Category Archives: Our Homeschool

Around the World in 80 Days

In Jules Verne’s novel, Around the World in 80 Days, the calm, orderly main character, Phileas Fogg, makes a wager that he can travel around the world in eighty days.  He does this on October 2, 1873.  Today we have fun holiday in honor of this fictional occasion, “Phileas Fogg Win a Wager Day”! If your family hasn’t read Around the World in 80 Days, October 2 would be a perfect time to start. Of course, anytime is a good time to begin such a thrilling adventure.

We chose to “read” this classical story via audio a couple of years ago and the whole family loved it!  The reader from “Loyal Books” was excellent.  Please note that Around the World in 80 Days is not a children’s book. There are some rather mature scenes in Verne’s tale, however my youngest (11 at the time) was fine after some discussion. Actually, this book inspired a lot of discussion.

Here’s a collection of resources to add some extra fun and some lessons to the reading.

Learn to Play Whist   (this is the game that Phileas Fogg was playing when he begins his adventure)                                                                                                                               https://cardgames.io/whist/

Listen to the audio book                                                                           http://www.loyalbooks.com/book/around-the-world-in-eighty-days-by-jules-verne

Read the book                                                                                                   http://literatureproject.com/around-the-world/index.htm

Several Free Printables                        https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:around%20the%20world%20in%2080%20days/Price-Range/Free

Study Guide                                                                                                    https://www.shmoop.com/around-the-world-in-eighty-days/

Map of the trip                https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Around_the_World_in_Eighty_Days_map.png

Interactive Game               http://www.freeworldgroup.com/games6/gameindex/aroundtheworldin80days.htm

Vocabulary Lists (the vocabulary is intensive)                                                                                          https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/204437

Oh, and the movie from 2004 staring Jackie Chan?  Let’s just say it was barely based on the book.  Just barely.

betty jo

 

 

Special Days in October, 2018

Special Days in September, 2018

Special Days in August, 2018

Snakes!

“Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes?” asks Indiana Jones, and this homeschooling mama is asking that too!  I know some people who have pet snakes and enjoy them and others who have extreme fear of them. Growing up in Kentucky, I’ve even heard rumors of snake handling in churches! Personally, I’m in more of a basic “just avoid them” category.  Honestly, I’d rather avoid a snake study but  “July 16 – World Snake Day” was marked on our list of  Special Days in July  , which means it’s an interest study request. I don’t want to say no to an interest study, and it’s been a while since we did an animal research project, so …

Here’s my collection of cross curriculum snake themed resources to share with you for when you find yourself facing a snake study.

Snake Facts Slide Show

Image Gallery: Snakes of the World

Labeled Anatomy Diagrams:

Live Science Article – Why We Fear Snakes

Importance of Snakes in the Ecosystem

Snake Bite First Aid

Pet Snake Care

Bible Verses about Snakes

Snakes in Religion  search results

Read Kipling’s Rikki-Tikki-Tavi

Snake Mythology

Snake Vocabulary Word List

Word Snake Game

Snake Jokes and Riddles

Printable Worksheets and Activities

Snake Unit Study and Lapbook Printables

Snakes Notebooking Printable Pages

Songs About “Snakes”  (Heads up! Not all will be appropriate for families)

Snakes in Art – Statues, paintings, pottery, drawings, and more, from ancient to modern day, and from all over the world. (Again, Heads up! Not all will be appropriate for families, but you can easily choose which pieces suit your study.)

Step by Step How to Draw a Snake

25 Exceptional Snake Crafts

Printable Snakes and Ladders Game  – “When you download the game, you will get a printable board and a set of question cards. With every move the player has to answer a question in order to stay on their new position. This game comes with the questions of the World of Knowledge game. But you can create your own set of questions. But you can also play it without any questions, just roll the dice and have fun!”

I couldn’t find a “snake” math resource so I’m thinking I can use some printable math task cards for the above Snakes and Ladders game.

There’s hundreds of thousands of snake related videos on Youtube and I’m sure we’ll watch a few of them.   Since we’re fans of “Good Mythical Morning” I have this one saved for ‘fun?‘ and a crazy PE idea (not real snakes but maybe a rubber one or two).

I’ve already been to my local library’s website and put some snake books on the hold shelf. We don’t have a zoo in our area, but we do have nature centers and pet stores, so I think a field trip can be easily planned to wrap up our snake study.

betty jo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Flowers Week

These photos are showing a few of the flowers we have growing in our backyard.  We’ll be looking at them closely as we venture on to our next summer school study.

American Flowers Week begins June 28th and that’s a wonderful time to begin a summer school study about flowers!  Here’s a fantastic list of free cross curricular resources for learning about and with flowers!

“American Flowers Week is the advocacy, education and outreach campaign …”  Find out more about the celebration and how to participate at their website!             https://americanflowersweek.com/

Photo Gallery of arranged flowers from all 50 states

Free  US map of official flowers and each state’s official flower  coloring pages

Photo Gallery of Official State Flowers

Free Flower Anatomy Printables

Step by Step Flower Dissection Instructions 

Flower Science Experiments

Gardening and Flowers Vocabulary List

Wild Flower List

Wild Flowers Identification Guide

Edible Flowers

Flower Photography Tips

Step by Step How to Draw Flowers

Flower Notebooking Page

Read Flower Stories, a public domain book from 1903

Video Tips, How To’s, and Projects from Flower Experts

https://www.youtube.com/user/expertvillage/search?query=flowers

Video Math Lesson with Fibonacci Flowers

What flowers do you have growing in your yard to homeschool with?

betty jo

 

 

 

Special Days in July, 2018

Click here for Special Days in July updated for 2020!

Summer Schooling – Resource and Activity List

June 21 is the first day of summer and the start of fantastic summer time learning!  Here’s a list of free cross curricular summer themed resources and activities:

Reasons for the Seasons – Ted Ed Video Lesson                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DD_8Jm5pTLk

Seasons and the Sun – Crash Course Kids Video Lesson                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b25g4nZTHvM

Search your city’s sunrise/sunset times, sun distance, sun altitude, and more              https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/

Day and night world map                                      https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/sunearth.html?iso=20180618T1406

Bible Verses for the Summer                                  http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/christianity/bible/bible-verses-for-the-summer.aspx

Ancient Solstice Celebrations Article                                                        http://www.kidzworld.com/article/890-summer-solstice-the-first-day-of-summer

https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-summer-solstice-holiday-litha-2562244

“The Longest Day” Math Lesson                                                          https://www.yummymath.com/2018/the-longest-day-2/

“How Much Pee is in the Pool?” Math Lesson                                  https://www.yummymath.com/2018/how-much-pee-is-in-that-pool-2/

Summer Theme “Would You Rather” Questions                                                                          http://minds-in-bloom.com/20-would-you-rather-questions-for-2/

Sun Experiments                                                                     https://www.franw.com/2016/06/experiments-you-can-do-with-sun.html

Home Remedies (these make for some good science labs when the unfortunate happens)

Sunburn

Bug Bites

Stings

Poison Ivy

Bug Spray

Testing Sunscreen Effectiveness – Science Fair Project

Pesticide and Repellent – Science Fair Projects

Make a Thermometer                                                                                    http://www.weatherwizkids.com/?page_id=1715

Make a Barometer                                                                                        http://www.weatherwizkids.com/?page_id=1745

Summer Astronomy Events, Maps, and Guides                                https://www.almanac.com/astronomy

Dream Vacation Writing Prompts                                                                     https://writeshop.com/dream-vacation-writing-prompts/

Camping Writing Prompts                                                                                  https://writeshop.com/writing-prompts-about-camping/

Camps and Summer Vacation Vocabulary                                         https://myvocabulary.com/word-list/camps-and-summer-vacation-vocabulary/

Summer Crafts and Activities                                                                              https://artfulparent.com/100-summer-crafts-activities-for-kids/

Animated Shakespeare’s A Mid Summer Night’s Dream  Summary               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1wMfOwlAZ8

A Mid Summer Night’s Dream from “No Fear Shakespeare” ( Shakespeare’s language side-by-side with a facing-page translation into modern English)                                http://nfs.sparknotes.com/msnd

Famous Paintings of Summer                                                                    http://blog.bridgemanimages.com/here-comes-the-sun-famous-paintings-of-summer/

Vivaldi’s Summer with Nature and String Instruments Music Video               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhkoUQ7HdIQ

Billboard’s Top Summer Songs                                                         https://www.billboard.com/articles/list/513566/top-30-summer-songs

ICE CREAM!  ice Cream in a Bag Recipe and learn about the history of Ice Cream   https://www.franw.com/2011/07/ice-cream.html

Healthy Summer Snack Recipes                                                           https://www.superhealthykids.com/30-kid-friendly-summer-snacks/

Swimming Pool Games                                                                   http://www.medallionenergy.com/blog/40-swimming-pool-games-play/

DIY Backyard Games                                                                                                        https://www.brit.co/diy-outdoor-games/

And, don’t forget about your local library!  Many have special summer programs!

Happy Summer Schooling!

betty jo

Memorial Day

I’ve found some wonderful free cross curriculum resources for learning with a Memorial Day theme!

Memorial Day Lesson Plans, Projects, Printables, and Activities (I love the arts and craft idea of making a shoe box parade float!)                                    https://seasonal.theteacherscorner.net/memorial-day/

More Memorial Day Projects, Printables, and Activities               http://www.theholidayzone.com/memorial/

Memorial Day Bible Lessons and Resources                                                      https://mintools.com/veterans-memorial-day-resources.htm

History of Memorial Day video                                                                        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRXrfs0f1Fo

Soldiers placing flags at Arlington National Cemetery video                             https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHhIkWlHw60

Memorial Day Vocabulary List and Word Puzzles                                           https://myvocabulary.com/word-game-puzzles/memorial-day-may-30th-vocabulary/

Free Printable Patriotic Writing Paper              https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:patriotic%20writing%20paper/Price-Range/Free

Memorial Day Math Lesson                                              https://www.yummymath.com/2018/memorial-day-2018/

Poppy Classification            http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2009/wasicek_lind/Classification.htm

Poppy Description, Uses, Symbolism, Photo Gallery                          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poppy

Timeline of American Wars                                      http://www.roswellmemorialday.com/history/timeline-of-americas-wars/

My friend Dawn has some awesome ideas for “War” studies on her Journey Through History list!     https://schoolinswag.wordpress.com/our-journey-through-history/

betty jo

 

 

 

 

Special Days in June, 2018


Click here for the Special Days in June list updated for 2020!