As an experienced homeschool parent, I interact with a lot of other homeschool families, both in person and online. And there's one scenario I come across ALL. THE. TIME. It goes like this: A parent has decided to pull their child from school and start homeschooling. And the first thing they do is to start asking other people for curriculum ... Continue Reading
Thanksgiving Do-a-Dot Printables
This year I have been busy updating and improving many of my printables. I recently decided to update my Thanksgiving Do-a-Dot Printables in order to add 19 new do-a-dot printables on top of the 10 Thanksgiving do-a-dot pages I shared last year. I hope your kids will enjoy this updated pack with lots of fun new learning printables for kids ... Continue Reading
Children’s Books About Volcanoes
A volcano is an opening in the earth’s surface where gas, hot magma (lava), and ash can escape from beneath the crust. There are currently more than 500 active volcanoes on earth, and another 1,000 that are considered potentially active. More than half of the world’s active volcanoes are in a horseshoe shaped area around the Pacific Ocean known ... Continue Reading
Make your own functioning compass
Do you know how to make a compass? I had long heard that it was possible to make a functioning compass using a magnet and a needle, but I had my doubts about how well it would work. Well, it turns out that my doubts were misplaced because it was surprisingly easy do make a compass using some simple materials from around our home! As part of ... Continue Reading
How to make corn husk dolls
A long time ago, before you could walk into your nearest store and pick up a factory made doll from the shelves, parents and children had to make their own dolls. It is believed that Native Americans began making dolls from corn husks over a thousand years ago. Today, corn remains an important staple food for many people in the Americas, and ... Continue Reading
Soda and Mentos Geyser Activity
Have you ever made a Soda and Mentos Geyser? It's a fun activity with a big "wow" factor, but you have to be able to move fast or you'll shower yourself in soda! This is a great activity to spark a discussion about chemical reactions. Note: Find more science experiments on my Science Activities for Kids page! To make a ... Continue Reading
Layers of the Earth Craft: Hands-On Geology Activity for Kids
As part of our volcano unit, it was important to learn about the layers of the earth. And what better way to cement the learning than to create our own Layers of the Earth Craft! The Layers of the Earth The Earth is comprised of four layers. Most geologists believe that as the earth cooled, the most dense materials sank into the ... Continue Reading
Modeling tectonic plate boundaries with crackers and jam (hands-on geology lessons for kids)
As part of our volcano unit study, we learned a bit about plate tectonics. As you may be aware, the top layer of the earth, called the crust, is covered in plates, called tectonic plates, that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. However, unlike a jigsaw puzzle, the tectonic plates on the earth's surface are in constant motion. The place ... Continue Reading
Hardware-decorated pumpkins for Halloween
Today I've got a cute idea for decorating your pumpkins this year that will also develop kids' fine motor skills. Check out our hardware-decorated Halloween pumpkins for some inspiration! Note: For more kid-friendly Halloween activities, see my Halloween activities for Kids page. CAUTION! As with any activity, you ... Continue Reading
Fun with Fingerprint Animal Art
Fingerprint art is practically a childhood rite of passage. Indeed, I first created fingerprint art with my kids back when they were in preschool. We used red ink and a black marker to make fingerprint ladybugs. Since it has been a few years since we last did fingerprint art, I thought we'd give it another try. This time, I didn't want to limit ... Continue Reading
