Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

Welcome

Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game

| 16 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This French Revolution board game is so much fun. Also, look at my free French Revolution 1789 – 1799 Unit Study & Lapbook. And you’ll love grabbing more ideas for history games on my page.

Plodding along, we have started out next unit study which is the French Revolution. 

Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game

Mr. Awesome needs to cover some more European history during his high school years and so this a great topic to cover for older kids.

French Revolution Homeschool Unit Study

Too, sickness has hit our family early and everybody has had a touch of the crud this whole week. Crazy that we all get sick at the same time.

So knowing that the French Revolution is not a topic exactly easy to explain to younger children and because all of us are still recovering from the coughing junk,  I made a board game about the French Revolution that they both could play.

Playing the French Revolution Game

This way they both have an introduction to this time period.

I can’t pry them away from the fireplace when they play games either.

I guess they think the ultimate luxury for at home learning is sitting by the fireplace because that is their go to place (even in the summer). I give up and let them play where they want to now.

French Revolution Game | Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

About the French Revolution Board Game

Just to let you know I made the game really big.

However, you can print it on regular size paper or print it poster size (4 separate pages under your print settings).

We printed it on regular size paper because I can’t store anything now

By making it large, I could print it on 4 pages when we decided to play again.

Normally, I like to start our unit studies with a real aloud from books written about that time period like A Tale of Two Cities or Les Miserables.

But again, my time has been short lately, so I have found a nice abridged audio reading of A Tale of Two Cities that the boys could listen to.

Click here to listen Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities.“

The boys can’t miss hearing the popular phrase: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,  . . .” I love the whole opening paragraph of that book.

Also, you’ll love these other fun history games.

More Fun History Games

Other French Revolution Resources

Unit Study: French Revolution + Free Storming the Bastille Game

HOW TO GRAB THE FREE FRENCH REVOLUTION BOARD GAME

Now, how to grab the freebie.  It’s a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get my emails in your inbox and you get this freebie.

1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE.

2) Grab the freebie instantly.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

6 Easy Ways to Identify the Charlotte Mason Homeschool Style

| Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Six ways to identify the Charlotte Mason homeschool style is important to understanding homeschool learning styles

Because you want to align homeschool learning styles approach with how your children learn best, you need to know the basics of each homeschool approach.

Not only do you want to identify characteristics of the Charlotte Mason homeschool style but identifying Charlotte Mason curriculum, you make better choices for your family.

6 Easy Ways to Identify the Charlotte Mason Homeschool Style

First, you need to understand that learning differences is a good thing.

I’ve helped many homeschoolers who think something is wrong with their child.

The point is folks are different from each other and so are our kids.

I’m a firm believer in finding the homeschool style to match your child’s temperament and most important his learning style and needs.

Charlotte Mason Approach

Let’s dive into looking at the Charlotte Mason homeschool style of teaching.

Who was Charlotte Mason

First, you need to understand who was Charlotte Mason.

Charlotte Mason was a turn-of-the-century British educator who used “living books” rather than textbooks or twaddle.

She encouraged curriculum which includes nature study, picture study, music study, and handicrafts and the normal academic subjects.

Here are 6 ways to identify characteristics of a Charlotte Mason homeschool approach.

  1. A gentle approach to language arts.
  2. There is emphasis on the arts, music, and nature.
  3. Learning should include forming lifelong habits.
  4. More time should be spent outdoors.
  5. Literature based learning is one foundation.
  6. Poetry is important.

The mother who takes pains to endow her children with good habits secures for herself smooth and easy days.
— Charlotte Mason


Also, you’ll love this book Laying Down the Rails: A Charlotte Mason Habits.

Why Your Child’s Learning Personality is Important

Because teaching styles are only part of choosing curriculum easily, I’ve included a link to my online course Identifying Your Homeschooled Child’s Learning Personality.

How to Determine the Best Learning Style Approach for Your Child? Determining the best learning style approach is much easier when you know about homeschool learning styles. A learning style is not something I thought about when I started homeschooling or even when my kids were struggling. However, had I taken time to learn what is the best learning style for each of my children, I would have saved myself unnecessary stress.

YOU WILL LEARN:

  • How to understand the way your child prefers to learn so that you can teach him in a way that he enjoys learning;
  • How to pinpoint your child’s learning personality;
  • A starting point in understanding (barring any special learning challenges or disabilities) and accepting your child’s preferred way of taking in information;
  • Understanding when the learning personality emerges; and
  • Teaching tips for each learning personality to stop the head-butting.

Other Homeschool Learning Style Resources

In addition, look at these other Charlotte Mason resources:

Charlotte Mason Resources

6 Easy Ways to Identify the Charlotte Mason Homeschool Style

Two Free Homeschool Student School Planner Covers

| Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Today, I have two free homeschool student school planner covers to add to your homeschool planner.

Once you’ve created a DIY homeschool student planner, it’s hard to use something put together by somebody else.

And these two free student planner covers can be used by a student of any age.

Two Free Homeschool Student School Planner Covers

Besides, when your children build with own diy student planner, it can help them manage their time.

There is not an exact age when you want to encourage your child to build his own student planner.

Each child matures at different rates, but when they build their own student planner it fosters independent learning.

How to Make A Homeschool Student Planner

Like my homeschool planner, you can build your own student planner using my free pages.

Look at these steps in how to make a quick homeschool student planner.

  1. Choose a student planner cover
  2. Calendar Pages
  3. Choose Student Lesson Planning Pages
  4. Choose Fun Pages
  5. Steps 5 – 7. Choose a Back Cover, Bind it, Personalize It. 

Also, you don’t need a real expensive printer to print your planner.

I’ve used this mobile Canon PIXMA PRO-200 Wireless for years.

Two Free Homeschool Student School Planner Covers

What makes each student planner unique are the printables which you can mix and match.

More Homeschool Planner Printables

Look at these other homeschool planner products that I know you’ll love!

Other Homeschool Planner Resources

Also, you’ll love these other homeschool planner resources:

Two Free Homeschool Student School Planner Covers

Free Student Planner

How to Grab the Two Free Student Planner Covers
This free printable is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access my subscribers library and this freebie.

However not all of my freebies are in the library (wink).

Because I like to keep up to date with what is valuable to you so I can give you more, some freebies you must sign up again on the form below even if you are already a follower.

It’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. If you’re a new follower, just follow the steps below.

This is how you get access quickly.
► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you.
►3) Look for my reply AFTER you confirm your email with the freebie access.

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

| 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This fun snowy owl winter craft for kindergarten can be used for a winter unit study. Grab more craft ideas on my kindergarten homeschool curriculum page.

Whoooo doesn’t love owls? Sorry, corny pun. If you are working on an owls unit study or talking about winter I have the perfect hands-on winter craft to add

You probably won’t even need a trip to the store to put together this snowy owl winter craft for kindergarten.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Whether you are learning about winter, owls, or even just looking for an O or W craft for your letter of the week this simple activity is fun and cute to include.

You can find pinecones on your nature walk.

But if not, you can also find them at craft stores in the seasonal section.

Add a few books and additional activities like videos and you have a quick mini snowy owl unit study ready to go.

Snowy Owl Facts

  • Female owls remain with the babies while the male owl brings food back.
  • A baby owl is called an owlet.
  • They have feathers all over their legs and feet to keep them warm.
  • They are quite large. Their wingspan can reach 4’-5’ wide.
  • Snowy owls are diurnal, unlike most other owls. Instead of hunting at night they hunt during the day.
  • Male owls are pretty much solid white. Females have brown markings on their white plumage.
  • Snowy owl pairs mate for their whole life.
  • Lemmings make up most of the snowy owls diet.
  • By the time they are just 6 weeks old, snowy owls can fly well.

Snowy Owl Books

Nature Anatomy is the perfect companion spine for little learners, even if they are not reading yet.

The illustrations are fantastic and the little pieces of info they give are just enough for you to read and keep their attention.

I found a two page spread on owls to go along with the craft.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Gail Gibbons books are also a fantastic choice if you love the idea of Charlotte Mason style living books.

Owls are perfect to go along with this activity too.

The classic Owl Babies would also be a wonderful addition to your book collection.

Look below for more ideas.

Winter Unit Study Ideas

Try these other activities along with your winter craft

Finally, measure out 5’ with painters tape on the floor to demonstrate to your child how large the snowy owl wingspan can be.

Next, let’s make a pine cone snowy owl craft.

Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

You will need:

  • A large pine cone
  • Craft glue
  • White and yellow craft felt
  • White feathers, cotton balls, or cotton batting.
  • Tan or yellow pipe cleaner
  • Googly eyes
Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

First, prepare small pieces of cotton batting, cotton balls, or white feathers.

Cut wing shapes from white felt. Cut them a little bigger than you think you need.

Try on your pinecone and trim as needed.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Draw w’s with a paint marker or sharpie to create feather definition on the wings.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Cut a small beak and two circles slightly larger than your google eyes from the yellow felt..

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Squeeze a generous amount of school glue into the openings between the scales of the pinecone.

Stuff in your cotton pieces to make it fluffy.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

I had originally intended on using fiber fill on the owl because I had it on hand but took a run to Hobby Lobby and found this cute little fluffy boa on sale for $1.50.

It looked so soft we couldn’t resist.

I cut it into little pieces to make stuffing all over easier. Encourage your child to fill it in and create a sweet little fluff ball baby owl.

When the pinecone is stuffed and fluffy to their liking, glue the wings, beak, and eyes in place with a generous amount of glue.

We found that laying it on its back to dry helped keep the pieces from sliding off.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Finish off by gluing small v shaped pieces of pipe cleaner/chenille stems to the bottom for his feet.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Other Winter Craft Ideas for Kindergarten

Also, look at a few more craft ideas.

Easy and Fun Pine Cone Snowy Owl Winter Craft for Kindergarten

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

| 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This free American Revolution lapbook and hands-on unit study for multiple ages is fun to use as spine. Be sure you grab my other lapbooks for hands-on history.

The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America.

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

And using a history lapbook to contain all the subtopics which interests your children is a fun way to not only learn, but memorize important parts.

American Revolution Facts for Kids

Here is some information about the colonies which will help you to start your lapbook and unit study.

New England Colonies

Connecticut
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Rhode Island

Middle Colonies

Delaware
New Jersey
New York
Pennsylvania

Southern Colonies

Maryland
Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Virginia

Also, look at this book The American Revolution for Kids: A History with 21 Activities.

There are many ways you can arrange the lapbook and it’s necessary to use all my minibooks.

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

Mix and match my lapbook with other topics that interest your children.

Minibooks for an American Revolution Unit Study

Also, look at the minibooks included in this free lapbook.

  • There are 6 cover pages
  • Battles of the American Revolution
  • Boston Massacre
  • Boston Tea Party and the Sugar Act
  • Can You Answer
  • Causes of the War
  • England’s Reason for Taxing the Colonist
  • Join or Die political cartoon
  • Map of the 13 colonies
  • Patriots
  • Road to Liberty timeline
  • The Stamp Act
  • Paul Revere
  • Taxation Without Representation
  • Who was King George and Who Were the Colonist

Too, you’ll love these ideas for a fun co-op or just to do at home.

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

Besides, it’s the hands-on fun which make history come alive.

American Revolution Hands-on Ideas

First, we made a trip to Goodwill and picked up teacups (mismatched is perfect), some fall foliage from Hobby Lobby. and we picked up a lot of clothes.

As you can see in the picture above, our table decorations for the Early American co-op rocked.

We had different tables or stations set up for the following activities.

  • Because silhouette photos were popular, we had a station for pictures. Bring a lamp, and a chair, and tape paper to the wall for your little artist to trace their sibling or friend.
  • Of course we had to try different flavored teas.
Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

In addition, we had other activities.

  • One table we had corn husk doll making and another table the kids made bead decorating or flint corn.
  • Additionally, we had a guest speak from the Daughters of the American Revolution who was “George Washington’s” mom and told us stories about him.
  • We learned George Washington’s favorite dance, the Minuet. He was supposed to be quite the dancer.
Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

Also, one of the activities the kids loved the most was the Minute Man race.

Our co-op bought tons of oversized clothes and just like the Minute Man, the kids had a minute to change into them.

Remember to buy the clothes oversized so the kids can leave their clothes on. (lol). Then have them race for their teams.

Amazing and Free American Revolution Lapbook for Multiple Ages

How to Get the American Revolution Lapbook

Finally, how to Grab the Free 33 page lapbook. It’s a subscriber freebie.

 1) CLICK HERE ON THIS LINK TO SIGN UP ON MY EMAIL LIST & TO GET THIS FREEBIE

2) Grab the freebie now.

3) Last, look for all my emails in your inbox. Glad to have you following me!

Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages