APR
08
2013

Homeschool Art Curriculum Forum

By | Art, Curriculum, Forum, Homeschool

48 Comments

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Hi fellow homeschoolers! Since I know a lot of you are out there contemplating your curriculum for next year, I thought it would be fun to do a curriculum series where we can all talk about our favorites. My “plan” is to discuss one subject per day with you all. I’ll of course share my picks for the subject, and then you will all be free to leave a comment on this post regarding your favorites as well!   So today I wanted to talk about your favorite art program, curriculum, unit study, website, or resource. Feel free to leave a comment below with your top art picks and why so we can all share our wisdom with one another! One of my favorite art curriculum is the See The Light Art DVDs. Not only do I NOT have to teach the actual lesson, but I can participate! And the kids love the lessons and we have been really impressed with their finished products as well. Pros: The art project DVDs include wonderful art techniques and instruction via video … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Art, Curriculum, Forum, Homeschool Tagged With:
FEB
27
2013

Road Trip USA: Wyoming

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool

10 Comments

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Welcome to our final state study as we’ve trekked across the United States using our Road Trip USA Geography Curriculum! Today we have finally made it to the wonderful state of Wyoming!   Wyoming was named the 44th state on July 10, 1890. It is known as “The Equality State” because it was the first place where women were granted the right to vote. The law allowing this was passed in 1869, 21 years before Wyoming became a state.   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Wyoming on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Cheyenne, WY using the map coordinates. Worked on memorizing our US Presidents Song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: The Western Meadowlark State Mammal: The American Bison State Flower: The Indian Paintbrush Famous People: Jackson Pollock State Sport: The Rodeo! Food: Buffalo chili (Recipe included in the curriculum.) The state flag of Wyoming was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool Tagged With: ,
FEB
20
2013

Road Trip USA: Washington

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

11 Comments

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Welcome to our United States Geography tour! We are nearing the end of our unit study and today we are learning all about the beautiful state of Washington as we go through our Road Trip USA Curriculum!   Washington was made the 42nd state on November 11, 1889. It was nicknamed “The Evergreen State” because of the large fir and pine trees in the state that make it green year round. It is also home to Mount St. Helens, located in the Cascade Range southeast of Seattle, WA. The volcano last erupted in 1980 after 123 years of inactivity. The eruption blasted over 1,000 feet off the top of the mountain. This eruption changed the mountains elevation from 9,677 feet to 8, 363 feet.   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Washington on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Olympia, WA using the map coordinates. Worked on memorizing our US Presidents Song Learned about the state and it’s flag State … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West Tagged With: , ,
FEB
13
2013

Road Trip USA: Utah

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool

6 Comments

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Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope you are all off to have a fun time exchanging Valentine's Cards with friends and loved ones! Over here are Confessions, we're starting our day with school then heading out for a party. But before we do that, we're taking a quick jaunt over to Utah via our Road Trip USA Geography Curriculum! Utah became the 45th state on January 4, 1896. It is nicknamed “The Beehive State” in reference to early Mormon settlers who were described as having carried “swarms of bees” with them. Thus the nickname commemorates the industry of the people of Utah. Utah is known for it’s Great Salt Lake which has no outlets. This means that dissolved minerals carried into the lake by rivers and streams are trapped there making the lake extremely salty. (Almost seven times as salty as the world’s oceans.) Only brine shrimp and algae are able to live in the Great Salt Lake. Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Utah on our … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool Tagged With: ,
FEB
06
2013

Road Trip USA: Oregon

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

5 Comments

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Welcome to our trip around the United States using our Road Trip USA Geography Curriculum! This week we are learning all about the wonderful state of Oregon. Oregon became the 33rd state admitted into the Union on February 14, 1859. It is nicknamed “The Beaver State” because of the association of beavers with the early history of the state and because of admirable qualities of intelligence, industry, and ingenuity associated with the beaver. Oregon’s Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the U.S. and measures 1,949 feet deep in places. Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Oregon on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Salem, Oregon using the map coordinates. Worked on memorizing our US Presidents Song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: The Western Meadowlark State Animal: The Beaver State Flower: The Oregon Grape State Insect: The Swallowtail Butterfly State Landmarks: Columbia River … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West Tagged With: , ,
JAN
09
2013

Road Trip USA: Nevada

By | Curriculum, Geography, History, Homeschool, West

3 Comments

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Hi everyone! Welcome to our United States Geography study! This week we are checking out Nevada! Nevada was designated the 36th state on October 31, 1864 during the Civil War. That is why it’s called the “Battle Born State”. It is the largest gold-producing state in the nation and is second only to South Africa in the world. Nevada was made famous by the discovery of the Comstock Lode, the richest known U.S. silver deposit, in 1859.   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Nevada on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Carson City, NV using the map coordinates. Worked on our 50 States and Capitals song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: Mountain Bluebird State Mammal: Desert Bighorn Sheep State Flower: Sagebrush State Landmarks: Hoover Dam, Comstock Lode Food:  West Nugget Rib Cookoff Activity: Built a stick dam (instructions included in the Road Trip USA … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Curriculum, Geography, History, Homeschool, West Tagged With: ,
DEC
13
2012

Road Trip USA: Montana

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

1 Comment

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Montana was named the 41st state on November 8, 1889. It was nicknamed “Big Sky Country” as a reference to the unobstructed skyline in the state that can overwhelm the landscape at times. It is home to more species of mammals than any other state. Elk, antelope, and deer populations outnumber the humans in Montana!   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Montana on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Helena, MT using the map coordinates. Worked on our 50 States and Capitals song (Here is a video so you can hear the tune) Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: Western Meadowlark State Flower: Bitterroot State Insect: Mourning Cloak Butterfly State Mammal: Grizzly Bear State People: “Evel Knievel” Food: Huckleberries Here is my white board for the week, we use this to review all of the state facts and symbols each day.     We made designed a postcard from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West Tagged With: ,
DEC
06
2012

Preschool Letter H Activities

By | Alphabet, Curriculum, Homeschool, Preschool

6 Comments

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Hi everyone! Welcome to the Teeny Tot Tuesday post! School is back in swing, and we’re picking up where we left off at the end of last year. This week the Teeny Tot is working on the Letter H for Hippo. For more printables and ideas, visit my Letter H preschool post! Hippos are totally cute, and these activities were one of her favorites. Here she is working on size sorting. I instructed her to sort them from smallest to largest, then we reviewed all of the colors.   Next we did some fine-motor skill activities with our Jumbo Push Pins and Letter H Poke Page. I have her carefully poke holes all along the letter outlines, then we hold it up to the window to see our letters shine through.   Next we did some cutting and pasting. She cut out all of the hippo parts, then assembled them using glue on a piece of construction paper.   I believe Tinker Bell might have helped her add some embellishments here…     She also did some Hippo coloring, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alphabet, Curriculum, Homeschool, Preschool Tagged With: ,
NOV
14
2012

Road Trip USA: Idaho

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

1 Comment

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Hi awesome readers! I hope you are having a wonderful day, this week we took a little trip to Idaho for our Road Trip USA studies!   Idaho was named the 43rd state on July 3, 1890. It was named “The Gem State” because of its abundance of natural resources and scenic areas in the state. Hell’s Canyon, which was carved by the Snake River, is the deepest gorge in America. This canyon is about 10 miles wide and 7,993 feet deep.   Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Idaho on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Boise, ID using the map coordinates. Worked on our 50 States and Capitals song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: Mountain Bluebird State Fish: Cutthroat Trout State Flower: Syringa State Insect: Hairstreak Butterfly State Landmarks: Pikes Peak, Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Mesa Verde National Park. Food: In 2002 state legislature declared the potato … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West Tagged With: ,
NOV
07
2012

Road Trip USA: Hawaii

By | Curriculum, Geography, Homeschool, West

1 Comment

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Hawaii is comprised of a chain of 132 islands. After several attempts Hawaii was finally named the 50th state of the U.S. on August 21, 1959. It is nicknamed “The Aloha State” which is the Hawaiian word for “hello”. It is the southernmost state in the U.S. and is also home of the world’s most active volcano, Kilauea on Mauna Loa. Here are some of the things we learned about this week: Located Hawaii on our wall map Read our National Geographic Atlas and located Honolulu, HI using the map coordinates. Worked on our 50 States and Capitals song Learned about the state and it’s flag State Bird: Nene Goose State Fish: The humuhumunukunukuapua'a (pronounced: hoo-moo-hoo-moo-noo-koo-noo-koo-auhp-oo-ah-ah) also known as the Reef Triggerfish State Flower: Hibiscus State Insect: Kamehameha Butterfly State Landmarks: Pikes Peak, Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Mesa Verde National Park. Food: The Dole Pineapple Plantation Here is my white board for … [Read more...]

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