of today. If you miss it, you can also download it free from the Internet Archive.

Do check out Homeschool Freebie Of The Day, regardless. They offer a new freebie each weekday, and usually one extra freebie per week for their subscribers. (You don’t have to subscribe, but only subscribers get the link to the extra weekly freebie.) I find that I pick up a few neat things every week or so from their site. It’s fun for the bargain hunters and lovers of freebies.

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This is another goodie Sonya posted to the Montreal Homelearners web site, and definitely something parents will want to be watching out for. KidsPop takes place in October. It’s still early, but circle those days on your calendar & watch for the full schedule of workshops to be published. Here’s more:

Kids Pop is the hippest family event for Montreal’s next generation of artists and creative thinkers. Come check out the workshops, shows and demos!

This is the place for kids and teens to express their creative magic. No artistic experience necessary!

It’s all here: music, film, visual art, fashion, crafting and discussion

Workshops will take place over the weekend of the festival. Take part in our proud first installment. It’s free!

What: Art & music workshops and entertainment!
Where: École Lambert-Closse, Mile End (corner of Bernard and St. Urbain)
When: October 4 & 5, 2008
Cost: Free

Workshops: Future headliners in training
There are all sorts of workshops for Montreal’s next generation of artists and musicians.

Shows and Demos
There will be plenty of entertainment and interactive demonstrations on site over the course of the festival weekend.

Who’s invited?
These workshops are tailored to two different age groups: kids (6-11ish) and teens (11+).

Come join us for the workshops, live shows and good times! Space is limited, so come early!

Contact: Nicole Crouch
kids [at] popmontreal dot com

It’s worth surfing around the main site, as there are a plethora of activities, exhibits & workshops to enjoy - at ArtPop & FilmPop too, not just for the kids. Dig in & enjoy!

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Here is the official announcement from the Montreal Homelearners. If you know of any homeschooling families who would like to attend, please invite them!

September can be a rough time for homeschooling families, especially if they feel they are the only ones not going back to school.  That is why the Montreal Homelearners are organizing the biggest not-back-to- school picnic we can : ) on Friday September 5th starting at 12 noon.  We hope that many homeschoolers will turn out, in all our different methods and styles, to meet other homeschoolers.

We have changed the location (it was Westmount park) to Beaver Lake (or Lac aux Castors) on the mountain.  This park has the lake, a playground (currently under construction) , a few picnic areas, and the chalet: an indoor option in case of rain, and a place where you can buy some food or use the washroom.  You can find a map here: http://tinyurl. com/5t7tgw

To get there by public transit, you can take the bus #11 from Mont-Royal metro.  If you come by car, there are a couple of parking lots nearby.

We are planning to have a few games and activities, including a musical parade.  Please bring along any musical instruments you are willing to share (and perhaps put your name on it).  And at 4:30, we have organized a commuter race: a race between a car, a bike and a person on public transit.

***

Septembre est parfois une période difficile pour les familles qui font l’école maison, surtout si elles ont l’impression d’être les seules qui ne retournent pas à l’école. C’est pourquoi les Montreal Homelearners organisent un très grand pique nique de “non-rentrée” le vendredi 5 septembre, à partir de midi. Nous espérons que vous serez nombreux à vous joindre à nous, quel que soit votre style d’école maison, pour rencontrer d’autres familles non-scolarisantes. Nous voudrions que le pique nique soit le plus grand possible, avec des familles de Montréal et des environs (il y aura même une famille venant de Trois-Rivières! )

Le pique nique ne sera pas à Westmount Parc comme annoncé précédemment, mais au Lac des Castors, sur le Mont Royal. Le parc a un lac, un terrain de jeu (qui est en construction pour le moment), plusieurs aires de pique nique, et le chalet: nous nous y réfugierons en cas de pluie, et on peut y acheter à manger, et y utiliser les toilettes. Vous trouverez le plan ici: http://tinyurl. com/5t7tgw

Pour se rendre au parc en transports en commun, prendre le bus numéro 11 à partir de la station Mont Royal. Il y a également des parcs de stationnement à proximité du parc, si vous vous y rendrez en voiture.

Nous prévoyons des jeux et des activités pour les enfants et les parents, y compris une parade musicale. A 16h30, nous avons organisé une “course des transports” où 3 personnes (un piéton en transports en commun, un cycliste, et un automobiliste) feront un aller-retour jusqu’au centre ville pour voir lequel de ces trois moyens de transports est le plus rapide.

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Recommended reading by Emru Townsend, who is approaching his own stem cell transplant date in the near future. This free download is a colouring and activity book for kids that looks at what happens to a pediatric stem cell recipient in the hospital. This would also be an excellent resource for kids who have a family member in need of a stem cell transplant, or for friends and classmates. Or use it as part of a broader discussion on health.

Get your free colouring book from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society here!

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