Who knew making a hydraulic arm from cardboard, duct tape and some water could be so much fun? A new book, Robotics: Discover the Art and Science of the Future, is our new favorite project book. With twenty projects sprinkled throughout the fact-packed book, there’s plenty of learning projects to keep things interesting. Learn more [...]
Posted in Activities, Back to School, Books, Computer Programming, technology 
Tags: GeekMom, Project-based learning, Robotics, Robots, STEM, Wired 
Comments OffAlthough snow and sledding aren’t likely something you’re thinking about in the dog days of summer, planning for the upcoming school year might be, and the book Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan would make an excellent study in project-based learning for your family. The book was written in 1942 and still captivates 8-12 year [...]
Posted in Homeschool, Reading Tags: Books, homeschool, Literature, Project-based learning, reading, Snow Treasure Comments Off
Integrated learning seems like a pretty simple idea. Kids don’t get fired up when you say, “Let’s go study some English!” They get fired up with dinosaurs, scuba diving, and iPhone apps. Why? Because English is boring. In the traditional sense, that is. (Unless you’re that one teacher who really digs grammar. Seriously, I [...]
Posted in Back to School, Eclectic Homeschooling, Homeschool, Interdisciplinary, Learning Methods, News, Teaching methods, technology, Unit Study, Unschooling Tags: homeschool, informal learning, Learning, montessori, Project-based learning, unschool Comments Off
Even if you normally follow a rigid curriculum during the academic year, summer is a great time to relax a bit and try project based learning and on for size. Unschoolers typically follow a less regimented approach to homeschooling, and utilize things like project-based learning, Waldorf-inspired lessons, and student-led learning to educate their kids. Doing [...]
Posted in Back to School, Learning Methods, News Tags: blogging, gardening, homeschool, Learning, Project-based learning, roadschooling, summer learning Comments Off
Makerspaces have finally hit the mainstream. Even churches, schools, and libraries are incorporating makerspaces into their facilities so that community members; especially kids, can tinker, build, and hack toys, devices, and more to make something new. A Google search confirms the craze– the term makerspace returns 44,800 results. Beyond makerspaces, though, is the idea of [...]
Posted in Activities, Art, Back to School, Homeschool, Make, Online Tools Tags: Art, DIY, hand-made, homeschool, make, makerspace, Project-based learning, tinkering Comments OffWhat a fabulous idea! DIY.org is an online community solely for kids (and their parents) to showcase their maker chops. Free to join, DIY.org gives kids tools to collect everything they make as they grow up and a place to share it. Founded by a group of young men who make all sorts of things, the [...]
Posted in Activities, Make, News, Online Tools Tags: craft, DIY, Do-it-yourself, homeschool, make, Project-based learning Comments Off
Homeschooling isn’t all academic. In many regards, it’s a lifestyle choice, with parents also teaching their kids the practical how-to’s of daily life. Years ago, it was expected that children would learn to cook, sew, feed the animals, chop wood, etc. These days most kids are locked indoors with stark fluorescent lighting and “taught” what [...]
The scandal began a few years ago when The Atlanta Constitution Journal decided to analyze multiple years worth of standardized test scores from schools in the Atlanta area, in an attempt to clarify just how effective these tests were in evaluating student academic progress. With the millions of dollars and countless hours and other resources [...]
Posted in News Tags: cheating, homeschool, Learning, Project-based learning, standardized testing, testing Comments OffIt’s no secret that the once-superior education system in the United States has fallen behind countries like China and Singapore in recent years, particularly in the areas of science and math. How can the US keep pace globally when our rivals in innovation and engineering are turning out university STEM graduates at increasing rates, leaving [...]
Posted in College, Homeschool Tags: Engineering, Math, Obama, Project-based learning, Science, STEM, technology Comments OffWhat if we scrapped standardized tests? What if we dropped tests and quizzes altogether? What if we quit categorizing children by grade-level? What if we got rid of desks? What if we got rid of teachers? What if each learner had a personalized project and a team of mentors? What if we quit treating learning [...]
Posted in Homeschool, Interdisciplinary, Learning Methods Tags: Change education, homeschool, Learning, Project-based learning Comments Off
