This Big Fat Notebook makes it all “sink in” with key concepts, mnemonic devices, definitions, diagrams, and doodles to help you understand computer science. Perfect for Junior High; grades 7, 8 and 9.

 
Including:

• Computing systems
• Binary code
• Algorithms
• Computational thinking
• Loops, events, and procedures
• Programming in Scratch and Python
• Boolean Expressions
• Web development
• Cybersecurity
• HTML
• CSS
• …and more!

 
The Big Fat Notebook series is built on a simple and irresistible conceit―borrowing the notes from the smartest kid in class. Each book in the series meets Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, and state history standards, and are vetted by National and State Teacher of the Year Award–winning teachers. They make learning fun and are the perfect next step for every kid who grew up on Brain Quest.

My Thoughts

Similar to the other Big Fat Books on Math, Science, English, World History and American History, this book is well made and very colorful.  It explains all you need to know about computer science and coding. 

Each chapter is written in easy language and contains clear illustrations and explanations.  Chapters end with a Check your Knowledge section which you can answer and a Check your Answers to confirm if you were right or wrong.

I really love the style in these books as they are perfect to help understand complex information linked to computer science.

This book and the other ones in the One Big Fat Notebook series are available at your favorite bookstore.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen 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.

Eyewitness DVDs

Through the years I had the privilege to present a wide variety of Eyewitness DVDs on this blog. The Eyewitness DVDs would be great in this time of social distancing to allow your kids to learn on specific subjects like plant, insect, ocean, birds and so on.

I have two other ones that I would like to present this morning. 

EYEWITNESS DVD INSECT

Like it or not during our spring, summer and fall seasons (at least in Canada anyways) we are surrounded but a wide range of insects.   Discover a world of creatures that are industrious, sociable, and environmentally useful.   Unfortunately for some of them, we do not have the patience to have them around us buzzing constantly in our ears.

But there is much to learn on these creatures.  This DVD will allow you to explore the wonders of the insect world through macro photography and 3-D graphics.  You will observe a queen wasp building her nest, a caterpillar devouring a leaf, a damselfly nympho emerging as an adult and so much more.

EYEWITNESS DVD WEATHER

Weather is something we experience day after day in life. Sunshine. Rain. Snow. These are only a sample of what weather is.   Sometimes it can be deadly like lighting, extreme winds, hail... 

This DVD takes you on a tour of Earth's turbulent atmosphere and reveals the forces that make our day a nice one or a disastrous one. 

Conclusion

Both of these DVD can make a wonderful unit study for your kids when learning from home - whether you are a veteran homeschooler or a new one (voluntarily or not due to Covid-19).

Each DVD are about 25 minutes in length and are packed with information that is interesting and educative at the same time. 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me these DVD 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 opinion expressed here are only my own.

Grade 12 Completed...

As I sit down and write this, my oldest son is writing his last exam for high school.   The past year he was full time with an online school called Virtual Learning Center (VLC for short).

He had done it part time during his grade 11 and went full time for his grade 12.   Through this year he also went through the process of applying for university.

This particular semester was a bit heavy for him since he had four classes - Advanced Functions, Chemistry, Biology and Calculus and Vectors.   But he did amazingly well...

He applied in three different programs for university:
Choice #1 - Bachelor of Sciences in Biomedical at UOttawa
Choice #2 - Bachelor in Health Science option Biomedical at Carleton University
Choice #3 - Bachelor in Health Science.

He was accepted in all three with scholarship.  So proud of him...

So next September he embark on a journey of learning in Biomedical.  He is looking forward to it.

We started homeschooling him officially when he was going to be in grade 1.   It was worth it in many ways and I would encourage parents to seriously consider homeschooling your kids during the high school.

One has finished.  I still have three at home...  but somehow I have a feeling of accomplishment when I know that he is pursuing his dream to work in the medical field.  He hopes to be able to go into Medical School but he already has backup plans.  

Congrats Alex!  So proud of you!

Smithsonian The Elements Book

Smithsonian The Elements Book – A Visual Encyclopedia of the Periodic Table
Published at DK Canada

About the book

Kids can go on a visual tour of the 118 chemical elements of the periodic table, from argon to zinc, in this one awesome volume packed with incredible images and fascinating facts.

Cataloged by type, each element's properties and atomic structure is explained. More than 1,000 full-color photographs showcase the natural forms of each element, as well as a wide range of unexpected everyday objects in which it is found, to make them relevant to a child's world. How does a motorcycle utilize nitrogen? Which element can absorb harmful chemicals in water? Which famous landmark is made of copper? From hydrogen to sodium to nickel, kids will learn fun facts and be amazed.

My Thoughts

As our homeschool year is wrapping up slowly but surely, you cannot help to start planning for the next year – especially if you attended a homeschool conference in the previous month.   Our homeschool coop has been in planning mode for quite some time because some moms are writing the units we will cover during the year.  One of these units will be “Introduction to Chemistry” for kids ages 9-15.  I have three kids participating in that group age and honestly I am excited about introducing them to the world of chemistry (even though I struggle in that subject in high school).  

One of my goal in our homeschool is to provide amazing books for them to explore ahead of the units in coop.  Sometimes these books are historical novels that we read together, other times it is books that will provide information on a specific subject- like the one today!   The Elements Book is essentially a visual encyclopedia of the periodic table.   What I mean by this is that for each element found in the periodic table (known at the time of printing this book), you will be visualize the form and uses of the element as well as discover its position in the period table.

Through the pages of this book, you will be amaze of how certain elements are used in life today.  For example, let’s take potassium.  Did you know that it was first found in the dust of burnt plant by Sir Humphry Davy?  Potassium can be found in bananas, root vegetables, and avocados.   But potassium is found in fertilizer, carbonated water, saline drip, gunpowder, liquid soap and even a rebreather which is a machine used by expert divers so they can stay underwater for long period of times.

This book is definitively a great reference to go to when you want to learn more about the elements of the periodic table.

Smithsonian The Elements Book is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote these books. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Everything You Need to Ace…

Back in August last year, I had the opportunity to review three titles in the series Everything You Need to Ace.   I had received the English Language Arts, the World History and the Science titles.

My husband was so impressed with these books that he asked if there were other titles in the series.  “Yes – Math and American History.” , I answered.  “Try to get them as well.”

It is pretty rare that my husband will take the time to check out some books I receive to review so for him to suggest that I get the other two titles is pretty meaningful.

The BIG FAT NOTEBOOK™ series is built on a simple and irresistible conceit—borrowing the notes from the smartest kid in class.  Inside each of the title you will find every subject’s key concepts summarize in small chunks of information so that you can digest that your own rhythm.   And to make things a bit easier on everyone the critical ideas are highlighted in neon colors, the definitions are explained, doodles illustrates the tricky concepts and mnemonics helps to memorize.  Finally you will also find some quizzes at the end of each chapters to help you cement the information in your brain.

Math

Everything You Need to Ace Math . . . covers everything to get a student over any math hump: fractions, decimals, and how to multiply and divide them; ratios, proportions, and percentages; geometry; statistics and probability; expressions and equations; and the coordinate plane and functions.

The math book has been a great reference for us – especially in the pre-algebra lessons when my son forgets how to do a calculation like the Pythagorean theorem.

American History

Everything You Need to Ace American History . . . covers Native Americans to the war in Iraq. There are units on Colonial America; the Revolutionary War and the founding of a new nation; Jefferson and the expansion west; the Civil War and Reconstruction; and all of the notable events of the 20th century—World Wars, the Depression, the Civil Rights movement, and much more.

I was hesitating about this specific title because we are Canadians.  But come to think of it, this book is a perfect summary to discover what happened during the history of America.   And since they are our closest neighbors why not learn a bit about them.  

My Thoughts

This series of book is amazing.  Each title is a great addition to your personal library whether you homeschool or not.   Right at the tips of your fingers you can get information about English Language Arts, Math, World History, American History, as well as Science.  

I would like to suggest some other titles to Workman for future publications: Geography and Canadian History.   I am sure that these two subjects would be popular as well.

I give my two thumbs-up for the titles in the Everything You Need to Ace series.  They are great resources to have at hand when you desire to verify some concepts, learn new facts or simply read for the fun.

Everything you Need to Ace books are available on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

   
  
  
  
  

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned books 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.