Author Archives: Betty Jo

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About Betty Jo

I'm Betty Jo, a wife to my knight in (not so) shinning armor for nearly 22 years. We have 5 kids and another one that currently lives with us. We have been Christian home educators for 18 years with 8 more (at least) to go.

Resources for Presidents

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3000348_origThe third Monday in February is set apart as Presidents’ Day in honor of the birthdays of our two most famous presidents, Washington and Lincoln.  However, this is just one of several Presidents Days in our homeschool.  As we work our way through American History this school year, we study the presidents as their birthdays show up on the special days calendar.  Below are the links we go to each time we study a president.

US President biographies, printables, word games, and more  http://gardenofpraise.com/leaders.htm

Disney’s The American Presidents short videos  https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=presidents+disney+education

President Quotes – http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/type/type_president.html

Online quiz for each president  http://www.quiz-tree.com/United_States_Presidents_main.html

We’ve been collecting these presidents layer books on a board.  After this school year, we’ll transfer them into a file folder for easy storage and quick reviews.

1383105_589757634439426_1467905323_n Presidents lapbook printables  http://www.homeschoolshare.com/presidents_lapbook.php

President Notebooking  http://notebookingfairy.com/president-notebooking-page/

And because Presidents’ Day is a special day,  here’s extras to take advantage of.

Is it “Presidents”, “President’s” or “Presidents'”?https://www.surfnetkids.com/presidentsday/349/how-to-spell-presidents-day/

The presidents on coins and currency  http://mistupid.com/currency/

For fun Animaniacs Presidents Song  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9KFoqK-yhU

Presidential Salary Math Lesson                                                           https://www.yummymath.com/2017/in-honor-of-presidents-day-find-out-about-presidents-pay/

Free Presidents’ Day resources and printables for all grades and most subjects                   https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:presidents%20day/Price-Range/Free

Arts and Crafts Ideas for Presidents’ Day  https://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/presidentsdaycraftsideakids.html

“Hail to the Chief” Presidential Anthem

Favorite Food of Every President                                                            https://www.wideopeneats.com/every-presidents-favorite-food/

Occasionally we’ll bake a cake on the president’s birthday we are studying.  Most any study is better with cake!

betty jo

Snow Week

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 Ice, Snow, Wind, maybe even Blizzard Conditions!  The local public and private schools will be canceling for “snow days” but not us.   “Snow Days” make some awesome learning days! Below is a great resource collection for winter studies whether you have snow or not !
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Why it’s good for us to get outside even when it’s cold –  https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/01/15/but-its-cold-out-there/
Winter Weather Science Lessons, Safety Tips, and Activities  http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-winter-storms.htm
How to Survive Winter Weather Preparedness Guide   https://thesurvivalmom.com/surviving-severe-winter-weather/
Bring some snow inside for observation and experimentation.
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A study of snow wouldn’t be complete without some research into the life and discoveries of homeschooled farmer boy turned scientist, Snowflake Bentley.     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4V1cxjcRXCw
 Bentley Biography, Photos, and exhibits

Snowflake and Snowman Printable Writing Paper for Notebooking/Journaling. (The kids tend to write nicer/better when we use decorated paper.  I appreciate these for not using much ink.)   http://www.teacherprintables.net/free-printable-bp-holidays.html

 Bible Focus –  Psalm 147:15-18

15 He gives a command to the earth,
    and it quickly obeys him.
16 He spreads the snow like wool.
    He scatters the frost like ashes.
17 He throws down hail like rocks.
    No one can stand the cold he sends.
18 Then he gives a command, and it melts.
    He sends the breezes, and the waters flow.

Amazing and beautiful!  Macro Photographed Snowflakes  –http://www.natureknows.org/2013/11/amazing-macro-photography-of-individual.html

Fun Snowflake Resources, Activities, Recipes –
Winter Weather Themed Math  –  http://www.yummymath.com/?s=winter
Snowmen – Netflix has this award winning film. Our local library has it, too.  We loved it,  (some of the themes were  on the mature side, but my younger boys did just fine with it)  Here’s a preview    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUq8VS6aa9U
Snow Week learning can still happen without actual snow!
Printable Paper Snowflake Templates –
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 “Grow Your Own Crystal Snowflake” Kits. –  I used purple pipe cleaner sticks thinking the color would be pretty coming through the crystals.  We thought the borax crystals were fun to watch grow and turned out quite interesting!
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1800413_584443411637515_1941961007_nThis is the recipe and instructions we used for the kits.  http://creativecynchronicity.com/2011/12/crystallized-snowflakes/
Add Crystal Comparison Experiments by making Epson Salt and Sugar Solutions.  Of course you can make icicles instead of snowflakes. They fit better in smaller jars.
Snow Dough –  2 cups baking soda, 1 cup corn starch, 1 1/2 cups water. Combine all ingredients in sauce pan. Cook over medium high. Stir continuously until it’s the consistency of mashed potatoes. Move dough to bowl and cover w/a towel until cool. Knead well. Store in airtight container.
Sensory Cloud Dough –  Baking Soda and White Hair Conditioner also   Flour with Baby Oil works well – Just mix until the texture feel right to you
Put tortilla shells goes on the grocery list! These dessert snowflakes are fun to make and really yummy!
Cut round flour tortilla shells into snowflakes, lightly fry in oil then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.
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Homemade Crockpot Hot Cocoa is a delicious warm up to any snow day!
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 can sweetened condensed milk (14 oz)
 6 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Combine all ingredients in a 4-quart crockpot.  Stir well.  Cover and cook on low for 2 hours stirring occasionally. Top with marshmallows or whipped cream.    Stirring with a peppermint stick is tasty, too!
Stay warm and enjoy learning with snow!
imagesbetty jo

2014 Sochi Winter Olympics – Teaching Resources

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Winter-Olympics-LogoWe aren’t particularly “sports fans” at our house, but there are some sporting events we are occasionally interested in.  The Olympics is our top sports interest.  The 2014 Winter Olympics begins Feb. 7th.    And, as it happens at my house, where’s there’s interest, there is learning potential.

I have been planning for a Winter Olympic Unit Study and been collecting a stock pile of links for our homeschooling lessons.  I have some awesome resources for teaching during the Winter Olympic Games to share with you.

The Official Olympic Website – http://www.olympic.org/sochi-2014-winter-olympics

Bible Based Olympic Discussion Guide for the Family – http://whatsinthebible.com/the-sochi-winter-olympics-2014-five-questions-to-engage-your-kids/

Olympic Themed Interactive Games for Kids – http://www.primarygames.com/socstudies/olympics/olympics.htm

Sport Event Coloring Pages –  http://www.classroomjr.com/olympic-coloring-pages/

Support Team USA with a snowflake and a photo  http://www.nbcolympics.com/sochisnowflake?aff=wwlp

Information about the 15 Sports of the Winter Games  http://www.mapsofworld.com/olympics/winter-olympics/events.html

Maps and facts of Russia –   http://www.mapsofworld.com/russia/

Meet the Team USA Atheletes –  http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes

Short videos showing how skis, skates, and curling stones are made – http://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/how-its-made/videos/how-its-made-winter-olympics.htm

A Video Series of the Science of the Olympic Sport Events  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTVqtGTfIc8&list=PLB6B38A6C0540EEB6&feature=share&index=6

Winter Olympic article series from Time Kids – http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/2014-sochi-olympics

Gold (Au79), Silver (Ag47), and Bronze (Copper-Cu29)  Information from this Interactive Element Chart – http://humantouchofchemistry.com/pages/periodictable.html

Gold, Silver, Bronze Element Videos  – http://www.periodicvideos.com/

Olympic Printables and Activities –  http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/winter-olympics

Teaching Resources and Printables for all grades and several subjects –   http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:winter+olympics/Grade-Level/Homeschooler/Price-Range/Free

Crafts and Games – http://www.makeandtakes.com/winter-olympic-crafts-and-games-for-kids

And finally, the 2014 Winter Olympics Events Schedule and TV Listings – http://www.nbcolympics.com/results-schedule

Know that I’m cheering for our homeschools to have winning Winter Olympics studies!

betty jo

The Winter Olympic Games, But First, The Super Bowl

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Winter-Olympics-LogoWe aren’t particularly “sports fans” at our house, but there are some sporting events we are occasionally interested in.  The Olympics is our top sports interest .  The 2014 Winter Olympics begins Feb. 7th.    And, as it happens at my house, where’s there’s interest, there is learning potential.  I have been planning for an Olympic study and been collecting a stock pile of links for our homeschooling lessons.

While transferring the best of my link collection to this post to share with you,  I received a request for help with teaching Super Bowl related lessons.  And I think we came up with a pretty good, quick Super Bowl study.

I have some awesome resources for teaching during the Winter Olympic Games to share with you, but first, here’s some links for Super Bowl related lessons:

Football Music – lesson plans and songs  http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/multimedia/series/AudioStories/touchdown-songs.aspx

Football Science Video Collection –  http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/football/index.jsp

Football Rules –   http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/beginnersguidetofootball

Graphing Math Activity for younger students – http://www.2teachingmommies.com/2014/01/graphing-through-super-bowl.html

And More Football Math –  http://illuminations.nctm.org/Lesson.aspx?id=872

Super Bowl Printables, Crafts, and Activities – http://www.dltk-kids.com/searchresults.html?q=superbowl

Super Bowl Party Games – http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/super-bowl-sunday/

Kid Friendly Super Bowl Recipies – http://chefmom.sheknows.com/articles/822383/kid-friendly-super-bowl-foods

My family’s favorite part of the Super Bowl – Super Bowl Commercials – http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=super%20bowl%20commercial%202014&sm=1

And now, here’s the list of my favorite 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics resources:

The Official Olympic Website – http://www.olympic.org/sochi-2014-winter-olympics

Olympic Themed Interactive Games for Kids – http://www.primarygames.com/socstudies/olympics/olympics.htm

Sport Event Coloring Pages –  http://www.classroomjr.com/olympic-coloring-pages/

Support Team USA with a snowflake and a photo  http://www.nbcolympics.com/sochisnowflake?aff=wwlp

Information about the 15 Sports of the Winter Games  http://www.mapsofworld.com/olympics/winter-olympics/events.html

Maps and facts of Russia –   http://www.mapsofworld.com/russia/

Meet the Team USA Atheletes –  http://www.teamusa.org/Athletes

Short videos showing how skis, skates, and curling stones are made – http://www.sciencechannel.com/tv-shows/how-its-made/videos/how-its-made-winter-olympics.htm

Winter Olympic article series from Time Kids – http://www.timeforkids.com/minisite/2014-sochi-olympics

Wordsearch, Crosswords, and more printables   http://homeschooling.about.com/od/freeprintables/ss/olympicprint.htm

Olympic printables and activities –  http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/winter-olympics

26 teaching resources for all grades and several subjects  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:winter+olympics/Grade-Level/Homeschooler/Price-Range/Free

Happy Sporting and Happy Learning!

betty jo

Resources for Teaching – Chinese New Year

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January 25th is the first day of the Chinese New Year and 2020 is the year of the Rat.   Here’s a resource list for cross curricular and multi-level learning!

Traditions, Greetings, Decorations and More                                                https://chinesenewyear2020.org/

Chinese New Year History, Celebrations, Food, Crafts and More for Kids                   https://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-new-year.html

Chinese New Year Activities, Crafts, and Learning Resources   http://www.franw.com/2016/01/chinese-new-year.html

Chinese New Year resources, games, recipes and printables  http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/chinese-new-year/

More Learning Activities and Resources                           https://seasonal.theteacherscorner.net/chinese-new-year/

Lesson Plans, Ideas, and Resources                                                                     https://kidworldcitizen.org/a-lesson-plan-for-chinese-new-year-w-props-and-stories/

Chinese New Year craft ideas and instructions                             https://www.redtedart.com/chinese-new-year-craft-dragon-puppet-free-printable/

Lunar New Year Math Activity                                                    https://www.yummymath.com/2018/lunar-new-year-2018/

Free downloads for language arts and math activities with a Chinese New Year theme  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:chinese+new+year/Grade-Level/Homeschooler/Price-Range/Free

Chinese New Year Family Traditions  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noiouIzjJZE

How To Teach Simple Chinese Characters                    https://bilingualkidspot.com/2018/07/10/chinese-characters-for-kids/

Step by Step Chinese Writing Symbols                                                                                 https://www.china-family-adventure.com/chinese-writing-symbols.html

Learn Mandarin Chinese – 40 online lessons with audio, including reading, speaking, writing, modern vocabulary, grammar, calligraphy, examples and exercises    http://www.chinese-tools.com/learn/chinese

China History and Timeline               https://www.ducksters.com/geography/country/china_history_timeline.php

China Stats, Maps, Missions, and Prayer Card Printables   https://joshuaproject.net/countries/CH

Chinese New Year makes a wonderful theme for a project.  Here’s the one our family worked on a few years ago.

1545659_579692425445947_531859764_nbetty jo