Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky Details

Title: Tristan Strong Punches a Whole in the Sky
Author: Kwame Mbalia
Publication Year: 2019
Website: https://www.kwamembalia.com/
Age Group: Early Elementary, Mid Elementary, Late Elementary
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Honestly, books like this is what I love most about homeschooling. First my kids read the Percy Jackson series and got SO into Greek mythology. They wanted to expand their learning beyond the books and learn more about Greek gods and goddesses. Then we followed Percy Jackson up with this series and my kids got to dive into African mythology and folklore, dipping into history as well. Kids don’t even know they are learning. They are just enjoying a fun, fast-paced, exciting story with memorable characters, but in reality they are creating mental hooks that they will be able to hang later learning on. My oldest listened to this series when he was in 5th and 6th grade, but even now that he is in high school, he remembers the tales and they help weave together all his knowledge.

Like I mentioned before, if your family does audiobooks, this is one that I recommend listening to because the narrator is so memorable. It’s been at least 3 years since we listened to this one and I honestly don’t think I will ever forget this particular voice. If you are going on a long car trip, this would be a perfect audiobook to take a long for the ride, because it is appealing to preschoolers who will enjoy the fun voices all the way up to teenagers and adults who will appreciate the engaging story.

Included on Lists:

1. Personal Family Favorites: Early Elementary
2. Personal Family Favorites: Mid Elementary
3. Personal Family Favorites: Late Elementary

Related Links:

Best Books for Kids

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Some of you might know me from my minimalist math curriculum. I love math, but I don’t believe in wasting my kids’ time. Time is our most precious commodity. I want math to have meaning and value for them. Similarly, I love science (even more than I love math ). I have a PhD and Masters in engineering from Stanford where I was a part of the Stanford Plasma Physics Laboratory. I went to Caltech for my undergrad and got my bachelor’s degree in Engineering and Applied Science. I’ve interned for NASA. I worked as a research scientist in space propulsion for the U.S. Air Force for over a decade. I’m currently enrolled in a teacher’s program through WGU to get my Masters in Education and license to teach high school physics. Whether they become scientists and engineers or not, I want my kids to love and appreciate the beauty of science as much as I do. Science is WEIRD takes care of ALL of that for me.

They have a ridiculous guarantee posted on their website that says kids will learn more science in a 6-week topic than all of the last school year AND have more fun doing it or your money back. The first time I read that, I thought, “Ha! Yeah, right.” I was amused by their bold claim and, honestly, it was probably the nudge that got me to sign up. I thought, what’s there to lose? Well, my self-assured smugness, for one.

That first month, we took Crows are WEIRD and I could NOT believe how interested every single person in my family became about crows. We would be at the soccer field and my then-5-year-old would point to the sky and yell “Corvus!” My 11-year-old had a big fat journal full of notes he had taken himself. All of my kids could not wait to dive into all the extra videos, trivia, and activities that were sent out to go along with each lesson. By the end of those 6 weeks, my kids had not only learned about crow’s anatomy, lifestyles, mating habits, intelligence, and evolution but so much more. They learned the classification system for animals, about natural selection, vertebrates vs. invertebrates, cold-blooded vs. warm-blooded, sound waves and hearing, the chemical composition and structure of feathers. They touched on history through Carl Linnaeus and geography in describing the decline of bird populations worldwide. They had philosophical discussions regarding the meaning of intelligence and whether it’s appropriate to anthropomorphize animals.

The best part? They had so much fun doing it. The company also has a complete workshop series on their educational philosophy which is utterly fascinating. Basically, they help kids cultivate their “life of the mind” by leveraging ways of understanding that humanity has been using throughout history (and pre-history). Each lesson is a riddle that kids work together to solve. Brandon, the teacher, acts as a guide, asking questions, sharing stories, offering metaphors, and providing mental images to help kids find their way to the answer, which itself is always surprising and memorable in some way.

We started off the first year just watching the recorded webinars. Our schedule was so busy that we weren’t able to make them live. This is the least expensive Science is Weird option, and we still got so much out of it. We were completely unprepared for how much content there would be. In addition to each weekly hour-long lesson/riddle, they also send a PDF file filled with supplemental videos to watch, trivia, and other ways to extend the learning. After the first 6 weeks, kids who have completed certain sections of the supplemental content are eligible to take a “scary” test (which is actually really fun and not scary at all). Regardless of how you do on the test, you are automatically admitted into the “Philosopher’s Club” where you get even MORE bonus content including an entire extra class. That first month for crows, we fell behind and my kids were so bummed. However, after we eventually did all the work, I emailed their administrative person, Angela, who kindly sent us the bonus lesson replay.

After doing the recorded webinars for a full year, my oldest was obsessed and wanted to do the live seminar summer camps. These are a big step up in price, but they offer kids the chance to participate on-camera in a small group setting. They get to share their ideas, guesses, and crazy ideas face-to-face with Brandon and a class of about 15 kids over Zoom. My oldest loved it and didn’t want to go back to the cameras-off lessons. My youngest kids still do the webinar, live when we’re able, but I’ve continued paying for my oldest to continue doing the more intimate seminars.

Bottomline

Science is WEIRD teaches kids of any age more science than any curriculum or program I’ve ever seen. Our family actually enjoys a lot of other science curricula (for example, Sassafras, Real Science Odyssey, and Science Mom). However, none of these really compare with the level of engagement that my kids have using Science is WEIRD. The classes are taught in such a way that what they learn is memorable and meaningful. If money is an issue, I would say start with just one recorded topic from their science library and do it at your own pace. You could feel confident with that as your entire science curriculum for several months. If you have a child that is interested in science or just really want your kids to develop a passion for science, their monthly subscription which runs from September to June is the way to go.

NOTE April 2023: The last topic of the 2022-2023 school year will be Dogs are WEIRD which will cover zoology (and, I’m sure, so much more). As dog lovers, my kids can’t wait! If you’re a new customer and would like to try it for half off, you can sign up for the self-paced option using the code HALFDOGSREC, the live option using code HALFDOGSLIVE, and the Tuesday evening small group seminar using code DOGSTUESEVE.

Pros

Here are some of the benefits of Science is WEIRD.

• ENGAGEMENT – The classes are so engaging. There is nothing “school-like” about them. The teacher is funny, the content is fascinating, and the pace is perfect to keep students’ attention.

• CONTENT – The material is not dumbed down for kids. The classes teach high-level science concepts in a way that is accessible to kids of all ages. In my Master’s program coursework, I have spent SO MUCH TIME with the Next Generation Science Standards and I feel completely comfortable saying the content exceeds national standards.

• ALL AGES – My youngest is 6 and my oldest is 13. The age range advertised on their website is 8 to 14, but personally, I think they are selling themselves short. My 6-year-old may not understand it all, but he is entertained and gets a ton out of it. It seems unlikely my 13-year-old is going to want to stop in a couple years given how much he loves it now. I’m spending a lot of time in high school science classrooms as part of my Masters program and I feel confident saying that this is appropriate even for high schoolers. I love that this is a curriculum we can truly do as a family. (And with the webinars, another benefit is that it is just one price for the whole family.)

• FOR EVERYONE – Is your child gifted? These classes would be perfect. Are they dyslexic? My dyslexic child adores these classes. (The teacher actually sends out all his drawings after class which is so helpful for my dyslexic kiddo.) Does your child have ADHD? So does the teacher! These classes were designed with those who have ADHD in mind.

• DEEP DIVES – Each class comes with a whole packet of ways to explore the material even further. These are entirely optional, but also a lot of fun.

• PHILOSOPHERS CLUB – At no extra cost, Science is WEIRD entices kids to not only do the Deep Dives, but also to VOLUNTARILY take a test on what they learned by offering an array of extra experiences to those who put in the work. A bonus class, a live brain bowl and game show, playing Mario Kart with the teacher…my kids stay on top of ME to make sure they don’t miss out. How often do you hear kids say, “Mom, don’t forget we need to take the scary test!”?

• CUSTOMER SERVICE – This company is run by a small group of caring people. Can’t make a class live? Email Angela and she will send you the recording. Can’t find a link or misplaced a file? Email Angela and she will get it to you. Have any issues at all? Just email Angela and she will take care of you quickly and kindly. I feel like I should be sending Angela a Christmas card based on the number of times she’s helped me out.

• CRITICAL THINKING – Each class is a riddle. Kids are not spoon-fed information. They have to work for it. Kids are not only learning science, but how to think like a scientist. Whether or not kids pursue science in their adult lives, the skills they learn in these classes will last their lifetime.

• MAKING CONNECTIONS – Each class is not just about science. The classes weave in relevant connections to other areas of human knowledge. History, geography, psychology, philosophy…the learning becomes more meaningful when kids see how it all ties together.

• SO EASY FOR PARENTS – I am good at science. I like science. And I love that I don’t have to do anything to make sure that my kids are getting a fantastic science education. I supply them with a laptop, an internet connection, and time in their schedule. Brandon does the rest.

Cons

Here are some of the cons. Yes, I know, they’re not EXACTLY cons, but they have a con-ish feeling to them.

• PRICE – Is it worth it? Yes. Is it a lot? It can definitely feel that way. Their cheapest option (the self-paced, recorded webinar) is $35/month for the whole family which comes out to $350 for all 10 months of the school year. When we started, that felt excessive given that other printable or book-based science curricula I’ve purchased in the past were under $100 for an entire year. However, even a single Science is WEIRD topic (currently $70) will almost certainly result in more long-term science knowledge than any of those other curricula.

• SO MANY OPTIONS – When you’re starting out, it can feel confusing to know what to do. Seminars? Webinars? Live? Asynchronous? The important thing to know is that all the content is the same. The variable is the level of interaction and type of student participation. If you can make the webinars live (currently 4 pm Eastern/1 pm Pacific on Wednesdays), that’s the way to go in my opinion. If not, getting the recordings from those live classes is a great option. It’s what my family did the first year. (If it’s still April 2023 when you’re reading this, use code HALFDOGSLIVE or HALFDOGSREC for half off.)

• OVERWHELM – It’s a lot. No, I’m not kidding. It’s REALLY a lot. Their Deep Dives currently include links to videos, trivia, an activity, a book recommendation with an accompanying video, a cypher just for fun, and a set of digital spaced-repetition flashcards. The pace is fast and our family does it all, but honestly, it can be a challenge to fit it all in some weeks. I have blocks of time set aside in our schedule for Science is WEIRD. However, remember that all the extra stuff is optional. You aren’t behind if you choose not to do it. Also, my advice for someone who tends to get overwhelmed by curriculum easily is to just start with one topic, let it be your only science curriculum and take your time. I promise it will be enough.

• CONTROVERSY – Science is WEIRD takes some controversial stances, such as teaching kids about evolution. You can read more about them here to see if they fit with your own family’s personal beliefs.

• LANGUAGE – Brandon has been known to say “stupid” and “crap” on occasion. Personally, this is a selling point among my band of hooligans, but just be aware.

• ADDICTION – No, seriously. My kids are obsessed. When I so much as suggested that my oldest maybe didn’t have to do ALL the summer classes last year, he looked at me like I’d lost my mind. These classes may not be for all kids, but just know that if they happen to be for YOUR kid, there is a good chance you will feel some pressure to continue and might even have kids wheedling for the more expensive option.

I hope that’s helpful! If you have any questions, feel free to message me!

Related Links

Science Activities for Kids
Technology and Engineering Activities for Kids
Free Minimalist Math Curriculum

The post Science is WEIRD Review appeared first on ResearchParent.com.

Creating these two different cell models is a great place to begin a conversation to notice the differences. Some are very straightforward, like organelles that are in one cell and not the other. For example, the plant cell has green grapes (i.e. chloroplasts) and the animal cell does not. Also, the plant cell has one large water balloon (i.e. vacuole) and the animal balloon has a few small ones.

Other differences are not as obvious. For example, the animal cell uses a round bowl and the plant cell uses a square dish. This is because plant cells tend to be rectangular and animal cells do not. However, if we could have done this demonstration perfectly, we would have pulled the animal cell out of its round bowl after it solidified. (I tried this when my cell was starting to melt a little bit and was unhappy with the result, so I don’t recommend it. It might have worked better if I had done it right after I pulled it out of the fridge.) This is a distinction you will have to explain to your child verbally, maybe just pulling the model out for a few seconds. You can point out that the plant cell has a cell wall label on the glass container and the animal cell does not. You can explain to the kids that animal cells do not have cell walls. It is the cell wall that gives plant cells their rigid rectangular structure.

If you choose to use my plant and animal cell models, it is important to point out while comparing them that the cytosol is actually clear. I used one drop of food coloring in each of my cells to make it easier to tell them apart. I used green for the plant cell since plants usually appear green. However, in reality, cytosol is actually colorless. To be more realistic, we could have left the gelatin clear. You can use this discussion as an opportunity to explain to kids that it is the chloroplasts that give plants their green color.

Recommended Age Range: Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Time Required: ~30 min (plus the time needed to make the plant and animal cells)
Difficulty: Easy — though making the cell models can be time-consuming and requires space in your fridge.
Cost: Free printable. Under $10 in used supplies. I used primarily things we already had in the pantry and fridge, but I did end up buying a small carton of blueberries and a box of gelatin. I recommend switching out items if necessary to avoid buying things if your family won’t enjoy the leftovers.

Materials:

• plant cell model
• animal cell model

Instructions:

1. If you don’t already have plant and animal cell models, please feel free to follow the tutorials for my plant cell model and animal cell model.
2. Have the students examine the two cells and try to determine the differences.
3. Discuss with them the differences they see.

Here are some of the differences they may detect on their own or with your assistance.

• The plant cell has green grapes and the animal cell does not. This is because plant cells have chloroplasts, organelles that contain chlorophyll and convert sunlight into energy in a process known as photosynthesis.
• The animal cell has 2 bundles of spaghetti noodles and the plant cell does not. This is because animal cells have centrioles, while most plant cells do not. Centrioles are used for cell division during an animal cell’s reproduction cycle. Plant cells are able to reproduce without centrioles.
• The animal cell has a few small balloons and the plant cell has one large one. This is because, by the time they are done growing, plant cells typically only have one large vacuole that typically takes up more than half the volume of the cell. Animal cells in contrast may have one or more vacuoles, but they are much smaller in size. Vacuoles are used to store water and food. They also help maintain the pressure within the cell.
• The plant cell has a cell wall label and the animal cell does not. This is because plant cells have cell walls which give plants a rigid structure that allows them to grow upward and outward toward sunlight. Animal cells do not have cell walls. (Note: It would be more realistic if we took away the bowl from the animal cell, but this might be difficult. You could try freezing the animal cell if you wanted to be sure it would maintain its shape.)
• The plant cell is square while the animal cell is round. The reason for this is related to the previous observation. Animal cells only have a cell membrane and not a cell wall, so they are typically round in shape. Plant cells have a rigid cell wall, which causes plant cells to typically have more distinct edges and a rectangular shape.

Enjoy your study of plant and animal cells!

Click here for more Biology activities for kids.

Related Links

Science Activities for Kids
Chemistry Activities for Kids
Robotics Activities for Kids

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Product: 9 Tray Dehydrator
Company: Excalibur
Website: www.excaliburdehydrator.com
Price Range: ~$200
Amazon Product Page (Affiliate Link)

Comments: My husband and I are sort of minimalists. Although our house looks like a toy store threw up, my husband and I don’t tend to buy things for ourselves. (Or our kids, for that matter. They have generous grandparents.) However, I was gifted a 4 tray dehydrator at the baby shower for my first child since the gifter (my single, male boss who probably didn’t attend many baby showers) knew how much I loved dehydrated apple rings. It seemed like a strange gift and got a lot of laughs when I opened it in a room full of mostly women between onesies and baby blankets. When I got home and realized how much had been spent, I was shocked. However, my husband and I used that dehydrator ALL the time, mostly for apple rings and homemade yogurt in our first couple years of parenthood. We used it so much that after having another baby, we felt the need to upgrade to the 9 tray version with nearly 4 times as much drying space. (Our 4 tray version still worked perfectly. We gave it to a friend to free up some counter space.)

Especially now that I have 3 kids, I’m not SUPER strict when it comes to foods lacking in nutritional value. My kids have been to McDonalds a handful of times. Also, I’ve been known to slip them lollipops during moments when I really need them to be quiet. However, for the most part, I like my kids to have healthy snacks and I tend to buy lots of prepackaged, fruit-based, convenience snacks like applesauce pouches, freeze-dried fruit, and fruit leather strips. I give my kids lots of fresh fruits and veggies when we’re at home, but between baseball practice, gymnastics, library storytime, and running errands, most of the time I just rely on whatever non-perishable snacks I have thrown in my car to keep my kids from having a hunger-related meltdown while we’re out.

However, my FAVORITE non-perishable snacks to give my kids are the ones I make myself in my dehydrator. As I write this, tomorrow we leave to go on vacation with our kids which will involve 6 plus hours of driving each way. I am definitely packing store bought snacks to help get us through the trip without spending a fortune. However, over the last couple days I’ve also made batches of some of our favorite dehydrated snacks: “cheesy” kale chips, my beloved apple rings, and dehydrated strawberries. My husband also just finished making 2 gallons worth of yogurt, though we’re not taking that on the trip with us. Other snacks that we’ve made in the past include banana chips, homemade “raisins”, and our own fruit roll-ups. My husband has really been wanting to make beef jerky, but I haven’t been brave enough to try that yet.

Here are 3 of our favorite recipes (not including our homemade yogurt which is a bit more involved):

“Cheesy” Kale Chips

Prep Time: ~45 minutes
Dehydrate Time: about 8 hours
Temperature: 115 degrees

Ingredients

• 2 big bunches kale
• 2 cups cashews (the original directions said to soak for 1 hour and drain, but I often skip this step if I’m short on time)
• 1 large bell pepper
• 4 Tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• juice from 2 lemons (about 1/2 cup)

Directions: To make “cheesy” kale chips, I use a recipe that I modified from a website which no longer exists called Stacey’s Paleo Kitchen. Basically, I double her sauce recipe and replace most of the salt with garlic powder. My kids LOVE them. We always polish off 1 to 2 trays as soon as they’re done before they make it into any sort of container. However, this one does take awhile to prep. First you blend all the ingredients except the kale in a blender until it’s smooth and creamy. Then you wash your kale, rip it into bite-size pieces, and mix it with your sauce using your hands to get the sauce into all the crevices. I spend at least 45 minutes getting all the trays ready, then leave them overnight in the dehydrator (~8-12 hours) at 115 degrees. Note that this does not actually make enough to fill all 9 trays completely. I usually only use 7 or 8 trays and always leave the top slot empty as my kale never seems to lie flat enough to have enough clearance on that shelf.

Apple Rings

Prep Time: ~30 minutes
Dehydrate Time: about 12 hours
Temperature: 115 degrees

Ingredients

• 10 lbs apples
• cinnamon (optional)

Directions: Apple rings are what got me addicted to my dehydrator in the first place. You do need an apple peeler/corer/slicer such as this one to make the process manageable, but with this tool, they are so easy to make and so delicious. Use your special tool to peel, core, and slice your apple in seconds, then use a knife to cut a slice vertically through the whole apple. Separate your rings onto the sheet, sprinkle with cinnamon if desired, and dehydrate overnight at around 115 degrees.

Strawberry Chips

Prep Time: ~30 minutes
Dehydrate Time: about 12 hours
Temperature: 130 degrees

Ingredients

• 8 lbs strawberries

Directions: There’s nothing fancy about our dehydrated strawberries. For our 9 tray dehydrator, I start with 8 lbs of strawberries and hull them all. Then I chop them into slices about 1/4″ thick. An average-sized strawberry gets cut into 4 or 5 pieces. I used to slice them into circles, but they reminded me of amoebas or something you would look at under a microscope, so now I slice from tip to leaf end. (If you hull a cone out of the top, the middle pieces come out looking like hearts…way better than amoebas, if you ask me.) 8 lbs fills up my 9 trays perfectly. I like to dehydrate everything at 115 degrees, because I read somewhere that food retains more nutrients that way (don’t ask me if that’s accurate), but at that temp, you need to leave the strawberries in for about a day. If you increase the temperature to 130 degrees, you can get by with about 12 hours of drying time.

Enjoy!

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I am so honored to be a part of the ABCs of Homeschooling Through the Holidays series on Life of Homeschool Mom. Today is my day! To celebrate the letter “E” I made some free Thanksgiving gratitude cards so that kids can show appreciation for everyone that they are thankful for.

Hop on over to Life of a Homeschool Mom to get your free printable cards HERE.

Update: A few people asked if there were black and white versions of these cards as well, so that their kids could color them. What an awesome idea! Why I didn’t think of that? Get the B/W version HERE.

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It would be A-MAZ-ING to have a successful blog, but I’m not going to lie…this “hobby” of mine has been a lot more difficult than I’d imagined. Getting a PhD in Mechanical Engineering? Piece of cake. Figuring out how to get more than a handful of visitors to my website? That’s a challenge.

I am naturally introverted and I would prefer that my co-workers, real life friends, etc. not know about my secret hobby. I had thought that just writing content would be enough to eventually become discovered by search engines, but I see now that even after 2 years, this site exists in a void.

However, I have hope that things can change. I’m really optimistic about this e-book and extra content that I just purchased at Just a Girl and Her Blog. Abby Lawson and her husband, Donnie, have somehow managed to turn their website into a source of substantial income in the same amount of time it’s taken me to earn a cup of coffee a month.

I am so grateful that Abby has taken the time to compile all she has learned and assemble associated tools to help other bloggers reach their goals as well. I’m ready to step-up to her challenge. Are you?

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There once was a humble building with a good foundation. It had a beautiful, open, welcoming room where people gathered and filled the walls with laughter and singing. But as the years passed, life was hard on this building. As it survived each war and famine, the walls began to crack and the floor began to sink and the people didn’t come to fill the rooms anymore. So after many years of decay it was decided that this building should be a temple. After all, it had a good foundation and just needed some care and repair. The repairs began slowly. The cracks were patched. The floors were redone. The roof was replaced. The windows were opened to let in the sunlight and the breeze.

As this work was being done, a traveler came by. He liked the temple well enough that he decided to stay and make it his home. He stayed a couple months, but the work on the temple was incomplete and he decided to move on. After he left, the work on the temple was increased and a space was made in case any other travelers would need a place to stay.

After half a year, another traveler came by and decided to make the temple her home. She helped paint the walls in colors that suited her and began to plant a garden around the temple. For nine months she stayed growing stronger within the walls and they prospered. After nine months, it became clear that the room was not big enough for her and she made preparations to leave the room. Having given so much to the temple and having received the gifts of comfort and rest and life, she did not want to travel far so she built a little cottage nearby and went to the temple daily.

As the years passed, she tended the garden and it flourished. She cared for the humble temple and allowed other travelers to spend time there resting and growing and receiving the healing, nourishing energy that she had received. As each traveler finished their stay, they would build a cottage nearby. They began to make a little town and would invite others they had met on their travels to stay with them in the town. They raised families and grew their crops and cared for the temple. They gathered there and filled the walls with laughter and singing. When a big storm came through the town, they sought safety under the strong roof of the temple and kept each other warm, riding the storm out together.

Decades passed and the repairs on the temple could not be maintained. It began to creak more and the shingles on the roof became worn. As the walls slowly began to crumble, the people of the town helped the temple become part of the garden that had grown up around it. As a wall fell they took the pieces and made a bench in the garden. As the shingles fell from the roof they were used to line the paths. As the floors broke, they took the wood and made welcome signs.

And so this humble building, with a good foundation and a healing room, became a temple and then the main garden of a thriving, loving, strong town. The townspeople filled the garden with laughter and singing and found strength and comfort walking along the paths. Long after the building had transformed, where it stood remained a sacred place for life and happiness, peace and transformation.

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