A visitor to Planet Homeschool during the open house on May 1, 2015 chats about why she's there. Interviewed by Solomon Midwinter. Video by Aurora J. Pass.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Major General Stanley and Judy O’Neill
by Malachi Johnson
PHS Press staff member
On a more personal note, unlike Major General Stanly, O’Neill has not
incorporated the Pythagorean theorem into her parenting style. Because “I don’t
think of the Pythagorean theorem and parenting as intertwined. The Pythagorean
theorem is really straightforward and clear-cut, where-as parenting has none of
those qualities,” she said.
PHS Press staff member
Math teachers. They help you solve problems that you
would never have without them.
Judy O’Neill was inspired to
teach by watching teachers and learning from them. O’Neill began her teaching career in 2008 at Planet Homeschool.
O’Neill started teaching at Planet Homeschool because one of her two daughters started attending. To
O’Neill, a typical day at Planet Homeschool is very busy with every thing being
set up. Never the less O’Neill very much enjoys teaching algebra and geometry.
Meet Tim Hereid
PHS Press staff member
This is an interview with Tim Hereid,
the physics teacher at PHS, for our teacher spotlight stories. Be sure to look
out for other stories on other teachers at PHS on the site!
When asked how he found out about PHS, he said that he had
just found out about it through internet research, eventually, he got an
interview, and the place just seemed like the perfect fit for him. The reason
he had wanted to teach at a place like PHS, he said, was that he had always
sought an environment where kids were self motivated, interested in learning,
and he just likes to teach. He said his initial interest was just a place that
had the kinds of science and electronics classes he wanted to teach, that his
first idea, the High Altitude balloon class, was a blast to teach, and that he
still sees some of those ex-students in his classes today.
High Altitude Class |
Q&A With Tim Hereid
Q: How long have you been teaching at PHS?
A: I believe I started in 2012, so about three years.
Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching at PHS?
A: Well, it’s a great community, a very strong community,
another great thing is that with homeschool kids, they’re just as comfortable
with adults as with kids their age, and that’s just great.
Q: So, you teach physics?
A: Yes, I generally teach middle school physics, which is
very project-based, you know, we build catapults and we’re going to build pendulums,
just as hands on as it can possibly get with physics. And then I’m teaching a
sign-language class, I taught an ethics class, the app class, geography,
biology, hoping to teach creative writing,
Q: How would you say PHS differs from other places you’ve
taught at?
A: Other than
what I’ve said already, it’s great because both the kids and the adults get a
chance to explore a workshop-like environment, the big difference I think is
just the love of learning, I mean the kids just really, really like to learn,
and it feels more like a collaborative work environment than it does a
classroom.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
BOOK REVIEW: The Kingdoms of Evil by Daniel Bensen
by Solomon Midwinter
PHS Press staff writer
The Kingdoms of Evil by Daniel Bensen was a joy to read. It was a surprise to learn it was his first book. I would recommend this book highly, but only to people 12 and up, because there are a few moments involving some colorful language, and some moments that may not be suitable for younger children.
I expected the book to be a comedy, and very little else. While certainly funny, the book actually also had some more serious moments, which was a nice surprise.
It is an imaginative series, set in a fictional universe that is in many ways not so different from our own. Freetrick Feend was a student at a college in the Rationalist Union. Then he was spirited off by a strange, anatomically improbable creature called Mr. Skree, and his betrothed, a strange and terrifying woman called Bloodbyrn. He was taken to be the god-king of the kingdoms of evil. This was an incredibly dysfunctional empire, composed of three kingdoms.
It had once been a serious threat and force in the world, but that time was centuries ago, and now it is a nation stuck in the middle ages, in an (albeit magical) world that is in the post industrial era.
Quite beyond that, government policies, or lack thereof, have ensured that unless something is done quickly, the entire empire will implode. That is if they don't starve to death first. And no one realizes how weak the military and decides to invade.
And on top of all of this, the Skrean (Skrea is one of the kingdoms of evil) magic system is entirely dependent on slaughtering massive numbers of monsters and/or people, as its magic system is necromancy.
As the name implies, these kingdoms relatively few human inhabitants are almost exclusively homicidal maniacs and sadists. More to the point, the standard procedure if you are unhappy with the current administration is to arrange the death of the current ruler. And as a sane and logical ruler, Freetrick had some deeply unpopular ideas.
This book is great, although somewhat hard to find. It was never actually traditionally published, but it can be found on Kindle unlimited, or just Kindle. It is also supposed to be the first book in a series, called the Covenant Nonsense. I have been unable to find the second book, but I am still looking. I am, however, thinking that it will come out soon if it does at all, as it was published as an Ebook four years ago. All in all, I would rate this book quite highly, and hope to find a sequel soon.
PHS Press staff writer
The Kingdoms of Evil by Daniel Bensen was a joy to read. It was a surprise to learn it was his first book. I would recommend this book highly, but only to people 12 and up, because there are a few moments involving some colorful language, and some moments that may not be suitable for younger children.
I expected the book to be a comedy, and very little else. While certainly funny, the book actually also had some more serious moments, which was a nice surprise.
It is an imaginative series, set in a fictional universe that is in many ways not so different from our own. Freetrick Feend was a student at a college in the Rationalist Union. Then he was spirited off by a strange, anatomically improbable creature called Mr. Skree, and his betrothed, a strange and terrifying woman called Bloodbyrn. He was taken to be the god-king of the kingdoms of evil. This was an incredibly dysfunctional empire, composed of three kingdoms.
It had once been a serious threat and force in the world, but that time was centuries ago, and now it is a nation stuck in the middle ages, in an (albeit magical) world that is in the post industrial era.
Quite beyond that, government policies, or lack thereof, have ensured that unless something is done quickly, the entire empire will implode. That is if they don't starve to death first. And no one realizes how weak the military and decides to invade.
And on top of all of this, the Skrean (Skrea is one of the kingdoms of evil) magic system is entirely dependent on slaughtering massive numbers of monsters and/or people, as its magic system is necromancy.
As the name implies, these kingdoms relatively few human inhabitants are almost exclusively homicidal maniacs and sadists. More to the point, the standard procedure if you are unhappy with the current administration is to arrange the death of the current ruler. And as a sane and logical ruler, Freetrick had some deeply unpopular ideas.
This book is great, although somewhat hard to find. It was never actually traditionally published, but it can be found on Kindle unlimited, or just Kindle. It is also supposed to be the first book in a series, called the Covenant Nonsense. I have been unable to find the second book, but I am still looking. I am, however, thinking that it will come out soon if it does at all, as it was published as an Ebook four years ago. All in all, I would rate this book quite highly, and hope to find a sequel soon.
Monday, May 4, 2015
Wait, what is a Propane-a-phone?
by Parker Lehman
PHS Press staff member
PHS Press staff member
Boiled in Lead |
Boiled in Lead is a Minneapolis
based band of an impossible to define genre. They kicked off on Saint Patrick’s
Day 1983 and 15 years later released a compilation titled “Alloy”.
The Band is made up of Marc
Anderson (drums and percussion), Dean Magraw (guitar) Todd
Menton (vocals, guitar, mandolin, bodhran, whistle) Drew Miller (bass
guitar, dulcimer) David Stenshoel (fiddle.)
Alloy kicks off with “Arpad's Guz,”
a fast paced song that mixes a strange cymbal sound with an unidentifiable
string instrument. The next track “House-Husband’s Lament” is rockabilly at its
finest.
They go on combining the surreal,
(“The Microorganism”) the silly, (“Rasputin”) and the serious (“The
Dreadnaught”). Boiled in Lead pulls from a collection of 16 instruments
including Electric guitar, Hurdy-gurdy, Propane-o-phone, and Zurna to craft a
wonderful sound where you never know what will come next. The bass player Drew
defines what exactly a Propane-a-phone is: “The propane-o-phone is some long
metal pipes that, when you heat the column of air inside with a propane torch,
it produces that special sound that only a propane-o-phone can.” They are used
on “The Microorganism.”
After 32 years Boiled in Lead is
still going strong. Check them out at http://www.boiledinlead.com/
or search YouTube for some of their music.
Friday, May 1, 2015
Soren Le’go’ Page
by Parker Lehman
PHS Press staff member
PHS Press staff member
Soren LePage of Woodbury |
Lego stop motion is a technique has
been around for years and is a favored medium for PHS’s very own Soren LePage,
15 years old from Woodbury MN.
The popularity of this medium
reached an all time high after The Lego Movie grossed $468,000,000 making it
the 13th highest grossing animation of all time. They used a mix of computer
generated and stop motion Lego animation.
In Lego stop motion a scene is set up then the Lego figures
are moved in incredibly small increments taking a picture each time. About 4
years ago as LePage was watching Forrestfire101, a well known Lego animator,
and decided to try his hand at animation. He set up his Legos and prepared to
take thousands of photos. When asked why he enjoyed it he responded, “Because I
play God.”
POLL: The better of the two
Malachi Johnson
PHS Press staff member
The people of Planet Homeschool have taken their votes of
which one is better.
Indiana Jones
or
Indiana Jones got 6 votes
Star Wars got 17.
Star Wars is the clear victor with a whopping 17 points.
Thursday, April 30, 2015
VIDEO: Cooking with Sam & Frodo
Sam: Ethan Lehman
Frodo: Joe Schatz
Golom/Smeagol: Solomon Midwinter
Narrator: Willow Skidmore
Filmed by: Aurora J. Pass
Ad guy: Riley Adesheim Marshal
Frodo: Joe Schatz
Golom/Smeagol: Solomon Midwinter
Narrator: Willow Skidmore
Filmed by: Aurora J. Pass
Ad guy: Riley Adesheim Marshal
Inspired by the The Lord of the Rings as Literature taught by Elise Duval Werger
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Worm Warfare is Winning
by Bridger Berg
PHS Press staff member
Hey! This a review of a group of games, a group of STRANGE
and very fun games, known as the “Worms Games.” The versions of the games
include Worms Reloaded, Worms Clan Wars, and Worms Revolution.
The story of these games, if you could call it that, is of a
group of worms that for some reason have extremely advanced technology and
weapons, and wage warfare on other equally advanced worms. 9/10 Rating for
creativity!
Anyway, these worms fight in many different landscapes and
scenarios, such as forts, where the worms have to destroy each other’s fortress
to win, deathmatch, where the goal is to eliminate all the enemy worms, and a
lot of other variations of those two types.
The game is multiplayer, turn based, and viewed from the
side. The first player does their turn, one worm from their team of four worms
being selected to fight that turn, then using special items they either start
out with or collect, such as the Holy Hand Grenade, the Explosive Sheep, and
the Water gun to try to eliminate their opponents before their time for their
turn runs out. (As you may have guessed by now, this game doesn’t really take
itself very seriously.)
After that, the
next player goes, doing the same thing. This continues until the map is
thoroughly destroyed and the last team with at least one worm still alive on
their team wins.
Example turn: It’s GeneralSlimy122’s turn first. His “Scout”
class worm, Tiny, is selected for him to play that turn. He crawls Tiny over to
WormyOverlord101’s “Heavy” class worm, Bob. Selecting Tiny’s Baseball bat
weapon, he hits Bob, who was near the edge of the map, off the side and into
the water below, eliminating him.
It’s now
WormyOverlord101’s turn. His “Soldier” class worm, Harry, is standing next to
his “Scientist” class worm, Moe, who is selected that turn, so his scientist
heals both Harry and himself with the scientist unique skill.
Then selecting a jetpack for Moe and flying him over close
to Tiny, WormyOverlord selects the Explosive Sheep. Clicking the mouse once
activates the Sheep, which begins running over to Tiny. A second click blows up
the Sheep, heavily damaging Tiny.
There can be up to four players in a map, which would total
sixteen worms! Talk about chaos! There is also a single player option, so that
those that are either offline or are just getting started and need to learn a
bit can still play.
Worms are also
customizable, so you can give them different voices, hats, glasses, names, and
so on. If you have the game through the massive game site, Steam, you can also
download custom maps and other content from the Steam workshop, a place for
people to share their creations.
I would recommend this for: Someone looking for a light and
silly but still very fun game, since these games are very different from any
others. They are also perfect for a bored Minecraft player or whatever. (No
offense to Minecraft.) So if you think it sounds right for you, go and try one
of the many editions of these games!
VIDEO: Ellen Crain discusses ins and outs of Planet Homeschool
Ellen Crain sat down the PHS Press reporters Soren LePage and Tyler Skidmore to talk about upcoming classes being offered, why she homeschools and what sets Planet Homeschool apart.
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Gerald Benford: Minnesota Swordplay
by
Tyler Skidmore
PHS Press staff member
Gerald
Benford, a man of 50, teaches fencing at a homeschool co-op named Planet Homeschool.
He has been Fencing since the 1980’s, in highschool and then college.
Benford’s
Grandmother sponsored Maria, who was trained in Cuba to Fence. Maria is known
as "The Mad Cuban." She and Benford started dating and Maria taught
him how to Fence. They got married in the 1990’s.
“ Fencing is one of
those few sports where you actually compete one on one. You are testing your
skills against another opponent in mock battle. Its more of an art than a self defensive sport. I like it
because you develop long lasting relationships [ / ] friendships by the sword,
“ said
Benford.
He encouraged Maria to start a Fencing
business, and they eventually started Minnesota Swordplay in 2000. Minnesota
Swordplay has locations all over Minnesota and Wisconsin.
They plan
on opening a U.S.F.A ( U.S. Fencing Association ) club in Minnetonka. The
website is minnesotaswordplay.com.
They were
referred to teach at Planet Homeschool as a Fencing instructor.
Benford’s
favorite book is the Bible, and his favorite pastime is ministry. Benford
majored in business in college.
They have
been in Fencing matches on TV and overseas, and plan on traveling all over
Europe this summer for fun.
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Monday, April 27, 2015
Poll: What's your favorite book series?
Friday, April 24, 2015
PHOTOS: Formal Day 2015 at PHS
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Thursday, April 23, 2015
POLL: How long have people been homeschooled?
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Sunday, April 19, 2015
Friday, April 10, 2015
The Hobbies of Tyler Skidmore
by Solomon Midwinter
PHS press staff member
Tyler Skidmore, age 15, of St. Paul has a few hobbies, and is a student at PHS. When asked what they were, he said “ I like to draw detailed robots, abstract shapes, and patterns, and I like to build intricate lego models.”
He enjoys both hobbies about the same. He said, “I enjoy expressing myself through each drawing and model, combining feelings that I am having at that moment with different elements of the model or drawing.” He has both drawn and made Lego creations for about twelve years.
According to Skidmore, he builds with Legos because he is bored, and when asked when, he replied, “I do both pretty much every day.” He builds the massive Lego constructs in his room. He will draw just about anywhere there is pen and paper. And as for how, in Skidmore's own words, he uses the Legos “by putting bricks together.”
When asked what his favorite model is, he said “My favorite model is a turret crab which I keep on a shelf to look at (every once in awhile adding to it).” He may have some drawings in an upcoming issue of the PHS Press.
PHS press staff member
Tyler Skidmore |
He enjoys both hobbies about the same. He said, “I enjoy expressing myself through each drawing and model, combining feelings that I am having at that moment with different elements of the model or drawing.” He has both drawn and made Lego creations for about twelve years.
According to Skidmore, he builds with Legos because he is bored, and when asked when, he replied, “I do both pretty much every day.” He builds the massive Lego constructs in his room. He will draw just about anywhere there is pen and paper. And as for how, in Skidmore's own words, he uses the Legos “by putting bricks together.”
When asked what his favorite model is, he said “My favorite model is a turret crab which I keep on a shelf to look at (every once in awhile adding to it).” He may have some drawings in an upcoming issue of the PHS Press.
A robot that Tyler Skidmore drew. |
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Solomon: a Writer
by Tyler Skidmore
PHS Press staff member
PHS Press staff member
Solomon Midwinter, 13, enjoys reading and writing
fantasy in his free-time. Fantasy is a genre of writing that is about
supernatural creatures.
“I like fantasy
because it is very creative, and fun to read. It allows us to imagine how the
world could be different, and then share our favorites with others,” said Midwinter.
Solomon was introduced to fantasy by
reading books, and eventually decided to write his own fantasy. He has been
writing fantasy since he was 11, when he wrote part of a novel for NaNoWriMo.
NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month,
happens every November for youth and adults. The goal is to write a novel in 30
days.
Midwinter does not share his stories very
frequently, unless it is with a family member for some feedback. Usually his
stories are around 10-20 pages in length.
Midwinter is inspired by Brandon Mull, Rick
Riordan, George R.R. Martin, and J.R.R. Tolkien.
Solomon has not gotten published yet, but
he hopes to someday.
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Monday, April 6, 2015
Home school kids learning to use computer modeling
by Solomon Midwinter
PHS Press staff member
Kim Chase-Kozak is a teacher at PHS, and has a class on a modeling program called Blender.
Blender is a free modeling program, which can be used for many purposes, and can create animations as well as models and images. As Chase-Kozak said, “Blender is computer software used to create 3d models or drawings. It can also be used to create animations or games. It can also work with other programming engines.”
The process that is used to create a model is more or less as follows. First, you draw or download a picture of what you want to model. Then you use extrude commands to model over the picture. Then you can use textures and materials to make it the right color and texture.
When asked what the most interesting thing anyone in her class has done yet, she replied that one of the students has sent her an animated character over email, which was especially neat because they have not yet covered animations.
What they have most recently done in class was talk about different kinds of light. Before that, they were mostly working on the basics, such as the extrude command, getting the modeling pictures into files, and the blade tool. Camera placement, texture and animation are more advanced skills covered in the class.
Chase-Kozak has had some previous experience with teaching. In college, she was a undergraduate TA, and has a degree in math and computer science from the U of M.
She has been leading and teaching kid related things since her kids were school age. She has also learned quite a bit teaching this class. This is her first time teaching a class at PHS, and she would be glad of an opportunity to teach at PHS again.
When asked what her favorite thing about teaching is, she said, “I love it when students start running with their new skills and start creating and trying things I haven't done.”
PHS Press staff member
Kim Chase-Kozak |
Blender is a free modeling program, which can be used for many purposes, and can create animations as well as models and images. As Chase-Kozak said, “Blender is computer software used to create 3d models or drawings. It can also be used to create animations or games. It can also work with other programming engines.”
The process that is used to create a model is more or less as follows. First, you draw or download a picture of what you want to model. Then you use extrude commands to model over the picture. Then you can use textures and materials to make it the right color and texture.
When asked what the most interesting thing anyone in her class has done yet, she replied that one of the students has sent her an animated character over email, which was especially neat because they have not yet covered animations.
A model done by Chase-Kozak |
Chase-Kozak has had some previous experience with teaching. In college, she was a undergraduate TA, and has a degree in math and computer science from the U of M.
She has been leading and teaching kid related things since her kids were school age. She has also learned quite a bit teaching this class. This is her first time teaching a class at PHS, and she would be glad of an opportunity to teach at PHS again.
When asked what her favorite thing about teaching is, she said, “I love it when students start running with their new skills and start creating and trying things I haven't done.”
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Friday, March 20, 2015
COLUMN: Team Yarn, Hats for cancer patients!
by
Aurora J. Pass
PHS
Press staff Member
Team Yarn –
Head Huggers helps cancer patients. It’s an organization that makes hats,
scarves, shawls, blanket, and so on for cancer patients, and you can help us by
donating in the Team Yarn drop box at PHS. Team Yarn’s website is: http://teamyarn.blogspot.com/, and the
Facebook page is: Team Yarn - Head Huggers.
Team Yarn
was founded by Amy Pass, my mom, because her mom, my grandma Cheryl Slater,
died of cancer. We wanted to do something to help.
“Starting Team Yarn gave me something
productive to do when I was grieving after my mom died from cancer,” said Amy.
We started Team Yarn because the hospital that my Grandma was at gave her hats,
and we wanted to help.
The co
founder of Team Yarn is Tesha M. Christensen Pettit, teacher of the Newspaper
Writing Class at PHS. Team Yarn just celebrated its second birthday at the
January 2015 meeting. Meetings are every third Sunday of every month at
Silverwood Park in New Brighton
from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.
The meetings are a time for people to
get together, knit, crochet, and drop off finished projects to donate to
hospitals. Stop by if you want. We always love new members of our group.
We try to
donate to hospitals once a month. Every time they are always happy to get new
items to give away. It makes everyone happy to know people care so much.
There is a
Team Yarn drop box at the table when you walk in the door at Planet Homeschool.
So, whoever wants to donate can. If you do donate please pin your name to the
hat so whoever gets that item can know who made it. I will be taking your items
home at the end of the day. You
don’t have to know how to knit or crochet. You can donate items you made or
yarn.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
A book review on 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline
by Solomon Midwinter
PHS Press staff member
Ready Player One is a truly great book, if you don't mind something that can be depressing at points. It takes place in a dystopian, post apocalyptic world, where there was an Eco disaster that greatly damaged human civilization. All the oil and coal has more or less run out.
The protagonist is a boy called Wade Watts, and his story up until the point where the book starts is not very happy. He never knew his father, and his mother died when he was pretty young, so his aunt took him in, not out of any sense of kindness or family duty, but simply because she could use him to get extra food vouchers. She doesn't even feed him or anything. So, up until the point where the story starts, Wade has been just barely getting by.
A lot of the story, however, doesn't take place in the real world at all. Instead, more than half of the book takes place inside a virtual reality called the OASIS, the biggest, most spectacular, hugely unbelievable video game ever created.
And it's not just Wade. Most of humanity spends most of their time inside the OASIS. It is, to them, simply a better place than the real world. While this is pretty sad, it also reflects just how broken the world is at the time when the book takes place.
But there wouldn't be much of a story if it weren't for James Halliday, the creator and owner of the OASIS, who died and left one most interesting will behind.
He turned his last will and testament into the biggest video game contest ever. He did this by hiding an Easter egg inside the OASIS, and explaining simply in his will that his entire estate would go to the first person to find it.
And it turns out that there is an elaborately hidden Easter egg in both the hardcover and paperback (and hopefully kindle) editions of the book, the first clue in a series of video game tests that is somewhat like that in the book. The prize was a 1981 DeLorean. I know Craig Queen won but even so, I'm going to do it, just to see if I could have won.
Ready player one is filled with many great things. There are great moments, some hilarious, some heartbreaking, and some that are just awesome.
So, it has been five years since Halliday's death, and the scene is set. This book can be hilarious, and is filled with strong characters, all set against an epic backdrop. This is a book that I highly recommend.
PHS Press staff member
Ready Player One is a truly great book, if you don't mind something that can be depressing at points. It takes place in a dystopian, post apocalyptic world, where there was an Eco disaster that greatly damaged human civilization. All the oil and coal has more or less run out.
The protagonist is a boy called Wade Watts, and his story up until the point where the book starts is not very happy. He never knew his father, and his mother died when he was pretty young, so his aunt took him in, not out of any sense of kindness or family duty, but simply because she could use him to get extra food vouchers. She doesn't even feed him or anything. So, up until the point where the story starts, Wade has been just barely getting by.
A lot of the story, however, doesn't take place in the real world at all. Instead, more than half of the book takes place inside a virtual reality called the OASIS, the biggest, most spectacular, hugely unbelievable video game ever created.
And it's not just Wade. Most of humanity spends most of their time inside the OASIS. It is, to them, simply a better place than the real world. While this is pretty sad, it also reflects just how broken the world is at the time when the book takes place.
But there wouldn't be much of a story if it weren't for James Halliday, the creator and owner of the OASIS, who died and left one most interesting will behind.
He turned his last will and testament into the biggest video game contest ever. He did this by hiding an Easter egg inside the OASIS, and explaining simply in his will that his entire estate would go to the first person to find it.
And it turns out that there is an elaborately hidden Easter egg in both the hardcover and paperback (and hopefully kindle) editions of the book, the first clue in a series of video game tests that is somewhat like that in the book. The prize was a 1981 DeLorean. I know Craig Queen won but even so, I'm going to do it, just to see if I could have won.
Ready player one is filled with many great things. There are great moments, some hilarious, some heartbreaking, and some that are just awesome.
So, it has been five years since Halliday's death, and the scene is set. This book can be hilarious, and is filled with strong characters, all set against an epic backdrop. This is a book that I highly recommend.
Friday, March 13, 2015
LARPing the day away
by Bridger Berg
PHS Press staff member
Aurora J. Pass as a wood elf |
Aurora Pass, 12, a PHS student living in Minneapolis, enjoys
Live Action Role Play (LARP) with friends after PHS classes.
As Pass said, LARPing is a fun way of acting out a certain
character in a storyline, and imagining that the things they do are real.
Asked why she likes to do this, she answered: “It’s really
fun and [is also] fun to base games on books, mostly fantasy and some Sci fi.”
However, according to Pass, when they base something on literature, they do not
just act out the book, it’s more like they make their own story out of the
premise of the original.
Asked what she likes to do most in the games she said:
“Well, I’m best at dying actually.”
Lego role playing because it is fun
by Aurora J. Pass
PHS Press staff member
Bridger Berg age 12, PHS Press
staff member, lives in St. Paul, and his hobby is making up Lego games,
characters, and fortresses for Lego role playing.
He plays with friends at his home,
in St. Paul, on earth, on the Orion arm, in the Milky Way galaxy. Berg does
this because he says it’s fun.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Meet PHS Guitar Instructor Joe Filipovich
Get to know Planet Homeschool guitar instructor Joe Filipovich (jfmusiclessons.com). Video and interview by Parker Lehman and Malachi Johnson.
Joe is a guitar teacher who offers lessons at PHS. He has
almost thirty years of guitar experience and has been teaching for five years.
You can contact him at http://www.jfmusiclessons.com
or through the PHS website.
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Joe Filipovich,
Malachi Johnson,
Parker Lehman
What's your favorite book series?
Cast your vote in our poll! Find the poll in our right sidebar.
What do you think the results will be?
What do you think the results will be?
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
They made screaming mandrakes in Harry Potter class
At PHS, there are many classes, of all types. There are the ones that you might find in a normal school, like classes on math and history, and then there are the more interesting ones, the ones that are hard to find elsewhere. These include things such as Lord of the Rings as literature, or the Harry Potter crafts and gizmos class.
Here are a few video interviews with some members of the Harry Potter class, and its instructor, Michelle Lehman.
Interviewer: Solomon Midwinter
Filmed and edited by Aurora J. Pass
Labels:
2014-15,
Aurora J. Pass,
classes,
Harry Potter,
instructors,
Michelle Lehman,
Solomon Midwinter
Monday, March 9, 2015
VIDEO: Good Morning Middle Earth #3 - News from Isengard
News Reporter: Willow Skidmore
King Theodin: Ethan Lehman
Script written by: Aurora Pass
Videographer: Solomon Midwinter
Inspired by the The Lord of the Rings as Literature taught by Elise Duval Werger
at Planet Homeschool
Friday, March 6, 2015
Amity Neubauer: the next Angelina Jolie
by
Malachi
Johnson
PHS Press
staff member
Amity Neubauer
at the age of 11 lives in Apple Valley, MN.
Neubauer’s
favorite thing to do is act. She
is a seasoned actress with many productions in her portfolio such as ‘Sleeping
Beauty’. She loves spending time
acting out stories on the stage.
Neubauer divulged that watching people on T.V. got her into acting. She also admitted that she thought
playing as different people would be “cool and fun”… Does she still feel this
way? She wouldn’t say…
When asked
who she likes to act as most she answered with shifty eyes “PEOPLE”. But when
asked how she likes to act she responded “AS HUMANS “. Neubauer is working on her next
production as a mere mortal. You
will not want to forget the soon to be famous name of Amity Neubauer...
WATCH OUT
HOLLYWOOD.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
VIDEO POLL: Why do you come to PHS?
PHS Press reporters Amity Neubauer, Bridger Berg and Malachi Johnson
question fellow Planet Homeschool students about why they come to PHS
each Friday.
Labels:
Amity Neubauer,
Bridger Berg,
Malachi Johnson,
poll,
Video
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Don’t Get Breakdanced!
by Bridger Berg
PHS Press staff member
Interested? Was it the headline? Well, today the review is
of a game that is a spinoff. A spinoff, I think, that is better than the
original.
Brawlhalla is a game in closed beta released by Blue Mammoth
games, and is an authorized spinoff of the Super Smash Bros game. There are
many differences between the two, the foremost being that Brawlhalla is played
on a PC, which makes a difference in how the game is played (Keyboard rather
than Controller), and might be a turnoff for some people, but don’t give it up!
And without further yakking, let yourself be welcomed to…BRAWLHALLA!
The game is a Player VS Player focused game viewed from the
side, with up to four players controlling a different character each and
attempting to defeat the other players by knocking them off the side, bottom,
or even top of the arena they fight in. How? Different clicks and key combos
activate different attack skills, such as light attack, heavy attack, and
breakdance attack.
Also, items such as the bouncy bomb, spiked ball, and land
mine drop from the sky, which players can throw at each other to cause general
mayhem. Each time players are hit, they take damage, the more damage has been
dealt to a player, the more knockback they take, making it easier for opponents
to knock them off the edge of the arena.
The characters: There are quite a few, with new ones always
coming, but they include Vraxx the alien warlord, Scarlet the steampunk airship
captain, and Gnash the caveman. They all have different combos of damage,
speed, attack speed, armor, and different weapon combos.
Weapons?! Well, occasionally, an item drops from the sky,
and when players pick it up, they gain one of their two weapons. Scarlet, for
instance, has a Hammer and a Lance. These weapons are more powerful than basic
hand attacks, and all characters have different weapon sets and types of weapon
attacks.
Overall, Brawlhalla is a fast paced, fun, and cool game,
which I would recommend to, really, anyone! …Just don’t get breakdanced.
Seriously, its nasty. (Activate with heavy attack+down key)
VIDEO: Good Morning Middle Earth #2
• News Reporter: Ethan Lehman
• Mr. Goblin: Nadia Sullivan-Nightengale
• Filmed by: Aurora Pass
• Script by: Willow Skidmore
• Inspired by the The Lord of the Rings as Literature taught by Elise Duval Werger at Planet Homeschool in Minneapolis
Friday, February 6, 2015
VIDEO: Good Morning Middle Earth #1
News Reporter: Emily Weinlick
Mr. Butterburr: Riley Adesheim Marshal
Script written by: Aurora Pass
Videographer: Ethan Lehman
Inspired by the The Lord of the Rings as Literature taught by Elise Duval Werger
Thursday, January 29, 2015
PHOTOS: Pajama Day 2015
Photos by Malachi Johnson
PHS Press Staff
Photos from Pajama Day on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015 at Planet Homeschool.
PHS Press Staff
Photos from Pajama Day on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015 at Planet Homeschool.
Friday, January 23, 2015
All smile now
The spring 2015 staff of the PHS Press includes (back row, left to right): Parker Lehman, Soren LePage, Solomon Midwinter and Tyler Skidmore. Front row: Aurora Pass, Amity Neubauer, Bridger Berg and Malachi Johnson. (Photo by Tesha M. Christensen Pettit)
Meet PHS Press staff: Amity Neubauer
Amity Neubauer (by Soren LePage) |
by Aurora J. Pass
PHS Press staff member
Amity Neubauer is 11 years old and lives in Apple Valley.
She likes to listen to the song Skinny Love by Birdy. Her favorite books are
The Naturals and Percy Jackson. Amity likes to read Lego Magazine, and she likes
to go rock climbing. She likes it that there are nice people at PHS, and she
joined The Newspaper Writing Class because she thought it would be fun. Amity
also likes to write short stories.
Labels:
2014-15,
Amity Neubauer,
Aurora J. Pass,
Soren LePage,
Staff
Meet PHS Press staff: Tyler Skidmore
by Parker Lehman
PHS Press Staff
PHS Press Staff
Tyler Skidmore (Photo by Soren LePage) |
Tyler Skidmore
Age:15
Home town: Spokane, Washington
Favorite book: “I don’t like books.”
Song of the week: This is The Time-Nothing More
Favorite magazine: GQ
Favorite activity: Drawing stuff
What do you like most about PHS: All the peeps.
Why Did You Join PHS Press
Staff: Because I liked it better then the other classes.
What do you like to write: Books.
Labels:
2014-15,
Parker Lehman,
Soren LePage,
Staff,
Tyler Skidmore
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Meet PHS Press staff: Soren LePage
by Bridger Berg
PHS Press staff member
Soren LePage
Age: 15
City/Town: Woodbury
Song of the week: Everything but pop
Favorite Book: Yes.
Favorite Magazine:Yes.
Favorite Thing To Do: Live
What Do You Like Most About PHS: Yes.
Why Did You Join PHS Press Staff: “I don't like to read.”
Favorite Thing To Write: Storyboards
PS: Yes=N/A
PHS Press staff member
Soren LePage
Age: 15
City/Town: Woodbury
Song of the week: Everything but pop
Favorite Book: Yes.
Favorite Magazine:Yes.
Favorite Thing To Do: Live
What Do You Like Most About PHS: Yes.
Why Did You Join PHS Press Staff: “I don't like to read.”
Favorite Thing To Write: Storyboards
PS: Yes=N/A
Friday, January 16, 2015
Meet PHS Press staff: Solomon Midwinter
Solomon Midwinter (Photo by Soren LePage) |
PHS Press staff member
Solomon Blue Midwinter
Age/Grade: 13/ 7th grade
City/Town: West Saint Paul
Song of the week: EYE OF THE TIGER
Favorite Book: Ready Player One
Favorite Magazine: Make Magazine
Favorite Thing To Do: Gaming Writing
What Do You Like Most About PHS: All
Why Did You Join PHS Press Staff: Sounded Fun
Favorite Thing To Write: Fantasy
Labels:
2014-15,
Malachi Johnson,
Solomon Midwinter,
Soren LePage,
Staff
Meet PHS Press staff: Malachi Johnson
Malachi Johnson (Photo by Soren LePage) |
PHS Staff member
Malachi Johnson
Age: 13, 7th grade
City/Town: Plymouth
Favorite Book: Beyonders
Favorite Magazine: Lego magazine
Favorite Thing To Do: free running
What Do You Like Most About PHS: taking pictures
Why Did You Join PHS Press Staff: his mother though he would like it.
Favorite Thing To Write: not much
Labels:
2014-15,
Malachi Johnson,
Solomon Midwinter,
Soren LePage,
Staff
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