I know, I know, you are taking a little time off for the holidays from your lesson plans, but home-schooling never really stops does it?  Here are a few of the new discoveries and happenings going on in our world that you can go through, just for the fun of it!

Read about a lost civilization at the bottom of a lake, in the middle of the Kyrgyz Mountains, located in Russia.  What is most interesting is a rumor of an old monastery located on an island in the middle of the lake, rumored to possess the relics of St. Matthew the Apostle. Read of this fascinating discovery:
Remains of Ancient Civilization Discovered on the Bottom of Lake

Two lesson plans in one in this next article.  Learn the history of Roti, an Egyption bread, that resembles a pita.  Once you have learned the history, it also includes a recipe so you can try this bread in your own home:
History of Roti

February 12, 2008, the State of Kentucky will start a two year birthday celebration in honor of Abraham Lincoln, it is the bicentennial party.  Learn how preparations are being made and what activities are being planned. It may be the perfect time to plan a few lessons on President Lincoln:
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace Readying for Festivities

At Cambridge University, historic penguin chalk drawings were found, belonging to Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton, famous Arctic Explorers, dating from about 1904 to 1909, probably from lectures they had done at the school.  Their history is quite fascinating, and I encourage further reading on their lives and journeys for your children:
Historic Penguin Sketches Found

Just what the world needs, poison dart frogs!  If you have a child that is nuts for frogs, this story is for you.  Two new species of poison dart frogs have been discovered in Columbia, the article also includes great pictures
Two New Species of Poison Dart Frogs Discovered in Columbia

Scientists are much closer to discovering why Marine mammals don't develop brain damage from low oxygen intake.  Brain Globins are behind it all, and may in the future help in aiding human brain aging problems:
Why Diving Marine Mammals Resist Brain Damage from Low Oxygen

Now that you are home-schooling your children, you think we are safe from bullies, but don't sit back yet, there is a "bully" black hole out there that is destoying everything in it's path. Earth has no problem though, since this menace is 1.4 billion light years away:
"Bully" Black Hole Blasts Nearby Galaxy

Here's a story that will get you to start planning for presents for next year's Christmas.  Pens made out of cow patties.  Just goes to show you what can be accomplished with hands-on activities:
Man uses Cow Patties in Unusual Pens

370 trillion miles from here, there may be a sun setting, and it's not ours. Learn right along with the scientists that have discovered this sunset and what they believe it all means:
Astronomers Spot Possible Sunset

Take a field trip around the world with a couple of bloggers who are sailing the world. Read about their adventures, and a few scary moments as they travel from Indonesia to Malaysia:
Lightening and Frozen Cows

Here is another Abraham Lincoln story.  A new photograph was found of the President recently, which is notable because there are only 125 known photographs of him now known.  Your student will find it fascinating, because in the dedication pictures, they are all on horses, yet you can make out a tall bearded man with a tall hat, amazing!:
President Lincoln discovered in 1863 photos

I hope you enjoyed this weeks discoveries, and you find a few good ideas for future lesson plans.