{Although a silly story (needing some tweaking), the science mystery experiment pictured above is both fun and worthwhile as you step away from the textbooks this Christmas season. Enjoy the Christmas Cookie Mystery with Teacher Directions.}
Below is an article I wrote for CHEK’s December Newsletter. I thought I’d post it here just in case some of you are overwhelmed this Christmas season.
Are you tired yet? By the time December rolls around each year, I’m ready for a break – only to find all the busy moments surrounding the Christmas season staring me in the face! Instead of throwing in the towel on homeschooling in order to manage all the other to-do’s of December, we have “Christmas school”. That’s a fancy term meaning we relax the regular schedule and make the to-do’s part of our school routine.
During these two or three weeks just before Christmas, the textbooks are often replaced with practical things such as menu planning, couponing, baking, party planning and decorating, shopping for presents on a budget, crafting homemade gifts, addressing Christmas cards, practicing for plays and musicals at church, and more. We’ll spend extra time fitting in service opportunities, too.
We also replace our daily Bible routine with one that prepares our hearts to celebrate the birth of Christ. There are so many different Bible schedules and Christmas devotions readily available, even some with learning activities! I’ll mention just a few to get you started. We love completing a Jesse Tree and have done this several different years. We have completed several themed studies relating to Advent, the Symbols of Christmas, and the Names of Jesus. We’re also suckers for good literature. Our very favorite Christmas series is written by Arnold Ytreeide and includes three books (read one book per year) with readings every day of December leading up to Christmas day. If you are new to this series, I would read them in the following order: Jotham’s Journey, Bartholomew’s Passage and Tabitha’s Travels.
Don’t let the craziness of December leave you feeling overwhelmed and spent. Enjoy your family. Enjoy your homeschool. Enjoy the to-do’s. Enjoy the extra-gushy time with our Lord and Savior.
I know it’s not quite time for the Advent activities from our new $5.00 mini-unit Nature Study Through the Holidays, but I wanted to show you the blessings that came from one of the suggested walks this past week. (Also, to let you know that the suggestions we’ve made each week of Advent can certainly be used at other times as well!)
Week 2 of Advent focuses on the topics of Bethlehem and Peace. During one walk, you are encouraged to find the peace as seen in nature’s leftovers – like dried flower stalks, single leaves hanging from trees or fallen nuts. Since we suggest you use this activity as a photo walk, that’s just what my children and I did. I’m sharing many of our photo finds with you.
A single cluster of maple seeds hangs on, waiting for the winds of winter to give them a final push.
These burrs haven't found their way onto some unsuspecting animal or person yet.
The giant remains of a bull thistle are intimidating!
As winter snows and ice approach, queen Anne's lace waits as a lovely resting place for them. If you get an ice storm, look for the fancy wands that are created over this dried flower.
There are so many great Christmas books to read with your children! I’ve posted about some of my top favorites from years past. But, since I write nature studies, I thought I’d highlight some of my favorite Christmas picture books that relate well with nature study. Really good ones are few and far between, with so much twaddle to weed through! I’ll admit that a few of these are a stretch when you consider tying them into nature study, but think creatively! For instance, the following two don’t have explicit nature themes, but An Orange for Frankie is appropriate when you consider the topic of Fruits and Nuts; while Silver Packages fits best with Snow and Ice.
If you’ve come across other great Christmas & nature-related books that I haven’t mentioned, please leave a comment!
By far, the Nature Study Through the Holidays study has been our biggest seller. For that, we thank YOU! The short and simple activities tied into the Advent theme are just enough during this busy season in our house.
Last week, my three children and I headed to a local cemetery for a red and green scavenger hunt, as suggested in Nature Study Through the Holidays. Luckily for us, it was a mild day, so we took advantage of the fresh air opportunity as we scoped out small glimpses of red and unique greens in nature.
Here are some photos from our walk. We found more reds that we had predicted!
Berries
A stately conifer tree
Buds
Lichen
More buds
A thriving vine
A ladybug
Some research is leading me to think this is a prickly sow thistle, but I'm not quite convinced yet. Any ideas?
During our Red and Green Walk from Nature Study Through the Holidays, we collected several cones for this activity. It’s mentioned for use during the 4th week of Advent (next week), but my preschooler was raring to go last week. So, last week it was! This is a glimpse at glittery pinecone ornaments as done by a three-year-old. Older children can take the process up a notch and make the ornaments something really spectacular!
Roll the cones in glue.
Then roll them in glitter - or sprinkle the glitter on.
Once dry, pile several cones prettily in a bowl or tie them with string to hang on your Christmas tree.
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For instance, the following two don’t have explicit nature themes, but An Orange for Frankie is appropriate when you consider the topic of 
