Click here for Special Days in May updated for 2020!
Special Days in May, 2018
2 Replies
Category Archives: Resources
Special Days in April, 2018
Newspapers In Education Week
EXTRA! EXTRA! Read and Write All About It!
“Newspapers in Education Week” begins on the first Monday in March. This has been a homeschooling project week for our family for several years. We read newspapers, make recycled newspaper crafts, and write articles. In the past couple of years we have published a school family newspaper. Below are some fantastic resources we’ve used in the past along with some new ones we’re going to be using this year.
Newspapers in Education Cross curricular pre-k through high school resources and ideas.
Newspaper Printing Press Virtual Tour
America’s Historic Newspaper Pages from 1789-1963
“School Journalism” is a wonderful site for video instruction, lesson plans, and reporter training for both teachers and students! (Hover the mouse over the “Journalism Lesson Plans” option on the top left to access the learning resources. These are geared toward higher grades.)
Elements of News is a simple slideshow presentation explaining what makes a story “newsworthy”.
News Article Writing Guide geared for upper elementary and middle school levels.
How To Write An Editorial is a helpful 3 Part Lesson Guide and Creative Writing Activities for all grade levels.
Create A Comic Activity Ideas and Resources
Writing Tips Slide Show for Asking and Receiving Advice and Formal Complaints.
Write a Weather Report Tips, Format, and Writing Guide with Examples
Write a Review Lesson Plan, Activities, Resources
Write a Food Review Step by step guide
Write a Sports Article 3 Ways, Tips, Examples
Tabloid Tales “Learn about the power of exaggeration by writing news stories to accompany actual tabloid newspaper headlines!”
Spotting Fake News Quick Tips and Guide
Write Ads 7 Step Writing Guide
Wacky Headlines Prompts and activities for creative writing
Interactive Printing Press Create and publish your own newspaper.
Newspaper Templates Printable Notebooking /Writing Pages
betty jo
Celebrate Your Name Week
The first full week in March is Celebrate Your Name Week!
- Sunday – Namesake Day
- Monday – Fun Facts About Names Day
- Tuesday – Unique Names Day
- Wednesday – Discover What Your Name Means Day
- Thursday – Nametag Day
- Friday – Middle Name Pride Day
- Saturday – Decendants Day
Below are some wonderful free resources for learning about names and some activity ideas for added fun.
Celebrating Names Activity Guide and Resources
Name Origins, Crest, and History (also related ‘for sale’ products)
How to Say, “My name is” in 475 Languages
What’s In a Name Game from Funschooling and Recreational Learning
Sticky Note Guessing Name Game
“The Name Game” from the 1965 Hit Song by Shirley Ellis at Youtube
“The Name Game” Lyrics and Music for Karaoke at Youtube
12 Names of Jesus Printable Cards from The Purposeful Mom
Praying and Pronouncing the Names of God from Tony Evans
Names of Large Numbers Chart (because we need a math lesson this week too!)
I hope you’ll enjoy Celebrating your family’s names!
Betty (A diminutive of Elizabeth, meaning My God is plentiful) Jo (A diminutive of Josephine meaning May Jehovah add. Also diminutive of Joanne meaning God is gracious.)
Special Days in March, 2018
South Korea and the 2018 Winter Olympics
The 2018 Winter Olympic Games have begun! And, Winter Olympics based homeschooling has begun, too! The links below are the cross curricular free resources we’ll be using as we explore South Korea and the 2018 Winter Games.
Brief History, Geography, and Facts of South Korea https://www.ducksters.com/geography/country.php?country=Korea,%20South
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/south-korea/#south-korea-market.jpg
Printable South Korea Maps – http://www.freeworldmaps.net/asia/southkorea/
Country Notebooking Printables – http://www.notebookingnook.com/freebie-country-study-notebooking-pages/
South Korea Video Tour – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq5_J9nArE8
Learn Korean Phrases https://www.fluentu.com/blog/korean/korean-travel-phrases/
Korean Food and Recipes http://www.easykoreanfood.com/
Olympic Games Official Website – Sports, Athletes, Photos, News, Schedule, History, and More https://www.olympic.org/
Olympics Themed Math – https://www.yummymath.com/2018/winter-olympics-pyeongchang-february-9-25/
Bible Verse/Winter Olympic Coloring Pages – https://www.childrens-ministry-deals.com/collections/winter-olympics-sunday-school-childrens-church
Bible/Winter Olympic Discussion Questions https://whatsinthebible.com/the-sochi-winter-olympics-2014-five-questions-to-engage-your-kids/
2018 Educational Kit from the Olympic Museum –https://www.olympic.org/museum/visit/schools/teaching-resources/lesson-material/experiencing-discovering-the-og-special-pc2018#
Non- Commercial Use Free Clipart (enter “olympics” into the search bar) http://clipart-library.com/
Music of the Olympics https://learn.musicinourhomeschool.com/courses/15-minute-music-lessons/lectures/1074732#/questions/1
Olympic Themed Interactive Games http://www.primarygames.com/socstudies/olympics/olympics.htm
How to Draw Soohorang (the tiger mascot) video lesson https://www.artforkidshub.com/how-to-draw-soohorang-pyeongchang-winter-olympics-mascot/
Writing Prompts https://theeducatorsspinonit.com/2014/02/winter-olympic-writing-prompts-after.html
https://writingwithsharonwatson.com/olympic-fun/
Olympics Printable Worksheets – Wordsearch, Crossword, Anagrams, True/False Quizzes https://www.historyonthenet.com/worksheets/olympics-worksheets/
Science of the Winter Olympics Video Playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB6B38A6C0540EEB6
How It’s Made Videos : Skating Rinks
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/
Winter Olympics Inspired Crafts, Games, and Activities https://tipjunkie.com/winter-olympic-activities-and-crafts-for-kids/
I hope we ‘Win the Gold’ with Winter Olympic learning!
betty jo
Special Days in February, 2018
Special Days Archive
A friend asked if I could put the links for a year’s worth of Special Days in one post so she wouldn’t have to search each time she worked ahead on her lesson plans. That’s a good idea! So …
These are the direct links to the most recent Special Days and Resource lists for each month. (Note – The 26th of each month is usually when the updates are finished for the next month.)
Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah!
Several years ago my family included Hanukkah as one of our December holiday studies. The older kids remember it, but the younger boys do not. So, that’s my cue to include Hanukkah learning into our homeschooling lessons! Below are some wonderful online resources and activities that I’ve found for us as we explore this 8 night celebration.
Candle lighting, Maccabees, Dreidels, Latkas, and more … https://www.myjewishlearning.com/category/celebrate/hanukkah/
How to Make and Play a Dreidel Printable https://www.familyeducation.com/…/hanu…/hanukkah-dreidel
Menorah Craft Instructions http://blog.jugglingfrogs.com/2007/12/how-to-make-chanukah-menorah-chanukiyah.html
Hanukkah Arts and Crafts Projects http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/hanukahartscraftsideaskidsprojects.html
Printable Writing and Coloring Pages and More https://www.activityvillage.co.uk/hanukkah-printables
Lapbook Printables http://www.homeschoolshare.com/hanukkah_lapbook.php
Printable Word Games and Activities http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/hanukkah/
3 Hanukkah Math Lessons https://www.yummymath.com/2017/why-are-the-dates-of-hanukkah-different-every-year/
8 Christian Hanukkah Readings and Devotions on Light http://heartofwisdom.com/biblicalholidays/2016/12/07/hanukkah-readings-for-eight-nights/
Hanukkah Piano Sheet Music Printables and MP3 Downloads http://www.gmajormusictheory.org/Freebies/Holidays/Hanukkah.html
Maccabeats Haukkah Music Videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgWWM18u2RI0sAiiWDjmaPFa6s16KLd7A
Hulu is currently streaming Rugrats Chanukah! Also, if you have access to Disney Jr., Little Einsteins, Special Agent Oso and Puppy Dog Tales have Hanukkah episodes.
Hanukkah Sameach! (Happy Hanukkah in Hebrew)
betty jo
Still Learning Something New 
