Another Year of School is OVER!

This year by far has been the BEST year of homeschooling for me. I've enjoyed every year since now, but this one has just been a very stress free, full of new experiences and a lot of plain old fun learning!

I guess one thing that has made this year the best is that we actually have a room in our house that is set up as a classroom. I can hang things up where ever I want to and we have the room divided into stations so that if we're working on something different than someone else, we're not bothering them.  Last year we were schooling in the dining room, which was fine, but not for someone who likes to hang up posters and art and whatever else I want to display in the room.

Minnie (me) did her first state testing this year, and it was nice to have her in the class room working hard while Super Boy was in another room and not disturbing his big sister! I think I was more nervous then she was, but there was nothing to worry about. She did great!

We have also moved to an area that has more things for the kids to enjoy and explore. We are by a nature park that always has something going on. We've been on bird walks, insects walks, animal study workshops and so many other great learning adventures. We have also taken advantage of some fun things that companies offer homeschool families. Discounted roller skating once a month, free zoo visits, and discounts on learning materials. Minnie (me) has joined Frontier Girls and she loves all the things that she is learning there and all the friends she is making as well. Super Boy comes along, but luckily there are brothers of these girls, so he always has someone to play with. I am thinking about joining a co-op next year, so that too will add to another exciting year!

I am a little sad to see the school year end, but I am REALLY looking forward to the time to relax and recharge! I also want to enjoy each and every day because my babies are growing up way too fast!

 

Stop Buggin Us!

Every year for three years now, I have branded March as our Insect Study Month.  I think last year when I wrote about it, I called it Bug Madness (instead of March Madness!)

This year has been the best insect study by far! Hopefully that means that every year will continue to get better and better! So why is this year different than the last two? Well, thanks to pinterest, resources on the internet, and my brain that comes up with creative ideas, I have made the month of March one that is full of insects and loads of information on them!

This year we did a couple more insects than we have before. Our weeks all started the same with identifying the different parts of the insect. The kids knew that insects have three main parts...the head, the thorax, and the abdomen, so after we labeled the insects, we then had to determine if it really was an insect. After we found fake insects around our classroom and divided them into groups of "insects" and "non-insects", we then begin studying our first insect...the ant.

After the labeling of the insect was done, the next day we learned all about it's life cycle. The kids had an insect journal that they worked on everyday, so the pages quickly got filled up! After they did the life cycle, they also got to work on some fun insects games and crafts.  I also did a fun snack that went along with the insect we learned. For the ant, we made "ants on a log."  I took pretzel sticks, put some peanut butter on them and then put some raisins in the peanut butter. They really did look like ants on a log!

The one day we did some insect pattern blocks. They came out pretty cute!

Our week was basically like this.........On Monday, the kids were introduced to a new insect and they then had to identify the parts of that insect. They had some games and crafts to do regarding that insect and then on Tuesday, they learned the life cycle of that insect. Wednesday they usually did some kind of craft on that insect. Thursday was a new insect with labeling the parts and Friday was a life cycle/ craft combo day!

Some fun things we did for the butterfly was the "Catch a Butterfly Game."  This is something I made up and I'm really glad the kids loved it as much as they did!  I printed some butterfly pictures and then wrote a word on them. The kids had to pick up a butterfly and read the word. If they read it correctly, they got to put it in their butterfly net and keep it! It was a lot of fun and a great way to get them up and moving and also reading!

For the butterfly craft, the kids made their own butterfly wings. When they were finished, I told them to fly to the kitchen for a butterfly treat! Basically I made some construction paper flowers, put a straw in them and told then kids the straws were their proboscis and they had to drink just like a butterfly! They thought that was soooo funny!

I ended up getting some life cycles of different insects from the Insect Lore. http://www.insectlore.com  The kids LOVED having these to actually touch and see for themselves. We used them in a lot of games and also used them as a tool for review.

The kids just had a blast this year, and honestly, so did I. They just loved wondering what insect they were going to learn about that day and what special craft or snack we were going to have. For me, it was great to be able to incorporate the insects into whatever we were learning about that day as well. Reading, math, spelling.....it goes on and on.  We are  blessed to have a yard that has a lot of the insects that the kids learned about. The kids were able to look under rocks and all around our yard to see these little critters. We were also able to go to a nearby nature park and see an actual praying mantis nest! Pretty neat!

The kids did such a great job that they became mini Entomologists!

Around The U.S.A...In One Room

I am always trying to find new ways to make learning fun. I know when I was in school, the last thing I wanted to do was sit at my desk the whole day. After awhile the teacher began to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher!

So, in my crazy mind, I thought it would be fun to introduce some U.S landmarks all while staying in our classroom.(but getting our of out seats!!!)  I also wanted to have it tied into a subject, so this is what I came up with........

I went online and printed some pictures of some well know landmarks. I then took some sticky post it notes and wrote the state on which these landmarks are in.

 The kids were told that they were going on a train ride. They were excited, of course, and then even dressed for their trip!

They found out which "station" they were going to first and then they traveled around the room until they reached the landmark that was in that state.  For example, the first stop was N.Y.C where they saw the Statue of Liberty. While in N.Y.C, they heard all about the history behind this wonderful landmark. After hearing all about it, the only way they could earn a ticket to go onto the next landmark was to read a word that was on the back of the ticket. See, I got reading and history into one game!!!  Once they read the word, (they each had a different word since they're in different grades),  they then got a ticket to move onto the next landmark.  We used our map to help us learn where the landmarks were as well.  They did a lot of landmarks and then we reviewed by using the map once again and the kids had to tell me something that they learned while on their trip around the U.S.A.

TheTooth About Dental Health Month

Every February is our "Dental Health Month".  Of course during this month we learn about how to take care of our teeth.  Thanks to pinterst and other online resources, I am able to find some really cute dental ideas to make learning about our teeth more enjoyable!

This year we played a game where the kids had to match a tooth to the toothpaste, but the words on each had to match. A great way to work on reading and rhyming words! The kids got a huge kick out of it! I'm definitely going to use this for years to come.

We also had to put our teeth in order from biggest to smallest. The kids really got into this one! For math, we also did something to help with our fine motor skills. The kids had to count the items (all to do with our dental health theme) and then put a clothes pin on the correct number.

Another cute game that the kids love to do is working with magnet dots. I found a cute one to go with our theme. The kids reviewed the sound the letter T makes and them got to stick the magnet dots on the correct spaces. Always a winner with my two little blessings!

We talked about what foods and drinks are healthy for our teeth and what things aren't. I especially love this part, because the kids seem to be more aware of what they are eating and drinking! We're not big on sweets to begin with, but this is a nice reminder!!

With that, the kids also have to do a tooth diagram. This helps with their drawing skills as well. During the month, we continue to review everything that we have learned thus far.  We love Dental Health Month!!!