Upcoming Events
with homeschool families and friends
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- HSLDA Art Contest - Opened January 1st.
- CHAP Essay Contest - Opened January 1st.
- CHAP Convention registration opens January 31st.
- The Great Backyard Bird Count, February 13th-16th.
- Training Course on CREATION with Answers in Genesis, March 7th.
- HSLDA High School Symposium, April 17th.
- CHAP 2009 Convention, May 8th - 9th, Mark your calendar!

Get the details on these events and more on the
Homeschool Events Calendar
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Essay Contest - OPEN!
CHAP's First Annual Essay Contest
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Theme: Christ, My Confidence - Hebrews 10:35-36

We are accepting entries now through February 28th.
What does it mean to you, what can it do for others and how has it changed your life?

PRIZES - Two categories: Group A for ages 10-14 and Group B for ages 15-18. All participants will receive a certificate of participation. More information available at www.chapcontest.com.
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BIBLE BEE
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Start 2009 in God's Word

Dear fellow home educators,

We recently heard of an exciting opportunity for Christian young people to make their knowledge of the Bible pay off! We know, that is not why we study the Bible, and the reward for studying God's Word is a deeper knowledge of Him and all the blessings that that entails. However, the Shelby Kennedy Foundation is partnering with World magazine and Patrick Henry College to host the first annual Bible Bee! We at CHAP would like to encourage homeschool co-ops and support groups, AWANA groups, Christian schools, etc., to seriously consider hosting a local contest. The deadline for registering to host such an event is January 31, so you need to act now!

There are three age groups: 7-10, 11-14, and 15-18 years of age. Local events will be held around the nation in mid-September. Then the top 100 scorers in each age category from across the nation will compete in the final in Washington, D.C., in early November. There will be significant prizes for the winners. Contestants may register until April 30, and on May 1 the Scripture content that will be tested will be announced. For more information, visit www.biblebee.org.

We would especially ask homeschool co-ops and support groups to seriously consider hosting a local event. If we can get excited about basketball and football games for our children, can we at least show equal enthusiasm for them getting serious about learning God's Word?

Thanks,
Your CHAP Board
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Lesson Plan Ideas
Create Your Own Museum
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In order for my children to become more aware of different artists, I gave them the following assignment:
You are a curator of an art museum and it is your responsibility to design a wing of the museum with artwork from one of following artists (I picked out some of the famous artists from different time periods).*

In this wing you must have one plaque that tells about the artist and his life. Then the rest of the hall will be made of pictures (and any other type of artwork) that you choose from his works. You will turn in a diagram of the hall showing where each picture is placed. Create a page showing what is on the plaque and copies of the pictures (or you may do a slide show on the computer showing this information).
After everyone has completed this assignment, we had each child show their wing to the rest of the family. This way, not only did each child get to learn about their artist, they were also introduced to the other children's artists.

*With younger children, the parent can help find pictures, or provide the pictures and talk to them about what they like, and discuss the artist's style. There are also some good books that tell about different artists, and books where children can color different famous artworks.
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The Call To Dunkirk
from Exodus Mandate
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The engaging video "The Call to Dunkirk" includes clips (audio/video) of Voddie Baucham, attorney Bruce Shortt, and Chaplain E. Ray Moore.
View the video
Exodus Mandate is a Christian ministry to encourage and assist Christian families to leave Pharaoh's school system (i.e. government schools) for the Promised Land of Christian schools or homeschooling. www.exodusmandate.org

Also see the preview of Exposing A Trojan Horse video.
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Encouragement
from the Word
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But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. Selah
...But God will redeem my life from the grave; He will surely take me to himself. Selah
Psalm 49:12-15
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