Snail Mail Supplies {free!}

Your Students are going to love getting boxes of these goodies!  And you're going to love getting them for FREE!  :D    

FREE Educational Resources via: Snail Mail!

US State Travel Brochures and Color Maps:  http://www.heyitsfree.net/free-state-maps/

State Park Brochures - request from sublinks here  http://www.nps.gov/index.htm

Coal Kit - http://teachcoal.org/energy-and-you/coal-kit-order-form/

Nutrients For Life Agriculture and Nutrients Lesson Plans https://www.nutrientsforlife.org/teachers/curriculum/toolkit

USDA Team Nutrition Curriculum   http://tn.ntis.gov/Index.aspx

Railroad History Toolkit http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/community/2012/0814_teach_kit.shtml

Teacher Packs for Loan (United Kingdom)  http://www.jamesdysonfoundation.co.uk/

Free science teaching resources  http://www.hhmi.org/

Economics, history, and US gov. with a sample of shredded money http://www.dynamindspublishing.com/free/fed.html

Medical Institute of Science

http://www.hhmi.org/educational-materials

Education material can be costly...I love having back-up resources (especially free!) to foster the educational growth of my students.  I hope you too can find some great material here within this post!

We are currently working on an intensive geographical project that started as 50 states months ago - but had quickly expanded to getting pen-pals from all over the globe!  I can't wait to share that post when we're completed!  :D    

The Butterfly Palace, Branson MO

*This was NOT a paid nor compensated post in any form.

  My heart was fluttering when I got tell my boys that we would officially be taking a trip to Branson, Missouri to The Butterfly Palace!  To them, it was like telling them they were getting to go to Lego Land or something.  Typically, you wouldn't think BOYS ages 7, 11 and 13 years old...would be so excited over Butterflies.  Maybe it's because we homeschool and they were not taught butterflies were girly, but crawling insects that magically transform?  I don't know, but it's the one thing as a woman raising young men - I'm so glad we share the same love for butterflies {and Stan Lee}.  Before I start, I have to tell you that my boys and I spent 4 HOURS inside!!  We did our guided tour with the group, then the lovely staff at the gift shop said we didn't have to go when checking out while my son stood beside me when it was time to go.  Also note, Kingston is usually the first to want to leave anywhere we go.  But she said we paid full admission, so we were allowed to stay all day if we wanted, and if it wasn't for hungry bellies...they probably would have too!  

The gift shop!

The gift shop!!

  In an earlier post, I shared with you our own butterfly habitat observation and discoveries.  We completed a whole unit on the Butterfly Life Cycle and different species and extinction.

  But if YOU love these transforming insects as much as our family does...There is no place to visit like The Butterfly Palace!  It was simply breathtaking.  The building itself set a grand stage with an open lofty gift shop {that we could have spent all day in!}.  If we lived closer - we would take to the comfy chairs there for reading time, no doubt!

  Our group included other local homeschooling families and friends.  After we all arrived - our Educational Hands-On Adventure started with watching a short 3-D movie about the incredible life of a butterfly.

  The Butterfly Aviary.  My middle son demanded it should be renamed to The Butterfly Sanctuary, (I told him to put that in the suggestion box as we left).  We weren't allowed to catch the butterflies, which wasn't a problem - because if you go with a brightly colored shirt...they will catch YOU!    All the children got to gather around the instructor and they gently opened the lid, releasing their butterfly for the first time into the aviary from the hatchery.  It was so adorable to see some spring forward, while most took to the children while they stretched their wings prior to taking flight.

Below is a collection of my videos ~ Enjoy!

• The Butterfly Aviary.    

• The Living Rainforest Science Center

• The Emerald Forest Mirror Maze

By far, my boys could have spent all day running this mirror maze.  I went through it with them a few times and was thoroughly impressed by the attention to detail, and the clever layout design too.  This made the ultimate tag arena for my boys!  We can't wait to go back again.

Malachi

Vaughn

The Mirrors made for great trickery!!!  

• Banyan Tree Bungee Adventure!

This is beaded butterfly art on a stand - we tried to count how many butterflies were inside but there are soooo many!

The walls were filled with these beauties.  You can purchase them in the display case with a large range of species inside.

We love you Butterfly Palace!  The boys got chocolate butterfly lollipops to go (in addition to spending all their savings in the gift shop!  lol)

Tour 'de Coffman Homeschool

 Command Center!

  Welcome to Tour 'de Coffman Homeschool!  My children range in age from elementary to junior high, so 'decorating' was hard to please everyone.  I wanted to keep this area colorful, organized and a welcoming place for them to have belly time and also a place for our art and craft/sensory center.  

  We are blessed with a very large living room, so I bought the all our book cases in espresso color and the smaller cases not only hold books, but serve as a room divider for our 'living room', {which also serves as our indoor gym time via Xbox kinect, and educational TV time}.  The tall book case houses our art, music, Astronomy, Science, Writing, Latin, and Earth Science shared curriculum.  The bottom shelf has my 13 year old's college books.  Yes, your read correctly.  I took advantage of the used book store of University of Arkansas to get his books at a decent price.  One of the many advantages of homeschooling...you can work with your child at THEIR level.  My oldest is far above his level, and my younger 2 need the extra support.  It's amazing how each child is different.    

  Originally we were going to go with an exclusive Dr. Seuss theme.  So I was on the hunt for a red rug and whimsical decor.  Instead I have touches of Seuss and found this colorful carpet at Target on sale for $40 that was originally intended for my youngest son's room.  We also have gaming rocking chairs that I removed to take better pictures.  I hung tissue pompoms from the ceiling for some more fun and my favorite piece was this colorful organizing cart on wheels!  I bought this from Mardel and it can easily slide it to the kitchen with all our art and craft supplies.  Since they no longer ship this item, I found one and had a jaw drop moment at the amazon price being SIGNIFICANTLY lower than I paid!    Through Mardel, this Deluxe organizing cart was $109.99 now on Sale through amazon for $75.26 and Free shipping.  Go figure!

ECR4Kids 15-Drawer Mobile Organizer, Assorted Colors

  Our calender that the younger 2 love to take turns changing of the weather and dates, I found online at Amazon...and rite now it's on sale half price than I paid!  The back side of each card is written in Spanish, which would be great if you are incorporating that as a second language, or even teach a Spanish Class!  {It's on my to-do list to laminate all the cards to keep them looking their best}.   Calendar Pocket Chart - English/Spanish

  Above the calender I have a plaque with an angel that says "Angels Gather Here'.  Also on the wall I have a cross, colorful United States Map, on the yellow Star-burst I have our Morning Prayer that you can download for free here.

  I also got this amazing chair from Stokke Tripp Trapp in Neutral Color.  It is the best chair for posture you could possibly imagine.  It converts from high chair to adult.  It is pricey, but a great investment.  My son loves this chair for computer time and it's the perfect height for him.  I love seeing him with his feet flat, legs at 90 degree bend and back straight.  :)   Stokke Tripp Trapp Highchair - Natural
Video - Directions on how to use the Trip Trapp Chair

The 3 little caddies make grabbing supplies so easy, especially when running out the door.  Each boy has one that consist of phonics flash cards, spelling cards, activities books/pencils/crayons.  Then when we come home they can bring in their caddie from the car and put it back under the divided bench.  They're handy to take to the table and other areas of the house or park too {when it's nice out}.

My Bedroom 

...pictured here where Malachi is reading to everyone, including 'Miss Lovely' our guinea pig, and 'Duke' our Coonhound.  

Also in my bedroom is their computer work station.  Typically, one of the children will have ear phones on while working on educational sites {only}.  For the younger ones, I set the board timer so they have the additional visual of when their time is up.

Malachi on the laptop. 

Malachi using laptop for learning

*This post does contain my affiliate links, but I was not paid to endorse.  My purchases, and honest opinions as always, are my own.

Stay tuned as I update the rest of our Tour 'de Coffman Homeschool Education areas!