I’m excited to share these free winter play dough mats with you! They can help elementary students learn nature study observation skills through hands-on play. You might think play-based learning is mainly for the preschool crowd, but playing in the elementary years still has plenty of benefits. Learning through play is more important than you…
Art and living math make a fantastic duo. Anytime you combine the creativity of art with the logical side of nature, you’ve got a powerful activity connecting both sides of the brain for meaningful learning. This particular lesson combines art and math through a fun project inspired by the famous abstract artist Wassily Kandinsky. This…
I am so excited to share this unique nature study freebie with you! You’ll love using autumn play dough mats in your elementary homeschool for all sorts of meaningful fun and learning. Play dough mats provide various benefits. At the most basic level, molding and sculpting dough helps to exercise fine motor skills. This is…
Time and again, research and anecdotal evidence have proven that creativity is as vital a trait as resilience or wit. Often creativity can be considered a skill, but it’s such a broad concept that it’s difficult to explain just how to practice such a skill. This list of art and handicraft gifts will help! Creativity…
Please welcome Jen Vail, a regular feature writer here at Our Journey Westward! She’s here to encourage you that the homeschool extras matter – for your children AND YOU. If you enjoy the blog post, let her know in the comments! I have a confession to make: I do not homeschool all of my children….
Having a home full of the best art supplies for kids will help foster your children’s ability to express themselves. Art keeps them busy doing something far more constructive than using electronics or watching TV. And that comes in handy… especially during the winter months. Being cooped up inside can make everyone go a little…
It’s a good idea for every child to know basic art fundamentals. Whether you have a really “artsy” child or one who prefers reading or math, having them learn about art can be beneficial. It’s always good to push kiddos to try new things. Who knows, maybe after learning some fundamentals, they may fall in…
In our home, summer break has always been an opportunity for more reading rather than less. With the obligations of regular school lessons on hold for a while, we often get lost in a stack of picture books or chapter after chapter from a current read-aloud (or two). There are lots of components to summer…
Eli and I have just begun our history studies for the year and I’m very glad to report that I might have another history lover on my hands! This ancient history art project is a motivating one for sure. This post contains affiliate links. Oh, how I have missed Story of the World. It’s just such…
Who doesn’t love a painting grandma? This Grandma Moses artist study will help you get to know the sweet lady who didn’t begin painting until she was 77 years old. What an inspiration! In our homeschool, we study one artist for a month at a time, typically working on it one day per week during…
Confession time. I’ve been really slow about starting composer study with Eli (2nd grade.) Yep. Even seasoned Charlotte Mason homeschoolers don’t do everything all the time. But…and this is a big but…I’m doing it now and it’s never been easier! This post contains affiliate links. Forget the fact that I got the Zeezok Music Appreciation for the Elementary Grades…
I loved it when my kids learned to bake. As they tried new recipes and grew in their kitchen skills, they also unwittingly grew in math, science, and character. Plus, I had plenty of new treats to eat. That’s a win-win-win! These baking gifts for kids are sure to both inspire and thrill! This post…