Creation Illustrated

As nature lover's, we were pretty excited to receive 4 of the most recent Creation Illustrated Magazines for a TOS Crew review!

Their mission statement is:
Our purpose is to share the wonders of God's creation. By revealing fresh insights of His infinite wisdom, gentle touch, undeniable justice, redeeming love, and flawless design, pure truth shall bring renewed peace. Each part of this publication is offered as a reprieve from the daily rigors of life so that all can look to the future with unbridled gratitude and hope.

These magazines are full of beautifully detailed pictures of God's Creation that almost take your breath away.  Each issue is focuses on nature, scripture and living. 

For example, the latest Spring edition includes:

In Nature

• Giving Thanks
• Flying Jewels {hummingbirds}
• Yellowstone
• A Lens on Creation

In Scripture

• Creation Day 6 - The Creation of Humans {an ongoing series}
• Creation Highlights
• Creation Stewardship

In Living

• Bloom Where Planted {a wonderfully encouraging article}
• Genesis Cuisine {this month featured 3 yummy smoothie recipes}
• Children's Story
• Youth Photo Contest
• Resource Guide

In addition to all of those articles there is an instructional guide for homeschoolers and teachers to glean key glean key spiritual and character-building lessons from each article.  There are also creation activities and a word search puzzle.

Amazing pictures!

You can order your own subscription, which is delivered quarterly directly through Creation Illustrated. 

$19.95/ year
$37.95/ 2 years
$53.95/ 3 years

Add $5.00/year for Canadian postage
Add $10.00/year for Foreign postage

You can also try before you buy by requesting a free trial issue.

We think that Creation Illustrated would make a wonderful addition to any family's reading list, nature lover's especially! 

Disclaimer:  As a member of the TOS Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in
exchange for my honest review.  All opinions are mine.

 

 

Be sure to check out what other TOS Crew members are saying about Creation Illustrated! 

To My Mansion in the Sky

To My Mansion In The Sky

written by Jimmie Davis

This train I’m riding they say it’s leaving                    
For a place where we’ll never die
And the pilot will by my Jesus

To my mansion in the sky

Now don’t you be grieving cause I’m leaving
Don’t cry when I say goodbye
There’ll be no weeping where I’m going

To my mansion in the sky

My journey with Jesus will end my sorrow
Heal my affliction no more I’ll cry
I’ll be rejoicing while I’m going
To my mansion in the sky

Now don’t you be grieving cause I’m leaving
Don’t cry when I say goodbye
There’ll be no weeping where I’m going
To my mansion in the sky

I can remember listening to this song when the Lord first saved me, over and over and over again!  I think I wore my little Ricky Van Shelton cassette out! 

Sometimes in the day to day cares of life I can forget that there is gonna be a be a better place for those that are in Christ Jesus.    A place where everything is perfect, no more sickness or death and where we will worship the Lord forever! 

John 14:1-6

1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

TOS Crew: enVision Math by Pearson Homeschool

Computer Girl was coming to the end of her math book for the year when the TOS Crew gave us the opportunity to review the 4th Grade enVision Math by Pearson Homeschool (the same company that publishes Sing, Spell, Read and Write).  I thought it would be a great math book for her to start and continue to use this coming year. 

We were given the enVision Math 4 Homeschool Bundle which includes the Student Edition Textbook, MindPoint® Quiz Show CD-ROM, Teacher Edition CD-ROM and Parent Guide.

Student Edition - The Visual Learning Bridge teaches math concepts step-by-step with purposeful, sequential illustrations while connecting learning activities and lesson exercises. Grades 3–6 hardbound edition expands visual learning with focus questions and pictures with a purpose, and students learn to express concepts in writing.

MindPoint® Quiz Show CD-ROM - Multiple-choice questions in a game-show format give your child additional math practice. Ideal for children to play on their own or with you involved.

Teacher Edition CD-ROM - Contains the entire contents of the Teacher's Edition with easy navigation. Includes customizable lesson plans, teaching guides, reviews and assessments, and numerous printable resources in .pdf format all organized in a friendly, easy-to-use format.

Parent Guide - This guide walks you through the program highlighting the main elements of the student and teacher materials and provides guidance on setting up your lesson plan, pacing, and adapting the curriculum to fit your family.

The enVision Math series has levels for students in K-6th. This program engages your child as it strengthens their understanding of math. It uses problem based interactive learning as well as visual learning to deepen conceptual understanding. EnVision incorporates visual tools to promote problem-solving skills, while providing data-driven differentiated instruction to ensure success.

The table of contents for Grade 4 are:

Topic 1: Numeration

Topic 2: Adding and Subtracting Whole Numbers

Topic 3: Multiplication Meanings and Facts

Topic 4: Division Meanings and Facts

Topic 5: Multiplying by 1-Digit Numbers

Topic 6: Patterns and Expressions

Topic 7: Multiplying by 2-Digit Numbers

Topic 8: Dividing by 1-Digit Divisors

Topic 9: Lines, Angles, and Shapes

Topic 10: Understanding Fractions

Topic 11: Adding and Subtracting Fractions

Topic 12: Understanding Decimals

Topic 13: Operations with Decimals

Topic 14: Area and Perimeter

Topic 15: Solids

Topic 16: Measurement, Time, and Temperature

Topic 17: Data and Graphs

Topic 18: Equations

Topic 19: Transformations, Congruence, and Symmetry

Topic 20: Probability

Here's what we thought:

• This is the most beautiful math book I have ever seen, but to be honest I felt like there was a lot going on on each page.  My brain was on stimulation over load, my daughter on the other hand had no problem-o.  She loves this book!  So much so, that the other day she did 6 pages when usually we just do 2 pages at a time. 
• While I do appreciate non-consumables, math is a subject in which I would prefer a workbook.  In saying that, the teacher edition has oodles of printables that are great for reteaching the lesson and for daily review.  I am considering just using these along with the lesson in the textbook.
• I do like the way this book explains concepts. Math is not necessarily Computer Girl's strength, but she has been understanding and learning the lessons.  She is not dreading math, she is actually enjoying it!
• I really like the Teacher Edition CD.  While I would like a more portable answer key, I really appreciate all the goodies on the CD.  Things that would not be included in a standard answer key, like the additional printables, center activities, vocabulary cards and teacher helps are great a great bonus!
• Did I mention there was a QUIZ SHOW??  Let me just start by saying this is sooo cool!  All my kids want to play this.  The quiz show allows the player to select which topic they want to play from {same topics are their lessons}.  They can play as a single, multi-player and team play.  There is also an option to play against the computer or to beat the clock.  This quiz show makes learning so much FUN!!

The enVision Math Program by Pearson Homeschool if definitely worth checking out!  The homeschool bundle is available directly from Pearson Homeschool for $99.99 which includes the Student Textbook, MindPoint® Quiz Show CD-ROM, Teacher Edition CD-ROM and Parent Guide.

Check out what other TOS Crew members are saying about Pearson Homeschool Products!

Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew, I received this product, at no cost to me, in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are mine.

Reading Through the Summer

One of my goals here at the LSG House is to have keep a steady learning environment. So that means that even when we are on a break of sorts from school, I still have my kids read. 

Just about every weekday my kids are required to read.  Usually they have quiet time in the after noon for about an hour and a half -during which time they are to read and then they can play quietly in their rooms or nap.  The girls are to read at least a chapter.  Alpha Boy is required to chill in his room and look at books for about 20-30 minutes.  Little Bits usually gets a story read to him either by me or one of the girls before his afternoon nap, afterwards he will usually look at a few books before drifting off to sleep.

We do a good amount of reading together during the day.  We read historical fictions, character sketches and about missionaries together,  So for their QT reading I allow them to choose what they would like to read for fun.  Current or recent books for the girls include Ginger Pye, Little Women, and American Girl Doll Books.  Alpha Boy loves I Spy Books and Little Bits {and everyone else} really likes Bernstein Bear Books. 

Up until this summer, we have taken the summers off, like mid May to mid August off.  This summer will be a little different.  Because of the new curriculum that we are using this coming year I have decided to take a few weeks and then keep plugging along.  {more on this later}

Even though we are going to continue with school we are going to join in the our county library's summer reading program as well as the one from Barnes and Nobles.  They are reading anyway but I think these programs will be a nice little incentive to keep on keepin' on. 

I am also considering starting an American Girl Doll book club this summer - this is still being worked out in my brain but I did think this would be a fun way to hang with friends, meet new friends and make reading fun!

Some ideas to make summer reading fun would be:

• Read through all the books from the Five in a Row Series for fun.
• Pick one American Girl Doll and read the whole series about her aloud.  Don't forget incorporate some the crafts and recipes for her time period.
• Just because it's summer does not mean kids can't make a lapbook, some of my children really enjoy making these.  Homeschool Share has oodles of lapbooks, for freeeee!
• Pick a few ideas from my Bringing Books to Life Series and do them with a book you've read.
• Start a summer reading club!

What summer reading plans do you have??

Menu Plan 6/11/12

Here's what's cookin' at the LSG House this week....

Breakfasts

Giant Breakfast Cookies - double and freeze.  No, you don't need your eyes checked.  We ARE having cookies for breakfast : )

Cereal

Waffles

PB Toast w/ Fruit

Pancakes - double and freeze

Oven Eggs & Toast

Baked Oatmeal


Lunches
Corn Dog Muffins - double and freeze

Mac & Cheese

Tuna Melt Crackers - a spoonful of tuna (mixed with a little mayo, salt and pepper) on crackers sprinkled with shredded cheddar.  I just heat them up in the toast oven.  Yumm yum!

Cheese Quesadillas

Turkey & Cheese Rolls

PB & J's

Dino Nuggets & Fries

Dinners

Baked Cavatini & Green Beans - double and freeze

Oven Fried Parmesan Chicken w/ Parsley Potatoes and Broccoli

Homemade Pizza

Chicken w/ Cream Cheese and Bacon over Rice w/ Green Beans

Beef Stroganoff and Mixed Veggies

Grilled Chicken Salad

Meatball Subs

Snacks -
Apple Bread - double and freeze

Bird Nests - double and freeze


Note:  All meals are served with fruits and /or veggies.

Anyone trying anything new this week?