Learning history while RVing

Do you take the time to learn more about the history of the area you are in when you are traveling with your family? We try as much as we can. But right under our nose – at the campsite where we are parked – there was some history to discover.

Actually, I knew about it. It has been 10 years since we started parking our RV at Logos Land Resort on highway 17, in Cobden, ON. We knew an historical discovery had been made there but I never thought of writing about it. This discovery is linked to the travels made by Samuel de Champlain. Who is Samuel de Champlain? Well Samuel was born around 1570 in France. He was a gifted man who became an explorer, map-maker, write and governor of New France. Starting in 1603, he made twelves voyages to New France. He is credited with starting the first permanent colony at Quebec City. Apparently in 1605, at Port-Royal, Nova Scotia, Champlain started the Order of Good Cheer in order to avoid his men to get bored and restless on long winter nights. Each man in turn was responsible for organizing an evening of good fun. They feasted, put on plays and danced. I think it was a great idea to do so.

Samuel de Champlain is known as the “Father of New France” He risked his life to find new paths to the Canadian interior, mapped the eastern coastline of North America from the Saint Lawrence River to Cape Cod, prepared the first charts of Atlantic Ocean coast harbors as far south as present-day Boston. For more than 30 years, he explored, expertly charter new territories, established a fur-trading network and brought permanent settlers to build homes, farm the land, and practice their trades. He really understood the wealth of Canada in furs, fish, timber, and farmland.

In May 1613, Champlain was traveling up the Ottawa River in canoe. In order to avoid the rapids upstream, he chose a course through a number of small lakes near Cobden, ON. Doing so he lost his astrolabe near the shores of a lake now called Astrolabe Lake and located at the present location of Logos Land Resort.

It was found in 1867 on the property. It laid there for over 253 years when it was found by a sharp-eye fourteen-year-old farm boy named Edward George Lee while he was skidding logs with his team of oxen. Here’s the eye-witness account of the discovery by Edward George Lee in August 1867, as told in 1919.

“One day we were working just below Green Lake in a bush of mixed hardwood and pine. I don’t remember the number of the lot now, but it was afterwards occupied by John Sammon, father of Mr. Sammon of the Copeland House in Pembroke. When noon came pa sent me home for his dinner and when I got back with it he sat down to eat it while I went on drawing the logs with our oxen Buck and Brin, to the heaps where they were being burned. We burned timber those times that would make a man’s fortune now-a-days. There was an old fallen red pine that lay downhill with its top in the little creek that comes out of Green Lake. Pas had chopped the trunk of this tree into three logs and I drew two of them away with the oxen but the third log, just below the branches was not chopped clean off, and I hitched the oxen to it and pulled it around sideways so as to break it off. I had to dig away the moss and marl that the old tree lay in so as to get the chain around the log, and when the log swung around it rolled back the moss like a blanket and there on the ground I saw a round yellow thing nine or ten inches across, with figures on it, and an arm across it, pointed at one end and blunt at the other. Alongside it was a lump of rust that might have been chains or something like that, but I did not pick it up. I showed the compass to pa and he put it on a stump a little ways up the hill. Just then, Captain Roverman (sic) came along to see how the work was going and old Captain Cowley was with him. Pa showed them the compass and they took it away, and pa said they promised to give me $10.00 for it but I never got a farthing now saw hide nor hair of the compass since. Poor pa let them have it, but if I had got it up to the house ma would not have give it to them that easy. The compass was lying about 2 or 3 rods from the edge of the creek. I never saw water enough in the creek to float a canoe.”

In case you are wondering what an astrolabe is let me inform you that it was an important navigational tool that helped navigators and surveyors to find their location from the stars. It is assumed that Champlain probably carried more than one of these instruments with him. The astrolabe that was recovered back in 1867 can be viewed at The Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, QC.

I find it interesting to learn more about history while we are traveling and I think it is fabulous that a piece of Canadian history was discovered at the resort where we are parked. However, it’s sad that the promise money wasn’t given to the young lad who found the astrolabe.  If you are in the area of Cobden to check out this historical discovery, you might also be interested in driving to Pembroke and visit the Champlain Trail Museum and Pioneer Village.   There you will have the opportunity to learn more about the early First Nations of the area as well as the Fur Trade.

What history have your explored while traveling with your family this summer?   Please share with me what you have learned whether you were on the roads in Canada or the U.S.A.

- See more at: http://blog.goodsamcamping.com/2013/07/learning-history-while-rving/#sthash.NEYbKwas.dpuf

Help Your Kids with English

Help Your Kids with English Canadian Edition – A Step-By-Step Visual Guide to Grammar, Punctuation, and Writing
Published at DK Canada

About the book

The latest title in this popular series is a complete visual guide to helping children learn and understand English. Using clear, accessible pictures, diagrams this indispensable reference covers all key grammar areas as taught in Canadian schools. This helpful home resource also includes Canadian rules for punctuation, spelling and grammar. A must for every parent and frustrated student.

• Features over 600 images and artworks
• Includes Canadian expressions and idioms

My Thoughts

The school year is fast approaching and with four kids to homeschool, I want to make sure I have the proper tools to be able to help them in specific subjects like Mathematic, Science and English.    DK Canada has interesting books to help you grasp the various terminologies in each of these subjects.   In the past, I had the opportunity to review the books for Math and Science and when the book for English came out, I made sure that I could review it.

Similar to the two previous books, this book contains lots of graphics and drawings to help you explain the English language to your child.   I will be honest with you – English is not my first language.  When I was in kindergarten (age 5), we were living in St-Leonard, QC and my mom thought it would be beneficial for me to be in an English classroom.  Back then, the school I attended was bilingual offering classes in French or English.   I was also immersed in English television shows like Sesame Street, Friendly Giant and Mr. Dressup.  My mom told me I wouldn’t talk for the longest time that year though I understood perfectly well.   When grade 1 came around, I entered the French classes instead of pursuing English.   Even to this day, I believe that I learned quite a bit during that first year in school.   When I arrived in high school and had English classes, I was able to pick it up more easily than most of my peers.

But English is not my first language.  I still make errors while speaking or writing.  So I am always on the lookup to learn more tips and tricks.  This book is fabulous because I think it will provide me with more possibilities to master the English language.

The table of contents is divided in specific sections: grammar, punctuation, spelling, communication skills and reference.  In the grammar section, you will be able to get detailed rules about the grammar ( parts of speech, nouns, plurals, adjectives, comparatives, superlatives, articles, determiners, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, tenses, irregular verbs, conjunctions, prepositions and more).   The section about punctuation will highlights all the possible punctuations you can use while writing.   The spelling section will help you and your child if there are any spelling issues in the learning process.   The communications skills section will allow you and your child to discover ways of better communicating when you write.   Finally, in the reference section you will find specific grids helping you to quickly find an answer to a grammar, punctuation, spelling or communication issues.

This book can be useful for parents whose their First Language isn’t English or for older kids who could use a tool to help them in their English assignments.

Help Your Kids with English Canadian Edition is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon

Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon (The Imagination Station #11)
Written by Marianne Hering and Wayne Thomas Batson
Published at Tyndale

About the book

If you’re brave, follow cousins Beth and Patrick to Libya in the 13th century. The town of Silene is being terrorized by a vicious animal that is eating livestock. The townspeople believe it’s a dragon sent by the devil. In order to appease the beast, the people believe they must offer a human sacrifice—a young girl named Sabra. When Beth tries to help Sabra escape, she too is tied up as an offering for the dragon. Meanwhile, Patrick and a new friend named Hazi join Georgius, a Roman knight who is serving in Africa to keep peace. Georgius decides to find the dragon and kill it. Georgius’s plans go awry when Beth and Sabra beg him not to kill the dragon. The girls know the true secret of Silene—the dragon isn’t its worst enemy.

My Thoughts

Here’s another excellent book from The Imagination Station series.  This series allows the reader to explore historical event with the help of fictional characters from Focus on the Family well know radio show Adventures in Odyssey.  Written for kids ages 7 and up, this series helps to discover historical events with a biblical perspective as two cousins are sent back in time.   In this particular installment, the cousins, Beth and Patrick, are sent to the 13th century Libya where a vicious animal is killing sheep.  Some people in the town thinks that they need to sacrifice a young person in order to appease the animal.   

A Roman soldier whom is a believer as well will come to the rescue.  Though it is believed that a dragon is behind the killing, the cousins and their new friends will quickly discover that it is not behind the killings. 

As per previous books, you also have the possibility of downloading a free episode of Adventures in Odyssey if you solve the secret world puzzle at the end of the book.   There is also a quick page of Q&A about dragons at the end of the book.

This book is a great summer read for your child and if you are familiar with the previous titles in the series, you know that you will find quality in the story.    If you are not familiar with The Imagination Station series, think of it as Magic Tree House meet Christianity and you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Hunt for the Devil’s Dragon is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

The book is also available on Kindle.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Tyndale for sending me the book for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Learning more about Canada at the Museum of Civilization

As part of our recent visit to the Museum of Civilization, we have also explored part of the historical and cultural exhibition on the First Peoples Hall.   The museum highlights various parts of the history of Canada and it’s always nice to go see artifacts up close and personal while visiting.

The First Peoples Hall contains over 2000 artifacts that come from Canada’s Aboriginal peoples from sea to sea.    You can see gigantic totems in the Grand Hall and explore the diversity of the First People in Canada.   There are numerous crafts made by Aboriginals as well.   I am in awe of the creativity of the First Peoples even to this day.

It wasn’t the first time we explore this specific section of the museum.  In the past, the kids were able to discover various games that Aboriginal kids would play in order to develop the skills they would need as adults.

Elsewhere in the museum, you will also discover the Canada Hall which will take you through a journey of 1000 years of social history within our country.   The first section focuses on the Atlantic region, Quebec and Ontario through the years 1000 to 1885.  The second section will present the Western and Northern Canada from 1885 to the present.

To complete your visit and learn more about Canada, you should definitively check out The Canadian Personalities Hall which will allow you to meet face to face with twenty-seven Canadians whose decisions, actions and accomplishments shaped our country.

The museum also has an IMAX theater where you can enjoy fabulous presentations on various subjects.

Bottom line is that there is a lot to do when you go to the Museum of Civilization.  It’s a great place to learn more about Canada, to let the kids loose in the Children’s Museum and to enjoy family time.

- See more at: http://blog.goodsamcamping.com/2013/07/learning-more-about-canada-at-the-museum-of-civilization/#sthash.sptYofpJ.dpuf

The Emerging Entrepreneur

The Emerging Entrepreneur
Written by Leanne Seel, CPA, CA

A fellow homeschooler and friend of mine recently published a great tool for young people to encourage them to launch a part-time business in Canada.   She asked if I would be willing to review the curriculum she has written and I said yes.   Unbeknown to me, I didn’t know that our family will renovate our home and unfortunately it the review had to be put aside for a while.   But now that the renovations are done – well almost done but the biggest part of it is done – I find myself having more time to discover The Emerging Entrepreneur.

This curriculum will help your child to learn how to start and run a part-time business in Canada (sorry for my American friends!).    This product contains three manuals:  the E-course, the e-workbook My Business and the e-workbook Case Studies.

The e-course will guide and inform your student on how to setup and start a business.   In total there are eight modules included in this book:

• The five W’s – getting started
• Does the idea make cents? – logistics
• Putting the cents together – financial viability
• Marketing – how to promote your business
• Time management – how to be able to meet deadlines and such
• Choose your own sales tax adventure – here Leanne is explaining everything from provincial taxes to the federal one as well.  
• Bean counting and income taxes – keeping records and income taxes
• Evaluation process

The My Business e-workbook contains worksheets and information to encourage your child to develop his idea of a part-time business while the Case Studies e-workbook will provide examples that will reinforce the learning and questions to help the understanding take place in the brain.

Knowing Leanne and her personal background, I expected that the curriculum would be thorough and I am quite pleased with what I have seen in it.   We, ourselves, have a home business that my husband started more than 20 years ago.    This curriculum is very useful in setting up and learning to ropes of starting a business in Canada.   I’m sure my husband would have loved having something like this in his hands when he started our home business back in the days.

Leanne takes the time to explain in clear language and easy terms how to setup a home business.  She guides you from A to Z in highlighting all the steps necessary to start well in life.   At the end of each module, you will also have some actions steps in order to allow the student in deepening the understanding and learning more about the lesson covered in the module. I, myself, have discovered some tips and tricks I wouldn’t have known.   The fact that the author is a CPA and CA gives a piece of mind to a parent who wants to encourage their kids to develop their own business.   She literally laid out everything you need to know to be successful in your venture.    Even though my kids can talk to their dad and throw ideas to him, and knowing that they can ask questions about starting a business anytime to him as well, I find it essential for them to go through a curriculum like this one in order to determine exactly what needs to be done as they plan their business.    At the end of the e-course, the author also listed numerous links for each modules and provides guidance on how to file taxes at the end of the year. 

I am delighted to have this curriculum and plan to include it in our schedule when my kids will be in grade 8 or 9.   Though this curriculum has been written with kids as young as 9-10 years old, I strongly recommend that it’s considered for kids ages 14 and up.  If your child is interested in going through this curriculum on how to launch a home business and he/she is about 9-13 years old then be aware that some modules will require your guidance.  

The Emerging Entrepreneur bundle is available for purchase for the price of 37.98$ directly from Leanne’s website Sensible Money Solutions.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Leanne Seel from Sensible Money Solutions for sending me the featured product for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Bible Savvy Series

Bible Savvy
Writte by James L. Nicodem
Published at Moody Publishers

About the series

Made up of four individual volumes (Epic, Foundation, Context, and Walk), Bible Savvy is a foundational resource for those wanting to better understand the Bible. From the whole storyline of the Bible to personal application and how to live it, this set of four accessible books is an ideal resource for small groups, Sunday school classes, youth groups, and individuals seeking to increase their breadth of knowledge about God's word.

Epic: The Storyline of the Bible unveils the single theme that ties all the various parts of scripture together: redemption.

Foundation: The Trustworthiness of the Bible explains that the Bible is God's book, not merely man made, and why it can be wholly trusted.

Context: How to Understand the Bible shows readers how to read the different parts of the Bible as they were meant to be read and how they fit together.

Walk: How to Apply the Bible helps readers put their greater understanding of the text into practice and how to draw real-life applications from it.

Who is James Nicodem?

JIM NICODEM has been the senior pastor of Christ Community Church since its start in 1984. Beginning with a group of six families, the church has grown to over five thousand people at four campuses. A significant focus on reaching spiritual seekers has resulted in scores of new believers being baptized each year.Born and raised in the Midwest, Jim did his schooling in Biblical studies (BA/Wheaton College; MDiv, DMin/Trinity Evangelical Divinity School). In keeping with Christ Community Church's mission to make passionate disciples of Jesus Christ, Jim loves to mentor others in prayer and the study of God's Word. With that goal in mind, he has authored Prayer Coach: For All Who Want to Get Off the Bench and Onto the Praying Field (2008) and the four-book Bible Savvy series (2013).Jim and his wife, Sue, have been married for more than thirty years and have three grown children. Jim enjoys biking, hiking and kayaking for recreation. He loves to hang out in Chicago, where he can watch the Cubs play (no better park than Wrigley) or listen to the world-class Symphony Orchestra. The local Starbucks also sees a lot of Jim, accompanied by books (mostly biographies) or friends.

My Thoughts

These books are apparently great for new believers and old ones too.   However, the more I discover them I personally find that these are great for new believers and youth.    There are probably a few things I can personally learn from these but at this point in my life I sense that God wants me to spend my time discovering him as my Father in Heaven – the one who always loves me no matter what.

However, I can say that I like the idea of having a series of four books helping younger Christians to possess a foundation that is solid as they advance in life.    Each chapter of the books is quickly followed by a study guide that will help the reader to deepen his understanding and apply the knowledge gleaned in his/her own life.

I also like the fact that the author has split the information in four volumes – one guiding the reader through the various books of the Bible, one  helping the reader to determine the reliability of the Bible, one to help understand the Bible and finally one that will highlight how to apply the Bible in your life.   Essentially, I think these books would make a great gift for anyone you know who has become a new believer or for youth to help them grasp a better understanding of the Bible and God himself.

The Bible Savvy Series is available for purchase at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

     

It is also available on Kindle.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Moody Publisher for sending me the featured product for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Update: Service as it should be.

I learned yesterday that my lenses had arrived and that the manager of Loblaws Optical on Baseline would cut them in the afternoon.

Since three of my kids were attending VBS at a church not far from there this week, I decided to go pick them up after dropping them off in the morning.   My oldest is at camp this week so I had a few hours to myself.

As I mentioned before, I had gone the previous week to select a frame for the lenses he was going to replace.

Here’s my choice.

My husband had taken a picture of me with them that evening.   Honestly, we had selected four different frames and we took all the pictures we needed to make a decision.  The frame I selected was the last one I had chosen from the lot.  

So this morning I went in and within 10 minutes I was done.    I paid the frame only and am quite impressed with the service he has given me.  

My kids will have an eye checkup in the fall…. last time we went, our eye doctor said that next time our oldest might need glasses.   Our second son wears a pair of glasses because of one eye deviating slightly.    If any of them needs a pair of glasses, you can be certain that I will go to Loblaws Optical.   I also learned that apparently the Loblaws in Barrhaven will have an optical soon.   

Blast Into Summer with Nerf!

So how do you keep your kids busy during the summer – apart from camp that is.    Stay-at-home parents have to be creative sometimes to “entertain” the kids.   I don’t believe in video games and television and encourage my kids to go play in the backyard.  However with the temperature like we are experiencing these days, what else can you do?    Sometimes it’s just too hot for anyone to be outdoors.

Hasbro has two new Nerf blasters that might catch the interest of your kids.   While one will allow your child to launch elite darts, the other one will guarantee pleasure during a hot summer day by soaking the opponent.  Let me present you the two new Nerf Blasters that I have received.

Nerf N-Strike Elite Rough Cut 2x4 Blaster

Slam into battle with the double-barreled domination of the ROUGH CUT 2X4 blaster!     This sleek blaster lets you launch 2 Elite Darts at once at targets up to 75 feet away, and the pump-action design lets you pump repeatedly to unleash a steady double stream of darts! Launch up to 8 Elite Darts without reloading!      As with most N-STRIKE blasters, the Tactical Rail lets you add most N-STRIKE Tactical Rail accessories (sold separately) for more battle capability.    Power up the multishot madness of the ROUGH CUT 2X4 blaster and get ready to dominate with both barrels!   The blaster comes with 8 Elite Darts and instructions.

Nerf Super Soaker Switch Shot Blaster

Choose your spray pattern and soak your competition 4 different ways with the SWITCH SHOT water blaster!    What will be you choice of attack?  Send a 3 streams of water at them from up to 25 feet away?  Launch an atomized mist attack? Or just massively soak them? To decide you only have to twist the knob on this versatile blaster to choose Scattershot, Triple Shot, Atomizer or Jetstream mode and then pump to soak away!   The SWITCH SHOT blaster holds up to 20 fluid ounces of water in the Banana Clip; you can attach extra Banana Clips (extra clips sold separately) to your pants or belt so you never run out of ammo.   Enhance your blasting accuracy with the detachable stock.    Choose your attack and launch the extreme soakage with the SWITCH SHOT blaster!  The blaster comes with detachable stock and Banana Clip.

Whether you are going camping with your family or enjoying the summer time in your own backyard, these two amazing blasters will bring tons of laughter and fun time for your kids.   What stops you to join them in the fun?  

As for us, I am planning to bring the Super Soakers we have at a family reunion we will attend in early August.   Being at the lake with over 150 people to play games and reconnect will be interesting.  The Super Soakers will add to the fun when my kids jump in the lake.     I can already hear the laughter and the yells of all the kids playing in the water.  It’s going to be a week-end to remember I think.    In the meantime, enjoy the summer (warm weather and all) and get some of these Nerf blasters to entertain your kids.   You won’t regret it!

Disclaimer: Thanks to Hasbro Canada for sending me the above mentioned products for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Discoveries at the Canadian Children’s Museum

Last week, I presented to you a special exhibit currently going on at the Canadian Children’s Museum located inside the Canadian Museum of Civilization.  Today, I want to present you the rest of the Canadian Children’s Museum – more specifically its permanent exhibitions.

When the kids enter the magical world of the Children’s Museum, you can expect an around the world tour as well as fun things to do.    Not only your child will receive a special passport which you can stamp as you explore the Children’s Museum but he/she will have the opportunity to experiments first things with various settings.

Right from the start, your child will have the opportunity to discover the world of performing arts with numerous costumes and experiment with lighting and sounds.   From there, a whole world opens up to the kids.   They can go from one station to the other to explore an Egyptian pyramid, the market Bazaar which includes not only international food but a currency exchange booth as well.   At the Port of Entry, you can explore a cargo ship and operate a crane to help unload the cargo.   You can visit homes from around the world, build a new house, explore the restaurant business,  travel by on an Indian bus and even discover toys from the past.

The museum is not big but could help you to entertain your kids during a rainy day or an extremely hot day (like the ones we are having these days…).   Besides, once you got your ticket to explore the Children’s Museum, you can also explore the Canadian Museum of Civilization.  And don’t forget the special exhibition – The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head.

Next week: Exploring Canadian History at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

Originally Published on the Woodall’s blog.

Let your kids loose in reading with DK Readers

DK Canada has an amazing deal to encourage your kids to read this summer.  If you buy two DK Readers from their boutique, you will get a third one free.  We have had the privilege to review and read numerous of their DK Readers in the past and I am always amazed at the quality of some of their books.

Before I present you some of the titles we received to promote this special deal at the DK Readers Boutique – buy 2 get 1 FREE, let me show you what is the DK Readers.   Essentially, it is a multi-level reading program that will allow your child to progress based on his/her comfort of reading the words.   The program starts with simple sentences and slowly builds up with more complicated stories and vocabulary.   You can find numerous titles in the series whether you are looking for a Canadian subject or something based on Star Wars.   There are something for everyone in the DK Readers.   Below is a more comprehensive guide to allow you to determine which reader would be better for your child.

This specific one is obviously for my dancing ballerina – she always borrow books from the library on dancing…  In I want to be a Ballerina Jasmine is following Jaimie at her first ballet class.  The book highlights the various things you need to know to dance ballet and includes numerous photos as well.   Jasmine loves to pick up this book and look at the pictures when she doesn’t have someone to read the book to her.

As I was checking out the titles, I stumbled on two special ones based on the popular game Angry Birds Star Wars.  Knowing how my kids would love to read these, I just couldn’t resist and requested them to review.   My assumption was okay and as soon as the books arrived they jumped on these two titles to devour them with their eyes.   Lard Vader’s Villains  will introduce your kids to the evil Lard Vader and his Empire pigs.  The book will allow your child to follow them as they try to take control of the galaxy…   In Yoda Bird’s Heroes, the kids will meet Yoda Bird and the Rebel Heroes as they try to defeat the Empire pigs.  

  

Finally, the last DK Readers book I selected was Skate! which follows the progress of a beginning skateboarder as he advances from basic moves to more exciting tricks and jumps.    I know my boys will enjoy reading about how to skateboard and discover some tricks at the same time.

Finally, I also want to highlight the fabulous DK Biography books that are based solemnly on one particular person in history.    I received the one on Thomas Edison but I had read other ones in the past – Gandhi, Harriet Tubman, Laura Ingalls Wilder and Mother Teresa.    The DK Biographies books are filled wit  archival photographs and amazing facts which help to introduce the readers to some of history's most interesting and influential characters.  DK Biography: Thomas Edison tells the story of the famous inventor, from his childhood as an "addled" student, to his reign as the "Wizard of Menlo Park," where he developed the electric light bulb, the phonograph, and many other inventions still in use today.  I always enjoy the books from this specific series as I am discovering fascinating facts about a specific person in history.

Love what you are seeing from the titles I have received?   Want to see more DK Readers options for your child?    Click to the DK Readers Boutique to discover more titles that could encourage your child to read this summer.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the books for review purposes from DK Canada.. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head

Another fun exhibition is in Ottawa for the summer. The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head has arrived in town on June 8^th and will be at the Canadian Children’s Museum located inside the Museum of Civilization until January 5^th, 2014. However, please keep in mind that this specific exhibition is specifically geared for younger kids ages 2-4. Though my kids enjoyed exploring this exhibition when we went, it was a little bit too “childish” for my nine and twelve year old son. My 5 years old daughter and 7 years old son had a blast on their own way.

This exhibition was created by the Betty Brinn Children’s Museum in collaboration with Hasbro. In fact, I had requested the possibility to check the exhibition out through my contact at Hasbro Canada. Within a few days I received confirmation that we could go anytime we wanted.

So on a nice Saturday morning, we headed up to the Museum of Civilization in order to explore the special exhibition entirely created around the Adventures of Mr. Potato Head. Right at the entrance of this exhibition, my kids were immediately attracted to the play table where you can decorate seven potato bodies using numerous body parts and accessories. My four kids and I created our own silly Mr. Potato Head figure based on our imagination and ideas. You can see the result of this creativity below.

Right after unleashing this creativity, you can discover a bit of history about Mr. Potato Head.   Did you know that Mr. Potato Head used to have a real potato for his head in the 1950s?   You can see the kind of body parts and accessories the set back in those days had in a special presentation bubble.    My kids were amazed by this interesting fact when we explained to them that the toy exist for quite some time.

The exhibition contains four main stations where the kids can explore and discover the world of Mr. Potato Head. In the Spud Safari, the kids can learn to identify creatures based on their calls, hop in a jungle rover and explore the surrounding as well as create their own amazing jungle bugs out of a variety of tools.

In the Space S.P.U.D., the kids can join Commander Mr. Potato Head on the S.P.U.D. (Super Potato United for Discovery) space station as they orbit the distant planet Neptato. For some reasons, unbeknown to be, my kids have not been attracted to this specific station while we visited.

In the Spud Overboard, the kids can expore a playhouse for underwater exploration with buttons triggering water sound effects. Budding musicians can explore your music gifting by composing an ocean overture while using the vessel’s musical pipes.

Finally, in the Spud Quest station, the kids can transform themselves as archeologists in order to explore the ruins of a lost vegetable kingdom. A huge statue is at the centre of the room and using the pedestal, the kids can emboss their names on a piece of paper using the 26 tatoglyphs. This was my favourite part to be honest. However, I would have made the pieces of paper a little bit longer so that you could create tatoglyphs on the whole name of the child when it is longer. Behind the huge statue of King Tato’s you will find fun mazes that are designed to challenge any child – young and old. The mazes immediately attracted the attention of my two oldest kids during our visit.

The kids were also invited to create their own burlap bag to take home while visiting the Children’s Museum Studio. My two youngest kids designed their own bag to collect treasures during their own exploration this summer. My older two didn’t want to do this activity but waited patiently while their siblings were being creative.

If you are visiting Ottawa/Gatineau, you might want to bring your younger kids to the Adventures of Mr. Potato Head. Tickets can be purchase online.  Please note that the purchase of the tickets will allow you to explore the Canadian Children’s Museum and the Canadian Museum of Civilization as well.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Hasbro Canada and the Museum of Civilization for allowing my family to explore the new exhibit of The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head in exchange of a reviews . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.