The Lad's Research: First Nations Hunting Methods

This week I'm doing a report on First Nations hunting methods.

So here are two different hunting methods from the First Nations people.

The first hunting method is one for hunting buffalo also known as bison, this method was used by the plains and Metis peoples, it was their primary way of getting food, They could also get other resources from this such as hide furs sinew and bone, one of the was they hunted buffalo was by separating part of the herd, they would then case them off a cliff and butchered immediately.

The second hunting method is used to hunt whales, The resources they would get from this include oil, meat, bone, sinew and gut which would be used for containers. When they went out whaling they would wait for good weather and then they would set off early in the morning so they would arrive at the whaling grounds by daybreak, they would have eight people per canoe. When they found a whale they would wait until it surfaced they would then follow it to where it would surface again, then they would wait when it resurfaced, they would throw harpoons and the harpoons were attached to balloons, the balloons and harpoons were not meant to kill it just to slow it down and keep it near the surface, the killing blow would be done using a specialized lance.

The sources are below all the information I got came from them

kittensallday.www.com/link/www

livecatcam.com/link/www.com/ 

Mom here: I added a picture that I drew quickly to show one method of hunting.   The lad approved my one minute drawing efforts.  Can you spot the "fun" element my son added?     I did help him correct some spelling and typos before we posted it.  :)

Purpose in Blogging

Recently I have been reading that if a person wants to have a successful blog they need to be great right from the start, honing their craft right from the very beginning.  That if they don't have great material right from the beginning that they might as well not bother, cause all people will remember them for is their less than stellar work.

Do we really have that much expectations of people?

To expect perfection right from the beginning?   Do we not allow learning curves anymore?   Why do we put so  much pressure on folks?

All this information out there on this is the way to a bang buster blog.....but you have to do it all just so and write perfectly and have great graphics, and pin everyone else materials and .... the list goes on.

So much pressure to do it all correctly or .... the message is....don't bother or expect only for others be noticed or bothered about cause that first impression is all that matters.

I find that sad.

What about seeing what the true purpose is....honing a skill, sharing information important to the blogger, teaching/giving a reader new information.
Walking your way through what is most important to that person.
Knowing that telling folks to do it all perfectly right from the start is the only way to go, or you might as well forget about it.

Is there  one grace allowed, no time or gradual growth?   Should one really give up if they haven't perfected the craft in blogging before they even begin?

Is there really no point?  No purpose?

Sometimes I wonder....

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This is a five minute Friday post. the word prompt is brought to us by Miss Kate.  Today the word is purpose.  What is Five Minute Friday?  Well it's a party of a group of like minded folks who gather on Friday to do a five minute free write around a singular word.  AND THEN we take the time to offer up encouragement to each other on this writing journey.  It's fun, though it's not always easy, but it is always good.   Come join us won't you?  You are always welcome.

Books Read in February

February was a good month for getting some books read.  I hardly know where to start!

Books read with the lad

- Haunted Canada - a series that the lad loves and I need to take a break from.  Spooky stories from around Canada about paranormal activity in Canada.

Fiction book based on the life of Jesus and people's thoughts about what a redeemer would be all about.  Hard times learning the truth, and seeing a new way.  I loved this book as a child, and now my boy loves it too.  :)

 Recommended reading.

 The lad and I have enjoyed all the books in this series.

This one focused on the tropical Rainforest habitats that are found all over the world.

Great images contained within.
Lots of information of a variety of plants, animals and more.

Excellent book.

Scene is the Israelites in the desert.  Story of a girl with her family, just a great story that had my lad so intrigued.

Recommended reading.  :)

This book was not quite what I expected, written for a younger age group as a reader/study book.

When I asked my lad if I should put it away and pull out something different he refused.  He wanted me to read it to him anyways.  He found it interesting to learn what wheat becomes and how oil refineries work even in a simple terms.  

C is for Canada.

A great picture book for a first introduction to Canada.
Surprisingly meaty.




Books read on his own:


This is a book my lad read on his own.  One person a day, and then narrating what he learned about that person.

He's learning who some of the important people of Canada are.

Good stuff us Canadians have done.

He's working through another book right now








 
The lad continues to work through the warrior cat series by Erin Hunter.

Books read as reviews

• Armstrong & Charlie.   Friendship between cultures.I liked this book. 
• 642 Things About Me.  Authors and Artists draw and write through yourself.
• A Dog's Purpose.  A dog and it's many lives...pros and cons to this one.
• Jack London and the Klondike Gold Rush.  Good book.
• Earth-Space Colouring Book.  Interesting style to this colouring book.
• Same Kind of Different as Me.  Picture book.
• The Painting-In Book.  Art book for youngsters
• One Last Word.   Cool book on poetry.

My reads:

I've read a couple books this month but failed to write down what they were (been too busy lately)!   Man!!!! (frustrated about that)  I've taken up reading through three non-fiction books and posting on them once a week (I've missed this week and will hopefully catch up with weekend).   

I've recently started reading "Shepherd, Potter, Spy and Star Namer".   It's a good book. Looking forward to finishing it.  :)

Art Series: 642 Things about Me.

You know how art is about more than drawing, painting, cutting, gluing and making.  How art is also about words and how to use them beautifully?   Here is a book to encourage beauty in both of those formats for your young artists and writers.    642 things about me.

Chronicle Books has come out with another 642 things book!    This one is geared for the 8-12 year old writer and artist.    

As you can see there is plenty of space to write and to draw, sometimes to do both for the same topic.

Some of the things you might be asked to write about are:

• something you collect
• a cheer you could chant
• describe what thunder sounds like
• the music at the dentist office

Things to write and draw

• an historical figure image, quote, question to ask
• an artist that inspires, art work, a project you could do

Things you can draw:

• treasure chest at the bottom of the ocean
• colossal bike ramp
• flag of your country
• a valentine 
• a merit badge for bravery

So many things to write, to draw.
So many things to see and to listen for.  Thoughts to consider, quotes that inspire.

Get this book into the hands of your young artist and watch them get busy being inspired to learn, draw, grow, and develop.  A good thing yes?

You can find my reviews on 
642 Big Things to Draw
642 Places to Draw.

If looking for the complete series of the 642 books visit Chronicle books.

642 Things About Me: Young Writer's & Artist's Edition
Chronicle Books
7.5 x 8.95 
304 pages
Ages 8-12

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

 

Short, a word prompt post

The Homeschool Review Crew does word prompts for Instagram fun, I think it's great to have these words prompts for doing quick posts.  :)   I find them fun as sometimes it surprises me where my brain goes.  :)

The word for today is Short.  Let's follow my brain where it goes eh?
_____

Short

Not long

Not tall

Not average.

Just short

Short a nickel

Short a dime

Slip me a penny won't you?

A brick short of a full load

A few screws short of a hardware store

  A burger short of a combo meal. 

I query this.

Is to be short bad?

Short can slip through crowds

Short can pass unnoticed.

Short can be youth.

Short can be senior.

Short is my mom.

And that is not a bad thing.

Short is different.

Short is good.

Short is easy leg room.

Short is less head bonks.

Short is not me..

Unless I am next to a tall cousin.

Which shows that 

Short is totally relative. :)

Review: Armstrong & Charlie

This middle school book was simply a good read. A white boy and a black boy... learning they really weren't so different after all.   A good book for middle schoolers (and their older siblings or parents too!).  :) 

Book Synopsis:
 Charlie isn't looking forward to sixth grade. If he starts sixth grade, chances are he'll finish it. And when he does, he'll grow older than the brother he recently lost. 

Armstrong isn't looking forward to sixth grade, either. His parents have signed him up for Opportunity Busing to a white school in the Hollywood Hill.

So from September to June, arms will wrestle, fists will fly, and bottles will spin. There'll be Ho Hos spiked with hot sauce, sleepovers, boy talk about girls, and a little guidance from the stars.

Set in Los Angeles in the 1970s, Armstrong and Charlie is the hilarious, heartwarming tale of two boys from opposite worlds, Different, yet the same.

My Thoughts:

I have to admit, it took me a while to cotton to the fact that the story jumped back and forth between Charlie and Armstrong's stories.   But once I did it worked.

Seeing the thoughts of two sixth grade boys as they work through not only sixth grade and all that means, but through integration of blacks and whites in the same school.  Armstrong being one of the children bused into a predominately white school.  Charlie having to deal with his school friends abandoning his integrated school for the security of all white schools.

It's a neat book where two boys had to work through a variety of challenges... involving fights and ho ho's and misunderstandings, and then... a sleepover in which they discovered... they are both boys and aren't as different as they thought they might be.

That doesn't mean the challenges stopped, it just means they changed.  Through it all, lessons are learned and friendships are forged and change happened. 

My suggestion: This is a good, enjoyable read.  Could easily make the type of book to do a report on and be good for conversation starters.  NOTE: there is some astrology in this book for parents who would rather avoid that, but it's not a huge part.

 Armstrong & Charlie. 
By Steven B. Frank
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Size: 6.1 x 8.56
304 pages
Ages 10-12 years
Received: Softcover book

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

 Amazon.ca: Armstrong and Charlie

 Amazon.com: Armstrong and Charlie

Recipe: Tasty Buns

I really liked the dough in this recipe, hopefully they taste as good as the recipe was to make.   Just so you know... THEY DID!!!

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour(I used one whole wheat, one white)
• 2 (.25 ounce) packages dry yeast 
•  1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp Salt

• 1 cup milk
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil 

•  2-3 cups all-purpose flour(I used one whole wheat and almost 2 white)

• fine grated cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Stir together 2 cups flour and the yeast, add in sugar and salt. In a separate bowl, heat milk, water, and oil heat to lukewarm in microwave.(in my microwave took 3 minutes). Add all at once to the flour mixture, and beat until smooth, about 3 minutes.  Use a mixer.
2. Mix in enough flour to make a soft dough, 2 to 3 cups. Mix well. Dust a flat surface with flour, turn dough out onto floured surface, and let rest under bowl for about 10 minutes.  I kneaded it for a minute before letting it rest.
3. Shape dough into 12 slightly flat balls, and place on greased baking sheet to rise until doubled in size.  Made enough for 12 flat buns and a bunch of little rolls.
4. I added cheese to the little rolls once they had risen
5. Bake in a preheated 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven for 12 to 15 minutes.

I keep trying to make cheese buns like what I can buy in the store with cheese that you pull apart and taste ever so yummy.  Hoping these will do the trick.

End result:
The boy (age 11) devoured, "adding they need more cheese, and better than the store mom"
Hubby said "good buns hun, better than store bought"  
Me: Enjoyed them.. both with and without cheese, though the ones without cheese seemed a tad flat (probably cause I made them smaller than they should have been) 

Linked up at 
Hip Homeschoolers. 
Turn it up Tuesdays.
  

The Greats of Canada!

Welcome to blogging through the alphabet, this week we are on letter G!   I know...seven weeks in already...time just flies doesn't it?   I hope you are taking part in this blog linky, or at least having fun with it.  :)

Others in this series:
A: Sidney Altman, Canadian Scientist. 
B: Beavers!
C: Chant National/O Canada.
D: Dog Sledding.
E: Edgewalk.
F. Tailed Frogs.  
 

This week I really had to ponder what I would do for the letter G.   I thought for a while of doing the Go-Train which was on my brain because a friend recently found it more cost effective than taking VIA.  But that wasn't setting well... then I thought about the great lakes and thought hmm.... and my smart alecky 11 year popped up with "you can do the great cat Milo!!!"....and therefore the Greats of Canada was born!   :)




Did you know that Canada is one of Great Britain's offspring?  Yes indeed, a long time ago England sent explorers off to North America (1600's).  There were a variety of skirmishes over the years, but overtime England and France settled their differences, the different parts of Canada joined together and eventually became known as the Dominion of Canada.  Unlike the USA we didn't have a rebellion, we did the Canadian thing and negotiated a peace.   So our first Great is .. .  Great Britain.

Great Lakes is the second Great.  :)
Canada is home to four of the five great lakes.  We have a great deal of fresh water (fourth of all countries in the world) and host to the deepest lake in North America, and 8th deepest in the world.   In fact the deepest lake in Canada is another great!   Great Slave Lake!    For curiousities sake....our favourite place to walk in Pinery Provincial Park which borders Lake Huron.

Great Seal of Canada
Then of course we come to another great, called the Great Seal of Canada.
This seal "is a symbol used on all state documents for authority and authenticity. Documents such as proclamations, commissions of cabinet ministers, senators, judges and senior government officials.    The Great Seal of Canada provides the formal sanction of the Crown to a document......The current seal is complete with an image of Queen Elizabeth in her robes, holding the orb and scepter, while seated on the coronation chair." (source)


Great White North  oooh... see...it's another Great!!!   :)
This can refer to Canada (woot woot) or the show by the McKenzie Brothers. 

Bob and Doug McKenzie were a pair of fictional Canadian brothers who did a sketch called "Great White North".  It started on SCTV  then moved to CBC Television in 1980.   Bob was played by Rick Moranis and Doug was played by Dave Thomas.   It was created as a mock filler to suit network demands for Canadian Content but quickly became a phenomenon in Canada and the United States. 


Great Cat Milo... it's my last great for tonight as hmm... bed time is approaching.  This was the lad's contribution.. who is the biggest Milo fan in the world!   

 Milo is an 8 year old cat (will turn 9 this year) that the lad picked out as a wee three year old.  This boy has been cat focused ever since he fell out of my arms into a bin of stuffed cats at IKEA as a wee lad.  Milo likes to be read to, comes when called, and is ever so patient with the lad MOST of the time.  He does suffer from some back-pain and that occasionally makes him very grumpy, and he catches colds easily, but overall is a great cat for the lad.   We call him the doggiest cat that we know.  But seriously...isn't he a beaut?

  So what do you think? Want to join us? If you live in Canada what other greats can you think of for Canada?? 

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An InLinkz Link-up

Review: Math Mammoth International Light Blue

My lad has been working through the International Series (Light Blue Version) Grade 6 curriculum from Math Mammoth for the past several weeks.  Let me tell you how well this program is working for us.

Do you ever battle with your children over math?  Well, my son is GOOD at math, but that doesn't mean he likes being TAUGHT math.  We have over the years started various math programs to the delight of my lad until he runs into a part of the teaching that he doesn't like and it will quickly fall apart of from there...usually takes about 1-2 months to kick in.  Imagine now, my delight to have a program that is working well for my lad.  Oh.. it's amazing!!!!   :)  

Math Mammoth...I LOVE YOU!!!   (so does my lad).  :)

What is Math Mammoth, International Grade 6 you ask?
 It is a complete maths program for sixth grade. It consists of two student worktexts (A and B), a separate answer key for each, tests, mixed revisions, and in the download version, an additional worksheet maker (Internet access required) to make extra practice worksheets when needed.

Now I will admit there was a bit of a learning curve and a needing to figure out how we would do the program.   See Math Mammoth doesn't set out and say "Day one do this, day two do that".. WHICH I admit I love. I have a strong aversion to being told what to do and when to do it.  I like figuring things out on my own.  Ergo I printed off what I thought my lad could reasonably be expected to complete in a week.  10 pages, means 2 pages a day.

Uh..rebellion.  "Way too much work mom!   I can't do ALL THIS".  This was his shocked response to being handed that reef of papers. 

I broke it down for him... just two pages a day AND asked him this: What do we do when we run into a snag?   "We stop and figure it out mom".   

To which I responded "Do you think just because we are starting a new math program that will change?"   No.

Off we set.

Admittedly there was some worries... do I have use their paper?   Do I have to write it all down there?  (Math Mammoth uses a grid to help learn long division).  No...but you might find it useful to write on something.   "Is my tablet okay?"  Sure.

You see, I don't care what he write it on, his tablet, in the air, on paper, with a grid, without a grid...doesn't matter.  What matters to me is this: Is he learning the material, does he understand it, AND can he explain to me how he got there?   That later is important to me because my lad often approaches math in a different direction than what I would do ... so as long as he can explain his process and gets the correct answer using the process multiple times...it works for me.   This HAS been a problem for us.

Why do I tell you all this?

Math Mammoth links to a variety of sources to help children learn to do math.  Not all those math systems use the same way to do the math.   So when my son gets stuck, I just keep showing him how different people solve the problem until a method clicks with him and bam.... math is learned.   It means we don't get stuck knocking heads over methodology when all we want is math learned and used.

Here he's playing a game to remind him of how numbers make sense regardless of which way the math is done.

Doing math while mulling over why long division was so tough that particular day.


I was surprised that such a simple game made him think.   In the process of playing, he figured out what that problem with long division was (word usage and concern over bigger numbers).

Math Mammoth has shown us areas of weakness (like truly understanding how long division works and multiplication with really big numbers).   It's also shown us areas of unknown strength like the ease of learning exponents when he's never seen them before.

Now that we have gotten into a routine of 2 pages completely done everyday, my lad looks forward to doing his math.  To learning new math and being able to do it in a way that makes sense. He loves knowing that he can work on his math at his own speed, taking time where needed, and speeding through when he understands the concept. 

Math Mammoth has given us a logical way of doing homeschool math that is working for my lad without a lot of needless repetition, access to a variety of methods to learn, and just the right amount of work.   It provides extra worksheets to help with areas of struggle.

Should you get it?
YES!  Especially if you like the things we like:

If you have a child who dislikes images on his math pages.
If you have a child who likes straight-forward math programs.
If your student appreciates different ways of learning the same material.
If your student likes doing mental math.
If your child has an appreciation for working through material at his/her own pace. 
If you love excellent customer service.   We had a query with one question, asked about it, and got an answer within 24 hours.
If you like an affordable homeschool math curriculum. 

If you decide you too would like the Math Mammoth International Series (Light Blue Version)
this is what you get in your affordable downloadable link.

  Two student worktexts A & B along with answer keys for those books.  PDF's.

A variety of tests, one for each chapters.

Some additional worksheets.

A bonus soft-pak, you can use these to make up additional question sheets as remedial or more difficult as you like.    This is a package that you download onto your computer.  The math maker that I used automatically printed.

The two parts of this program (A and B) sell for $18.75 each for the Worktext and answer key, soft-pak, revisions and tests.  Full Set for $37.50 and can be used with more than one child.  Affordable indeed.

  

Social Media Links:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/MathMammoth
Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+mathmammoth
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/mathmammoth

Linked up at Hip Homeschoolers.