Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Summer Camps with a learning focus

Sait Calgary

http://www.saitsummercamps.ca/recreation-schedule.html

Quick Draw Animation Society - Calgary
http://www.quickdrawanimation.ca/


Pixel Blue College - Edmonton - Summer Camps

July 8 – July 12
3D Animation
 
           
August 5 – August 9

3D Animation

July 15 – July 19
2D Character Animation
 

August 12 – August 16
2D Character Animation

July 22 – July 26
Audio Production
 

August 19 – August 23
Audio Production

July 29 – August 2
Photo Re-touching for Social Media
 

August 26 – August 30
Photo Re-touching for Social Media
http://pixelbluecollege.com/

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Puzzles and Games

Printable puzzles:  I like this site because of the variety of puzzles: acrostics, logic, crosswords, drop quotes, number puzzles, sudoku, cryptograms and word searches.  http://www.printable-puzzles.com/download.php?p=l&f=jmdoYo2BY6GZlw%3D%3D

Dragonbox+  http://shop.wewanttoknow.com/collections/frontpage/products/dragonbox

This 5.99 game/app is supposed to a fabulous help for teaching equation solving generally and algebra specifically.  There are 2 levels +5 and +12.  I bought the +12 level.  It is challenging for me. The 11 yo and 14 yo pursued the first few levels and the high school student is making her way through all ten levels.  I haven't managed to do all ten levels yet.  I am not sure how or if it will really help the Algebra student, but it's fun to play.

About.com's puzzle pages have some harder dot to dot and maze puzzles. This link is for autumn themed puzzles. http://puzzles.about.com/od/holidaypuzzlesforkids/a/KidsAutumn_4.htm

English Language Arts

Grammar Monster:  
http://www.grammar-monster.com/lessons/which_that_who.htm

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Art and Craft Ideas

Duct Tape Weapons:  http://www.currclick.com/product/42107/The-Battle-Book%3A-Warfare-by-Duct-Tape?it=1

Friendship Bracelets:  http://www.wiseknits.com/tag/embroidery-floss/

TP Roll projects:   http://www.lovelytrash.com/project/toilet-roll-star/

National Gallery of Arts:  http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/education/kids.htm

How to build a website

These are links I collected over the last or so for our eldest to learn about building websites.
I'll be tweaking this list and commenting on these sites later. 
http://www.ed2go.com/rdpsdcp/SearchResults.aspx?CurrPage=1&CategoryId=24&Sort=RELEVANCE&PrevSort=RELEVANCE&SortAsc=True
 

Website building books for sale on currclick.com:
 
 http://www.currclick.com/product/23681/Let%27s-Make-a-Web-Page?it=1

 http://www.currclick.com/product/536/Website-ABC%27s?it=1


Canadian Constitution

Lots of constitution resources here.  These resources have a link with Quebec's history

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Confederation  Wikipedia not the only source but might provide a general overview.

 John A Birth of a Country  DVD available from CBC shop for $16.99 + tax and about $7.00 shipping When I went to order this from CBC Shop over the summer; the shop was closed.  Now that the Shop has reopened the DVD is no longer available.

If you live in Canada you may be able to access it here: (however the content is unavailable in Turkey)
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/Shows/More+Shows/ID/2136716148/

http://www.cbc.ca/75/2011/09/john-a-birth-of-a-country.html

The DVD appears to be available from Amazon.ca so I'll be ordering it from them and shipping it to Turkey.
http://www.amazon.ca/John-A-Birth-Of-Country/dp/B005GNU5NS

CBC shop also has Canada A People's History DVDs but perhaps I can pick those up used?

http://www.canadahistory.com/  This looks like a useful website.

http://www.canadiancrown.com/prince-edward-duke-of-kent.html

http://www.canada.gc.ca/aboutcanada-ausujetcanada/explorer/hist-eng.html

Characteristics of Canadian Prime Ministers
https://circle.ubc.ca/bitstream/id/76794/UBC_1982_A8%20B35.pdf

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/primeministers/index-e.html    prime ministers - first among equals Prime Minister's Fact Sheet

Choose a speech by a Canadian Prime Minister. Read it and describe the underlying issues then read it aloud for effect.

1)  Yann Martel and What is Stephen Harper Reading?
a. http://www.whatisstephenharperreading.ca/ - view this website. What is the Yann Martel's purpose? Why did he start sending Stephan Harper books? Do you think a PM has time for a lot of free reading? Find out how the arts are funded in Canada?  Answer these questions in writing.


(The large section on the peace movement has been moved to the post titled "Peace in a Time of Conflict")

2)  Prime Ministers
a) Over view of Prime Ministers Make charts and graphs for different characteristics (for example: age, gender, religious affiliation, education, political party)

b) Complete the Fact Sheet below for PM Harper, PM John A. MacDonald and 4 other prime minsters. Be sure to add a photo of the PM to the fact sheet. Add bibliographic references to the bottom of the page.
Canadian Prime Ministers PDF  Fact Sheet

c) Choose one additional Prime Minister. Write a short biography. Be sure to include details of their character which were important to their success or failure as a prime minister.

3) Citizenship
a) Flag Etiquette in Canada http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/etiqtt/101-eng.cfm#a5
b) Posters of historical flags http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/post_flgs-eng.cfm
c) Folding a Canadian Flag  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzTnGyhCP1g
d) A part of Highway 401 (Ontario) was renamed Highway of Heroes. Describe the history and use of the Highway of Heroes in one paragraph.

3) Rick Mercer explains Canada  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtQ6sIqtE6U  Who's really in charge?

Coding Links

http://www.kodugamelab.com/About    Kodu free coding instruction for younger children - build a game

Job Hunting Links - how to

Cautionary tale for job hunters:  http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/teen+warns+other+students+about+secret+shopper+scam/8317890/story.html

World History

How Long do Empires Last:
http://larryfreeman.hubpages.com/hub/How-long-do-empires-last

World History Videos
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9&feature=plcp