In honor of “National Library Week” (April 10/16/16), today’s edition of Homeschool Humor is all about the library!
Happy Monday, Happy Homeschooling!
betty jo
Homeschool Humor – Library Edition
Leave a reply
Tag Archives: teacher resource links
Special Days in December, 2015
Elephants
Back at the beginning of our summer break a couple of summers ago, J requested that we create a jungle mural on our chalk board wall. He made sure that it included an elephant.
Elephants happen to be one of our favorite animals and according to Special Days in August , the 12th is “World Elephant Day”! And, September 22 is “Elephant Appreciation Day”! I’m glad that we took some time to study these magnificent creatures.
Below are the resources we used as we learned about elephants.
All about Elephants – African vs. Asian, Elephant Sounds, and Facts www.elemotion.org/learning-center/
Scientific Research – How Elephants Think thinkelephants.org/pages/ow-elephants-think.html
Meet the Elephants who live at the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee www.elephants.com/meetElephants.php
Elephant Myths and Folklore socyberty.com/foldlore/elephant-in-myths-mthology-and-folklore/
Elephant Jokes www.enchantedlearning.com/joke/animalselephant.shtl
Elephant Themed Language Arts Interactive Games www.learninggamesforkids.com/mammal-games-videos/elephant-games-videos.html
I snagged this Elephants – Speedy Lapbook a while back as part of a freebie offer. Currently, it’s not free but on sale for $0.50. www.currclick.com/product/83435/Elephants–Speedy-Lapbook?term=elephant+speedy
Youtube has a video collection of elephants playing! www.youtube.com/results?search-query=elephants+playing
Read Rudyard Kipling’s The Elephant’s Child free online www.gutenberg.org/files/32488-h/32488-h.htm#Page_63
A Song, Agony and Ivory, dedicated to the movement to stop the wholesale slaughter of elephants taking place as a result of the ivory trade. (the song and website is a project of a homeschooling family!) www.agonyandivory.com
And for Notebooking, Elephant Bordered Paper www.teacherfiles.com/resources-bp-animals.htm
May this be a study that, like elephants, we won’t forget!
betty jo
Teaching Resources for Special Days in August
Easter (and after) Learning Resources
Though we did a Passion Week study and some arts and crafts as part of our week’s homeschooling lessons, we still have some Easter learning to do!
Here’s some awesome links for free Easter learning resources that we’ll be following throughout the weekend and into the first part of next week.
I’ve got a neighbor family in mind to “egg”. Not like a mean prank like throwing raw, rotten eggs at their house but to “egg” them in a way that will bless them! You can read about this wonderful idea and pick up a free printable to go with your eggs here http://happyhomefairy.com/2013/03/24/youve-been-egged-he-is-risen-style-free-printable/
I printed off this trivia game to test our Easter story knowledge http://www.myjoyfilledlife.com/2014/04/09/printable-easter-story-trivia-game/
We’ll be using this !st Corinthians 15 based article, Why the Resurrection Matters, for a discussion and study guide https://bible.org/seriespage/easter-1993-why-resurrection-matters-1-corinthians-151-19
Playing with food is science with this free “EggSperiment” printable pack (scroll down towards bottom) http://www.parents.com/blogs/homeschool-den/2014/04/14/easter/eggsperiment-brush-your-errr-egg-part-4-of-4/
Eggs lesson plans for K-12 in PDF form http://www.aeb.org/about-aeb/for-educators/
This speed/coordination game is going to be a great use for those leftover plastic eggs http://www.franw.com/2014/04/an-eggcellent-game.html
Great ideas for outdoors egg hunt ideas and games https://www.playpartyplan.com/10-fun-and-creative-easter-egg-hunt/
Virtual tour of a jelly bean factory https://www.jellybelly.com/california-factory-tours#How%20it’s%20Made
A short history lesson about chocolate eggs! And if you look on the left sidebar you can link to an article explaining how hollow chocolate Easter rabbits are made http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/menus/chocolate-egg.htm
Easter themed interactive games http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/easter/games.php
Are your kids asking for a pet bunny? Mine have. The answer is “no”, but they can figure that out for themselves as they investigate just what it takes to raise a rabbit. You’ll also be able to find resources about chicks and ducklings, too. http://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/rabbits/rabbits.htm
For Easter printable word games, coloring sheets, notebooking paper and more http://activityvillage.co.uk/easter-printables
Since I’ve got you here, I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you to church. Our local church is part of a much bigger church which is available online. You can hear the Easter message at any time during the week that works for you https://www.life.church/easter/
Have a blessed Easter!
betty jo
April Birthday Biographies With Cake
Whenever a birthday shows up on the special days list that goes along with the time period we’re studying, we take the opportunity to study that person, and perhaps bake a cake.
According to the special days listing for April, there are several important people’s birthdays. https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/03/28/special-days-in-april-2/
Last year we learned everything “middle ages”. And, April was a fantastic birthday month for our studies. Here’s the links to the April birthday biographies we worked on complete with resource links.
Raphael April 6, 1483 https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/06/raphael/
Leonardo da Vinci April 15, 1452 https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/12/leonardo-da-vinci/
William Shakespeare April 23, 1564 https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2013/04/23/happy-birthday-william-shakespeare/
Our study focus this year is American History. This means that our birthday studies center around presidents. These are the presidents that we’ll be learning about during April.
Thomas Jefferson April 13, 1743
James Buchanan April 23, 1791
Ulysses S. Grant April 27, 1822
James Monroe April 28 1758
This link takes you to the resource list of what we use as we learn about a president. https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/02/14/resources-for-presidents-day/
And cake! Baking and decorating cakes or cupcakes to eat while studying makes lessons delicious. We like this site for online baking classes. The 3 cake decorating pdfs are wonderful guides. http://www.kingarthurflour.com/baking/online-baking-classes.html
Of course everyday is historic and special somehow but we think birthdays are the best!
betty jo
What Do You Want To Be?
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” I suppose that all of us were asked that at one time or another. You’ve probably asked a child that question yourself. I’ve asked my kids and this coming up week, I’ll be asking again. According to the Special Days in April list, this coming up week is “Explore Your Career Options Week”.
Below are the online resources that we’ll be using for our homeschooling lessons as we explore careers, the steps it takes to get them, and how much money they are worth.
Bible Verses About Choosing A Career http://www.openbible.info/topics/choosing_a_career
“If $ were no object, what would you like to do?” Good advice on choosing a career in a short video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYNShs6I4HU
Free Online Career Test (higher grades and adults) http://www.yourfreecareertest.com/
Investigate Careers: Description, Education, Pay https://careerkids.com/pages/career-info
Mission Field Careers https://team.org/opportunities
Military Careers http://www.careersinthemilitary.com/
Here’s a look at how various college majors fare in the job market – http://wtop.com/news/2014/04/best-and-worst-college-majors-for-job-demand-pay/
How To Build a Student Resume http://homeschooltipsandresources.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-student-resume-part-2.html
Tips for Writing Your First Resume https://www.thebalancecareers.com/tips-for-writing-your-first-resume-2058744
Job Interview Tips http://money.howstuffworks.com/business/getting-a-job/10-job-interview-tips.htm#page=0
10 Dirty Jobs That Pay Well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcfobzjjg58
15 Most Dangerous Jobs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_rFSeqFYcc
As homeschooling parents, we have an unique opportunity to encourage our children about their interests, and developing talents. And, as the kids grow and mature, we can provide learning opportunities that are tailored to helping them prepare to use those interests and talents in their future, whether it be college, a vocation, military, ministry, or a just a job. Though the question, “What do you want to be?” is what we may ask, as homeschooling parent’s we have one to ask ourselves too, “How can I help them become what they want to be?”
betty jo
Spring Cleaning
Hooray! It’s finally spring. Now if our weather would just act like it! So while we’re waiting for spring to actually make it’s appearance outside our door, we can get on that “Spring Cleaning” thing. Our house NEEDS it. Even though we “tidy” several times a day, it’s not deep, serious cleaning. The windows, walls, corners, and baseboards have been sadly neglected for several months.
I’ve found a couple of links to follow as guides as we work in some extra projects throughout the next week (or however long it takes).
Printable room by room cleaning check list (there’s some items here that I had not thought of) http://richlyrooted.com/2014/03/deep-spring-cleaning-game-plan-with-printable-checklist.html
Some times it’s best to separate during clean up instead of all of us working in the same room. These task cards will work well for when we aren’t working well together. These also will work well all through the year when we only have a few minutes “heads up” that company is coming. Everyone draw a card and ready set go! http://www.upsidedownhomeschooling.com/cleanup-blitz-cards-a-free-parenting-and-housekeeping-tool/
Over the past several months we’ve been making our own cleaning products. I’ve counted this in with lessons in economics, chemistry, environmental science, home ec., and lifeskills. If my kids were a little younger, math and reading comp would be lessons covered too. This link takes you to 67 recipes! http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2013/06/homemade-all-natural-cleaning-recipes.html.
And here’s a little more to go with this spring cleaning theme. “Why We Spring Clean” from a scientific view point, and some history and geography as the possible origins of spring cleaning are examined. http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/spring-clean-in-spring.htm
We won’t be forgetting the music! Cleaning is much more fun when there’s music!
Top 10 pop songs for spring! http://top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/springpopsongs.htm
A few others with “Spring” in the lyrics. http://www.songfacts.com/category-songs_with_seasons_in_the_title.php
betty jo
Brain Awareness Week
It’s Brain Awareness Week! This week is dedicated to brain research. Our homeschooling science lessons will also be dedicated to brain research. Below are some of the links we’ll be following during the week.
What our Brains Do Information and Diagrams http://askabiologist.asu.edu/what-your-brain-doing
Brain Anatomy Vocabulary/Glossary http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/brain/glossary/
Label Diagram Printables https://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/anatomy/brain/Classroom.shtml
Best Brain Foods https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-brain-foods
Brain Training Interactives https://www.mindgames.com/
Brain Hat Printable to Cut and Assemble PDF http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/homeschool-freedownloads/lifesciences-games/documents/BrainHatColor.pdf
Compare and Contrast Mammal Brains http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/moreb.html
Brain Experiments and Activities http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/experi.html
Video of a Human Brain Dissection (not for the squeamish) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMqWRlxo1oQ
Bible verses about the mind https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/The-Mind
I’m feeling smarter already!
betty jo
Resources for Presidents
The third Monday in February is set apart as Presidents’ Day in honor of the birthdays of our two most famous presidents, Washington and Lincoln. However, this is just one of several Presidents Days in our homeschool. As we work our way through American History this school year, we study the presidents as their birthdays show up on the special days calendar. Below are the links we go to each time we study a president.
US President biographies, printables, word games, and more http://gardenofpraise.com/leaders.htm
Disney’s The American Presidents short videos https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=presidents+disney+education
President Quotes – http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/type/type_president.html
Online quiz for each president http://www.quiz-tree.com/United_States_Presidents_main.html
We’ve been collecting these presidents layer books on a board. After this school year, we’ll transfer them into a file folder for easy storage and quick reviews.
Presidents lapbook printables http://www.homeschoolshare.com/presidents_lapbook.php
President Notebooking http://notebookingfairy.com/president-notebooking-page/
And because Presidents’ Day is a special day, here’s extras to take advantage of.
Is it “Presidents”, “President’s” or “Presidents'”?https://www.surfnetkids.com/presidentsday/349/how-to-spell-presidents-day/
The presidents on coins and currency http://mistupid.com/currency/
For fun Animaniacs Presidents Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9KFoqK-yhU
Presidential Salary Math Lesson https://www.yummymath.com/2017/in-honor-of-presidents-day-find-out-about-presidents-pay/
Free Presidents’ Day resources and printables for all grades and most subjects https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:presidents%20day/Price-Range/Free
Arts and Crafts Ideas for Presidents’ Day https://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/presidentsdaycraftsideakids.html
“Hail to the Chief” Presidential Anthem
Favorite Food of Every President https://www.wideopeneats.com/every-presidents-favorite-food/
Occasionally we’ll bake a cake on the president’s birthday we are studying. Most any study is better with cake!
betty jo
Still Learning Something New 