From Imaginarium.com Toyologists & Amazon.com
Editorial Review

A winner of many international commendations and awards, Quoridor Classic is a near-perfect game. Its objective is clear, not convoluted; the physical game is stylish, sturdy, and well made; and it has broad player appeal--it's great for families with players of varying ages. Quoridor Classic is a fast-moving strategy game that is similar to chess insofar as players move pawn-shaped pieces across the board. The difference is that there are wooden fences one erects to block the progress of and force a different route upon an opponent. The physical blocks are quite effective for discouraging daring moves, and encouraging more competitive players. Players utilize analytical and logistical thinking, as well as math-minded strategy. The game includes four pawn-shaped, smooth wooden pieces that are stylishly stained. The fences are natural wood. The playing board is made of heavy, carved wood that is richly stained and finished. Quoridor Classic accommodates two to four players.

--Diane Beall

Puzzles are not closed problems; they can always be modified or improved to generate a myriad of variants. What's more, they don't require batteries; they are just powered by our own brain cells! To solve the perplexing and tricky puzzles you will find in our site, you need a very high IQ -- not the usual and controversial 'Intelligence Quotient', but the "Inveniens Quaerendo" (Latin, discovering by trying) ability. Intelligence is not what you FEEL or what you KNOW, but a PROBLEM SOLVING SKILL. You can acquire or develop problem-solving skills simply by training yourself at your own pace and relying on your existing knowledge. Remember: "intelligence begins with a piece of paper, a pencil and... a problem to solve!". The ancient Greeks used to say: Αρχη 'ημισυ παντοσ ("Archêhêmisy pantos", starting on a job is half the job done)... So now, try to solve some of our puzzles!

Beat Boredom and Inspire Kids' Imaginations with Affordable Crafts from Oriental Trading Company!

Over 25,000 fun products for every occasion -- scrapbooking, beading, party themes, vacation bible school and more!

Kaiso!: Writings by and about Katherine Dunham

Celebrate the life and times of the great American dancer, Katherine Dunham which ended Sunday, May 21 at the age of 96 years old.


A Touch of Innocence: Memoirs of Childhood

Katherine Dunham: Black Dancer

Perfect for the Homeschooling Dad and Just in Time for Father's Day!
Enjoy five of Discovery's most extreme titles in this specially packaged DVD collection – yours for only $10 when you spend $50 or more.

Extreme Engineering: City in a Pyramid & Transatlantic Tunnel
Witness the virtual majesty of the Shimizu Mega-City Pyramid – a yet-to-be-built city in Tokyo, Japan that will stand a kilometer tall and provide housing for up to 750,000 people! Plus, see the latest development in modern rail engineering: a 300-mph, magnetically levitated train that travels beneath the Atlantic Ocean.

I Shouldn't Be Alive: Escape from the Amazon & Kidnap in the Killing Fields
When four young men decide to explore the headwaters of the Amazon river, they think they're in for the adventure of a lifetime. But when a heated argument erupts and the group breaks up, the remaining hikers find themselves lost and alone in a hostile jungle. Then, witness one man's struggle to outwit his Khmer Rouge captors in Cambodia.

Comet Impact
Watch as state-of-the-art animation and stunning location photography bring one of NASA's most spectacular missions to life, providing a first-hand look at the collision between the Deep Impact probe and comet Tempel 1. Follow the entire journey of the doomed probe, from its initial design to the extraordinary challenge of building a spacecraft that's intended to be smashed to pieces.

Xtreme Martial Arts
See the world's legendary fighting styles in an entirely new way, as a unique graphic technique that allows for "in-the-body" animation of joints and muscles illustrates the basic principles behind muscular torque and leverage – creating fighting and sparring scenes unlike anything you've ever seen.

Top Ten: Tanks & Bombers
Expert opinions, audience polls and technical comparisons are used to rank the top ten tanks and bombers of all time in categories like firepower, fear factor and historical impact. From rolling behemoths like the German Panzer to the technological superiority of the B-2 Stealth Bomber, witness the best in mechanized warfare.

Looking to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors? Here's a great activity for homeschooling groups or individuals -- Hike For Discovery!

Hike For Discovery is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's new adventure fundraising program that prepares people, from beginners to seasoned hikers, to experience a natural wonder in a special way. As a program participant, you'll receive everything you need to be ready for the experience of a lifetime.

Hike For Discovery provides:
Professional training and coaching support
Clinics on hiking and climbing techniques, hydration, nutrition, CPR, first aid and equipment.
The fun and camaraderie of training and traveling with a group.
Transportation, lodging and social events during your trip.
In return, you'll raise funds for lifesaving cancer research and services for patients with leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

We'll give you lots of support for your fundraising efforts including your own personal Web fundraising page!

Dates for Hike For Discovery and the participating chapters are listed below. Please be aware that because specific space is allotted to each chapter they cannot send people on different chapter's hikes. Travel dates vary by chapter. Your local chapter will be happy to answer any questions you may have. You can lookup your chapter on our chapter finder.

May 11 - 14
Washington/Alaska (Seattle Area)
Georgia
Greater San Francisco
Eastern Pennsylvania

May 18 - 21
Northern New Jersey
Silicon Valley
Westchester/Hudson Valley
Long Island
South Florida
Central Pennsylvania

June 1 - 4
Illinois
Michigan
National Capital
North Texas
Central Ohio

Learn more...

African Heritage Symphonic Series III

"This is the final release in an outstanding three-CD series devoted to twentieth-century composers of African descent. It presents four works by living composers working in the mainstream of contemporary music. Michael Abels (b.1962) wrote "Global Warming" in 1990, not long after the Berlin Wall fell. It reflects both environmental and international warming, incorporating folk music from various cultures. David Baker's (b. 1931) "Cello Concerto" is lyrical and jazz influenced. "Essay for Orchestra" by William Banfield (b. 1961) is from a larger work for percussion and orchestra, a blend of jazz influences and 19th Century Romanticism. The structure of "Generations: Sinfonietta No. 2 for Strings" by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson (b. 1932) is "somewhat autobiograhpical" representing the composer's family relationships. It combines folk melodies, dances, and the B-A-C-H idea in what David Hurwitz called "a Bartókian synthesis." The program notes, written in an engaging style by Dominique-Rene de Lerma, provide a thorough introduction to the work of all four composers."

--- Curator, African American Heritage & History

Welcome to NumberNut.com
So you're asking, what is MATH? Well... Here's our best definition. Mathematics is the study of quantity, structure, and change. Do you think that's a bit general? It was meant to be. Math is a part of everything in the universe.

You might be a farmer that needs to measure your land or count your crops. You might be a cook who needs to know how much food to buy. You might be a nuclear physicist that is studying the movements and activity of atoms. All of those jobs use math at one point or another. Math is just as important when you go to buy a burger, as it is to help plot the movement of planets.

Ideas and concepts in math are also universal because they are based in logic and deductive reasoning. Proofs, definitions, and theorems govern the actions of math whether you are from China, Great Britain, or another planet. The concept of "one" will always be "one" no matter what language you speak. Even computers speak math. They speak with a binary language (ones and zeroes). If this is all new to you, start with numbers and counting. You need to start somewhere.

That's it for the introduction. Now it's up to you to click and have fun!

Stories, brain teasers, fun games and more at Afro-America's Kid Zone!
Brought to you by The Afro-American Newspapers, the leading news provider for African-Americans in the Baltimore / Washington, DC Metropolitan area and longest running African-American, family-owned newspaper in the nation.

Earth Capsule -- The Global Time Capsule Project for the Internet Age

Here's a great activity for homeschoolers of all ages with a new, internet spin-- Create a time capsule!

What's the point of Earth Capsule?
Unlike traditional time capsules where some artifacts are gathered and buried somewhere, Earth Capsule is designed to get a more complete snapshot of what our society is like from an individual perspective rather than simply recording the writings of a few academics. The technology of the Internet has become such an enormous part of our lives and is only going to increase. Many of us who use the Internet come from a generation that is now seeing the beginning stages of this Digital Revolution and can contribute important observations on its infancy and growth. All of this will present the people of tomorrow with an accurate picture of what our life is like at the beginning of the 21st Century.

How does it work?
It works by combining the power of the Internet, contemporary preservation techniques, and a sophisticated preservation network to help ensure that messages will be kept intact for long periods of time.

What about privacy?
Your messages will not be read by anyone prior to the unsealing of the capsules. Once your message is archived, it will not be available for viewing by Earth Capsule or by any third party.

Why is it so inexpensive?
We are fortunate to live in a time where technological advances have reduced the cost of goods on the Internet so that we are able to attempt a project on a global scale for an affordable cost. Also, in the interest of making this project affordable to as many people as possible, we have decided on keeping the price at the manageable amount of $1. Learn More

Advanced Placement (AP) Online Test Preparation for Homeschoolers

Pennsylvania Homeschoolers is pleased to be able to offer a wide range of Advanced Placement (AP) test preparation classes for qualified homeschool high school students from all across the country for the upcoming school year. (School students, including cyber-charter school students, are not eligible to participate.) These classes have been given an excellent review by Mary Pride's Practical Homeschooling magazine. Perhaps the greatest aspect of these classes is that in the eight years that we have offered them we have developed a community of homeschooled-student scholars who bring to each class the positive ways of interacting that they have learned in previous classes.

When students pass Advanced Placement exams, given each May, they can earn college credit or advanced standing at many colleges, and opt out of intro classes. Many homeschool students seeking academic scholarships also find that AP exams are a real help, as they give a concrete way for others to gauge your strong academic preparation. AP classes are all designed to be much tougher than typical high school classes- more reading, more study time, and more dedication will be required.

Learn More

Change the way you think about mathematics with mathematics resources for students and parents at KeyMath.com. Discover algebra, geometry, advanced algebra and more!

The Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO) is a non-profit organization founded in 1989 by education expert Jerry Mintz to advance learner-centered approaches to education. AERO is considered by many to be the primary hub of communications and support for educational alternatives around the world.

AERO's mission is: "Building the critical mass for the education revolution by providing resources which support self-determination in learning and the natural genius in everyone."

Towards this end, AERO provides information, resources and guidance to families, schools and organizations regarding their educational choices. AERO disseminates information, both nationally and internationally, on topics such as: home schooling, public and private alternative schools, and charter schools. AERO's long-term goal is to become a more effective catalyst for educational change by providing books, magazines, online services, consultations, support groups, and organizational information and seminars in the field of alternative education.

Learn More...

Change in Dates for the 2006 African-American Homeschoolers Family & Friends Vacation

There’s been a change in dates for the 2006 African-American Homeschoolers Family & Friends Vacation. Please find the new information below:

When: Wednesday, August 30 - Sunday, September 3, 2006 -- 5 days and 4 nights.

Where: Rock Point Provincial Park, Dunnville, Ontario, Canada.

Activities: At campsite -- Hiking, canoeing, wildlife viewing, activities for children and homeschooling round tables. Campsite is 1hr South of Niagara Falls.

Due to the date change, there is still space available and the reservation deadline has been extended.

Cost: Reserve your family's space at the campsite by making your $75 payment via PayPal today.

Space is limited and on a first come, first served basis.

Also -- Official souvenir items for the 3rd Annual African-American Homeschoolers Family & Friends Vacation are now on sale. Purchase t-shirts, hats, journals and more today!

Ten Terrific Weeks!

Ten Terrific Weeks! Reading Adventure Programs were created by an Usborne Books Supervisor and former teacher who was worried about filling the summer days with her own children. The potential for the programs was quickly recognized and an award-winning team of supervisors turned the programs into a way to help other parents, teachers, home educators, day care providers, before and after school providers, grandparents, and just about anybody looking for a fun way to keep children learning. The daily activities are age-appropriate, interactive ideas which make learning fun and typically take an hour or less. The activity sets are so comprehensive that they even come with shopping lists for supplies or food (if applicable). Our goal is for every child to be excited about learning! There is nothing as special as seeing a child’s face light up when they learn something new. So, have fun and keep learning!

What is it?

Themed set of books

Educational activities for 10 weeks, 5 days a week.

What to read

Topics for discussion

Additional correlated activities

Any needed worksheets, supply lists

Certificate of completion

List of additional Usborne titles to complement each set (including younger reader participation titles).

Research African-American History at Negro Artist

For African American Artists and an on-line portal for both African America Artists and African American History.

The website contains 1000's of links and 100's of Slave Narratives and full text of historical literature.

The primary aim of this website is to encourage research activity on people of African descent and to provide information to the study of the African Diaspora. A historical perspective of a nation, its people, and its cultural evolution.

Please make sure to look through the 1000+ Slave Narratives. Many of the colored soldiers from the Revolutionary war are true heroes so take a look at the images of them as well as the other colored soldiers throughout the 18th 19th and 20th century.

Visit website