Category: Homeschool: Useful Resources (websites books etc)

The Future of Space Exploration as the Space Shuttle Program Ends 2

The Future of Space Exploration as the Space Shuttle Program Ends

We learned some really amazing space missions are in development!  Last week we watched the Space Shuttle Discovery in awe as it flew close by our house towards its final destination. The Space Shuttle Program has truly come to an end. We went to see the space shuttle is in its new home at the Udvar-Hazy National Air and Space Museum, but we were surprised to learn just how much...

Thanksgiving Freebies 0

Thanksgiving Freebies

I came across a number of free Thanksgiving activity packs and thought I’d share those for anyone who might be interested in the next week or so:  Thanksgiving Activity Pack from Itsy Bitsy Learners  Thanksgiving Fun Book from The Simple Homeschool   If you like this pack, you might want to pop over to The Simple Homeschool and register for their newsletter. From Dec. 1-12 they will be giving away...

Skip Counting Songs for learning the 6s, 7s and 8s 3

Skip Counting Songs for learning the 6s, 7s and 8s

Late at night my brain often whirls with ideas.  Last spring I put the skip counting patterns to familiar tunes since LD is working on his basic multiplication facts.  For example, I put the 7s to the tune of ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat.’  LD learned that so well I went back and created another tune for the 6s and the 8s which he’ll be working on again this fall....

Used Curriculum 0

Used Curriculum

I’ve had some good luck getting my curriculum used this year from http://www.homeschoolclassifieds.com. I bought three books from homeschool classified and got prompt replies from the sellers. The books arrived quickly in the mail. The prices made me excited as I saved quite a bit buying them second-hand.  Just wanted to mention that venue if anyone else was looking around for curriculum for this fall.

Writing a Novel — Elementary 0

Writing a Novel — Elementary

Last year my sister’s three homeschooled kids each wrote a novel. I hope to get a chance to read their work when we visit them. Her kids are 8, 11 and 13. Amazing! It’s not yet our season for writing things like that, but someone in one of the groups I visit shared this link for kids who plan to write their first novel.  Here is the elementary “Young Novelist”...

Reorganizing The Homeschool Den’s Links 3

Reorganizing The Homeschool Den’s Links

I developed this blog in large part for me.  It helps me keep a record of what we’ve done and it also helps me stay organized and keep track of websites where I’ve gotten activity ideas and printables.  You should see my drafts!!  Whenever I’m cruising around trying to find information and activities for new units I create a “draft” and link lots of the websites I come across. I...

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St Patrick’s Day Units — Free Downloads, Printables, etc.

There are such wonderful resources out there for those of you planning to do some St. Patrick’s Day activities with your kids. Here are some of the free St. Patrick’s Day units and printables I’ve come across this past week: Irish-themed letters (lower and upper case), numbers (0-20) and phonics cards; Powerpoint Explanation about St. Patrick and how he brought Christianity to Ireland Musings of Me — St. Patrick’s Day Teacher’s...

Wonderful Valentine’s Day Math Activities (for K or 1st) 4

Wonderful Valentine’s Day Math Activities (for K or 1st)

I’ve come across a number of beautiful Valentine’s Day math activities that I plan to use this week with DD. They are so pretty and well done, I just had to share in case someone else might want to incorporate them into their week! I wish I had the time (and health!…I still have a vicious cough from the pneumonia.) to be making such beautiful things, but at the moment...

Save the Egg Penguin Game —  and — Antarctic Animal Game 2

Save the Egg Penguin Game — and — Antarctic Animal Game

DD enjoyed this penguin computer game.  The object was to move your penguin around to keep the egg warm by avoiding the other penguins and obstacles or predators that might get in your way.  Here’s the link:http://www.nationalgeographic.com/marchofthepenguins/game/ Also at the national geographic website was a crittercam game. She had to spot the various animals of Antarctica — the Emperor Penguin, krill, skua and other things.  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/03/crittercam/antarctica/  Finally, she played a...

Arctic Animal Science Journal , Penguin Unit and other Freebies 4

Arctic Animal Science Journal , Penguin Unit and other Freebies

If you are working on Arctic Animals, this first grade teacher made a very cute science journal which incorporates polar bears, penguins, walruses, the arctic fox and snowy owl: Oceans of First Grade Fun.She also has a set of penguin “What Comes Between” math cards. The child has to place the number that comes in between 31 __ 33 or 36 __ 38.  What’s nice for us is that they...

Planning and Preparation (and a very cute free clip art website) 4

Planning and Preparation (and a very cute free clip art website)

I usually take opportunity over our December break to begin planning for the next semester.  This last semester we learned a lot during our studies of Ancient Rome.  We enjoyed watching bits of Spartacus and Ben Hur.  LD and DD were entranced by the boat battles and amazing chariot race of Ben Hur! Now, as you obviously can tell by the clip art I’m planning for our next unit on...

Montessori Conference Handouts — Brain Research and the Enriched Environment 2

Montessori Conference Handouts — Brain Research and the Enriched Environment

Someone shared this link to some handouts from a Montessori conference (American Montessori Society).  I have really enjoyed the one related to brain development.  I *really* enjoyed the book Magic Trees of the Mind, which talks about the development of the brain and how various connections (dendrites) are formed and then “pruned” as a child ages.  The handouts I was reading reinforced some of the things I had learned in...

Yay! Hooray for the Montessori Printshop 4

Yay! Hooray for the Montessori Printshop

I had some wonderful news from The Montessori Printshop over the weekend. I won a $30 voucher for their products. I’ve been scouring their website trying to narrow down the selection since they have so many beautiful 3-part cards.  Thank you Montessori Printshop! I’m having trouble with blogger ever since they did their “updates” on their image loader. Anyone else having those issues or figured out how to resolve it?...

Giveaway at the Montessori Printshop 0

Giveaway at the Montessori Printshop

The Montessori Printshop has an amazing giveaway going on between Oct. 15th and 22nd… worth over $500!  Be sure to go check out the details here.  They offer a wide variety of printable cards on everything from geography, culture, science, art, to math, language and more.  Their photos are vivid and appealing. While you’re there, visit their free downloads page to see what they have on offer.  I especially like...