Discover the Forest

Have you seen this billboard?

I love it.

We have always been a nature loving family. Backyard adventures are common place in our household. From finding snakes and turtles to digging for salamanders, to catching skinks, to feeding the birds and checking our field guides to learn about the different birds in our yard – we love the outdoors.

I’ve been seeing this billboard around our area for a few weeks now. I really, really agree! UNPLUG. We recently disconnected the internet in our house. The first week, the kids were bored during their “free time” that would have otherwise been spent on facebook or youtube. But guess what? Now that a few weeks have passed, they’ve discovered a whole new world of possibilities! My teenagers are riding their bikes again! They take walks and read books. They browse through cookbooks looking for new recipes to try. They aren’t bored.

So even if you were like us and limited the amount of time on the internet or video games, etc. perhaps your family would benefit from unplugging from technology and experiencing life again. The world is a beautiful, amazing place! Don’t deprive your children. Give them nature.

And by the way, Discover the Forest has ideas, activities, and free printables for teachers and kids! Be sure to check it out!

Here’s a few ideas to get you started:

• Book of Stuff to Do Outside
• Become a Junior Forest Ranger
• Finding My Forest for Educators

Homeschool Freebies – Penguins

We started our Penguin Unit today. On January 11, 2012 we were blessed to have the opportunity to visit Ripley’s Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN while at the KYTN Conference minister’s meetings. One of our favorite exhibits was the Penguins. So, I am working on a Penguin Unit for Hannah and Laura, who are crazy about anything God has created! Below you can watch one of our experiences with the penguins at Ripley’s. They were sooo cute! In this video, my girls Hannah, Laura, and Emily had some fun with one particular penguin.

Here are some Penguin Freebies that Homeschoolers can enjoy:

1. Mr. Popper’s Penguins from the Homeschool Share Blog.
2. Arctic Animal Lapbook from Homeschool Share
3. Penguin, Penguin Early Reader from Starfall.com
4. Penguin Lapbook from Lapbook Lessons
5. Printable Book of Penguins and Penguin Craft Idea from Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational

For more ideas, check out my Pintrest Penguin Page!

Colonial Times from A – Z Lapbook

Here is a great free download – Colonial Times from A – Z -  for homeschoolers from Hearts in Training. Justin time and perfect for Thanksgiving!

Homeschool Freebies – January 10, 2011

• Snowflake Journal Page
• Make an intricate snowflake
• Crystallized Snowflakes - Can substitute Epson Salts for the Borax – here.
• Button Snowflakes – why not decorate your classroom with these hanging from the ceiling or a collection of all sorts of snowflakes hanging in front of your window?
• Snowflake Snack recipe
• So Many Synonym Snowflakes Worksheet
• Snow Fun Match-up
• Count By Tens Snowflake Worksheet
• Snowy Owl Study
• The Mitten Unit Study

Sonbeams Chore Charts: Product Review

Sonbeams Chore Charts

Start the new year off right with your children. Teaching your children to be diligent with their chores on a daily basis is never an easy task. However, with the right motivation and the right tools, it can be made easier.

Sonbeams Chore Charts come in two styles – boy or girl. Each dry erase chore chart has magnets. I have two of them hanging on the refrigerator at eye level for my two youngest daughters. Each day, as they complete their chores, its fun and easy for them to check off their accomplishments. Another idea would be to use these charts for your homeschool, listing each subject to be completed.

What I especially loved about these chore charts is the verse written right on the board: “And whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord.” Colossians 3:23

If you are looking for a new way to encourage diligence in your own children why not try the Sonbeam Chore Charts. You won’t be disappointed!

Spool Pumpkin Craft

This is a sweet and simple idea. I think you could use these little pumpkins at each place setting on your thanksgiving table – maybe take home favors or even use them as place cards. You could do these with your children as part of your homeschool, too!

These little pumpkins are frugal, too! Check out the tutorial over at I Can Teach My Child.

Leaf Pictures

One of my favorite things about homeschooling is that we can focus as much as we want on nature study. I cam across these beautiful pieces of art made entirely from items found in nature. The perfect ending to a nature walk! My girls are going to love this idea! Check out the amazing images on Atelier Pour Enfants. The post is written in French, but you’ll get the idea.

The Pretty, Practical Notebook Dividers

Organize your Household Notebook/ Planner with these pretty, practical Dividers and Tabs! Just print onto cardstock, cut out, and insert into your notebook. Perfect for homeschooling moms! Included in this package are 26 Household Planner Dividers and over 50 Homeschool Planner Dividers!

Price: $19.95
Sale: $12.95 Available for Purchase on CurrClick.com

Free Curriculum Resources

Homeschooling can cost as much or as little as you like. Free is always good, right? Here is a list of free resources that I have found to be very valuable.

Curriculums:

1. Homeschool Share 
2. Ambleside Online 
3. Old Fashioned Education 
4. Head of the Class 
5. Lesson Pathways

 Supplements:

1. Spelling City
2. Education.com
3. Kinder Printables
4. File Folder Fun
5. The Crafty Classroom
6. Lapbook Lessons
7. Learning Page

Science Experiments

Earlier this year, I talked a little about my Kinesthetic Learner. Realizing that I have a kinesthetic learner was an eye opener for me. Suddenly, I realized that all those lessons I have tried to teach for the last year or two were not what she really needed. Obviously, you can’t get away from workbooks and book work totally, but I have come up with a few things that I think will make this year better for both of us.

1. Explode the Code. She just had a terrible time sitting through the Teach Your Child to Read in 20 Easy Lessons book. As soon as we sat down with that book the wiggling began. On the second day of using Explode the Code a light bulb went off in my brain when she said, “Mom, I really like this book because I’m actually doing something.”

2. File Folder Games. I think that doing a lot of memory work will be easier if she can play a game at the same time. I hope!

3. Nature Walks. This child loves nature and nature walks are one of her favorite things.

4. Lots of Crafts. Keep her hands busy with educational crafts!

5. Science Experiments. She has begged me to do science experiments. In the past I have always put off doing experiments because they seem so time consuming and messy. This year I decided that as a reward on Fridays we will do science experiments. I am going to print out her lesson plan for the week and each time she completes her workbox lessons I will have her put a star or other sticker on the lesson plan. If she gets all of her stars we’ll do the experiment. Hopefully, this will be a great motivator!

I have found a few neat websites that have experiments for children:

• Candy Experiments
• Science Kids
• Science Made Simple
• Cool Science Experiments for Kids

We’ll see how things go. I have a lot of really fun things planned for this year!

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