Our Favorite Things - Crash Course Kids - Dr. Eureka - Beethoven's Wig

In which we check in weekly and update our Favorite Things: resources that fueled our curiosity this past week.

Documentary of the Week: Space Probes!

We're headed to the sun, guys! Seriously, you know that early this morning NASA launched a solar probe? (Why yes, yes I did set an alarm for 3:25am in order to watch the launch live. *Yawn* #nerdlife) To get psyched about all that science will gain from this probe, take a crash course on all the cool things that probes have taught us thus far. If you're like us, you'll get so attached to the Cassini probe that when you watch this video of the mission's grand finale, you might just shed a tear...) You can watch this series on Curiosity Stream or on Amazon with a Curiosity Stream channel subscription.

Check out a preview below.

Game of the Week: Dr. Eureka

This game is a great mix of hand-eye coordination, fine motor skill and quick-on-the-draw logic. My boys hate playing with me because I always beat them. I met my match playing with my sister. Great quick, simple game.

Bonus Awesomeness: Beethoven's Wig

A total of thirty seconds might elapse in our car before one of my kids asks for to listen to something. That being said, I'm always on the lookout for music that they will enjoy...and that won't drive me crazy in the process.

Enter my latest finding: Beethoven's Wig. Comprised of professional opera singers and a delightful symphonic orchestra, this group plays all the symphonies that you know and love (Moonlight Sonata, Fur Elise, Maple Leaf Rag, Pomp and Circumstance...) but instead of "la-la-la-ing" along as you have until now, this group presents you with hilarious and irreverent words that you sing with gusto! For your listening AND watching pleasure:

Don't forget to peek at my Instagram to see what awesome books we enjoyed this week. Got a favorite resource that fueled your curiosity this week? Leave a comment and point me in the right direction!

#Homeschool #Homeschooling #SpaceProbes #Science #Space #DrEureka #Boardgames #Documentary #Music #Classics #BeethovensWig

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Sunday Sweep - 1066: A Year to Conquor England, Wizard, Brave Wilderness

Time for the Sunday Sweep! Favorite resources that fueled our curiosity this past week.

Documentary of the Week: 1066: A Year to Conquer England

Dan Snow is our gold standard for documentarians. This show was our introduction to him. He tells the story from so many different angles: what effect did weaponry have in outcome of the battle of Hastings. What about the weather? The available food? How about the massive amounts of dung produced by the army waiting to invade (I mean, come on, who thinks of THAT?!) And he not prompts the question, he wades into some sort of hands-on experience that illustrates the point, whether it be swinging a replica of a Norman sword at a pig carcass, or visiting a french bakery that specializes in norman-era food or facing a huge pile of horse poop and grabbing a shovel...he brings so many elements of the story together so that you don't just have an understanding of the basic strategic moves; you feel like you've been immerse in the actual drama of the times.

1066: A Year to Conquer England is a three-part series. Just try the first one. You'll be hooked, I promise.

Game of the Week: Wizard

Wizard was recommended to us by a math tutor. It is not a "math game", but she presented it to us as a great way to practice concepts of probability. Yeah. Plus, it's just so much fun. My dad told me that it's like Tricks with a different scoring system. We keep a running tally and just play a round or two when we have a few free minutes.

Bonus Awesomeness: Brave Wilderness

This is one of my boys' all-time favorite YouTube channels. I'm still trying to decide if Coyote Peterson is brave or totally nuts in his quest to get animals up close for the cameras. We've watched him get bitten by an alligator, a snapping turtle, a tank full of leeches and a gila monster; we've seen him get stung by fire ants and bullet ants and wasps and cow killers. It's definitely a high-adrenaline nature show and some people call him the next Steve Irwin. I don't know if I'd go that far, but the boys have certainly picked up a lot of nature knowledge from watching this channel. Check out the trailer:

Don't forget to peek at my Instagram to see what awesome books we enjoyed this week. Got a favorite resource that fueled your curiosity this week? Leave a comment and point me in the right direction!

#Homeschool #Homeschooling #Science #Documentary #Youtube #DanJones #1066 #nature #coyotepeterson #bravewilderness #wizard

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!

Sunday Sweep - Treasures of the Earth, Blokus, Water Beads

Time for the Sunday Sweep! Favorite resources that fueled our curiosity this past week.

Documentary of the Week: NOVA: Treasures of the Earth: Gems

How gems are formed, cut, valued...it's all captured up close in this documentary. Great photography, clarifying interviews, and a pace that held the interest and attention of me and all the kids including the four-year-old. The episode can be found on season 16 of the PBS series NOVA, episodes available on amazon...or available in full on YouTube.

Game of the Week: Blokus

It's been on my to-get list for quite awhile and I happened upon it at a thrift store for just a few bucks. We played it five times in a day. Learn it in seconds, but it will take some work to master (as of yet, I'm undefeated...just have to brag about that a little...)

Bonus Awesomeness: Water Beads

Every once in awhile when I need something that holds attention for a few days, I plump up some of these. Just a few tablespoons of beads balloon up into a bucket full of sensory goodness. I like to dump a bunch of set of fun-to-find figures into the bucket - dig through the beads to find the Roman Warriors (or whatever).

Use them for a few days and then let them (however many are left) dehydrate back to tiny dry pearls.

Don't forget to peek at my Instagram to see what awesome books we enjoyed this week. Got a favorite resource that fueled your curiosity this week? Leave a comment and point me in the right direction!

#Homeschool #Homeschooling #Science #Documentary #Youtube #NOVA #Gems #waterbeads #blokus #spatialreasoning

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that we have recommended. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they will help us keep this site up and running! Please check out our disclosure policy for more details. Thank you for your support!