History & Geography
The following is excerpted from a History & Geography lesson for Chapter 7 of Betsy Ross: Designer of our Flag from Beyond Five in a Row, Volume 1. © 1997 by Becky Jane Lambert, all rights reserved.

History & Geography - Flags: State, National and International

Betsy is shocked that Susannah doesn't know the flags of other countries (p.86). Betsy tells her friend that each flag tells a story, like a page out of a history book. Betsy is right! Take this opportunity to share with your student the fascinating world of flags.

Flags have been around for a very long time. No one is sure when they began, but the oldest, recognized national flag known today is the flag of Denmark. With its red background and white cross, this flag has been used for more than 750 years. The study of flags, their history and usage is called vexillology, from the Latin word vexillum, meaning flag. Let your student try that word out on a parent or grandparent and see if they know what it means!

What country interests your student? One interesting way to learn about its history and people is to study its flag. For example, the Austrian national flag has a fascinating story which began during the Third Crusade in 1191. Reportedly, Duke Leopold V removed his blood-drenched cape after a battle and discovered that his belt had caused a strip across the middle of the cape to remain pristine white. Austria chose this design for their country's flag in 1919.

But countries aren't the only political entities to have flags. Each of the states has a flag of its own, too. Each Canadian province has a flag, and many organizations such as the Red Cross, NATO, the Olympics, etc. have their own flags as well.

You can devote much time to the study of the care and rules for proper display of your country's flag. In the United States, strict guidelines are in place for how the national flag is to be properly displayed, both during the day and at night. If left up at night, the flag should always be illuminated by a spot light. If the U.S. flag is displayed on an automobile it must be flown from an antenna and is never allowed to be draped over the vehicle. You will also find lots of other guidelines for the proper display of the flag from a building, with other flags, in front of private homes, and much more. Use a good encyclopedia, or find a book at the library to learn more about how to properly handle our flag.

There is also much to learn about the various parts of a flag. Use your flag reference material to learn more about these things.

It would also be fun to take some time to study your state's flag. What is the design? When was it created? What do the various symbols stand for? Do you think your state flag accurately reflects your feelings about your state? For ideas about making your own flag, be sure to see the fine arts section of this lesson series. Have fun learning about flags with your student!

Science
The following is excerpted from a Science lesson for Chapter 17 of Thomas A. Edison: Young Inventor from Beyond Five in a Row, Volume 1. © 1997 by Becky Jane Lambert, all rights reserved.

Science - A Light Bulb: How It Works

As you know, Tom Edison's greatest contribution to modern life was the invention of the light bulb. Take this opportunity to explore with your student how a light bulb works.

Teacher's Note: To observe a light bulb easily, go to the store and buy a "clear" light bulb so tha you can see the interior without obstruction.

Light bulbs convert electricity into light (and heat too, as a by-product). Electricity is applied to the base of the light bulb and forced through the filament. The filament is the thin, coiled metal wire clearly visible in the bulb. The filament is usually made from tungsten metal. As electricity passes through the filament the wire is heated to nearly 5000 degrees. As the filament heats up it gives off light. Try looking at a variety of light bulbs including automobile headlights, flashlights, etc.

Encourage your student to check out one or more books on electricity and the light bulb from the library. A three-dimensional model made of clay or cardboard or a drawing explaining the way in which light bulbs convert electricity into light makes a wonderful multi-day science project that is unforgettable.

Fine Arts
The following is excerpted from a Fine Arts lesson for Chapter 4 of The Boxcar Children from Beyond Five in a Row, Volume 1. © 1997 by Becky Jane Lambert, all rights reserved.

Fine Arts - Cooking

The Boxcar children thought blueberries were delicious and they are! Try this special recipe for fantastically incredible bowl of blueberries.

1 bowl fresh blueberries (one pint)
1 Tablespoon sour cream
1 Tablespoon brown sugar

Stir and serve. You will hear compliments!

Language Arts
The following is excerpted from a Language Arts lesson for Chapter 1 of The Boxcar Children from Beyond Five in a Row, Volume 1. © 1997 by Becky Jane Lambert, all rights reserved.

Language Arts - The Element of Mystery

The Boxcar Children begins "One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew them. No one knew where they had come from." (p.1) How mysterious!

Have your student read or listen to those lines and ask him what it makes him want to know. Of course! Who were those children? Where had they come from? The element of mystery in stories pulls the reader to the next page. And it's fun! Solving a mystery is like doing a jigsaw puzzle in your mind!

Have your student write the beginning of a story utilizing the element of mystery. Certainly he can finish the story if he wishes, but the exercise in this activity is to think up "mysterious" openings. He might write, "It had been snowing all week. Charlie decided to go sledding. Pulling his sled behind him, he started off down the street. Just as he reached the corner market, he suddenly heard slushy footsteps behind him. He turned around but no one was there." Using mystery in stories is a great way to make them exciting - and they're fun to write!

Issues of Human Relationships
The following is excerpted from a Issues of Human Relationships lesson for Chapter 4 of Homer Price from Beyond Five in a Row, Volume 1. © 1997 by Becky Jane Lambert, all rights reserved.

Issues of Human Relationships - Special Occasions: Sunday Dinner

Miss Terwilliger makes her famous fried chicken every Sunday for Uncle Telemachus and every Thursday for the sheriff. You can create a special occasion with your student and prepare a fried chicken dinner with all the fixin's including mashed potatoes or potato salad, green beans, rolls, and whatever else you want. You might begin by looking in your newspaper for shopping ads from the grocery store and noting the price of chicken. You can explain the different ways that chickens are packaged: whole fryers, legs and thighs, breasts only, etc., and talk about the differences in price. Then buy the chicken, bring it home and prepare it for frying. If weather permits, taking your fried chicken dinner on a picnic is a delightful way to enjoy the fresh air - and food always tastes better outside!

You can take this concept a step further by developing your own unique weekly traditions. Just as Miss Terwilliger was known for fixing her famous fried chicken on Sundays and Thursdays, you can think up your own traditions. Perhaps you'd like to always serve waffles on Saturday morning, or always rent a movie on Saturday night. Maybe you'd enjoy always going out for ice cream on Sunday evening or alwys going out for hamburgers on Friday evening. The tradition you choose isn't important. What matters is developing your own, unique family traditions that build security for children and provide everyone with something special to look forward to each week - just the way Uncle Telly looked forward to dinner with Miss Terwilliger on Sundays!

Career Path
The following is excerpted from a Career Path lesson for Chapter 15 of Thomas A. Edison: Young Inventor from Beyond Five in a Row, Volume 1. © 1997 by Becky Jane Lambert, all rights reserved.

Career Path - Journalism: A World of Possibilities

If your student is interested in writing, advertising, photography, videography, acting or just in exploring new ideas, the world of journalism encompasses many career paths. Journalism may be a new word for your student. Journalism is the process of gathering, writing, editing, publishing and circulating news in either newspapers, magazines, radio or television. There are so many exciting and different jobs in journalism!

Talk with your student about the following jobs and make a list of more you can think of: television news anchor, television news writer, television news producer, weather man, staff newspaper writer, food critic, movie critic, war correspondent, photojournalist, magazine advertising executive, public relations manager, etc.

For most of these jobs, a person needs a degree in journalism. Most colleges offer a bachelor of arts in this area and the classes include media-related studies and writing courses. However, many journalists will tell you that on-the-job training is what made them great!

Journalism is a field which often requires a year or two of what is known as internship. Being an intern requires working in the field (at the news station, advertising office, layout department, etc.) for little, or no money. In this way, you get to "learn the business" and gain valuable experience. Then, after you've proven yourself competent, you may be hired on as an assistant reporter or some other entry level position.

For more information on journalism and career opportunities in the field, go to your local library and do additional research with your student. Being a good journalist requires hard work, dedication, tenacity and a "nose for news". This means knowing what the public wants to hear and where to find the information. Tom Edison had a great nose for news!

Internet Connections
The following is excerpted from a Internet Connections lesson for Chapter 10 of Thomas A. Edison: Young Inventor from Beyond Five in a Row, Volume 1. © 1997 by Becky Jane Lambert, all rights reserved.

Internet Connections

This site includes a great photograph and short biography on Marconi!
http://www.thebrain.cz.it/aricz/marconi.htm

The National Inventors Hall of Fame is a wonderful resource for information on dozens of famous inventors including both Marconi and Morse!
http://www.invent.org/book/index.html

Essay Questions
The following is excerpted from a Essay Questions lesson for Chapter 6 of Betsy Ross: Designer of our Flag from Beyond Five in a Row, Volume 1. © 1997 by Becky Jane Lambert, all rights reserved.

Essay Question

Betsy and Susannah debate the question, "do we do all things well because we like to do them, or do we like to do them because we do them well?" (p.80) What do you think and why?

Vocabulary Words
The following is excerpted from a Vocabulary Words lesson for Chapter 6 of Homer Price from Beyond Five in a Row. Volume 1. © 1997 by Becky Jane Lambert, all rights reserved.

Vocabulary Words

suffrage:	the right to vote
suburb:	a residential district on or near the outskirts of a city
urban:	constituting or comprising a city or town
rural:	constituting or comprising the country life
receptive:	able or ready to receive new things and ideas
imperative:	absolutely necessary; urgent; compelling
arbitrate:	a decision based on judgment not rules (an arbitrator)
architect:	a person who designs and draws plans for buildings
landscape architect:	the art and profession of planning or changing the natural scenery of a place for a desired purpose