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Not-Back-to-School: Curriculum Week

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Not Back to School Blog Hop

Today I’m joining up with the Not-Back-to-School Blog Hop
in order to share what we’ll be using in our classroom for the upcoming
2011-2012 school year.

I will be homeschooling a 3rd Grader, and a First Grader next year,
and I’m going to do my best to OVERLAP learning where ever possible.

In order to prepare for our school year I’ve come up with a basic
outline of the different tasks I want my children to complete.

This here outline will pretty much serve as our
entire schedule for the WHOLE year.

Once it’s finished I’m just going to make myself
a weekly calendar and then I plan to
simply fly by the seat of my pants.
(I think that’s a type of homeschooling…right?)

Also….as a disclaimer:
This isn’t complete
Yet.
So if there are blanks or spaces in my outline it’s not a mistake
I just haven’t gotten there yet,
but I really, really wanted to join up in the blog hop,
so I’m posting now even though
there is still work to be done.

And really is a homeschool Mom’s work ever finished…?

Okay, disclaimer over
On to the fun stuff:

Bible Study


Goals:
• Identify biblical character qualities
• Memorize Scripture: 36 verses
• Memorize Entire Awana book

Resources:
• Seeds Family Worship Music w/Bible Printables
• We Choose Virtues (Review Coming Soon!)
• Awana Program
• Homeschool Creations Printables
• Printable Memory Chart
• Lessons in Righteousness

In Action: (Listen to Song each day, Virtue Stickers each day)
Day 1: Seeds Full Verse, Awana Verse, New Virtue
Day 2: Seeds Minibooks, Discuss trait/promise, Awana Verse, Virtue Game
Day 3: Seeds Copywork, Children say Awana Verse to Leader, Virtue
Day 4: New Awana Verse, Look up in Bible, Virtue
Day 5: Memory Chart Day, Sticker, bonus for last week

Reading/Language Arts


Goals:
• Expand Vocabulary
• Expand Comprehension
• Expand Spelling List
Resources:
• Christian Light Reader Grade 1 & Workbook
• Christian Light Reader Grade 3 & Workbook
• Dynamic Literacy

In Action: Children will have 1 week to complete each CL lesson. They can work at their own pace and will be responsible for making sure their work is completed by Friday.
Day 1: DL
Day 2: DL
Day 3: DL
Day 4: DL
Day 5: DL

Writing


Goals:
• Write at Third Grade Level
• Expand Vocabulary
• Learn Self-Check Methods
• Produce variety of papers
• Keep a basic daily writing journal

Resources:
• Write Source
• Writing Guides (I’ll be posting these as I make and use them)
• Hmmmm….Should I purchase an actual Writing Program?

In Action:
Each week Sissy will complete one paper, Each week Bubba will complete a writing project.
Day 1: Topic Choice, Brainstorming
Day 2: Details, Outline
Day 3: Rough Draft
Day 4: Revision
Day 5: Final Draft, Written or Typed.

Math


Goals:
• Proficiency with Multiplication & Skip Counting Facts 1-12.
• Prepare for 3rd Grade State Math Test, Meet all marks.

Resources:
• Math-U-See (Beta & Delta)
• Various Math Workbooks (Singapore Mental Math, Coordinate Graphing,
• Multiplication Pocket Folder (I might make a Division one too!)

In Action: Hmmm….better get to planning!
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:

Foreign Language


Goals:
• Successfully complete 1 year in Spanish

Resources:
• Speekee Spanish w/Homeschool Curriculum
• Spanish Co-op 1x/week
• Spanish Workbook Level 1 & Level 2
• Library w/Spanish reading material

In Action:
Day 1: Speekee, Workbook
Day 2: Workbook
Day 3: Speekee, Workbook
Day 4: Workbook
Day 5: Co-op

Geography


Goals:
• 50 States w/Capitals and Locations
• Oregon State History, Industry, General Statistics

Resources:
• States Song (Both my children have almost got this song down!!)
• Sequence States & Capitols
• Scrambled States Game (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this game!)
• Road Trip USA from Confessions of a Homeschooler
• USA File Folder Game
• USA Atlas
• USA Map
• Stack the States iPhone Ap
• Oregon State Mini-Lapbook

In Action: (New State every week)
Day 1: Song, Map State, Nickname
Day 2: Song, State Flashcard, State Facts
Day 3: Song, Coloring Page, State Abbreviation
Day 4: Song, Map State on own, w/Capitol
Day 5: Song, State Flag added to “Passport”

Technology


Goals:
• Increase WPM typing skills
• Learn basics of MS Word, Type up Writing Project
• Learn basics of Power Point, Create Presentation
• Learn basics of Photoshop, Create Custom Graphic
• Demonstrate Online Skills in Researching Topics
• Navigate Online Library
• Use CPU for Reference tools (dictionary, calculator)
• Understand Online safety rules.

Resources:
• Typing Instructor for Kids
• Photoshop
• Power Point/MS Word & Online Tutorials for Kids
• Library

In Action:
Day 1: Typing
Day 2: Software (PP, Word, PS, or….)
Day 3: Typing
Day 4: Software (PP, Word, PS, or….)
Day 5: Typing

History


Goals:
• Begin to Learn Biblical History
• Create Visual Timeline book
• Expand American History (Unit Study Native Americans)
• Learn State History
Resources:
• Mystery of History (36 weeks)
• Blank Timeline Printables
• Library System

In Action:
Day 1: Lesson & Activity
Day 2: Lesson & Activity
Day 3: Lesson & Activity
Day 4: Review & Timeline
Day 5: Review & Quiz

Science


Goals:
• Learn the scientific method
• Complete Science Projects (Hands on)
• End Year with Science Presentation w/Oral Report

Resources:
• Hmmmm….You’re thoughts? I’m trying to decide between Truth in Science & Apologia!

In Action:
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:

Physical Education / Health


Goals:
• Play one team sport per season.
• Show and understand sportsmanship

Resources
• P.E. Co-Op
• Community Sports
• P.E. Co-Op

In Action:
Day 1: Nutrition Lesson, Team Sport Activity
Day 2: P.E. Co-op
Day 3: Nutrition Lesson, Team Sport Activity
Day 4: P.E Co-op
Day 5: Free Play

Homemaking for Sissy


Goals:
• Learn to cook 3 different meals
• Learn 5 different embroidery stitches
• Expand knitting, sewing, skills (Sissy)
• Earn 5 badges in Club

Resources:
• Club
• Sewing for Kids
• Recipes for Kids

In Action:
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5: Project Free Time

Leadership for Bubba


Goals:
• Learn to cook 3 different meals
• Identify 10 different tools and their use
• Learn to hammer, screw, sand, and bond wood.
• Complete Little Contenders of the Faith Workbook

Resources:
• Little Contenders of Faith

In Action:
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3: Contender Project
Day 4:
Day 5: Skills Project followed by Free Time

Okay, so there it all is!
Now I’m off to explore all the other great Week One entries at the blog hop,
I’m sure I’ll have my blanks filled in in no time!

Fourth of July Printables

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Are you busy planning for the Fourth of July?
Here is a quick list of some of helpful resources:

preschool bible printables
Preschool Fourth of July Bible Printables

bible story printables
K-5 Fourth of July Bible Printables

sunday school printables
Fourth of July Bible Treat Printables

fourth of july lapbook
Fourth of July Lapbook

fourth of july file folder game
Fourth of July File Folder Game

Fourth of July Crafts
Patriotic Crafts & Activities

Additionally, here are some more resources from around the web:

Lots more 4th of July Printables from Carisa @ 1plus1plus1equals1.com

Learn the 50 States & Capitols Song….My kids love this and we’re more then halfway through! There are lots of other songs if this isn’t you’re style :)

Patriotic Songs w/ Printable Lyrics. Scroll down to “Listen to the Song”

Free Shipping on Orders $49 or more

And if you’re planning a party in your classroom this year,
you still have enough time to order goodies through Oriental Trading and get them in time!

Soooo, How will you be celebrating this year?
I’m thinking Rib Eye….I cook a steak like Ree,
but I like to throw on a bit of Garlic Salt too.
What about You?


Place Value Folder Game

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This week, in addition to multiplication, we’ve been
really working hard on learning and understanding Place Value.
A few years back I picked up a set of Base Ten Blocks,
which really made it easy for my children to visualize
what I was talking about with all this “Hundred, Tens, Ones” talk.

base ten blocks

But it’s due time to to branch out to bigger numbers…
Thousands, Ten Thousands….maybe even Millions!

So today I whipped up this simple (no frills)
Place Value File Folder Game:

We played it this afternoon for Math,
and I’m quite pleased with the results!
Both children are easily reading numbers all the
way out to millions!

I’m surprised at how quickly they picked up on it!
The game is played by drawing numbers one at a time
and choosing where to place it on your board. You’re trying
to build the biggest number you can, so you have to be careful
as once you play a number you can’t move it.

I had my children read the “Place” they were putting each number, then at the end of the game they read their entire number to see who was the winner.

An hour later and they are experts in place value and didn’t
even realize they were learning.
(or gambling….for that ever evasive 9)

How do I feel about it all?

MuuuuAhhhhhhHaHa!
(said in an “I will rule the world” kind of tone)

I uploaded this game on File Folder Fun so
you too can feel this way!

Happy Ruling!

NOTE: If you like “everyone wins” games, just print one board and work together as a team, write down each number you make and try to beat the last one!

Magnetic Grid Games!

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I’ve been Ooogling Mama Jenn’s Puff Ball Magnets for MONTHS

(Remember Mama Jenn is the genius behind Education Cubes)

Well she also has TONS of fantastic learning game ideas
throughout her blog too….puff ball magnets being just one of many!

They look so colorful and fun, and best of all Hands-On,
but I never made them because I was waiting for Monkey
to get a bit older……somewhere past the age of the
“Everything goes into my mouth” stage.

Well, the time is here, and Monkey is now progressing
to the next developmental stage of learning:

He’s now in the “Everything goes into my mouth but I realize that somethings shouldn’t, and I should quickly take them out and exclaim, ‘yuck‘ stage.”

That is a real stage….Dr. Spock Says So.

That and Mama Jenn’s new Grid Games
just sent me over the edge!

I had to make them now,
because they will be so handy for Sissy and Bubba too!

So I followed her tutorial, using a Glue Gun because I too, am completely impatient.

(TIP: In case you are a sleep deprived Mom like me, be sure and put the glue on the magnet part first, and not the fuzzy puff ball part. Trust me.)

They turned out wonderfully didn’t they!

Then I printed out Mama Jenn’s Crown Grid game, and wrote each number 1-9 on the crowns three times each. There were three squares left over so I wrote 8, 2, 10 on each of them.

Then I slid the game into a page protector, and covered up the numbers with the Pom-pom’s.

To Play: Children take turns turning over two pom-pom’s at a time, with the goal of making 10. If a child makes 10, then they get to keep the pom-poms, if not, then they are recovered. Child with the most pom-poms wins. (I did write a 10 on one crown for a bonus pom)

The kids loved playing this game today, and we’re looking forward to more grid games! What Fun! Thanks Mama Jenn!


Van Gogh & Matisse

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We have completed a couple more of our Famous Artist crafts
this time we learned about Vincent Van Gogh and Henri Matisse.

We are continuing to use the “Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists” series

For Van Gogh we turned this:
van gogh craft

Into this:

van gogh printables

And for Matisse we used these:

famous artist printables
matisse craft

To make these:

matisse craft kids

All instructions are up on the main site as well as printable artist cards for each artist!

artist printables

Stay Tuned or Subscribe for more Crafty Fun!

Sugar Cube Igloo

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We are wrapping up our studies on the Inuit tribes of North America with a fun sugar cube igloo:

igloo crafts

For this project we watched this dated, but informative video on “How to build an igloo” and paired our craft with this fantastic early reader:

Igloo Crafts

A Look Inside an Igloo

The kids had a blast with this project, as we added a layer of cubes every day to allow them time to dry.

eskimo crafts for kids

We also spent some time exploring the fantastic videos on Sila. My children were just fascinated by these, so far they’ve seen the building of an igloo, the hunting of a caribou, and even a church service with a lesson on Moses. I haven’t seen them all so I’d recommend watching them on your own first to decide, as often with Native American culture you can get into spiritual discussions.

eskimo file folder game

This week we also reviewed what we know about Arctic animals with this fun Arctic Animals File Folder Game!

Stay tuned for more Native American Crafts as we move on to the Tlingit tribes!

Rocks and Minerals Discover Day!

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Rocks and Minerals homeschool lesson

Last week I set up this Rocks and Minerals Discovery table for the kids to explore with! Let me tell you that they L-O-V-E-D it, and it was hard to wrap it up and move on to the next thing. (Don’t you just hate when you have to pry them away from learning in order to get them to eat something?)

minerals kit

I used a few different kits that I picked up at the local teacher store, as well as our local museum. If you’re looking to pick up a kit for your classroom, I think the Minerals kit was better because it came with a streak plate and a nail to test the rocks with. However, the more “fancy” rocks like the ones in the first photo are the ones we picked up at the Museum, and you can snag a nice kit of some here online.

Here are some photos of the different stations that I set up:

rocks and minerals activities

Rocks and Minerals activities

Click here for the rest of them, including details for each one.

Rocks and Minerals Printables

I also made up this handy Rocks and Minerals printable to keep track of all the information we collected about the rocks. These print 2 to a page so you can easily have a bunch on hand for your kiddos to fill out.

Geology

And CurrClick has a Rocks and Minerals Flash Card Set for Free!

Stay tuned for more Rocks and Minerals Activities!

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Homeschooling in the Car…

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Do you homeschool in the car?

I do….and apparently I’m not the only one.

Apparently, there is an entire book devoted to homeschooling in the car…..

carschooling

CarSchooling by Diane Flynn Keith.

(I don’t have this book…but I do love herClickSchooling website!)

We do quite a bit of school in the car.

My opinion is that when you homeschool you just have to be open for the opportunities to arise and somehow you’ll squeeze all the curriculum goals in before the end of the year. I really believe that.

I have to believe that because I don’t have a magic fairy that comes in and teaches my children Art History and Global Economics….leaving me free to solve the numerous daily hassles that seem to always come up:

Like when I have to run back to the store to pick up the cheese that I forgot…

OR to pick up the cheese that the lady charged me for but didn’t put in the bag…….

OR to pick up the cheese that the lady charged me for, and put in the bag, but whirled the bag back around that stupid spinning thing at Wal-mart and hid the other half of my groceries from view leaving me to pack up three children in the pouring rain and head back to the store just so we have what we need come dinner time….which is approaching ever so quickly…..and we might as well pick up McDonnalds anyway, cause it’s too late for Chicken Parmesan anyway! Yeah.

(TOTALLY HOW I FEEL ABOUT IT)
grumpy

So Moving On…….Lately we’ve been quite sick, I even lost my voice…(betcha didn’t even notice)…and we’ve been traveling alot (…..more on that later), and of course we’re just horrible “Planners” in general…..always running out of toliet paper and laundry soap at just the right time…..

All of which equals more and more of “Car Time” and less and less of school time.

So to counteract life all of these crazy issues that keep popping up, I’ve begun to think of how I can utilize this time on the road.

So I came up with this ingenious idea.

homeschool tools

Clipboards for the Car.

Really Rocket science here folks….

homeschool crafts

Of course I had to sell it on the kids, so I let them go crazy with some Modge Podge…… and they turned them into some “Really, Super Duper Extra Special Travel Pads!” (you know……for when we want to bring along all our super cool worksheets to the dentists office)

homeschool crafts

It was like taking candy from a baby.

When they finished tearing out every worksheet within reach, and attaching them to their clipboards I knew I had a gold mine.

I knew I had to share…..because I’m gonna milk this on as long as I can.

Homeschooling in the Car rocks.

In fact I now have a school bag dedicated especially for stuff to bring in the car.

I also keep a spelling list in my center console……

Next to my iPhone…….which is jam packed with every educational “AP” I can find (lest the kids have a moments rest from learning)

But the point is that I wanted to stop the, “It’s to hard to write when the cars moving, and the pencil pokes through the paper and my leg and it hurts… and brother is leaning on me and I can’t focus on my math………….” whining in the car.

And these clipboards are going to help. I just know it.

If you’re unfamiliar with Modge Podge, I posted a tutorial of how how we made these clipboards on our main site.

Anyone else have a Handy Tip for Carschooling?

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Owl Pellet Activity

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owl pellet dissection craft

How can we learn about owls without dissecting some Owl puke?

I know right….we’d be kicked out of the Homeschool Co-op if we tried to pull a stunt like that!

(snicker)

owlpellet

Actually, we didn’t dissect “real” owl puke, we used the synthetic stuff.

We learned just as much about the dietary needs of owls, and I didn’t have to scream at my children for rubbing their eyes while dissecting.

Though I did startle the boy when I noticed him putting the bird beak in his mouth…..totally freaky

(Don’t worry…..I made him puke it up……like an owl…….there is no need to call CPS)

owl pellet experiment notes

Anyway, I made a printable book to go along with the Owl Pellet Dissection, and it’s now up on the site with photo instructions for how to dissect your own owl pellet.

(Thrilling stuff isn’t it)

Trust me, the kids love it.

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Horned Owl Craft

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horned owl craft for kids

This little guy sure has an expression doesn’t he?

He looks a bit Twitterpaited if you ask me. (That term from Bambi might have a whole new meaning now that Twitter is so popular!)

The belly of this little guy provides some white space for children to write in key facts or even some poetry about owls!

Here’s the Photo instructions and Templates you need to make this!

All Other Owl Crafts are Here
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owl valentine printables
PSSST: Check out these adorable Valentine Owls on our Sister Site!


Owl Mosaic

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owl books


We picked back up with our Owl unit this week, reading “Our Wild World: Owls”. I say reading lightly because the text was a little thick for my 4 year old, but the photographs were quite awe inspiring.

So much so that on the spur of the moment we decided to make a mural mosaic of one of them.

We got to work punching circles…

owl crafts

(I am soooo glad I bought that Martha Stewart Circle Punch.)

Trust me you don’t want to be cutting all these circles out by hand.

Plus the kids love to slam down the puncher and watch the circles fly. Good Fun.

And at the end of a 20 sheets of paper, 4 glue-sticks and eating all our meals in the living room, our Owl mural was complete:

educational crafts owls


We hung him up in the living room, with a view of the kitchen “so he can catch any mice that come in for snacks”
owl mural mosaic craft


Mice? I don’t think it’s the mice coming in and slurping down all the whip cream for breakfast honey…….

Wanna make one? Here are the Full Photo Instructions…


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Busy, Busy, Busy Bags

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Okay, so how long has this site been up?

And how many free Printables have I posted?

Less then 10? Less then 5? Less then 1?

Yikes,

I know some of you are going through withdrawls:

Okay….So it’s most likely only me going through the withdrawls.

Moving on….

A printable from me to you.

craft tags

Fantastic right?

Oh…..

Are you wondering what it is?


Check it all out here.

But don’t forget to come back and tell me how cool it is.

I know you love it. (Because I love it)

And it’s the only way that I even had time to write up this blog post.

Which, in case anyone is wondering…

was interrupted by a vomit spewing Monkey on my lap.

But still I typed on.

Must…….Make…….Printables……. ;)

It’s Official

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We’re in the club….



Seriously, do we get some kind of induction award or something?

Ya’ll remember the day you came home with a set of Base 10 blocks right?

It’s like crossing the line between

“We’re thinking about Homeschooling

……and……

We are a Homeschooling family”

(I’m not kidding….It’s even mentioned on YouTube

…that means it’s got to be true!)

Anyway, the set came with it’s own workbook of ideas and activities, but we were also able to pick up this handy little game book that adds a bit more spice and interaction for my soon to be 1st grader!

It has some great punch out cards that you can use to make up your own games with…..and Sissy loves games……and competition…..

And a chance to beat Mom.

Seriously, when we played this afternoon, she didn’t even realize that she was learning.

And it took all of 10 minutes for her to start counting in the hundreds.

The girls got it figured out.

So now of course I’m on a Base 10 Mission

(Sounds Official doesn’t it!)

And I’ve been tracking down some helpful worksheets and activities online:

Teaching with Base 10 Blocks

Printable Base 10 Blocks

Custom Place Value Worksheets

Place Value Word Worksheets

Place Value FlashCards

Place Value Online Video

Okay, and there are like a ZILLION others online if you just do a search.

Anyone want to share their favorite Base 10 game or activity with us?

I know ya’ll know of some good ones!

Sandpaper Starfish

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Well, we couldn’t keep the Oil Pastels put away for very long! They’re just too much fun, and too perfect for the Coral Reef theme we’ve been learning about.

This time we added in a little “Sandy” fun, to learn more about Starfish. We’ve checked out this book from our local library, aptly named, “Starfish” by Edith Thacher Hurd.

Starfish Craft

So we got to decorating our sandpaper, using the oil pastels. The colors came out very vibrant, and fun! Then we cut them into Starfish shapes, and made a little paper collage with a decorative place to write some starfish facts on the side.

“

We used this spot for Sissy to make a Starfish Adjective Acrostic…is that what they’re called? You know, where you think of an Adjective for each letter in the word “Starfish”….I can’t remember.

Anyway, whatever it’s called, it was a really fun way to think of some descriptive words about these beautiful creatures.

Click Here for Full Photo Instructions for this Starfish Craft