About Me

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I am Daneille Snowden, married to Brad for 36 years (1988). Mom to three children. Grandma so far to 4 boys. I am a missionary to Africa and I love sharing the inspiration God gives to me from His Word, and apply it. I love Jesus with all my heart, and because of that I love people!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Volunteering Making A Difference For Others And In Ourselves

Volunteering  Making A Difference For Others  And In Ourselves     
By Daneille Gray Snowden

   As I have been doing some research on my 2nd child now entering into high school I was reminded of the importance of volunteering in our communities. Selfishly, this is a major plus for high school students as they do apply for scholarships. My son (who is in college now) was actively volunteering in our church (visitations, music, preaching, cleaning), politics (he was an aid to a senator as an intern), and Equestrian Horse Therapy for special needs. 
Now, he did this because he loved to serve and it was rewarding in multiple ways. 
Yet, as transcripts are being drawn up and scholarships applications are being filled out this is an area that does get over-looked in our home school lives. 
So, don't forget to volunteer to serve God by serving others and also to be an instrument to open a door of supply for higher education. Remind your college students to never stop making a difference.   

-------------------

Taken directly from Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) Website
By Diane Kummer and Becky Cooke
HSLDA High School Coordinators

Community Service

  • "Food or clothing drives/Soup kitchens/Homeless shelters
  • Nursing homes (visiting the residents, taking part in recreational activities, helping with arts and crafts programs, reading, organizing musical talent shows with other homeschooling families, caroling at Christmas, etc.)
  • Tutoring or ESL programs
  • Serving widows and the elderly in the neighborhood (running errands, reading to them, fixing their computers, raking leaves, etc.)
  • Hospitals/rehab centers (candy striping)
  • Local library"
      FROM DANEILLE: My daughter has always wanted to work in a food pantry and mission. She just wanted to touch the lives of people who have seemingly lost hope and given up. She wanted to offer them hope. We did this only one little bit and hope to somehow get involved in one or try to start one (lack of help has hindered this). 

Church

  • "Administrative/clerical assistance (stuffing envelopes, folding bulletins, data entry, helping in the library, teaching Sunday School, etc.)
  • Mercy ministry (visiting shut-ins, writing encouragement notes, babysitting, etc.)
  • Technical assistance (sound technician, video production, computer skills, etc.)
  • Nursery/children's ministry worker
  • Wedding coordinator
  • Events planner
  • Short or long-term missions"
     FROM DANEILLE: I could add on to this with a surmountable list being in a pastors home my entire life. Yes, nursery work is good, cleaning the church, fixing food for the new mama's or the sick, welcoming committee, missions, VBS, AWANA, the pastor's assistant--gofer. 

Non-Profit Ministries

(All of these organizations depend on volunteer help in addition to their paid staff.)
  • "Prison ministry
  • Pregnancy centers
  • Outreach to international students or adopting an inner city family
  • Evangelistic organizations
  • Disaster relief"    
     FROM DANEILLE: It's always nice to volunteer out of the sphere's of familiarity. We have done volunteer work for the special needs community, elderly, community children and even our local first responder's. 

Political Involvement

  • "Campaign volunteers (stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, dropping leaflets, data entry, etc.)
  • Voter registration drives
  • Helping at the polls on Election Day"

       FROM DANEILLE:  Regardless of what political party you do serve, find your local party where they meet in their county to stuff envelops, pass out fliers and put up signs. 
GOP:  http://www.gop.com/volunteer/   --- your state's name(abreviated) then gop.org
          Example GOP has Victory Centers all across this nation for people to volunteer. 
                 Here is IL Web Site: Illinois Victory Center For Volunteering 

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    I like what Kelli Mahoney mentioned in her article: 11 Awesome Outreach Ideas

Ways Christian Teens Can Make a Difference. She suggested: A Homeless Ministry, Craft donations, Christmas Tree Delivery, Turkey Delivery, Paint the town clean, and several others. Read her article. 

  Irregardless, teach your child to SERVE and be embellished with the benefits! 
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Resources:
* http://www.makeadifference101.com/   Make A Difference 101 
* Listen to these podcasts from HSLDA on volunteering : http://www.hslda.org/docs/hshb/63/hshbwk3.asp
* Churches share community outreach ideas : http://www.interpretermagazine.org/interior.asp?ptid=43&mid=11470 [This is quite creative and even fun. A home school group could attempt to do this as well. Or your child could develop in their leadership skills and plan these.]
*Victoria Stankus from 'He Holds My Right Hand' is writing a theme of a late on ministry opportunities: http://he-holds-my-right-hand.blogspot.com/
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Saturday, August 18, 2012

HOT AIR BALLOON UNIT STUDY

   HOT AIR BALLOON UNIT STUDY
All pictures are from our time at the festival.

Just recently our family had the opportunity to attend an amazing Hot Air Balloon Festival. We watched 40 balloons being spread out, fans blown into them, the fire shooting out and then watching them grow into the hugest air filled beast we've seen. They were having a race of the 'hare and the hounds'. Later, when it became dark and the participants were all back they lit their beautiful balloons giving what was called a 'Night Glow'. 

   Our family was just 'blown-away' (not literally) on the magnitude and beauty of it all. Needless to say, being a home schooler I was inspired to do a short unit study on Hot Air Balloons. 
Because I want to keep this simple (for myself); this time I will be just compiling a list of amazing sites for us all to use and enjoy. 
Have fun!

"Up, Up and Away...in my beautiful balloon!"

 Internet Sites:
*NOVA /A Short History of Ballooning: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/short-history-of-ballooning.html   [Do a time line with this information.]

*Home School Helper On-Line:  http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/units/hot_air_balloon.shtm

 *My First Balloon Ascent-  Pioneering aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont recalls his initial exhilarating experience among the clouds. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/my-first-balloon-ascent.html

 *Hot Air Balloons in the Civil War :   http://www.floridareenactorsonline.com/baloons.htm 
 *PARTS OF THE BALLOON: http://www.eballoon.org/balloon/parts-of-the-balloon.html
     --THE BASKET: A single Open basket, single T-partitioned basket,A double T-partitioned basket.
   --THE BURNER
     --THE ENVELOPE: SPECIALIST FABRIC TYPES, SPECIAL SHAPES

*Famous Flights:       Atlantic Crossings
                                    Atlantic Crossings 1970-77
                                    Atlantic Conquered
                                    Around the World Flights
                                    First Successful Attempt
                                    First Successful Solo
                                    Champagne Flights
                                    Typical Flight

*Balloon Parts & Terminology: Vocabulary- http://www.ummbf.com/MTJHA/03.%20Balloon%20Terminology.pdf
This is really good. List of vocab. words, and work sheets to enhance this vocabulary. [I will be printing this one out for sure!]

*Science factor; http://www.hotairballoons.com/hotairballoon-air-science.asp

How Hot Air Balloon Works --> Lighter Than Air



*Science & Math: This is pretty hard, but my high schooler will get a great opportunity to stretch her learning abilities.    http://www.overflight.com/   MODEL HOT AIR BALLOON SCIENCE



*YOUTUBE Learning:
   -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev9xlnWseyw Basic Over-view of H.A. Ballons
   -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As3kJrCzhnE How Balloons Are Lighter Than Air
   -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG9sSLjwe8E Up in the balloon. 
       

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The Classics for 5th Grade Girls

 Many  internet sites when searching for a list of 'Classic Literature', are mostly  fiction and some are just not where (I desire as a Christian) I want my child's mind and imagination to go. 

  Remember; Philippians 4:8 "For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]." 

   In book reading (and even in entertainment of all sorts) this is so important to apply.
So, as I scan over the Classics, I had to type in my search the 'Old Classics', even at that I compiled my own list including some ideas from others.

 For my 5th Grader:
*Elsie Dinsmore Series by Martha Finley-we do the 'Life of Faith' version first. When my older daughter got older she read the original.

*The Little Prince by Antoine De St. Exupery

*Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

*The Sword in the Stone by T.H. White

*Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

*Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (We did a unit study on this.)

*The Black Stallion by Walter Farley

*Black Beauty  by Anna Sewell

*Heidi by Johanna Spyri

*American Girl Series (Though, I would suggest them for higher level readers these maybe too easy.)

*Pollyanna by Eleanor Porter

 *The Velveteen Rabbit   by Margery Williams Bianco

 *The Great Big Treasury of Beatrix Potter  by Beatrix Potter

 *Uncle Remus and Brer Rabbit   by Joel Chandler Harris

 *Swiss Family Robinson    by Johann David Wyss

 *Adventures of Pinocchio     by Carlo Collodi

 *Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm    by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin

 *The Prince and the Pauper   by Mark Twain

 *Anne of Green Gables    by L. M. Montgomery
    Now as you have seen the great majority if not all are fiction. I think there is a tremendous imbalance if this is all our children read, even for relaxation. Thus, biographies are vital as well as help books, and so on. Even books about travel and countries around the world. Learn about different religions and customs. 
  Books about how to cope as a kid Biblically. Inventions and inventors, foods, history and the list goes on and on. 
  Though the 'fictional' classics are great and important to read, include non-fiction. Reading can formulate your child's thinking. Can influence their future in various ways.
  So, enjoy reading to and with your child. Enjoy seeing them grow in knowledge and  vocabulary as well. 


A LINK I LIKED FOR THIS SUBJECT:
http://oldfashionededucation.com/classics.htm An Old Fashion Education

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