Friday, October 09, 2009

World Book Student Activities

As a homeschool family, I know that children learn at their own pace. However, I know some like to follow a basic guideline for their children's lessons so I wanted to share this for those that haven't came across it yet.

World Book Encyclopedia and Learning Resources has a selection of free resources that could be very useful to use. There is a list for Typical Courses of Study to learn what subjects are taught at different grade levels, Trivia Quizes, a Cyber Camp (best for ages 4 - 8 or so) and much more.

Subway's Random Acts of Fitness for Kids

Subway's Free 2009-2010 Teacher's Kit for Random Acts of Fitness for Kids is available for order, including homeschools. The kit contains tools for fitness and nutrition education that includes a poster, stickers, planner and more.

While you're there, don't forget to check out the In The Classroom and Healthy at Home sections for more educational fitness and nutrition activities.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Homemade Craft Supplies

My children have many allergies. Making homemade crafts & cleaning supplies are one way I can control what they come in contact with. Here are a few 'recipes' for craft supplies today. And tomorrow, I'll follow up with a list for household cleaners.

Glitter
Supplies:
1c salt
ziploc bag
food coloring
cookie sheet

Instructions:
Seperate salt into piles, and mix each pile with food coloring in a ziploc bag. Spread salt our on a cookie sheet and let dry. Store extra glitter in a tupperware container. Best of all glitter made fr
om salt can’t cut your eyes like regular store bought glitter.

Modeling Clay
Supplies:
1c. salt
2c. flour
1c. water
food coloring to tint

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together for about 5 minutes and then it is ready to use. To keep the clay from drying out you can store it in tuperware containers.

Chalk
Supplies:
1/2 c. plaster of paris
almost 1/4 c. water
powdered tempera paint
mixing bowl
an ice cube tray.

Instructions:
Mix the plaster of paris and most of the water together, add 1-2 tbs. of tempera paint and mix well. Add enough water to thicken mixture. Pour into ice cube tray and let dry, then just pop it out and it is ready to use.

Finger Paints
Supplies
1 cup cornstarch
1 cup water
1 bar hypo-allergenic soap
food stuff dyes

Procedure:
Grate bar of soap until it is in fine shreds. Melt with 1/2 cup water over med heat. In a bowl combine cornstarch, 1/2 cup water, and melted soap mixture. Stir to blend. Let mixture sit and thicken. Divide into as many separate bowls as you want colors (so for 6 colors, use 6 bowls) Stir in ‘colors”

For colors: Get creative…you can mix 1/4 cup fruit juices with 2 cups of water, or you can add the juice from canned beets (straight instead of water). For browns you can use tea, for yellow you can mix turmeric with a little bit of water to make a paste. Once your dough is prepared, you can kneed in the colors.

NOTE: For thicker consistency paint: Mix 1 packet of gelatin with 1/4 cup of water. Add to the cornstarch, water and melted soap mixture.

Play Dough
Supplies:
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup of salt
1 cup cool water
2 Tbs oil
2 Tbs cream of tartar
Wax paper

Procedure:
Stir together flour, cream of tartar, salt and oil. Slowly mix in the water. Cook over medium heat stirring frequently until dough becomes stiff. Spread onto wax paper and let cool. Kneed dough with your hands until it reaches the desired consistency.

Note: You can add a few drops of color after you stir in the water (over the heat) to get colored dough. Get creative…you can mix 1/4 cup fruit juices with 2 cups of water, or you can add the juice from canned beets (straight instead of water). For browns you can use tea, for yellow you can mix turmeric with a little bit of water to make a paste. Once your dough is prepared, you can kneed in the colors.

Monday, September 14, 2009

Little Nummies: Animals A-Z

I came across this really cute website called Little Nummies recently. Having one picky eater on my hands, I understand how the creator of the site got started. They recently had an Animal Special that I thought would be great to share with others.

This Alphabet Animal Special can be used in many ways:

1. Reference of ideas for daily lunches or snacks to change things up or get your toddler interested in trying to new foods (or just to get them to eat period!)


2. If you are homeschooling and your child is learning the alphabet, you could do the alphabet in order one day at a time. Have lunch, go over the letter of the day and learn about that particular animal of the day as well. Lunch, Alphabet and Animal Science - three courses in one! Couldn't get much better than that.

    You can visit Little Nummies for this Animal special by visiting http://littlenummies.net/?cat=469 or to get other great food ideas visit the homepage at http://littlenummies.net. For quick reference for myself and to share with others, I have put together a list of the Animals a-z, here.