Category Archives: Our Homeschool

Change of Plans and A Melting Pot Christmas

The first week of homeschooling Christmas we had 4 sick kids, 3 canceled events, 2 visitors, and roads closing due to a winter storm. Hey, that could (almost) be sung to the tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”!

We are making a slight change of plans this week with our “Christmas in Early America” studies, too. After a three day study/review of the original colonies, we started researching Christmas in the colonies. That was when we learned that in Boston, Christmas celebrations were against the law! In the other early colonies, Christmas was decorated , foods prepared, and celebrated by whatever traditions those early colonists brought with them when they sailed over.

So, for the rest of our learning days before we break for the holidays, our new lesson focus will be more of a “Christmas Around the World” theme.

This study will not actually take us away from our years course of study of Early American History, it truly relates to an early American theme…”The Melting Pot”. America is called this because we, the people, came from everywhere around the world, but coming to America made us one nation.

Below are the best of the internet links I’ve found for studying Christmas Around the World!

Interactive advent calendar which features Christmas facts and information from a different country each day http://projectbritain.com/Xmas/calendar/index.html#calendar

Clever video from Team Marco Polo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQCxRLo8rGs&list=PLlQeGlB7ezHZhmCjzXrQGvMAg2rTC9ct_

Christmas customs, traditions, and how to say “Merry Christmas” in more than 50 languages http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/

Free Christmas Around the World printables for all grades and subjects (you will need an account to access, but it’s simple to set up and worth the effort for printable resources to use throughout the year) http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:christmas+around+the+world/Price-Range/Free

Unit Study and Lapbook Printables – http://www.homeschoolshare.com/christmas_around_the_world.php

Fun Fact Note Cards Printable – http://teachmama.com/holiday-time-fun-fact-lunchbox-notes/

Though we already have our crafting ideas and supplies ready to add to our learning, we may try to include an idea or two that goes along with our new theme. Christmas Around the World craft ideas http://www.benandme.com/2010/12/christmas-crafts-from-around-world.html

A nice collection Christmas songs from around the world

And just thinking of “melting pot” conjures images of melting chocolate chips for fruits, cookies, and pretzels and also of warm soupy cheeses for breads, veggies, and meats.

Our holiday cooking lessons and potluck dishes to share will most definitely have to be fondues!

Kid friendly instructions, tips, and fondue recipies

https://www.momjunction.com/articles/cheese-fondue-recipes-for-your-kids_00359234/#gref

For other Christmas study related posts see here

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Free Christmas Themed Teaching Resources

Countdown to Christmas

Learning Christmas with Countdowns

https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/11/26/special-days-in-december/

How Holidays Are Made and Other Christmas Science Lessons

May our Christmas plans not just be merry and bright, but FLEXIBLE!

betty jo

Countdown to Christmas

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This first week in December has been all about counting the days until Christmas. I am just as bad, if not worse than the kids when it comes to the rush and excitement of the holidays. Also, we look forward to surprises each day and a welcomed break from learning as usual.

We’ve had special activities each day this week. We dug out the box of Nativity collectables from the garage and cleaned off our school shelves for them. We made a couple of trips to the grocery to buy cookie and treat ingredients for baking/cooking projects. We have also visited the craft store to stock up on the supplies we’ll be needing for our holiday art creations. There’s been old favorite Christmas movies watched. And of course, we loaded our bookbags up with stacks of library books with holiday themes. Finally, there were web sites with holiday studies that we have linked to each day. Below are the best of the online resources we have kicked off our learning through December with.

For our daily Bible devotions we have started the Advent Chain from this site. It’s simple to print and assemble but meaningful and thought provoking http://www.spelloutloud.com/advent-chains-easy-christmas-craft.html

Daily Christmas countdown activities for both my teens and younger boys . One is a calendar which features an interactive game or activity for each day and another calendar with a different Christmas themed geography and history lesson. Both calendars are found here http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/teacher/christmas.html#advent

NORAD also has a site with a new interactive activity each day as well as some other north pole and Santa activities and resources http://www.noradsanta.org/

The teens also have an interactive calendar to link to each day. This one offers a new secondary level math video each day http://nrich.maths.org/10472

Even more Christmas Countdown and Advent resources

I haven’t made this yet, but plan to. This mamma NEEDS a countdown activity too! Candy Countdown Calendar! http://www.franw.com/2011/11/make-your-own-candy-countdown-calendar.html

More Christmas Resources https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/11/23/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/

And More Christmas Resources here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/11/29/free-christmas-themed-teaching-resources/

How Holidays Are Made and Other Christmas Science Lessons

Hope you are having a wonderful time counting down the days till Christmas!

betty jo

Free Christmas Themed Teaching Resources

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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/

Christmas games, jokes, stories, music, coloring, and more http://www.merry-christmas.com/

12 Days of Freebies from Simple School Schooling Classroom delivered to your e-mail, sign up here http://simpleschoolingclassroom.com/index.php/faq/12-days-of-freebies-info

25 Days of Handmade Ornaments http://inkstainswithroni.blogspot.com/2009/12/25-days-of-hand-made-ornaments-2-paper.html

Online Around the World Advent Calendar http://projectbritain.com/Xmas/calendar/index.html#calendar

For more Christmas themed links that we will be using over the next few weeks https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/11/23/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/

My special days of December listing is packed full of learning opportunities for history, science, cooking and more https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/11/26/special-days-in-december/

Happy Holiday Schooling!

betty jo

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

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Thanksgiving 2013 – Our Chalkboard Wall

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!

Thanksgiving Unit Study Ideas and Resources

Homeschooling Humor – Thanksgiving Edition

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

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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.

50 fun activities and projects for advent http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/holiday-traditions-free-printable-activity-advent-calendar/

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/

5 Days of Christmas Carols study with lyrics, printables, videos, and more http://www.homegrownlearners.com/home/2012/12/20/5-days-of-christmas-carols-day-5-o-come-o-come-emmanuel.html

100’s of free Christmas themed printables for all grade levels and most subjects http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/PreK-12-Subject-Area/ChristmasChanukahKwanzaa/Grade-Level/Homeschooler/Price-Range/Free

Interactive Christmas themed games http://www.akidsheart.com/holidays/christms/chgames.htm

Science, language arts, history, and art resources and lessons plans with Christmas themes https://www.teachervision.com/christmas/celebrations-and-festivals/6604.html

3 levels of Christmas Trivia http://triviapark.com/quizzes/xmasquiz.html

Printable notebooking and journaling pages here http://www.teacherfiles.com/resources_bp_holidays.htm and here http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/christmas-writing-paper

Holiday TV Guide http://m.washfm.com/articles/happy-holidays-444238/holiday-tv-guide-2013-9483051/

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/

This site has an overview of American Christmas history http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/ch/in_america.htm

“Bet You Didn’t Know” is a short Christmas history video which includes a bit of American Christmas history http://www.history.com/topics/christmas/videos#bet-you-didnt-know-christmas

Colonial American history, decorations, and recipes http://www.history.org/almanack/life/christmas/

Video, Christmas in 18th Century America http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZ9Iaw0iKLY

Short story, Christmas in 1776, http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/christmas/stories/christmas-in-seventeen-seventy-six.html

Of course Christmas is not the only special day in December. Be on the lookout for my listing of special days in December coming soon!

To find your own study links and tons of “freebies”, consider joining some homeschooling social media groups. I recommend these! https://www.facebook.com/groups/567122276640599/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/210519735725683/

Happy Holiday Teaching!

betty jo

Our Homeschooling Week Ending 11/16

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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!

For more about our garden science project click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/14/homeschool-gardening/

For photos of past chalkboard wall murals click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/one-of-our-favorite-things-the-wall/

For more about our local homeschooling support group click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/02/23/what-do-you-get-when-you-cross/

The printable resources for our year long state study come from here http://www.homeschoolshare.com/connections__usa.php

For more about our Plymouth Colony study and the links we are using click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/11/08/thanksgiving-unit-study-ideas-and-resources/

For the special days listing for November click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/10/29/special-days-in-november/

It was a busy, but good week for our family. I hope yours was good, too!

betty jo

Great Educational Finds of the Week

Thanksgiving Unit Study Ideas and Resources

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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.

3 Articles about the history and mystery of the Roanoke Colony http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/articles/ushistory/roanoke2.htm

Roanoke Colony Creative Writing Prompt http://castelliclassroom.weebly.com/classroom-updates/roanoke-writing-prompt

Online interactive Jamestown adventure http://www.historyglobe.com/jamestown/

Jamestown Interactive webquest adventure http://web.archive.org/web/20040811071346/http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/schools/catoctin/3rd/webquests/jamestown/

Jamestown reading comprehension and printable quiz http://mrnussbaum.com/jamestown-printable-reading-comprehension/

The Natives and The English video from Crash Course http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTYOQ05oDOI

In addition to the early settlement studies, we began this thankfulness Bible study with printable cards and daily question/activity suggestions http://www.faithgateway.com/thanksgiving-bible-verses-free-printable/#.UnUbfhDZjFD

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

Virtual field trip to the first Thanksgiving http://www.scholastic.com/scholastic_thanksgiving/webcast.htm

Thanksgiving Myths Debunked and other Thanksgiving Articles and Child Friendly Recipes https://www.education.com/articles/thanksgiving/

Interactive trivia quiz http://www.quia.com/rr/315169.html

This site is my favorite of all the resources I’ve found. We will use this site daily. http://search.freefind.com/find.html?id=76113&pageid=r&mode=ALL&query=&sitemap=Site+Map

Grammar lessons with Thanksgiving themed mad libs http://amyswandering.com/2012/11/09/thanksgiving-mad-libs-2/

Thanksgiving themed notebooking, activity, and poetry copywork printable pages http://www.notebookingnook.com/freebies-thanksgiving-notebooking-pages-activity-pages-and-copywork-notebook/

Jokes, poems, songs, and more (scroll down and look at the left sidebar) http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/thanksgivingday-fun.html

Stories, jokes, poems and coloring pages http://www.hellokids.com/search?recherche=thanksgiving&search_go=OK

Thanksgiving Math and Printables https://www.yummymath.com/2017/thanksgiving-football-black-friday-and-giving/

Thanksgiving history, fun facts, and census https://www.factmonster.com/culture-entertainment/holidays/thanksgiving

Thanksgiving themed math worksheets (for younger students) https://www.math-drills.com/search.php?s=thanksgiving&page=1&sort=weekly

How Many Calories Are on Your Thanksgiving Plate? https://www.thedailymeal.com/how-many-calories-are-your-thanksgiving-plate/112013

Ideas and instructions for Thanksgiving themed arts and crafts http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/thanksgivingartscraftsideaskids.html

Games that pilgrim children played https://www.mayflowerjuniors2020.org/games-the-pilgrim-children-played

Thanksgiving Music Playlist

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade interactive games http://social.macys.com/parade/#/games

On nice days we’ll be getting outside for some nature observations, football (not soccer), and archery practice and just maybe some fishing.

Our science is research based (meaning the kids will have to come up with their own resources for information) and will include the following topics:

Human anatomy – digestive system
Why does Thanksgiving dinner make us sleepy?
Native American agriculture and nutrition of “The Three Sisters” (beans, squash, corn)
Natural Resources, plants, and wildlife surrounding the Plymouth Colony

Thanksgiving themed free downloads and printables for all levels and subjects for homeschools (you will need an account, but that is free and easy to set up) http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:thanksgiving/Grade-Level/Homeschooler/Price-Range/Free

Resources and Activities of Thanksgiving with a modern history twist! https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/11/15/thanksgiving-been-there-done-that/

betty jo

Salem Witch Trials

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This being Halloween week, we have decided to study the Salem Witch Trials for our American history lessons. Our goals for this study go beyond learning history and adding pages to our notebooks . I hope that when this week is over we will have a better understanding about how dangerous rumors can be, and how easy it is to fall into the trap of contributing to the spread of false accusations.

As with all of our studies, this one started with a library trip. These are the selections we chose for our witch trial studies.

Below are the links to the online resources we are using.

Easy to read 2 page article about the Salem Witch Trials http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/colonial/jb_colonial_salem_1.html

Biography of Increase Mather and witch trial word puzzles, printables, worksheets and quiz http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdmath.htm

Witch Hat themed writing paper printables for notebooking and journaling

Video walking tour of Salem http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qau3Xrv7-g

The following links are what my teens are following for further study.

Short article explaining the possible causes of the mass hysteria occurring during the Salem witch trial era http://ancientstandard.com/2011/07/11/salem-witch-trials-mass-hysteria-or-mass-lsd-trip/

From the History Channel http://www.history.com/topics/salem-witch-trials/videos#

Letters, maps, sermons, art, and trial transcripts http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/home.html

PDF of Author Miller’s The Crucible http://asbamericanlit.edublogs.org/files/2011/10/21078735-The-Crucible-Arthur-Miller-2hmdzot.pdf

Salem Witch Trial Interactive Game – “Can You Survive Salem’s Witchcraft Hysteria?” (This is not for younger children, it needs to be played/reviewed by the parent before giving the link to the teens)