Tag: homeschool

Since so many of our kids are out of school, I included a number of ideas for learning and fun below. Being a former teacher, I love ideas that bring education to life and ones that are imaginative and fun.

Don’t get overwhelmed by the number. Just pick and choose which ones you want to do. To help organize, you could print out a calendar and write what activities you want to do on which days. Or, you could pick them randomly, or your kids can choose. Have fun!{Receive once-a-week content via email by subscribing in the right sidebar.}

Science

1. Dioramas We created one of a rainforest, but have fun researching a place that interests your child and create that.
2. Robot Create a robot from old boxes and have them explain how it makes the world a better place through different gadgets and buttons they add to it.
3. Ice Hunting Put miniature plastic figures in different shaped containers of water and freeze overnight. Pour them on the grass, letting them melt some in the sun. Then let the kids explore and chip away the ice to find the hidden treasures.
4. Paint Ice Freeze water in different shaped containers overnight. The next day, pour them in a large tub. Let your child paint them using washable paints with spoons, brushes, or their fingers (as long as they don’t put their fingers in their mouths). (Originally published with Focus on the Family.) Or if you have snow, just put that in a pan and let them paint snow!
5. Slime Make slime with cornstarch and water. Put amount of cornstarch in first, and then slowly add water until you have consistency you want (2 cups cornstarch, and 1 cup water works well).
6. Plethora of Fun Make “Crystal Names”, “Rainbow Snake Bubbles*” out of a bottle, “Polka Dot Slime”, “Ice Chalk”, and more! “View the Gallery” of Activities here: 50 Boredom-Busting Activities to do with Kids. (*If you do the snake bubbles, make sure your child does not inhale the bubbles, but blows them out.)
7. 

Math

1. Measurement Practice measuring by making Rice Krispy treats or cookies together.
2. “Fish Bowl” Math Cut a bunch of notecards in half. Write a multiplication fact on
   each card with the corresponding answer on the back. If your child is working on addition or something more difficult, you can write that on each notecard. Attach a paper clip to each card and put them in a laundry basket. Tie twine around a magnet and then two the other end of the twine to a stick. The child fishes for a card and then answers it.
3. Best Math Word Problems By Grade These are the best “out of the box” thinking word problems that I have seen based on grade level K – 8: Sunshine Math. After clicking on the grade, scroll down on the website to find the math problems to print out. If you scroll further, you will see the answers. You will have to most likely help your child with the problems. What helps me a lot has been doing centers with my kids. Station#1: Word Problems with me Station#2: PlayDough or sand Station#3: Educational website such as Adaptive Mind (they do a free monthly trial) or create your own book, etc. As long as the other two stations are independent, you can focus on helping the third child with word problems. Switch stations after 15 or 20 minutes. If you have 4 kids, just do 4 stations, and so on.
   
4. Basketball Math Use a squishy ball or tennis ball. If you have an inside basketball
   goal, you can use that, or you can use several bucket/bowls to throw the balls into. Tape a notecard to each one that says how many points it is worth. Ask your child a math question, if they get it right, they get to shoot to try and make a basket. Create a point goal before you start so they can work toward that.

Bible

1. Pushing for Peace Jar Since arguing might be at its peak with so many things being  cancelled, this is a great help. Memorize Philippians 2:14 “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Then, tell your kids, every time they do not argue, but choose peace and kindness, they get a marble. Once the family marble jar is full, you can have a treat, stay up past bedtime, or get some other fun surprise.
2. Do not Fear Have your child paint or draw a picture of they’re favorite place or thing. Write or paint this verse on top of the page to remember to not be afraid and that the Lord is with us: “Do not fear for I am with you,” Isaiah 41:10
3. Sharing Read John 6:1-14 about the boy who shared his lunch. Ask, What would have happened if the boy did not agree to share his food? Make a basket out of clay, play-dough, or weaving construction paper together. You can also make the fish and loaves to go inside. If your kids are younger, you can act out the story of the boy sharing his food with the hungry people. Or, you can make a meal to bring to someone and talk about loving others well by sharing.

Reading/Writing

1. Read Together Grab a Great Book from the library and read it to your kids. Ask them questions throughout so they can increase their reading comprehension skills.
2. Create your own Book Have them create their own book. Help them come up with an outline of the story first before writing it to help the writing go more smoothly.
3. Wacky Wednesday Read Wacky Wednesday to your kids by Dr. Seuss. Then each child (and you) draw one page that has wacky things on it to create your own wacky book. Go through the book together and try to pick out all the wacky things. (For example, the house is upside down, the sun is ice cream with a cone, the house doesn’t have a door, etc.)
4. Circle Story Sit in a circle and create an oral story. The first person starts the story off with one sentence. The next person adds another sentence to the story. Then, the next person does and so on. Go around several times until your story is complete. Then the next person starts the story off and you continue going around until you have created one very wacky and adventurous story.

Just for fun

1. Picnic Inside Throw a blanket or sheet on the floor in a different room than the kitchen and have a picnic breakfast there.
2. Backwards Day Change everything up. For “breakfast”, start with ice cream. Then, have dinner: food like pigs in a blanket, oranges, and carrots. Our kids normally read before bed, so before eating, they read in bed.
   – Tell them: “DO NOT make your bed. It’s Backwards Day!”
   – Wear pajamas ALL day.
   – For dinner, have breakfast!
3. Crazy Muffin Create the craziest muffin you can with random ingredients. Make some normal muffins too so you can enjoy those later. (:

Here’s a base recipe: 1.5 cups flour, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. baking soda, ½ cup sugar, 2 Tablespoons margarine melted, 4 medium bananas mashed, 1 egg.

Mash bananas first, mix all ingredients. Spray muffin pan and put batter int the twelve slots. Bake at 350 degrees. After about 15 minutes, check them by putting a toothpick in one. If nothing is on the toothpick when you remove it, they’re ready. If there is batter on it, bake for longer. Every oven is different so keep an eye on them. They usually take about 25 minutes.

 Not so fun

1. Chores While they aren’t fun, they have to get done. So have your kids help out with daily chores. It usually helps to throw on some fun music while you do them, and to get that done before doing the fun stuff. (:
2. Chore chart If you would like my chore chart and Tips on Allowance Sheet, let me know by commenting on this post and I’ll be happy to email them to you.

Outdoor

1. Walking Scavenger hunt Write down or draw animals and items on different notecards for each child to find on the walk.
2. Around the World Basketball Write the numbers 1 to 10 arching around the basketball goal. Once you make the shot from number one, you move to 2, then 3, etc. But, if you miss the shot, it’s the next person’s turn. You can give them two chances at each number or just one.
3. Water Balloons Have a classic water balloon fight.
4. Leaf Drawing Gather a few of your favorite leaves from outside that won’t break easily. Glue them on paper and make a cool picture with them.

Geography

1. Traveling If you have a globe, close your eyes, spin it, and then point to a place on the globe. If you have a map, close your eyes, spin around a few times, then point somewhere on the map. Where you point is where you’ll live. Research the clothes they wear, food they eat (make some of it if you can), and the weather there. Write it on a piece of paper and present it.
2. Community Read the story of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10:25-37. I LOVE this story in the Rhyme Bible for Kids if you have it. Have your kids come up with ways they have seen others love one another in small ways and big ways. You share some as well.
3. Surprise Kindness After the activity above, have each person think of a way to love someone in the family well but don’t tell them about it – just do it. You can talk about Matthew 6:3, 4 and how the Lord talks about giving in secret.

I hope these activities bring some connection and joy to your family during this time.

As Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Seasons will not last forever.

Our children won’t be babies, toddlers, elementary-age, or teenagers forever. They’re growing up fast, and this is a season.

There is indeed a time for everything.

A time for adventure, and a time for simplicity.

A time for travel, and a time to stay put.

Now your adventure just looks different.

It involves precious little children the Lord saw fit for you to raise.

Our adventures don’t have to take place across the globe–they can be right here at home.