Summer Series: 50 States - Delaware

DELAWARE

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On December 7, 1787, Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution, earning it the nickname "The First State."  Delaware (DE) sits along the eastern seaboard and is nestled among Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey.  It is the 49th biggest state, only surpassing Rhode Island in size, and is the 45th most populous.  Most of the population and industry lies in the northern half of the state.

The capital is Dover; it achieved this honor in 1777 because it was viewed as a safer place to be in the event of an Indian attack than the old capital.  People who live in Delaware are referred to as Delawareans.  There haven't been a lot of famous people born here.  Some are Valerie Bertinelli, who is an actress; Annie Jump Cannon, an astronomer; Stephen Marley, guitarist; and Howard Pyle, an illustrator and author.  There have, however, been famous people who have made Delaware their home.  One was a man by the name of Oliver Evans who, in 1785, invented an automatic flour milling machine.  Another was a Frenchman, E.I. du Pont.  In 1802, he bought some land and set up a gunpowder mill.  Today, DuPont is one of the world's largest companies.

Delaware was explored by the Spanish and the Portuguese in the 16th century.  Dutchman Henry Hudson discovered what is known today as the Delaware River and Delaware Bay in 1609.  No settlement was built until 1631, however, and this was by a Dutch trading company who had bought land from the local Indian tribes.  The overseer of the trading company traveled to Delaware in 1632 to visit this settlement only to find out that all of the settlers had been killed and all of the buildings burned to the ground.  The Swedes came to this area in 1638 and settled in what is the present-day city of Wilmington.  They lived comfortably until 1655 when another Dutchman, Peter Stuyvesant, came and took over and named it the Colony of New Netherlands.

In 1681, William Penn received an enormous tract of land from King Charles II as payment of a debt owed to Penn's father.  He asked for the land that is west of the Delaware River as well so that, in the event of the folks of Delaware becoming hostile, Pennsylvania would not be landlocked.  He was granted this land as well.  There arose a dispute between Penn and Lord Baltimore of Maryland as to what exactly was Penn's land in 1682.  This dispute continued almost until the Revolution and was argued between their heirs after they each had died.  In 1776, Delaware created its own state government and separated itself from Pennsylvania.  A few years prior to that, the boundaries of Delaware had been surveyed by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon.

Delaware is named in honor of an early Viriginia Governor, Lord De La Warr.  The motto is "Liberty and Independence."  The state bird is the blue hen chicken, and the state bug is the ladybug.

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The state flower is the peach blossom, and the tree is the American holly.  The state beverage is milk.






Delaware has a few nicknames besides First State.  It is also called the Blue Hen State, Diamond State, and Small Wonder.

Enjoy this word search.

Finally, here are some sources that can be found at Christian Book:

It Happened in Delaware By Judy Colbert / Globe Pequot

Delaware My First Book, Grades K-5 By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International An “early bird” intro to basic state facts. Covers state basics such as state nickname, seal, song, bird, motto, flag, regions, industries, neighbors, and weather, plus an intro to state history, people and more. Includes: drawing, mazes, matching, coloring, and more! Reproducible. Available for all 50 states. Grades K-5; ages 5-10.

Delaware 1638-1776 By Karen Hossell / National Geographic Children's Books

Delaware State History In a Nutshell - PDF Download [Download] By Cyndi Kinney & Judy Trout / Knowledge Box Central Get to know your home state! Comprehensive state history lapbook resources from Knowledge Box Central are designed so that children of all ages can study together. Explore state symbols, songs and landmarks, famous people, geographical regions, timelines of historical events, and more. The included state-specific study guide provides background information, history, and other factual information; this study guide is the same for both lapbook (Grades K-8) and lapbook journal (Grades 6-12) students, so that the parent only needs to go over the information once. This lapbook includes a list of all the supplies needed if following the included base guide. Blackline masters are provided for students to cut out and paste into their lapbook, while a photo of a finished lapbook provides a visual example. This Lapbook is structured for use with K-8th Grade Students. Get started on your lapbook immediately with this PDF Download.

Delaware History Project Book, Grades K-8 By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International History projects include: creating a cartoon panel describing how our state name may have come about; dressing up as a famous explorer and recreating their main discovery and more! Grades K–8; ages 5–15.

Delaware State History Lapbook - PDF Download [Download] By Cyndi Kinney & Judy Trout / Knowledge Box Central

Delaware State History Lapbook Journal - PDF Download [Download] By Cyndi Kinney & Judy Trout / Knowledge Box Central

It Happened in the Revolutionary War By Michael R. Bradley / Globe Pequot Many of the events and heroes of the Revolutionary War are well known --- the Boston Tea Party, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington's crossing of the Delaware, Paul Revere's midnight ride. It Happened in the Revolutionary War gives readers inside information on these events as well as less-known happenings. Did you know that Ben Franklin had a son who supported the Crown, that one of Washington's bodyguards plotted with the British to kidnap him, or that the Minutemen were disbanded after only seven months? Here you'll learn the real story behind "Yankee Doodle Went to Town," the dangerous consequences of signing the Declaration of Independence, and the long, risky ride of a forgotten patriot who happened to be a woman. In an easy-to-read style that is entertaining and informative, Michael Bradley recounts some of the most captivating moments from our nation's history. Here are a few extras since the ladybug is the state bug of Delaware:

Life Cycles: Ladybug By Creative Teaching Press Now your students can witness the life cycles of 12 plant and animal species right in the classroom or at home! From the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly, to the life cycle of the Fighting Fish, this series presents the facts with detailed descriptions and brilliantly colorful photos. 16 pages each. Grades 1-3.

Ladybug Note Pad By Trend Enterprises A fun and versatile note pad for school, home, or office! Use for student notes, name tags, shopping lists and more. 50 sheets.

Luminous Ladybugs Sparkle Stickers By Trend Enterprises Watch eyes light up when you reward kids with popular Sparkle Stickers. Add pizzazz to name tags, report cards, party invitations, and homework assignments. 72 stickers in more than four different designs. Acid-free, non-toxic, and safe for use on photos.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s regulations.

It Happened in Delaware

By Judy Colbert / Globe Pequot

Delaware My First Book, Grades K-5

By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International

An “early bird” intro to basic state facts. Covers state basics such as state nickname, seal, song, bird, motto, flag, regions, industries, neighbors, and weather, plus an intro to state history, people and more. Includes: drawing, mazes, matching, coloring, and more! Reproducible. Available for all 50 states. Grades K-5; ages 5-10.

Delaware 1638-1776

By Karen Hossell / National Geographic Children's Books

Delaware State History In a Nutshell - PDF Download [Download]

By Cyndi Kinney & Judy Trout / Knowledge Box Central

Get to know your home state! Comprehensive state history lapbook resources from Knowledge Box Central are designed so that children of all ages can study together. Explore state symbols, songs and landmarks, famous people, geographical regions, timelines of historical events, and more. The included state-specific study guide provides background information, history, and other factual information; this study guide is the same for both lapbook (Grades K-8) and lapbook journal (Grades 6-12) students, so that the parent only needs to go over the information once.

This lapbook includes a list of all the supplies needed if following the included base guide. Blackline masters are provided for students to cut out and paste into their lapbook, while a photo of a finished lapbook provides a visual example. This Lapbook is structured for use with K-8th Grade Students.

Get started on your lapbook immediately with this PDF Download.

Delaware History Project Book, Grades K-8

By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International

History projects include: creating a cartoon panel describing how our state name may have come about; dressing up as a famous explorer and recreating their main discovery and more! Grades K–8; ages 5–15.

Delaware State History Lapbook - PDF Download [Download]

By Cyndi Kinney & Judy Trout / Knowledge Box Central

Delaware State History Lapbook Journal - PDF Download [Download]

By Cyndi Kinney & Judy Trout / Knowledge Box Central

It Happened in the Revolutionary War

By Michael R. Bradley / Globe Pequot

Many of the events and heroes of the Revolutionary War are well known --- the Boston Tea Party, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, George Washington's crossing of the Delaware, Paul Revere's midnight ride. It Happened in the Revolutionary War gives readers inside information on these events as well as less-known happenings. Did you know that Ben Franklin had a son who supported the Crown, that one of Washington's bodyguards plotted with the British to kidnap him, or that the Minutemen were disbanded after only seven months? Here you'll learn the real story behind "Yankee Doodle Went to Town," the dangerous consequences of signing the Declaration of Independence, and the long, risky ride of a forgotten patriot who happened to be a woman. In an easy-to-read style that is entertaining and informative, Michael Bradley recounts some of the most captivating moments from our nation's history.

Here are a few extras since the ladybug is the state bug of Delaware:

Life Cycles: Ladybug
By Creative Teaching Press

Now your students can witness the life cycles of 12 plant and animal species right in the classroom or at home! From the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly, to the life cycle of the Fighting Fish, this series presents the facts with detailed descriptions and brilliantly colorful photos. 16 pages each. Grades 1-3.

Ladybug Note Pad
By Trend Enterprises

A fun and versatile note pad for school, home, or office! Use for student notes, name tags, shopping lists and more. 50 sheets.

Luminous Ladybugs Sparkle Stickers
By Trend Enterprises

Watch eyes light up when you reward kids with popular Sparkle Stickers. Add pizzazz to name tags, report cards, party invitations, and homework assignments. 72 stickers in more than four different designs. Acid-free, non-toxic, and safe for use on photos.

Summer Series: 50 States - Connecticut

CONNECTICUT

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Our fifth state in the Union is Connecticut.  This New England state entered statehood on January 9, 1788, after the Revolutionary War when the Convention in Connecticut approved the new Federal Constitution with a vote of 128 to 40.  Part of the U.S. Constitution was proposed by representatives from Connecticut and, therefore, was called the Connecticut Compromise.  This became a permanent part of the Constitution and says that in the Senate all states would be represented equally and in the House of Representatives states would be represented according to their population, i.e., the more people who live there the more representatives they would have.

The postal abbreviation is CT, and the capital is Hartford (as represented by the star above).  CT is the 48th biggest state, with only Rhode Island and Delaware smaller, but the 29th most populous state.  There are a lot of people living in a small area.  Those people are called Connecticuters.  Before the arrival of the Europeans, many Native American tribes lived on this land.  They were the Mahican, Minisink, Mohegan, Pequot, Nipmuc, and Quiripi tribes.  Today, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan are federally recognized, although there are still a few other tribes/nations still living in Connecticut.  The name of the state came from the Mohican/Algonquin word, "quonehtacut."  Some resources spell the word "quinatucquet."    It means "long tidal river."  The river is the Connecticut River which is 360 miles long and extends all the way to Vermont.

Some famous people living in Vermont are President George W. Bush, J.P. Morgan, Katharine Hepburn, Suzanne Collins (author famous for The Hunger Games), Ethan Allen, Benedict Arnold, P.T. Barnum, John Brown, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Goodyear, and Charles Tiffany.  There were more famous people born here; these are just a few.  I have not listed what they are known for this time.  Do some research and find out why they are famous (or infamous).  Some are inventors; some are entertainers of different sorts.  Some are important in the history of our country.

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The flag, as seen above, was adopted in 1897.  The grapevines represent the early English settlers.  Before the English came, however, the Dutch arrived in 1633.  They purchased land from the Pequot Indians and built permanent settlements.  The English arrived from the Massachusetts Colony din 1634.  As they explored the valley, they recognized its beauty and decided to built their own settlements.  The Reverend Thomas Hooker along with other colonists founded Hartford, which became the capital of Connecticut, in 1636.  It was the center of government and trade.  As the settlers came, they bought land from the Mohegan Indians.  The Pequot Indians wanted the land the settlers had purchased, but they were able to defend themselves with the help of Captain John Mason.  A couple of years later, the U.S.'s first constitution was written.  It was called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut and was created by the collaboration of Thomas Hooker, John Haynes, and Roger Ludlow.
There was peace and prosperity for years, but the colonists began to be dissatisfied with England's rule over them.  Governor John Winthrop traveled back to England in 1662 to meet with King Charles II.  He returned to Connecticut with a royal charter and rights.  Almost 30 years later, England decided to try to withdraw the royal charter and the colonists' rights, but the charter was removed at a meeting and hidden in a hollow oak, which came to be known as the Charter Oak.  Connecticut continued for decades, becoming increasingly weary of England's rule as did many of the other colonists.  This led to the Revolutionary War in 1775.  Research Connecticut's role in this War.

Connecticut's motto is "He who transplanted still sustains."  The nickname is "The Constitution State."  The state flower is the Mountain laurel, and the tree is the White Oak.  The state bird is the Robin, and the animal is the Sperm whale.

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If considering a visit to Connecticut, there are many sites to see.  Here are just a few:

Audubon Greenwich - This a perfect place for bird watchers with 12 bird sanctuaries on 686 acres.
Woodbury Antiques Trail - There are 30 antique dealers set up in historic houses along this road.
PEZ Visitor Center - A large collection of PEZ memorabilia housed in a 4000 square foot building.
Mystic Seaport - This is a recreated 19th century shipping village.
Harriett Beecher Stowe Center - The house she lived in for 23 years.
Hempsted Houses - Shares story of Underground Railroad
Mark Twain House
Revolutionary Road
Nautilus - First nuclear submarine sits in Groton, Connecticut
Noah Webster House

View the ConneCT Kids website for puzzles and learning games.

Here are some resources available though Christianbook:

Connecticut By Darice Bailer, Jackie Ball(Editor) & Kristen Behrens(Editor) / Gareth Stevens Publishing

A Primary Source History of the Colony of Connecticut - Unabridged Audiobook on CD By Ann Malaspina & Jay Snyder / Brilliance Audio Learn all about the colony of Connecticut using primary source documents in this audiobook. In 1636 the first Puritans arrived, leaving the crowded Massachusetts Bay Colony behind, seeking religious freedom and land. The smallest colony, after Rhode Island and Delaware, held promise for the colonists despite the struggles they encountered from the rocky, woody terrain. The colonists would soon discover their own government. Unabridged audio CD; approximately 1 hour 12 minutes; 1 CD; performed by Jay Snyder.

Voices from Colonial America: Connecticut 1614-1776 By Michael Burgan / Random House, Inc

Connecticut State History Lapbook - PDF Download [Download] By Cyndi Kinney / Knowledge Box Central Get to know your home state! Comprehensive state history lapbook resources from Knowledge Box Central are designed so that children of all ages can study together. Explore state symbols, songs and landmarks, famous people, geographical regions, timelines of historical events, and more. The included state-specific study guide provides background information, history, and other factual information; this study guide is the same for both lapbook (Grades K-8) and lapbook journal (Grades 6-12) students, so that the parent only needs to go over the information once. This lapbook includes a list of all the supplies needed if following the included base guide. Blackline masters are provided for students to cut out and paste into their lapbook, while a photo of a finished lapbook provides a visual example. This Lapbook is structured for use with K-8th Grade Students. No more using up printer supplies with this pre-printed laptop resource; simply cut out and assemble, and you're ready to write!

Connecticut State History Lapbook Journal - PDF Download [Download] By Cyndi Kinney / Knowledge Box Central Get to know your home state! Comprehensive state history lapbook resources from Knowledge Box Central are designed so that children of all ages can study together. Explore state symbols, songs and landmarks, famous people, geographical regions, timelines of historical events, and more. The included state-specific study guide provides background information, history, and other factual information; this study guide is the same for both lapbook (Grades K-8) and lapbook journal (Grades 6-12) students, so that the parent only needs to go over the information once. This Lapbook Journal is structured for use with 6th-12th grade students, and includes not only the standard six lapbook booklets, but also journal pages to complete. The booklets may be either glued to the last two pages, or, students may also choose to not complete the booklets, but rather incorporate the information in the state report. No more using up printer supplies with this pre-printed laptop resource; simply cut out and assemble, and you're ready to write!

A Young Partiot: The American Revolution As Experienced By One Boy By Jim Murphy / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt In the summer of 1776, Joseph Plumb Martin was a fifteen-year-old Connecticut farm boy who considered himself "as warm a patriot as the best of them." He enlisted that July and stayed in the revolutionary army until hostilities ended in 1783. Martin fought under Washington, Lafayette, and Steuben. He took part in major battles in New York, Monmouth, and Yorktown. He wintered at Valley Forge and then at Morristown, considered even more severe. he wrote of his war years in a memoir that brings the American Revolution alive with telling details, drama, and a country boy's humor. Jim Murphy lets Joseph Plumb Martin speak for himself throughout the text, weaving in historical background details wherever necessary, giving voice to a teenager who was an eyewitness to the fight that set America free from the British Empire.

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court By Mark Twain / Dover Publications In this classic satiric novel, published in 1889, Hank Morgan, a supervisor in a Connecticut gun factory, falls unconscious after being whacked on the head. When he wakes up he finds himself in Britain in 528--where he is immediately captured, hauled back to Camelot to be exhibited before the knights of King Arthur's Round Table, and sentenced to death. Things are not looking good. But Hank is a quick-witted and enterprising fellow, and in the process of saving his life he turns himself into a celebrity of the highest magnitude. His Yankee ingenuity and knowledge of the world beyind the Dark Ages are regarded as the most powerful sorcery--winning him the position of prime minister as well as the eternal enmity of a jealous Merlin. In an effort to bring democratic principles and mechanical knowledge to the kingdom, Hank introduces newspapers, telephones, bicycles, and other modern conveniences to the Britain of the Dark Ages. But when he tries to improve the lot of the common people, chaos and war result, giving a bittersweet to end to this comic masterpiece by one of America's greatest storytellers. Unabridged.

Homeschool Programming - TeenCoder Java Series Review

Homeschool Programming has created computer programming courses for kids and teens for web design, windows programming, game programming, Java programming, and Android programming.  These courses were created by homeschooling parents with degrees in computer science and engineering who were unable to find any adequate courses on the market, so they created their own.  We were fortunate enough to be sent the CDs for the TeenCoder Java Series which includes Java and Android Programming.  The Java series is geared towards high school students.

 

Jacob, who is going into 10th grade, was able to make it to the 13th chapter (out of 16) in Java Programming.  He worked through a chapter or two each week for the first seven weeks but has not been able to work much on it this last week because of another commitment.  He is eager to get back to it now so that he can finish it up and move on to the Android programming materials.  Because he knows more about programming than I do (which is not hard) and has used this program, I have asked him to help with this review.  He used another programming curriculum in the past, so he has experience from which to draw.

"I enjoyed learning about Java Programming using this course. I've always had an interest in programming and video games, and this course has and will continue to teach me how to program in the Java language. I had tried to learn C++ a few years back, but it was too hard. TeenCoder made Java easy to learn along with the already simple language. The series comes as a CD and also as a downloadable executable file and PDF. There are sixteen chapters in the first section dedicated to the Java language on the PC or Mac. Then there are fifteen chapters in the second section dedicated to the Java language on Android Smartphones. Each chapter introduces you to a new tool used in programming. By the end of each chapter, you will have developed a simple program using your new found knowledge in the Eclipse Java Integrated Development Environment, or IDE. After, or before, you read the lesson, you will watch the videos contained on the CD in order to further extend your programming knowledge. The executable files extract zip files for you and install a few files to help you with your lesson if you are stumped or need a base program to start off with. If you ever had any interest in developing programs or games, I highly recommend this series." - Jacob B.

The Java Programming course and the Android Programming course can each be purchased in a variety of ways.  Separately, they are each:

Course only ... $75.00.
Course and videos ... $90.00
Videos only ... $20.00.

They can also be purchased as an entire year's worth of curriculum (Java and Android together) at a great discount:

Course only ... $130.00
Course and videos ... $155.00
Videos only ... $30.00

Shipping is relatively inexpensive.  Media mail is used through USPS when it is an available option.

Each course comes with installation instructions, tests, answer keys, and solutions to the programming activities.  This is especially helpful for parents like me who know NOTHING about programming.  I can administer tests to be sure that Jake is on track and really understanding what he is learning.  If he is still not understanding something, there is FREE technical support.  So, no matter what, I don't have to know how to program in order for my child to take this course.  There is always a way to find the answers he needs to better understand it.

Although we didn't get to the Android programming part of the course, allow me to share a little bit about that.  As the Java course begins with an introduction to Java programming, the Android course begins with an introduction to Android devices.  The student is given an overview of Android devices and their operating system.  The Java course teaches them how to use Eclipse, and the Android course has them using Eclipse with the Android Tools.  Students are introduced to XML (Extensible Markup Language) which allows them to program for an Android device.  Both programs talk about user input and debugging.  The Java course is a prerequisite for the Android course because a lot of things in Java are building blocks for what is learned in Android.  The second half of the Android course focuses more so on the Android environment and writing apps for it.  Each course has an activity after each chapter for the student to do where they use the knowledge they've gained up to that point.  At the end of Android, the student will create a game that can be used on an Android device.

Sample pages and demo videos are available.  The hardware and software requirements can be found on the FAQ page.

While I know nothing about programming, I can heartily recommend this course as it has captured my son's attention completely.  He is very excited to learn, and this program does it in a way that is fun for him and extremely professional.

Christi the Coupon Coach Review

I go back and forth with couponing.  It is truly a love-hate relationship.  I love to save money, but I hate searching for deals and cutting the coupons out.  I have no organization, so I end up with piles of coupons or inserts all over my dining room table.  When I finally have an "organized" pile ready to be used, I forget where I put it.  When given the opportunity to review the book by Christi the Coupon Coach, Couponing Made Simple, I hoped it would improve my attitude and ability to save money, especially since money is tighter now than ever before.

This book is replete with success stories.  They give me so much encouragement.  If someone else can do it, then I can, too.  As I read through the book, Christi reinforced many things I already knew but had forgotten.  She talks about stacking coupons.  I knew my local Publix did that, but I also found out that Target does it, too.  While researching the different options I had for stacking, I learned that the Publix online coupons aren't Publix coupons at all but manufacturers' coupons.  Therefore, they cannot be stacked with coupons from the Sunday paper.  I also learned that, besides Target's online coupons (which are Target coupons), there is an app called "Cartwheel" that allows you to save even more money at Target, and these can be stacked with Target coupons.  There are some huge savings with this app like 20% off clothing.  Some food items are only 5% or 10%, but there are often deals for single food items 50% off.
I try to buy at least 2 papers a week, but money is so tight right now I don't feel comfortable wasting $4.  I haven't found a store nearby that sells the papers for less than that.  I sometimes will buy the $2 one and the smaller one that is either $1.25 or $1.50.  I can't remember.  I like to go through the inserts and cut out the coupons I'll definitely use and the ones I might use.  It actually helps me remember what I have and is easier for me to find the ones I want instead of having to flip through inserts.  I have begun using my printer more for coupons.  I will type into my search engine the name of the product I am looking for, and many sites will be available, some having the coupon I want.  You can also go to Red Plum online.  There aren't as many coupons here as are in the paper, but it is a good site if you don't have a paper.  Smart Source also has a website with printable coupons.
Sadly, I have not yet incorporated a storage solution.  I have issues with being labeled.  If I walk into a store with a coupon box, even a little one, I'll be one of those "coupon ladies."  I know, I need to just get over it.  The cashiers are actually amazed when I save money.  It never seems like enough savings to me, but the cashiers just love it.  I saved over $25 on a $70 order (pre-savings) on one shopping trip, and the cashier made sure my kids knew that I had done a great job and saved a lot of money.
My family gets annoyed when I go to the store with my coupons.  My husband would rather just buy whatever he wants regardless of the price.  I, on the other hand, will not buy something if I know I have a coupon for the same type of product from another manufacturer.  I am not brand loyal for anything.  Well, there is one thing, but that's it, just one.  As I walk through the store, I flip through my coupons.  Again, I have no organization; so they aren't even in alphabetical order.  This drives my husband nuts.  Alphabetical order would be better than no order.  My kids hate going to the store with me without coupons.  If they ask for something, I won't buy it if I know I have a coupon at home but have forgotten to take it to the store with me.
We have made use of Walgreen's and CVS more, probably more so CVS because they have that red coupon kiosk when you enter the store.  My bank also has monthly deals with cash back for certain purchases.  My credit card has a rewards program.  There is a store a few miles down the road from me that is a scratch and dent food store.  When large chain grocery stores receive a case of an item with even just one that is damaged, they cannot sell any of them.  So, this store buys them and then sells them at a significant discount.  My stereotyped impression of this type of store was not a good one.  I ventured in one day just to check it out and found perfectly good boxes of organic toaster pastries for $1.29 a box; they sell for $3.99 at Publix.  Unfortunately, they closed two weeks after I first shopped there.  Supposedly, there is another one a few miles further away.  I'm not sure I'll ever get there, but it goes to prove that there are many different types of stores available besides the main chain stores; and we need to get over our stereotypes and find the deals at little out-of-the-way places.
Something Christi talks about is reading blogs about coupons and deals.  This is something I had never thought of before.  My husband had sent along an I <Heart> Publix blog a couple of weeks ago.  I was able to find some good information here about savings.  Searching for other savings blogs is something I'll need to spend some time doing in the near future.
Another way I found to save is using Amazon's subscribe and save program.  I had gotten so tired of waiting for good deals on Charmin bath tissue that I chose to use this program.  My husband has two things (Charmin being one) that I can think of to which he is brand loyal.  Of course, those two things are the most expensive of their kinds and have the worst coupons.  Using Amazon's program, I found the cheapest price per roll - 40 double rolls for $19.97 (50 cents/roll).  I saved $1.00 as a promotion and received another $4.00 off as a "coupon."  I will regularly be receiving 40 rolls of Charmin for only $14.97.  Now, there's a chance I will only get to use that coupon one time, but I won't be wasting time looking for the best deal anymore.  I won't have to worry about whether or not my husband will be unhappy because I've bought an inferior product just to save some money.  You can choose your shipping interval.  I think this one will come every other month.
There is a lot of wonderful information contained in Christi the Coupon Coach: Couponing Made Simple.  It is a super resource for someone who is brand new to couponing, and it is a great source of encouragement for someone who is already doing it.  The paperback version of this book sells for $18.00 on Amazon, but the Kindle version is only $4.99.  This is a 72% savings.  Buy the Kindle version, and you'll already be on your way to big savings!!

Picaboo Yearbook Review

Brick-and-mortar schools have yearbooks.  Why not a homeschool?  Perhaps you think they are too expensive or you wouldn't be able to purchase just one.  Picaboo Yearbooks allows you to do just that, and it is not expensive AT ALL!

For this review, I was able to make an 8.5" x 11" 20-Page Softcover Yearbook.  The normal price for this is just $8.49.  Shipping is $8.99 for one book, but it comes in a hard cardboard box with packing materials to keep it safe.

I was thrilled with the idea of being able to capture our first year in a new state in a yearbook form.  Upon entering the website and choosing the size and the type of cover, I had to import every picture I wanted to use.  This is a very time-consuming task.  So, if you know that you will be creating a yearbook, I'd advise putting those pictures you'd like to use in a specific folder for the yearbook to make it easier to find.  I had issues with importing more than one picture at a time.  I don't know if it was my computer or a glitch in the system, so I ended up having to import one at a time.

Once all the pictures were in, I needed to separate them into their individual page folders.  This was not when I made each page and laid the pictures out, it was simply deciding which pictures were going to end up on which page.  More pictures than I could use were allowed to be placed in each folder, but you must designate how many pages you want each folder to span.  Each folder can be made into pages before the next folder is created.

The picture on the cover wraps around to the back of the book.  The title of the yearbook can be oriented on the page however you would like and can be any size or color.  (Each of the pictures I've added of my yearbook have a "BairenMind Photography" watermark on the photo, but this was not a part of the actual yearbook.)  The "F" in "Florida" doesn't show up well because of the lighting when I took the picture, but it turned out fine on the yearbook.  I did have trouble sometimes finding a color that I liked to go with the objects in the picture.  If you have a photo editing program, I'd probably use that first, adding text to individual photos, saving those photos and importing them into the yearbook instead of doing everything through the yearbook program.

Once a page has been completed, you click on the cog on the right hand side and mark it as ready for preview.  Once satisfied with the pages, they can be locked so that no further changes can be made.  You can, however, unlock them if you feel you need to change something.  I used it as a guide for where I was in the process.  If it was marked ready for preview I knew that I liked it and didn't want to add anything.  I then reviewed it before I locked it.  Once locked, I didn't need to go back to it for any reason.  A bird's eye view can be seen of each page which allows you to determine whether pictures are going to be cut off by the printed borders.  I had to go back in after that and move some of the pictures away from the edges.

I loved that I could use my own pictures as backgrounds and could make them black and white or sepia.  There were other choices as well.

The pictures could be laid on top of each other.  If you have a specific idea in mind, you'll need to plan the order in which you place your pictures on the page, as you can't send pictures to the back or front.  You have to start over.

Being a family homeschool yearbook, we were able to add pictures of birthdays and Christmas and pictures of our new puppy.  I had a hard time deciding which pictures to use as I had so many, but I love how our yearbook turned out.

The pictures are extremely crisp.  The cover is thick, and the binding is secure.  I am not worried that the pages will fall out.

When ordering the yearbook, you have a further option of getting an eYearbook, which is FREE!  The hardbook version is $18.99.  When ordering more than one yearbook at a time, there is an additional shipping charge of only 99 cents per book.  The shipping page says that it takes 15 days from ordering to receive the book.  I received mine in less than 2 weeks.

Once I figured out how to import my pictures, which for me was the hardest part, I had a lot of fun making this yearbook.  I think I'll be making them each year now since they are so inexpensive and such a nice product.

Summer Series: 50 States - Colorado

COLORADO

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Covering most of the southern portion of the Rocky Mountains is the country's 38th state: Colorado.  Only 15 years after being made a territory by Congress, Colorado (postal abbreviation: CO), attained statehood on August 1, 1876.  This area had been explored by Europeans in the late 1500s, but no permanent settlements were established.  In 1803, the eastern portion of what is now Colorado was part of the Louisiana Purchase, and the western portion was ceded to the U.S. in 1848 as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo after the Mexican-American War.  Although we often mark the history of an area in terms of European discovery and settlement, this land had been inhabited for thousands of years by many different Plains Indians tribes, including the Utes, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowas, Comanches, Pawnee, and the Sioux.  (Research the history of Plains Indians in Colorado.)

Below is the flag of Colorado.  It was adopted in 1911, the same year it was designed.  The white stands for the snowcapped mountains, and the blue represents the bright blue skies.  The red signifies the red-colored soil, while the yellow represents the sun.

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There are many tall peaks in Colorado, the tallest being Mount Elbert at 14,440 feet.  Pike's Peak, famous during the gold rush in the late 1850s due to its proximity to where gold was found, is 14,115 feet tall.  This mountain was named for Lieutenant Zebulon Pike who discovered it.  He never did reach the summit.  After gold was found, the slogan of those traveling to the area was "Pike's Peak or Bust."  There was not a lot of gold found, but those early settlers who traveled west were able to buy up the land and then sell smaller lots to those who came later.  One man who did this was General William H. Larimer.  He planned a city east of Cherry Creek and named it Denver after the governor of the Kansas Territory, James Denver.  There was a city on the other side of the South Platte River with whom there were tensions.  One night, residents of both cities met on the bridge over the creek and, for the price of a barrel of whiskey, they allowed Denver to be the accepted name of the area.  (Look at a map of Denver and see where Cherry Creek and the South Platte River are in relation to each other.)  Denver became the state capital in 1876, the same year Colorado became a state.

CO is the 8th largest state in the U.S., and it is the 22nd most populous state as of 2010.  The people who live here are called Coloradans.  Some famous folks who have called Colorado home are "Aunt" Clara Brown who was the first African-American woman to settle here.  Buffalo Bill Cody, of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, lived here for some time and is buried here as well.  Chin Lin Sou was one of the first Chinese immigrants to Colorado and was also a very successful businessman.  Horace Tabor was known as the Silver King after becoming very wealthy when silver was discovered years after the end of the gold rush.  Little Raven was an Arapaho Indian Chief who struggled for peace with the whites.  Margaret "Molly" Brown is famous for being a survivor of the Titanic, but she had an amazing life besides that.  She fought for women's suffrage (CO was the second state to give women the vote) and gave much time and money to philanthropic pursuits.  Actor Tim Allen, famous for being the voice of Buzz Lightyear in Disney's Toy Story, was born here.  Boxer Jack Dempsey was born and raised in Colorado as well.  Ross Lynch, who plays Austin in Disney's Austin and Ally, lives here.  Author James Michener was a professor at the University of Northern Colorado and wrote a book about Colorado's history - Centennial.

Learn more about these Famous Coloradans and others.  They are all very interesting.

Some other things that made their home in this area are Allosaurus, Apatosaurus, Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and Tyrannosaurus Rex.  Visitors to Colorado can visit the Dinosaur National Monument.  The state fossil is the Stegosaurus.  

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The state bird is the lark bunting, and the state animal is the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep.

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The state flower is the Rocky Mountain Columbine, and the state tree is the Colorado Blue Spruce.

The name, Colorado, comes from the Spanish word for "color red," and either represents the color of the soil in some parts or the muddy appearance of the Colorado River.  The state has two nicknames: Centennial State and Colorful Colorado.  The motto is "Nothing Without Providence."

For those planning to visit Colorado, there are four national parks and seven national monuments.  There are hot-air balloon festivals throughout the state five months out of the year.  There are also ski resorts open all year round, for skiing in the winter and other outdoor activities in the summer.  Take the family to a dude ranch or go on a mine tour.  Colorado's history is rich and its geography is quite varied, so there is an endless supply of things to do here.

Check out some of these resources at Christian Book:

In the Heart of the Rockies By Robinson Books From the first page to last, this is a story of splendid hazard. The hero, Tom Wade, goes to seek his uncle in Colorado, who is a hunter and gold-digger, whom he discovers out on the plains searching after a gold mine. Along the way, the little band is spied by Indians, chased across the Bad Lands, and overwhelmed by a snowstorm in the mountains. 370 pages, hardcover.

Let's Discover Colorado CD-Rom, Grades 2-8 By Gallopade International Interactive CD-ROM with lots of fun facts for kids to learn about their state. Includes: government, state symbols, a timeline, geography, civics, nickname, landmarks, parks, schools, historic places, and more. Each of four sections is completed with a quizzing game and rewards. Also includes a FREE printed reproducible quiz. Grades 2-8

In the Heart of the Rockies

By Robinson Books

From the first page to last, this is a story of splendid hazard. The hero, Tom Wade, goes to seek his uncle in Colorado, who is a hunter and gold-digger, whom he discovers out on the plains searching after a gold mine. Along the way, the little band is spied by Indians, chased across the Bad Lands, and overwhelmed by a snowstorm in the mountains. 370 pages, hardcover.

Let's Discover Colorado CD-Rom, Grades 2-8
By Gallopade International

Interactive CD-ROM with lots of fun facts for kids to learn about their state. Includes: government, state symbols, a timeline, geography, civics, nickname, landmarks, parks, schools, historic places, and more. Each of four sections is completed with a quizzing game and rewards. Also includes a FREE printed reproducible quiz. Grades 2-8

Colorado History Project Book, Grades K-8 By Carole Marsh / Gallopade International History projects include: creating a cartoon panel describing how our state name may have come about; dressing up as a famous explorer and recreating their main discovery and more! Grades K-8; ages 5-15.

Colorado My First Book, Grades K-5 By Gallopade International An "early bird" intro to basic state facts. Covers state basics such as state nickname, seal, song, bird, motto, flag, regions, industries, neighbors, and weather, plus an intro to state history, people and more. Includes: drawing, mazes, matching, coloring, and more! Reproducible. Available for all 50 states. Grades K-5; ages 5-10.

Colorado State History In a Nutshell - PDF Download [Download] By Cyndi Kinney & Judy Trout / Knowledge Box Central Get to know your home state! Comprehensive state history lapbook resources from Knowledge Box Central are designed so that children of all ages can study together. Explore state symbols, songs and landmarks, famous people, geographical regions, timelines of historical events, and more. The included state-specific study guide provides background information, history, and other factual information; this study guide is the same for both lapbook (Grades K-8) and lapbook journal (Grades 6-12) students, so that the parent only needs to go over the information once. This lapbook includes a list of all the supplies needed if following the included base guide. Blackline masters are provided for students to cut out and paste into their lapbook, while a photo of a finished lapbook provides a visual example. This Lapbook is structured for use with K-8th Grade Students. Get started on your lapbook immediately with this PDF Download.

Plains Indians By Mir Tamim Ansary / Heinemann Raintree Come along with us as we meet some of America's first peoples. Turn the pages of this book to discover what special fuel the Plains Indians used to make fires, how the Plains Indians could communicate without talking, and which Sioux chief's likeness is being carved into a mountain in South Dakota. Discover the traditional way of life of the Plains Indians and the changes brought to it by Europeans, discussing homes, clothing, games, crafts, and beliefs. 32 pages, softcover.

Daily Life of the Plains Indian Village 1868 By Terry / Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Learn about how the Plains Indians lived in 1868, when Euro-American ideas began to influence Indian life more and more, though Native tradition still remained as the primary way of life. Full color photographs of ancient clothing and artifacts are mixed with modern Native Plains men, women and children illustrating how life looked back in 1868. The engaging text gives insight into the motivations, religion, customs, and homelife of the Plains people, as well as explanations of various traditions and objects. Vivid photography and interesting chapters bring to life the daily lives of a Plains family. 48 pages with glossary, index and timeline. Softcover.