Gisela KaplanLove, sex and mate choice are topics that never go out of fashion among humans or, surprisingly, among some Australian birds. For these species, choosing the right partner is a driver of evolution and affects the survival and success of a bird and its offspring. There is no better place than Australia to observe and study strategies for bird mate choice. Modern parrots and songbirds are Gondwanan creations – they first evolved in Australia and only much later populated the rest of the world. Here, we’ll examine the sophisticated way some native birds choose a good mate, and make the relationship last. Rainbow lorikeets form a lifetime bond. Bobbie Marchant Single mothers and seasonal flings For years, research has...
Ten Years?!?Wow I'm getting old. I'm in my 40th year of life, and I even googled "Hair cuts that make you look young," Yep. I'm getting to that point.Ten years ago I taught Maxwell kindergarten. I was so naive. I was so arrogant. I didn't know what I was doing. But I had the best of intentions, and I was doing my best.Cute tiny Maxwell at the beginning of this all!I've realized that's all I can expect of myself: good intentions and doing my best.If my kids turn out horrible and/or hate me, I can rest assured that I was doing what I truly believed was the best for my family, and that I did all I could.Sometimes I worry...
The June Science Calendar is packed with activities and cool science information that will keep your kids busy, spark creativity and wonder, and teach them along the way! I love putting together the monthly science calendars. My goal is to find something for every age and every interest that will create a love of science. Some kids might not get excited about physics. Sounds boring, right? But, the same kids might get really excited about a roller coaster ride on their trip to a theme park. They might want to know how a roller coaster works and how they are designed. This is a prime opportunity to let them explore that interest. Don’t tell them it’s physics until they get...
It's one thing to conduct science experiments for kids that wow the crowd, but it's another thing to be able to eat or drink it afterward. That's what makes this Edible Magic Potion one of the best edible crafts for kids out there. This fun edible craft takes hardly any time, which means that you can make it right before a party to impress all of your guests. Whether you're looking for easy Halloween treats or you simply want to inspire your child's inner mad scientist, this magic potion for kids will leave a lasting impression.This is one project that will especially capture the minds of preschoolers and kindergarteners, as they get to observe real "magic" right before their eyes....
So many people give up on homeschooling when it comes to high school, but there’s no need to get intimidated. Home is still a great place to give our students a quality classical education, as long as we provide them with the supports they need to finish well. You can homeschool high school classically. I’ll share what we have used and also resources to help you figure out a plan that will work for your family. Honestly, I love this stage. When I am sitting on the couch listening to my 5-year-old sound out words, I remind myself: It’s ok. We have to do this now so that later we can talk about Beowulf and diagram sentences. First, let me...
