Good morning, how are you? I wanted to share our series sharing Homeschool Resources: Homeschool Resources: Workbook Curriculum, Extra Curriculair Classes & Virtual Field Trips with you. Would you take a look at the websites below and let me know which of these websites you’ve used with your students and what you liked or disliked about these resources and why.
Calvert Curriculum for grades K-2 keeps learning contemporary, fun, and engaging. The workbook curriculum focuses on mastery-based learning. Subjects include History and Geography, Language Arts, Math, and Science.
The Butchart Gardens– All grades; children with parental supervision
Visit the incredible Butchart Gardens in British Columbia, Canada with this website that offers a free virtual tour! To really appreciate the gardens it’s helpful to know some history about them.
In 1888, Robert Butchart manufactured cement near limestone deposits on Vancouver Island where he and his family lived. As his business exhausted the limestone in the quarry near their home, Mrs. Butchart came up with the idea of transforming the abandoned quarry into a spectacular “Sunken Garden.” She had topsoil hauled in and began the renovation.
The Butcharts were world travelers and it influenced the design of their gardens. They created a Japanese Garden with Koi pond, transformed a tennis court into an Italian Garden, and planted a spectacular Rose Garden. Mr. Butchart collected birds from all over the world and had elaborate bird houses constructed throughout the gardens. They decorated their garden with artifacts including bronze castings.
The renown of the Butchart Gardens spread. Today, close to a million people visit annually, enjoying the year-round display of floral beauty created from over 900 varieties of plants.
From the menu, choose:
- Sunken Garden
- Rose Garden
- Japanese Garden
- Italian Garden
- Mediterranean Garden
- and more
So much color and beauty in one place!
Engaging online video courses help your kids master essential cooking skills. Your kids will make entire recipes on their own with confidence while you all enjoy quality family time.
CalEnergy: Virtual Tour– Grades 3 and up, with parental supervision
At this website, you can take a tour of a geothermal power plant to see how the natural heat of the earth is used to generate electricity for homes and businesses.
Geothermal power is a renewable source of energy and does not rely on coal or other fossil fuels to create electricity.
When you get to the site you’ll see a picture of a geothermal plant. Select a numbered icon to view the tour that is presented through a series of narrated videos that include animations, illustrations and sound. Explore each phase of the geothermal power plant operation that includes:
- A look at the geothermal resources far below the surface of the earth.
- An explanation of how these resources are brought to the earth’s surface and converted into steam.
- Info on how the steam is used to spin turbines and generate electricity.
- A view of how unused fluid is returned to the earth to sustain the geothermal resource so it can be used again.
To see all phases of the tour from start to finish, just click on the “G” on the picture for “Grand Tour.”
The site includes a “Glossary of Terms” in case you need clarification on some of the vocabulary used in the tour.
Touch-type Read and Spell is an award-winning, multi-sensory, highly accessible typing program that teaches touch-typing skills while also helping kids improve reading and spelling. Get 1,000 SmartPoints until 4/30 as part of our Special Needs promotion.
Sabian Cymbal Factory Tour– All grades, with parental supervision
This virtual field trip rocks! Ever wonder how cymbals are made? This 7-minute YouTube video explains how cymbals are made at the Sabian cymbal factory in Canada.
When you get to the site, click the ‘play’ icon and you can watch the fascinating manufacturing process.
After watching the factory tour, visit the Sabian website’s Education tab on the horizontal menu at the top of the page to view a glossary, the anatomy of a cymbal, and more.
If you have a drummer in the family, they’re sure to appreciate this!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
