FREE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE - BEN'S GUIDE TO U.S. GOVERNMENT FOR KIDS

 Photos:  Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids

Learning about the government can range from dull to daunting, but Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids is a free site sponsored by the US government with free resources using Ben Franklin as a guide for grades K-12 with parent and teacher resources as well.

 Some activities are online, others are printables and several are links to other free sites online that are interactive or printable.



Activities range from an interactive matching game to match states shapes for grades K-2 (left) to tracking the bill history of the International Dolphin Conservation Act. to showing high schoolers how laws are made by tracking the bill history of the  International Dolphin Conservation Act.



It could be used as a supplement to reinforcing or clarifying what a student has learned in the classroom, or it could be used in creating lesson plans for home schoolers, such as the this one on Civics for K-2 created by Nicole Thrifty Decorating.  

Resource found via Thrifty Decorating

How Glowsticks Are Made

via:  Boing Boing

If you have a bit of mad scientist in you the above geeky cool video on the science behind making glow sticks will pique your interest. They show you what chemicals are used and how the different colors are made.

ESPHERA 360 3D GLOBE PUZZLES

This would be a wonderful family  back to school project to work on together.  Globes are great visual teaching tools to learn about the world and puzzles exercise the mind and tactile skills and the above offers all in one with puzzle that constructs a globe.  


The above is 9" inch 540 piece globe which Amazon sell for $15.98 and up 
and ToysRUs for $29.99 and also on EBAY and numerous other places.  

For younger children (recommended 6+) there are also 6 inch globes with only 60 pieces, but even pre-schoolers can get involved by sort out pieces by colors into different piles.
1 Sale A Day has on sale today only for $5.99 (plus $4.99 S&H), Amazon for $11.90 and up and EBAY.

Disclaimer:  I have received no monetary or other consideration for this post - I just think they are cool :)