January 13, 2010

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Are your kids going a bit stir-crazy being stuck indoors during the winter?  Disney’s Family Fun website has this cool list of table top games the kids can design, make, and play indoors.  It’s a great homeschool day bribe to break up math and Latin.

Here are a few easy favorites:

• Flip Golf
• Sharpshooter
• Tabletop Football (all you need is a piece of paper for this one)

Enjoy! 

P.S.  Do you have any good indoor boy-energy using ideas?  I’ve got 4 stir-crazy boys and both I and my daughter would love some ideas!

Posted under Homeschool Activities, Homeschool Crafts

December 16, 2009

One of the kids favorite Christmas traditions is the gingerbread house.  Yes, it’s the candy, candy, candy.    Plus, the anticipation of eating it after we admire it for a week or so.  There’s laughter, chocolate faces, sticky fingers, and a big mess that everyone helps clean up at the end.  The house smells and feels wonderful all day!

And we always invite a family over to participate.  So, the recipe and instructions here are for 2 houses:

First the dough – I’m not much of a plan ahead gal, so I don’t do the whole “refrigerate for 24 hours” that many gingerbread recipes say.  I just add a bit more flour so I can handle the dough. 

Dough for two houses (also a great recipe for gingerbread men!)

Cream

• 1 1/2 c. butter or margerine
• 1 1/2 c. white sugar
• 3 eggs
• 3 c. molasses

Add dry ingredients and mix well.

• 12 cups flour (I use fresh ground whole white wheat flour)
• 1 T ground ginger
• 1 T cinnamon
• 1 t salt
• 1 T baking soda

Divide into 3 portions on three greased cookie sheets:

Spread with spatula and/or rolling pin

until about 1/4 in thick

Bake at 350 for 20 – 25 mins until not glossy and toothpick comes out clean.  (bake 10 – 12 mins for gingerbread men)

Some people cut out the dough in the house shapes before baking, but that’s too much work for me, plus you don’t get as nice of edges to build with as you do when you cut it after baking.

Cut the following out of each cookie sheet:

1. 4 side walls – 7 in x 5 in rectangles
2. 4 roof pieces – 8 in x 5 in rectangles
3. 4 end pieces (the fronts and backs of the houses) – a 6 in wide x 5 in tall rectangle topped by a triangle whose tip is 3 inches tall from the center top of the 6 in side of the square.  I hope that makes sense:  Draw a 6 x 5 rectangle.  Find the center of one of the 6 inch sides.  Measure up 3 inches.  Draw a triangle coming to a point at that 3 inch mark = a triangle on top of a rectangle.

Whip up the frosting (a double batch):

• 5 c powdered sugar
• 1/2 t cream of tartar
• 4 egg whites
• 1/2 t. vanilla

Beat until it stiffens and will stand up a bit when you pull the beaters out of it.  It dries fast, so keep it covered if you’re not using it right away.

Glue the walls together and let them dry a bit (5-15 mins) before attaching the roof if you’re having trouble keeping things together.  The longer you can let the house dry, the better.  Make sure you use the smaller rectangles for the walls and save the longer ones for the roof.  You could even break up the activity by gluing the house first, and then working on getting the candy out in bowls, play a game together, etc., while the houses dry.  (If you’re desperate, a hair dryer can help a bit, just don’t let it get hot.  Use the low setting.)

The fun part:  Decorate with candy and try not to eat too much!

Here are some fun ideas to try and build:

• Snowmen out of marshmallows held together with toothpicks, candy corn noses, mini-chocolate chip eyes, and Skittle buttons.
• A pile of logs or fences out of Tootsie Rolls.
• Windows and benches with Keebler chocolate graham or grasshopper cookies.
• Build cars out of cookies with round candies for wheels.
• Line edges and paths with pull apart licorice.
• Make a pond by spreading some frosting with a bit of blue food coloring, line with licorice and add some Swedish Fish.
• Put gummi worms in a garden with broken oreos stuck to frosting for dirt.
• Starbursts make great bricks.

Try not to eat it for at least a day

What a fun evening!

Enjoy!

Posted under Homeschool Activities, Homeschool Crafts

October 30, 2009

When visiting family last year, we were introduced to a whole new world of pumpkin carving. 

I’m normally a ‘triangle and jagged teeth’ type, when carving faces on pumpkins, but I had no idea how creative the professionals could get.

My sister-in-law was born on Halloween and now celebrates it with a vengeance.  Family and friends come over the whole week before Halloween, carving and carving and carving . . .

(Tip: And I learned that if you want an early pumpkin carving to last a few extra days, one trick is to get a big tote full of water and immerse the whole carved pumpkin for a nice ‘plumping’ soak, and it’s as good as new.)

I hope you enjoy taking a look at all the pumpkins.  There are some great ideas here:

Posted under Homeschool Crafts

August 28, 2009

I posted a recipe for Flubber last year and we decided it would be a fun rainy day activity to do today.

(Especially, since the kids were moaning with boredom because they are grounded from the computer, the TV, AND all their basement toys – I’m tired of cleaning them up)

Here’s the recipe again:

Bowl #1 – Mix thoroughly

• 1 cup white glue
• 3/4 c warm water
• food coloring (opt.)

Bowl #2 – mix thoroughly

• 1/2 c. warm water
• 2 t. Borax (20 Mule Team is one brand)

After mixing each bowl separately, mix them together.  It is amazingly cool as a polymer is formed.   Read about the science behind the reaction here. 

Stir with a spoon, or for the more adventurous, mix with your hands.  Don’t quit, the gluey slime will suddenly harden into a great cross between slime and silly putty.

Even the baby can enjoy Flubber, just make sure he doesnt’ eat it.

Posted under Homeschool Crafts, Science Curriculum

August 25, 2009

Homeschoolers have Style!  Lots of it, in all kinds of flavors.

With the freedom homeschooling affords, comes individual style.  We can afford to experiment, jump around, take a leisurely path through phonics, or whatever suits our family best.

Check out these styles!

 

Proactive

 

ChristineMM of The Thinking Mother shares thoughts about unique classes taught by subject matter experts that homeschoolers can take advantage of in her article The Thinking Mother: Homeschool Filmmaking Class for My Kids This Fall.

Shannon tells of her experience with filing a “notice of intent” to homeschool: Get this . . . posted at Mountaineer Country.

If you’ve wondered why public schools don’t teach based on skill level instead of age, Susan Gaissert writes about how that may be changing in:  Who is Leading When It Comes to Educational Innovations? posted at The Expanding Life.

Elena LaVictoire presents A few tips for Ohio homeschoolers posted at My Domestic Church.

If you’ve given some thought to a homeschool name or ID cards, Beverly has some tips in “Do You Name Your Homeschool?” at Beverly’s Homeschooling Blog.

Barbara, from Barbara Frank Online, motivates us with some encouragement for the new school year in Fasten Your Seat Belts…..

And Christine gives us her take on planning the school year and juggling paperwork in Planning the School Year at Our Curious Home.

Playful

 

Need a fun, make-at-home, game to liven up your school drills?  Kris presents Giant Board Game posted at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers.

Kaye presents Rainy Day + Chuck E. Cheese = Happy Grandkids & Grandparents! posted at SandwichINK.com.  “Chuck E. Cheese can be a great “friend” to grandparents who help with their grandkids’ homeschooling programs!”

Summer presents A Day In Our Homeschooling Life posted at Wired For Noise.

Beautiful

 

In How to Educate for Beautiful Results, posted at Pajama School Blog, Natalie Wickham shares the importance of identifying and working on the parts that ultimately contribute to a whole education.

Make sure to check out these great art ideas:  Julie Moses presents Follow the Yellow Brick Road- More Oz projects! posted at Kids Art Projects and Lessons at Ms. Julie’s Place.  “Just a few projects to get us going somewhere over the rainbow!”

Annette Berlin presents 37 Ways To Share Crafts With Kids posted at Craft Stew.  “If you love crafting, chances are good you want to share that love with your children. Here are some easy (and frugal) ways to help your child also develop an interest in crafting.”

Studious

 

Kathy presents her review of Andrew Peterson’s North! Or Be Eaten: The Wingfeather Saga Book 2: Homeschool Review posted at Homeschoolbuzz.com Reviews.

Dave Roller presents Reading Programs posted at Home School Dad.  “I wanted to share some of the reading programs my children have been participating in.”

Amanda gives an in-depth look into the history of the atomic bombs dropped at the end of WWII in The Daily Planet » Blog Archive » The “Little Boy” Was Dropped posted at The Daily Planet.

Stephanie shares her excitement about learning Latin for the first time together with her children in I Am Just The Lead Student, That’s All at All About Homeschool.

Ruby shares her insight into using computers, the internet, and online learning to have a positive impact in schooling with one article at Freehold2 called “Internet as a Teaching Tool” and another titled “Online Learning Benefits” at School’s Out.

Adventuresome

 

Need some ideas for field trips?  Kristen Hamilton presents A Day in the Life – Field Trips posted at A Day in the Life – Homeschool Blogger.

If you’re trying to plan for fun AND learning this fall, check out this post:  The Family presents What to do, what not to do posted at Once Upon a Family.

Lynda at The Adventures of A Princess and the Bear writes Bear’ Geography: “about our doing geography and learning the continents with literature and lapbooking. We are making an apple pie in this post, to go along with the book, How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World”

John shares thoughts along with the inspirational story of a Zac, a homeschool teen who sailed around the world alone.  He writes Home School Encourages Independence In  Learning and Life at Independent Learning and Home Schooling.  He says, “Rather than isolating students, home school encourages students to develop independence in the way they handle the way they live and the way they learn.”

Amy shares her summertime adventures in Summer Time Learning posted at Kids Love Learning.

We can all empathize with Janine at Why Homeschool who writes about struggles with starting backup with school in “Not Quite Ready to Start School.”

Successful

Margaret writes about her plans for not teaching history this school year at Semi-Schooling History posted at Two Kid Schoolhouse

Barbra Sundquist presents Do You Need to Get Angry Before Anyone Listens? posted at Barbra Sundquist.  “Have you ever found yourself thinking, “Why is it that I have to get angry to get what I want?”

Lynn shares her successful first week of school along with some great resources, ideas, and links.  Check out First Week of School Done! posted at Eclectic Education – Homeschool Blogger.

Ben presents 7 Ways to Save Money on Back to School Shopping posted at Money Smart Life.

Scott Palat presents Parental Involvement Affects the Academic Success of Children posted at TutorFi.

Freestyle – a bit of everything

Susan Ryan presents Open Education – It’s the Learning that Counts posted at Corn and Oil.  “There are many high quality, free learning resources available for homeschoolers, including MIT’s free online courses.”

Shelly presents Vintage Video – Jay Can Do It posted at Homemade Homeschoolers.  “This episode of Vintage Video – Jay Can Do It – is part of the Homemade Homeschoolers Podcasts. The post includes thoughts about the difference between how non-homeschoolers define “socialization” and how we at Homemade Homeschoolers define it. We hope you enjoy!”

And if you haven’t settled into a homeschooling style yet, check out Choosyhomeschooler’s article PURLs of Wisdom Blog » Choosing a Teaching Style or Homeschooling Method posted at PURLs of Wisdom Blog.

Help Aimee out with some new lunch ideas as she shares hers in Homeschool Talk: School lunches at Aimee’s Land.

Experimental

If you haven’t done the soda bottle and Mentos experiment, you’re in for some fun.  See how Lara DeHaven did it in A Homemade Geyser posted at Texas Homesteader.  My boys are itching to do this!

And if you need some ideas to let your enjoyment and study of nature branch out into other science topics, check out Katie Glennon and her article: Using Nature Study to Study all Areas of Science posted at Katie’s Homeschool Cottage.

Grateful

Leah at The Courtney Six shares Just In Case I Haven’t Mentioned It Lately…:  “My thoughts on why I’m so glad we homeschool.”

Amy at Raising Arrows presents “The Shame On Me Sea“.  The homeschooling parent’s life is often fraught with guilt. Amy writes about her own personal struggle to stay out of the Shame On Me Sea.

I’m grateful, too!

I hope you enjoyed this edition of the Homeschool Carnival.  Thank you for all your contributions!

Please take a moment to comment and/or spread the word by posting to your blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

Next week the carnival will be held at Home Grown Mommy.com and submissions are due Monday, Aug. 31st at 6 pm.  Visit here to submit your post.

Or if you’d like to peruse previous editions, they are listed at Why Homeschool.

Thank you again to all those who took the time to submit posts and share!

– Misty

Posted under Blog Carnivals, Field Trips, Homeschool Activities, Homeschool Crafts, Homeschool Curriculum, Homeschool Life, Homeschool Websites

March 12, 2009

“Doll Faces Flower”  by Brooke

Here’s and ‘oldie but goodie’ idea next time you’re looking for a hands-on art activity: 

Collages!  Remember how much fun we had doing those in elementary school?  Ok, we didn’t have glue sticks back then, and I remember eating the glue paste (it smelled so good!), but it’s still a great activity.  It’s fun, cheap, easy, and best of all, minimal mess.

1. Gather up old magazines, newspapers, catalogs, preferably for things your kids are interested in like the American Girl Catalog for my daughter.
2. Pass out paper, scissors, and a extra glue sticks.
3. Let them cut and glue to their hearts content.
4. You can suggest ‘Themes’ like the flower my daughter made from doll heads, making a car by finding and cutting out all the parts from different vehicles, making people, fantasy characters, even new Pokemon characters by cutting and glue various parts together.
5. It’s also some great pattern opportunities including biggest to smallest, sorting, venn diagrams, etc.

Enjoy!

What are some of your favorite ‘easy’ hands-on and art activities?  I can always use more, especially when the kids are cooped up inside by the weather!

Posted under Art Curriculum, Homeschool Crafts

March 9, 2009

Here’s a great blog carnival article with a collection of all kinds of hands-on homeschool projects:  Rock collecting, making paper, sculpting with discarded materials, plus my own playdough making tutorial, and more.  A nice collection of articles to get the ideas flowing.  Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite hands-on activity? Or a link to one? Please share

Posted under Blog Carnivals, Homeschool Crafts

January 28, 2009

Isn’t this a beautiful puzzle?  It’s eye-catching enough to stop even my hyper toddler for a second look.

I was looking for a blank puzzle to print and found this Photoshop puzzle tutorial on how to design an entertaining triangle brainteasing puzzle. The trick is to arrange the triangle-shaped puzzle pieces so that the bug bodies all line up. It’s not as easy as it looks!

You may not know much Photoshop, but the author, Enrique Flouret, is nice enough to let us download the final products which are easy to print on sticker paper or simply glue to cardboard or cardstock, and cut out for a fun activity:

• Grass-Themed Bugzzle Triangle Puzzle
• Sky-Themed Buggzle Triangle Puzzle

If you make one of these, would you mind commenting and let us know what materials you used and how it turned out?

Posted under Homeschool Crafts, Toddler Tips

December 30, 2008

Welcome to the first of my “Picture This” posts.  This if for the readers that enjoy ’seeing’ what I’m talking about.  And sometimes, scanning through a post of pictures is a nice break from all the text.

I did a recent post with recipes for homemade playdough and flubber.  Here’s how easy it is to make your own playdough:

Here’s the recipe I’m doing:

Playdough Recipe #1

(Special Ingredient = Alum – found in ’spices’ section of grocery store)

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1 T oil
1 T powdered alum
1/2 cup salt
2 T vanilla
food coloring

Mix all dry ingredients. Add oil, water, vanilla, and food coloring.  Mix.   Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until reaching the consistency of mashed potatoes. Remove from heat.  Play with it.  Store in plastic bag.

 

1.  Get a pot (you have to start somewhere)

 

2. Assemble ingredients.  There are only 7 of them.  Seriously, this is what takes the longest at my house.  Can you spot three ingredients in my disaster of a slightly unorganized pantry?  (Red arrow = white flour, Blue arrow = oil, Orange arrow = vanilla back there somewhere)

2. Still assembling . . . Here’s a close-up – now can you see the white flour?  We’re a whole wheat family, so I pretty much use this exclusively for playdough and paper mache.

 

2.  Still assembling – Now we’re to my stuffed to the brim well-stocked spice cupboard.  Pretend it’s an I-spy game:  Yellow – Yes!  The salt is easy, Green – a little baggy of food coloring way back there, and Orange – knock over everything looking for that well hidden bottle of Alum (you think it’s hard to find in the store?)

2.  Got it all!  (except the food coloring and the water are not in the picture)

 

3.  Add ingredients – Finally!!  Add one cup flour.  (Check out the action shots!)

 

4.  Add one-half cup salt.

5.  Add one cup water.

6.  Add 1T Alum (Ok, it’s not exact, and I goofed and used 1 teaspoon – a very forgiving recipe!)

7. Add 1 t vanilla (up to 1 T).  It covers up the salty dough smell nicely, but is a bit brown.

8. Add 1 T oil, any kind.  Helps keep the dough moist and pliable.

9.  A few drops of food coloring.  It mixes in much easier at this stage.

10.  Stir.  Stir.  This is the fun part where little helpers are welcome.  Oh, and mix a few colors for an impromptu color on primary and secondary colors.

11.  All mixed up it should look like this and drip thickly off the spoon.

12.  Oops – don’t EVER wait this long to put the cap back on that staining, evil, permanent, spreads everywhere, food coloring!

13.  Adding a little blue to my batch – ooooh, pretty swirls.

14.  Put in on medium heat and stir continuously.  In a few minutes, the dough on the bottom will thicken, darken, and make everything a bit lumpy (see the dark green chunk in the middle).  Keep stirring.

15.  Chunkier, keep stirring.  Almost done now.

16.  No more glistening wet looking stuff and it all pulls away from the pan into a ball – You’re done!  Get it off the heat and out of the pan right away!  Over cooking makes for crumbly dough.  It’s better to undercook than overcook.

17.  Tadah!  Even the playdough thinks it’s easy!

18.  Bag it and suck out the air to make it last.  Or even keep it in the fridge if you have the room.  (My stuffed well-stocked fridge isn’t accepting new items.)

 

Recipe Time = somewhere between 7 and 43 minutes

1. Assemble Ingredients:  2 – 15 minutes (you know how long it takes at my house)
2. Mix ingredients: 2 minutes
3. Cook playdough: 3 – 6 minutes
4. Extra helper and lesson time:  2 – 20 minutes.

Posted under Homeschool Crafts, Picture This!

December 18, 2008

Check out another great internet resource full of craft projects, worksheets, and lots of printables: LessonSense.com.

If you’re looking for some Christmas craft ideas and printables, see their Christmas craft page for projects to make Christmas trees, stars, and even a cute stable with Mary and Joseph. 

Or check out their Christmas worksheet page which has the following:

• Christmas Memory Game
• Christmas Flashcard Matching Game with colored pictures and matching words.
• Mary and Jesus printable
• Really cute Nativity Printables
• Plus more!

Share With Us:

Have you incorporated holiday lessons into your homeschool? (Whichever holidays you celebrate)  Do you have any tips or ideas that might help the rest of us.  Please share by making a comment!

Posted under Homeschool Crafts, Social Studies Websites