Hi all,

Welcome to the beginning of another co op year! I know it's still summer :)
but it's time to sign up for the first of the fall co ops, Story of
Jamestown!

This year in the HOAC Online Co Ops, we'll be focusing on early American
history (Jamestown through the California Gold Rush); however, we'll also
have some great science units (including Botany, Electricity, Simple
Machines, Bats, and Dinosaurs) and some fun literature studies (The
Magician's Nephew from the Chronicles of Narnia and Little House in the Big
Woods)! There will be something for everyone - preschool through high
school - and I think those who have participated will agree, the co ops
provide as much fun for moms as they do for the kids!

We have some fun new things in the works this year...the opportunity for
your kids to show off their work on the HOAC site, an online Q&A "game show"
for older students, and more!

And now down to business...

It's hard to believe, but the planning weeks for Story of Jamestown are
coming up, and it's time to get back in the groove :) The
planning/submission group will be open the weekend of August 2, but it's
time to sign up now. (As always, the co ops are free to participate in, but
you must own the HOAC unit in order to participate.) I've included a list
of each of the jobs below; in order to sign up, please respond to this email
with your TOP 3 CHOICES and I will get back to you off-list with your
assignment and Jamestown Scope & Sequence. All jobs will be due by Friday,
August 8 in order to give Niki and I time to produce the planner and
graphics.

I can't wait to get back into the swing of things and have fun with these
units - it's going to be a great co op year! Email me now with your job
choices :) and have a great day! (Job descriptions are down below...email
with any questions!)

Jen Duncan
Co Op Coordinator
In the Hands of a Child
Loving Learning with Lapbooks
http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/Default.aspx?afid=61

Here are a list of jobs available:
*Linkster Lady: The Linkster Lady is responsible for finding links to
online sites that provide further information on the daily topics. These
sites may include virtual field trips, quiz games, age-appropriate video
links, experiments, articles, pictures, etc. A minimum of 2-4 links should
be provided per day. Please provide the link followed by a quick
explanation of the site as well as any age guidelines.

*Story Starter: The Story Starter's job is to come up with journal prompts
related to each day's theme. These prompts may be related (i.e., an ongoing
diary written by a person in the time setting or a scientist's journal of
observations) or they may be themed by day (pretend you are an electron
traveling through a circuit, etc.). At least one prompt should be given per
day, though prompts for different ages or themes may be supplied.

*Math Master Lower: The Math Masters come up with story problems that expand
on the topic of study for the day; the Lower position handles the K-4 crowd.
You may also submit links to any math-related games that would fit the unit,
but the story problems must be original (due to copyright policy). Topics
covered in the Lower problems may include simpler addition and subtraction,
money, time, simple fractions, distance, measurement, etc. Please include
some problems appropriate for younger kids as well as some problems for
upper elementary.

*Math Master Upper: This position is similar to the Math Master Lower, but
serves the 5th-8th grades (and above). Topics may include more advanced
arithmetic, fractions, decimals, percentages, ratios, algebra, geometry,
logic games, etc.

*Scripture Squire: The Scripture Squire searches out and provides scripture
references that apply to each day's study. At times the scriptures will
directly relate to what is being studied (such as Joshua leading his troops
to war while studying a battle), while other times they will be indirectly
related ("Thy word is a light unto my path" while studying sources of
light). Please supply references in both KJV and NIV.

*Craft Crew: The Craft Crew person provides 1-3 hands-on craft ideas for
each day of the study. These may vary in difficulty, as we routinely have
preschoolers through high schoolers participating in each co op. These
ideas may range from making sock puppets to dramatize a story to making a
sampler or table top greenhouse. Ideas may come from online or book sources
as long as credit is given.

*Preschool Princess: The preschool Princess is responsible for providing
activities that bring our little ones into the fun! 2-4 activities should
be given for each day and should be aimed at bringing the information down
to a 2-5 year old level. As little ones love hands-on and full-body
activities, these should be emphasized. These can include skills-based
activities (counting, letter recognition, color matching, etc.),
dramatization (going on a trek around the yard), simple experiments,
play-do/clay fun, finger puppets...the list goes on. (Note: while coloring
pages may be included in the submission, they should not be the emphasis.)

*Games Guru: The Games Guru comes up with review questions from the day's
guide reading (from the HOAC unit guide). Extra research questions may be
included from outside resources for extra credit! These questions will then
be put into a "board game" by Niki for family review of the unit. *Any
age-appropriate online or commercial board games that apply to the study may
be submitted as well.*

*Poetry Princess: The Poetry Princess submits poetry, copywork, songs,
hymns, quotes, etc. for each day that apply to the study. Again, as we have
a wide range of ages participating, differing lengths and difficulties of
materials may be submitted.

*Literary Librarian: The Lit Librarian finds library books (fiction and
nonfiction, various age ranges) that correspond to each day of the study.
Movies may also be submitted!

*Geography Genie: The Geography Genie provides geography-based activities
to help our kids understand the lands and cultures they are studying. This
position has a lot of leeway - everything from landforms and mapping
activities to planning itineraries, from recipes and fashions to artifacts
and music. Hands-on and 3D activities work well for this job!

*Science Scanner: The Science Scanner finds experiments and resources to
help the kids (and the moms!) better understand science activities that
relate to the study. For history units, the Science submission may focus on
important technological advances of the time (for example, astronomy and
navigation of Ancient Greece) or may provide further experiment and activity
ideas to complement a science unit.

*Art Adventurer: Art has played an important part in cultures around the
world; the Art Adventurer will find information and activities to help our
kids learn about artists, art movements, methods, and famous pieces that
relate to the topic or time period being studied. Activities may include
artist biographies, online galleries, art timelines, and ideas for
student-friendly projects that relate to the artists or art movements of the
time. For science units, "Science through Art" resources may be used.

*Substitute Sally: The Sub Sally position is filled after all other
positions are filled. Note that the Sub Sally is not an "extra" job - Subs
will be called to step into any position when the primary person must step
down (or needs help) due to life happening - sickness, computer crash,
family emergency, etc.

Loving Learning with Lapbooks
http://www.handsofachild.com/shop/Default.aspx?afid=61