Homeschool blog featuring free homeschool printables, information on how to homeschool, a yearly homeschool planner, homeschool curriculum, and more!
This article and video by Marie Rippel caught my eye this past week, so I wanted to share it with you all.
Should reading and spelling be taught together? Or separately? What has your experience been?
Find out more on the All About Learning Press blog.
Last year you may remember me sharing a few of the chalk pastel projects that we worked on thanks to Tricia at HodgePodge. This year, for one of our co-op projects, I somehow managed to sign myself up for the Amazon region art spot with the older group of kids.
Relying on all the fun we had last year with the chalk pastels and knowing how forgiving they can be, we pulled together a fun Amazon Animals Chalk Pastel project for the kids using a few basic supplies {see a version of this project at Deep Space Sparkle}.
Each of the children {ages 8 to 13} chose a picture of a frog, bird, or animal that had been printed out prior to the class {I printed out a few pictures via a Google image search}.
They lightly sketched their version of the image onto their paper using a black oil pastel and then colored it in with the chalk pastels.
Once the chalk pastels had been smudged, outlines of the picture were retraced to make it ‘pop’.
The kids all had a blast creating their projects and we think they turned out great!
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Here are a few projects we’ve worked on using chalk pastels and also a few resources in case you would like to work on one with your family:
Maybe teaching science and nature doesn’t come naturally to you, but you want to do more with your little ones in a FUN, creative, and hands-on way. What if there was a little something you could use to help you out?
Being outside with our children and letting them see, feel, and touch nature brings it to life so much more quickly! Nature Study Printables was created to do just that – engage your young children, get them talking, and provide you with printables to use in the observation process.
My friend and the author, Maureen Spell, is one of the most creative women I know. She is bursting with ideas, and this has been a project in the works from her for some time – and I am so glad she is able to share it with us! With seven children, she has a lot of experience in the toddler and preschool realm.
{Yes, seven – you read that right.}
Nature Study Printables for Toddlers and Preschoolers is a 60+ page eBook chocked full of educational ideas and printables.
Inside this ebook you’ll find:
Interested in a copy for your family? Click here to view more details from Spell Outloud.
I’m giving away THREE copies of this fun ebook until Sunday, August 11 at midnight. If you purchase Nature Study Printables for Toddlers and Preschoolers and then win, I will refund your money {‘cause I love you all like that} – so don’t be afraid to pick up a copy today.
What topic would you have the most fun studying with your child?
Follow the directions on the widget below to enter.
Each and every one of our children loves LEGO® bricks – in any form. The summer months {ok, anytime of the year…} are a great time to get brains in motion, have hands creating and building, and introduce new concepts to the kids through LEGO® Education.
Six months ago, our family purchased the Simple Machines from LEGO Education to begin talking about the science concepts of gears, pulleys, levers, wheels and axles – and approaching those concepts in a fun and engaging way.
Over these last months, we’ve had the chance to build merry-go-rounds, go carts, catapults {and more} and in the process learn so much more about science and the technical side of things – all while having fun! Our time with the Simple Machines kit was one of this kiddo’s weekly highlights.
Once a week we set aside time to build one of the 16 different activities that are included in the Simple Machines pack. The instruction sets and guides that come with the Simple Machines set are easy enough for children to work on independently and the teacher’s guide includes further details to explain the principles that are being built in the activity guides.
For example, after Kaleb built one of the gear activities, we worked on labeling the gears {crown gear, driver gear, etc…} and then the teacher’s guide provided additional material for us to work on together to show the differences that gear sizes make – and so much more {but I can’t show you the entire manual, now can I? – wink}.
For each of the main activities that children create, there are in-depth worksheets to go along with the creations that require kids to dig a little deeper and explain the ‘why’ behind their models. Parents {and teachers} can see how much their children are retaining and understanding – and review any areas if needed.
Here are two video clips of Kaleb explaining the different parts of a catapult we worked on and a ‘test’ we tried with the catapult to see how far the load would travel.
One thing that we really enjoy are the Problem-Solving Activities that are included at the end of each of the four main ‘units’ of Simple Machines. While there aren’t any step-by-step instructions for building the project, children have to use the concepts they have learned to design the modeled project. There are a few pictures for them to base their design on – but the fun is figuring out how it will all fit together and work!
Another thing that I personally love – the lessons are scripted. The program would actually be a great addition to any co-op setting as well as individual homeschool use. The worksheets are also available to reprint from the cd, so you can save print off a copy rather than use the ones in the manual.
This set has been fabulous for our hands-on learners. As the kids are creating, they are touching and learning through their play – which is really a win-win for all of us.
The Simple Machines pack has 16 activities focusing on gears, pulleys, levers, wheels and axles. The full kit, consisting of the teacher’s guide and building elements, includes the following:
Recommended age: 7+
I am a blogger for LEGO® Education. Our family purchased the Simple Machines set to use and LEGO® Education provided an additional set as a giveaway for my readers. I was not compensated for my review – we genuinely love the product and recommend it!
One thing that our church heavily emphasizes is serving others. Through various programs during the year, families and individuals are encouraged to give of their abilities and time and focus on others – instead of ourselves. My husband and I strongly feel that it is important for our children to learn and understand the importance of putting others before ourselves.
As a member of the Adventures in Odyssey blog team, Focus on the Family is providing giveaway copies of various products for my readers in addition to a free audio series for our family to enjoy. We are participating in the Summer of Service because we firmly believe in serving others – and would do it anyway.
With our school year wrapping up and a bit more free time on our hands, our family is excited to join in with Adventures in Odyssey from Focus on the Family for their Summer of Service – and you can too! Over the next few months, I’ll be sharing how our family is participating in the A.C.T.S. project with Adventures in Odyssey and also holding a few fun giveaways for you all as well {woot!}.
For over 25 years, Adventures in Odyssey, the audio series from Focus on the Family, has been encouraging kids in their faith. With characters such as Whit, Connie, and Eugene, kids all over the world have been drawn into adventure after adventure – through audio, books, video and more.
The Summer of Service is an endeavor of Adventures in Odyssey to remind kids that “When you serve, everybody wins.” They are teaming up with Christian bookstores around the nation, inviting kids to be a part of the Summer of Service. Not sure how to serve? Bake cookies for a new neighbor, visit an elderly person, help with yard work – the possibilities are endless – and serving can be fun!
Adventures in Odyssey is planning a summer full of fun and service. In addition to weekly service ideas and podcasts for the family to enjoy, they are calling on children all across the country to commit to serving their families and communities this summer. AND, they are also looking for TWO children to be Adventures in Odyssey Ambassadors.
During the summer, children participating in A Call to Service {A.C.T.S} can pick up a service log at participating bookstores {or download one online at whitsend.org}. Then collect Adventures in Odyssey character stickers for the hours that have been logged in service. At the end of the summer, children can put together a video clip that tells how they spent their summer serving and why they would like to be the next Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.
One hundred winners will receive the brand new AIO Album, and {after online voting} two grand prize winners (one boy and one girl) will get to travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country with a parent! The out-of-country destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22—hosted by AIO actors Katie Leigh (Connie) and Chris Anthony (Chris)—which you can watch at whitsend.org/acts. You don’t want to miss it! Read the official rule here.
How amazing is that??
Want to join in with those all over the country that are planning to a summer of service? Maybe you aren’t sure where to begin. Here are a few resources from Focus on the Family to get you started:
As I mentioned earlier, our family is definitely planning on participating. We’re making a list of things that we can do together to serve others and would LOVE to have your family join in as well. In the months of June and July, I’ll be sharing our projects and hosting a fun giveaway each month as well.
Will you make plans to join us in the Summer of Service? Grab a copy of the Weekly Service ideas, print it off, and get the ideas flowing as a family.
Has your family worked on service projects together? What ones have been memorable for you?
How are you hoping to serve others this summer? Leave a comment and share your ideas below!
After three years of using Nancy Larson Science for Homeschool, I have to say we absolutely love it! Our family has now used Science K though Science 3 and it has been a complete science program that has made science learning fun, manageable, and above all – productive.
The last time I shared my thoughts on this complete science curriculum was after six weeks of having first used the Science 1 program. Now, three years later, I am so very thankful that we were introduced to Nancy Larson Science. Want to know why?
Working with multiple children on a subject is a huge help on saving time for any homeschool mom. The science levels in Nancy Larson Science are not intended for grade levels, but rather a range of ages. This means that several children can work together on science.
For example, the Life Science in Science 1 is intended for ages 5-8, Physical Science in Science 2 for ages 7-9, Earth and Space in Science 3 for ages 8-11, and Advanced Life and Physical Science 4 for ages 9-12. Over the last three years, our three oldest have been able to work together on each of the levels – something we all have loved.
As the teacher, this has helped us also save time during our day. Rather than teaching three different science units, we can work on projects together.
Running around the house and searching for things needed to use in science projects {or remembering to buy them at the store}, isn’t something that I enjoy doing. I love knowing that when I order one of the Nancy Larson Science programs, it is complete. From the moment I open the box and unpack it, I am ready to begin teaching. It’s really that simple!
To give you an example, even the different types of dirt {clay, sand, and silt} that we needed to compare in one of our lessons were a part of our Tool Kit. The Science 3 kit includes: centimeter cubes; graduated cylinder; thermometer; beaker; balloon; hand lens; equal mass set; wooden, glass, and steel spheres; rock set; pumice; clay, sand, silt, and humus; grass seeds; bean seeds; plastic tadpole set; posters of the sun, the moon, comets, and periodic table, and the following books: Familiar Reptiles and Amphibians and Peterson First Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians.
All of the science programs from Nancy Larson include a teacher’s manual, a student packet, resource materials and a tool kit – virtually all you need {minus a pencil and a highlighter} to start the minute the box lands on your doorstep. Posters, go-along books, pictures to enhance the lessons – there are no excuses for not having time to work on science now!
Study skill and reading are integrated into science learning. Each of our children comes to the table with a highlighter in hand, ready to focus on the key points of the lesson and follow along as the lesson is read. These study skills have also spilled over into other subject areas as well and it has been great to see it develop.
During each lesson, we read together parts of the science booklet and then ask/answer questions based on what was read. We highlight important words and phrases that we should remember. The reading time has also been an encouragement to one of our children. While reading is not an area he enjoys, science is. It has been wonderful to watch him follow along with the paragraphs we read and track the words. When he is confident enough, he will read out loud for us as well.
The format of the lessons {numbered paragraphs and short, concise sentences} are extremely helpful for children who need help reading. The content is not watered down at all, but presented in a way that children learn {and want to learn!}.
The opportunity to re-use curriculum is one that makes me very happy! When we began using Nancy Larson Science, one thing that I immediately loved was we were able to use it in the future with our younger children that weren’t ready for that level. When our youngest is able to use it, we only need to purchase the student papers to go along.
Once we are finished with a level, we are also able to resell it to another family {yay!!}. Finding curriculum that has the ‘ok’ to resell is a huge plus for me!
One of the things that first drew me to Nancy Larson Science was the teacher’s manual. All of the lesson plans are scripted, giving examples of what the teacher and student dialogue should be and lessons are completely laid out for the teacher. There is no additional planning for me to do, because it has already been done.
At the beginning of each lesson, a supply list is included so you can quickly grab any needed materials o the lesson and be ready to go. Since we store all of our materials in a small bin on our shelf, we are ready to go in just a minute. You can view a sample of a lesson here.
Prior to using Nancy Larson Science, our family tried to other programs that didn’t work for various reasons {no lesson plans included or needing to find and gather supplies – sometimes ones that were hard to find}. Since we started using Nancy Larson Homeschool Science, our science time has literally done a complete turn-around.
We work on science twice a week and when we have finished one lesson, the kids want to keep working! They want to participate in the lesson and the facts they are learning stick with them. Not only do the kids want to work on science – so do I! Science was never one of my favorite subjects in school, and I am gaining a new appreciation for it because of the way the program is presented and taught.
Also, the lessons target children with different learning styles. Whether your child is a visual learner, an auditory learner, or a kinesthetic learner, the lessons include various means to help children grasp and fully master the concepts. Read more on learning styles here.
Have questions about the programs? I’d invite you to read my earlier review of the Science 1 program here. Please feel free to ask any questions in the comments or contact Madon Dailey directly, a representative of Nancy Larson Homeschool, if you have any specific questions. She is wonderful and would be happy to help you out!
If you are interested in purchasing, visit the Nancy Larson Science online store. They offer FREE s/h on products now which is a HUGE savings!
Hello! My name is Jolanthe {pronounced Yo-lawn-the}. On my site, you will find a listing of free educational printables, helpful tips and resources for families, encouragement for your homeschool journey, and a homeschool planner to help you get organized. Feel free to contact me with questions!
The printables shared on this site are FREE of charge unless otherwise noted, and you are welcome to download them for your personal and/or classroom use only. However, free or purchased printables are NOT to be reproduced, hosted, sold, shared, or stored on any other website or electronic retrieval system (such as Scribd or Google docs). My printables are copyright protected and I appreciate your help in keeping them that way.
If you download and use some of my printables and then blog about them, please provide a link back to my blog and let me know - I'd love to see how you are using them! Please be sure to link to the blog post or web page and not directly to the file itself. Thank you!