Science, art, music timelines?
December 3, 2011 | 
Author I’ve decided that I’d like to integrate as much of our studies as I can, around our history lessons…so I am in search of some good resources for science, art and music timelines…Any suggestions?
What I envision is sticking with our history books as our “spine” (for my daughter, that is the “History of US” series by Joy Hakim, currently the 2nd book…for my son, the “Story of the World” series by Susan Wise Bauer, currently the first book…And yes, I really want to have them both in the same book/time period to simplify things…but I’m not there yet, and that’s a whole different story for another time.) And with those as a reference, I’d like to add in the scientific discoveries/inventions and scientists of the time frame…art/artists/art periods…and music/musicians/musical periods. As relevant to whatever they are studying. Maybe even sprinkle in some mathematicians (as age appropriate).
Make a rain gauge out of a soda bottle
So I’m working on geography with my 6yr old, using a method that is supposed to be something Charlotte Mason would have approved of (it came out of the core book that I bought on this page)…and we need a rain gauge. So I thought it would be great to make one ourselves. And we just happened to have a 2liter plastic soda bottle (something we pretty much NEVER have, because we so rarely have soda…but just so happens that my hubby and I splurged on a recent date night at home.) …
So I let my fingers do the walking and Googling immediately turned up this: http://www.weirdsciencekids.com/RainGauge.html
VOILA! That’ll work! So I’m going to update this post after we get a chance to make it. I’ll post pics at that point.
I don’t expect rain anytime in the near future, but October is kind of a weird month in our part of California (Central Valley) so you never really know.
BOOK REVIEW: The Peaceful Classroom
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This is a curriculum book that no preschool teacher (or homeschooler) should be without! Each activity even includes what center it could be used at! (Circle time, Art area, etc.) It lists words that you can introduce to the children through the activity, as well as what to do, what you need, what to do for more, & involving parents! Age appropriateness is cited, and the table of contents breaks the activities into themes. A very useful tool!
The “Exchange Change” Game
Here’s a great game for helping children learn about the value of coins. I’ve successfully used this with my daughter in the past (she’s now nearly 11), and now with my 6yr old son.
I wrote out the instructions on an index card and saved it and all the coins mentioned in the instructions in a zipper bag with one die.
Here’s the game:
To play this game with 2-3 players, start out with 10 dimes, 6 nickels, and 15 pennies. The first player will roll the die and what ever number comes up from 1-6 they will take that many coins. If they roll a six they can take six pennies, but then they have to exchange 5 pennies for a nickel. After a few times of having to exchange them they’ll learn to pick a nickel and one penny. The next player will do the same and take the allotted amount. On the players next turn they take the allotted coins, but if they end up with five pennies they exchange them for a nickel and if they have two nickels they have to exchange them for one dime. When all the dimes are gone the game is over and all players count out their change. The person with the highest number wins. For the next level of learning money combinations add 10 quarters and then the next level you can add dollar bills.
Update on the Smith Family
Just wanted to pop over here and write a quick post to update everyone on our homeschool experiences.
This year, as mentioned in a previous post, we decided to try out a local homeschool charter. Let me tell you…this has been the BEST decision I have EVER made in regards to homeschooling! Its been everything I’ve ever needed/wanted, and then some!
What I needed, apparently, to get me to where I wanted to be, was just a little accountability. I’ve always done a lot of a things with and for my kids…but never was I happy that I was getting things in their path regular enough and working through specific curricula has just been such a struggle to stay on task. I was forever frustrated with what we WEREN’T getting done, that I really wanted to be.
BOOK REVIEW: The Outside Play and Learning Book
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This one really came in handy for that outside play time when you just want to add a little structure to it! Some great activities for preschoolers! It’s sectioned into themes, like “The Wonderful World of Make-Believe,” “Wheels, Wheels, Wheels,” “Dig It-Things to do with Sand & Mud,” & much more! And each activity tells what age its appropriate for as well as what materials are needed, what to do, what to do for more, and what they can learn from the activity.
Posted in Book Reviews, Educational Books | 
Tags: activities, outdoors, outside, preschool | 
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BOOK REVIEW: Mudpies to Magnets
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Another terrific preschool curriculum book! This book is divided into topic areas…”Science Center Activities,” “Construction & Measurement,” “Circle Time…” etc…Age appropriateness is mentioned, as well as words to introduce, things you’ll need, what to do, & what to do for more. A good book for bringing science into the preschool classroom! Many of the activities can also be adjusted for older kids, also.
BOOK REVIEW: How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk
This is a fantastic book that is really easy to read! (A must for me!) It even incorporates cartoons to help you to see how the different approaches will solicit different outcomes…and guides you to understanding what really is a better way of communication with kids. There are things in here we’ve all done before, and never thought about how they may be affecting the outcomes of situations with the children in our lives. It makes you stop and think!
Also check out their website.
MinecraftEdu coming soon!!!
I’m so excited! Just got this back from The Minecraft Teacher (I emailed him about the possibility of virtual classes):
Hello there! First some apologies… I apologize that I’m sending you a form letter. And extra apologies if I have not also sent you a personal note before. And extra, extra apologies if you’ve been waiting a long time for my response! Besides all the usual madness at the beginning of the school term, this year I have also been busy setting up a new venture which I’m delighted to share with you.Over the past several months, I have been collaborating with a small team of educators and programmers in Finland. We have been given the incredible opportunity to work with Mojang AB (creators of Minecraft). Our goal is to get Minecraft into as many classrooms as possible, and to give teachers the tools to get the most out of the game! We’ve started a company called “Teacher Gaming” and our main focus will be on “MinecraftEdu”, the name of our various Minecraft-related offerings.In the near future we will be officially launching MinecraftEdu.com, but since you contacted me about obtaining the game recently, I wanted to give you an early heads-up!Here are the basics of what we will be offering:
- Educational discounts on the game – We are able to sell Minecraft at up to 50% off the full price. (see below!)
BOOK REVIEW: Positive Discipline
This is the book we used at the high quality preschool I used to teach at, years ago. I HIGHLY recommend this form of discipline because I’ve seen it work. The main concept in this discipline is RESPECT. Not just children respecting parents, but parents respecting children! Also check out the Positive Discipline website.
This philosophy uses age appropriate expectations in a gentle, loving, non-combative way. Excellent read!
