This Week in US History

December 26

1776  After crossing the Delaware River, George Washington's army defeats a Hessian force at Trenton, New Jersey.

1865  James Mason of Massachusetts wins the first U.S. patent, for a coffee percolator.

December 27

1900  Prohibitionist Carry Nation begins her campaign of destroying saloons when she smashes the bar at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas.

1932  Radio City Music Hall opens in New York City.

December 28

1832  John C. Calhoun becomes the first vice president to resign, leaving office over political differences with President Andrew Jackson.

1945  Congress formally recognizes the Pledge of Allegiance as the national pledge.

December 29

1851  The first Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in the United States is organized in Boston.

1890  The U.S. Cavalry massacres up to 300 Lakita Sioux at Wounded Knee, South Dakota.

Sioux survivors from the Battle at Wounded Knee.

December 30

1853  James Gadsden, minister to Mexico, signs the Gadsden Purchase, in which the United States buys nearly 30,000 square miles of land from Mexico.

1924  Astronomer Edwin Hubble announces evidence of the existence of a galaxy outside our own.

December 31

1907  A giant ball is first dropped in Times Square to bring in the New Year.

1999  The U.S. transfers full control of the Panama Canal to Panama.

January 1

1863  Abraham Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation.

1892  Ellis Island begins processing immigrants in New York Harbor.

Ellen

Today in US History

December 25...

1651  By order of the Puritan lawmakers in Massachusetts, any colonist caught observing Christmas with feasts or other festivities is fined five shillings.

1776  George Washington's army crosses the Delaware River on Christmas night for a surprise attack against Hessian forces at Trenton, New Jersey, the next morning.

1830  In South Carolina, the Best Friend of Charleston becomes the first U.S. locomotive to begin regularly scheduled passenger service.

1868  President Andrew Johnson grants an unconditional pardon to all Confederates involved in the Civil War.

1896  John Philip Sousa completes his most famous march, "Starts and Stripes Forever."

Ellen

Today in US History

December 24...

1814  The United States and Britain sign a treaty in Ghent, Belguim, ending the War of 1812.

1906  Inventor Reginald Fessenden broadcasts the first radio entertainment program from Brant Rock, Massachusetts: a Bible reading and violin solo of "O Holy Night."

1923  President Coolidge presides over the first electric lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the White House grounds.

1946  A candlelight service at Grace Episcopal Church in New York City becomes the first religious service televised from a church.

1968  The Apollo 8 astronauts read from the book of Genesis while orbiting the moon.

Ellen

Ruby Falls

Our homeschool group enjoyed their Christmas party at Ruby Falls this year.  We had a great time... take a look!



overlooking Chattanooga





A column forming..
the stalagtite and the stalagmite have joined!



Ruby Falls... colored lights are used to enhance the experience... we even enjoyed Christmas music in the background!

Ruby Falls doesn't know where the water fall originates from.  Strange, huh!?!?

Today in US History

December 23...

1776  Thomas Paine's The American Crisis is published.

1783  George Washington resigns as general of the Army and retires to Mount Vernon.

1823  'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore is published.

1947  At Bell Labs, researchers first demonstrate the transistor, a semiconductor device that becomes a building block for modern electronic equipment.

1986  Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager land the experimental aircraft Voyager at Edwards Air Force Base, California, to complete the first nonstop, around the world flight without refueling.

Ellen

Today in US History

December 22...

1864  Union general William T. Sherman sends a message to President Abraham Lincoln from Georgia: "I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah."

1882  Edward Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison, displays the first electric Christmas tree lights in his home in New Yourk City.

1894  The U.S. Golf Association is formed in New York City.

1941  Winston Churchill arrives in Washington for wartime meetings with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1944  During the Battle of the Bulge, General Anthony McAuliffe replies, "Nuts!" to a German demand for surrender.

Ellen

Today in US History

December 21...

1620  The Pilgrims begin coming ashore at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

1861  Congress establishes the Medal of Honor, the highest U.S. military decoration.

1937  Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, one of the first feature-length animated movies, premieres in Los Angeles.

1968  Apollo 8, the first manned mission to orbit the moon, is launched.

1988  Libyan terrorists explode a bomb aboard Pan Am Flight 103, en route to New York City, when it is over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people.

Ellen

Today in US History

December 20....

1606  The Jamestown settlers set sail from England for Virginia.

1790  The first successful American cotton mill begins operating at Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

1803  The Louisiana Purchase is formally completed in New Orleans.

1860  South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union.

1891  In late December, James Naismith works out the basics of basketball.

1951  An experimental reactor near Arco, Idaho, produces the first electricity ever generated by atomic power.

Ellen

Chief Vann House

We enjoyed a field trip to the Chief Vann House Historic Site in Chatsworth, GA as part of our US History. 

During the 1790s, James Vann became a Cherokee Indian leader and wealthy businessman. He established the largest and most prosperous plantation in the Cherokee Nation, covering 1,000 acres of what is now Murray County. In 1804 he completed construction of a beautiful 2 ½-story brick home that was the most elegant in the Cherokee Nation. After Vann was murdered in 1809, his son Joseph inherited the mansion and plantation. Joseph was also a Cherokee leader and became even more wealthy than his father.


In the 1830s almost the entire Cherokee Nation was forced west by state and federal troops on the infamous Trail of Tears. The Vann family lost their elegant home, rebuilding in the Cherokee Territory of Oklahoma. Today the Vann House survives as Georgia’s best-preserved historic Cherokee Indian home. A guided tour allows visitors to see the house which features beautiful hand carvings, a remarkable “floating” staircase, a 12-foot mantle and fine antiques.

Water shed

Ummm... Outdoor facilities!



Dining Room - half of the wood floor is the original wood



Joseph Vann

Antique desk used by the last owner, a doctor.  On the desk is a copy of the Cherokee newspaper.

Sitting Room

Piano - Look closely at the candles.  The wood pulls out to bring more light.



Floating staircase



Landing on floating staircase.  The burn mark was made when soldiers threw a burning log there to force the Vann family guests to leave the home in the 1830's.

Indoor plumbing

The home has been restored to the original colors.  The Vann's, and Cherokee as a whole, painted with vibrant colors.

Steep staircase to the third floor bedroom.

View from original front of home

Old time flashlight!

The American Patriot's Almanac

The American Patriot's Almanac by William J. Bennett and John T.E. Cribb, published by Thomas Nelson, was everything I expected and more!  This newly revised, updated and expanded almanac includes a slice of our great country's history alongside the daily "American History Parade."

I enjoyed reading through the historical events which left such in impact on our country.  My whole family enjoyed looking up their birthday to see who had the most exciting historical events. 

Since we are learning US History this year, we have been able to review such documents as: The Declaration of Independence (and how it was written and signed), The Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights, and the American Creed - just to name of few.

Each year our students in the public schools are learning a different US History from previous generations.  This Almanac helps bridge that gap and gives an insight into the Christian founding principles of America. 

Per the author, "Our nation's founding principles of liberty and equality are among humanity's noblest aspirations.  As long as the United States is a place dedicated to those principles, then to be an American patriot is to love something noble and good.  By loving America, we lift our own sights."  Let us be a country filled with PATRIOTS who love this country, take pride in what America has accomplished, are active in their communities, and are involved in the election process - voting, reading up on the issues, and being an active participant.

Join in on the US History revolution... take your dose of US History daily alongside your multivitamin!

Book rating:  5 out of 5

Ellen

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Simulation of Plastic Rock

Plastic Rock is a rock that behaves like something between a liquid and a solid.  Scientists believe that the earth's mantle has this type of rock flowing through its asthenosphere. 

A simple experiment using water and corn starch will simulate the properties of Plastic Rock.  Follow these simple steps and enjoy your experiment!

1)  Put one cup of cornstarch into a shallow pan (pie plate works well).

2)  Add 2/3 cup of water.

3)  Stir until you have an evenly mixed, white liquid. (it should be hard to stir in the beginning)

4)  Add another 1/2 cup cornstarch to the mixture.

5)  As you stir the mixture, you should begin to see some interesting properties.  As you stir, the mixture should solidify, making it more difficult to mix.  However, when you stop, the mixture should liquify again.

6)  Play with this mixture!  Pick some up and squeeze it in your hand... it should harden.  Open your hand and see what happens!

7)  When you are done having fun - we played with it for about 30 minutes- clean up with hot water.

Plastic Rock is slowly liquifying from hand above to below.

8)  The excited students writing up their Laboratory Reports!

Note: if you don't see this behavior, your mixture may be incorrect.  If it remains liquidy, add more cornstarch; if it is too hard, add water a little at a time until you get the desired consistency.

Happy home schooling!

  Ellen

CurrClick: Chemistry - Giveaway

CurrClick: Chemistry - Giveaway:

Curr Click states: "The first week in November is Chemistry Week Want to hear a confession? Before I started homeschooling, I hated science. “The more I study science the more I believe in God,” Albert Einstein once remarked. Now, I couldn’t agree more with this eccentric scientist. In my house, we can't get enough of science, especially chemistry! Science is not a boring or scary subject, but it took homeschooling a little wanna-be scientist to teach me that.

While you are at it, you should begin to put together your own home chemistry kit.


We have some great giveaways for this week! Everyone who leaves a comment will be entered. PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOUR PROFILE CONTAINS OR THAT YOU INCLUDE AN EMAIL ADDRESS. (If you are reading this on Facebook, be sure to leave a comment on the actual post.) This giveaway will be open until 10:00pm EST Friday, November 5th. Please see our rules for more details.

Prizes include:

1.  Learn 'N Folder Notebook: Chemistry by Live and Learn Press

Our Learn 'N Folder Notebooks that accompany Dr. Wile's middle and high school texts make the perfect study aid. All "On Your Own" questions in each module are gathered into one minibook. Each study guide question (or group of related study guide questions) becomes a minibook. Your student will have a compact study guide filled with fun-to-use, manipulative graphic organizers.

2.  Chemistry Bingo Game by Educational Impressions

Here's a great way to reinforce and test knowledge. Each game includes 50 terms with 2 or 3 clues for each. These clue cards are to be chosen randomly as you would in any bingo style game. Students will use their knowledge to search their playing cards for the correct answer. 30 different playing cards are included.

3.  Discover! Simple Chemistry by Milliken

The activities in this book explain elementary concepts in the study of chemistry, including atomic symbols and structure, matter, compounds and mixtures, acids and bases, solvents and solutions, oxidation, and gases.

4.  Chemistry Audio by Twin Sisters

Songs that teach about atoms, compounds, mixtures, elements, forming a hypothesis, and conducting experiments. Great learning fun for young chemists!

Fall Festivities

What Fall Festivities do you have in your home school?

When my kids were younger, we enjoyed a lot of hands-on fun like painting pumpkins, Halloween cookies and costumes, Fall Festivals at the church, and decorating the home.  But, for some reason, these activities no longer appeal to teenagers.  I really don't know why?!?!  Michael (age 14) enjoys carving pumpkins and has created 2 hauntingly eerie faces so far.

Since most of the hands-on fun is in our past, we do enjoy running around the corn maize with fellow homeschoolers!  The pictures below are from our trip to the Rock City Corn Maize just south of  Chattanooga, TN.

The Children of the Corn!



Melissa enjoying the scene from above!



See, teens can be silly, too!

Give Away..... Give Away..... See Below!

Click here to enter my first GIVE AWAY... The Least Among You  (DVD).  For my review on this movie, click here.

This post is linked to The Homeschool Village blog hop.