3-D Hand Art

Super cool 3-D hand project.  This is a great one for teens.  It is sure to surprise!  It's an optical illusion and once completed if you stare at it from a distance it can play tricks on your mind.  

You will Need:

1. white paper
2. crayons, markers, chalk, or coloring pencils
3. sharpie

Directions:

1. First, they will trace their hand and arm.
2. Next, they will take a ruler and lightly draw horizontal lines about 1/2 inch straight across from the left side of the paper to the hand/arm drawn.  Repeat from the other side of the hand you drew and go to the end of the right side of the paper.  It's best to work your way from the bottom up.
3. Then you will start connecting the two lines drawn from one end to the other from inside the traced hand/arm.  You will need to curve these lines to create the 3-D look.
4. The next to last step, you will color the stripes with different colors to complete your masterpiece.
5. Finally you will take a sharpie or dark color marker and re-trace where all the pencil lines are 
6. to create your 3-D image.  And you are done!                      

 

Egypt Unit Study

Some kids learning styles are hands-on.  My daughter does better when she can see and touch it not just read words on the paper.  So I get a little creative when we do our school  We had a good time studying Egypt.  I used the Story of the World history curriculum.  It's geared towards younger Elementary, but I put unit studies with mine and made it a little more challenging.  We did lapbooks and projects with almost every lesson.  Our favorite was the mummified chicken.  Yes, I said MUMMIFIED CHICKEN (see other post for that project).  It was not as stinky as you would think or hard.  It is very time consuming because it takes 7 weeks to complete the process, but it is worth it.

Lapbooking:



 
Projects:

Ancient History Writing & Cartouche



Ancient Egyptian circlet/crown/diadem
We forgot to paint the cobra  :  ( OOOPS)  It still turned out pretty cute though.



Egyptian collar
You can make this out of poster board, cardboard or whatever you want.  I used the dollar tree foam sheets and just let her create her own design.  We punched holes in the corners to run string/yard through it so she could tie it around her neck.  



Egyptian hieroglyphics cave writing (stone tablet) 
Here we just used the salt dough recipe and added gritty sand like what you would have in a sandbox to make it have the texture and the color of the caves back then.  You can find the recipe here:  http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/People/hieroglyphic_stone/hieroglyphic_stone.html 


Egyptian amulet
This one was made out of a toilet paper roll, dollar tree modeling clay, rhinestones, and gold spray paint.  Our original plan was to make a whole outfit, but we never did get to doing the actual costume.



Egyptian Wig
Clearly this is a more than a one day job and I'm pretty sure we aren't doing ours like the picture, but we had a lot of laughs and my full of life girl enjoyed modeling it and acting silly.  To make this you cut several strips of black construction paper and wrap them around a pencil or dowel so they will curl up.  After you have curled them all use a piece of cardboard or poster board to wrap around your child's head and make a headband. Then you will glue, tape, or staple the strips to the head piece. 



Pharaoh sculpture
Although we joked this looked more like George Washington, she did a great job on it and spent some time on it.  She used a toothpick to carve out the details.  We just got the brown air dry, sculpting clay from our local Hobby Lobby.  If you google discount coupons for them online you can screen shot the coupon with the code on it and get it 40% off for a big box of clay.



We also did a project with toothpicks and marshmallows and she built it into a pyramid.  

Some of the art art projects were done to finish off the study.  Here is one that she cut up shapes to make a desert and the other one had several steps to complete the project.  (sorry about the red eyes in the picture)  The 2nd art we did was with newspaper and construction paper layered into an image.

 

When we were done with our Ancient Egypt study we took a field trip to a museum to visit the Egyptian exhibits and lucked up that they had a real mummy there.



After our trip to the museum we wanted to try Egyptian food.  This is as close as we could get in our area.  We tried mijadarah and tabbouleh.

Mummifying a Chicken

I was a little worried about this project in the beginning because I thought it would smell up the house.  Although it does have a little odor, it's not unbearable.  You can smell it a little bit but only when you pull it out of  the baggies and scrap off the old stuff to add the new to place it back in it's bag for another week.  It's really easy and only takes less than 10 min per week after the first week. This was one of the most fascinating hands-on projects we have done yet.  I wanted to make sure that while she was learning about the Ancient Egyptians burial traditions she would retain the information as well.  

With this project your child will learn how to write step by step instructions after as well as learn how to mummify a chicken the way the Ancient Egyptians mummified people.   You can have the students record each week the progress.  When the project is done I would have your child write a summery about what they learned and what their favorite part of the project was.  

You will need the following:

• one store bought small chicken-raw (with liver and heart inside)
• several containers of table salt (Egyptians used natron instead of salt)
• several boxes of baking soda
• 1/3 cup of cooking oil
• 3 tablespoons of whatever kind of herbs you want to use.  We used cinnamon, nutmeg, and all spice.
• box full of gallon size ziplock bags
• gauze or cheese cloth cut into squares or long strips
• beads
• alcohol 
•  jars if you want to do the liver and heart like they did (also optional)  We opted out of doing those.
• baking pan
• rubber gloves
• mask (surgeon or painters kind)
• paper towels 
• bowl
• small container of hardening solution (thinned out glue, lacquer, etc.)

Directions:  

-

Day 1:

1. Step 1 – Unwrap and place the store-bought chicken on a baking sheet.
2. Step 2- Take out the innards of the chicken and set aside.
3. Step 3- Wash the chicken off with water then pat dry completely.    
4. Step 4- Pour alcohol all over the inside and the outside of the chicken and pat dry.  Make sure you get down inside the chicken really good because it contains a lot of moisture.
5. Step 5- Place on a baking sheet and fill the inside of the chicken with one box salt and one box baking soda.  (you will need enough to cover the whole chicken with) Once they are mixed put a good bit of the mixture inside the chicken where the innards were.
6. Step 6- Then heavily rub the mixture on the top of the chicken, flip and repeat on the other side.  
7. Step 7- Open the Ziploc bag (I used two for a double seal). and pour the remaining mixture at the bottom and place the chicken in the bag and shake it to make sure the chicken is fully coated with the mixture.  
8. Step 8 – Seal the bag and put it inside a second bag to make sure the air can't get inside the bag, then place the chicken in a bowl and sit on the counter. 

What do do with the innards?  We opted not to do them, but I did explain to her what the Egyptians did with them.  They would throw away the brains and other innards, but left the heart inside for Anubis (the Egyptian god of the afterlife and mummification) to find and weigh.  The heart was believed to be the seat of the soul.  They would remove, save, and mummify the intestines, stomach, lungs, and liver and put them in canopic jars for safekeeping.  All of which, it was believed, would be needed in the afterlife. 

 Day 2

1. Step 1- Take the chicken out of the bag of salt and place it in an area designated for the salty chicken.  I put ours in the sink and remove the loose salt mixture from the inside and outside of the chicken with your hand.  Then pat down with paper towels any excess moisture that may still be on the chicken.  Be sure to wipe down the inside really good as well because it is hard to get all the moisture out of that area.  
2. Step 2 – Discard used salt and bag.
3. Step 3- Place on a baking sheet and fill the inside of the chicken with one box salt and one box baking soda.  (you will need enough to cover the whole chicken with) Once they are mixed put a good bit of the mixture inside the chicken where the innards were.
4. Step 4- Place the chicken into a new ziplock bag and pour the mixture inside the the bag and shake really well to coat the chicken.  Make sure you get a lot of it inside the chicken.
5. Step 5- Use a second ziplock bag and place the first sealed chicken into the bag and seal it.  
6. Step 6- Set aside in a bowl for another week.

Week 1

 

Your mixture should be hard and and a little discolored by now.  (the salt is drawing out the moisture) 

1. Step 1- Take the chicken out of the bag of salt and place it in an area designated for the salty chicken.  Wipe all the old salt mixture off the outside of the chicken and clean out the inside as well.    
2. Step 2 – Discard used salt and bag.
3. Step 3- Place the chicken in a new ziplock bag and pour the mixture inside the the bag and shake really well to coat the chicken.  Make sure you get a lot of it inside the chicken.
4. Step 5- Use a second ziplock bag and place the first sealed chicken into the bag and seal it.  
5. Step 6- Set aside in a bowl on the counter for another week

Week 2

Repeat the same steps as you did in week 2 for another 5 weeks.  The chicken will be heavy and really hard at the end of week 7 

Weeks 3-7

 

  

  Once the mummy is complete you will move to the next phase of the burial process.  

1. Step 1- Clean all the salt mixture off the chicken
2. Step 2- Mix the cooking oil and spices together and run on the chicken
3. Step 3- Wrap the chicken with the cheese cloth or gauze and add jewels

 

 Here you are going to use your hardening mixture (glue, etc.) 

  

Dip the cheese cloth or gauze in the solution and wrap the chicken adding the beads (amulets) as you wrap.  Or you can wrap the gauze and brush on the solution.  Once you have completed it, then put it in a well ventilated area and allow to dry for several days.  (If you want them to paint it)

Now you have successfully mummified a chicken.  :) 

Summer Programs in the Columbia Area

                             For free or cheap
Great way to beat the heat and hit the air conditioning without having to stay in your home. Get out and get some fresh air and keep your kids entertained.  Kids are out of school and getting bored.  

1.  Kids Bowl Free 

Registered kids receive 2 FREE games of bowling every day all summer long even on the weekends.  You can purchase adults for an extra fee (one price all summer long) 
https://www.kidsbowlfree.com

2.  Circle K & Kangaroo 

Cups (formerly Roo Cups) are $7.99 for the cups and the 1st re-fill is free. Refills are $0.25  all summer for sodas, tea and slushies.

3.   Richland & Lexington County Summer Reading Programs

Receive FREE coupons and tickets to the Blowfish Game as well as prizes.  
https://www.goblowfishbaseball.com/landing/index

4.  SC State Museum

FREE for Homeschoolers with a valid I.D. and an accountability card.  They have a lot of things going on in this building.  It's three floors of historical artifacts as well as hands on learning for the kids on every floor.  We have a fairly new Planetarium with several shows and variety of viewing times ($3), 4-D Theater ($3), and a huge telescope.  They also have  Civil War section in the building and traveling exhibits for an additional charge. Also on the 1st Sunday of every month is $1 entry day for everyone.   
http://scmuseum.org/

5.  Regal Cinemas

They have two different movies each week during the Summer for $1.00.  The only time they play are at 10:00 am every Tuesday & Wednesday.  They show both movies at the same time on both days.  

6.   McKissick Museum 

Part of the USC campus by the horseshoe.  It is FREE to everyone and to all of their traveling exhibits.  https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/artsandsciences/mckissick_museum/

7.   SC State House

They do FREE tours several times throughout the day  
https://www.scstatehouse.gov/

8.  Skate Station USA in Lexington

They have family skate nights every Monday night from 6:30-8:30

$3 pp or $6 per family up to 5 people. (includes skates)  
https://www.skatestationusalexsc.com/hours.htm

9.   AMC Theater (Bush River Road-Dutch Square Mall)

Members get movies for $5 all day/night every Tuesday

10. St. Andrews Cinema 5

Everyday all (and selective days/nights during the year) all movies are $3 pp

11.  Pelican Snowballs 

    

This may not be indoors, but the one located off St. Andrews road in the old 
K-mart Shopping Center is AWESOME!  They have corn hole toss, hula hoops, chalk, swings, and tree swings that are by the edge of the bar.  We LOVE this location and you an even get your dog one for $1.00.  They are vanilla or peanut butter flavored with a dog to top it off. 

12.  Dave & Busters

Another one of our FAVORITE places to go.  If you sign up for emails and watch for specials they always run the $20 for $20.  Play $20 for fun play and receive an additional $20 to use at any time.  Another awesome deal is on Wednesday's all day they have 1/2 off all games. https://www.daveandbusters.com/locations/columbia 

13.  Congaree National Park

They do FREE canoe trips in the Spring & Summer 
https://www.nps.gov/cong/index.htm

14.  Saluda Shoals Park

The park is $5.00 per car.  Take your kids for a nature walk then head over to the splash pad for $3.00 pp.
https://www.icrc.net/parks/saluda-shoals-park

Weather Unit

I wanted to do a quick unit study on weather and it turned into a 30 day study.  But we did a lot of hands on projects so it took longer than we expected.  It was loads of fun!  To teach parts of the unit I used National Geographic Science Book.  

Available upon request please email aemleelee5@yahoo.com 
The cost is $8.00 and the Unit Study is 49 pages.  The lesson plans were created by collectively gathering information from numerous websites and forming it into a daily lesson plan.  It includes daily lessons, step by step instructions on experiments, links to print outs, and images for you to see what the projects should look like.  
I only accept paypal.  

Here are our fun projects:



A barometer is used to measure the atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure is basically the pressure around you in the air and it affects the weather! If you measure the atmospheric pressure you can get some pretty good clues about what the weather will be like that day.  All you need are a few household items and a grown-up to do some cutting. You can make this barometer in your kitchen and move it around your house or even outdoors to see the different atmospheric pressures!

We discussed the various agents of it, such as wind, water, and gravity.  First I had her predict what she thought was going to happen and even what part the grass played in this and predict which mold she thought would have the most weathering to it once I poured water on it and explain why.  At the end of the experiment we talked about what part was the erosion in this entire demonstration.  

   

Watch the effects of hot air and cold air on a balloon.  This activity is a great opportunity for kids to talk about what they can see and why it is happening.  Kids will absolutely love this activity and will see, first hand, what effects hot and cold air has on a balloon.

This is the same thing that happens in the atmosphere as warm, moist air rises and meets colder temperatures high in the atmosphere. Water vapor condenses and forms precipitation that falls to the Earth as rain, sleet, hail, or snow.

A cloud is formed when water vapor condenses into water droplets that attach to particles (of dust, pollen, smoke, etc.) in the air. When billions of these water droplets join together, they form a cloud.

Thermometer

What You Will Need: empty glass bottle; water; rubbing alcohol; food coloring; a clear straw; modeling clay; a marker

Fill the bottle 1/4 full of plain water.  Then, add an equal amount of rubbing alcohol so that the bottle is half full.  Add a few drops of food coloring.  Put the straw into the bottle, and holding it so that it does not touch the bottom but is suspended slightly in the liquid, wrap the modeling clay around the top of the bottle and the straw.  This will hold the straw in place and prevent it from falling farther into the bottle.  Note how far up the straw the liquid now comes.  Use the marker to mark the outside of the bottle at the spot where the straw goes from being filled with liquid to being empty (i.e. the line where the liquid stops filling the straw).  This line shows the current temperature where the bottle is at the moment. Move the bottle to different locations where the temperature is likely to differ. Notice how the liquid either rises or sinks down in the straw.  In warmer temperatures, the liquid will rise.  In cooler temperatures, it will sink.  Try placing the bottle in direct sunlight, on a porch outside on a warm day, or in the refrigerator to see the liquid in the straw rise and fall with the temperature variation.

Move the bottle to different locations where the temperature is likely to differ. Notice how the liquid either rises or sinks down in the straw.  In warmer temperatures, the liquid will rise.  In cooler temperatures, it will sink.  Try placing the bottle in direct sunlight, on a porch outside on a warm day, or in the refrigerator to see the liquid in the straw rise and fall with the temperature variation.



Water cycle experiment to show that the outer bowl salt water (ocean) and the small bowl that will collect the rainfall is covered with Saran Wrap (where the water will condense into clouds) and place ice cubes on top (sky)(will cause the evaporated water to condense when it rises up) 

When the water has condensed into clouds the precipitation will begin and water will drip from the sky back into the ocean and some rainfall will fall into the small container. You can drink it to show that rainwater isn't salty. That is because only the ocean water evaporates, not the salt that is in it. Thus, Rainwater is OK to drink even if it originally came from the salty ocean.



Water cycle experiment salt on a stick-Indians living on the Pacific coast around the San Francisco Bay would create shallow pines of ocean water. They would play sticks in the water and allow the water to evaporate. As the water evaporated salt crystals would form on their sticks. They would then bundle up the sticks and travel to the mountains where they exchange the stick covered with salt for obsidian needed to make arrowheads.


  

A lightning bolt is basically a dramatic display of static electricity in action.  You see lightning when a spark of moving electrons races up or down between a cloud and the ground.

A cold air front runs into a warm air front forcing it to go up and causing unstable air. Then you get a thunderstorm. 



Tsunami (also known as a seismic sea wave) is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water generally in an ocean or large lake.  It is caused by an underwater earthquake, landslide, or volcanic eruption.  

Earthquakes happen when huge rocks deep under the ground slip and push against each other.  This makes the ground above shake.  Start of a quake: the place underground where an earthquake starts is called the focus.  On the surface, the place right above the focus is the epicenter.  The effects of an earthquake are stronger here.  Most earthquakes are too weak to be felt by people, but some can cause great damage.  The pictures below show some of the effects of an earthquake.  In a weak earthquake, hanging things, like birdcages, swing.  Windows and dishes may start to rattle.  A stronger earthquake makes walls crack and pictures fall.



How heat affects things is sometimes difficult to understand. This simple heat experiment shows how heat causes molecules to move faster. {Plus kids think it looks cool.}



A tornado is a spinning funnel of wind.  It whirls along sucking up anything in its path. It is a violently rotating column in the air that is in contact with both the surface of the earth and cumulonimbus cloud.



A hurricane is a huge storm with lots of wind and rain.  It can destroy towns and forests.  Storms-at sea, violent storms and huge waves can appear suddenly and cause terrible damage.  Hurricanes quick evaporation of water may cause winds to swarm up and create more hurricanes.

  

Volcanoes erupt when hot, sticky rock from inside the Earth bursts through the surface.    The hot rock, called lava, pours down the sides of the volcano and over the land.  Volcanic 

eruption-when it erupts, lava comes out of a vent (opening) in the volcanoes top or side.  Bombs of rock may shoot up into the sky, and thick clouds of ask and gas may billow out.