Winter Learning Centers

Posted by Cindy on January 19, 2009

The time has come to set out some winter learning centers.  Even though the kids get outside almost everyday still, it’s just too cold to stay out for long.  Without friendly reminders around the house, one of my sweet children will do nothing but beg to watch the TV for hours.  (Anyone who knows us can guess which of my lovely children that might be!)

So, in different places around the house, I have stashed a few small boxes and baskets of creative things for my children to do if the desire strikes.  (Or if I’m so sick of hearing the TV question that I demand their desire to strike.  )

The first four were inspired by LaPaz Home Learning.  A small sample of abstract art and oil pastels for recreating the artwork.  Another small sample of abstract art, this time with chalk pastels.  A few cards of architecture/machines, Sculpey clay and some “around the house” tools for recreating 3-D models.  And a bag of marshmallows and toothpicks for creating…. whatever.

There are also math manipulatives that we don’t use often during school time scattered about.  Fraction circles, pattern blocks and geo boards.

A few science kits – electricity, chemistry and magic tricks.  (Thank the Lord for grandparents who buy these fun kits for gifts!)

I’ve also been checking out more books on tape/CD for the kids to listen to as they knit or sew or clean their rooms.

Don’t get me wrong.  My children don’t always flock to these things.  If I let them, they (well one of them) will always choose TV over the wonderful extra-fun learning activities I’ve so diligently and thoughtfully placed around the house.  Sometimes, real boredom has to be experienced before any of these things seems inviting. 

Super Sensational Summer Sparks Box

Posted by Cindy on August 3, 2008

Summer break has officially begun for us, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do.  Have you ever met a bored child in the summer?  That’s one of the worst types of children to be around!    Children homeschooled Charlotte Mason-style are usually good at keeping themselves busy, but I have a trick up my sleeve for those inevitable times when the kids need an idea or two for fun on their own.

Throughout the year, I’ve been gathering fun things and hoarding them away in a box that I’m calling the Super Sensational Summer Sparks box.

I’ve found cheap experiment sets, art/craft books, manipulatives and such at curriculum and yard sales that I’ve stashed away.  I’ve also pulled out some things that have been sitting on the shelves for a while that will seem like new.

One or two afternoons a week, I’ll let them browse through the box for an activity.  The box will be off limits the rest of the time so it will seem like a treasure chest waiting to be explored.  Or at least I hope it will.  As the box is emptied, I’ll fill it again with new items.  I’m even thinking of adding things like a baggie of ingredients for play dough, a box of shells with a magnifying glass, a bag of water balloons.  Things I already have around the house.  I have a feeling that finding these things in the Super Sensational Summer Sparks Box is going to be much more fun than if I just say, “How about making some play dough today?”

Painless Artist Study

Posted by Cindy on January 28, 2008

Okay, so my Charlotte Mason friends may raise their eyebrows to this post.  I can get overwhelmed with all the “stuff” that’s out there to teach.  Good stuff like artists, composers, Latin….  Things that just seem to slip by the wayside sometimes when the phonics and math lessons drag on far too long.

Even though it may be considered cheating, there are times when I leave art/artist study to chance.  I know, I know.  You’re gasping right now.  But, I feel that this method at least gives the kids a fighting chance to soak in some artist knowledge when mom takes off for the day to finish the laundry, start supper and chase the wild toddler.

Mind you, there are times when all is right in the homeschool week and we joyfully sit down to gaze at beautiful artwork, learn about an artist and  try our hand at some fabulous technique.  But, ahem, those weeks are coming fewer and farther between as the school year plugs on and the baby becomes more mobile!  So, just how do I try to teach art without really teaching art?

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I use the same learning center plan that I’ve used so many times in the past:

• Choose an artist.

• Find info books about him/her from the library.

• Set the books out on a table with various art supplies.

• I might try to find a poster or print some pictures from the internet of some of the artist’s work to tape to the wall.

• Let the kiddos read the info books, look at the art and use the art supplies to try their hand at what they’ve seen.

They typically enjoy the free art time.  I do have to admit, though, they almost always do better artwork after a lesson with me.  But, masterpieces aren’t my main goal (although it would be nice.)  I’m simply aiming for art appreciation and enjoyment right now.

As a side note:  Discovering Great Artists: Hands-On Art for Children in the Styles of the Great Masters is a WONDERFUL book for ideas and artist information!

Also, Month-by-Month Masterpieces is a nice addition because it comes with poster sized prints of ten pieces of art that are studied in the book.

Bird Center

Posted by Cindy on July 5, 2007

Here’s the newest summer center at our house – Birds!

The box of books on the right includes nonfiction books about all sorts of birds – everything from birds we see around here to penguins to toucans.  I’ve also included some really good children’s literature that have birds as characters – Make Way for Ducklings (Puffin Storytime), Angelo, and The Raft to name a few.

The books laying out are bird identification and drawing guides.  These will be used with their nature notebooks as they go bird watching.  That just reminded me, I need to set out binoculars.  I’ll do a post soon about the nature notebooks.  I just love these!

I found the little birdhouses at The Dollar Tree for……….$1.00!  I’ve also set out a bird memory game and some bird activity sheets that from the NaturExplorers Beautiful Birds study.  Finally, the game in the back on the left is really pushing it to fit into the bird theme.  It’s a spelling game with bird pictures on the back of the cards!  Ha Ha!  Whatever works, right?

Patriotic Fun

Posted by Cindy on June 20, 2007

Here’s the latest summer center at our house.  The topic for the next couple of weeks is the good ol’ USA!

I’ve included a few library books, a book on tape, 4th of July/American history songs, The 50 Great States Game, The Game of the States, a US puzzle, a magnetic states puzzle, a red,white & blue chemistry experiment set, picture timeline cards of some famous US events of the 20th century, and some patriotic stickers.

Behind the scenes:  Everything on the table (almost) was under $1.00 or free!  I’ve told you many times before how much I love curriculum sales, yard sales and Goodwill.  Well, when I find something cheap, I usually buy it.  When I decide on a theme for my center, I go on a treasure hunt around the house to see what goes with the theme.  Even the star fabric was 1/4 yard of  $1.00/yd fabric = 25 cents!  The only thing I paid “real money” for was the experiment set.  I bought Mahayla a few fun sets from Home Science Tools last Christmas.  You wouldn’t believe how much fun I have putting these together!  It’s okay to call me a nerd!