To a certain extent, I believe all parents are homeschoolers because parents are their children's first and most important teachers. Even parents who send their kids to traditional schools are still responsible for teaching their kids so many things, including manners, social skills, ethics, emotional regulation, and much more. We have a been a ... Continue Reading
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Engage your kids in playful learning opportunities
Research has repeatedly shown that kids learn best through play. This is because play is typically self-directed, meaningful to the child, and engaged in at an appropriate developmental level - all factors that support quality learning! As regular readers know, here at Gift of Curiosity I love to engage kids in fun, playful, and ... Continue Reading
Make a rain cloud in a jar
During the course of our weather unit we learned about the water cycle, how clouds form, and of course, rain. We thought it would be fun to make a rain cloud in a jar as part of our learning about rain. Note: You'll find more weather-related activities on my Weather Unit Study page. How does rain form? As part of the ... Continue Reading
9 ideas for creating and learning with dot markers
It's no secret that I love dot markers. In fact, I love them so much that I've created over 500 pages of do-a-dot printables that kids can use to play and learn with dot markers. What are dot markers? Dot markers, also referred to as daubers, are thick markers that can be used to make colorful dots on paper. They can also be used in the more ... Continue Reading
100+ Free Valentine’s Day Printables
Long-time readers will know that I love creating educational printables to share here at Gift of Curiosity. Over time, I have created a number of Valentine printables to share with my readers. And if you are like me, you love finding free printables to use with your kids. Today I have compiled a list of over 100 free Valentine's Day ... Continue Reading
Pattern block letters {101 Ways to Teach the Alphabet}
I have very fond memories of playing with pattern blocks back in elementary school. My friends and I used to spend our entire recess creating elaborate domino puzzles with them to show our classmates when class resumed. So hoping to recreate some of the fun from my youth, one of the first toys I bought after adopting my toddler-age son ... Continue Reading
Apple Montessori activities
Fall is just around the corner, and the apples will soon be ripening on the tree. So it's the perfect time for an apple unit study! In this post I'm sharing 10 different apple Montessori activities that would be great for 2 to 5 year olds. Note: For more apple activities, see my Apple Unit Study page. Apple fine motor ... Continue Reading
I Spy Letter Hunt {101 Ways to Teach the Alphabet}
The next installment in my 101 Ways to Teach the Alphabet Series is an I Spy Letter Hunt game. This is a mess free way to instill a bit of mystery and fun into a child's letter practice. I had a clear plastic tube left over from a product I had purchased that I decided to use for this activity. However, any clear plastic container that can ... Continue Reading
Solar System 3-Part Cards
I have been meaning to create a set of solar system 3-part cards for a while, and I've finally done it! XGirl has been obsessed with space for nearly a year now. We recently moved into our new home and now that she has her own room, she opted for a space theme room with dark blue paint and solar system decals on the walls. I love her ... Continue Reading
Phases of the moon art and science activity
When we did our space unit several months ago, my kids and I spent a lot of time studying and observing the phases of the moon. We also did a simple Montessori activity to learn about the surface of the moon. The phases of the moon art and science activity I am sharing today builds upon those previous lessons to reinforce some facts about ... Continue Reading