One of the main goals I set early on in our homeschool was to give my children a love of learning. Creative homeschooling is the mode I’ve used to successfully do that. Don’t think that you can never put your child in front of a textbook or computer screen to homeschool creatively! Instead, think of it as offering your children curriculum and styles to meet their needs. Sometimes that will be a textbook or computer class. Other times, it may be a unit study, living literature, field trips, games, project-based learning, co-op classes, or interest-based studies. These articles show you how. Be inspired!
Believe it or not, the dreary days of winter give children great opportunities for learning. The long, sometimes dark days can be frustratingly boring and lead to trouble on the homefront. Luckily, this list of educational winter gifts will prepare you for Christmas and birthdays, while keeping your kiddos happy and occupied all winter long….
In this root vegetable nature study, children will learn how to look at root veggies through the eyes of a scientist! Do you think every underground veggie happens to be a root veggie? If so, this lesson might surprise you. If you enjoy funschooling during the holidays, this topic fits in nicely during the Thanksgiving…
I never like to admit when I’m barely treading water, but it happens almost every year as Thanksgiving approaches. The moment the leftover turkey is put in the fridge, it seems that December and its giant to-do list overwhelm me. Besides the regular crazy that we call our day-to-day around here, December kicks it up…
If you know a child or teen who loves books, this list of gifts for bookworms is just what you’re looking for! Whether you want book suggestions or unique gift ideas, you will find something to excite the readers in your life. Gifts for Bookworms One of my children was (and still is) an extreme…
Who’s ready for a mouse nature study? I have a feeling that not everyone raised their hand to that question. Love them or loathe them, mice are the topic of this furry, little lesson. It’s amazing how much reaction a tiny mouse can get from a large human. I think it’s probably less about how…
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…
Rather than eat all that candy sitting around the house after trick-or-treating (or another holiday), why not put it to good use? These fun candy math and science lesson ideas will keep your kids busy, happy, and learning! What will we do with all this candy? Honestly, most of the candy that comes in this…
This nature study about really weird plants just might blow your mind. There are some amazingly outrageous plants around the world! From plants that look like they came straight out of a scary movie to plants that actually eat animals, there are hundreds of plants you could study during a weird plants nature study. In…
The harvest moon is one of the big, beautiful full moons of the autumn season. Children will love learning how it got its name and why it looks the way it does in this homeschool nature study! The moon has fascinated folks since the beginning of time. It’s such a beautiful, yet mysterious object that…
Critical thinking games are the perfect way to teach and practice important thinking and decision making skills in your home. I’ve been using games as part of my plan of attack for years and it’s been such a fun and challenging way to strengthen my children’s ability to think and reason. Critical thinking is extremely…
It might sound pretty boring to consider teaching a middle school geology study. I mean, isn’t geology just about rocks…and aren’t rocks, well, just rocks? Geology is WAY more than “just” rocks! It’s the study of everything about the earth’s crust – what it’s made of, how the amazing landforms were created, and what materials…
I love learning about nature through the eyes of naturalists, botanists, and other scientists. In this Gregor Mendel study, the No Sweat Nature Study Podcast takes a look at botany through scientific eyes! Who is Gregor Mendel and why is he important? It might seem weird to go all the way back to the 1800s…