Inclusive Homeschool

I’m still on a high from yesterday’s inauguration – the long sustaining high that comes from inspiration and commitment. Not just the temporary sugar high of excitement, although, I confess, at this moment I feel that, too!

At 12:01 P.M., right after President Obama became our 44th president, his new website went up at whitehouse.gov.

Its interactive and it’s phenomenal. What a fantastic resource to keep engaged and knowledgeable as a citizen, and what a wonderful, real time way for students to learn about and participate in their government.

One of the features I love is the ability to review and comment on non-emergency legislation for five days before the President signs it. I see no age restriction here. My eleven year old can put in her two cents worth just as I can.

To keep up to date on what’s happening, you can sign up for email notices or subscribe to their rss feed. There will, also, be weekly videos starting Saturday, by the President.

You can read more in depth about these features here on The White House Blog.

URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/change_has_come_to_whitehouse-gov/

The educational section is wonderful. Learn about the White House, the history of it, fun facts, time lines and slide shows.

URL:http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/white_house_101/

For a study on government, federal, state, judicial, and resources, this link is fabulous.

URL: http://www.whitehouse.gov/our_government/

It’s a work in progress, but worth keeping up with. What better way to learn about our government, but to engage directly with it?

This is one way, that may inspire you and your student to become engaged in ways that are right for you in your own community.

Tags: Free Resources, fun facts, Government, history, interactive, obama, presidents, Social Studies, timeline, white house

One of the best videos I’ve seen on consumption and the impact it has on the environment and the world by Annie Leonard, http://www.storyofstuff.com

A description from their website:

The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns, with a special focus on the United States. All the stuff in our lives, beginning from the extraction of the resources to make it, through its production, sale, use and disposal, affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues and calls for all of us to create a more sustainable and just world.

I loved it. The fast pace is not initiated by tons of flashy images and a string of 20 second sound bytes. It’s strength comes from the veracity of the facts and statistics and the passion of Annie Leonard. It’s obvious how she leans politically, but since I lean in the same direction, I’m fine with it.

Regardless your political beliefs, the truth Annie Leonard shares about how our consumption is affecting the planet and everyone in it is invaluable. Our rampant consumerism affects everyone…and in the end, without prejudice.

More information about Annie Leonard from her bio on the website:

Annie Leonard is an expert in international sustainability and environmental health issues, with more than 20 years of experience investigating factories and dumps around the world. Coordinator of the Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption, a funder collaborative working for a sustainable and just world, Annie communicates worldwide about the impact of consumerism and materialism on global economies and international health.

With Annie’s first hand experience of witnessing the impact of our consumer driven society, I think Annie has plenty of room to be as passionate and direct as she is in her advocacy.

You know, much is made of “living books” in the homeschool movement, authors who write books on topics they are passionate about. I believe this is a “living video”, as the person with the passion for this subject is the one standing in front of the camera and not a narrator. It definitely comes across.

There are free downloadable pdf files – tips, invitations, taking action, group activities, discussion guides and posters to help facilitate a screening of the movie (which you can download for free, btw). The discussion and group activities pdf files make this a great homeschool resource for use in the home or in co-ops.

This movie is thought provoking and well worth watching. When Brhiannon comes home from her dad’s, we’ll be sure to watch this together and go over some of the discussion questions and activities.

Highly recommended.

Tags: environment, lesson plans, movies, Resources, Resources Free, Reviews-Movies, Science, sustainability, unit studies