Holidays

My December Basket

After perusing Christmas websites, going through my Christmas file folder and searching my computer files for Christmas ideas, I’ve put aside some things that I hope to use this December. You may be surprised to find this out about me, but when I plan a unit, I very rarely make detailed plans.  Yes, I know,…

Giving Thanks

Books!  We love books around here!  Here’s a sampling of the Thanksgiving books sitting on our shelf this year.  Anyone who’s ever used Five In A Row just has to be a fan of Cranberry Thanksgiving!  We read it every year, along with other informational books and historical fiction stories. Here’s my poor attempt at a…

Playdough for the Holidays

The kiddos made this the other day, and boy does it smell good! Pumpkin Pie Playdough 5 1/2 c flour 2 c salt 8 tsp cream of tartar 3/4 c oil 4 c water pumpkin pie spice (see below) orange food coloring (2 part yellow/1 part red) Mix ingredients together.  Cook over medium-low heat and…

Columbus Day Science

Our Fun Friday activity this week focused on Columbus Day.  We did the sink or float experiment from Science Projects for Holidays Throughout the Year.  After doing some basic experimentation on what objects sink or float, we moved on to asking the question, “Does sinking and floating make a difference in salt water vs. fresh water?”…

Grandparent’s Day Idea

Grandma, read no further! Here’s an idea from the Holidays Around the Year book that we did as part of our seasonal Friday lesson last week. We learned the science behind suminagashi art (marbling paints) and created beautiful card covers.  Inside the kids have written letters to both sets of grandparents for Grandparent’s Day.  We finished…

Book Review: Jotham’s Journey

  Wow.  That’s the best word I can think of to describe this book.  Written as a daily read-aloud for Advent, or the days leading up to Christmas Day, Jotham’s Journey is part historical fiction, part devotional – and all page-turning, spine-tingling adventure pointing the way to the One who was our ultimate gift! The…