So many kids dread math class, but I think that math can and should be fun for young kids. In fact, in our homeschool math is a favorite subject for both of my kids because I make it playful and hands-on. One of the playful math activities I did with my kids was the activity described below that involves practicing addition facts with chain ... Continue Reading
Chinese New Year Bingo Game
In China, when the Christmas decorations come down they are quickly replaced by Chinese New Year decorations, which include lanterns, cherry blossoms, and lots of red. Chinese New Year ushers in a new year represented by 1 of the 12 animals that make up the Chinese Zodiac. Chinese New Year is celebrated on a different day ... Continue Reading
Alphabet Lacing Cards {101 Ways to Teach the Alphabet}
The next installment in my 101 Ways to Teach the Alphabet Series combines letter learning with fine motor skills practice. Letter lacing is a great activity for toddlers and preschoolers alike. And today I'm making it easy by sharing my free printable alphabet lacing cards. A lot of kids go through a developmental phase where ... Continue Reading
Learning about snowflakes with Snowflake Bentley
Did you know that a man named Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley was a pioneering researcher who studied snowflakes for most of his life? Snowflake Bentley, as he is affectionately called, was the first person to take a photograph of a snowflake. Much of what we know about snowflakes is due to the painstaking work that Snowflake Bentley did. His ... Continue Reading
Arctic Animals Bingo {free printable}
Winter is the perfect time to learn about Arctic animals. When my kids were preschoolers I did a really fun Arctic unit with them where we learned the animals who live in the cold Arctic region for part or all of the year. This year I have created an Arctic Animals Bingo game that is a great way to review the names of common Arctic animals. Plus, ... Continue Reading
Letter Hop {101 Ways to Teach the Alphabet}
Kids learn best when they are actively having fun. Therefore, the next installment in my 101 Ways to Teach the Alphabet Series is a fun gross motor game called Letter Hop. Kids love this game because it keeps them active. Parents and teachers love this game because it promotes learning. Try this with your kids and see how it ... Continue Reading
Plastic bottle snowman craft
One of my favorite symbols of winter is the snowman. Here is a simple plastic bottle snowman craft you can make while staying toasty and warm indoors this winter. To make this plastic bottle snowman craft, gather the following materials: The first step is to fill the plastic bottle with fake snow. This got a bit messy. I put a sheet ... Continue Reading
Arctic Animals Printables Pack with more than 70 Arctic animal activities for kids!
Ever since my kids and I did an Arctic unit study a couple of years ago, I've been really fascinated by life in the frigid Arctic region at the northernmost part of our planet. I personally am always cold, and therefore have an aversion to temperatures below 60 degrees. (So thank goodness I live in California!) My tendency to ... Continue Reading
Candy cane crafts your kids can make for Christmas
It's not quite clear how or why candy canes became such a ubiquitous symbol of Christmas. But there's no doubt that candy canes are a popular Christmas symbol and they can be found just about everywhere during the month of December. In this post I'm sharing some mouth-watering candy cane crafts your kids can make for Christmas. ... Continue Reading
Erasing letters with a Q-tip {101 Ways to Teach the Alphabet}
The next installment in my 101 Ways to Teach the Alphabet Series is erasing letters with a Q-tip. This simple-to-set-up activity works on letter recognition, the proper way to write letters, and fine motor skills related to pencil grip. This activity is best done using a white board. I used white board markers to write several letters of ... Continue Reading
