Tag Archives: special days

Our Homeschooling Week Ending 11/16

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

Arrrrgh! Pirates!

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According to the special days in September calendar, the 19th is Talk Like a Pirate Day! And on our planner, it’s the last day of our pirate unit study that we have been working on a couple of days a week for the past several weeks. It’s been a fun and interesting study. Below are some of the resources we have been using.

For pirate biographies, dictionary, lore, sea sickness, and more http://the-pirate-ship.com/

For learning about how much work it was to sail a full-rigged ship http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6DZIvMZWzQ

Since pirates needed sewing skills for sail repairs we have added some sewing instruction to our lessons.

https://sewing.com/hand-sewing-stitching-basics/

How to tie knots was also a valuable pirate expertise, so we gave that a try as well. This site has step by step knot tying instructions http://www.netknots.com/rope_knots/

Navigation by stars was another important sailor skill https://seahistory.org/sea-history-for-kids/navigating-by-the-stars/

Instructions for making a cork and needle compass https://www.nps.gov/articles/compass.htm

Our lapbook board (we glued these to file folders once the unit study was finished).

Free unit studies and lapbook printables along with book lists and other links to follow http://www.homeschoolshare.com/connections__pirates.php

“Why are pirates called pirates?” – “They just arrrrrr!” and, lots of other pirate jokes for kids http://www.enchantedlearning.com/jokes/topics/pirate.shtml

Blackbeard, pirate, and treasure chest printable notebooking pages http://www.teacherfiles.com/resources_bp_ss.htm

More pirate themed notebooking pages http://edgalaxy.com/printable-paper-for-teachers/2012/9/22/pirate-themed-writing-pack.html

Pirate Adventure Writing Prompts https://writeshop.com/pirate-printable/

These are a few of our library finds.

Movies and music!

Interactive sunken treasure game http://nationalgeographic.org/education/multimedia/interactive/maps-tools-find-sunken-treasure/

Interactive “Walk the Plank” and Pirate themed Math Games https://www.math4childrenplus.com/?s=pirate

And “Talk Like a Pirate Day” Math Lesson https://www.yummymath.com/2018/talk-like-a-pirate-day-viral-growth/

Our chalkboard wall mural. The instructions for how to draw a pirate ship from here were quite helpful. http://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/crafts/drawing/how-to-draw-pirate-ships.htm

In conclusion to our pirate unit studies we attempted to make this treasure chest cake! https://www.coolest-birthday-cakes.com/category/other/pirate/treasure-chest/

Haha! Another “Pinterest Fail”, but still tasted good!

For more resources for special days in September click here

Wishing you smooth sailing!

betty jo

Special Days in September

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Click here for Special Days in September updated for 2019!

“I Have a Dream”

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According to my special days calendar, August 28th marks the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.s speech “I Have A Dream” at the 1963 March On Washington.

Below are some wonderful free resources I found to create a one day mini unit study. These resources will cover the subjects of language arts, art, music, and history.

This link will take you to a biography with photos, coloring page, test, word puzzles, and more! http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdking.htm

This link takes you to more printables as well as art, poetry, music resources! http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/mlk-day

This link takes you to printable notebooking pages and lapbook materials http://homeschoolhelperonline.com/?s=martin+luther+king+jr

For quotes click here! http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/martin_luther_king_jr.html

“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have that same dream for my five (not so) little children.

betty jo

Studying Ramadan

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According to my special days calendar for July, the Muslim holiday Ramadan started on the 9th and continues for thirty days. Other than knowing that it is a time of fasting followed by a celebration for those of the Islamic faith, I know very little about the holiday. With the current estimated Muslim population being over 1.6 billion, I think learning more about Ramadan is something we need to add to our summer school calendar studies.

Below are the links we are using for our Ramadan study.

The Homeschool Buzz has a free download for a Ramadan activity book designed for children 5 to 7 years. I think this is an excellent source for all of us who are not familiar with the holiday regardless of age. I learned a great deal and I’m sure others who are not of the Muslim faith would also. I appreciate the work and creativity put into this resource and the willingness to share. You can download the Ramadan activity book here. http://pakistanhomeschooler.wordpress.com/2013/07/11/ramadan-activity-book-free/

For a Ramadan guide that is not in a pdf format click here http://www.msichicago.org/scrapbook/scrapbook_exhibits/catw2004/traditions/countries/ramadan.html

Several basic Ramadan information links here http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/ramadan.htm

The Huffington Post has put together a photo album of current Ramadan pictures from around the world http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/10/ramadan-2013-pictures_n_3573707.html

For traditional Ramadan recipes from around the world click here http://allrecipes.com/HowTo/Ramadan/Detail.aspx

Click here for my July’s special days calendar https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/06/28/julys-special-days/

betty jo

Just Joking

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Years ago, at the family visitation before my daddy’s funeral, we were sniffling and dabbing our teary eyes, when my mom spoke up, “I wish your daddy was here, we could use a joke!” My father would have had just the right one to tell.

My dad knew the art of telling a joke, eye contact, expression, dramic pause. Some he made up, some he read or heard. None were ever rude or offensive. Though as a teen I would groan and roll my eyes when he told one, I would repeat it I first chance I got. Whenever I see someone that knew my dad, they always say something about his sense of humor.

According the my special days calendar, International Joke Day is celebrated on July 1. This is a day to tell jokes not play jokes (pranks). The purpose of this day is to make as many people as possible laugh or at least smile. Our homeschool/summer school calendar lesson of the day will be language arts focused. We’ll be reading, writing, and telling jokes. And sense Proverbs 17:22 says, “A cheerful heart is good medicine”, I suppose it can count as a health class credit, too.

I try to include jokes into our homeschooling lessons from time to time. They make fun copy and memory work. They also lighten things up when the studying gets serious or boring. Jokes are good public speaking practice, and I think something humorous should be included in most oral presentations. Jokes and riddles also make cute additions to our lapbooks.

These are a couple of library books we checked out for homeschooling on International Joke Day.This is my favorite site for kids jokes, riddles, and printables (we especially like the holiday list) http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/kids_jokes.htm

These free blank comic book style printables make an interesting way to copy jokes or riddles and illustrate. http://www.printablepaper.net/category/comics

Because it’s good to laugh at ourselves sometimes…

“How does a homeschooler change a light bulb?”

“First, mom checks three books on electricity out of the library, then the kids make models of light bulbs, read a biography of Thomas Edison and do a skit based on his life. Next, everyone studies the history of lighting methods, wrapping up with dipping their own candles. Next, everyone takes a trip to the store where they compare types of light bulbs as well as prices and figure out how much change they’ll get if they buy two bulbs for $1.99 and pay with a five dollar bill. On the way home, a discussion develops over the history of money and also Abraham Lincoln, as his picture is on the five dollar bill. Finally, after building a homemade ladder out of branches dragged from the woods, the light bulb is installed. And there is light.” ~Author Unknown

For my list of July’s special days click here https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/06/28/julys-special-days/

betty jo

Log Cabin

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According to my special days calendar, June 25 is Log Cabin Day, a day to appreciate the historic importance of log cabins. And it’s a day to remember what life was like a couple of hundred years ago when things weren’t so easy. Log cabins will be the topic of our homeschool/summer school lesson of the day.

We will go here for some general information and history about log cabins. Western Expansion: Log Cabin

Make a pretzel and graham cracker log cabin! https://www.marthastewart.com/272922/presidents-day-log-cabin

Milk Carton and Stick Craft http://www.dltk-kids.com/usa/mcabin.html

Check out these Dream Home Log Cabin Photos! https://loghome.com/articles/category/home-tours/

E, B, and I will watch an episode of Frontier House, a PBS documentry from a few years ago. It featured modern families who agreed to try homesteading like the pioneers would have in the 1800’s. (Some of the dialog may not be appropriate for younger children, so I’m hoping to distract Z and J with their Lincoln Log set.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m7ovkbu7cw

betty jo

Faries vs Aliens

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Sometimes this homeschooling mamma finds herself in a dilemma over lesson plans. For our homeschool/summer school we cover one subject per day usually chosen from my special days calendar and June 24 is both International Fairy Day and UFO Day.

Honestly, I’m not thrilled with either topic, but know my kids will have fun with them. Though I try to encourage creativeness, I realize that too much fantasy or imagination is not good. Before anyone has the opportunity for their imaginations to run away with them, we will have a Scripture based discussion of the dangers of too much imagination and how we are to think about such subjects as fairies or UFOs;

Jeremiah 7:24 “But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.”

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ^”(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

With those Bible verses in our minds and hearts we will explore these unusual topics. E will want to do a study on fairies, while B, J, and Z will want to study UFOs. I suppose the best way to handle this is to let them have separate lessons (just this once).

I found a wonderful listing of links about fairies for E http://www.squidoo.com/fairyday#module159488057.

She has been wanting to design a fairy garden on the tree stump in the back yard, so International Fairy Day would be the perfect time for this type of project. She can transplant some of our flowers which are overcrowded in pots.

These are the links the boys can follow.

UFO facts for kids http://www.kidskonnect.com/component/content/article/15-educational/science/107-ufo.html

UFO photos http://www.alien-ufo-pictures.com/ufo_pictures4.html

UFO interactive game http://www.primarygames.com/arcade/skill/ufojoe/

betty jo

The Great Barrier Reef

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June 11 is the anniversary of the discovery of the Great Barrier Reef (1770). Also, the third week in July is “Coral Reef Awareness Week”! Here’s the links we will be following in our homeschooling summer school lesson of the day (and maybe tomorrow’s lesson too).

About the reef from the Marine Park Authority of Australia http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-the-reef

Photo Gallery https://www.livescience.com/23611-image-gallery-great-barrier-reef-through-time.html

Lapbooking materials http://www.homeschoolshare.com/coral_reef.php

documentary here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_d3LFvc8HQ

It is going to be a “G’ Day” of homeschooling with this Great Barrier Reef Study!

betty jo

Hot Air Balloons

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June 5 is the anniversary of the first hot air balloon flight (1783). Last year as part of summer school calendar studies Z, J, and I decided to learn everything we could about hot air balloons.

Fantastic Resource and Activity List! https://www.franw.com/2014/06/hot-air-balloons.html

We made this lapbook from

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/hot_air.php

and added a few of our own ideas.

Our library had a few children’s books about hot air balloons. These two were our favorites.

Here is a link to a cute craft idea we tried, of course we had to use batman action figures in the basket instead of the child picture http://www.dltk-holidays.com/summer/mballoon.html

We thought this video from the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta was fascinating!