Back-To-Homeschool Issue 11
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1 Back-to-Homeschool | December— January 2012-2013 Manager’s Page Issue 11 December— Welcome to our latest issue of Back-to-Homeschool! January Hi, BTH readers! Welcome to mysterious food? Journey to the latest issue of Back-to- Russia in the Around the World Homeschool— our “Mystery” article and find a recipe for issue! We apologize that the Borscht Soup. issue came out a little late— I (Trisha) was away and couldn’t Our second Homeschool Opin- put it together until now. ions article posed the question, “What is your favorite TV In this issue, you get to meet show?” and homeschooled girls Anna, the head of the Writers’ have given their answers. Next Board, as well as all of the new issue, the question is “What is Writers’ Board members! You your favorite movie?” so be sure can also enjoy our many mys- to answer on the BTH website, tery-themed articles including www.bthmagazine.wordpress.co a review of Gilda Joyce: Psychic m. investigator, a craft article that will teach you how to make BTH is now on FaceBook! That’s your very own secret message right, you can now like us on jar, a quiz to test your mystery FaceBook for more BTH fun! history knowledge, and much Visit our website to find the link. more. We also have some good Want to advertise on the Remember, don’t forget to sub- mystery stories, including website for the most mit your content to BTH! Back-to “Francesca and the Black- -Homeschool stays alive because popular magazine for Cloaked Thief,” a special of your submissions. Have you “Homeschooled” mystery ad- homeschooled girls? written a paper, drawn a picture, venture, and a ghost mystery Don’t miss your chance! or made a cool homeschool pro- called “Trick or Treat???” Email ject? Submit it to Back-to- There are also some yummy Homeschool and share it with [email protected] recipes in this issue. Going with many other homeschooled girls for more information! our mystery theme, there’s a out there. recipe for both mystery meat Well, enjoy this issue of BTH! and mystery treats. Not into 2 Table of Contents 4— Meet Anna 6— Meet the 2013 Writers’ Board 7— What Did You Do Today? 8— Recipe: Mystery Meat and Mystery Treats 9— Book Review 10— The Continuous Story 11— The Platypus 12— Homeschooled: The Mystery 16— Art Story 17 — Would You Rather 18— The Six Swans 22— Around the World 24— Octopuses 25— Secret Message Jar 26— An Interview with Julius Caesar 28— Recycled Christmas Card Star Ornament | Memorize Anything 29— Francesca and the Black-Cloaked Thief 32— Test Your Mystery History Knowledge Quiz 34— The Riddle of the Sphinx 36— Seasonal Section Contributors 37— Homeschool Opinions Ijana, Patricia, Anna, Peace, Megan, Morgan, Marga- 39— Trick or Treat??? ret, Sydney C, Sydney B, Katie, Emma, Vera, Eliza- beth, Christine, Marie, Tera, Laura Ashley, Colleen, 43— Arts and Photos Samantha, Faith, Caeley, Klara, Katelyn; Cover photo; Eliza— large picture; Haven— small picture 3 Meet Anna Our new Head of the Writers’ Board! Hello, wonderful BTH Readers! tress, a police detective, and an Hello everyone! My name is astronaut. Call me ambitious, Anna, I turned twelve in Octo- but that's why they're called am- ber and am a seventh grader. I bitions. In any case, I am seri- am into art, drama, writing, pi- ous as the laws of nature allow ano, and am known to random- me to be about these things ly burst out in song with my sis- (except for the astronaut part, ter, Emma. I read a lot and my which is more of a dream). I favorite authors are Connie Wil- love anything to do with the lis, Terry Pratchett, Margaret outdoors, including rock- Peterson Haddix, and J.K. climbing, climbing trees, swim- Rowling, and I am *slightly* ob- ming, anything to do with a sessed with the TV show Psych. tree, cliff, body of water, ani- As mentioned before, I love mal, you name it. On one occa- singing and playing piano, and I sion I was actually alone with love musicals. Wicked is my fa- two of my friends and my little vorite musical, and I saw it last brother in an inflatable kayak, summer at the Kennedy Center. where we got out of the kayak, My second-favorite musical is held on to the back, and kicked the Phantom of the Opera, and I behind ourselves to propel the hope to actually see it in a thea- boat, but that's a really long sto- ter one day. My life ambitions ry. I have been homeschooled are to be a famous fantasy/sci fi my entire life and I love every author, a concert pianist, an ac- minute of it. 4 When it comes down to it, though, el in a month. And music– well, I I am an actress, author, and musi- love singing, even if I’m not the cian at heart. I’ve participated in best, and one of my strongest pas- small productions with my old sions is piano, which may be part homeschool group, but even of the reason that our family owns though they were low-key I’ve still two pianos. I didn’t play much pi- always loved acting. Then in March, ano earlier this year, but when the my sister and I joined HTT, the Primary (children’s) chorister asked Homeschool Theatre Troupe, a me to accompany all the kids on group of the possibly most sup- the piano for our big program in portive, friendly, and amazing October, I had to practice every homeschooled teenagers in the day and consequently learned more world. My sister and I had very pieces. Now I’ve been learning very small parts, but the audience was complicated songs, like The Gift by amazing, particularly on Opening David Nevue. Piano is a passion of Night- They laughed at every line mine, and I’m not going to give it and clapped at every entrance and up anytime soon. I am also a new exit. The audience clapped and Girl Scout, and I joined possibly screamed so loud at the curtain call, the most epic troop ever, an all- and I even had a couple of little homeschooled troop. My fellow girls ask me for my autograph! scouts are probably the most open, Now I’m taking a rather intensive friendly, and supportive girls I have scene study class so I can be ready ever met. As for BTH, I have been for HTT’s next play, and maybe get on the Writers’ Board as an Extra a bigger part! As for writing, it’s Writer for about a year now, and I something that’s always been a part love writing for the magazine! I am of my life. I’m currently writing a so excited to be helping more and novel, which has now reached 330 can’t wait to unleash the new year pages, with my friend Maya. I’m al- of magazines with wonderful con- so participating in NaNoWriMo, tent for and from all you readers! National Novel Writing Month, Cheers! —- which is a challenge to finish a nov- Anna 5 MeetMeet thethe 20132013 Writers’Writers’ BoardBoard Animal Profile Wildlife/Nature Art Story Book Review Sydney C., age 11 Elizabeth, age 8 Sydney B, age 12 Morgan, age 12 Craft Fairytale/Myth Info Article Poem Christine, age 11 Emma, age 14 Faith, age 10 Katelyn, age 16 Quiz Recipe History Interview Colleen and Samantha, age 10 Megan, age 12 Marie, age 11 Thank you to everyone who applied; we got some great applications! Unfortunately, we couldn’t choose every- one, but if you didn’t get a spot make sure to try again Seasonal Section Short Story Around the World next year for our 2014 Writers’ Caeley, age 12 Laura Ashley, age 14 Vera, age 15 Board! 6 What Did You Do Today? By Peace, age 9 I live in Texas, and that is where the Texas Renaissance Festival is. It is one of the biggest renaissance festivals in the U.S.! It is open from early October to late November. There are all sorts of booths and people dressed up as fairies, elves, kings and queens. It used to be that if you wear a costume you got in free, but now things have changed. It all looks exactly like you imagine the Medieval Times to be, with saloons and shops where you can buy a flower wreath to wear. They have a coliseum where there are jousting shows, with people dressed as kings, queens, princes, or princesses at the head of the coliseum. My family has gone to the Texas Renaissance Festival three times and it is always awesome! People come from all over to see it, and this year I saw a license plate from Minnesota! That’s really far away! 7 Mystery Recipe Meat! By Megan, age 12 This is fun to make and much better than it sounds! RECIPE INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS: 1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 1 to 1.5 lbs. chopped stew 2. Tear off four squares of heavy duty meat aluminum foil. 4 medium carrots-chopped 3. In the center of each piece of foil, place one 4 medium potatoes-chopped fourth of meat, one carrot, and one potato. 1 can of cream of mushroom 4. Stir together mushroom soup and onion soup soup mix. Spoon one fourth of soup over meat. 5. Fold up sides of foil and press to se- 1 packet of onion soup mix cure place on baking sheet.