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Year: 2011

Hands-on Learning: Pitsco Medieval Machines Pack

Posted in Reviews

Travel back in time… back to a time where catapults and trebuchets were known as normal weapons of choice for various adversaries. Pitsco, a company known for their vast array of hands-on learning products and kits, is now offering the Medieval Machines Pack ($21.95) which features a Trebuchet Kit, Catapult Kit, Mass Plates, and the Siege Machines book. In this pack, students learn about catapults and trebuchets through hands-on activities that cover three areas: Science: Tension versus torsion, elasticity, gravity and levers, and force and motion Math: Metric conversion, calculating averages, and prediction Experiments: Mass versus distance, testing rubber bands, targeting,…

DIY Nativity Scene #GlueNGlitter

Posted in Holidays, and Homemaking

Munchkin and I are happy to be part of the Elmer’s Projects for Great Futures Program which benefits the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.  We were given the task of coming up with a creative project using an Elmer’s Tri-Fold Board from Walmart.  Once we completed the project, we needed to submit a picture of our project along with the required information according to the specified rules.  You can join us and submit your own projects until December 12, 2011.  Elmer’s will chose finalists based on originality and creativity.  On December 14th, visit http://www.greatfutures.org/elmers to see the finalists and start…

Gluten Free Pie Crust

Posted in Gluten Free, Homemaking, and Photography

Finally, a yummy, flaky gluten free pie crust. Ingredients: 3/4 C Brown Rice Flour 1 1/2 C Sweet Rice Flour 1/4 C Potato Starch (not flour) 1 tsp. salt 3/4 C + 2 Tbsp Butter (allow to sit on counter for a few minutes to soften) 2 eggs 1/4 C cold water Directions: 1. Combine all dry ingredients in mixing bowl. 2. Add butter and mix (I use my Kitchenaid stand mixer) until you have a crumbly mixture. 3. Add in the eggs and mix until combined with the dry ingredients. 4. Slowly add in the water until the dough…

Artistic Pursuits

Posted in Reviews

Artistic Pursuits Senior High Book 1 ($42.95) is designed to be a one year course worth one high school credit.  It uses three grades of drawing pencils, vine charcoal and compressed charcoal. The contents of the course include: Space Line Texture Shape Form Value Contrast and Unity Balance Rhythm Depth by Overlapping Depth by Position and Size One and Two Point Perspective Atmospheric Perspective Proportion, the Face Proportion, the Figure Clothing the Figure While Munchkin adores drawing and art, we don’t always get around to it in school because it usually takes too much preparation time for me.  Artistic Pursuits…

Wreaths of Maine

Posted in Reviews

Living in the Arizona desert, I find myself missing the aromatic smell of fresh pine.  When we lived on the East Coast, we pretty much always had pine trees in our yard.  While I didn’t always care for the tree sap, I did enjoy the fragrance.  All those memories surrounding pine trees, seemed to flood back into my mind when I opened my box from Wreaths of Maine.  Inside the box was a beautifully packaged Balsam Fir Christmas wreath. To keep the bow looking pretty, it’s packaged inside of the wreath. The recipient of the wreath can then place it…