Science Kits as Advertised in Business Bulletin

We have decided to start our science projects here on this blog site until we see if there is enough interest to start another site. It became evident that there were quite a few resources online.

For Abeka Science Kits:
http://www.hometrainingtools.com/homeschool-supplies/curriculum-lab-kits/a-beka-kits

Another Christian Supplier kits:
http://www.logosscience.com/samplekit.html

Steve Sprangler:
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/

Note: We have seen Steve in action at Makers Faire San Mateo 2016. He writes books loaded with science experiments.
One of those books see:
https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Eggs-Flying-Potatoes-Unforgettable/dp/160832060X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1472074847&sr=8-2&keywords=steve+spangler







Science Kids:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/












Science Buddies:
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/

Note: 1,150 projects can be found here!

Answers in Genesis:
https://answersingenesis.org/answers/

What I Do in my Spare Time: Laser Etching

Here are a few samples of some of the work I do on the side with my laser printer. I have not made too many craft projects for school yet, because of three reasons: Etsy.com, Pinterest and not enough feedback from those interested in needing material. People in general can find ideas and cheap enough alternatives on those sites. We are having a teacher meeting in CA in November or so and I will see if we can find more support or volunteers before we start a fresh website or move forward. However if you have ideas relating to school, this website or would like me to do some laser etching or design for you: contact me at jonluketws@gmail.com

Hymn done on Basswood

Reunion Magnet made out of Acrylic

                                                      Magnets made out of Alder Wood

Some Ideas About Teaching the Bible in School

 ….These words, which I command you this day, shall be in your heart:

And you shall teach them diligently unto your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.

Duet. 6:6,7

                I am in charge of a church Bible study program and it seems we could put a little more enthusiasm into our Bible study effort. It is harder to study if you have not developed the proper tools needed. Where is a better place to start developing this tool box for Bible study than in school. I may write a longer article on this important subject, but today I am going to list a few ideas for your consideration. These are some projects I have done or hope to do this year:

1. Memorize some of the key passages of the Bible.
2. Have a quote competition where you say a Bible quote and they have to guess who said it
3. Parse or rewrite Bible verses in the students own words. Do it in small groups then read them out loud. Have them use a dictionary and thesaurus  
4. Read Bible stories out of an easier to read translation like the NIV. Look up interesting facts, archeology, or even cultural facts about the story.
5. Write modern stories loosely based on the structure of Bible stories. For instance, I hand each student three different Bible stories to choose from. If they have Joesph—they would write a story about a brother who was betrayed by his brothers and yet spared and helped them later in a time of need. This helps them to see the concept, pattern, and context of the Bible stories that can be relevant even to us today.
6. Sword drill- Pick a key word or topic and find a list of those verses in a concordance or topical Bible. Have the students look up verses that you dictate to them until they can guess which topic or keyword they have in common. I often make teams and keep points.
7. Learn books of the Bible
8. Have each student keep a notebook where you daily or weekly write down verses, quotes, or what you learned for devotions.  
9. Bible Pictionary- Have teams try to draw pictures to guess Bible characters or verses or stories
10. Diagram Bible Verses- Very important for more indepth Bible study. Diagram the verses you memorize. Look up block diagraming.
11. Get a Bible Trivia book
12. Have a student do a report on assigned books of the Bible. Thompson chain reference Bible has a lot of aids down this line.
13. Do reports on different characters of the Bible
14. Have a map quiz on the main geo features and towns of the Bible land. Have a two blank map test where they write in the past and present countries or cities of the region.
15. Have groups do a study on a verse and learn how to look up cross references
16. Have students do reports on Ancient Egyptian, Babylon, Alexander the Great and the Greeks, the Maccabees (See Josephus), Ancient Rome, the Fall of Jerusalem and create a timeline to help students make a connection with the Bible’s historical context

Writing Ideas for School

Institute for Excellence in Writing-  Andrew Pudewa 

       I have heard about this program being used by various teachers across our conference, but never really got serious about investigating it- personally. Lately an experienced teacher strongly advised me to look into it, because he could sense I would find it beneficial. He was right. I have yet to actually teach one of their courses, but I have really connected with what they have to say. A lot of things are not new, but they have done the research and put the muscle on things we talk about. Memorization, poetry, writing, public speaking, etc. Please do yourselves a favor and look them up for ideas. We need more writers and really just communicators in general. It will help you put some meat to those writing theories you had and tried to practice, but needed more confidence in.

http:  iew.com

Practical Writing Ideas I Have Tried in the Classroom:

        I have kind of winged my own writing composition program from day one.(Please do not judge me by my blogging standards!)  I like every student to have a Composition notebook that they can keep and look at all the stories they wrote during the year.  I use the language arts period on Tuesdays for assigning a one week writing assignment to do in their spare time. I provide deadline reminders the rest of the week. For example: 200 words are due Thursday, rough draft needs to be finished Friday, and finished product is due next Tuesday. We write stories, essays, and reports. I try to have my students focus more on outlines, story flow, and developing believable characters.

I also have divided up my class in two groups and have had report competitions. I give each student three topics to choose from. For example:

Bot Fly

Cuckoo Bird

Komondo Dragon

That way I can insure the class will have a wide assortment of unpredictable topics to choose from. They have one or two weeks to study and write a one-page report on their topic. They also have to write note cards for a class speech on their topic. They hand me their report and wait to present the class their topic. The opposite team listens and must come up with questions for the student after his oral report. I have pictures prepared on a projector. As they appear the students get up for their talk. Every relevant question the opposite team asks gets their team a point. Every answer given by the student gives him or her a point for his team. For the questions unanswered that student has until Monday to have “Comeback” answers to gain more points. It is a fun way for the students to write, talk, and learn about a variety of topics. From the Bermuda Triangle, the Pyramids of Giza to the poison arrow frogs of the Amazon we learn together.

We write stories and have sent them to other schools to be read and reviewed. They give us feedback on what they liked or think we need to change to make our individual stories more interesting. They in turn send us stories to critique. I think it helps students to learn how to receive and give helpful criticism to improve their writing. If you have other writing recommendations or ideas send me some at jonluketws@gmail.com