Back to School Blast 2007 We wi

Homeschool Share is excited to announce our annual Back to School Blast (a curriculum drive in the form of a contest)!

We will start accepting submissions on Thursday, May 1st.

Early submissions qualify for an extra prize category (see #1).

Submission deadline is Tuesday, July 1st at 11:59 p.m.

Prize winners will be announced and new material will be released on (or before) Monday, July 21st. We are hoping for an earlier release this year so that you will have more time to plan for the upcoming school year.

We realize that we have posted a lot of information. Before you print, grab a cup of tea, and read, please understand the following:

1. All book titles must be approved by HSS staff.
2. Any and all images that you use for your creations must be copyright free. If you need help finding copyright free images, please contact us.
3. We reserve the right to revise and rewrite (or ask you to do the same).
4. Anything submitted to Homeschool Share must be new (not something you've already made and posted on another website or even on your
personal blog). Units and lapbooks submitted to Homeschool Share should not be submitted to other websites.
5. You need to read over the HSS Submission Guide.

Homeschool Share is excited to announce our annual Back to School Blast! We will start accepting submissions on Thursday, May 1st. Early submissions qualify for an extra prize category (see #10). Submission deadline is Tuesday, July 1st at 11:59 p.m. Prize winners will be announced and new material will be released on (or before) Monday, July 21st!

We realize that we have posted a lot of information. Before you print, grab a cup of tea, and read, please understand the following:

1. All book titles must be approved by HSS staff (it would be best to do this before you start writing your unit).
2. In the past we've logged your entire to-do list for the contest. This year, you can make your claim on two things at a time.
3. Any and all images that you use for your creations must be copyright free. If you need help finding copyright free images, please contact us.
4. We reserve the right to revise, rewrite, or ask you to do the same if we find something that needs work.

Prize Categories:

1. Homeschool Share's Most Wanted
We all have things we want done today. Well, we (the ladies who humbly serve you here at Homeschool Share) have lists of things we wanted done yesterday! We've each chosen our Top Ten MOST WANTED items for Homeschool Share. If you choose to complete something from the Most Wanted List, you'll be entered into a special drawing for XXX.

REALLY, REALLY Cool prize(s) for this one (2 drawings?)

2. Units with Unique Geography Lessons
Location, Location. We'd love to add some unit studies that take place in countries that we don't currently have unit studies for. You can check out our Geography Index and contact us with your title to find out if the title you are considering would qualify. This category includes any level or category unit study. You could even write a multi-book theme unit based on a country.

Prize Ideas
GC from Geography Matters?

3. Animal Studies
Submit research (paraphrased ~ in your own words) and a minimum of 12 templates (mini books) to go with the research. Check out our current Animal Studies to help you understand what we are looking for. Animal Studies chosen from the most wanted list will qualify for both drawings!

Prize Ideas
Nature's Friend Magazine ($32 value!)
Nature's Workshop Plus! GC ($??)
Tobin's Lap Animal Pack

4. Chapter Book Unit Studies
really great prizes for this one, too (chapter book units chosen from the most wanted list will qualify for BOTH drawings!)

5. Notebooking Pages
Create a set of notebooking pages to go with one of our current Level B or C unit studies at Homeschool Share (or another approved theme)...

6. Preschool
All things preschool qualify: file folder games, Level A units, preschool lapbooks, resources to go with Before Five in a Row....**more ideas?
Preschool Unit Guidelines
unit must include a minimum of eight activities for learning and enrichment appropriate for preschoolers
"lessons" must be directly linked to and inspired by the literature
"lessons" must be completely fleshed out so that a homeschooling teacher can pick up and go without having to do additional research

7. Lapbooks!

ANY lapbook contributed to Homeschool Share (except for preschool and animal study) will qualify for ???
2 prizes/2 drawings

8. Early Birds!

Celia Hartmann
PO Box 552
Waynesburg, Ohio 44688-0552

4. Chapter Book Unit Study
We know how burdensome it is to write a chapter book unit, so we hope our prize will entice you to keep laboring because when you submit your chapter book unit study, you will be entered into a drawing for (drum roll, please) TWO Learn N' Folders of your choice from Live and Learn Press! (up to $48 value!)

It is almost impossible for us to set concrete guidelines for a chapter book due to the many variables (length of book, topics presented in book, length of chapters, etc.). Please remember that your lessons need to be fleshed out and complete (background information and research should already be present for the majority of your lessons). The lessons should be plentiful (teachers and students should have a variety of lessons to pick and choose from). If you would like, you may submit a rough outline for approval once you know which direction(s) you will go with your unit.

For an example of what we consider an excellent chapter book unit study, please view Homeschool Share's unit for Stuart Little.

Multi-book Unit Guidelines:
Unit focuses on a minimum of three core books
The majority of the lessons should directly tie to the books
Multi-book units submitted for the Blast should have a minimum of twelve lessons
Lessons should be completely fleshed out (researched and background information provided as applicable)
Note: we currently have some multi-book theme units that do not meet these guidelines, but we are asking that these guidelines be followed for all blast submissions, thank-you.

6. Fuss-Free Unit Study (Level B ages 4-8)
We would love for you to enter the unit that doesn't need anything from us other than formatting! Whoever enters the most complete, fuss-free unit gets a prize (a kiss from Celia, and a kiss from Ami!). Actually, you will win a $25 Gift Certificate to Homeschool E-store! These submissions must follow the guidelines given on the How to Submit page.

9. Grand Prize

10. Early Bird Special (for Unit Studies only)--