Author: Liesl - Homeschool Den

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How and Why Did We Get Started Homeschooling?

As I start off this series, I realize there might be some readers who are fairly new to our blog.  I thought I’d share how we got started homeschooling (and blogging about our adventures). Homeschooling was on our radar even before we had kids. My older sister had kids before we did. They decided to homeschool their kids just about the time we had our son, LD. Also, my cousin...

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Fudge Brownie Cookies

  This is one of those recipes that absolutely everyone should have! They are very, very rich… and are melt in your mouth good! In a saucepan, place 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 oz (squares) chopped unsweetened chocolate 2 tablespoons butter On the LOWEST heat slowly melt the chocolate and butter. Stir constantly. When the chocolate is (mostly) melted remove from heat and add 2 eggs 2/3 cup sugar...

Free Fall 2014 Calendar Printable 0

Free Fall 2014 Calendar Printable

Behind the scenes, I have been starting to plan out our fall semester.  One thing I wanted right away was a calendar packet. I made one last spring and found it really useful.  I printed out two copies. One is for our school schedule. I will pencil in our units and trips to see what the semester will look like.  The calendar includes various holidays since we’ll be reviewing some...

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Just Out in Nature!

Rivers, lakes, streams, ponds… we’ve enjoyed them all this summer!  The kids had a blast at our friend’s floating dock… They got a real kick out of the fish who would come and nibble on their fingers and toes! The kids have spent lots of time exploring and playing in the creek behind our house and looking out for critters. The tadpoles have turned into little froglets and the skinks...

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Egg-tivity: Seatbelt Safety to Protect an Egg

While LD was away at summer camp, the girls did a few egg-tivities of their own. First in preparation for the activity, they made their own pinewood derby cars (just kits that we got from Michaels).   Once the paint was dry and the wheels were on, I told them they had a challenge… to create a seatbelt safety system to protect an egg as the car traveled down our...

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Summer Activities: Tie Dye Shirts

It’s not summer if we don’t do some tie dying! Most every summer we get one of those kits to make our own tie-dyed shirts. The kids love doing this.  We used the Jacquard Tie Dye kit because it had such great reviews. The colors are definitely bright and vibrant. Our entire family aunts, uncles, cousins, kids were able to make shirts using this one kit. We had to buy...

Shakespeare for Kids (Books, Audiobooks, etc.) 0

Shakespeare for Kids (Books, Audiobooks, etc.)

This summer we spent a couple of weeks reading and exploring some of Shakespeare’s famous tales. If you visit your local library you’ll find tons of Shakespeare books in the junior section. I thought I’d highlight some of the ones that we really liked. Bruce Coville (author of the Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher) has retold a number of Shakespeare’s famous works. He incorporates famous lines into his own prose. This...

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How To Make Cute Bead Snakes and Lizards Out of Pony Beads

Here’s another fun craft to keep the kids entertained when it’s blazing hot outside! A couple of years ago the kids’ cousins went to camp and taught DD and LD how to make these pony-bead snakes and lizards.  I thought they were so cute I thought I would share the general procedure here. At the bottom, I’ve included a pdf that you can download with these instructions. What do you...

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Strategy Game: Quoridor (ages 6+)

I don’t know about you, but there are times when the kids complain about being bored and not having anything to do.  We’ve been trying to bring out some board games that don’t get much use during the school year. A couple weeks ago, I wrote about a game called Quarto. Another quick strategy game we’ve been playing this summer is called Quoridor. (affiliate link) The goal of this game is...

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Summer Activities: Making Marbleized Paper (20-30 mins)

Here’s a fun indoor activity that takes under 20 minutes. All of my kids and my niece (13) enjoyed making their own stationery.  All you need for this activity is shaving cream, tempera paint and a thicker paper. We used medium weight drawing paper.  Here are the easy steps: Spray the shaving cream, Add spoonfuls of the desired paint, Mix lightly with a finger or spoon, Press the paper down...

Australian Books for Kids 0

10 Australian Children’s Books

 Some of you may not know that we lived overseas for many years. In fact, all three kids were born in Central Australia.  ED was just young enough when we left that she doesn’t remember very much about Australia any more. We’ll be doing a short unit on Australia when we start back up with school. With the help of one of my Australian friends, we came up with a...

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Summer Activities: Clay and Cinnamon Ornaments

This is such an easy idea, I hesitated even to mention it, but it occupied the girls for well over an hour. It was simple, easy, creative and mess-free — so I just had to share!!  This would even be a great activity to keep the kids occupied on a long car trip. Our local Dollar Tree had some modeling clay available and the consistency was perfect.  I wish I had...

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Make Your Own Paper-Maché Mushroom Playhouse

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 +...

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Ideas for Keeping the Family Close-Knit and Strong

In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony. — Eva Burrows Does your family hold a regular family meeting?  We started holding one a couple of years ago and started some traditions that are still family favorites… “candle night,” the “smiley under the plate” and getting downright silly with the kids in “knock your socks off.”...