Tag Archives: teacher resources

Daniel Boone

According to the special days calendar, June 7 is “Daniel Boone Day”, though October 22 is his birthday (1734). This American pioneer/frontiersman/explorer, is an interesting guy to study any day. Below are some links for free Daniel Boone teaching resources.

Biography, word games, quiz, and printables http://gardenofpraise.com/ibdboone.htm

Daniel Boone Quotes http://www.rugusavay.com/daniel-boone-quotes/

Daniel Boone Coloring Page Printable http://www.patrioticcoloringpages.com/american-history/027-daniel-boone.html

Wilderness Trail Interactive Map http://danielboonetrail.com/trail-map/

Information and photos from Cumberland Gap National Historical Park https://www.nps.gov/cuga/index.htm

Animated Biography http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=8624&CategoryID=1710

Maps and Audio tours of The First Frontier https://www.firstfrontier.org/tour.html#maps

Pioneer games and activities for outdoors http://pioneerexperience.com/fun-games/pioneer-activities-outdoor-games

Wilderness Survival Skills List for Kids http://thesurvivalmom.com/wilderness-survival-skills-kids/

Unit Study with Printables for Lapbooking or Notebooking http://www.tinasdynamichomeschoolplus.com/exploring-to-revolution/div-daniel-boone-north-american-explorer-div/

betty jo

Free Teaching Resources of the Week!

Free Educational Finds of the Week

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

Teaching Resources for Patriot Day

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I doubt that anyone needs a special day calendar reminder that September 11, 2001 is the anniversary of a major historic event. As homeschoolers, we learn about important events. Usually it’s not stressful to teach history, even though some of the world’s past is tragic, we still learn about those times. But, teaching the history of 9-11 is the most difficult subject that I’ve ever attempted to teach. It was such a horrible and painful day and that horror and pain is still fresh for so many.

Home educating parents are asking, ” How much are we supposed to expose our children to about the events and aftermath of this day?” I’m asking that myself. Even the minimal historic account is overwhelming. However, I don’t think we should just continue with school as usual.

My older kids remember vividly watching the news and seeing the devastation. They have had this topic come up in their current event studies dozens of times throughout the years. However, that won’t make reviewing this day any easier for them. My J isn’t going to be able handle much of this topic, just the bare minimum facts and a coloring sheet. Z, at 8 years old is going to have questions that I don’t have answers to. And this time there is no link to follow for answers.

As I’ve researched for 9-11 study helps, I’ve found these links. I’ve reviewed them, and parts may be helpful, I’m not in complete agreement with any of them. I will not be recommending these or perhaps even using them in our 9-11 studies, but thought I’d share what I found. I do stress that as a parent you pre-view before just pressing the play button and leaving your kids to watch.

An animated documentary explaining the timeline of 9-11 events

Lesson plans including community helpers and art galleries suitable for all ages http://www.uen.org/core/socialstudies/patriotday/

Regardless of what I decide to use for the studies, I will be having the kids journal as part of the day’s assignments. I am pleased with the free printables from here. http://www.notebookingnook.com/freebie-911-never-forget-notebooking-pages/

Also, this link will take you to some basic facts, free printables, reading list, and poetry. http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/911/

A resource collection geared toward mature tweens and teens (adults, too) https://stilllearningsomethingnew.com/2014/09/11/911-remembrance/

betty jo

The Liberty Bell

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“Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof” Leviticus 25:10

The Pennsylvania State House bell was rung to summon the people of Philadelphia to gather for the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. Though the bell wouldn’t be called the Liberty Bell until years later, the bell’s message of liberty certainly rang that day.

The Liberty Bell and the mystery of it’s crack will be our homeschool/summer school lesson of the day. Below are the links we will follow for this brief study.

For starters we will take an up-close look at the Liberty Bell in this short virtual tour.

Next, we’ll read some famous quotes about the Liberty Bell. http://www.ushistory.org/libertybell/quotes.html

I like these Liberty Bell themed notebooking pages for copywork and journaling. http://notebookingfairy.com/2011/05/liberty-bell-notebooking-page/

I’ll also print off a detailed coloring sheet from Activity Village http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/fourth_of_july_colouring_pages.htm

And while we are coloring we will be listening to The Liberty Bell March. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6Dd0EaEbqg

There is Liberty Bell curriculum available for free from the National Park Service. We will read a few of the articles and I’ll be asking the discussion questions that it suggests in the lesson plans. https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/stories-libertybell.htm

betty jo