Decorating for December!

We decided to limit our book studies today to just phonics and spelling. We took the rest of the day to make decorations, read stories, and sip on hot cocoa. What a wonderful day! My favorite project of the day thus far has been making our gingerbread men doll chain. It looks so neat attached to our fireplace mantel.

Fold and Cut Gingerbread Man Chains

We put up the Christmas tree, we made snowmen, and the girls even thought that the fish tank needed some decorations. So we decorated the fish tank with a tree, presents, and a snowman.  We colored reindeer coloring pages and also sang songs. Most of all, we enjoyed each others company and remembered how blessed we are.

The real reason of Christmas is a vital part of our studies. But like most others, we to enjoy the snowman, candy canes, Christmas tree, ect. What a wonderful holiday!

Winter Activities for Children

December Activity Calendar

Winter Themed Math Pages

Snow and Snowmen Activites

Winter Season Crafts

Blessings to all! 

    

 

 

The Colors of Autumn

 Here are some wonderful Fall Resources!

Autumn Theme Unit

Why Do Leaves Change Color in the Fall?

Autumn Word Search

Leaf Poems

Normal Peak Times for Fall Colors

Dry Leaf Collage

Autumn Themed Math Pages

Autumn Words Bingo Cards

Autumn Craft Projects

 Be sure not to miss getting outside during this wonderful, beautiful time of year with your children. 

 

 

The First Thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
--1 Thessalonians 5:18

The First Thanksgiving

A picture of Plymouth Rock

Mayflower Photo Gallery

History.com-Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Coloring Pages

Pilgrim Children Name Game

 THANKSGIVING word search

The Pilgrims' Voyage: A Map and The Mayflower

Pilgrim/Thanksgiving Unit 

 

 

 

A Study of Optical Illusions

"A picture is worth a thousand words."or "Seeing is believing."  Sometimes our eyes deceive us, and what we see is only what our brain expects us to see. Optical illusions are amusing, but they also teach us a lot about how our brain works in conjunction with our eyes to create a vision.


www.grand-illusions.com/opticalillusions
8 great optical illusions

An online science museum of optical illusions

Online museum with both online and downloadable illusions
  

Color and Light - Optics for Kids

Activity: Optical Illusion

This activity introduces the concepts of how perceptions can be distorted, and how stereotypes work.

Vision and Light

                                     Great Site with many Optical Illusions!

http://educ.jmu.edu/~johns2ja/illusion/illusion.htm

I hope you enjoy this study as much as we do!

    

Favorite Phonics Websites

Tell me....And I Forget,
Teach me.....And I Learn,
Involve Me.....And I Remember

 Benjamin Franklin

 

 

I have complied a list of our favorite phonics sites. 

The "Where is" Worksheets  A Powerful Tool for Consonant Sound Memorization and Phonemic Awareness Practice

http://www.alpha-phonics.com/

Get Ready to Read Screening Tool

Activities for Teaching Alphabet Letters

Listen to Phonic Sounds

Lesson Plans and Activities for Teaching Phonics

Consonants - Phonics

Phonics Interactive Lesson Activities

Literactive.com

GenkiEnglish.com 

Starfall.com 

 

I hope you enjoy the resources and have a wonderful day!

*Jennifer

 

 

 

 

Study of Caterpillars

Bugville Butterfly Treehouse

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly.
                           R. Buckminster Fuller

Learning can be so enjoyable, especially when your having fun. We arrived home the other day from a quick trip to the store, to find a caterpillar with a horn. It was pretty big and my girls wanted to see what it would change into. They were eager to put it into their Butterfly treehouse.  Will update when our caterpillar wants to have the big reveal. :) What a wonderful study and it's fun to see the girls excited about learning new things. Which brings me to share the wonderful resources we are finding and using.

I found a wonderful site for bug identification

WHAT'S THAT BUG

Butterfly & Caterpillar Resources

Butterfly Life Cycle Sequencing Cards

Life Cycle of a Butterfly A Printable Book for Early Readers

Caterpillar Fact Sheet

Very Hungry Caterpillar Mini Book

Caterpillar Maze

Thematic Units - Butterfly & Caterpillar

Ideas for using The Very Hungry Caterpillar Book

                                    Happy Studies!

    

                   

Family!

Where does the family start? It starts with a young man falling in love with a girl - no superior alternative has yet been found.

- Winston Churchill

 It's getting closer and closer to Thanksgiving, and Christmas right around the corner from there. I suppose this is the time of the year most families come together the most.  I have family coming in from different states, and it's such a blessing to be able to see them for the short time they are able to visit. I love my family!  I've always been eager to learn about my family history and hope one day my children are just as eager to know. Family is so important and even though miles may keep you apart, it's important to stay in touch. Write a letter, pick up the phone, or plan a trip!  Just keep in touch!  




Here are some great resources for you children:


LETTER GENERATOR for kids!
Genealogy, Family Trees and Family History Records
Family Crest Activity 
Family Songs & Poems
A Role in the Family 

Recommended Books:  
Berenstain Bears books. (All of these books show family members with clear family roles)

Fun Field Trip Ideas

 

List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state 

There are thousands of historical sites in the United States and it's likely that there are at least one or two close to where you live. Spend the day exploring.

Pick fruits and vegetables at a local orchard or farm 

Your kids will get to enjoy a day working, but also understand how farming works and learn about plant reproduction.

Find out about where power comes from at a local power plant 

We often take for granted that we have power when we need it, so show your kids just where it comes from with a power plant tour– a great lesson for chemistry and science studies as well.

See where your water comes from at a water treatment facility. 

Do your kids wonder where the water they drink comes from? A tour of a treatment plant can show them how it gets to the tap and what a valuable resource water can be.

Learn more about famous artists at a museum 

Learn about the artists who shaped culture and history through their works at a local art museum.

            OKLAHOMA FIELD TRIP GUIDE

 

Printable Worksheets and Studies

Hello All!

   It's Monday! I have been on the search for great printable worksheets and studies. I have found some great sites. I have been printing these great studies and putting them in a daily worksheet folder.  It's been very convenient for my daughters.  It's been easier when they can go to their folders and find everything they need for the day studies. 

Education.com : is always a great resource to have bookmarked.


I hope you enjoy these resources and that they help you with your studies.


Have a wonderful Day!
*Jennifer

50 Ways to Bring Our Your Childs Best!

 50 Ways to Bring Out Your Child's Best
 Written by Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.

1. Let your child discover her own interests. Pay attention the activities she chooses. This free-time play can say a lot about where her gifts lie.  

2. Expose your child to a broad spectrum of experiences. They may activate latent talents. Don't assume that he isn't gifted in an area because he hasn't shown an interest.

3. Give your child permission to make mistakes. If she has to do things perfectly, she'll never take the risks necessary to discover and develop a gift.

4. Ask questions. Help your child open up to he wonders of the world by asking intriguing questions: Why is the sky blue? Find the answers together.

5. Plan special family projects. Shared creativity can awaken and develop new talents.

6. Don't pressure your child to learn. If children are sent to special lessons every day in the hope of developing their gifts, they may become too stressed or exhausted to shine. Encourage, but don't push.

7. Have high expectations. But make them realistic.

8. Share your work life. Expose your child to images of success by taking him to work. Let him see you engaged in meaningful activities and allow him to become involved.

9. Provide a sensory-rich environment. Have materials around the home that will stimulate the senses: finger paints, percussion instruments, and puppets.

10. Keep your own passion for learning alive. Your child will be influenced by your example.

11. Don't limit your child with labels. They may saddle her with a reputation that doesn't match her inner gifts.

12. Play games together as a family.

13. Have a regular family time for reading, listening to music, talking.

14. Have reference materials available to give your child access to the world.

15. Allow your child to participate in community activities that interest her.

16. Use humor, jokes, silly stories to encourage creativity.

17. Don't criticize or judge the things your child does. He may give up on his talents if he feels evaluated.

18. Play with your child to show your own sense of playfulness.

19. Share your successes as a family. Talk about good things that happened during the day to enhance self-esteem.

20. Provide your child with access to a home, school or public library computer.

21. Listen to your child. The things he cares about most may provide clues to his special talents.

22. Give your child a special space at home to be creative.

23. Praise your child's sense of responsibility at home when she completes assigned chores.

24. Visit new places as a family.

25. Give your child open-ended playthings. Toys like blocks and puppets encourage imaginative play.

26. Give your child unstructured time to simply daydream and wonder.

27. Share inspirational stories of people who succeeded in life.

28. Don't bribe your child with rewards. Using incentives to get children to perform sends a message that learning is not rewarding in its own right

29. Suggest that your child join peer groups that focus on her gifts.

30. Discuss the news to spark interests.

31. Discourage gender bias. Expose your child to both feminine and masculine toys and activities.

32. Avoid comparing your child to others. Help your child compare himself to his own past performance.

33. Be an authoritative parent.

34. Use community events and institutions to activate interests. Take trips to the library, museums, concerts, plays.

35. Give presents that nourish your child's strengths.

36. Encourage your child to think about her future. Support her visions without directing her into any specific field.

37. Introduce your child to interesting and capable people.

38. Think of your home as a learning place. The kitchen is great for teaching math and science through cooking.

39. Share feelings. A child's gifts can be stifled by repressed emotions.

40. Encourage your child to read.

41. Honor your child's creations.

42. Do things with your child in his areas of interest.

43. Teach your child to trust her intuition and believe in her capabilities.

44. Give your child choices. It builds willpower and fuels initiative.

45. Show your child how to use books to further an interest. For example, "how to" books for the "hands-on" learner.

46. Set aside an area of the house for displaying creations and awards.

47. Encourage your child to tackle areas that are difficult for him. Help him learn to confront any limitations.

48. Be a liaison between your child's special talents and the real world. Help her find outlets for her talents.

49. Introduce children's literature that honors and develops gifts. Books like the Little Engine That could encourage a "can do" attitude.

50. Accept your child as he or she is.

Homemade Play Doh....Again!

 
My girls can never have to much fun playing with play doh. They enjoy it so much and it's so easy to make. We used blue food coloring this time around, and we made a ton of it. Well not a ton, but it was a lot. lol :)
A earlier blog of mine (Possibly from 2008) has a wonderful play doh recipe using kool-aid for color instead of food coloring. I'm still trying to get all the blue off that seems to be stained on my hands. 

Here is a link for a recipe:
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE PLAY DOH 


VISIT THE PLAY-DOH FRESH IDEAS GALLERY
 Looking for something new to make? Lots of ideas, at all different levels of difficulty with step-by-step instructions.

Veterans Day 2010

Today when I told my daughters it was Veterans Day, they asked tons of questions and I answered most to the best of my knowledge. I knew the basics, but I really needed to read up about the history of Veterans Day.
This is what I knew:

When Is Veterans Day?

It is observed each year on November 11th.

What Is Veterans Day?

Veterans Day is a day to honor America's vete

rans, all men and women who served honorably in the five branches of the U.S. military during times of both war and peace.

The five branches are the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

These are a couple of sites I used to educate myself on the history of Veterans Day.

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

The History of Veterans Day

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day, it wasn't changed to Veterans day until June 1st, 1954 when President Eisenhower signed legislation changing the name of the legal holiday from Armistice Day to Veteran's Day.

I'm a huge fan of Enchanted Learning. There is a link below with awesome worksheets!

Veterans Day Crafts, Projects, Worksheets, Books, and Printouts

We printed out some great worksheets and the girls each colored an American flag and displayed them on our board.

Have a wonderful day!
*Jennifer

Ramblings of Thankfulness & Love

What are we thankful for?

It's been a fun last couple of weeks. I'm Loving the fall season, the aromas, the colors, and the feelings of thankfulness. I, maybe like many of you, like to indulge in facebook a wee to much sometimes. Mostly, I see vague comments of friends and family routines and thoughts of the day. Lately, most have started writing about what they are thankful for, due to a 30 days of thankfulness post. It's so joyous to read these comments and reflect back on my own thankfulness. I have even realized how much I take for granted at times.

I am thankful for a wonderful husband, whom works so hard to provide for his family. Wonderful children, that mean the world to us. Wonderful family, who will be there for us whenever needed. Our health, our love for one another, our desire to learn, the opportunity to homeschool, and so much more to write. I'm mostly thankful for God, who created all the wonderful things of this world, and who loved us so much that he gave his only son, Jesus, so that we may be saved. I have bookmarked an incredible site. I love to go there and watch live sermons, catch up on studies, and learn about everything I didn't know I needed, until it just clicked! I need this! I know that sounded funny. Didn't know you needed it!? Well yes, and no! I know I need to read and study God's word, but I struggle. On this site, I will watch a sermon and I will be like "WoW! I really needed that!"

Here is the link: http://www.lifechurch.tv/watch


We've been taking a different approach to learning this month, a more thankful approach. A more stress free approach. It's been very relaxed, and although I would love to say it's like this always, I would be lying. I sat down and played dolls and barbies with my girls earlier, and I took the time to ask the girls what they were thankful for. I expected them to say something about their fav toys, or the awesome movie they had just raved about a min or so before I asked the question. Instead, I heard such sincere answers that melted my heart to the core. My oldest said I am thankful for you mommy and daddy and that God loves me and I can talk to him whenever I want. I'm doing something right here, people! I could have screamed it from the rooftop. It was a joyous moment, but also a moment I realized how much more I must watch my actions and live these wonderful teachings I teach them. How I so don't desire to be a hypocrite in my child's eyes.

I heard my mother-in-law say a saying the other day and it was:
Heaven before Harvard! WoW! how true is that! While I do wish true happiness for my children no matter what career or schooling they choose, even if it be Harvard, lol, I hope they learn and never forget this saying!

*Jennifer