Make History Fun With These Seven Supplemental Games By Lynn Powers

My son loves history. At age nine, he could recite all of the presidents, in order. Anything to do with wars, government or past events interests him and holds his attention. My daughter, on the other hand, though she does well in school, doesn’t care much for history. It bores her. And I have to say, I agree! My history grades were always poor, mostly due to the boredom factor. But history does not have to be dull! Here are seven history / social studies games that will make learning about past events and governmental matters fun for even those who can’t stand history yet still challenges those who love it. These are wonderful supplements for homeschoolers or any game playing family.

I only wish these games were around (or that I knew about them) when I was in school!

1. American Trivia Board Game, Junior Edition. What a great way to study for those upcoming tests! Over 1,000 questions in three categories - history, geography, and general. Sample questions: “Which river is located along the southern border of Texas?” “During what war did Benedict Arnold become a traitor to the American people?” And, for fun, “Who created the cartoon character, Mickey Mouse?” Recommended for ages 9+

2. Romans Game. This game makes a wonderful addition to your unit on the Roman Empire. Each player is a Roman general, whose goal is to become “Caesar,” absolute monarch. Learn fascinating facts and answer challenging questions as you battle other generals in your race around the board. Recommended for ages 10+

3. Professor Noggin’s Card Games. Learn all sorts of interesting history and geography facts in these fun and educational card games. Two types of play levels – easy and hard. This series is available in the following History versions: Geography of the United States, Explorers, History of the United States, History of Canada, Medieval Times, Civil War, American Revolution, Ancient Civilization, Famous Inventions, Countries of the World 1 & 2, First People of North America. Recommended for ages 7+

4. Coin Hopping Washington DC. This beautifully visual game helps kids retain facts and information as they learn about all there is to do and see in our nation’s capitol. Great for those planning a trip to Washington D.C. or as a supplement to governmental lessons. Recommended for ages 8+

5. America-Opoly. Enjoy this classic game while gaining a history lesson. Buy properties like “The Grand Canyon” and “The Statue of Liberty.” Land on the Liberty Bell and collect the cash in the middle of the board. But beware of the IRS who may decide to audit you! Good, old-fashioned American fun for the whole family. Recommended for ages 8+

6. Egyptians Game. Different levels allow for players of all ages to enjoy this board game that takes you back to the age of ancient Egyptians. Become supreme Pharaoh by defeating opponents along the way. Recommended for ages 7+

7. Lewis and Clark Adventure Game. This game explores the explorers! Travel through the wilderness and cross oceans on this beautifully illustrated board. Different levels of play for every skill level. Recommended for ages 6+

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=336880&ca=Education

Paying For College With College Scholarships and Student Loans By Mark B. Allen

It is getting harder to pay for a college education these days, but it is by no means impossible. Getting college scholarships is still the best way to go, and there are plenty of them still around - even though money may be getting tighter. Here are some tips about how to get money to pay for your college education with college scholarships and student loans.

GET AS MANY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS AS YOU CAN

The best way to go to college is to go free. College scholarships can enable a student to go to college without cost - if there are enough of them. In order to get as many as is needed to go without cost, you will need to apply to as many scholarships as possible. Of course, you want to only apply for those college scholarships that you have a good possibility of actually winning.

Finding the right college scholarships to apply to will require some work - and possibly some imagination, too. There are college scholarships for just about everything you can think of these days - and possibly some that are almost out of reach of the imagination, too. You can find them for academics, sports, hobbies, uniqueness - like a special last name or for left-handers, etc., your locale, and some that are just plain weird - like the duct tape prom college scholarship.

In order for you to learn about what college scholarships are available, you will need to do some homework. This includes researching them online, in the library, letting scholarship groups help you (be careful of these - some are scams), talking to your school counselors, and more. You can also look at the Web sites of the colleges that you are interested in, and they will show you what college scholarships are available there.

LOOK FOR COMPANY SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS

Many companies also offer college scholarships, too. They do this because they want to have a qualified and trained pool of potential employees available when they need them. They usually look for exceptionally bright prospects that can bring much to the table if they should hire them.

Getting a college scholarship or an internship with a great company can lead to a great job right out of college. Sometimes, you may even be able to find your needed college scholarship simply by looking at the various companies you would dream of working for after you get your college degree. Look at their Web sites for more information.

APPLY FOR COLLEGE STUDENT LOANS

Because college scholarships may not cover your entire school bill, you may also need some college financing. Direct loans are available from the government, which will also give you the lowest interest rate possible on education loans.

Direct student loans, which includes the Stafford loans and the PLUS loans, accumulate no interest while you are in school (because the government pays for it while you are in college), or drop to less than half-time. You will not need to make any payments on the loan until you have been out of school for 6 months.

Graduate students and families of college students have access to PLUS loans for education and they also have the same terms as the Stafford loans – but a little higher interest rate. All government loans can be consolidated after graduation for easy payments.

GET STARTED EARLY

If you want to get the most out of college scholarships and student loans, then you will need to get started early. In fact, you should get started earlier than was necessary in previous years. With less money going around and with some college scholarships going on a first-come, first-served basis - you have no time to lose.

Finding the right college scholarships takes a considerable amount of time, and so does filling out scholarship applications and writing scholarship essays. In addition, in order to get a Direct loan, you will need to have filled out the FAFSA form, which is required for all government student loans.

FILL OUT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS CAREFULLY

College scholarship applications require that they be filled out accurately and carefully. A little carelessness (or haste) in answering a question or two could needlessly cost you a college scholarship. This could mean that you may need to take much longer to pay off a college loan - when you didn't have to.

Writing a quality college scholarship essay that will win a scholarship requires that you understand what the group offering it is looking for. Make yourself look like the person that they would like to represent and promote their company, college, etc., and you could walk away with the free college education you want. Be honest, though, in what you write - and you'll be glad you did.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=333595&ca=Education