Archive for November, 2009
The challenge of trying to master the Cube, to be able to restore all of its six sides to the original colors seems to have a mesmeric effect on an amazing variety of individual’s right across age, occupation, wealth and social standing. Grandmothers, bank managers, baseball players, pilots, librarians, park attendants could be seen working away at their Cubes at any hour of the day.
In restaurants the Cube would feature on tables side by side with salt and pepper pots, handled with greater frequency than either. But it was the young, schoolboys and students, who were in the vanguard of what was fast becoming a massive movement that swept through the world. They were the ones who proved most adept at solving the puzzle, they were the ones to form special cubists clubs, to organize competitions, to suffer from Rubik’s wrist playing continuously for hours and days with an object that simply could not put down.
Every invention has an official birth date. For the Cube this date is 1974 when the first working prototype came into being and a patent application was initially drafted. The place was Budapest, the capital of Hungary. The inventor’s name is now a household word, Rubik’s Cube.
You can read more of the article this information was taken from at this link: http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/rubikcube.htm
This family game won -
Parent’s Choice Award
Best 25 Products of 25 Years!
The world’s most famous puzzle is the still the best selling puzzle of all time! Billions of combinations, only one solution. Available online.
As our nation’s Founders designed their plan for a more perfect union, they understood that the success of a modern republic would require more than a political document like the Constitution. From their study of history, the Founders had learned of the pitfalls of republics before this one.
They concluded that even the Constitution alone could not curb individual selfishness. They believed that virtues were necessary for sustaining the American experiment. Their fervent prayers were an integral part of the birth of our nation. As a testament to this, Samuel Adams declared on August 2, 1776 as other members of the Continental Congress were still signing the Declaration of Independence, “We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come.”
Read more at: http://presidentialprayerteam.com/heritage/
You can help your children learn more about our country and its history by playing a family board game, Lewis and Clark.
The Lewis & Clark Adventure Game is an educational Christian board game that introduces important aspects of American history, geography, and culture. Travel through the wilderness, answer questions and win charms.
Two levels of questions accommodate both younger and older players (2-4 players) in this family game. This educational Christian board game features a beautifully illustrated game board with built-in spinner, colorful beads for buying goods, buckets for storing beads, four types of charms, two sets of question cards (beginner and expert).
The first jigsaw puzzle was created in 1767. John Spilsbury, a teacher in England created the puzzle for the purpose of teaching geography.
Adhering his maps to flat hardwood, he used a fine saw to cut along the borders of the European countries, and the jigsaw puzzle was born. Hand-painted and made of wood, the puzzle was a map of England and Wales, with each county making up a separate piece.
Soon, people began making pictorial jigsaw puzzles. Their purpose was to entertain rather than to teach. The pieces in these early kids jigsaw puzzles were not interlocking. Not until the invention of power tools more than a century later did jigsaw puzzles with fully interlocking pieces come into being.
The first children’s jigsaw puzzles were made in 1880 by Milton Bradley. “The Smashed Up Locomotive” , their first puzzle, was a printed lithograph of a steam engine locomotive and cutting it into pieces, the “smashed up” effect was achieved when a child opened the box and saw the locomotive all in pieces.
Because of his Puritan upbringing, Bradley’s nature was to seek order. Therefore, the object of the “The Smashed Up Locomotive” was to make the locomotive whole once again.
At the far end of the world, there exists a strange and unusual chain of islands, resting above vast tectonic plates. This is the world of the Galápagos Archipelago, home to salt-spitting marine iguanas, flightless cormorants, and giant tortoises that can live to be more than 150 years of age.
It is also the birthplace of Darwinism, for here in 1835, a young Charles Darwin began to formulate a theory which would turn the world upside down. More than a century and a half later, these mysterious islands remain at the center of a controversy that has shaped the way modern men perceive science, religion, and life itself. The unique ingredients found on the Galápagos have led many of Darwin’s followers to describe it as Darwin’s Eden — a “laboratory of evolution.”
For educators and parents the subject of Darwin’s theory will eventually come up and children will be fascinated with marine and sea life creatures. At this point it will be necessary to have several educational children’s toys on hand to help with your lessons.
Wooden puzzles and play sets will be a good starting point. The Sealife puzzle playset has a variety of individual characters you can use to show the differences in each fish, turtle, etc.
When Darwin was a young man he traveled around the world on the H.M.S. Beagle (1831-1836), a research vessel. His job was to make observations on the plants and animals found in the places the ship docked.
While on the trip, Darwin saw many strange and new plants and animals and began to wonder how they could have come to be. He was particularly struck by the animals of the Galapagos Islands, where he found that each island had a different kind of tortoise, a different kind of finch, and a different kind of marine iguana.
You can read more on this interesting website - http://www.terindell.com/asylum/jason/darwin.html and incorporate the information into your lessons. As you use your educational children’s toys your lessons come alive and your children will come up with their own ideas and questions to make for a lively discussion.
Quadro is a very UNIQUE “large-scale” modular construction system to create and build an unlimited number of play structures. It is the ONLY system which can be built so that kids can safely use as a jungle gym, play loft, climber, vehicle, desk, fort, maze, obstacle course… etc.
* Quadro designs are only limited by the imagination!
*Kids stay busy and never get bored with Quadro.
*Great for all homes, schools, apartments, playrooms, kids bedrooms, decks, backyards
*Can also be used in Day Care, Kids Gyms, Pediatric Facilities, Health Clubs, etc. etc.
Quadro playsets can be safely and easily be adapted to use by kids with special needs. You can custom designs walkers, walking aids, rolling aids, and other play structures to meet the height and size requirements. Sight-impaired kids also find Quadro a good way to have fun and be creative.
On this fragrant, frosty Thanksgiving Day
The huge turkey browns beautifully
In our king-size oven.
The tender yams are evenly candied;
The corn soufflé is beginning to bubble;
The congealed salad is ready to unmold.
The homemade bread with its crunchy texture
Is wrapped in foil for reheating.
The ice cubes are bagged in plastic;
The relishes are artistically arranged
On a round crystal plate.
The pumpkin pies are still slightly warm.
Fresh yellow chrysanthemums
Grace the long, colorful table.
The house glistens and shines.
My makeup is evenly applied…
So, dear family
How about settling down
In our favorite chairs
For an hours of relaxation
Before our guests arrive!
Lord, I dream of this happening
Some ethereal Thanksgiving Day!
We know from the Bible that dinosaurs were alive at the time of Noah, because dinosaurs were land animals, and land animals were created on Day 6 of Creation Week (Genesis 1:24). We also know that dinosaurs were on Noah’s Ark, since Noah took two of every kind of unclean animal with him—this included dinosaurs Genesis 6:19).
However, the remaining animals left outside the Ark died. Many of these remains rotted and decayed during the Flood, but many were fossilized by their sudden, catastrophic burial.
The Flood is a fascinating Bible story and using large wood playsets will make your story telling come alive. Wooden children’s toys are popular with both boys and girls and well worth the investment.
Wood play sets, such as Noah’s Ark includes many wood animal figures to help you teach your Bible lessons at home, school and Sunday school. When play and story time are finished all the figures store neatly in the Ark.
Read more about the Flood and dinosaurs at this interesting website: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v1/n1/two-fighting-dinosaurs
The British Humanist Association (BHA) had led a campaign to have Darwin’s theory of how life evolved through natural selection made a compulsory element of the new primary curriculum.
It organized a public letter signed by more than 500 scientists and supporters. Andrew Copson of the BHA said: “This is excellent news. Evolution is arguably the most important concept underlying the life sciences. “Providing children with an understanding of it an early age will help lay the foundations for a surer scientific understanding later on.”
I read the above in an article morning and thought that teachers and parents may like to know about a cube puzzle you can use as one of your kids learning toys for teaching Creation in school and home.
Your kids will “eat up” the Creation story when this wooden puzzle is brought out. Many questions about Creation can be explained and a lively discussion will begin when playing with the brightly colored cube puzzle.
Do you know about the AiG Creation Education Center? This center exists to equip and enable educators to restore the authority of God’s Word by reconnecting the Bible to the real world. To do this, we need to teach more than just ‘Bible stories.’
Answers magazine is the Bible-affirming, creation-based magazine from Answers in Genesis. In it you will find fascinating content and stunning photographs that present creation and worldview articles along with relevant cultural topics from different authors. http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am
While decorating for Christmas there are unique wooden puzzles that can help make your table or fireplace mantle an eye catcher as your guests arrive. The only trick is that everyone will want to take it down and play with it.
As a Christmas puzzle the reindeer is just one of our 3d jigsaw puzzles you could use in your decorating themes. Our puzzles are one and one-half inches thick and stand up by themselves. Place greenery and holly berries around the base of the puzzles, add some candles or other knick knacks and you will have a beautiful and inexpensive holiday display.
Safe 3d jigsaw puzzles are handcrafted and made from all natural wood. Geared for ages 7 up these puzzles can be painted with water colors.
As it relates to the checks and balances of our American government, the Executive Branch is responsible for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The head of the Executive Branch is the President of the United States.
Underneath the President are the several Departments that have been created by Executive Order. The Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice are just a few examples of these subgroups within the Executive Branch. The representative leaders of these departments are collectively known as the President’s “Cabinet” of advisors.
Your family games should include educational board games such as Hail to the Chief. Players move around the outside of the board answering questions on presidents and the Constitution, as you become a candidate. Then travel from state to state on the campaign trail answering questions on US history and geography to win electoral votes. Winner is the first person to make it to Washington, D.C. first with enough electoral votes.
This game is for ages 10 up and for 2-4 players. Great way to get your kids and whole family aware of how our government works.