Dear Readers,

Hope you are having a nice summer! We enjoyed unseasonably cool temperatures here in Arizona through much of last month. For example, at noon on my birthday it was only 87 degrees – usually it’s over 100 at that time! In fact, we almost beat the record for the coolest June... so much for global warming! ;) After having a pleasant reprieve at the end of Spring, the normal hot temperatures came with the first day of Summer. Time to enjoy cold desserts (HINT: it's National Ice Cream Month) and think cool thoughts of Christmas in July!

Citizens Rule Book
(Download this e-book edition of the Citizens Rule Book and see for yourself why the pocket-sized booklet has sold 3 million copies! Includes the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and a Jury Handbook.)

Declaration of Independence
(Download a FREE copy of the Declaration of Independence. Read it with your family as part of your Independence Day celebration.)

American History Quiz (Test the kids - and yourself! You can also take it online at http://www.knowledgehouse.info/njfkindependence.html)

(*Requires Adobe Reader: click here for free download.)

What exciting adventures have you and your family been up to this summer? Last week- end we went on a walk through a cave. It's actually a 3/4–mile long tube formed by molten lava flowing underground. In some places the cave is only about 3 feet high, while in other spots the ceiling is 30 feet high and shaped like a subway tunnel. The cave has a temp. of about 40 degrees year-round, so it was a cool respite from the summer heat!

If your family likes exploring as we do, you will really enjoy the Jonathan Park Creation Adventure audio series from Vision Forum. They say their customers have asked one product question more than any other; that is: “When is the next Jonathan Park album coming out?” (I know we kept asking that!) Well, after thousands of hours in preparation and production, “Jonathan Park Volume VI: The Journey Never Taken” is expected to be in stock and ready to ship on July 10, 2009.

If you have the previous episodes of Jonathan Park, you will want to get this latest album to complete your collection. If you are not familiar with the series, read my review to learn more about it: http://knowledgehouse.info/review_jonpark.html

Homeschooled and self-taught in painting, 15-year-old Akiane Kramarik is an internationally recognized prodigy, selected as one of the twenty most accomplished visual artists in the world. www.knowledgehouse.info/bio_akiane.html. (Each month I will highlight another famous homeschooler.)

I suppose many of you are cutting back on your travels this summer just as we are, due to the economy and husbands being out of work like mine is. But when you think about it, a vacation is as much a state of mind as it is a place to go. The other day I pulled my old copy of Henry David Thoreau's Walden off the shelf and sat down with it. If you want to go on a "vacation of the mind," all you have to do is read that book. The message of living simply and economically is certainly a timely one, as are the environmental overtones. You can read the book like a nature journal, or delve into the author's ideas more deeply. Even though Thoreau is critical of society, he is hopefully optimistic. But it seems like people in general haven't learned much in the last 160 years! Read my complete review of the book at http://www.knowledgehouse.info/review_walden.html

Knowledge House

Homeschool Patriot

Little Brick Schoolhouse

Homeschooling Teen

Arizona Edventures

A Note From Teri...

I just updated my Homeschool Patriot site where you can find patriotic holidays, quotations, historic documents, resources, reviews, links, famous homeschooled patriots, Citizens Rule Books, e-books, unit studies, freebies, blog, and more. The page of freebies includes a little bit of everything from printable worksheets to a complete 17-page e-book.

Happy Independence Day!