If you had money to spend on homeschooling supplies, what would you buy?

[Storm Bride]

I've got some money I need to spend by Tuesday (or I lose it). I'm not giving exact amounts, but say about $100 each for dd1 and ds2. I have a few ideas, but haven't made up my mind what we're going to spend it on. So...spam me with your ideas. We have quite a few reference books, a globe and an abacus, as well as a lot of other little things.

[eclipse]

Can it be consumables? Because I'd probably buy craft supplies and science experiment "ingredients."

[Storm Bride]

Yes - it can definitely be consumables. I'm definitely leaning towards at least some craft supplies. We have a reasonable stockpile right now, but we could use refills of a few things.

It actually occurs to me that I might get dd1 a microscope, if I can find one at a reasonable price. I think she'd love it!

[SweetSilver]

You didn't say how old the kids are.... that would make a big difference.  $100 each for youngsters would go a long way.  If they are little, I'd go for a magnifying glass and binoculars.  You can take those with you on walks, they are cheap and a good microscope is not cheap.  I would buy guidebooks for birds and bugs and tracks.  I would buy paper and more paper and stiff-backed sketchbooks and more sketchbooks.  I would buy the book "Art Fun!" instead of forever checking it out from the library.  I'm sure I could go on if I had the time.  My girls are 6 and 4 1/2.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by SweetSilver 

You didn't say how old the kids are.... that would make a big difference.

DD1 is 8, and ds2 is almost 6.

$100 each for youngsters would go a long way.  If they are little, I'd go for a magnifying glass and binoculars.  You can take those with you on walks, they are cheap and a good microscope is not cheap.

They've already got magnifying glasses. DD1 is just one of those kids who finds the idea of a microscope really exciting. I think we may buy a "pocket" microscope, which is basically a really high-powered magnifying glass. lol It would leave us with a little more to spend on a book she wants (about bugs) and some craft stuff.

I would buy guidebooks for birds and bugs and tracks.  I would buy paper and more paper and stiff-backed sketchbooks and more sketchbooks.  I would buy the book "Art Fun!" instead of forever checking it out from the library.  I'm sure I could go on if I had the time.  My girls are 6 and 4 1/2.

Oh, my - didn't even think about paper, and we need more paper...just basic stuff, mostly, but I could play a little bit. I think I'm hitting the book store, the stationery store, maybe Michael's...and Amazon, for the microscope.

But, we're not shopping until tomorrow, so keep it up! DD1 loves nature, in general, especially bugs and spiders. DS2 loves...chaos. *sigh* He actually really likes workbooks, and is getting into drawing. Maybe a couple more sketchbooks...and he says he wants a telescope...

[eclipse]

I could spend the whole $100/kid on paper and still not have enough .

[Storm Bride]

I have nowhere to put $100 worth of paper...

[Ellp]

Lisa, how about year long memberships for stuff?  Eg. Science World, Aquarium, etc?  I just put our last few $$ on a Science World membership so that I'd have a place to go during the summer.

[SweetSilver]

 Buy a $100 bookshelf!

[lmonter]

I'd ask what your curriculum/plans are, and what the kids are interested in.
For mine, I'd invest in more origami for making various things related to the books we're reading, more books, more books, more laminating pouches for various activities/projects/wall decorations, more organization supplies, etc.  Worse comes to worse, Amazon gift cards to use for later?

[SundayCrepes]

What about a digital microscope that you can hook up to your computer? 

I just did a search at amazon and saw this one: http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-44302-Handheld-Digital-Microscope/dp/B001UQ6E4E/ref=sr_1_9?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1306647301&sr=1-9

One of the reviewers put photos and a video s/he took with the microscope on this page: http://mentalfest.blogspot.com/ The video was pretty cool when I enlarged it to fill my 23" monitor screen.

I haven't used this device and I see a newer model is coming out (and both models aren't shipped right away,) but it seems like it could be fun.

Or here's a time elapsed plantcam:

http://www.amazon.com/Wingscapes-WSCA04-Timelapse-Outdoor-PlantCam/dp/B002M2TLLI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1306647804&sr=8-2

Or a book on making stop animation movies (I'm not sure why I'm looking these things up since I haven't used any of them, but it just seems like the thing to do.): http://www.amazon.com/Klutz-Book-Animation-Motion-Movies/dp/1591747333/ref=sr_1_16?ie=UTF8&qid=1306647804&sr=8-16

[lmonter]

Oh, and I just drool over the neat stuff here.  Dinosaur models you put together.  Excavation kits.  Bugs.  Mining stuff.  :D

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by Ellp 

Lisa, how about year long memberships for stuff?  Eg. Science World, Aquarium, etc?  I just put our last few $$ on a Science World membership so that I'd have a place to go during the summer.

We have one for Science World (used our funds last year), the Aquarium (Christmas gift from my mom) and Maplewood Farm. :)

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by lmonter 

I'd ask what your curriculum/plans are, and what the kids are interested in.

We don't really have a curriculum or any solid plans. I'm trying to figure out a little more structure for next year, but not sure where I'm going yet.

For mine, I'd invest in more origami for making various things related to the books we're reading, more books, more books, more laminating pouches for various activities/projects/wall decorations, more organization supplies, etc.  Worse comes to worse, Amazon gift cards to use for later?

Personally, I'd love to get more books, but we're not getting great use out of the ones we have. DS2 is kind of book averse (not sure why, because he's doing really well on reading, and loves to do it) and dd1 is...I honestly don't know how to describe it. We found one bug book for a friend of hers last year, and it has little pouches with small models of insects in them. DD1 wants that one, so we'll see if we can find it again.

I definitely need to get some more organizational supplies. We're a bit...scattered.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by lmonter 

Oh, and I just drool over the neat stuff here.  Dinosaur models you put together.  Excavation kits.  Bugs.  Mining stuff.  :D

Oooh...very cool site. There are soooo many awesome things to play and learn with out there. It's amazing.

[briansmama]

Butterfly, ant, worm, or fish habitats. We're going to order the butterfly habitats again this year for my nature-loving boys, ages 7 and 4. They never get tired of those! In case you're not familiar with them, you send in the coupon the habitat comes with and wait for caterpillars to be sent by mail and watch the process as they eventually morph into butterflies, then release.

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by briansmama 

Butterfly, ant, worm, or fish habitats. We're going to order the butterfly habitats again this year for my nature-loving boys, ages 7 and 4. They never get tired of those! In case you're not familiar with them, you send in the coupon the habitat comes with and wait for caterpillars to be sent by mail and watch the process as they eventually morph into butterflies, then release.

Oh, yeah - I've seen those. I've wondered about space, but that might actually work okay. I'll look around, and see what I can find. DS2 probably wouldn't be that interested, but I'm sure dd1 would be!

ETA: Right...have to find a place that ships to Canada. I remember looking at them before, and not finding a Canadian source.

[SundayCrepes]

Originally Posted by Storm Bride 

Oh, yeah - I've seen those. I've wondered about space, but that might actually work okay. I'll look around, and see what I can find. DS2 probably wouldn't be that interested, but I'm sure dd1 would be!

ETA: Right...have to find a place that ships to Canada. I remember looking at them before, and not finding a Canadian source.

This site makes reference to a Canadian source. http://www.brightkidsworld.com/Butterfly_Growing_Kit_p/fas002.htm

We did butterflies this spring. It was great watching the caterpillars grow then hatching. We actually got to watch one of the butterflies emerge. It takes seconds so our timing was perfect. We released them after a couple days. Now everytime my son sees a butterfly he wonders if it is one of ours (or possibly a descendant.)

[pigpokey]

Laser printer will save you in the long run over printing with ink jets.  Ream of copy paper.  Mine use paper for drawing mostly, letters and lists.

MP3 player you can load Audibles on for the car.

[Storm Bride]

A laser printer may be in the future, but we don't print all that much right now. I'll keep it in mind.

Well, we're done. I got a telescope, bouncy-ball making kit, markers, pencils, a pencil case and some "dot paints" (the ones that are like Bingo dabbers) for ds2. DD1 got a microscope, some new fossils, a bunch of paper, a glue stick, scissors (she wants the glue & scissors for her backpack of stuff that she takes in the car), and a bunch of new pipe cleaners.

I need to be more organized next year. That was a whirlwind shopping spree, and I like to think about things a little more than that!