Encyclopedia Homeschoolica

Insect “Daguerreotypes”

encyclopediahomeschoolica — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 04:33:13 +0000

Insectographics

encyclopediahomeschoolica — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 03:55:44 +0000

Botanical Dissections

encyclopediahomeschoolica — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 02:42:54 +0000

DIY Curriculum :: Leaf Study

encyclopediahomeschoolica — Tue, 22 Apr 2014 17:46:40 +0000

“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.”
-Pablo Picasso

A simple flashlight held under a eucalyptus leaf can open up a whole new world. Take a close up photograph and voila! A makeshift microscope:

Eucalyptus sideroxylon ‘Rosea’
Red Ironbark Tree

Eucalyptus citriodora
Lemon-Scented Gum Tree

DIY Curriculum: Flags Over California

encyclopediahomeschoolica — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:44:10 +0000

Project: A colorful investigation of early California history using miniature flags and interesting facts [who knew California was once under the Argentine flag?]
Supplies: Internet, cardstock, bamboo skewers, cardboard

1. Print out all 33 mini flags from:

www.loeser.us/flags/california.html

2. Glue the flags to shortened bamboo skewers and create corresponding index cards that have the basic information for each flag.

3. “Plant” your flags onto a map of California, choosing locations that correspond to where each flag first “landed”. We printed out a map and glued it to a piece of cardboard [nice and thick, from a box]. The pointy end of the flags [the bamboo skewers] poke in nicely and stay in place well.

4. You could also display your flags in a long row using two pieces of cardboard as a supportive strips.

5. Create a folder where all pieces can be stored away for future use.

Additional California flag history found at:

www.militarymuseum.org/Flags_Over_Ca.pdf

Fresh Art: Norman Rockwell & The Photographs

encyclopediahomeschoolica — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:28:21 +0000

Norman Rockwell’s subject was average America. He painted it with such benevolent affection for so many years, that a truly remarkable history of the 20th century has been compiled. Most of Norman Rockwell’s iconic paintings were inspired by photographs. Prior to beginning a painting, Mr. Rockwell would first plan out the scene to be photographed, often inviting family and neighbors to help act out his vision. It was then from a photograph, or a series of photographs, that Mr. Rockwell would begin painting:

Oil painting for Post cover, September 1958." alt="Norman Rockwell" src="http://encyclopediahomeschoolica.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/the-runaway-painting.jpg?w=590&h=626" width="590" height="626" />

The Runaway. Oil painting for Post cover, September 1958.

Girl At The Mirror. Oil painting for Post cover, March 1954

After The Prom. Oil painting for Post cover, May 1957.

The Tatooist. Painting for Post cover, March 1944.

Browse the Norman Rockwell Collection (both paintings and photographs) online at the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Rockstar Photographers: Iain Macmillan & The Abbey Road

encyclopediahomeschoolica — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 17:27:30 +0000

Photographer Iain Macmillan shot the iconic image of The Beatles crossing the street for the 1969 album cover, “Abbey Road”. At around 11:30 that morning, Mr. Macmillan was given only ten minutes to take the photo while he stood on a step-ladder and a policeman held up the traffic. Mr. Macmillan’s other shots from that day in 1969 – the ones that didn’t make the cut – show just how tricky it can be in getting such a simple shot to look ‘just right’.

View live webcam of the actual crosswalk on Abbey Road HERE

Abbey Road
Side One
1. Come Together Lennon
2. “Something” Harrison
3. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” McCartney
4. “Oh!Darling!” McCartney
5. “Octopus’s Garden” Starr
6. “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” Lennon

Side Two
1. “Here Comes The Sun” Harrison
2. “Because” Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison
3. “You Never Give Me Your Money” McCartney
4. “Sun King” Lennon, with McCartney and Harrison
5. “Mean Mr. Mustard” Lennon
6. “Polythene Pam” Lennon
7. “She Came In Through The Bathroom Window” McCartney
8. “Golden Slumbers” McCartney
9. “Carry That Weight” McCartney with Lennon, Harrison, and Starr
10. “The End” McCartney
11. “Her Majesty” McCartney

Journey To The Ends Of The Earth: The Guatemalan Sinkhole

encyclopediahomeschoolica — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 06:08:04 +0000

Torrential rains brought on by tropical storm Agatha pounded Guatemala City in 2010, resulting in a massive sinkhole 100 feet deep and 66 feet wide. The flooding caused the ground to collapse, swallowing up a three-story factory and a city intersection.

Sinkholes are commonly found in areas where the bedrock is limestone, or some other rock that can be dissolved by ground water, according to the US Geological Survey. As the rock dissolves, huge cavities are formed. And when there is nothing left to support the land surface, it collapses, forming the sinkhole.

In this case, the recent rains as well as underground sewage flow from a ruptured main were believed to have encouraged the giant hole.

Rockstar Photographers: Living Pictures By Mole & Thomas

encyclopediahomeschoolica — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 04:42:24 +0000

Photographers Arthur S. Mole and John D. Thomas created a series of ‘living photographs’ in the early 1900’s using thousands of United States soldiers just returning home from World War One.

Human Statue of Liberty, 1918 at Camp Dodge, Des Moines, IA
Arthur’s great nephew Joseph Mole, 70, says: “In the picture of the Statue of Liberty there are 18,000 men: 12,000 of them in the torch alone, but just 17 at the base. The men at the top of the picture are actually half a mile away from the men at the bottom.”

Living Portrait of President Woodrow Wilson, 1918
Formed of 21,000 officers and men at Camp Sherman, Chillicothe, Ohio

The Human U.S. Shield, 1918
Formed of 30,000 men at Camp Custer, Battle Creek, MI

See more of Mole & Thomas HERE

Build It: Handmade Harry Potter

encyclopediahomeschoolica — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 04:26:37 +0000

A young man named Leon turned 21 years old and for his birthday party, his father built a detailed replica of Hogwart’s Great Hall using mostly styrofoam, cardboard, recycled wood and paint. These unbelievably simple and inexpensive creations are documented step by step on his website for all to learn:

The Harry Potter Potions Light Box was made from a simple box holding a flourescent light bulb. The recycled bottles were filled with water and food coloring.

The Floating Candles and the Enchanted Ceiling were made from thrifted queen size bed sheets, toilet paper rolls, and inexpensive flickering electronic lights.

The wands were made from sticks found at the park and varnish. The wand cases were made from styrofoam and a bit of velvet.

The books for the library were made from foam and paint.

The Great Hall Banquet Table was made extra long with a simple construction of recycled wood.

The Nimbus 2000 was made of wood, palm tree fronds, glue, and a bit of aluminum.

The Hour Glass was made with 2 liter plastic bottles, styrofoam, aluminum rods, sand, and gold paint.

The Owl Lecturn was made of foam, wood, a cardboard roll and gold paint.

The Monster Book Of Monsters was made of foam, a cardboard roll, fur fabric and gold puffy paint.

See all Harry Potter tutorials HERE