Thanksgiving and The Mayflower

In an effort to teach the kids about Thanksgiving and what it means, we have been doing a lot of reading and talking.

My first thought was to try an educational video on YouTube. It was alright but a lot of talk and well not much action. They were quickly bored.

I found a cartoon about the Mayflower and the pilgrims but it wasn't very long. I then began to read them a book and that seemed to get their attention. Then Sebastian found the cartoon from Charlie Brown about The Pilgrims. This certainly hit home to him.

So we made some Mayflower boats and I explained how the Pilgrims came to America

We used some construction paper and popsicle sticks. 

This is Sebastian's:

This is Braedon's:

Well this is Jillian's, I finished hers for her...

We will continue our study about The Mayflower and The Pilgrims with more books and activities.

Books, baking, and experiments

Monday's are my cleaning days, so we tend to stay home on these days and do whatever I can drum up.

I was thrilled when my friend, Deanne, read a book to our coop's nursery group. Its called Go Away Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley. She first introduced the book, showed them a felt monster the kids could create, and then they could make their own with pre-cut construction paper.

I loved her idea and borrowed it for my boys. Come on boys and monsters--its sure to be a hit.

Here is Braedon's creation:

Here is Sebastian's:

Do you see the resemblance? Me neither but they certainly loved the idea and wanted to post their creations on our art wall (really the sliding glass door).

Where is Jillian's you ask? Well she did not complete hers at coop and did not complete hers here either. Instead she decided to crumple up her pieces.

In between dishes, lunch, cleaning the bathroom, and laundry; next on the list was baking chocolate pumpkin bread.  I always think my kids will join in and be thrilled to help. I get them to help with the 1st few ingredients and then they ditch me. Of course then they sit there and whine, "Is it done yet?"

Sometime last year I had found the Mind Blowing Experiments for kids.  I thought this would be an easy way to introduce science into our days. All of the materials are there and when the kids give me more than 2 seconds to read the directions, I can create something cool.

Today was a very simple experiment about color. Each child had a test tube with a color in it. We then held it up to the light because the sun was not present today. Of course when you put the yellow to blue: green, yellow to red: orange and blue to red: purple. They all had a good time holding on to their tubes and I was glad that I could incorporate Jillian.

After the laundry was completed, I read the kids 1001 Things to Spot in the Sea to get them excited about our trip to the Aquarium tomorrow.

Falling leaves

Ah...homeschooling. It presents its challenges for me and my children. Each child learns in their own way. I am always searching for ideas to educate my kids in different ways.

I came across this method and felt it served many purposes. It's the falling leaves calendar.

Its very easy to make and put together.

1st: you make the leaves by using coffee filters. Color them with water markers in many colors.



2nd: you then use a wet paint brush with water to make your colors run.



3rd: dry your coffee filter.

4th: once it is dry, then you laminate the coffee filter.

5th: after the coffee filter is laminated, you then cut out the leaves. Whatever you think will work.

6th: you draw your tree on any paper and laminate it as well.

Finally: you add your leaves to your tree and put the corresponding number on your leaves.

This calendar works in many ways.
-It will teach your child to look for a particular number and get them to count up to 30.
-You could also do it in reverse and have them add to the tree.
-It also teaches them the season. (Fall the leaves come off--Spring the leaves return)

I really liked this idea and I am going to make one for Christmas as well. A take off of the advent calendar--except they won't be getting chocolate everyday (or whatever your calender promotes).

I'm very excited to teach my two younger kids with this method.