We all know that April 22nd is Earth Day and just in case it has slipped up on you I have some great ideas for celebrating Earth Day in this post HERE. Why celebrate just one day when Green Kids Crafts is having an Earth Month Special?
With the summer vacation coming up on us fast many of us will be going crazy trying to keep the kids out of our hair! Trust me, I know! These kits will help to keep your kids busy and give them a healthy alternative to all of that screen time. Pssst… grandparents… these would make awesome gifts for birthdays, special events, or just because.
Get your green on this Earth Month and get 3 FREE STEAM boxes (a $60 value!) on any Green Kid Crafts subscription! Act fast to lock in savings on a longer-term subscription and get Discovery Boxes year-round for less than $15.00 / month. Use offer code PLANET12 at checkout to get $60 off any 12-month subscription. Go here to start shopping! Green Kid Crafts’ award-winning Discovery Boxes pack a lot of fun and learning into affordable and convenient packages. Each box contains up to 6 STEAM science and craft kits, extension activities, and a free STEAM magazine. Junior boxes are designed for ages 2-4 and Discovery boxes are great for ages 5-10+. Offer excludes sibling add-on options. Go here to start shopping!
**This post contains affiliate links to products that we use and love here at our home. We may earn a teeny weeny little commission if a purchase happens to be made through one of our links. Thank you so much for supporting our family, our homeschooling mission, and our blog!
Have you been crazy busy this first week of December? How many of you have finished your shopping? How many haven’t bought the first gift yet? Well, I have been busy and my shopping is somewhere in between the two but I have a few ideas here that the kids can help with and they could double as really great gifts for grandparents and family members too!
Some of these links are affiliate links but there is no extra fee if you purchase through these links… it just means we may get a teeny weeny kickback which helps support our blog and our family.
I also have a TON of ideas saved on my Pinterest… my newest board is Christmas Crafts 2018. Here’s a screenshot of just some of the ideas I’ve found:
I think we are going to get really busy with crafts so be sure to keep an eye out for lots of pics! If you aren’t feeling crafty or just don’t have time to shop for craft supplies then check out the following links for Amazon deals that can be shipped right to your home and most of them include everything you need to start crafting and keep the kids busy while you finish your shopping!
**Although I try to provide as many FREE resources as possible this post may contain affiliate links alt no extra cost to you. We may earn a small commission, if a purchase is made through these links, which helps to support our blog and our family. Thank you!
Mornings:
We Start every morning off with our prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance. Below is a picture of the prayers that we say and a video of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Not the prettiest example but that’s what we’ve been using for the past few years.
Don’t have a flag? Grab one HEREand print it out to put up somewhere… you could even let the kids make a flag to proudly display. Amazon also has some little ones like this one HERE and HERE.
After this we have our calendar time also where we go over such things as the Days of the Week, the months, and some basic math.
This one came from Lakeshore Learning.
We also like to use this song during our ‘Morning Time’ to help the kids learn the 50 States.
Tip: If you want to go to a certain week/chapter or topic simply push the ‘ctrl’ and the ‘F’ button down together and a small bar will pop up. Type in the week number or chapter number you want and it will take you to it.
In this unit we have learned why routines are so important. Below are some of the reason:
Routines help us to be more responsible
Routines help us to be more successful
Routines help us to be more productive
Routines help us to be more efficient
They can also help prevent a lot of frustration and stress from not being prepared for things that happen in our lives.
Have you been able to use your routine from last week?
How has it helped you?
What do you need to change?
Keep up the good work and find more ways to use routines to help make your life easier.
2. Ways to help around the house like Laura
One chore that my littler kids love to help with is watering the plants. You need to check with your parents before doing this as some plants don’t need as much water as others do.
Slowly tip the spout of the can into the pot and water as needed.
Don’t over water the plant or it will make a mess.
Look at the plant and remove any dead leaves or foliage.
Rotate the plant a little bit so it can get even sunlight
Move around the room and water each plant that needs watered.
Throw dead leaves in the trash can.
Pour unused water into the sink.
Return the watering can to its place.
3. Character
We will be focusing on OBEDIENCE this unit. If you don’t have the book we used you can go HERE and download a lesson plan guide to use in your home.
Memorize: Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. – Colossians 3:20
We will be studying obedience during this unit. What is obedience?
Watch this video about Jonah:
Can anyone hide from God?
The men on the ship didn’t know that Jonah had been disobedient to God until he told them just as your parents don’t always know right away when you have been disobedient. God always knows.
How did Jonah’s disobedience affect the others?
What happened when Jonah repented?
What did Jonah do when God told him what to do the next time?
We need to pray for grace to be obedient.
4. Manners
Watch this video about manners:
5. Memory Verse
We should have memorized Psalm 8 during this unit study.
At the end of the book the family was moving again. I’m sure they didn’t have seatbelts but Ma and Pa made sure the girls knew what they needed to do to stay safe while traveling. What safety rules should you follow when in a vehicle?
Discuss what you have learned.
Go over the safety rules for the vehicle.
Practice these rules every time you go somewhere.
2. Games/Outdoor Play
Riding in the wagon was probably pretty boring at times and I’m sure the girls needed something to keep them occupied. Have you ever played Rock, Paper, Scissors with your friends? If not you can learn how to play this game and many other skills at SkillTrekker.com. How about this modified version:
**Although I try to provide as many FREE resources as possible this post may contain affiliate links alt no extra cost to you. We may earn a small commission, if a purchase is made through these links, which helps to support our blog and our family. Thank you!
Mornings:
We Start every morning off with our prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance. Below is a picture of the prayers that we say and a video of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Not the prettiest example but that’s what we’ve been using for the past few years.
Don’t have a flag? Grab one HEREand print it out to put up somewhere… you could even let the kids make a flag to proudly display. Amazon also has some little ones like this one HERE and HERE.
After this we have our calendar time also where we go over such things as the Days of the Week, the months, and some basic math.
This one came from Lakeshore Learning.
We also like to use this song during our ‘Morning Time’ to help the kids learn the 50 States.
Tip: If you want to go to a certain week/chapter or topic simply push the ‘ctrl’ and the ‘F’ button down together and a small bar will pop up. Type in the week number or chapter number you want and it will take you to it.
Do you have trouble getting things done on time? Why not make a routine to help with your problems?
Use the questions below to help you get started.
What do you need a routine for?
What do you need to get completed?
When do you need to do this?
How often do you need to do these tasks?
Is there anything else you can think of that would help you be prepared?
Show your sample routine to a parent.
Bonus points if you can start using your routine consistently.
Watch this video for some sample routines for kids:
Sometimes keeping our routines visible can help us to remember what we need to do and help us to be more responsible. Watch this video below for an example that you might want to try in your home:
2. Ways to help around the house like Laura
Vacuuming is something we don’t do a lot of and I’m sure that Laura and her family didn’t either. However in order to keep our homes nice and neat we do need to know how to vacuum properly.
When we do vacuum we only move the large furniture once or twice a year to get behind it. Other than that we just clean around and under everything as we go.
How to Vacuum:
Get the vacuum.
Check to see if the bag/canister needs replaced/cleaned
Straighten the room like we learned in Week 1
Plug in the vacuum
Turn on the vacuum
Begin to vacuum in one corner and work your way around the room.
Work the vacuum back and forth, slow and steady.
Move small items as needed
Check the room for any missed spots.
Turn off the vacuum.
Unplug the vacuum.
Wind up the cord
Check to see if the bag/canister needs replaced/cleaned
Put the vacuum back in its place.
Some vacuums have special attachments for furniture and such. You may need to ask your mom or dad to show you how to use these attachments so you can help clean the couches and other items in your home.
There are also smaller hand held vacuums that can be used to clean up smaller messes. These can also be very handy when cleaning out a vehicle. If you have one of these ask your mom or dad to show you how to work it. Just remember that a vacuum is not a toy!
3. Character
We will be focusing on OBEDIENCE this unit. If you don’t have the book we used you can go HERE and download a lesson plan guide to use in your home.
Memorize: Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. – Colossians 3:20
We will be studying obedience during this unit. What is obedience?
Review what you have learned.
When your parents ask you to do something and how to do it, is it OK to do it a different way as long as you get it done?
Watch the videos below:
Who disobeyed God? How?
Did his disobedience affect others? We never know who we may hurt with our disobedience.
We need to remember to pray to be obedient so that we don’t hurt others.
4. Manners
5. Memory Verse
We will be memorizing Psalm 8 during this unit study. Print it HERE.
Work on memorizing a verse during the week for a special prize.
Verse 9: O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Older kids can copy the memory verse down in their notebook.
Work on saying everything you have memorized.
6. Fun Activities
Make a Nine Patch pillow using blocks like Laura and Mary were working using the instructions on pages 16-21 of My Little House Sewing Book.
**Although I try to provide as many FREE resources as possible this post may contain affiliate links alt no extra cost to you. We may earn a small commission, if a purchase is made through these links, which helps to support our blog and our family. Thank you!
Mornings:
We Start every morning off with our prayers and the Pledge of Allegiance. Below is a picture of the prayers that we say and a video of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Not the prettiest example but that’s what we’ve been using for the past few years.
Don’t have a flag? Grab one HEREand print it out to put up somewhere… you could even let the kids make a flag to proudly display. Amazon also has some little ones like this one HERE and HERE.
After this we have our calendar time also where we go over such things as the Days of the Week, the months, and some basic math.
This one came from Lakeshore Learning.
We also like to use this song during our ‘Morning Time’ to help the kids learn the 50 States.
Tip: If you want to go to a certain week/chapter or topic simply push the ‘ctrl’ and the ‘F’ button down together and a small bar will pop up. Type in the week number or chapter number you want and it will take you to it.
Week 8: Chapters 22, 23 & 24 (Prairie Fire, Indian War Cry, Indians Ride Away)
During this section we read about how the family’s bed time routine got disrupted. This affected everyone in many ways. Can remember a few things Laura mentioned? What happened to Pa at the table?
Bedtime routines are important for everyone so they can get enough rest. When you are well rested it can help you have a more productive day.
Watch this video on Bedtime Routines:
These kids are young but they know their routine. Do you have a bedtime routine?
What are the steps in their routine?
What are the steps in your routine?
Look at the chart below and find your recommended bedtime:
What is your suggested bedtime?
What time do you normally go to bed?
What time do you normally wake up?
What changes should you make in your bedtime to make sure you are getting enough sleep?
2. Ways to help around the house like Laura
When we sweep and mop we always pick up any throw rugs that we have on the floor. One child is usually responsible for picking them up, taking then outside, and shaking them out. We will usually leave them hanging on the porch railing for a bit to air out as well.
How to shake out a rug:
Carefully roll up the rugs that need to be shaken out.
Take the rugs outside
Shake them well and either hang them over the rail or lay them somewhere safe for a moment.
Sweep the floor and mop, if needed.
Bring the rugs back in and put in place.
This is a pretty simple task to do just make sure that you don’t get any dirt in your eyes, or anyone else’s, when you are shaking the rugs.
3. Character
We will be focusing on OBEDIENCE this unit. If you don’t have the book we used you can go HERE and download a lesson plan guide to use in your home.
Memorize: Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. – Colossians 3:20
We will be studying obedience during this unit. What is obedience?
The 5th commandment tells us to Honor Thy Father and Mother:
Why is this commandment so important?
Remember to pray for God’s help in being obedient.
We learned about how the Fever n’ Ague was spread by mosquitoes but do you know how other diseases are spread?
Discuss what you have learned.
2. Diseases spread to the Indians
We have read and researched about the Indians. Did you know that many Indians died from diseases that were brought by the newcomers? Let’s learn about some of these diseases.
Watch this video to learn about some of the diseases spread to the Indians by settlers:
Discuss what you have learned.
What diseases have you heard of? Which ones have you never heard of?
Are these diseases still around today?
Older kids can choose a disease to research further and write a report about.
3. Importance of Sleep
In this section of the book the family had trouble sleeping. Do you remember why? Do you know why sleep is so important?
Discuss what you have learned.
Talk about a time when you didn’t get enough rest. How did you feel?
Pollywog's Place Blog 