It’s Saturday, November 30, 2019, and time for Foreign Languages.Now that Charlie is Homeschooling full time again. We are working to get him into K12 I wanted to have resources Charlie can work on.

One of the classes I have decided Charlie can take while we wait on K12 is a Language Arts class. I have several Recommended Website: below for Charlie and I to check into. I have a question for you. Have you used any of these websites? If so what did you think of them and why?

Kids Web Japan
Age Range: 4-12 (Grades PreK-8, with parental supervision) This website, created by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), is designed to foster appreciation of Japan among American children and introduce them to the Japanese language! 

The simple artwork, the openness of each page, the soft color scheme and intuitive navigation, are all immediately attractive to young ones. And the content is top-notch! Here’s what you’ll find:

• Lessons 1-8 – Nicely illustrated formal language lessons, complete with audio examples, English and Japanese text, and pronunciation in text form. (Typical lessons contain dialog, vocabulary/grammar, and an exercise.)
• Hiragana and Katakana Charts – Japanese alphabets. Click any letter to hear it pronounced.
• Numbers – Learn to speak and read the numbers from 1 to 100.

And under Related Articles – Language: The older kids and adults will appreciate this clear article about the Japanese language. 

You may also wish to spend some time on the rest of this website. You can learn about folk legends, play games and check out some recipes. Parents, as always, should preview the site and supervise Internet use.

Recommended Website:
Thanksgiving Art
Age Range: All (All grades; children with parental supervision) We thought you might like to get some step-by-step tutorials on how to make fun Thanksgiving arts and crafts with this website from DLTK.

Explore a menu of “Turkey Crafts” that include: 

• Make an Autumn Leaf Turkey
• Make a Toilet Paper Roll Turkey
• Make a Variety of Handprint Turkeys
• Make a Paper Plate Turkey
• Make a Turkey Napkin Ring
• and more.

Click on any item and a new page opens with complete instructions and illustrations. Many of these projects are so simple, they’d make a great activity for your Thanksgiving guests. Simply provide the materials needed and a space for assembly, demonstrate how to do it, and let everyone create their own memorable party favor.

Recommended Website:
Free Video Drum Lessons
Age Range: 9-18 (Grades 4-12, with parental supervision) This website offers a terrific and comprehensive archive of free drum lessons presented by expert drummers through informative and entertaining videos.

When you get to the site you’ll see a menu that includes: 

• Beginner Drum Lessons – Learn the basics on how to play the drums, hold the drumsticks, tune a drum, and more.
• Drum Theory & Notation – Learn to read drum notation, count notes from quarter notes to 32nd notes, and more.
• Dynamic Drumming – Find out how to accent with rim shots, do snare drum cross-sticking or cymbal choking, play off-beat hi-hats, etc.
• Drum Set Rudiments – Practice various drum rolls, flams, paradiddles, dragadiddles, and ratamacue.
• Rock Drum Lessons – Learn the basic beats including funk, blues shuffle, and odd-time beats and fills.
• Jazz Drum Lessons – Discover patterns, beats, snare and bass drum comping and more.
• Latin Drum Lessons – Play Rumba, Bossa Nova, Songo, and Cascara drum beats.
• Double Bass Drums – Do your warm-ups and then play double bass drum beats and fills. Get some speed tips.
• Drum Play-Alongs – Enjoy playing along to rock, contemporary, funk, folk rock, heavy metal, jazz, country, Latin, blues, hard rock, classic rock and techno music.
• Drum Solos – Watch, learn, and listen to drum solos by the masters.

You can also listen to covers of popular songs that feature great drumming, watch videos of live drum lessons, and read many articles on drumming techniques and tips.

Just click on an area of interest and a new page opens where the video lesson is launched. 

NOTE: You may have to watch a randomly generated commercial before you see each video lesson on YouTube. That’s one reason why parents should (as always) supervise use of the site.

Recommended Website:
AHC – Arts & Crafts
Age Range: 4-16 (Tots to teens, with parental supervision) This website provides free instructions for arts and crafts projects that enable you to make your own musical instruments.

When you get to the site, scroll down the page slightly to the menu of categories that includes: 

• Make Guitars, Banjos, & Stringed Instruments
• Make Noise Makers, Maracas, Shakers
• Make Drums

Then, click on a topic and a new page opens where you will discover how to make: 

• African Drums
• Bells on a String
• Bongo Drums
• Bagpipes
• Tambourines
• Guitar
• Cymbals
• Didgeridoo
• Maracas
• Castanets
• Kazoo
• Rainstick
• Banjo
• Flute
• Oboe
• And Many More!

You’ll find information about the instrument, a materials list, and complete instructions with pictures. In some instances you’ll find how-to video clips.

Best of all, many of these instruments can be made by recycling things you’ll find around the house such as coffee cans, bottle caps, oatmeal boxes, paper plates, tissue paper, straws, combs, pie tins, etc.

Not only that, many of the instruments offer cross-curricular connections with Social Studies. There are instruments for celebrating cultural holidays and religious festivals.

When you’re through making a joyful noise, be sure to check out the rest of the site that offers innumerable ways to express creativity.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates