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I am so excited to begin this year! I have tried SO, SO, SO many different curriculum programs and really feel that HOD is exactly what we're looking for.

I'm clearing out the homeschool cubbies and making a list of things needed for the first two weeks of lessons. I ended up with quite the shopping list. If we have to skip some things, because of lack of supplies (masking tape, vegetable shortening), and find other ways of getting the point across, will things still work out?

As for vegetable shortening, I found a generic case of it at my local Wal-Mart for about $4, which is a lot considering our tight grocery budget and we don't use Vegetable shortening in anything. Is there a different way of doing the blubber illustration? Am I really just gonna need to buy some shortening?

Are there any "musts" you can think of off the top of your head?

AboveRubieMama,

I was thinking that rubber dish gloves would be perfect instead of shortening, do you have any of those?
Or you could use one of those heavy-duty, dark green lawn and garden trash bags, they are pretty thick.
Also, if you have some of those large freezer bags you could double up two of them and use them as gloves (blubber!).

Candice

Hi!

We just started Beyond this week. Day 1 requires masking tape to make a "globe" for the geography exercise. I used chalk and drew the world on the driveway. Believe me, the chalk was much faster!!!

I usually try to use what I have on hand. I don't think it hurts to subsititute as long as the lesson is learned.

Hope that helps.

Joy

I see that you're using LHTH...the masking tape is a "must". I know that both Target and Wal-Mart have a cheap roll for about $0.80, because that's what I used. You're going to go through several rolls of it!

I haven't used Beyond yet, but my idea for the blubber experiemnt would be to use softened butter. (I know that's what I substitute in recipes that call for it. We much prefer the dairy product since we're dairy farmers. ) I'm sure that as you get into the guide, you'll find that the activities really do call for things that you have around the house. And, Carrie usually gives several good options to choose from so you're bound to have one of them. One more thought on shortening... I know that there are Crisco sticks (like big sticks of butter). Would a pack of those be cheaper? I'm planning on looking for those at the store soon because we're making a decorated cake for the fair and the frosting has to be made with shortening (which I also have NONE of).

Have fun as you begin HOD on Monday!!
Kathleen

Having done this experiement a few times in the past-- I Would think vaseline would work as a substitute for the shortening, but that is going to be expensive. If you make your own chicken stock and chill it, then take the fat off the top, that should work too- it is fat after all (the one I have done in the past you put your hand in a plastic bag (old bread bag works great and free)- and smear 'blubber' on the outside, then I think another plastic bag) The fat acts as an insulator and is rather water repellant. Butter or margarine would work too, but again, kind of pricey. Not sure how oil would work- you could perhaps try spreading oil on your hand and see how that works (I know when I mix ground meat up and my hands get all greasy it takes a while for the water to wash it off, so..hmm...) (lard would work) Peanut butter 'might' even work-- try it on your own first to see.....

I was thinking of the chalk instead of the masking tape circle too. I also thought about using a measuring stick for a number line instead of the masking tape line... I can't remember what else masking tape was used for, but I remember thinking of substituting other things instead. -- Oh I think you made letters to 'trace' and I was thinking more along the lines of Handwriting without tears, I was going to cut out from old cereal boxes or construction paper the 'shape' of the letter- for them to 'build' and then 'trace'-- same idea, just no masking tape and re-usable.

Brenda

Yay!!! You are going to love HOD! It is so fun! We start our 3rd week in PHFHG on Monday and we are really enjoying it. Sorry I can't answer on the blubber thing but I will say that if you can find something to substitute that gets the point across that would probably be fine. I know that others have talked about using substitutions when needed as long as it accomplishes the same purpose.
Happy First HODday!
Leah

I did this experiment at the beginning of this year and used vaseline that I had in the house and it worked great. You need something that is very thick to cover and does not wash or slip off. I have substituted chalk for tape as well. We live in Fl. so going outside and doing stuff is great when it does not rain. You will find that as you go on you will get more creative in substituting things out that have the same effect. Carrie's creativity will have a great influence on your own!

We got a small tub of the cheap version of Crisco and it worked like a charm. I don't remember it being expensive to buy. Maybe your store also has a small tub of this to use.

cheap margarine is usually like a dollar. soften it and use it for the experiment. When your done you can use it again and make suet for the birds. (not in HOD just thought of it as a way to get rid of the bad fat.) check your local dollar store for a cheap fat or Vaseline.

course if your really cheap, ask your neighbor if you can "barrow" a 1/2 cup of shortening cause you need some and you don't have any, pay for it by sending some cookies over later.
1. you don't need to buy any and
2. you get to spread the love to your neighbors