A sneaky little elf switched some of Mrs. Claus' cookie baking ingredients! Christmas science doesn't get much more fun than solving a mystery. The Case of the Christmas Cookie Mystery is a hands-on investigation to determine which powder mixture contains the correct ingredients to Mrs. Clause's cookie recipe. Through simple experiments, your children will observe and note various properties to reveal the correct mixture. You can find the directions and worksheets at The Science Spot. It takes a little time on your part to set up the mystery, but it's worth the effort! Of course, this is a great lesson to get you in the mood for some actual cookie baking. You'll love ... Read More
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100 of the Best Picture Books for Middle School
Picture books for middle school? Shouldn't older students have moved on from picture books years ago? Not necessarily. Many of the best living picture books include amazing stories with rich language that big kids are finally able to read and enjoy on their own. Additionally, some of the picture books we have on our shelves do a beautiful job of introducing kids to serious topics - like war or racism. And I purposely tend to hold these back until my kids are old enough to handle the emotional content. Even with books that don't cover heavy topics, there are many picture books with nuances that are best understood by older children. This book contains affiliate links. I've ... Read More
100+ Science Picture Books to Help You Homeschool
We follow a four-year cycle for teaching science. In the elementary years, science picture books have helped me introduce and explain scientific topics so well that I consider them as much curriculum as anything else we use to teach science. While we do use the occasional science textbook during the elementary years, much of the learning takes place through three modalities: Nature Study covers most of the biology and earth science topics. We consider nature walks to be our outdoor science labs and spend indoor hours reading, researching, and sometimes completing hands-on projects. Unit Studies cover most of the chemistry and physical science topics. We spend plenty of time reading, ... Read More
20+ Ideas for Creative Christmas Homeschooling in December
Homeschooling in December can be rough. We all need a bit of a break from the monotony of the regular homeschooling schedule, don't we? Some people choose to take the entire month off to focus on the preparations of Christmas and turning the hearts of their children toward the One that Christmas is all about. I've found several ways over the years to accomplish both homeschooling and Christmas preparations - all turning the hearts of my children toward Christ. Creative Homeschooling in December In this post, I've rounded up all those homeschooling in December ideas from the last several years for you. I hope you find something that will be just perfect for your Christmas ... Read More
Boyschooling Homeschool Curriculum for 5th and 12th Grades (2017-18)
I have another senior. How is that possible? It's really, indescribably true when you hear that time flies and your kids will be grown in the blink of an eye. So, this year I'm boyschooling a 12th grader and 5th grader. These boys keep me so busy with music lessons, sports, and more that I rarely know whether I'm coming or going. But it's all good and I treasure (almost) every single moment I have with them. I just know we're going to have a great homeschooling year - even with all the bumps that will inevitably come. Boyschooling Homeschool Curriculum Since my boys are so far apart in age, we aren't doing too much as a family in homeschooling anymore. Caleb is off doing his ... Read More
Fairy Tales Boys Love
Boy oh boy.... take a look at this list of fairy tales boys love. And why wouldn't they? These stories are filled with adventure and mystery! I don't know if you've noticed, but quite a lot of fairy tales have wonderfully strong female characters. There's not a thing in the world wrong with that! However, when I set out to write my Character Building Chapter Books for Boys post, I had a hard time finding wonderful fairy tales with strong male characters to include in that list. So, I went on a quest to locate the best of the best fairy tales that will capture the interest of boys and include adventures that define good from evil. Where magic takes place and lessons are learned is a ... Read More
Character Building Chapter Books for Boys
Now that I'm a "boy-only mom" (because my daughter is in college) choosing read aloud books requires a new consideration. Will the potential book appeal to my boys? I can't get away any longer with reading books that have any sort of girly-girl flavor. Lucky for me, there are TONS of wonderful living books to fill the time. Also lucky for me, I LOVE these books just as much as my boys! What Makes A Book Appealing What make a book appealing to BOYS? Adventure. Mystery. Intrigue. Strong characters. Humor. Battles. What makes THESE particular books appealing to ME? Many of them have great characters who display great character. Leadership. Courage. Strength. Perseverance. ... Read More
2016-17 Homeschool Curriculum and Schedule for 4th and 11th Grades
Well, these children of mine keep getting older and I find myself with a sophomore in college, a high school junior and a 4th grader. My homeschool became a boy school last year - and I've come to enjoy planning with active boys in mind! Take a peek at our homeschool curriculum and slightly improved schedule... Homeschool Curriculum in Four Terms Our little homeschool is changing its look just a bit this year to better meet the needs of our busy schedule and to better fit in with my boys' learning styles. We're still eclectically Charlotte Mason. We still follow (a somewhat slower-paced) four-year history and science cycle. We still start our day with family morning time. The ... Read More
When You Need a Summer of Rest
Maybe you've noticed that I haven't been around for a while? Sometimes life just gets so busy that certain things fall by the wayside. Other times, I just need a break. Both happen to have been the case for me these last few months. Both are also the reasons I needed a summer of rest to restore my soul outside of blogging. Bigger kids lead busier lives. I couldn't have imagined being busier than my frazzled self when babies and toddlers were running around the house. But life can indeed get busier. I travel to ballgames and instrument practices and church events. I stay up way past my bedtime to talk about things on a teen's heart - and those can be big conversations! I spend ... Read More
Why the Jotham’s Journey Series is NOT to be Missed
What do you get when you mix historical fiction with lots of adventure then add daily devotionals for Advent? The Jotham's Journey series of books! These books are simply NOT to be missed. This post contains affiliate links. Wow. That's the best word I can think of to describe these page-turning, spine-tingling adventure stories meant to be read in December to point the way to the One who was our ultimate Christmas gift! They are our all-time favorite living literature for the Christmas season! There are four books in the Jotham's Journey series which are written as daily read-alouds for Advent (aka: the days leading up to Christmas.) You only read one book per year - meaning the ... Read More