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Who came up with the College football ranking system?

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The most visible evidence of how dry the 1930s became was the dust storm. Tons of topsoil were blown off barren fields and carried in storm clouds for hundreds of miles. Technically, the driest region of the Plains – southeastern Colorado, southwest Kansas and the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas – became known as the Dust Bowl, and many dust storms started there. But the entire region, and eventually the entire country, was affected.

The Dust Bowl got its name after Black Sunday, April 14, 1935. More and more dust storms had been blowing up in the years leading up to that day. In 1932, 14 dust storms were recorded on the Plains. In 1933, there were 38 storms. By 1934, it was estimated that 100 million acres of farmland had lost all or most of the topsoil to the winds. By April 1935, there had been weeks of dust storms, but the cloud that appeared on the horizon that Sunday was the worst. Winds were clocked at 60 mph. Then it hit.

"The impact is like a shovelful of fine sand flung against the face," Avis D. Carlson wrote in a New Republic article. "People caught in their own yards grope for the doorstep. Cars come to a standstill, for no light in the world can penetrate that swirling murk... We live with the dust, eat it, sleep with it, watch it strip us of possessions and the hope of possessions. It is becoming Real."

The day after Black Sunday, an Associated Press reporter used the term "Dust Bowl" for the first time. "Three little words achingly familiar on the Western farmer's tongue, rule life in the dust bowl of the continent – if it rains." The term stuck and was used by radio reporters and writers, in private letters and public speeches.

In the central and northern plains, dust was everywhere.

The impact of the Dust Bowl was felt all over the U.S. During the same April as Black Sunday, 1935, one of FDR's advisors, Hugh Hammond Bennett, was in Washington D.C. on his way to testify before Congress about the need for soil conservation legislation. A dust storm arrived in Washington all the way from the Great Plains. As a dusty gloom spread over the nation's capital and blotted out the sun, Bennett explained, "This, gentlemen, is what I have been talking about." Congress passed the Soil Conservation Act that same year.

Written by Bill Ganzel of the Ganzel Group. First written and published in 2003.

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The most visible evidence of how dry the 1930s became was the dust storm. Tons of topsoil were blown off barren fields and carried in storm clouds for hundreds of miles. Technically, the driest region of the Plains - southeastern Colorado, southwest Kansas and the panhandles of Oklahoma and Texas - became known as the Dust Bowl, and many dust storms started there.

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How wide is the gap between public and private schools?

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Do cats have a body language to share their feelings?

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I researched about PTSD

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How are icicles formed?

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Someone had a good idea of if oysters are healthy for you.

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Someone had a good idea of if oysters are healthy for you.

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We researched anxiety. Ways to help students cope with anxiety include reading, art, positive thinking, exercise.

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Why are teacup yorkies very rare?

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Rocks and Minerals

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I learned some great info. aout volcanoes (temps of lava, locations).

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I learned some great info. aout volcanoes (temps of lava, locations).

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What happens to the lava when the volcano erupts and also the best way to practice CDC guides in a classroom

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I researched the benefits of weight training vs. aerobic exercise.

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Dust Bowl
I found people telling about their experiences of living through .  I learned that many times the dust looked red as it blew

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The purpose of germs.

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Do you remember the last time you and your friends had a great discussion? I'll bet you didn't take turns around the table with each person speaking for 30 seconds or a minute! Instead, it was probably a lively conversation with everyone listening to each other and responding to everyone's ideas. Although you didn't speak for the same amount of time, everyone was involved and participated actively. If group members disagreed with each other, they were polite and supported their own views with facts and relevant details. Everyone was energized by the discussion and came away with some new perspectives.

Now think about what happens in team discussions at school. One student dominates the discussion while others are too shy to share their own views. To prevent this from happening, we ask them to take turns around the team ... but those discussions don't feel like real conversations. It's obvious that team members aren't really listening to each other because they don't link their ideas to what anyone else has said. Instead, it's almost as if they're simply waiting for their turn to talk. Because most kids don't know how to disagree politely, either they all agree with each other or when they do disagree, someone's feelings are sure to be hurt. Watching these "discussions" is almost painful!

Teaching Kids to Link Ideas

As you know from your own discussions, a great conversationalist is someone who really listens to others and who demonstrates this by linking his or her ideas to those of others in the group. This skill is so important that it's stated in the Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards for collaborative discussion at almost every grade level.

But how do we teach that skill? One way to follow these steps:

1. Name the person who shared the idea to which you are connecting.

2. Mention a key idea, fact, or opinion the other person shared.

3. Clearly state your own question, opinion, or idea.

For example, "Julie, I can see why you might say that Cindy is outgoing, but I thought she was shy because ...." or "Tom, I agree with you about ________, and another detail that supports your point is..."

Introducing the Strategies

When you begin teaching students to have real discussions in which they link their ideas to others, it's best to start with baby steps. Introduce the concept in a whole group setting by posing a question and asking volunteers to come forward and link arms to show how they are connecting their ideas to others. Model the three parts of a linked response described above.

Next, students can create paper chain links to model how speakers often have multiple discussion threads going at the same time. Finally, you can introduce older students to team "discussion webs" where their ideas are interconnected in complex ways.

Strategies for Teaching Discussion Connections

You can learn more strategies for teaching discussion connection skills by watching this short video clip from one of my webinars.

Be sure to check out my Discussion Connections resource on TpT, too. It's a step-by-step guide for introducing discussion skills to your students. You'll find all the directions and printables needed, including discussion prompts to help students link their ideas. The pages below let you peek inside, or you can click here to preview a PDF of the entire product.

There's nothing wrong with having students take turns sharing ideas around the table, especially when they first work in cooperative learning teams. It's a great place to start! The problem comes in when we don't take our students to the next level and teach them how to have REAL discussions.

In order to have meaningful interactions in cooperative learning teams, literature circles, and even in the lunchroom, kids need to understand that discussion involves LISTENING as well as talking. When we take time to connect our ideas, we show that we are listening to others and considering their viewpoints, rather than waiting for our turn to talk. Taking time to teach discussion strategies at the beginning of the year will reap dividends later, and those benefits will reach far beyond the classroom!

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Teaching Kids How to Have REAL Discussions

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Do you remember the last time you and your friends had a great discussion? I'll bet you didn't take turns around the table with each person speaking for 30 seconds or a minute! Instead, it was probably a lively conversation with everyone listening to each other and responding to everyone's ideas.

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Our group researched Restless Leg Syndrome.

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How did T.J. Maxx orginate?

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Knee Pain and Runners

Overuse and repetitive flexion and extension of leg muscles (as in running) can cause tightness in the IT band which is the connective tissue that runs on the outside of the leg from hip to knee. When the IT band becomes tight from overuse and/or improper stretching, it can scrub against the outside of the knee. Consistent stretching of the IT band can relieve the friction against the outside of the knee cap.

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Yes, they are full of vitamins!

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What happens to the lava after a volcano errupts?

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Is a nickel coin made of nickel? yes, but not enough to be magnetic

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Is a nickel coin made of nickel? yes, but not enough to be magnetic

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What Images can I use for counseling?

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How to work with pictures in counselling - with Georgia

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We researched bill of rights/ Is 2nd amendment a human right?

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How do I stop my toddler from throwing?

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Throwing things is a new and enjoyable skill for many children this age. It takes fine motor skills to open the fingers and let go of an object and considerable hand-eye coordination to actually throw it. No wonder she wants to practice this exciting skill once she's mastered it! What happens next is endlessly educational, too: Your toddler discovers that whatever she throws falls down - never up. She can't say "gravity," of course, but she can certainly observe its effects. If she throws a ball, it bounces; if she tosses an apple, it goes splat; and if her dinner gets the heave-ho, you probably go ballistic. Of course, it's maddening when spaghetti winds up all over your just-mopped kitchen floor or a clean pacifier lands on a dirty sidewalk. But rather than trying to stop your toddler's throwing (a futile effort anyway), concentrate instead on limiting what she throws and where she throws it.

When she's in her stroller or car seat, try attaching a few playthings within easy reach (using short strings that can't get wrapped around her neck). She'll quickly discover that in addition to throwing the objects, she can fish them back again. Double the fun for her, half the work for you.

At mealtime, try using a special toddler dish with plastic "suckers" that fasten to the table or highchair tray. Keep in mind, though, that while these work well enough that a casual grab won't send her dish scuttling across the floor, they won't stop a small person who's amazed to find her dish "stuck" and is determined to pry it off! This is a messy eating stage, but you can often avoid the worst of it by sitting down with your child while she eats. That way, you're right there to gently but firmly tell her "no" when she makes a move to toss her lunch and to hold her plate down with your hand if need be.

It may also help to serve tiny portions of finger foods directly on her highchair tray or a paper towel and to hold off on dishing up more until she's eaten what's there. Keep in mind, too, that most kids don't start throwing their food until they've finished eating and have grown bored. So take your toddler's food-flinging as a sign that she's finished her meal, and lift her down from the table. If a bit of food does escape her hands, either by accident or on purpose, try to keep some perspective about it: After all, a dropped slice of bread or a pinch of grated cheese on the floor may be annoying, but they're not worth getting upset about.

When your toddler's playing, on the other hand, there are things you'll want to stop her from throwing: sand from the sandbox, for instance, or blocks at the baby. But she'll accept these limits more easily and learn to police herself more quickly if there are lots of things that she is allowed - and even encouraged - to throw. Balls are an obvious choice, and you may want to stock up on a few foam "indoor balls." But actual throwing games (like tossing beanbags in a basket or skipping stones on a pond) are even more fun for a toddler, especially if you play with her. The message you need to convey is that throwing things is a fine as long as she throws the right things in the right place at the right time. This lesson will carry over to many of the other physical skills she's mastering, too: There's nothing wrong with kicking a soccer ball in the park, for instance - but kicking a playmate won't be looked upon too kindly!

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How do I stop my toddler from throwing things? | BabyCenter

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Throwing things is a new and enjoyable skill for many children this age. It takes fine motor skills to open the fingers and let go of an object and considerable hand-eye coordination to actually throw it. No wonder she wants to practice this exciting skill once she's mastered it!

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We researched anxiety. I learned that it can manifest in many different ways in children.

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We researched anxiety. I learned that it can manifest in many different ways in children.

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I researched 2021 Covid guidelines at Disney World

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What happens to Lava after a volcano errupts?

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What happens to Lava after a volcano errupts?

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It forms igneous rock once it is cooled

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Seashells are made when mantle tissue absorbs salt and chemicals, it secretes calcium carbonate, it then hardens on the outside of their body.

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(iStock)

When I was 12 or 13, I busied myself with a range of pursuits, from the dumb to the very dumb to the hugely and galactically dumb. Every month, I purchased a new issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. I memorized the entirety of Young MC's debut album, which contained "Bust a Move" and 12 songs that weren't "Bust a Move." I got really, really into "Dr. Mario" (but I stand by that one, as over time I became startlingly good at it).

When you're in those weird culturally formative years, you explore a lot of weird culturally formative options. So I understand that it is a middle-aged cliche to say that my kids' penchant for watching videos of bothersome millennials playing video games on YouTube is a remarkably idiotic waste of time.

There is a monster cottage industry of millennials who record themselves playing video games, and my boys, ages 13 and 6, have plunged into it. Mild-mannered on most days, my children, when presented with these videos, spot-mutate into glassy-eyed replicants who draw the shades, hide under blankets and watch as many as they can before I dramatically stomp in and do my impression of the dad at the beginning of that Twisted Sister video.

It is hard to overstate how much of this content exists. There is a guy named Sky who plays Minecraft, and he amassed a fan base of nearly 12 million subscribers before shutting himself down a few months ago to focus on his music. (I know.) There is something that I know only as "Lucky Block Hunger Games" (12 million subscribers), in which two millennials whose voices sound like they've been digitally manipulated to resemble cartoon chipmunks talk for 40 minutes about cows and mods and mobs (if mods and mobs are different things, I actually can't tell because when one is talking about mobs/mods, the other one is holding an entirely unrelated monologue about "the Nether"). My 6-year-old recently announced, "Super Girly Gamer actually had the weird apple sword and she had a skelly armor and she looked like an apple!" (bursts into laughter) (falls onto floor) (would not eat an actual apple if I promised to buy him a real sword).

VenturianTale (merely 2.6 million subscribers) is similar to Lucky Block Hunger Games, except there is a character called Homeless Goomba and another named Sally who, according my 6-year-old, is a big fan of waffles. There may well be more of these, but I'm bailing on my journalistic responsibility because I do not want to research them.

Here, my child, allow me to help you open that complicated compact disc

Some background: For years, the video game situation in our house was happily deplorable. We had no PlayStation, no Xbox. Somewhere in the attic there was an ancient blow-on-the-cartridge-era Nintendo circa 1988, which represented the precise moment at which my video game evolution ended, and that was it for video games. We were less like modern parents and more like negligent Amish.

Yet it was impossible for me to stand atop Hippie Mountain and say, "The scourge of video games shall not touch this castle!," because in place of the Xbox we became obsessed with Minecraft. That is fine. I like Minecraft because it facilitates building, which is one of my kids' favorite ways to play. It became an obsession so powerful that I would have to kick my older son out of the car in the school drop-off line because he couldn't stop telling me about diamond blocks and iron blocks and stone blocks and dude seriously you have to leave RIGHT NOW.

But Minecraft offered one resolute positive: It is interactive. Such is not the case with the Minecraft videos, where viewers simply sit there, root beer and chips in hand, and watch other people play. To be fair, this is something I did in junior high, particularly one thrilling evening when Jon made it all the way to the end of "Defender of the Crown" and we almost spilled root beer all over the Commodore 64 in the resultant celebration. And if you are holding a Super Tecmo Bowl tournament for the duration of a sleepover, watching the championship can be pretty exciting.

But there is a key element to those scenarios: Other human people were around, providing some form of tactile carbon-based interaction, the merging of the pixels vaguely shaped like Neal Anderson with your actual, real-life nerd friends.

That interaction is conspicuously missing from these videos. Watching other people play video games for hours is the only thing more dismally sedentary than playing video games for hours. Maybe the kids are picking up Minecraft building tips, or secret strategies on how to smuggle butter into the Nether, or learning if you can use axes to butter zombies (I have no idea how these games work). But in the conversations my kids have - the bottomless, ping-pongy monologues that have taken over our breakfasts - we're not talking about strategy, or building, or creating. We're talking about something funny the Homeless Goomba did with waffles.

I take my kids to the playground so they'll entertain themselves. It's not working.

Friends report something similar, that their kids are obsessed with toy-unboxing videos, or videos of people building with Legos from scratch. This is where I write something hopelessly ancient-sounding and out-of-touch. I can't justify the amount of time these children - bright empty vessels in the midst of discovering which activities make their synapses erupt and which make them bored - are spending passively watching other people doing something on the computer.

And that's pretty much my point. It's watching, not doing. Therefore, it's wasting time.

Some nights later, I got excited about sharing a video from "SNL" with my older son. In the late 1980s, I slowly became aware of George H.W. Bush through Dana Carvey, so I figured why not? It was comedy, it was news, it was something that bridged our age difference. I counted on it being a slam dunk. What I got was complete rejection.

"I don't like 'Saturday Night Live' videos," he said, in a voice that indicated he considered the matter closed and the argument easily won. "So there."

But no, I said, it's okay, I know there's a little salty language but it's really funny, and besides, it involves smart political comedy, a reflection of our culture and really great writing. "This is funny, Bud," I said. "Come on, let's watch."

"Harrumph," he retorted.

And this is where we remain, me convinced that my attempts to expose him to meaningful, nuanced comedy are worthwhile, him convinced that my stuff is pathetic old-man humor that could only dream of rising to the heights of Sally eating Minecraft waffles. Both stubborn, both stuck, both sure that our stuff is funnier.

We've been here for weeks. It is a remarkably idiotic waste of time.

You can find Jeff Vrabel, a writer, @jeffvrabel and on jeffvrabel.com.

Follow On Parenting on Facebook for more essays, news and updates. You can sign up here for our weekly newsletter. We tweet @OnParenting.

You might also be interested in:

When to talk to kids about Internet porn? Sooner than parents think.

That time the insurance company wrote my 3-year-old a letter

Violence never solved anything (unless you're four, when it totally does)

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Perspective | Why do my kids waste hours watching millennials play video games on YouTube?

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When I was 12 or 13, I busied myself with a range of pursuits, from the dumb to the very dumb to the hugely and galactically dumb. Every month, I purchased a new issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. I memorized the entirety of Young MC's debut album, which contained "Bust a Move" and 12 songs that weren't "Bust a Move."

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My group researched:
Why do students have test anxiety?

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Test Anxiety

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I researched how solar energy is stored.

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75% copper and 25% nickel

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I researched red shells.

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How volcanos can alter the weather?

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I researched red seashells to use for a lesson activator for a writing assignment.

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I researched coffee. I looked at overall health effects.

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The first step in installing a deck is to make a plan.

Choose a location. Think about water drainage, slope, soil and other factors that can affect building your deck.

A flat level area that's easy to access works best.

If you're working with a sloped area, try grading a level spot at the bottom or building a retaining wall.

Look for places in your yard where nature provides shade. Trees and shrubs that shade and screen your deck.

Draw out a rough plan for your deck. Your deck drawings will indicate the size, number and location of deck posts or footings. Ground level decks are usually 12 inches to 30 inches above the ground. You can use concrete blocks or posts to lift it a step above the ground. This guide uses posts.

When determining how to build a deck, consider what type of deck board you'll want.

Composite decking boards: Installed with hidden fasteners, they create a clean look and low-maintenance finish.

Pressure-treated wood decking: A budget-friendly option that can be stained any color you want.

You'll also need the following materials & tools:

Posts

Gravel (optional)

Batter boards

Mason's string lines

Circular saw

Chalk Line

Tape Measure

Level

Square or T-square

Power Drill

Shovel

Post hole digger

Sawhorse

Nail Gun

Exterior nails

Orbit Sander

Tamper

Mortar hoe

Concrete mix

10D common nails or 3-inch galvanized screws

Deck hardware

Self-adhesive flashing tape (optional)

Tip: When building a deck, consider placing gravel under it to help with water drainage.

Begin by using batter boards and mason's string lines to lay out the location of the piers and footings. This will provide the deck's foundation. Batter boards are temporary frames used to mark the elevation and location of the corners of your deck.

Lay out the deck perimeter using the batter boards and mason's line.

Start by running a mason's line parallel to the house first. Then run perpendicular lines to complete the perimeter, crossing the mason's line at the corners.

Square the corners using the 3, 4, 5 method:

Measure 3 feet from where the lines intersect and make a mark on the string line.

Measure 4 feet along the line that runs perpendicular to that line and make a mark.

Measure between the 3-foot and 4-foot marks and adjust the line until the marks are exactly 5 feet apart.

Mark deck pier/footing locations using spray paint based on your drawings in Step 1.

Use a posthole digger or power auger to dig holes for the piers/footings. Be sure to dig below the frost line, if required by your local code.

Place concrete tubing forms in the holes and level them so that they stick up about 1-inch above ground level. You can use scrap 1x screwed to each side of each form to help hold it level. The scrap 1x pieces should be long enough to stretch across the hole, suspending the tube in it.

Use the mason's lines and a tape measure to center the tubes according to the drawings, adjusting the hole locations as needed. If you want to have all the piers the same height, use a long level. This isn't usually necessary, though, as any inconsistencies can be made up in the post lengths that will be set on top of them.

Backfill the holes around the tubing forms.

Tamp the soil down every so often as you go.

Mix ready-mix concrete bags in a wheelbarrow using a shovel or mortar hoe. Follow manufacturer's instructions.

Pour the mixed concrete into the tubing form.

Place a post anchor bolt into the center of each footer before the cement begins to harden. Leave enough of the bolt above the footing to connect to the post base.

Allow time for concrete to cure according to manufacturer's instructions.

Once the concrete has cured, set post bases over each anchor bolt.

Align them according to layout indicated in your drawings.

Don't tighten the wood post base down all the way. Leave the nut loose enough so that the base can be tapped in either direction later. Once posts are set, tighten the bolts.

Tip: Use a mason's string line stretched across the tubing forms to align the anchor bolts.

Cut your posts a few inches above the finished height of the deck framing. You can cut them flush later.

Set the posts in the post base and attach with appropriate post-base hardware nails or screws.

Some decks use a flush beam or beam set within the same plane as the deck's framing. If your plans call for this, set the beam directly onto the post bases.

Use metal strapping hardware or composite shims to fine-tune the beam level. Don't use wood shims as they will compress over time.

Attach the beam to the post bases using post-base hardware nails or screws.

Check beam alignment and adjust as needed to make sure beams are square.

With the posts or beams in place, it's time to build the deck frame. This deck consists of rim joists that make up the deck's perimeter filled in with joists that support the decking. When building a low-level deck that is connected to posts set within the framing, attach the rim joist to the posts using galvanized 10D common nails or 3-inch galvanized screws.

Use one fastener per post as these are just temporary. Use a long level and a helper to ensure the rim joist is level.

Install the remaining rim joists in the same manner to create the perimeter of the deck.

Secure the rim joist to the posts using the appropriate hardware indicated by the drawings and your local building code. In most cases, specially designed structural screws may be used, galvanized through-bolts or galvanized lag bolts.

Cut the posts flush to the top of the rim joist so that the decking can sit freely over it later.

If the beams represent the ends of the deck, finish the sides by installing a rim joist on either side. The perimeter of the deck is now comprised of a beam on either end and a rim joist on either side.

Add any additional hardware required by code, such as angle brackets.

Tip: Most framing lumber has a slight bow in it along its edge. This is called a "crown." Install the rim joists and all framing materials so that the "crown" is up.

With the deck's rim joist complete, it's time to install the joists. Start by laying out the joist spacing on opposing rim joists.

Measure across the rim joist with a tape measure.

Mark the joist location. Usually this will be every 12, 16 or 24 inches. If you're building a deck with two beams, pull your measurements along the beams and mark the beams.

Repeat this process across the rim joist (or beam) parallel or opposite the one you just marked. Be sure to pull your layout from the same side of the rim joist as you did in the previous step.

Go back and use a square to mark a line down the inside face of the rim joist or beam. Place an "x" on the side of the line that is opposite from where you pulled your measurement. If you pulled your measurement from the left, place the "x" on the right of the line. If you pulled your measurement from the right, place the "x" on the left side of the line. These lines indicate the side of the joists and the "x" is where the ends of the joist will go.

It's typically easier to install joist hangers now, but you will need to make sure that they are placed at the proper height. If you're installing the joists between the beams, you'll have to install the joist hangers first. To install joist hangers, make a simple template using a cut end of the joist material that's about 3 to 4 inches long. Nail a scrap piece of lumber on top of the cut joist piece so that it hangs over the end about 1 to 2 inches.

Set the template so that the top registers on the rim joist. The cut end of the joist piece should sit where the joist will go.

Holding the joist hanger to the template, nail each hanger in place. Hold the sides of the joist hanger slightly loose so that you can slide the joist in place later.

Repeat this process until all hangers are installed.

Measure the joist length using the area closest to the ends.

Cut all the joists to length.

Set and nail the joists into the joist hangers.

If installing joists between two rim joists instead of a beam:

Install the joists first and the joist hangers later.

Cut the joists to length, then nail them on the layout from the outside of the rim joist.

With the joists in place, go back and nail them into the joist hangers. Remember to crown the joists before you install them.

Add self-adhesive flashing tape across the tops of the joists to help prolong the life of them.

For a ground level deck, the boards will run parallel to the house or parallel to the deck framing itself.

Lay out your boards. If you end with a full-sized board, start against the house and move outward. If not, start with the board farthest from the house and move toward the house.

Next, build the deck:

Align the edge of the first deck board so that it is parallel to the house. Let the ends run long on either side.

Run the fasteners in.

Continue running boards. If face-screwing pressure-treated wood decking, maintain about a 1/8 to 3/16-inch spacing between boards for drainage and airflow.

Install the decking boards perpendicular to the joists.

Drive two fasteners through each board into the center of each joist. Position each fastener 3/4 to 1 inch from the edge of the board.

Measure the distance at each corner as you move to the end of the deck. This will make sure you are moving in a straight line and end parallel to the rim joist or house.

Repeat the process.

If running deck boards on a deck that is not near the house:

Start by snapping a line that is equidistant at each corner This allows for 1-inch to 1 1/2-inch overhang along the length of the first board.

Install the first board as above.

Repeat the process.

Tip: For the best appearance, stagger the seams between adjacent rows of decking. Seams should look random, so keep them two or more joists away from one another.

Here's how to trim the deck boards:

Start by pulling a measurement of 1 inch or 1 1/2 inches at each corner.

Snap a chalk line across the decking ends to connect the two.

Repeat the process on the opposite edge.

Cut along the line using a circular saw. For a precise cut, screw or clamp a temporary guide on the saw.

Run a router equipped with a bottom-bearing 1/4-inch round-over bit to smooth the cut edge. Or use an orbit sander equipped with 120-grit sandpaper.

Moisture is a deck's worst enemy. Protect your new deck with an exterior wood stain, weather sealer or combination of the two. Always allow your deck to dry for 24 to 48 hours after staining or sealing for best results.

Consider adding an umbrella or overhead to shade a large deck.

Add lattice screens or fence panels to reduce wind and add privacy.

Be prepared when building a deck:

Ground-level decks may or may not require a permit. Check your local code requirements.

Call 811 before you dig. Your utility company will locate and mark any water, gas and power lines in your yard. Avoid digging near any marked lines. Don't dig within 18 to 24 inches of a marked utility.

Wear hearing and eye protection when using power tools.

Wear eye protection when using striking tools.

Wear a dust mask when cutting lumber and mixing concrete.

Do not wear gloves when operating power saws.

Use GFCI-protected power cords when operating corded power tools outdoors.

Use manufacturer-approved hardware and fasteners for all wood products.

Learning how to build a deck requires a command of basic carpentry and a commitment of time and resources. A deck adds value to your home and helps you enjoy the outdoors in greater comfort. Once you have a general drawing of what you want, bring your ideas to your local Home Depot for a more detailed drawing. You can use this drawing to estimate deck materials and decide what deck parts and accessories you'll need. When determining how much lumber you need, don't guesstimate, calculate. Know exactly how much you need with our project calculators.

Instead of taking on complex DIY projects yourself, prioritize efficiency and safety by seeking help from a Pro. Our experts possess the experience and tools necessary to complete your project on time, while ensuring all precautions are followed. Ready to have a deck built? Get peace of mind from start to finish with a Pro Referral. Click here: Pro Referral

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Learn how to build a deck so you can enjoy the outdoors more. This guide provides an overview of how to build a ground-level deck and a raised deck. Get information on tools and more.

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I have a small class with one student who often dominates conversation. So, I was researching ways to help others participate. I found this neat idea with paper chains to ease students into discussion.

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Do you remember the last time you and your friends had a great discussion? I'll bet you didn't take turns around the table with each person speaking for 30 seconds or a minute! Instead, it was probably a lively conversation with everyone listening to each other and responding to everyone's ideas. Although you didn't speak for the same amount of time, everyone was involved and participated actively. If group members disagreed with each other, they were polite and supported their own views with facts and relevant details. Everyone was energized by the discussion and came away with some new perspectives.

Now think about what happens in team discussions at school. One student dominates the discussion while others are too shy to share their own views. To prevent this from happening, we ask them to take turns around the team ... but those discussions don't feel like real conversations. It's obvious that team members aren't really listening to each other because they don't link their ideas to what anyone else has said. Instead, it's almost as if they're simply waiting for their turn to talk. Because most kids don't know how to disagree politely, either they all agree with each other or when they do disagree, someone's feelings are sure to be hurt. Watching these "discussions" is almost painful!

Teaching Kids to Link Ideas

As you know from your own discussions, a great conversationalist is someone who really listens to others and who demonstrates this by linking his or her ideas to those of others in the group. This skill is so important that it's stated in the Common Core Speaking and Listening Standards for collaborative discussion at almost every grade level.

But how do we teach that skill? One way to follow these steps:

1. Name the person who shared the idea to which you are connecting.

2. Mention a key idea, fact, or opinion the other person shared.

3. Clearly state your own question, opinion, or idea.

For example, "Julie, I can see why you might say that Cindy is outgoing, but I thought she was shy because ...." or "Tom, I agree with you about ________, and another detail that supports your point is..."

Introducing the Strategies

When you begin teaching students to have real discussions in which they link their ideas to others, it's best to start with baby steps. Introduce the concept in a whole group setting by posing a question and asking volunteers to come forward and link arms to show how they are connecting their ideas to others. Model the three parts of a linked response described above.

Next, students can create paper chain links to model how speakers often have multiple discussion threads going at the same time. Finally, you can introduce older students to team "discussion webs" where their ideas are interconnected in complex ways.

Strategies for Teaching Discussion Connections

You can learn more strategies for teaching discussion connection skills by watching this short video clip from one of my webinars.

Be sure to check out my Discussion Connections resource on TpT, too. It's a step-by-step guide for introducing discussion skills to your students. You'll find all the directions and printables needed, including discussion prompts to help students link their ideas. The pages below let you peek inside, or you can click here to preview a PDF of the entire product.

There's nothing wrong with having students take turns sharing ideas around the table, especially when they first work in cooperative learning teams. It's a great place to start! The problem comes in when we don't take our students to the next level and teach them how to have REAL discussions.

In order to have meaningful interactions in cooperative learning teams, literature circles, and even in the lunchroom, kids need to understand that discussion involves LISTENING as well as talking. When we take time to connect our ideas, we show that we are listening to others and considering their viewpoints, rather than waiting for our turn to talk. Taking time to teach discussion strategies at the beginning of the year will reap dividends later, and those benefits will reach far beyond the classroom!

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Teaching Kids How to Have REAL Discussions

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Do you remember the last time you and your friends had a great discussion? I'll bet you didn't take turns around the table with each person speaking for 30 seconds or a minute! Instead, it was probably a lively conversation with everyone listening to each other and responding to everyone's ideas.

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Why do students have test anxiety?

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Can the federal government take away the second amendment?

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Volcanos- one of the most dangerous volcanos is in Iceland.

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Caldera is a large cauldron like hollow that forms shortly after the emptying  of a magma chamber during a volcano eruption.

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Known as submental fat. It results from aging. It is associated with weight gain, but you don't have to be overweight to have a double chin ( or triple in my case)

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I learned that the Mayo Clinic says that you can deal with test anxiety by studying early and in similar places, and creating a pretesting routine.

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Igneous rocks and CDC guidelines for distancing desks in the classroom

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We researched what happens to lava when it seeps into the ground after a volcanic eruption.

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https://www.eisenhower.me/eisenhower-matrix/

I do a similar list from a book
Today, Tomorrow, Teach someone, Tell someone else, Trash

Trying to figure out a way to make my to do list more organized like this

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Why do fish swim in schools? They feel safe and successful when swimming in big numbers.

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How to use Padlet in the classroom?

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I've had an increase in RLS lately. After researching RLS, I discovered that artificial sweeteners can increase RLS. Oh NOOOOO

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Amanda: How to expand a patio with concrete pavers

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Amanda: How to expand a patio with concrete pavers

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We are wanting to expand our outside area to have more space to enjoy.

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To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.

Reviewed by

on Feb 25, 2020

Whenever you need more room on your concrete patio, you can use pavers to complete the process. Pavers offer more room for you and your guest with a few extra tools and a little bit of time.

Step 1. Planning out the area for the pavers

Using some wood stakes and a hammer, mark out the area in which you will be laying down the new pavers from your concrete patio. Section out the area that you will be using, by placing a wood stake at each edge of the patio and hammer them down into place. Add a string line to the bottom of the stakes to attach them to the rest of the other stakes to make a guideline for you to know where to place the pavers.

Step 2. Excavate space

Now that the area is marked out by the stakes, you need to start digging the area you wish to pave. Make the bed 9 inches deep to leave enough room for the paver and soil. With a shovel, start digging up the area and make sure that when you are done that the level of the additional pavers is even so that it will seamlessly blend from the concrete patio into the pavers.

Step 3. Subsoil

Next, you need to compact down the subsoil by using a hand tamper. Then you will need to add the finely crushed soil to the same area and cover only 3 inches of space at a time. Pour in the soil and rake up the area until it is flat. Spray on some water to loosen up the soil gravel and use the hand tamper to compact the soil again. This process needs to be used again to compact the soil another time until there is enough room for the pavers which are around 2 1/2 inches thick.

Step 4. Lay down the pavers

If the design of the pavers is going to be circular then you need to mark a center point by finding the vertical and horizontal area from your house. A straight paver design needs to have bond lines marked out by placing a chalk line that is perpendicular to your house.

Next, you want to bring this paver towards the other one already laid down and slide it next to the other one until they click together. Lay down the pattern around the outside of the paver and add support for people stepping on and off the pavers. Add a paver edge restraint around the edge of the soldier.

Step 5. Compacting the new area in place

With the coarse sand, you want to brush these over the top of your pavers to fill in the spaces that are left. When you have swept the coarse sand so it is up to the top level of the pavers you need to compact it down. You can use plywood or an old carpet to lay down over the pavers so when you compact it the pavers will not crack or break. Sweep more coarse sand one more time and compact the area again. Use some water and spray over the pavers to make the coarse sand pack together in the crevices between the pavers.

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How to Extend Concrete Patios with Pavers | DoItYourself.com

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To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience. Reviewed by on Feb 25, 2020 Whenever you need more room on your concrete patio , you can use pavers to complete the process.

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Wrinkles are a result of aging skin and less volume. Skin becomes thinner as we age and produces less collagen. We lose elasticity in our skin and begin lacking proteins.

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How to build a raised bed for gardening.

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How to build a raised bed for gardening.

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What you will need:

Saw

Drill

Screws

Cedar picket fence boards

Pine fir boards

Weed barrier fabric

How to:

Step one - cut off tip of fence board - use cedar wood

Step two - cut pine boards into desired length

Step three - attach corner and side boards together

Step four - fill in weed barrier

Step five - pour in soil

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Seashells are made when mantle tissue absorbs salt and chemicals. They secrete calcium carbonate and it hardens on the outside.

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The world's deadliest volcano is Mt. Tambora in Indonesia. It erupted in 1815 and killed over 100,00 people. It also altered the climate for the next 3 years it caused climate change which affected crop production and caused starvation and death for many people.

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7 Steps to change a habit.
There is a 7 step process of making a new habit.
1. It takes 30 days to make the change.
2.  Write it down for motivation
3.  Commit fully in a public way.
4. Log process
5. Report out daily
6. Find support when you falter.
7. If you fail figure out what went wrong.

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It was self reflecting on Karma

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We researched restless leg syndrome and common cures.

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Amy A. - How to motivate children to read for pleasure

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Amy A. - How to motivate children to read for pleasure

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My fifth grader hates to read! She is a great reader, but says that it is boring! I was looking for ways to encourage her to read for enjoyment!

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Quick poll: Which category is your child in?

1. LOVES to read!

2. Could take it or leave it.

3. Really dislikes reading.

Our goal-and I'm guessing it's your goal too-is to get your child into the first category.

But what can you do if your child just isn't motivated to read?

There is actually quite a bit you can do to encourage a love of reading, but first, let's do some detective work.

Why Doesn't Your Child Like to Read?

Before you work on motivating your child, it helps if you understand why he resists reading in the first place. Which scenario depicts your resistant reader?

"Reading is hard!"

You probably wouldn't choose hard work as a leisure activity, and that's true for your child, too. If reading is a struggle, he probably won't find reading interesting or enjoyable.

If your child is a struggling reader, take a look at why this might be. Does he have issues with fluency, or have gaps in his phonogram knowledge? Maybe he's struggling because he's guessing at words or hasn't developed strong vocabulary skills. It's even possible he has dyslexia or another learning challenge. But whatever the cause, if your child feels that reading is too much work, begin by identifying and addressing his areas of weakness. As he becomes a better reader, he will enjoy reading much more.

"Reading is boring!"

For some kids, reading isn't hard, but it isn't interesting either. But it may be that they just haven't found reading material that motivates them.

Think about what your child loves to do. Does he have a hobby or special area of interest? Does your son like dinosaurs? Does your daughter like gymnastics? By finding reading material that piques their interest and draws them into reading, you're giving your children a motivational boost.

10 Tips to Motivate Your Child to Read

1. Make time for reading. If your child has a jam-packed schedule and reading is shoved between gymnastics and band practice, reading may seem like an unwelcome chore. Allow reading to be a relaxing and enjoyable time, free from pressure.

2. Set aside a regular read-aloud time with your children. Choose a variety of high-quality literature that appeals to your child's age and interests. Audio books are another great option for a reluctant reader. And don't abandon read-aloud time when your children get older-no one is too old for a great read-aloud.

3. Make sure the reading material isn't beyond your child's reading abilities. The interest may be there, but if the book is hard to read, your child's motivation will wane.

4. Create a cozy reading nook. A special reading space may be all the encouragement your child needs to settle down and spend time with a good book!

5. Look for a variety of reading material. Kids often gravitate toward the fiction shelves in the library, but don't stop there. There are many other genres to consider: joke books, cookbooks, how-to books, graphic novels, and biographies are all great non-fiction possibilities. And children's magazines can be a great out-of-the-box way to encourage a child to read.

6. Try buddy reading with your struggling reader. Buddy reading can help improve a child's fluency and make him feel more comfortable with reading on his own.

7. Have your reluctant reader read easy picture books to younger siblings. This provides excellent practice, yet it doesn't feel like work.

8. Let humor work its magic! Select a funny book at your child's reading level and read the first chapter aloud. Then stop reading. If your child wants to find out what happens next, he'll have to read it himself!

9. Exhibit a love of reading. When your kids observe that you love to read, they're more likely to develop a love of reading themselves.

10. Provide access to books. Use your public library. Create a home library. Keep books accessible. When your child decides he wants to read, you want to be sure there's a book at his fingertips. Our picture book and chapter book library lists are a great place to start!

Have you discovered a great way to motivate your child to read? Please share in the comments below and we'll add your idea to our readers' tips box.

Motivational Tips Recommended by Our Readers

For every 10 books your child reads, allow her to choose a prize from a bin of dollar store goodies. (Recommended by D. Jacobs via Instagram)

Pick books that feature topics and themes your child is already interested in. (Recommended by Lara via Instagram)

Let your child choose what he or she wants to read! (Recommended by Sarahi D. via Facebook)

I make sure that books with higher reading levels have lots of illustrations and diagrams. (Recommended by Nancy B. via Facebook)

Comic books! (Recommended by Alaina K. via Facebook)

Keeping a reading log of completed books can be a great motivator! (Recommended by Robin W., AALP Customer Service)

Graphic novels got my oldest son interested in reading! (Recommended by Corrie via Facebook)

Read aloud together with finger puppets! (Recommended by Marci via blog comment)

Choose silly chapter books like How to Eat Fried Worms that tickle your child's funny bone. (Recommended by Rachael via blog comment)

Have an older child read easy picture books to a younger sibling. (Recommended by Ann Marie via blog comment.)

Create fun and engaging activities that tie in to the themes of a book your child is reading. (Recommended by Allyson via blog comment)

Challenge your child to make up fun voices as he reads. (I do it too!) (Recommended by Anita via blog comment)

Use one-page stories to get them past the fear of the story being too long. You can even write your own! (Recommended by Anita via blog comment)

The "book it" program by Pizza Hut is a great motivator. (Recommended by Nichol via blog comment)

Photo credit: Rachel Neumann and Joleen Steel

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10 Ways to Motivate Kids to Read + Downloadable Quick Guide

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Quick poll: Which category is your child in? LOVES to read! Could take it or leave it. Really dislikes reading. Our goal-and I'm guessing it's your goal too-is to get your child into the first category. But what can you do if your child just isn't motivated to read?

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Brian Morehouse: How Seashells are formed

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Brian Morehouse: How Seashells are formed

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Mollusk excrete Calcium Carbonate that then hardens around the body to from an exoskeleton. The skeleton continues to be expanded as the Mollusk grows. Once the Mollusk has died the shell will drift throughout the ocean until finally reaching the beach.

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The Butterfly Effect: It is also called the Chaos Effect.

https://kids.kiddle.co/Chaos_theory

https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-is-the-butterfly-effect

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I learned how to build a firepit in my yard.  You will need a shovel, fire ring, rocks, concrete block adhesive, and curved landscaping stones.
Dig around the edge of the ring, going about 3 inches outside.  Then removed the ring and dig the dirt and grass out.  Using the stones, place them around the edge of the circle.  For the 2nd layer, use concrete block adhesive on the edge of two blocks on the first level, placing a block on the second level.  Continue until you have it the height you choose, then replace the fire ring.  Add more rocks to the bottom of the pit.

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Geothermal energy is where heat from within the Earth is used to generate electricity.

Ash ejected by the volcano acts as a good fertilizer for soil.

They attract many tourists.

Rising magma brings valuable minerals to the surface.

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I got to spend some time in a sauna over winter break and it was glorious! The hot air, the smell of cedar and a good sweat made winter in Chicago feel better! I wanted to know how to build one, so I did a little research and found that you can turn a garden shed into sauna! I'm so excited to research this more. 

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This article describes how to turn an existing shed or outbuilding into a sauna. The following information is covered:

Vapor barrier

Insulation

Interior wall boards

Ventilation

Wood stove

The Finished Sauna: A Job Well Done

The Idea

My sons and I had been talking about turning that small shed in the back yard into a sauna for years. Finally in the fall of 2009 we made our move. We each did some research and then set to work building a sauna of our own. Read on to discover how to turn an old shed or an outbuilding into a sauna.

The entire project cost us about $1,000, but keep in mind, we found a wood burning stove for no charge.

The Insulation

The first thing we did was to get some insulation for the walls of the shed which we were converting into a sauna. We used rolled, fiberglass insulation for both the walls and ceiling. Insulation is described in terms of its "R" value. R13 is good for the walls of a sauna and R26 for the ceiling. Use the same insulation in the ceiling as for the walls, using two layers running the top layer perpendicular to the previous layer.

The Moisture Barrier

Next came the moisture barrier for the sauna which is made of aluminum foil. These specially made foil barriers can be hard to find and are expensive. We solved the problem. Gordon Food Services sells large rolls of heavy duty aluminum foil. We built the sauna in 2009. I used the aluminum foil in the kitchen through 2013. The foil used as a moisture barrier for the sauna must be put on with the shiny side facing the interior of the sauna so that it reflects the heat back into the room.

The Cedar Wall Boards

Next we looked for cedar boards for the interior. We could have gone to a lumberyard and gotten tongue and groove boards, but those are expensive. My sons looked around and found a small, local mill that had a stack of unfinished cedar boards sitting outside. We had the boards planed and brought them home. The question now was, how we would connect the boards. Would we tongue and groove them ourselves, overlap them or find another way? As we discussed it, we came up with a design that we later found actually has a name. It is called shiplap, and it is made by cutting the edge of the board into an L shape. On each edge of the board, the L faces the opposite direction. As the boards are put into place, opposite facing Ls overlap. Our sauna was becoming a reality.

The Wood-Burning Stove

The sauna stove was the next part that needed to be done. We covered the wall space near the stove with cement board and in addition we lined the wall closest to the stove with paving bricks stacked on edge. You will need to check local codes for the distance required between the sauna stove and wall. We ran the stovepipe through the wall at stove level and then up the outside of the building. This required a lot of custom work that wouldn't necessarily be helpful to anyone else. Be sure to get the proper pipe for going through the wall, as it needs to be double walled pipe so that the heat is reduced where the pipe comes into contact with the wall. Also remove any material on or in the wall around where the pipe passes through that is not fireproof. If it is even close, it will catch on fire.

The Floor

If you are planning to convert a shed into a sauna, the floor might take some special attention. The work on the floor ranges from replacing it to doing nothing. What is the condition of the floor before beginning work? Are there gaps between the boards? Is it already a tight fit?

The floor of our shed had half-inch gaps between the floorboards. This was going to allow lots of cool air to enter our sauna, thereby making the lower part cooler than the upper. We chose to use fiberglass strips and resin. The problem has been that the finished floor holds a lot of heat. I suggest laying down well-sanded boards on the old floor and installing a drain. The sauna's heat will dry the wood, preventing any problems associated with moisture.

Another suggestion is to pour a concrete floor and install a drain. Over this, install raised, slatted wood floors. These could even be removable for cleaning purposes.

The Stove and BTUs

Choosing the sauna stove is quite complicated it seems. It depends on the construction of the sauna, window and door space, ventilation, outdoor temperatures and the construction of the sauna stove itself. The figures for determining the BTUs needed to heat the sauna are as follows: Cubic feet to be heated (Length x width x height = Cubic feet); Temperature change (Maximum desired inside temperature minus the lowest expected outside temperature). Follow the link below, enter the data, and get your BTU information.

BTU Calculator

BTU Calculator
Calculator to estimate the amount of BTU needed for the heating of your space based on the size and temperature change. Also find hundreds of other free online calculators here.

Ventilating the Sauna

We chose to put one vent in the sauna, and we located it near the ceiling on the opposite end of the sauna from the door. At the bottom of the door we allow outside air to enter the sauna while the warm air escapes through the vent near the ceiling of the sauna.

As Simple as That

A sauna is relaxing and fun to use. When you entertain guests at your house, have them bring their swimsuits along so you can all enjoy a sauna together. Good luck on your next Do-it-yourself project, whether it is turning an outbuilding into a sauna or some other cool addition to your home.
This article is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes only and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business, financial, legal, or technical matters.
Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on November 18, 2018:

Helen, Thanks for reading my article about building a sauna. We removed the original window to eliminate the gap between the upper and lower panes. We replaced it with single panes of real glass. I am not sure how plexiglass would hold up to the heat. We also were cautious about having anything inside that might give of fumes when heated. That meant painted window frames and calking. I hope this helps. Good luck.

Helen on November 18, 2018:

Hello, Is there anything special that you need to do with the windows, in order to convert the shed to a sauna?

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on July 15, 2018:

Em, thanks for pointing that out. I added it near the beginning. The entire project cost us about $1,000, but don't forget that we found a free wood burning stove.

Em on July 14, 2018:

You forgot to mention how much it cost!! ??

HannaHuma on February 03, 2018:

Wau! Very interesting project with full of creativity. I found your sauna project, when I was seeking new ideas and thoughts for my "project". I have been designing sauna collection for finnish market. If interested, you can check www.newsauna.fi

ToddMichigan on January 09, 2018:

thank you much for this response Chris. I will give your best to the Mitten during this winter!

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on January 07, 2018:

Todd, You are in my home state. I'm in Montana working right now, so I am missing another Michigan winter. Our sauna is roughly 8'x6'x7'. There is one bench along the 8' side. Another is added when needed that sits in front of the stove opposite the long bench. Five is comfortable. Six is pushing the comfort pretty hard. More than that and it is best to divide into two groups. Most of the time it is my sons and me when I am home.

ToddMichigan on January 07, 2018:

What is the size of your shed? Now that you have been using it, has it proven to be of good enough size/sq footage?

thank you!

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on December 19, 2017:

You are welcome. Good luck with the sauna.

Tariq Bekavi on December 19, 2017:

Wow, thank you very much.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on December 18, 2017:

Tariq, I have never owned an electric sauna, but I have done some research. Are you saying your sauna is 3 feet by 2 feet? I assume it is about 7 feet high. That is 42 cubic feet. The link you sent shows a 4.5kw stove. You may be buying way too much stove. One or two kw should do it. What I've read is to allow for 1 kw per 45 cubic feet. You may not find less than 2kw though. Electric heats fast and your sauna is small. It will be hot in minutes.

Wood vs electric. Atmosphere is a big part of it. If you are into the whole sauna experience including splitting wood, lighting and tending the fire, then a wood stove would be fine. If you simply want to take your sauna and get on with your evening, I would suggest electric. You will use it more often because of the convenience. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my wood stove sauna for anything, but my sons and I enjoy the whole experience.

Do some more checking on the kw, but I recommend 1 or 2kw. You seem to want it to heat fast. Go electric. Wood takes a while. I hope this helps.

Tariq Bekavi on December 18, 2017:

Hi, can you help with the choice of electric heater?

My sauna will be 3x2. And I do not know exactly which electric heater will heat the sauna in an hour or less.

At the moment I chose: https://spaprof.com/category/electric-heaters-and-...

Did I choose the right one? Also can you tell me what the pluses of wood burning stove? Thanks for the help.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on September 16, 2017:

Scott, sorry it took me so long to get back to you. We used blue board for insulation, then added the foil moisture barrier, then the cladding. We don't see much warping. The door works fine. I hope that helps and is in time for your project.

Scott on September 13, 2017:

Hi there,this is exactly what I'm looking to do aswell,but I have a question about the door to the sauna, did you just put cladding on the inside of the existing shed door or did you insulate that aswell? Also if it's the original shed door does it not warp with the heat? Thanks and great job by the way

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on August 29, 2017:

Heidi, First we cut a drain hole in the floor. Then we used fiberglass strips and resin which come in a kit. You could also try a vinyl concrete floor. It comes in bags to mix in a wheel barrel or in ten-gallon buckets already mixed. begin thicker at the walls and slope toward the drain. Here is a good website for the floor. http://www.saunatimes.com/building-a-sauna/a-great...

Good luck with your sauna. Enjoy.

Heidi on August 28, 2017:

What did you use on the floor to keep it from rotting from water? I'm building one out of a existing shed that has plywood flooring already installed. Thank you

jitendra singh on June 26, 2017:

Very nice

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on September 25, 2016:

Faith, Down here you would get a couple months use out of a sauna. It's not enough to justify a large expenditure, but a small outhouse sized sauna would not cost much. My sons did most of the work. I just paid for it.Thanks for stopping.

Faith Reaper on September 24, 2016:

Wow, Chris, this is so cool ...um ...hot! What a great idea to turn a small shed into a sauna. I would love one, but living in the Deep South ...not to practical for outside here, although it does dip down into the low 30s and lower at times.

It's great you and your sons worked on it together too. I love the photos you included here, especially of the snow contrast against the shed. I would certainly have to build myself a sauna if I lived in such cold areas with that much snow!

Great job!

Chris on May 03, 2016:

Outdoorsaunamndiy, congratulations on finishing your project. You are going to love it. Regarding the foil, I think we jumped on the first thing that was cheaper than the alternative. Thanks for reading the article and for your feedback.

outdoorsaunabuildmndiy.blogspot.com on May 03, 2016:

Hi, great build! It's blogs like yours that inspired me to build my own outdoor sauna. I see you used foil-- I went the bubble foil route. Either way, I can't wait till winter now :)

Thanks!

Julian
http://outdoorsaunabuildmndiy.blogspot.com/
Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on March 11, 2016:

ALLY BABAY, Well, there is a question I haven't thought about in a while. All I can say at this point is that I remembering setting a budget of one thousand dollars at the time. I have to believe we came in under that amount.

ALLY BABAY on March 11, 2016:

How much did it cost you to build? Thank you for sharing this project.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on February 15, 2015:

chef-de-jour, sorry I missed your post from a month ago. Sounds like you had a workable sauna situation in Scotland. I'm away from home working on the road full time now and rarely get to use the sauna. But when I'm done out here on the road, I'll be relaxing quite often in the cozy warmth. Thanks for checking in here.

Andrew Spacey from Near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire,UK on January 12, 2015:

When I lived in Scotland many moons ago the rented cottage near Edinburgh had a sauna in the old cellar! It was electric and ate money but every so often I'd pop down for a good sweat and flush out. I love saunas- your conversion job is ace. A great family effort.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on October 11, 2013:

Jimmar, good for you. I hope you get many years of use out of your new sauna. It is so much more special when you have built it yourself. Thanks for stopping by.

jimmar from Michigan on October 11, 2013:

did it! turned that useless shack into something useable. I wish I read your hub before I started building. I just winged it, but wasn't too far off.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on March 18, 2013:

Randi, we had a blast working on the sauna. After we got it all finished, we went to the beach near here on Lake Michigan and collected basalt rocks to put in the cage on top of the stove. They hold the heat so that when we throw water on them, we get a rush of heat and steam. We really do enjoy our sauna.

Randi Benlulu from Mesa, AZ on March 18, 2013:

Interesting and impressive! What a great project!

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on March 17, 2013:

mr-veg, Thank you for visiting my hub, and I am happy that you find it to be useful. Thank you for the vote and for sharing.

mr-veg from Colorado United States on March 17, 2013:

A Job well done !! Great work Chris and thanks for sharing such a nice and useful information. Voted up and sharing !!

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on March 17, 2013:

Deb, we borrowed a table joiner and it worked like a charm. It is amazing how much can be learned if we are just willing to try doing these projects on our own. I'm proud of my sons for how motivated they were to attempt this project. So you did remodeling for a living? It is so gratifying to see an old home like ours take on new life. Ours was built in 1896.

Deb Hirt from Stillwater, OK on March 17, 2013:

What a fantastic project, Chris. Wow, had I only known, I would have been more than happy to do the cuts on my sliding compound miter saw. I have done MANY different kinds of cuts when I was doing remodeling for a living. I loved doing shiplap! Can't beat the smell of cedar!

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on March 16, 2013:

Thanks Rosemary, It was a fun project, and using it never gets old. I hope someone who reads the hub decides to go for it and turn that useless shack out back into something they will use for years to come.

Rosemary Sadler from Hawkes Bay - NewZealand on March 16, 2013:

A great family project, you all worked hard on this and now you can all enjoy it.

A job well done and great instructions

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on March 16, 2013:

Austinstar, that is a pretty good combo. Hot tub for relaxing the muscles and a pool to beat the heat.

Lela from Somewhere near the heart of Texas on March 16, 2013:

Oh, man, we have ice houses in Spades! When I was young, you couldn't throw a coke bottle 10 feet without hitting one.

But I do have an above ground pool (matches my double wide) and I recently purchased a hot tub spa. That's the best I can do.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on March 16, 2013:

Austinstar, I wouldn't recommend a sauna in Texas. Maybe an ice house would be more appropriate. Thanks for stopping by.

Chris Mills (author) from Traverse City, MI on March 16, 2013:

Eric, thank you. We had a great time working on the sauna. We each had a key role. Mine had to do with $$$. Now we enjoy taking saunas as often as we can together. I do have very good relationships with my sons. Go for it Eric. Make yourself a sauna. There is nothing like it for relaxation. Watch the temperature though. We had it up to 213 f a couple of nights ago.

Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on March 16, 2013:

Chris, do not take me wrong here; I got teary reading this article. It is awesome how you laid out the construction and the pictures fit in perfectly. I am contemplating doing one.

But it just got me all emotional to watch and learn of father and sons enjoying each others contributions and company. That is what it is all about!!

So I should say "my sons and I are contemplating"

Lela from Somewhere near the heart of Texas on March 16, 2013:

What a clever idea. Of course, living in Texas is like living in a sauna anyway. All you have to do is go outside. But yours looks very nice and cozy.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Turn That Shed Into a Sauna: Step-by-Step Tips

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In this article, I share how my sons and I converted a small outbuilding into a sauna with a wood-burning stove. I cover topics such as vapor barrier, insulation, interior wall boards, ventilation, and the wood stove. Also, I have included a BTU calculator to help with choosing the right stove.