Thursday, March 11, 2010

Vintage Student's Merit Award Letter

I saw this over at the Paper Collector, and just for kicks, blanked out the original names with GIMP. I haven't figured out how to match the background when covering up areas. Click to enlarge and save, if you'd like to reuse this form. I filled one out for my son because he's had a tough time lately working through spring fever. He's been diligent despite his weariness of school. Here is the original:

  
 

Tuesday, March 09, 2010

Carolingian Legends and Paper Doll Costume

Epics and Romances of the Middle Ages, Carolingian Legends, 1887, by Wilhelm Wagner. Free to download or print, and in public domain. Not specifically a children's book, but appropriate for older children, perhaps advanced middle school and up. It's very readable for young people.

Main page here.

I found these Carolingian costume paper dolls at the NY public digital library . There was no doll, but making one could be fun, especially if you can find a head, from another doll or online illustration, to add to your hand drawn body. I'll try to find one, and post it here. Click on image to enlarge and copy.

Saturday, March 06, 2010

Free Printable Elementary School Picture Study: Lincoln by Saint-Gauden

Pages 28-29, Statue of Lincoln by Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1907)

To print page at link, simply right click on image of the page and save. Free and in public domain.

Friday, March 05, 2010

Late Elementary - Early Middle School Reading List

My son asked me for a reading list that he could take to the library, so I put together a list using many of the books mentioned on Classical Christian Education, 1000 Good Books(late elementary- early middle school); and I added some of my own, mostly classics. He likes H.G. Wells, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Sir Conan Doyle; I added a few that he has not yet read.

If you'd like to make use any of the books for your own list, I am sharing the list at Google Documents here.  It prints out to seven pages.

To keep the list together, I punched holes in it and recycled the cardboard covers from a used spiral notebook. Above is the image(click on image to enlarge and save) that I placed on the front and back. It prints out as one page, and then I just cut along the fold. I tied the book together through the holes with some twine.


Thursday, March 04, 2010

Japanese Peanut Salad Dressing

I made this tonight for my husband who loves Japanese salad dressing. I took this recipe and changed it a little. This has a peanut base, but is not too peanuty.

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup canola oil(peanut oil better)
* 2/3 cup rice vinegar
* 3-4 TBS onion powder
* 1/4 cup natural peanut butter
* 1/4 cup tahini(blended sesame seeds)
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
* 1/2 tsp pepper and 1/2 tsp salt
* 1/2 tsp garlic salt

Pour all into bottle, shake well before serving, store in frig.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

More Vintage Reading Lists, Classics

A nice general reading list for children of all ages from Dorothy Canfield's, What Shall We Do Now?, 1922. Many of these wholesome classics can be found at Google Books for free download, public libraries, and very inexpensively at Dover Books, a good number are under $3.00 each.

See here for reading list, pages 369-385.


What Shall We Do Now?: Over Five Hundred Games and Pastimes; a Book of Suggestions for Children's Games and Employments
Author Dorothy Canfield Fisher
Publisher Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1922
Length 415 pages
Overview

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Old Fashioned Reading Lists : Grades Four - Eight

Wholesome classics. From Everyday English, Book One and Two published in 1912:

Seventh - eighth, pages 327-330.

Fourth - sixth, pages 234-236

Printable by right clicking on the image of the page at links, "save image" or "view image" and print.

Homeschool Helps: Discovery School Ancient Egypt DVD

We checked out a Discovery School Egypt DVD(grades 3-5) at the library last week. My son is in sixth, but it was a great review of what he learned in fourth grade social studies. I pretty sure that was the grade which covered ancient Egypt in Rod & Staff. It's part animation and part actual footage of Egypt. If you are looking for a children's video which shows the Nile flood plains and explains irrigation, this is it.

About this Product

"Includes: Ancient Egypt: Land of Abundance: Learn about the geography of the Nile, and see the development of irrigation and agriculture in Egypt through the writings of Ahtet, a young Egyptian boy. We'll see Papyrus harvested and made into paper, and hear stories about the origin of some hieroglyphs. Beautiful Nile wildlife images will inspire Ahtet to recount the timeless story of Isis and Osiris, and Ancient Egypt: Constructing Civilization: Experience the grand pyramids at Giza through the writings of Ahtet, a young Egyptian boy. We learn about Egypt's first Pharaohs and Imhotep, the visionary architect of the Great Pyramids. Ahtet goes on to recount the many ways in which Egyptians are master builders, and shows us how huge obelisks are created, transported, and raised. " More here.

Lesson plans and classroom tools for Discovery School DVDs here.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Free ebook: Homestead Simplicity: A Primer

Homestead Simplicity: A Primer –Learn about natural cleaning, cooking from scratch, planning and stocking your pantry, and easy ways to provide loving care for your homestead and those in it.

HT to Pawpaw Holler

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Printable Cupid Paper Chain

Right click and save, or for a larger version click on image.














Vintage St. Valentine's Day Children's Stories, Cards, and Lesson Plans


Click here. Free to download or print.


Printing tips: Make sure that the pages are set to HTML mode. Look to the bottom of the sidebar at the page(s) you want to print. Also make sure you right click on the actual page you have selected, otherwise you'll get a print of the entire Google page.

Bumped up from 2008.

Family Movie Night: Flywheel


Flywheel (Director's Cut)
Synopsis:
Jay Austin (Alex Kendrick) wants to sell you a used car, but watch out! Many victims have fallen prey to his smiling face and hasty promises. Austin does everything his way until his dishonesty and manipulation are repeatedly exposed. Like many men, the masks he wears and the lies he tells disgust him. While having a classic convertible repaired, Austin begins a humorous and powerful journey to win back the hearts of his wife (Janet Lee Dapper), his son (Richie Hunnewill) and his community. In every man's life, there can be a turning point. Jay Austin takes it, and he never looks back. ~ ChristianCinema.com

Inspiring Christian movie by the folks who brought us the movie, Fireproof. We watched it this past weekend via Netflix.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Moist Banana Cake Recipe

Putting some brown bananas to good use(giggle). My daughter has been asking for cake all week.


Ingredients:
* 1 1/4 cups white sugar
* 1/2 cup butter
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 cup sour cream
* 1 cup mashed bananas
* 1 1/2 cups cake flour
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

See here for remaining recipe. I substituted yogurt for the sour cream, and oil for the butter. A very moist and delicious cake!

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Homemade Pancake Syrup

I ran out of syrup today, but no worries, I used Hillbilly Housewife's Pancake Syrup recipe. I've made this recipe before to extend my all natural(expensivo) maple syrup. It's surprisingly good.

Monday, February 08, 2010

Homeschool Freebie: Marie Antoinette Paper Doll

Part of an 1890's queen series issued by McLaughlin Coffee " featuring Martha Washington, Isabella of Spain, Mary Queen of Scots, Crown Princess of Sweden, Marguerite of Italy, Czarina of Russia, Elizabeth of England and Marie Antoinette of France." See here for more. Graciously made available free to download and print.

Unusual in that it shows the queen bound for execution. This would be great for a time line, notebooking, or just something a little extra(enrichment) for history studies.

Frugal Quick Potato Turnip Casserole

We had this easy casserole a few nights ago.

Prepare potatoes and turnips as you would a chunky mashed potato.

Line the bottom of a pan with some frozen mixed veggies, season with seasoning salt, layer on top sliced sausage, and then mashed potato/turnip. Sprinkle Parmesan on top and cook in oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. A little broiler time gives it a nice browned top.

Have a little extra time? For a stronger flavor, cook the veggies on the stove top first in some butter and seasoning salt . If you use a cast iron pan, this extra step can be done in one pan from stove top to oven.