FREE Homeschool Resources for the Younger Years

 *This post was originally published on 3/15/21.  Enjoy!

Teaching those early elementary years are some of my favorite homeschool memories.  The kids were excited about everything and the whole world was an open book.  Learning was everywhere!

So as my youngest is moving on to a new phase, I wanted to share some of our favorite FREE resources from the early years.  These are some of our favorites from grades K-4th that were used with lots of living books and outdoor time.  Hope you enjoy!

Needs Vs. Wants Freebie for Grades K-1

Me & My Community for Grades K-1

Martin Luther King Jr. Trifold for Grades K-3

Martin Luther King Jr. Organizers for Grades K-2

Martin Luther King Jr. Mini Book for Grades K-2

All About Me Flip Book for Grades K-3

Benjamin Franklins Inventions for Grades PK-2

States of Matter Graphic Organizer for Grades 1-4

Bat Race Game for Grades 1-2

Fall Themed Proper/ Common Nouns for Grades K-2

St. Patrick's Day Reading Comprehension for Grades K-2

Life Cycle/ Butterfly and Frog for Grades K-2

Ladybug Life Cycle Spinner for Grades K-3

Kindergarten Science Doodles

Living/Non-Living Things Sort for Grades PK-K

Chicken Life Cycle Wheel for Grades PK-2

Zoo Scavenger Hunt for Grades PK-1

Pumpkin Themed Time Cards for Grades K-2

What are some of your favorite resources?

Now and Not Yet {Review}

 

Many of us find ourselves lingering in the "not yet."  Professions, ministry, life circumstances,... we have a vision for our futures that is "right there" and yet, we can't quite reach it.  What do we do with our present circumstances when they don't align with where we want to be?  How can we embrace the now in the waiting for more?

Author Ruth Cho Simons shares some encouraging truths about living in the present moment when our hearts long for more.  It's okay to not like the now.  It's okay to admit that life is hard and takes us through challenging situations.  But the Lord can still use these hard circumstances for his glory, if we allow him.  Simons shares real principles learned through her own life and how she balanced the tension of these two realities.  Now and Not Yet is not just a fluffy, feel good book filled with cliches.  Rather, it is an honest look into how to move forward when life isn't all it's meant to be.  I didn't come into this book with a lot of expectations, but was genuinely surprised by how relevant it is.  This is probably the most real, and still encouraging, book I've read on the subject.  Ruth Cho Simons writes as one who has lived the struggle and can still see God's constant presence in her circumstances.  This book was a HUGE encouragment in my life and I hope it will be in yours as well.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Preschool In Our Home

 *Post originally written 8/4/14 and sat in the archives.  Enjoy!

In all my planning for the new school year, I find myself back in familiar territory... preschool.  Although I sent my older two to traditional preschool, I still did lots of supplementary activities with them... talking about letters... learning sounds... practicing life skills.  And while this is familiar to me, it's also strange.  I'm now balancing teaching three grades and balance is tricky.

But preschool is all about learning through play.  Finding the joy of learning... keeping school fresh...

On that strain, these are just a few of the things we're incorporating into our preschool year:

• Circle time-- He loves to join the older kids for circle time in the mornings.  Days of the week, months of the year, weather, time, graphing, songs... this is absolutely his favorite time of the day.
• Letter of the week-- Each week (or two) we learn a new letter.  Sometimes he paints a block letter, sometimes he glues beans on it.  Other days he models the letter out of playdoh.  
• Shapes and numbers--We do a similar process with shapes and numbers... sometimes even doing collage art to learn. Most of the time these activities are done while the big kids work at the table.
• Counting everything in sight-- Beans for collage, chocolate chips in cookies, counting for hide and seek, how many otter pops each sibling gets so he gets as many as big brother... math is everywhere.
• Community helpers-- We talk about the ambulance that drives by. Or stop and listen for the fire truck that's on it's way through town.  Or talk about what police officers do.  Most often we ask questions when the kids go to the Dr's office.
• Family structure-- Family is all around us.  Even if they're too far away to visit, they are a great way to learn about family structure, heritage, and history.
• Art--What child doesn't love doing art projects?  Break out the watercolors, crayons, markers, tissue paper... I've planned a few projects here and there, but I'm also open to letting him explore and learn on his own.
• Reading-- We love to read in our house. He's always a part of bedtime reading at night and reading our chapter books during the day.  I don't expect him to sit through the whole thing 'cause it's sometimes over his head. But he enjoys it and hears vocabulary, sentence structure, history, science... all kinds of new ideas.  And although he's still young this year, I know that next year he'll be ready to learn and we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
• Life skills-- Helping mommy with lunch... putting on shoes... picking up after himself... these and so many more are just a part of learning at home and growing up.  And I'm excited to see him grow in all these areas in the next year.

So what about you?  Do you have a preschooler at home?    What will you be learning this year?

How to Be A Scout {Review}

 

Bear Grylls' How to Be A Scout is FULL of all types of scouting information... from pitching a tent to tying knots ... to identifying trees, stars, and birds.  Grylls writes with wild enthusiasm about all things scouting.  And believe me, this is a VERY thorough book.  Additionally he encourages young scouts to always do their best.  His excitement for the topic comes through, making this a fun book to read.  Grylls additionally seems passionate about the leadership opportunities available in scouting and challenges readers to pursue the activities to their utmost ability.  This book goes beyond the "how-to's" of scouting and really encourages scouts of all levels to do their best and make a difference.  How to Be A Scout would make a wonderful for scouts of all ages and abilities, or families who love spending time outdoors.

*Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Gift Ideas for the 2-5 Year Old Set

*This post was originally published on 12/7/10.  Enjoy!

 I love having younger kids.  They're imaginative, excited about life, and generally all around happy and forgiving.  If we could tone down the energy level a little or give Mommy more energy, this age range would be perfect.  So much for wishing.

While I love this group, they can be sometimes hard to buy for.  Interests and talents have yet to emerge.  Reading is just beginning.  And they really don't have the freedoms that older kids have.

"Wants" come and go in the moment so asking what they "want" is an exercise in futility.  And really?  What do they "need?"

In case you're in the same boat I find myself in every year, I thought I'd with you a few of our favorite ideas from the years past.  Hope it helps!

1. MegaBlocks, Lincoln Logs, and Tinkertoys-- My son loves to build.  These have provided hours of entertainment and keep his mind working.  Because they are so unstructured, he can come up with new combinations every time.  And it's not just a boy thing.  My daughter loves them as well.  Although she's not quite three, she loves coming up with her own combinations (with a little help of course).  The small Legos are still a little advanced, but these items do just fine.

2. Books, books, and more books--Our house is over run with books and we love it.  Each night we love sitting down on the couch together and reading as a way of ending our day.  Some favorite include: If you give a pig a pancake, God gave us You, Little Red Hen, and the Berenstein Bears.

3. Dress-up:  My kids love to dress up.  We have old Halloween costumes and a few items we've picked up at the thrift store.  Just looking around a thrift store you can come up with so many ideas: doctor, business man, sometimes mail man.  Go in with an open mind and see what you come up with.

4. Play dishes and food, kitchen if you have the space--Both of my kids love this one.  Last Christmas, their Great-Grandma bought them a kitchen.  It's barely sat still since.  They are in there all the time, creating new recipes, gather items for a picnic or playing restaurant.  Plus if you have two kids, it's a great way to see them working together.

5. Art supplies-- I'm constantly seeking out new art supplies.  Whether it's a new pack of clay colors or glitter glue, it's well loved around here.  Crayons, popsicle sticks, stickers, scissors, glue sticks, pom pom, ribbon, construction paper, beans, noodles, markers... you can't go wrong with any of it.  Package it with some ABC books from the dollar store and a promise to create one new craft a week and you have every preschoolers dream.

Hope these ideas get your mind going.  I know these items have been some of the biggest hits in our house and are well used.

What's on your preschoolers wish list this year?

*Disclaimer: I was NOT paid for this post or reimbursed in any way by these companies or Amazon.  These are just products that we love.