4th Grade Core Curriculum

Families tell us they love our Core Curriculum Packages but I wonder how many realize why it took us so long to offer that option.

For over twenty years we clung to the belief that if you were going to go to the work of homeschooling, you would want to hand-select each item for each child. After all, that was what our family had chosen to do!

Of course, we had always been eager to help families, and it was not uncommon for a mom to call asking where to start for a particular grade. We would give some recommendations and often that was exactly what was needed.

Late in 2008 though, Mom realized that she and Dad approached computer issues very differently. Dad is very into technical specs and pricing on each component and won’t hesitate to build a computer to suit exactly what we need. Mom, on the other hand, expects her computer to work really well, but has no interest learning about the components. If not for Dad’s knowledge and interest, she would simply pick a package that looked good to her, open the box, and run with it.

Suddenly it dawned on her that this is what some moms face when they look at curriculum. The options are overwhelming, the details don’t make sense, and what they really need is someone they trust to point them in the right direction.

That was the last bit of motivation we needed to begin offering Timberdoodle’s Complete Core Curriculum. We took our general recommendations and began the process of making sure that each grade was complete and that it made sense sequentially.

We launched ourCore Curriculum packages in 2009, and immediately received feedback that they were very helpful for busy moms and those new to homeschooling. Other moms loved having a starting place for their own unique customizations. Then, with a quick email or phone call their own custom curriculum would be ready to order!

About Today’s Giveaway
In formalizing our recommendations we realized that we really didn’t have a good science program for grades 1-4 and began looking for something to fill that gap. Apologia’s Elementary – Young Explorers Series was perfect! “Not only does this in-depth curriculum, with its gorgeous full-color pictures and captivating, God-exalting text, sparkle in comparison to the mainstream dry-bones science program, it utilizes what we believe is the most sensible method to teaching science, the immersion approach…”

Today’s winner will get to pick any one of the Apologia titles:
Exploring Creation with Astronomy with Astronomy Notebooking Journal
Exploring Creation with Botany with Botany Notebooking Journal
Exploring Creation with Zoology 1 with Zoology 1 Notebooking Journal
Exploring Creation with Zoology 2 with Zoology 2 Notebooking Journal
Exploring Creation with Zoology 3 with Zoology 3 Notebooking Journal
Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy with both the Human Anatomy Notebooking Journal and the Junior Human Anatomy Notebooking Journal
Exploring Creation with General Science 2-book set
Exploring Creation with Physical Science 2-book set
Exploring Creation with Biology 2-book set
Exploring Creation with Chemistry 2-book set
The Human Body, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made 2-book set

Or read all about the giveaways here

My favorite is the large colonial physonect siphonophore Marrus orthocanna! Say that 5 times fast….say that at all….

An olden day ad for Chevrolet, this clip is full of information on friction, what it does for speed and how it impacts the design of a brake pad in Chevrolet vehicles.

I can already think of one homeschooled child I know who would especially enjoy this clip!

If so, they are not alone. And while many theories have been proposed none have yet been conclusive. Now a new theory has been propose that may in fact prove accurate.

Reported by BBC Earth News:

The scientists ruled out each (reducing fatigue in the birds’ legs, or escaping from predators more quickly) as a benefit of standing on one leg… however researchers did find that flamingos prefer to stand on one leg far more often when they are standing in water than when standing on land, they report in the journal Zoo Biology.
“As water invariably draws away more body heat, this result supports the thermoregulation hypothesis,” says Anderson.
In short, the birds stand on one leg to conserve body heat. If they put two legs in the water, rather than one, they would lose more heat than is healthy, particularly as they spend so much time wading.
“The results provide definitive evidence that thermoregulation is a principal function of unipedal resting in flamingos,” Anderson confirms.

So now you know!

Read entire article here, even includes several other fascinating facts about flamingo habits!

A year ago this month was the first time we heard speaker Terry Small at a local homeschool conference. We were immediately enthralled with what he had to say and deeply amused with his style of delivery. Acutely engaging, Terry will not easily let you be an inactive spectator in his sessions but soon has you along with everyone else, laughing, encouraging, joking, antsy with anticipation, fluctuating from relaxed to on edge, perpetually interesting he keeps you engaged and learning. His topic: Your Brain.

We came home from that homeschool conference (WATCH) brimming with new information about our brains, many interesting facts and entertaining stories which Terry imparted to us during those 3 days.

Of course we could not help but want more information and were delighted to find that Terry regularly sends out a newsletter with more facts and information on the brain.

The latest Brain Bulletin we received from Terry Small (#54) included 6 unique facts about the brain and then this fascinating video clip about a man with a phenomenal memory. Incredible!!

If you like us are always interested in more information about our brains, how they function, how to improve your memory, and more, you may wish to also sign up for his informative Brain Bulletins. Enjoy!

Have they heard its proposed name?

Read BBC’s news article here to find out why the name “Copernicium” was chosen, and read here for more details about Copernicium.