Tag: fun

Little House In The Big Woods Adventure: Week by Week Geography and History Lessons

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog3 Comments

**This post may contain affiliate links to some of the products and resources that we have used. These are provided at no extra charge to you and help to support our blog and family if a purchase is made through these links. -Thank you!

Here are our Lesson Plans For Geography and History

On weeks where there are several activities listed just choose a couple that interest you the most to work on.

Tip: If you want to go to a certain week/chapter 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.

We also like to use this song during our ‘Morning Time’ to help the kids learn the 50 States. 

 

Week 1: Chapters 1 & 2

1. State Study

  • Print out this map HERE or this one HERE. You can color in the states as you learn them and track Laura’s journeys.
  • This week we will study Wisconsin.
  • Complete your notebooking pages.
  • Older kids can write a report about the state.

 

2. Research Pioneer Life.

 

  • Discuss what you learned.
  • What would you take with you? (Remember it can only fit in a shoe box!)
  • Could you like like a pioneer?
  • What would be the hardest thing for you to give up? Why?
  • What would be the most fun? Why?

Week 2: Chapters 3 & 4

1. State Study

  • This week we will study Arkansas.
  • Complete your notebooking pages.
  • Older kids can write a report about the state.

 

2. Research the history of firearms.

  • Watch this video:

 

  • And this one:
  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Write out the steps to cleaning a gun as told in the story. Use this Sequencing Worksheet.

3. Start researching Louis Pasteur for a Speech.

  • Take notes about what you learned.

Week 3: Chapters 5, 6, & 7

1. State Study

  • This week we will study New Hampshire .
  • Complete your notebooking pages.
  • Older kids can write a report about the state.

2. Research School in Pioneer Days.

  • Discuss what you learned.
  • How do the schools differ from our schools now?
  • Make a Venn Diagram to compare the differences and similarities.

3. Continue researching Louis Pasteur for a Speech.

  • Watch this video:
  • Take notes about what you learned.

Week 4: Chapters 8 & 9

1. State Study

  • This week we will study Indiana.
  • Complete your notebooking pages.
  • Older kids can write a report about the state.

2. Research the history of Square Dancing

  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Is this something you would be interested in? Write about why or why not you would be interested.

3. Continue researching Louis Pasteur for a Speech.

  • Watch this video:
  • Take notes about what you learned.

Week 5: Chapters 10 & 11

1. State Study

  • This week we will study Texas.
  • Complete your notebooking pages.
  • Older kids can write a report about the state.

2. Research Pioneer Life

  • Discuss what you learned.
  • Would you like to travel by covered wagon?

3. Continue researching Louis Pasteur for a Speech.

  • Watch this video:
  • Take notes about what you learned.
  • Finish Your Report!

Week 6: Chapters 12 & 13

1. State Study

  • This week we will study California.
  • Complete your notebooking pages.
  • Older kids can write a report about the state.

 

2. Start Researching the California Gold Rush – Speech due next week!

  • Take notes about what you learned for your speech next week.
  • Draw pictures and diagrams to go along with your speech.

Week 7: Finishing Up

1. State Study **

  • Review the states we learned about and choose a state to research more.
  • Write a report about the state and include at least 3 interesting facts about the state.

2. Continue to Research the Gold Rush. **

  • Finish your speech!
  • Give your speech!

Bonus: **

Research the main ways of pioneer transportation.

  • How do our methods of transportation differ?
  • What ways, if any, do we still use today?

Here is an interesting video about transportation methods you can watch.

Fun things to do:

The Scrambled States of America Puzzle and Book Set

**BE SURE TO SAVE A FEW SAMPLES OF YOUR WORK FOR YOUR  PORTFOLIO!  TAKE PICTURES OF BIG PROJECTS!

 

 

 

DIY Giant Tic-Tac-Toe Game

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog2 Comments

**This post may contain affiliate links to some of the products and resources that we have used. These are provided at no extra charge to you and help to support our blog and family if a purchase is made through these links. -Thank you!

My kids love to play Tic-Tac-Toe and they love to be outside so this combines both of their loves into one great game.  It’s really simple to make also. I really like the fact that most of the items can be found at the dollar store too!

DIY Giant Tic-Tac-Toe Game

Materials Needed:

  • Shower curtain or liner
  • Permanent marker
  • duct tape, you will need three different colors
  • a few old cereal boxes
  • dried beans
  • ruler or measuring tape

**Note: You can omit the boxes, beans, and two colors of duct tape if you happen to have 2 sets of bean bags (four of each color)

Directions:

  1. Cut a 5 ft x 5 ft or 4 ft x 4 ft square out of the shower curtain liner. Lay it flat and draw lines to divide it into 9 equal sections with the marker. Use one color of duct to cover the lines.
  2. If you don’t have bean bags you will need to make some really simple ones. Cut the cardboard into twenty 7 inch x 7 inch squares.
  3. Place two pieces of cardboard together and use one color of duct tape (different from the liner grid) to seal three sides. Fill the ‘bag’ with beans and seal the remaining edge. Cover any visible cardboard with duct tape. Repeat to make a total of 5 bean bags for this color. (You can mark these with x’s, if you want.)
  4. Repeat Step 3 with the remaining squares, beans, and colored tape. (Mark with o’s, if desired.)
  5. Grab a friend and start playing by standing a bit away from the ‘board’. Take turns tossing the bags and try to make a row of the same color/symbol. The row can go across, up or down, and/or diagonal.
  6. Have fun!

 

If you have a sidewalk or concrete you could also draw the board with chalk and use chalk/bean bags to play.

Not a DIYer? No fear you can buy something similar from Amazon:

 

Toysmith Giant Tic-Tac-Toe Game                                 Cardinal Toss Across Game

13 Fun First Day Back To HomeSchool Ideas

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog1 Comment

**This post does contain some affiliate links which could possibly earn me a small commission if a purchase was made through them. These links help to support our blog and our family.

I can remember how excited I always was on my first day back to school. I loved school as a kid and I was always so eager to learn. My best memories were of the teachers who let us play games or gave us special treats on that first day. Maybe they were just trying to bribe us but it was something I remember.

As a homeschooling Momma I can find ways to bring that excitement into our homeschool. I try to keep things fun and interesting and sometimes do something a little crazy. Check out my new Pinterest board, Homeschool: First Day Activities. Continue reading “13 Fun First Day Back To HomeSchool Ideas” →

Lefthander’s Day

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*This post contains affiliate links which help to support our blog and our family.

Lefthander’s Day honors those of us who are Southpaws or who use our left hands. Click here to learn more about this holiday. It is celebrated on August 13th.

Do you know a leftie in your house? Here are some great ideas for them.

Below are some of the activities I found to celebrate this day:

(Use at your own discretion.)

Also check out:

Homeschool: August on Pinterest

Lefthanders for kids on YouTube

 

7 Piece Set for Left-Handed Middle Schoolers - Blue Implements, Blue NotebookLeft-handed School Supplies (Scissors, Pencils, Ruler and More) for Kids Under 8, 9 Pc Set; Pink/purpleFiresara Left-handed Pencil grips, Original Butterfly Pencil Holder Correction Writing Aid Grip for Kids Handwriting Special Needs Preschoolers Children Adult Lefties Assorted Colors (4PCS)

Special Holiday Meals: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day

Published on by Susie @ Pollywog's Place Blog1 Comment

*This post contains affiliate links which help to support our blog and our family.

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is the day we can enjoy these sweet treats. Click here to learn more about this holiday. It is celebrated on August 4th.

Here are some of our favorite recipes:

Browned Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

Granny’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

This would be the perfect day to bring the kids in the kitchen and let them help with a batch of these yummy cookies. Don’t have a favorite recipe? Check out one of these books and try out some of the delicious recipes.

Below are some of the activities I found to celebrate this day: Continue reading “Special Holiday Meals: National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day” →