educational fun :: Not So Average Mama

Archive for educational fun

Dec
16

Hugg-A-Planet Review and Giveaway!

by Brandy

This giveaway has ended. Winner was comment #19!

hugaplanet I’m always on the look out for products that are fun to use as educational tools. I was looking for a globe to use with the girls when I was approached to review the Hugg-A-Planet products. What could be better than a globe that the kids can actually play with! They can carry it, squeeze it, throw it and even sleep with it if they like. As a matter of fact, it has been slept with at our house.

It is such an awesome tool for education, that it is actually traveling through space right now! Isn’t that cool? Since it is constructed as soft material, it makes a great globe for keeping on hand in space. Check out this video.

Thursday November 5th 5 2009 at 10:00 am EST was the debut of being in orbit and shared with the world as part of the 10th annual celebration of International Education Week. The video I posted about shows how they soar in to land the Space Shuttle by using Hugg-A-Planet to demonstrate. My girls were thrilled to watch this video and see a “toy” they have up in space!

The Hugg-A-Planets will make a full orbit around the Earth every 90 minutes on the Space Station. They will stay there for as long as the space station remains active, at least till 2016, and will orbit the Earth 5860 times every year!

Always the gift you are remembered for. “Best 25 Toys of the Past 25 Years” Parents’ Choice Foundation. Featured in “Readers Digest” The Smartest Vacation Ever. Featured Dec. 2007 in Yankee and Prevention Magazines Available in Spanish and French too.

Place on the family couch or on the bed for easy hands on reference.

Over 600 places labeled on the Hugg-A-Planet, Earth. 12″ in diameter. A real globe but soft.

Helps our children learn about caring for Planet Earth. “Kids will eye it like a treasure, toss it like a ball and hug it like a friend” Claire S. Green Parents’ Choice Foundation.

If you love educational toys, then this is one for you! The Classic Hugg-A-Planet sells for only $24.95! One lucky reader has a chance to win a Hugg-A-Planet toy!

Main Entry: Visit Peace Toys and tell me what other product you would love to check out.

Bonus Entries: You must complete the main entry before any of the bonus entries.

Tweet about this giveaway including a link to the giveaway @stitchblade. You can do this once per day! Leave your tweet status url in the comments.
Subscribe to my Enews and Updates.
Visit my newest site! Check out my Suggestions and Questions form and send me one! Leave a comment here for your entry after doing this.

This giveaway will end December 23, 2009

Winner will have 48 hours to claim prize after being notified of win.

I received the Hugg-A-Planet to review. I did not receive any other compensation. All opinions are my own.

52 Categories : Contests

Nov
30

zOrb Digital Microscope Review and Giveaway

by Brandy

This giveaway is closed. Winner was comment #88! (They never responded so I did random.org again!

THE NEW WINNER IS COMMENT #32!

MM-480G display There is one thing in my home that is used daily by my children. The zOrb from Carson Optical is a Digital Microscope. It is fun as well as a great educational tool.

The zOrb has a 35x Magnification with an integrated camera that displays the magnified image right on your computer screen. I heard my girls laughing hysterically and saying ewww ewwww. I went up to investigate and the girls were looking at the insides of each others noses on the computer screen using the zOrb.

I was amazed at the clear image quality! This has been a great addition to our home education tools. You could see every hair in thier nose and some not so pleasant things in there too. They thought this was just hilarious and were learning at the same time! Like I have said many times, kids learn best when learning is fun and this is most definitely fun! zOrb in use with screen

The zOrb is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP, XP Service Pack 3 Upgrade, Vista and MAC OSX 10.4 or later (not yet compatible with Snow Leopard). A USB 2.0 port is required.

If you are looking for a Christmas gift that both you and your children will love, then this is it! One lucky reader will have the chance to win one!

Main Entry: Tell me who you would want to give this to.

Bonus Entries: You can do any or all of the following to earn extra entries!

Become a Fan of Carson Optical on Facebook!
Blog about this giveaway and link to it.
Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter @stitchblade. You can do this once daily!

This giveaway will end on December 8th, 2009

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winners notification.

I was sent a zOrb Digital Microscope for review, no other compensation was received.

132 Categories : Contests

Sep
8

Young Minds Venturing into Math! Local Giveaway!

by Brandy

mathdvd This giveaway has ended!

The beginning of the school year has went very well. I have discovered Lauren is a Math whiz. It is all fun and games to her and she loves it! I have been on the lookout for educational things to use with this years schooling that will benefit her and increase her desire to learn.

MathTutorDVD.com has some awesome tools that kids love. The DVD we were sent to review is called “Young Minds – Numbers and Counting”. The girls love it mainly because of the very vivid images. Bright colorful photographs of things that hold their interest, such as bugs, animals and brightly colored fruits. The numbers are reinforced by being displayed in written number form, visually – with a demonstration of how many of the object shown belong with the number and verbally spoken as well. They also demonstrate the sounds that the animals displayed make. Colors are also taught by pointing out the color of objects displayed.

One thing that usually gets under my skin about television for children is the loud obnoxious music. I can’t stand it. This DVD does not use that loud obnoxious nonsense. They have set the whole thing to awesome classical music. Classical music that engages the minds of my girls. Music from Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, and others!

Here is a sampling of the objects presented:

Variety of animals along with animal sounds

Fruits and vegetables along with their colors

Machines that move such as trucks, airplanes, etc., along with the sounds that they make.

Everyday objects such as crayons, toys, etc.

List Price $24.99
Price on MathTutorDVD.com $19.99
You Save $5.00 20%

Both of my younger girls enjoy watching this DVD. I let them watch it in the mornings after breakfast in my bed and listen to them counting with the DVD. It is a good review of skills for Lauren(5) and a great introduction for Emma(3).

I noticed while browsing the site that they have DVDs aimed at all levels! They have Algebra and Physics! I think I need the Algebra one for myself to be able to keep up with my 6th grader this year!

I am excited to announce that I am holding a local giveaway (I live in Lake Dallas, near Hickory Creek)! I have 3 extra copies of “Young Minds – Numbers and Counting” and I want to share with my local readers! If you win you will have to make arrangements with me to pick up locally.

MAIN ENTRY: Visit MathTutorDVD.com and check out the other titles that they offer. What other DVD would you like to share with your kids? Let me know here in a comment.

Bonus Entries: Please complete the main entry before completing any bonus entries.

Email your friends and family (local) and tell them about this giveaway. CC it to me at brandy [at] notsoaveragemama [dot] com leave a comment…this is good for 5 entries! So be sure to leave 5 comments to get those entries!
Blog about this giveaway and leave a comment with the link…this is good for another 5 entries!
Subscribe to my Enews and Updates and comment for 2 more entries!
Go to Not So Average Kid and read about Project Arrowhead and support the cause by leaving a comment! Comment here letting me know you have done this for 2 more entries.

This giveaway is for LOCAL entry. I will not be shipping to the winner.

This giveaway will end September 22, 2009

23 Categories : Contests

May
4

SpellQuizzer Will Rock Your Socks!

by Brandy

Comments Closed Now!

What I want to know is…where has this program been all of my life and how come I did not know about it sooner?

SpellQuizzer is an awesome program that is fun and easy to use! I tested it out with my oldest daughter and she absolutely loves it! She can even record the lists herself if she wants. Record lists? YES….read on and I will tell you alllll about it.