Best Homeschool Money I Ever Spent

I am a cheap frugal homeschooler.


While my children's education is worth any price, I find there is a lot a person can do inexpensively, or even for free.


Therefore, it is highly unusual for me to plunk down more than a few bucks for a learning aid.  But based on our experiences so far memorizing basic addition/subtraction facts, I was very much dreading beginning the multiplication tables.


The boy can memorize a poem or an entire Bible passage in an afternoon.  He has a clear grasp of the concept of multiplication, of fractions and even basic decimals.  But to commit to memory 7+8=15 or 4x3=12?  Forget it.


I have always been interested in CBD's Multiplication Memorization kit, especially after reading the Andreola's review.  After our experience with addition, and considering Dale's imaginative, visual learning style, I had a hunch it was just what we needed.


We opened up our box of jumbo-sized flash cards the day they arrived, reading the number story and memorization aid on card after card.  The next day we reviewed the 10 or 12 we had looked at, and wonder of wonders... it worked!


We add a few more every day, and I continue to be amazed at how quickly Dale is able to recall 9x5, 8x4, or 7x8.  For my learning style it is the long complicated way.  For him it is perfect and easy.  So, so thankful we have this kit!

Multiplication Memorizer Kit

Yes, this is an affiliate post.  If you are kind enough to make a CBD purchase after clicking the above link I will receive a small compensation.  That said, I would love, love, love this product if I never made a single cent! :)

Building Bridges

A social studies, geography, math, (and more) unit.

Our social studies article for this week, Building Bridges of Hope, was cut from Parade magazine, the little insert that comes in many Sunday newspapers.


In it we read about Ken Frantz and his organization, Bridges to Prosperity, that travels the world building (what else?) bridges in key places.  The bridges built by Frantz's organization allow people in remote and poor areas to more easily access medical help, trade, and other necessities.  These bridges literally change lives.


These bridges also provided a week full of stuff for us to learn!


Some of the following ideas we have already done, others we will do as we finish out our week.  Still others would be ideal for older kids or a longer, more intensive unit.


Science /  Math:
In addition to the Parade article and the Bridges to Prosperity website, we also checked out a bridge book from our library.  It gives a beginning look at bridge types and the science behind their construction.
Search Amazon.com for bridges


We worked on building our own bridges the high-tech way after downloading free bridge design software from West Point.  It's a little advanced for Dale, but he thinks it's fun anyway.  Who am I kidding?  It's over my head and I still think it's fun.  I'm determined to build a bridge that won't collapse!  This software would be great for a highschooler or anyone interested in engineering.  The website even offers an annual bridge-building contest!


After reading the bridge book and practicing with the software, I'm planning on getting out our wooden blocks this afternoon to see what kind of bridges we can build with them, too.


Geography
For geography, I printed a world map (with countries).  Together we read the article through again and identified each country in which Bridges to Prosperity has built a bridge.  Consulting our jumbo world atlas, we colored the countries with bridges on our map.  We also used this time to discuss the continents.


Missions
Next we will research and find out what missionaries our denomination has in each of those countries.  We will take a moment to mark them on our map and pray for them.


Writing
If Dale was a little older, I would have him write a story from the viewpoint of a village child, telling the excitement of the bridge builders coming or how he will be able to use the bridge in his own life.  Or maybe a news story about bridge built by Bridges to Prosperity (you can read about all their bridges on their website).


History
This unit would be great to learn about historic bridges in the US or around the world.  There are so many out there!


Art
To finish up our mini-unit on bridges, I'm thinking we will choose a picture of a bridge (either one from Bridges to Prosperity or a famous one) and draw it, adding in materials like toothpicks, string, etc to create the bridges.


I know we have only scratched the surface of what could be done with a unit on bridges.  We may have to visit the topic again someday!  If so, this website is full of lesson plan links and ideas, or a simple google search pulls up a multitude of ideas!


What bridge ideas have I missed?  Do you have any favorite unit studies?