Night Sky Watching

Do you find yourself looking up at the sky and wondering what you're looking at? Maybe you would love to know where and when the next meteor shower will be visible in your area.

I have three favorite apps for Droid phones designed to help you discover the wonders that surround our little blue marble.

Google Sky Map

This may be the most obvious, but that doesn't diminish its "wow!" factor. Created by the people at Google, the Sky Map uses your location (on your GPS-enabled phone) to show you all the visible objects in your night sky, including stars, planets, meteor showers, and Messier objects. It also maps out the constellations, which is great for those of us who have a difficult time identifying anything beyond the big dipper and Orion's belt. As you move your phone, the map adjusts to show what night looks like from the new perspective. So, in addition to viewing your own night sky, you can see what it looks like on the other side of the world. Pretty cool!

Say you want to focus on just one object group, such as planets or constellations. Google Sky Maps allows you to select or deselect any of the groups to personalize your viewing. You can also "Time Travel" to see what the night sky will look like in the future or what it looked like in the past. And not to ruin the nighttime viewing experience, Google Sky Map also has a "night mode," which changes all the text to red and reduces the contrast.

Google Sky Map is a terrific introduction to the night sky and the wonders it holds.

Meteor Shower Calendar

Now that you've become familiar with the night sky, you'd like to watch some meteor showers. But when do they happen? Where should you look in the sky? When is the best time to head away from civilization and toward truly dark skies?

The Meteor Shower Calendar lists current and upcoming meteor showers; gives start, peak, and end dates; rates the showers (from one to four stars) based on the likely frequency of meteor viewings; sends you a message on your phone with current shower information; provides your local sunset time and weather, as well as moon phases (a full moon may limit meteor shower viewing). It works with SkEye, an astronomy app that acts as an "advanced planetarium" and can be used as a PUSHTO guide for telescopes. (I haven't used SkEye, yet, but have downloaded it.)

Nothing creates excitement about the heavens like witnessing "shooting stars" blazing across the night sky.

For more field trip ideas,

check out GHF's Virtual Field Trips page.

ISS Detector

The International Space Station (ISS) is visible with the naked eye, if you know where to look. The ISS Detector will tell you, based on your location, when and where to look for the ISS and Iridium flares (small telecommunications satellites which orbit the Earth, whose solar panels are visible when at a specific angle to the sun and Earth).

The ISS Detector gives an overview of upcoming passes, moon phases, and forecasted weather. You can set up notifications and alarms, as well.

Seeing man-made objects flashing across the night sky is surprisingly moving. Even though that actual event only takes a few minutes at most, the experience will foster questions and curiosity.

Museums of Health and Medicine, England

The Summer 2012 issue of Granta, a British magazine of new writing, centers around medicine. It's filled with new fiction, memoirs, photo essays, and more, all focused on what medicine means to humankind and how medicine or medical issues have affected us as individuals and in totality.

On the inside back cover is a listing of museums of health and medicine in England. Granted, most people who read this blog are not in England, but one never knows when the opportunity to visit will arise. Plus, having a chance to check out these unique museums may serve as a catalyst to actually heading across the pond.

Here are the names of the museums, along with the summaries quoted from Granta (with links added by me), and corresponding websites.

Good health!

The Anaesthesia Heritage Centre
http://www.medicalmuseums.org/Anaesthesia-Heritage-Centre/
The Heritage Centre contains the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain & Ireland's archives, museum and rare book collection. It is a unique resource for research into the history of anaesthesia.

Bethlem Royal Hospital Archives & Museum
http://www.bethlemheritage.org.uk/
Explore a selection of work by 'outsider' artists (including Scottie Wilson and Madge Gill) drawn from Bethlem's outstanding collections, on display in the museum. Please see website for opening hours.

Chelsea Physic Garden
http://www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk/
Something new at London's oldest botanic garden: the inspiring Garden of Edible and Useful Plants in now open, bringing you closer to the plants that are inextricably woven into our everyday lives.

For more field trip ideas,
check out GHF's Virtual Field Trips page.

Foundling Museum
http://www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk/
Celebrating the way artists of all disciplines have helped improve children's lives for over 270 years. Dickens & the Foundling includes contributions from actress Gillian Anderson and writer Armando Iannucci.

Freud Museum
http://www.freud.org.uk/
The final home of Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. Discover his intriguing study and iconic couch. The museum hosts an exciting programme of events and contemporary exhibits.

Royal Society of Medicine
http://www.rsm.ac.uk/
Human Race: inside the science of sports medicine exploring the history, culture and science of sport and exercise and its impact on the human body.

Exploratopia

If you've ever had a chance to go to the Exploratorium in San Francisco, you know what a magical thing science can be.  The Exploratorium's curators, educators, and scientists have created exhibits that draw you in and keep you interested.

The book Exploratopia might be the next best thing to visiting the museum itself.  It's my favorite experiment book because the text is interesting, it doesn't talk down to kids, and it's filled with experiments about everyday things kids are fascinated with already-- like the toilet and ants!

The book begins with an explanation of the "Tools for Exploration," a sort of primer for how to think like a scientist.  This is not just the scientific method, but also things like "Paying attention to stuff a lot of people ignore."  Periodically, these tools are revisited in the experiments.

The rest of the book is divided into three major sections: Exploring Yourself (experiments about your senses and brain), Exploring Interesting Places (experiments you can do from the kitchen, to the backyard, to the amusement park or beach), and Exploring Interesting Stuff (experiments about more conventional topics like light and sound and less conventional ones like music and money).

Each experiment has a section for what you need, what to do, and "What's going on?" with additional sidebars providing related information and exploration ideas.  The illustrations are a mixture of photography and colorful drawings.

So if you've ever wondered what would happen if you substituted Vaseline for oil in a spice cake, how sounds echo in your toilet, how to shrink a friend, or what you can find with a magnet at the beach, this is the book for you!  It would make an excellent gift for a curious child and a great "spine" for a homeschooling family looking for science curriculum.  Although many of the experiments could be completed by a younger child, it's best suited for independent readers ages eight and up.

Crayon Physics

Our guest blogger today is my eldest son. He originally wrote this review for the California HomeSchooler, the member-magazine of the HomeSchool Association of California.

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Crayon Physics is a game where you have to draw a line with your pointer, which looks like a crayon on the screen, to get a ball to a star. Sometimes you draw a line or an odd shape, like a polygon, or a circle.

When you get to higher levels, you get rockets. If they get hit on top, they take off.  If they stay in one place too long, they blow up.

Crayon Physics starts off easy. It takes a certain amount of stars to get to a new level.

Everything is made of crayon drawings.

I like it because every time your ball falls away, you get it back. Sometimes they give you hints what to do.

I think other kids would like this.

Crayon Physics Deluxe from Petri Purho on Vimeo.

(Note: Crayon Physics was the Independent Games Festival Grand Prize winner in 2008.)

Article posted by Sarah J. Wilson

Turning "Waste" into Learning

If you live in the Bay Area, you should know about RAFT.  RAFT stands for Resource Area for Teaching.  It's a pretty wonderful concept.  Industries all over the Bay Area donate their manufacturing and office "waste" to RAFT and RAFT sorts it, thinks of great things to do with it, and offers it back to teachers (including homeschoolers) for a very low price. 

Things I have found on my visits to RAFT: Klutz books with dinged edges or dried up glue for $4/each, reams of 11 by 18 paper for $5, RAFT assembled science kits with great directions for $2-6, zippers for 10 cents each (we used these to make number lines!), textbooks and chapter books for 50 cents, headphones by the bagful for $5, yarn for 50 cents a skein, sturdy tape dispensers for $1, huge sheets of tagboard for 10 cents, bags of odd shaped fabric scraps or cardboard pieces for $3, and lots more!  I've gone out of RAFT with a shopping cart loaded to the top for less than $50.

They also have a green room with lots of die cuts, a large laminator, etc. for free or at cost use.

It is a membership based ($50/yr), and children under the age of 12 aren't allowed on the floor.  I usually go with another mom and there's a grassy area outside with a picnic table that we take turns watching the kids at while the other mom shops inside.  Usually only one of us has a membership and we divide our stuff off the ticket later (they are also nice about giving us a subtotal part way through).

Even if you don't go, check out their activity sheets which offer lots of great ideas for using "throwaway" materials to teach tons of topics in all subject areas.

If you are thinking of starting a co-op or looking for inexpensive resources for homeschooling, look into RAFT!  I would suggest calling ahead and asking what kind of documentation they want you to bring to show that you are a homeschooler (they are a non-profit and have to document that all their members are teachers at public or private schools).  They have asked for different things on different years so find out their current policy for homeschoolers before you go.

Hiller Aviation Museum

The Hiller Aviation Museum, in San Carlos, California, offers a terrific aviation experience for flight fans of all ages.

Focused on the many historic achievements in flight from Northern California, the museum is filled with exhibits dating back to the dawn of flight in the 1800s, including the Avitor (an "aeroplane" that flew on the San Francisco Peninsula), a replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer, and the Buhl Autogiro (a precursor to helicopters). The present includes a Pan Am Clipper, Boeing SST, and an exhibit about Women in Aviation. The future looks to the Oblique Wing, Blended Wing, and NASA Swing Wing. Engines are displayed, as are jet packs.

But the museum is not just about looking, it is also about experiencing. Visitors can try their virtual hand at flying and landing a flying platform and a helicopter, and check out the Flight Sim Zone.

Just outside the museum building sits the front end of an actual Boeing 747, where visitors can climb into the cockpit and see the incredible amount of switches, levers, and controls pilots use to keep a commercial jet going.

A children's area is provided downstairs with riding airplanes, coloring, and other hands-on activities for little ones.

For those interested in learning how old aircraft are brought back to life, the museum has a restoration workshop where visitors can watch through huge windows the dedicated craftsmen preparing new exhibits and lovingly restoring aviation's past.

For more field trip ideas,
check out GHF's Virtual Field Trips pageal Field Trips page.

The museum also provides many education and scout programs, as well as a monthly reading time and the Captain Michael King Smith Research Library. The museum store offers an extensive selection of aviation books, posters, crafts, gifts, and toys.

For airplane and helicopter watchers, the museum sits right next to the San Carlos Airport, and even has a raised observation area.

Finally, just down the road is a flight-themed Burger King, complete with an actual helicopter for children to play in and have their imaginations take flight.

Location, directions, admission hours, tickets prices, and membership information can all be found at the Hiller Aviation Museum's website.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

"The 10 Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught)"

With great power comes great responsibility.[1]

Budding mathematicians and scientists would be best to remember this. Simply because one can understand complex theories, does not preclude one from making common errors.

The Ten Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught), by Edward Zaccaro, lays out ten concepts to guide students to more critical and honest thinking. Students don't need to become mathematicians or scientists to benefit from these ideas.

By discussing actual events that were affected by the misunderstanding or delibrate disregard of facts and calculations, Mr. Zaccaro brings home the importance of understanding and accepting what numbers mean.

We adults can probably think of tragedies in our lifetime that ultimately came down to math or science: the Challenger explosion, the Kansas City Hyatt Regency walkway collapse, the death of Aaliyah. The Ten Things explores how these events could have ended differently, had the numbers and facts been taken seriously.

Fortunately, not just tragedies are covered. Mr. Zaccaro uses the strange world of average speed, cold fusion, the Mars Climate Orbiter, ulcers, psychic surgery, doctors who were fooled, the Bermuda Triangle, how ethical decision-making saved a company, knee surgery, and more to discuss why mathematicians and scientists (and, arguably, all of us) need to move beyond the cold facts and figures, instead utilizing them to make better decisions, safer choices, and strongly-founded conclusions.

Each chapter supplies several examples of incidents which support the topic. Each example is reviewed, the mistakes laid out, and then followed by discussion questions. The questions range from specific (why was something done) to open-ended (what do you think).  Along the way, mathematic and scientific concepts are introduced and explained, never assuming the reader is an expert, but always teaching. Additional questions are given at the end of each chapter, ranging in difficulty from "Level 1" to "Einstein." Answers and explanations are in the back.

Lest all this sound overwhelming, rest assured that the book is appropriate for middle-school and higher. Of course, don't hold back the book if a younger child is interested in reading it. (My eldest son first read it when he was seven.) I would also encourage parents to read it, as we could all use a refresher course in critical thinking, especially when we're inundated with "facts" and "truths" through media, the Internet, and "friends of friends."

The Ten Things All Future Mathematicians and Scientists Must Know (But are Rarely Taught) is an excellent companion to any math or science program. It also works as a stand-alone book for inviting family discussions, a part of family life-long learning.

[1] This quote, in various forms, is attributed to Jesus of Nazareth, Voltaire, Rudyard Kipling, Karl Marx, FDR, Stan Lee, among others. (http://www.newsfromme.com/archives/2005_10_06.html; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Ben#.22With_great_power_comes_great_responsibility.22)

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Science Experiments for Young Learners

Science Experiments for Young Learners is a great resource for teaching science to the 4-7 year old age range. The book contains over 120 simple experiments that are conducted using mostly everyday items that are simple to collect. A broad range of concepts in physical science, life science, and earth and space science are demonstrated through a combination of demonstrations and simple experiments children can complete themselves.

Each experiment is shown in a two page spread. The right hand page is a worksheet that can be completed by the child either during or after the experiment. Sometimes the page is necessary, but often a parent could just talk with their child about their observations.  The left hand page includes a statement describing the concept, a short description of the experiment, a step by step explanation of how to perform the experiment, suggestions for follow-up questions and explorations, and a complete list of materials.

Most of the experiments can be completed in 15-20 minutes, although some require several days of observation (this is particularly true in the life science experiments).

This book is a great resource and could provide either the main lessons in a early childhood science curriculum or be a supplement to an existing text.

Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo

Need a place to spend a few hours with your young children? Want a fun place that will engage their minds, bodies, and imaginations?

Check out the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo.

Geared toward children seven-years-old and younger, JMZ was voted 2007’s “Best Place to Take Kids on a Playdate,” the JMZ has a wonderful museum filled with hands-on science experiments, a crawling area, and information about energy creation and conservation. Through play, children learn about physics, math, geometry, and earth science. An added benefit for homeschoolers is socializing with other children!

The zoo houses many rescued animals, including bobcats, snakes, bats, fish, and a peacock. Native plants and lizards surround a beautiful solar-powered fountain.

One of the favorite indoor is the tennis ball ramp, which is comprised of gears, a large screw, overhead tubes, and wheels. Other popular exhibits include the hand-cranked fans (demonstrating wind power) and the animal den filled with stuffed animals and logs.

For more field trip ideas,

check out GHF's Virtual Field Trips page.

The JMZ offers science programs for the groups, as well as classes, summer camps, and birthday parties for families.

The museum sits next to Rinconada Park, which has two play areas—one fenced-in on the parking lot side only and the other completely fenced, as well as picnic tables, benches, and loads of grass for running and playing.

Entrance to the JMZ is free, although a small donation of $3 per person is requested, and is well worth it.

Pack a picnic and a camera, and spend the afternoon at the Junior Museum & Zoo!

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Science Weekly

I went to the National Science Teachers Conference in March and came home with a bag full of freebees and samples that I now have to go through to see what is really worthwhile and what was shiny on the outside and dull on the inside.  This is the first in a series of reviews of curriculum and resources I found at the conference that would be worthwhile for homeschoolers to explore.

Science Weekly is similar to the Weekly Reader news magazines that you may have had as a kid in elementary school, except with a science focus.  It is published 15 times during the school year (which really makes it Science Bi-Weekly).  What makes it interesting is that the exact same topic is published for each of six different levels from Pre-A (approximately Kindergarten) to Level E (grades 5-6) with each level increasingly complex.  For instance, in one sample issue on Climate Change, the Pre-A level simply teaches children to distinguish between "weather" and "climate", the A level adds "atmosphere" as a topic, the B level adds the concept of energy balance, the C level adds the "greenhouse effect" while giving a more complex description of atmosphere, the D level begins to explore the human impact on climate, and the E level gives a fairly complicated description of climate change.

Each issue also contains an experiment, which ranges from comparing the temperature indoors and out at the Pre-A level to comparing temperatures inside and outside a jar at the B level, to measuring temperatures in jars with and without carbon sinks in the E level.  Every level also includes related math and language arts activities and "challenge" activities.

A teacher's guide includes discussion questions, answers, and additional resources for all levels in the same guide.

I was intrigued by Science Weekly because I have three children in the age range of the magazine and I can imagine subscribing to the appropriate level for each of them so we could all study the same topic but each child could perform different experiments and complete grade appropriate activities.  In the two issues I have samples of, the experiments actually test different things, so we would learn from each other's results.  We've previously had a subscription to the Young Scientists Club kits, which worked well for us in a similar way.

The cost for a single 15 issue subscription is $19.95, but a co-op might be able to gather 20 children who wanted subscriptions for the price of $5.95 per child per 15 issues.

A sample issue at all the levels is available on the Science Weekly website, as well as some free interactive issues.  I haven't used this with my family yet, but I think it has the potential to be a worthwhile resource for homeschooling families.

Discovery Channel's "Body Story"

Originally a British series, Discovery Channel's "Body Story" offers a fascinating glimpse inside the human body.

Using actors and computer animation to dramatize how our bodies cope with major health events, the series looks at pregnancy, the flu, a broken bone, "natural" death, heart attack, and alcohol consumption.

The information is well-presented, and the episodes engaging. Learning just how our bodies respond to foreign invaders and potentially deadly events is awe-inspiring. Loads of impressive graphics and interesting story-telling keep viewers glued to the screen.

Although this reviewer would highly recommend this series for upper-elementary and above (it is rated PG), viewers should know ahead of time that:

1) Pregnancy falls under the "Body Snatcher" category. While this is somewhat accurate, the series doesn't deal with pregnancy joyfully. Parents can easily counteract this with retelling positive experiences from their own pregnancies (or those of others, if more appropriate).

2) The "natural" death episode follows an elderly man during his last day of life. His death is calm and, we are told, without pain, but we do watch him "die." Parents can talk about the fact that this is an actor, or take the opportunity to talk about death, if appropriate. (I forewarned my son what was going to happen, and reminded him as we watched. He did not seem deeply bothered by it, although he was quieter than usual while we watched.)

3) The over-consumption of alcohol episode shows a young man getting terribly drunk and the physiological effects of that. He is romantically interested in a young lady, so there is kissing with some tongue (not to be prude, but some parents may want to know this ahead of time). He and the young lady intend to leave a party together to go to her place, which does not happen because he gets locked in a bathroom. He appears on her doorstep the next morning, contrite, and she forgives him. Parents can take this opportunity to discuss the feelings and concerns they have with any aspects of this behavior.

"Body Story" is available for purchase, rent, or download.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Young Scientists Club

The Young Scientists Club is great way to introduce kids to science with the added fun of getting something in the mail.  For about $15/month, you get a science kit in the mail that contains most of what you need to complete six or so simple science experiments on a particular topic.  You add household items (i.e. vinegar, a two liter bottle, etc.) and you are ready to go.  An included booklet has a parent section with many details about the experiments and a child section written by "Celsius the Science Bug."  Celsius takes your child through the experiments and gives explanations for what is happening.  Each kit builds on the next, so you often use what you learned or built in the previous kit to help with the next one.

In truth, many of the experiments are the same as the ones you can find in any good library book.  The genius of the kits is in stringing them together in a way that makes sense and in providing all the unusual items.  For instance, a kit about light includes a small prism.  A kit about the senses includes several packets of powders to use to find the different taste buds on your tongue.  Also, getting a kit in the mail makes it all the more exciting.

Although the website lists the kits for ages 5-12, we have found that they are getting a bit elementary for my 9 year old who is exposed to a lot of science outside these kits.  Even he, though,  learns something new with every kit.  We often supplement the kits with books from the library on the same topic.

Life science, earth science, physics, and chemistry are all covered by the 36 kits which are available.  They form a great enrichment program for any child and a good basis for a homeschooling science program.

"Can You Find Me?"

Many workbooks aimed at younger students quickly kill the desire to learn, replacing it with the need to get the right answer. These young learners are all too often left on their own with workbook pages staring back at them, thus isolating the learning experience.

Can You Find Me?: Building Thinking Skills in Reading, Math, Science & Social Studies K-1, from Bright Minds, a division of The Critical Thinking Co., takes a different tack. Parents (teachers, caregivers) are encouraged to read the riddles aloud to the child, go through the possibilities together, then help figure out the best answer.

Using logic to sort through the riddles, children develop critical listening and thinking skills. Social studies, math, reading, and science are the general areas of study, but the approach for all is the same: read the riddle, tease out the clues, apply them to the answers given, and figure out which is correct. Practicing this methodology at a young age will serve a student well throughout their lives.

Can You Find Me? introduces many advanced concepts, without overwhelming the young student with jargon or terminology. For example, the math section introduces addition, subtraction, Venn diagrams, fractions, pattern recognition, and charts. The science section discusses logical order of events, climates, food chains, senses, and biology. The social studies section covers community, family, safety, comparisons, time, and seasons. The reading section focuses on sight words, letters and sounds, listening comprehension, and rhyming.

A sample problem from the science section goes as follows:

These pictures tell a story,
but not in the order you see.
Tell me what must have happened
as you point to them one, two, three.

Three pictures of a tree are beneath: one with green leaves, the next with snow, and the third with brown leaves. The child now points to the trees in order of the seasons. This opens up wonderful possibilities for discussion of the current season, weather, trees. It is also a terrific excuse to head outside and see in what stage your trees are.

All answers are in the back, as are skill matrices for each page. The content and skill are based state and national standards.

On a personal note, I use Can You Find Me? with my 4-1/2 year old. We sit together, go through about five or seven pages at a time. We start at random places in the book. Sometimes we go forward, while other times we go backward. We have repeated a few of the pages several times, because the sharks are interesting or the "poison" sign is reminiscent of the Jolly Roger. Can You Find Me? is a nice addition to our homeschool learning environment.

Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Space Station Sighting Opportunities

Nothing ignites the flame of learning like real-life experiences. To bring the excitement of human space flight home, not much beats watching the International Space Station (ISS) flying overhead.


Additionally, during the month of March 2011, the Space Shuttle is visible alongside the ISS (depending on your location). What a rare opportunity to see two of man's greatest achievements.

For more field trip ideas,

check out GHF's Virtual Field Trips page.

Both will visible with the naked eye, and details may be seen with a good pair of field binoculars. The objects move too quickly to view with a telescope.


For sighting information, go to http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/.


And for terrific general information, educator ideas, and student pages, go to the NASA website.


Article by Sarah J. Wilson

Learning with Chocolate

Chocolate. What wonderful visions and sensations that one word produces. And what a wonderful learning opportunity it provides.

Derived from the cacao bean of South America, and brought to Europe by the Spaniards, chocolate has ingrained itself into Western sweet-toothed culture.

Yet, how much do we really know about this ubiquitous treat?

The study of chocolate (Chocolatology? Cacahuatlology? Cacaology?) easily covers geography, botany, ecology, language arts, history, mathematics, chemistry, as well as providing an excuse for some tasty field trips.

Start your mini-unit study with books such as The Knowledge: Triffic Chocolate, by Alan MacDonald, and The Magic School Bus: In the Rain Forest, by Joanna Cole.

Alan MacDonald’s book explains the origins of chocolate, its introduction to Europe, and consequent development into the huge confection industry we know today. Written in a similar irreverent style to the Horrible Histories series, Triffic Chocolate is funny, interesting, and enlightening.

As with the entire Magic School Bus series, Joanna Cole breathes life and simplicity into the most complex subjects. The characters’ constant questioning and search for answers mirrors the reader’s learning process, as well as models the scientific method. The characters do not always immediately come to the correct answer, but they eventually do through trial and error.

For fiction books where chocolate figures prominently, try The Chocolate Touch, by Patrick Skene Catling, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl, Chocolate Fever, by Robert Kimmel Smith, Lilly's Chocolate Heart, by Kevin Henkes, as well as many others.

Take a break from all that reading to watch The Magic School Bus: In the Rain Forest on video, which explains why cocoa beans need mud to reproduce. The video and book offer a natural segue into learning about rain forests, life cycles, and South America.

Or, go a different direction and watch Alton Brown's Good Eats DVDs. Look for episodes Fudge Factor, Three Chips for Sister Martha, The Art of Darkness, The Art of Darkness II, and The Art of Darkness III. Alton Brown specializes in breaking down and explaining the chemistry behind cooking. Why do ingredients react the way they do? How does tweaking a recipe change the result? What do those complicated directions really mean? A bit of chemistry, combined with the culinary arts, yields a tasty show.

Of course, what homeschool lesson would be complete without a field trip? The Field Museum, based in Chicago, Illinois, takes its Chocolate exhibition on the road, with stops scheduled throughout the U.S.

For a virtual tour, check out The Homework Spot for links to Hershey’s and a video tour of the Scharffen Bergen chocolate factory.

Closer to home is Ghiradelli Square in San Francisco, which holds the Annual Ghiradelli Square Chocolate Festival each September.

After reading, watching, and learning all there is to know about chocolate, it is now time to cook with some. Here is a quick and deliciously decadent dessert, which is great for young children to help with.

Five-minute Chocolate Mug Cake

(Originally published in the June 10, 2009 edition of the San Jose Mercury News. Submitted by Eileen Fukunaga.)

Serves 1

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips, optional

Small splash vanilla

Put flour, sugar, and cocoa in a large, microwave-safe mug and mix well. Add egg, and mix thoroughly. Pour in milk and oil, and mix well. Add chocolate chips and vanilla, and mix again.

Place mug in microwave and cook for three minutes at 1,000 watts (“high on a 1,000-watt oven, lower setting for ovens with greater maximum wattage). Cake will rise over top of mug. Allow to cool a bit. Tip out onto plate, if desired, or eat straight from the mug. Pour a bit of cream over the top for an even more sinful creation.

A one-mug serving can easily be divided between two people.

Enjoy learning with chocolate!

 Article by Sarah J. Wilson