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When it’s really hot outside, it’s great to have a project indoors to keep the kids entertained. One year we made Mushroom Playhouses. The kids still have their mushrooms… and they have been used as fairy homes and the Littlest Pet Shop’s play houses. Here’s how you and the kids can make your own mushroom playhouse:
1) We covered rolled-up cardboard and a balloon with paper maché. [1/2 cup flour + 1/2 cup water, stir in 2 cups of boiling water; let it cool and then dip the newspaper and cover]
2) We let the paper machéd balloon and the cardboard stem dry thoroughly. Then we carefully cut the balloon in half to make the mushroom top.
After lots more steps (attaching the balloon and stem parts with more paper maché, painting them, and covering it with acrylic sealer) we cut out doors and the real fun began! We did a small step each day and overall it took a week+ to make. The kids were really proud of their mushrooms when they were done.
Now the fun truly begins, right?!
There’s hours of fun to be had with these once the project is done!
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Hi! I’m Liesl!
Do you believe education can be exciting, inspiring, and full of joy? We do too!
I love the quote by William Butler Yeats, "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." It's about getting the kids involved, engaged, and fired up about learning (while juggling the rest of life too!)
A bit about me: I have my Master's from Brown University. I have more than 20 years of teaching experience. I was a high school teacher for many years both in the U.S. and internationally and also taught for the University of Maryland before leaving to homeschool my 3 wonderful kids.
To read more about us CLICK HERE.
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how do I start homeschooling
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History Units
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What science topics could I teach my 5-7 year old - Homeschool Science Curriculum
Science Units
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Below is just a small sample of the packets and resources we have available on our blog.
Earth Science Bundle
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Units are also sold separately.
Earth Science Packet
This is one of our most popular units. It covers the Layers of the Earth, Plate Tectonics, Earthquakes, Volcanoes and More! It is included in the Earth Science Bundle (see the picture/link above).
Biology BUNDLE
Click the image to see our Biology Units on Animal and Plant Cells; the Biology Unit on Biomes, Food Chains, Symbiosis; Scientific Classification & Taxonomy (Domain/Kingdom/Phylum/Class, etc.); Botany - Plant Kingdom and Oceans and Oceanography.
Big Animal Bundle
Click on the image to see our Animal Bundle - including the Animal Unit, Life Cycles, the Rainforest, Winter (Polar Animals) & Hibernation, Chameleons, Wolves, Cicadas and more!
Human Body Systems Bundle
The Human Body Systems, Skeletal, Digestive, Circulatory, Muscular, Nervous, Endocrine Systems and More (with lots of hands-on activity ideas)! We usually study a different body system each year.
Digestive System Packet and Activities (100+ pages)
Chemistry Bundle
Click on the image to see our units on the States of matter, Properties of Matter, Electricity & Circuits, and the Chemistry Unit (Get to know the Periodic Table in a fun way!)
Free Science Checklist – Elementary and Middle School
This is a free checklist I put together of the various science units I hope to cover in the elementary and middle school years.
Civics & Government Unit
American Revolution Packet
World Facts Packet
Do your kids know the 4 largest countries? Which countries have the most people? The longest river? This packet covers basic world and U.S. facts and also covers geographic features and land forms.
Geographic Features & Landforms (also in the World Facts Packet)
Ancient Egypt Packet
Ancient Greek Gods and Goddesses
Middle Ages – Feudalism Packet
Slavery and the Civil War Packet
World War I Unit
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World War II Unit
Long A Sound Activities
ow-ou-oy-oi-aw-au Word Sort Activities
The spelling program we use:
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Dozens of posts about how to create a homeschool writing workshop.
Montessori Addition Sheets with Regrouping (Free)
Dragon Math Packet
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Multiplication Packets
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Homeschool Resources
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Rocks and Minerals Unit
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Simple Machines Unit
This is a fun, hands-on unit for early elementary students!
Human Body Systems Worksheet Packet
How the body is organized from cells to tissues... organs to body systems
Five Senses Unit
Skeleton Worksheets and Lapbook Packet
Spanish Store
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Ancient China Packet (Free)
German Store
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Free-Homeschool Planner (100+ Pages)
Homeschool Den STORE
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