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.
Again this week, I’m sharing some sites that I am adding to our homeschool’s Christmas themed studies link list.
The FREE YouVersion Bible App for kids is now available. E downloaded it for the younger boys, but she and I had the most fun with it. And the app includes the birth of Jesus! https://www.bible.com/kids
This site has fun interatives for all subjects K-5 (and they have a “holiday” category complete with Christmas themed math games) http://interactivesites.weebly.com/
There is so very much I am thankful for, not just today, but everyday. And, dear reader, I am thankful for you! It’s my prayer that you are finding much to be thankful for as well.
Have a blessed holiday!
betty jo
Here are a couple of Thanksgiving themed posts just in case you are needing some last minute activities!
May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
Our homeschooling week was spent on more Thanksgiving themed studies. But, on the homeschooling social media groups and the e-mails I’ve received, it is all about Christmas. And with the Christmas teaching season starting in just another week, I’ve started my Christmas study link collection and I’m passing those links on to you today.
Resources and lesson plans for all grades and ages that teach giving and volunteerism, civic engagement, and character through service. This looks just perfect for countering the commercialism and greediness that comes along with the season. http://learningtogive.org/teachers/
Since our history studies are centered around early America this year, we will be learning about the Christmas celebrations of that time. This article explains some of the Christmas traditions of the American colonists. http://foundersacademy.net/2013/colonial-cmas-decor/
Our weather has turned much cooler this week but that has not kept us indoors. Our beautiful maple tree is loosing it’s yellow leaves and has created an opportunity for work, nature observation, and play.
Our garden science project from this past spring is still amazing. Even though we have had a few frosts, and nearly everything we had planted is finished, the peppers and onions are still producing! And weeds are coming up like crazy. We are hoping to get the remnants of the tomato vines chopped up into mulch this coming up week.
Our lessons this week focused on the establishment of the Plymouth Colony, this day in history and science, and adding Montana, Washington, and Oklahoma more states to our board. (We add a state every time it’s statehood anniversary comes up on the special days calendar.)
After a week of word games and random drawing, we started on a new mural for our chalkboard wall. It should be finished next week.
Our homeschooling support group held a Pre-Thanksgiving cooking class. E and I taught cornbread cranberry stuffing and acorn treats. The kids also learned to make rolls (regular and gluten free), butter, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, and turkey carving. Kitchen skills and safety with a little science and history thrown in made for a great school day! The class was followed by our monthly family night with more friends and more food!
We were needing a hands-on activity or two to add some fun to our Thanksgiving studies. Also, I was in need of a Thanksgiving themed “something” for our Wednesday night church group and our homeschool groups November family night. I asked my friend, Fran, if she had any Thanksgiving games. And this is the wonderful way she answered http://www.franw.com/2013/11/thanksgiving-turkey-games-and-activities.html
This site has been around for a while, but was new to me. They have resources for most any holiday studies as well as everyday studies http://www.kiddyhouse.com/Holidays/
This week we began our Thanksgiving unit studies with a couple of Pre-Thanksgiving activities. Below are some of the links we followed as we both reviewed and learned about the early American Settlements of Roanoke and Jamestown.
For the school days from now until Thanksgiving we we will be notebooking, crafting, cooking, reviewing, and researching who, what, when, where, and why – everything associated with the Plymouth Colony. We will keep journaling pages and bulletin boards of what we discover.
Below are the links we’ll be using for resources as we travel back in time to visit early America over the next few weeks.
Plimoth Plantation “Just for Kids” Activities – Coloring, Talk Like a Pilgrim, Virtual Field Trip, History Detective, and more! https://www.plimoth.org/learn/just-kids
Still Learning Something New 