I Am Moving!!

I am excited to announce that I am moving!  Virtually anyway.  I have finally taken the plunge and have set up a self-hosted website, Eva Varga.  It is a long process and I still have many things to tweak as I proceed but I want to formally invite you all to join me on my new website.  

My mission is to provide teachers with the tools and inspiration to engage their students in meaningful, hands-on science and service learning experiences through tangible curriculum, shared resources, and real-world contexts.  

I will thereby no longer be blogging about our homeschool journey here at Blogger.  At my new self-titled website, Eva Varga, I will continue to share our homeschool endeavors but with a greater emphasis on science, field trips, and service learning education.  

Those of you who have recently subscribed to my newsletter (specifically those who have expressed interest in the Entomology Online Workshop), rest assured that I have your subscription on file and you will continue to receive the newsletter.  If you use Google Reader, Feedly, or another aggregator, please add my new site to your list.    

I am excited for the what the future holds and look forward to building a relationship with you as I continue to work within the science and homeschool communities. 

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10 Steps to a Fun Science Fair

For the past few years, I have organized an informal science fair for our local homeschool community.  It has been such a joy to see the diversity of projects, listen to the kids share their experience, and receive encouragement from one another.  It takes little effort on my part to coordinate the event and I walk away reinvigorated and more enthusiastic than ever.  

 

This is the third year I have coordinated this event and the first time I've done so here in California.  It is always interesting to me to see how the participant numbers vary.  Regardless of how many students take part - 10 or 45 - it is wonderful opportunity. My children thoroughly enjoy the process and the chance to share their work with others.  I want to encourage you all to take part in a science fair yourself.  If you find your area lacks the opportunity, don't be discouraged.  You can follow the ten steps here to coordinate a great science fair of your own. 

1.  Reserve a space
If you aren't already familiar with a space you can use for free, this could be the most time consuming part of the process.  There are many possibilities around you ... be creative and don't be afraid to ask around.  Possible locations you may consider include:

• Fraternal lodge like Sons of Norway, IOOF, Lions, VFW Hall, etc.
• City library
• Church
• A public school
• Hotel conference rooms
• A common house within a subdivision
• A conference room at your spouse's (or a friend's) work

2.  Set a date

The date will likely be dictated to some extent by the calendar of the meeting space.  Science projects require planning time.  I like to plan the science fair sometime in the spring.

3.  Make a flyer and registration form

With the logistical things out of the way, use a word processing program to create an attractive flyer and  accompanying registration form.  Share these with your local homeschool community, including charter schools.  I charge $5 per family ... enough to cover the cost of the awards ... but do what feels right to you.

4.  Determine award criteria and purchase awards
Perhaps you would like to invite a couple scientists to come a judge the student projects.  If so, you will likely want to use a simple scoring guide or rubric.  You may decide not to give out awards at all.  This is entirely up to you.  The fairs I have coordinated have been small, we have thereby had success with simply allowing the kids to vote for their favorite project.  The votes are tallied and prizes are awarded to the top three projects with the most votes.  You may also wish to have grade level distinctions depending on the size of your group.

4.  Get the word out and send reminders

As the date approaches, be sure to send out reminders and continue to distribute fliers.  You may wish to hang a flier at the library.  You may also consider contacting the local newspaper to invite them to the event.

5.  Create a program to identify participants

I would highly suggest having a deadline for registrations, perhaps one week prior to the event.  This should allow you time enough to create a program (a simple sheet of paper will do but you can get very creative) listing the participants and their project titles. Many families like to keep these as souvenirs or to take notes upon as the students give presentations.

6.  Create participation certificates or buttons

I have found the kids really like buttons.  If you have a Badge-a-Mint, I highly suggest you create a graphic image that you can print and thereby use for buttons.  You can even set up a station at the event so the kids can make their own.  Alternatively, you can print simple certificates.  Regardless, the kids appreciate the small token.

7.  Purchase small gifts for the winners

The award value is contingent upon the number of participating families.  This year, we had 3 families (not including my own) and 10 children taking part.  I thereby took in $15 in registration fees.  When the votes were tallied, one project received 4 votes while three different projects received 2 votes each. I thereby elected to award $6 for first place and $3 each for second place.  In the past, I have used the fees to purchase gift cards (Acorn Naturalists, Carolina Biological, etc.)  

8.  Arrange for snacks and refreshments ??
Depending upon the time of the day and the length of the program, you may wish to have snacks.  You can ask for family volunteers to bring something or if the participant pool is large enough, you can purchase a few things.

9.  Arrive early and greet families upon arrival

Let everyone know that the event is relaxed and informal.  Smile and be yourself.

10.  Positive feedback and award the winners 

Once everyone is set-up and as guests mingle, call everyone together and invite the participants to volunteer to share their projects.  If there are many participants, you may wish to divide into smaller groups (perhaps by grade level).   At the end, ask that the students vote for their favorite, tally the votes, and award the winners.

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Entomology Course Outline

In preparation for the online Introductory Entomology course I am teaching in May, I thought you all might like a little peak into the activities we will be covering.  Access to the YouTube videos, Flickr group, Google Docs, and Project Noah classroom will be made available to those that register.  
Subscribe to our newsletter here - be sure to select the topics of most interest to you.  In the future, you can always find the Mail Chimp subscription form in the upper right corner of the sidebar.  Upon receiving the email confirmation, you'll need to edit your settings and choose the entomology course from the list.  In addition to the materials listed for each week, students should have a notebook or binder in which they can keep their work and record their observations.  Alternatively, you can 

Image from National Geographic News: 101 New Species of Beetles
This is a great article and I encourage all those interested to hop over and take a peak. 

Week One

• Insect Symmetry art activity (YouTube video); post completed work on Flickr group 
• Review Scientific Classification 
• Materials needed for the week include:  
• your choice of a paint canvas (any size 5"x5" or larger), acrylic paints, and brushes  OR  a sheet of watercolor paper, watercolor paint, and brushes
• carbon transfer paper

Week Two

• Live Insect Observation
• observe and record the physical characteristics and behaviors of a live insect; notebooking page available
• sketch your insect in your journal; use the diagram Insect Anatomy to help you to label your illustration
• Introduction to Insect Collection  (long-term project); consider uploading images to my classroom on Project Noah
• Using the Insect Dichotomous Key  (YouTube video)
• Materials needed for the week include:  
• a cricket (available at local pet supplies stores) or other insect of choice
• optional field collection tools (instructions will be provided to build your own with household materials)

Week Three

• Insect Classification: An introduction to the common insect orders - PowerPoint presentation & accompanying notebook page
• Insect Data Collection - choose a local site and collect data on the species richness; share your results on the shared document
• Materials needed for the week include:  
• optional field collection tools (instructions will be provided to build your own with household materials)

Week Four

• Insect Life Cycles - watch the suggested videos
• Insect Wings (optional lab)

Week Five

• Integrated Pest Management activity  (YouTube video)
• Research Assign:  Find a local example of IPM & share with the group (consider writing a blog post, a newscast video, or creating an informative poster)
• Materials needed for the week include:  
• local newspapers or magazines

Week Six

• Hot Foot, Cold Feet activity (YouTube video)
• Share your Insect Collection project on Flickr group and/or a blog

If you should have any questions about the course, please do not hesitate to contact me.  Remember this is an online, self-directed workshop.  Participants will work through the assignments and lessons at their own pace when it is convenient to his/her schedule.

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The Road to Damietta :: Book Sharing Monday

We love to listen to audio books in the car.  You'd hope that we could always agree on a title, and sometimes we do.  Especially when we have found a series we enjoy and can't wait to hear the next installment.  Generally, however, we argue about which one we will listen to first. We all have our favorites you see. We generally pick out titles with which we are familiar, but on occasion we stumble upon a new title that jumps out at us and grabs us as if to say, "Read Me!  You Must Hear My Story!" 

One of my favorite authors growing up was Scott O'Dell.  I loved his book, The Island of the Blue Dolphins and for many years, dolphins were my favorite animal.  While browsing the audio titles at the library last month, we came upon a title by O'Dell that I was not familiar, The Road to Damietta.  I absolutely love historical fiction and when I read the book jacket, "Rich in the atmosphere of thirteenth-century Italy, The Road to Damietta offers through Ricca di Montanaro’s eyes a new perspective on the man who became the famous Saint Francis of Assisi, the guileless, joyous man who praised the oneness of nature and sought to bring the world into harmony. “Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace,” he said. “Where there is hatred, let me sow love, where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.” "  We indeed must read this book I proclaimed to the kiddos.  It seemed the perfect choice for us ... Scott O'Dell, love for nature, historical context (despite the fact that we study history chronologically and we were presently in the 1800s), etc.  

I really enjoyed this book but there were a few things that took me by surprise and I wish I had known before I had selected this as an audiobook for my children.  I do not believe books should ever be banned, however, I do believe parents have the right to screen what their children are exposed to.  I've never worried too much about this as we have a pretty relaxed and open dialogue with our kids.  My children have not ever experienced nightmares and enjoy watching movies with scenes that many of their friends find frightening.  As a parent is our responsibility to protect our children and if at all possible screen movies and books until the child is old enough.  I wish I had had a little inkling of what The Road to Damietta held for us ... not because of images that were frightening but because it brought to the surface adolescent love and some vocabulary that I just wasn't ready to expose my children.

The cover on the left is for the audio version.  The cover on the right is for a print version. 

Through Ricca di Montanaro we see the vibrancy of 13th century Italy. The pettiness of the noble and merchant classes, the undercurrent of treachery in the church, and the breathtaking beauty of an already ancient landscape. In the beginning, Ricca and her friend, Clare, swoon over Francis Bernardone's playboy antics. But when Francis infamously strips naked in the public square and takes a vow of poverty for Christ, their paths diverge.  What took me by surprise, was that Ricca also partly disrobes in the public square causing quite a stir with the noble class, particularly Ricca's father.  Her father sends her to an Italian convent and even then she cannot shake her conviction that Francis will change for her, if she can only prove her love.

Her continued obsession with Francis disregards completely his devotion to peace, nature and God. Her jealously of Clare's burgeoning involvement with Francis's way of life is one of many clear illustrations of just how blind her 13 year old mind is to his commitment. Soon, all of Italy is religiously obsessed: the Fifth Crusade has begun. The Road To Damietta is a journey that Ricca undertakes to follow Francis, and it ends in heartbreaking realizations for both of them.

I don't want to give too much of the story away.  It really is a very lovely book and we enjoyed the story and the historical context.  However, I want my readers to be aware of another surprise I encountered.  Along Ricca's journey, a vocabulary word is introduced for which I wasn't prepared. My kiddos usually allow words they are not familiar with to pass them by and likely picking up meaning with context clues.  This time, however, my children asked, "Mom, what is a brothel?"  Hmmmm.  This wasn't something I was ready to explain to my 10 and 8 year old.

With the few little surprises set aside, there were many things we enjoyed about this book.  One of the things we most enjoyed about this book was the fact that Ricca was training to illuminate manuscripts. As O'Dell describes Ricca at work, he brings to life the artistry and tediousness of her work.  My kids enjoyed googling illumination and looking at images from ancient bibles and even more modern twists on this beautiful art form.

We also enjoyed learning about the contrasting lifestyles of the noble class, merchants, and peasants of 13th century Europe.  I wish I had read aloud this book (and thereby screening out a few passages) when we were studying the crusades for Ricca & Francis' story helped us to better understand the motives and feelings of the common people during this tumultuous time.

I often try to capture the spirit of a book that touches us by integrating other subjects - art, music, cooking, and if possible, field trips.  This time, I was inspired to provide the kids with an opportunity to illuminate a favorite verse or quote.  We had done this in the past but neither remember it very well and even then, I realized they were too young for the intricate work.

When we were at the Multicultural Faire last week, the Sons of Italy had a fun trivia game prepared with informative posters along the wall.  One poster was of Saint Francis of Assisi and the kids enjoyed sharing with the lodge members about what they knew of him.  They were quite surprised and looked up at me during the conversation to ask, "Do you all homeschool?"  It is a question I hear often.  To my delight, homeschoolers are indeed making a difference and changing societies perception of what is possible.

    

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The NSTA Conventions :: Flashback Friday #1

I follow the National Science Teachers Association on Facebook and Twitter.  As a result, I have been seeing many posts this past week regarding the convention that is taking place in San Antonio this weekend.  I haven't attended an NSTA convention in many years - I believe the last one was in 2002, a few months prior to the birth of my daughter.  As I read the tweets, I recalled how much I thoroughly enjoy conferences.  I thereby pulled out my journal and read a few entries (before I began blogging, I kept a hand-written journal).  Here is one I would like to share: 

  

21 March 2001 

I have just attended my first National NSTA Convention (after attending a few smaller, regional and or state conventions).  It will certainly not be my last.  I  had a spectacular time and it has been even more special because Patrick was able to attend with me.   

The first day, like the other conventions I have attended, is a little overwhelming (trying to get organized, finding the location of the talks I am interested in, navigating the exhibit hall, etc).  Buzz Aldrin was the keynote speaker.  We had to wait in line for nearly two hours to enter the lecture hall (tickets were not distributed, it was first come, first served).

Just after we arrived, I realized that I had forgotten my copy of his book Men From Earth in our hotel room.  I was distraught as I had desired him to sign it.  Patrick, to my delight, was willing to ride back to retrieve it - a 1-hour bus ride - one way!  This meant he would miss Buzz' address.  Patrick you are an angel!  Thank you for being there for me & coming to my rescue!

After Buzz' address, I waited another hour for the book signing - needless to say, he wasn't too happy to sign an old book.  He was there to push his newest title.  He signed my copy but was noticeably grumpy about it.  I heard later that he refused to sign a NASA lithograph a man had cherished since he was a little boy. 

The line waiting at the convention was very common.  I learned there were approx. 20,000 people in attendance.  Incredible! 

Thursday night, we attended a dinner in my honor at Cafe de France.  It was superb!  I ordered Greek Salad, Venison Steak with steamed veggies and potatoes, and Amaretto Cake.  Regrettably, I don't recall all the details the server used to describe each dish.  Next time, I will be sure to write it down or request a keepsake menu.  [ I really do this now! I have quite a collection of menus. :) ]

The award coordinator for the CIBA Foundation, Lois Amend, was very classy.  It was a memorable occasion just meeting her.  I felt so comfortable in her presence - she was very humble and down-to-earth.  

On Friday, I did get a change to go to a couple of sessions and see many of the exhibits.  Surprisingly, even though there were four 160 page catalogs describing the activities (short courses, sessions, workshops, tours, and special events) there were few that were actually of interest to me.  Those I did desire to attend frequently conflicted with one another.  Disappointing yet I don't believe that I'll spend as much time in line at future conventions.  I spent another 2 hours Friday afternoon waiting to have Bill Nye sign a book - in retrospect, had I known he was going to address the Council for Elementary Science International (CESI) luncheon on Saturday - I would've waited.

I also participated in the NASA NEW Share-a-Thon on Saturday whereby past participants of the NEW workshops shared with prospective applicants activities and projects we had learned ourselves.  I was very nervous.  I had brought two activities to share:  film canister rockets (which turned out to be a familiar favorite for many) and Geometry of Moon Phases - a hit!  There were so many attendees, I ran out of handouts!  It felt really good to share my ideas with others.  Even other NEW alumni enjoyed the moon activity.  Wendall Mohling (NSTA Coordinator for NASA) and Christina Gorski were very appreciative of our participation and gave us small thank you gifts (NEW lapel pin, a patch, and a coffee mug).  Very Cool!

The highlight of the trip was above all the CESI luncheon on Saturday.  The council members were so genuinely excited to meet me.  I could not believe how special they believed me to be.  The CESI/CIBA award, I learned, is their highest honor.  When Patrick and I arrived, we were quickly ushered in (despite the huge line of people who had purchased tickets).  After we were shown our seats at a reserved table near the podium, I was quickly introduced to Barbara Morgan, the luncheon speaker and next teacher in space.  She was as excited to meet me as I was to meet her.  Everyone was giving me hugs and shaking my hand.  It was a little overwhelming.  When I looked over the luncheon agenda, I discovered that Bill Nye was also being presented an award.  My name was on the same agenda as his!! Wow! I am still in awe.  There were nearly 400 people at the luncheon including Connie & Bonnie (fellow JPL NEW alumni) ... it was great to see them. 

When Barbara Morgan gave her address, she said, "Isn't it wonderful to have bright, young people like Eva Varga teaching?"  I was so honored.  People I didn't know were taking my picture as I was presented my award. As the luncheon came to a close, others came to shake my hand and congratulate me.  A retired woman even gave me the microscope she won during the raffle, "You'll need this more than I, dear.  Besides, I don't really want to pack it home."  How delightful! :)

A few people even recognized me in the exhibit hall and came up to express their good wishes.  "Eva, you are such an inspiration.  Congratulations on your award.  You certainly deserve it."  I never would have guessed the scale to which this award would be recognized.  I have truly been blessed.  The benefits will continue as the new relationships I've developed promise to open doors for me in the future.

In the word of Bill Nye, "Science teachers, like Eva Varga, are what keep the PB and J in teaching .. Passion, Beauty, & Joy."

I share this with my readers in the hope that you will be inspired yourself to pursue your passions.  I have come to realize I miss this part of my life - the professional me.  I am thereby taking strides to bring her back.  Look forward to great things to come as I share my experiences and skills more regularly. 

Have any of you attended conventions?  Perhaps a homeschool convention or blogging conference?  Perhaps you have attended conferences focused on specific interests or hobbies like stamp collecting, knitting, or jewelry.  I'd love to hear about your experience.

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Have We Lost Our Cultural Identity and Sense of Community?

Throughout life, I suppose, everyone looks for connections with others, a feeling of worth within a community.  For some, this need is met through Greek fraternities and sororities at the university. For others, this need is met through their church or spiritual center.  While attending university, I sought out cultural groups in an effort to discover who I was and where I fit in.  As I was minoring in Spanish, I joined the Latin American Cultural Center - but as I was too timid to speak in Spanish in small groups, I often felt out of place. 

When I had submitted a paper for my U.S. History class about Norwegian Americans, my professor had asked if I was familiar with the fraternal organization, Sons of Norway.  To his surprise, I was not. I had come from a small community on the coast where the lodge did not have a presence, despite a large number of Scandinavians.  Upon looking into Sonja Lodge in Eugene (where I was attending school),  I also learned that an aunt and uncle were active members.  I thereby joined the lodge and attended a few social events.  

Within a few years however, I sadly let my membership lapse because as a university student paying my own way and thus working 30+ hours a week, my social calendar and my pocket book were both pretty slim.  I had enjoyed receiving the Viking magazines in the mail, however, and often wished that I had had the opportunity growing up to take part in a lodge.

After graduating, I returned to the same community where I had grown up.  I taught in the public school for several years and then welcomed my first child.  Shortly thereafter, we moved to central Oregon where I rediscovered Sons of Norway.   Fjeldheim Lodge is very active in the community and has a strong public presence, taking part in the annual Christmas parade, hosting an annual bake sale, and coordinating Ski for Light programs.  They are also very fortunate to have a broad, multi-generational membership - with an active youth group, engaged adults who were active in the community, as well as numerous retired members.   We joined as a family and immediately felt a sense of family and connection.  I knew this is where we belonged. 

We now belong to Shastafjell Lodge in northern California.  While I still have that same sense of family and the connections with the other members are strong, I realize more than ever the struggles that fraternal organizations are encountering today.  Like many lodges, Shastafjell's membership is declining and we struggle with filling board positions.  The active members are frankly tired.  They are willing to pass the torch to the next generation.  The problem is, this generation - MY generation - are not involved in the organization.  Why?? Are we too busy? Perhaps we aren't interested?  Maybe we just aren't aware?   I really don't know the answer and as I discuss this with other members and other fraternal organizations, I have come to discover we all have the same concerns and frustrations.  

This past weekend, the Sheriff's Association put on their 17th Annual Multicultural Faire. I coordinated our lodge's participation in this event and helped to man the booth while also enjoying the entertainment.  The older members of the lodge remember in years past that the mall was lined with booths from a large number of different organizations.  This year, there were only eleven.  The bag pipers were noticeably absent.  The German Edelweiss Singers and Folk Dancers performed but did not have a booth for the first time. 

As I looked around at the cultural groups that were taking part in the event and observed the interactions between visitors, a few things became evident.  First, as a society, we are distracted.  The majority of people walked past the booths without making eye contact or smiling.  Many walked with their heads down, intent on whatever was engaging them on their mobile phones.   I realize that we have become immune to salespeople pushing products and trying to sell us something.  In essence, that is what we are trying to do as a fraternal organization.  But what I observed was also a lack of social courtesy and community engagement.  We seem to be scared to talk to people, to hear their story. 

I also observed that the cultural groups from Europe that took part in the faire were represented by the 'Greatest Generation' as coined by Tom Brokaw (with the exception of myself and my two children).  The cultural groups and dancers from Asia and Latin America, had participants of all ages.  When immigrants come to a new country, they typically settle in areas where there are similar ethnic groups for support both spiritually and financially.  The groups taking part on Saturday were representative of the immigration trends in the U.S.  Perhaps over time, as successive generations begin to identify themselves more as American, they begin to loose the connection with their ancestral heritage?  Here is an interesting graphic I found to illustrate this.  

Source - http://www.prb.org/Educators/TeachersGuides/HumanPopulation/Migration.aspx?p=1

I am not exactly sure what contributes to what I perceive to be a decline in volunteerism and participation in fraternal organizations.  I know, however, that it is not restricted to cultural groups.  Lions Clubs, The Grange, and Kiwanis groups are experiencing the same declines.  Lodges and Grange halls are closing all over.  It saddens me that we as a society no longer see the value in these unique communities.

I want to encourage you to consider joining a lodge as a family.  Look around you and see what opportunities may be available to you. If you are interested in getting involved in a fraternal organization yourself, there are many organizations to choose from.  I have listed a few below.  I encourage you to take some time to explore those of interest to you.  Read their missions statements.  Talk with members in your community.   Discuss the options available with your family.  Perhaps you will find a group that feels like home to you as well.

Sons of Norway

Kiwanis

Elks

Sons of Italy

Knights of Columbus
Odd Fellows / Rebekahs

American Legion

Lions Clubs

Grange

Moose Lodge

Vasa Order of America

Alternatively, if you are a member of one of these groups, I would love to hear about it.  How long have you been involved?   How did you first discover the group?  If you know of a group that I neglected to mention - please leave a comment.   Perhaps your family volunteers in other ways.  Please consider sharing your thoughts and experiences.

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Dedication and Passion

When Sweetie started fly tying earlier this year, she learned of a scholarship opportunity to attend Fish Camp. She expressed interest in going to camp and talked of it frequently. Under the tutelage of experts, the young anglers learn the fundamentals of casting, fly fishing techniques, advanced fly tying, and outdoor skills through an award winning summer fly fishing camp located in Northern California. Surrounded by miles of private stream and fish-filled lakes that provide the ideal fresh-air classroom, the kids have a blast catching (and releasing) lots of trout on flies they tied themselves.

She thereby wrote two essays as a part of the application process and begged to go even if she didn't win a scholarship. Yesterday, she received a call from one of the volunteers on the selection committee announcing that she had been selected. Knowing that she would be taking part in the fly fishing expo today along side her mentors, she was very excited; I doubt she slept much.

She has shared her winning essays on her blog. I encourage you to hop over and read about what she enjoys most about fly fishing and why she wants to go to camp.  She is pictured here with one of the local fly fishers and with another young angler who was also selected as a scholarship winner.

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