Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

1. My FREE Learning Printables {Any Topic}

Trail of Tears Vocabulary Words

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

The Trail of Tears vocabulary words is the next minibook I have ready today.  We are almost ready to start placing them on the file folder.  So I will have that for you next so you don’t have to guess where to place them.

I will have to hunt down some file folders because I have not been able to find any yet, but again, even construction paper or scrapbook taped together works too instead of a file folder.

Trail of Tears Vocabulary Words
Trail of Tears Vocabulary Words

Also, I don’t want to confuse you but because of my love for options and because I know you have children of different ages and abilities too, I try to keep all my minibooks flexible.

For example, with this minibook, I have 2 different ones.  The first one (pictured above) has vocabulary words already selected.  The second page (pictured above) also has the definitions typed out.  Simply research and glue them under the tab.

The second minibook (not pictured) is blank.  The second page (not pictured) is blank too so that your children can write in the definitions.

With options comes the ability to use the minibooks for the various ages and abilities of your children.  For example, you may want to use the definitions already filled in with a younger child or like me, you may be using the lapbooks for enrichment and so there is no need for tons of writing.

Maybe you want to use the minibooks for writing if that is what you are focused on.

You are teacher and you decide with each of my lapbooks what is best for your children at the time. So I try to give you options and want to keep lapbooks fun, easy and not stressful.

More Trail of Tears Activities

How to Get the Free Trail of Tears Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

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

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

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.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

Free Art Notebooking Pages – 3rd Grade

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

You know how I feel about art.  It is one of those subjects that should be enjoyed from K to gray. 

So even though the free art curriculum guide that I am following to create printables divides the art into grade levels, I did not create the art notebooking pages babyish. 

3rd grade Artist Study Packet 1 with 3 text and 1 sketch box

This way whatever the ages of your children are, they can use any grade level guide of their choosing along with the printables I created to have a complete art program for each year.

After all if you haven’t covered an artists or art work before, then does it matter which grade you do? 

Besides, you can use the guide questions in the upper grade art if you want to cover some of lower grade art and visa versa. 

I know the questions in the upper grade level hone in more on artistic design, composition and principles of design.  And though the lower grade guides provides the same framework, they do not do it as in depth. 

Again, I hope this makes sense because you should be able to do any packet you choose by using the free curriculum guides from either an upper or lower grade depending on the ages of your children.

Keep in mind, that you need BOTH the free Curriculum ALONG with my notebooking packets to have a complete art program for the year.

Today, the 3rd grade set is ready.  Remember there are 8 grades now (use to be 7 Grades).   Grade 8 has been added since I started this project (yippee). 

I have completed grades 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and only have grades 1, 2 and now 8 to do before I am completed. 

If you cover one artist per month, then each grade level will take you one year.  So free art for a year!

One last thing I need to remind you of because I have some new faces here is that I also create TWO SETS of the SAME art notebooking page, but each set is slightly different. 

I know, I know, I like things perfect to have options and I love for you to have them too.

Look below at the graphic I created to show how each set is slightly different. 

One set has ALL text boxes in case you have a kid or two like I do that doesn’t want to sketch the art.

Especially at the high school level, my oldest son just wanted to make it more about art history. 

So he wasn’t interest in sketching every piece.  He just wanted to read the background information about each artist, read about the artwork and move one. 

Oh yes,  I used some of these packets for high school art credit.

The second set has ONE sketch box instead of the text box because then I have another kid who wants to sketch the art that we were learning about. Too, I keep the sketch box not too big so it doesn’t become a project to sigh about.

How to Use - Art Notebooking Pages 1

So the art is the SAME for both pages.  Too, this allows you to choose from either set depending on the time you have for that month.  For example, one piece my sons may want to write, so I would print off that page.  The next art piece they would want to sketch so I would print off that page from the other set.

Give your child options and don’t think you have to use ALL the same pages from one set.  I mixed and match depending on the mood for the day or month. 

I have a more pictures from each set to show you.  This is how the pages look from the set that has sketch boxes and

3rd grade Artist Study Packet 1 with 3 text and 1 sketch box 23rd grade Artist Study Packet 1 with 3 text and 1 sketch box 3

this is how the pages look from the set that has ALL text boxes.

3rd grade Artist Study Packet 1 with 4 text boxes 13rd grade Artist Study Packet 1 with 4 text boxes 2

Again, BOTH sets have the same art and are the same except for that one box.  

Choices in any subject makes learning about it more enjoyable.  We don’t feel so hemmed in.

I hope you enjoy this next grade level, which is Grade 3 according to Concordia University AND be sure to download both packets so you can decide which set best suits your needs for each art piece.

HOW TO GET THE FREE HOMESCHOOL ART CURRICULUM FOR GRADES 1 TO 8 AND NOTEBOOKING PAGES

Now, how to grab the free art curriculum. This is a subscriber freebie..

 1) Sign up on my list.
 2) Grab the freebie instantly.
 3) Glad to have you following me by email!

Trail of Tears Indian Removal Act Minibook

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

The next part of our unit study is the Trail of Tears Indian Removal Act minibook, which I have ready today.

We are eager to get our homeschooling booted back up after having a much needed break with our move overseas.  I have to admit though we have been a bit sidetracked as we have arrived in Cuenca, Ecuador because we have so many new places to explore and learn about.  But we are going to finish our Trail of Tears Unit Study first because our interest was piqued and we need to cover a wee bit more U.S. history too.

Indian Removal Act MinibookIndian Removal Act Minibook 2

So this next minibook is a bit about the Indian Removal Act and how it affected not only the Cherokee, but the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole. Too, you know my dislike for a blob of blank pages a blank page because it doesn’t give any help when you may be running short on teacher prep time.

So I always try to include a few facts about the topic on most of my minibooks where possible. This one is no different.  Of course, you don’t have to use the facts or inside page we researched. You can add your own research.

More Trail of Tears Activities

How to Get the Free Trail of Tears Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

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

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

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.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

Trail of Tears Notebooking Pages

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

I can’t help it. We love geography and we love starting our unit studies off with something about geography when we can.  So in preparing the first set of the Trail of Tears Notebooking Pages, I started with a bit of easy geography.

Even easy geography is important to understanding the trek that not only the Cherokee made, but several other tribes took because it helps to build appreciation for the harsh conditions they endured.

Too, because I like big graphics for any age, young grades or middle school, it is good sometimes to add a few notebooking pages to your study because you can use the full page for a map.

You know I have never fallen for the popular homeschooling mentality that lapbooks are just for young learners and notebooking pages for older learners.  I always try to incorporate the two types of pages when I can.  Don’t limit homeschooling tools like lapbooks and notebooking pages to preassigned ages and you will be able to make a well rounded out unit study.

Back to what I was talking about. I also like to build background information first about any topic.  Earlier, I had shared a minibook about the 7 Clans which is a minibook to build appreciation for the culture of the Cherokee.

Trail of Tears Notebooking Pages

Then today, I am sharing some notebook pages will which help with understanding about the different types of tribes that lived along the southeastern part of the United States. This will also help to build appreciation for the way they care for the land and depended on it for survival. They were hunters, farmers and they fished.

By locating the tribes on the southeastern part of the United States in their atlas, your children can understand that they lived in log homes, and planted squash, beans and corn in the rich soil. The land they loved and built on was wooded and had rivers.  As they worked the land, they enjoyed the bounty provided by it.

More Trail of Tears Activities

How to Get the Free Trail of Tears Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

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

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

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.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.

Trail of Tears Unit Study and Lapbook

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

Before I tell you about the trail of tears unit study and lapbook that I have planned for fall, I want to say congratulations to Crystal Cook, our grand prize winner of the Explorers Basket.

All I could “hear” were squeals on the other side of my email.  Too, I restrained myself from commenting on each reply, which you know is hard for me to do, but wanted you to know that I read each comment.

I value your input because though I may not get to do each suggestion, I sure do try to eventually.

The Trail of Tears Unit Study

Also, I may be wildly insane for even attempting to prepare the Trail of Tears unit study and lapbook about 14 days before we have to be out of our house and hotel hopping, but I would rather plan and have it than to not plan.

I am just giving you heads up now that this unit study, though I don’t want it to be, may stand half-baked for a while because our huge move overseas is here.

I can’t even begin to tell you all the details that are consuming when you don’t have a forwarding address yet, or will be totally mobile. 

Too, I am still transferring files over to my laptop and by the way if you know of a good mini (and I do mean mini) printer that is easy to get cartridges for, let me know.

Back to my unit study, I pushed myself one more time to go ahead and at least get the printables started on this unit study because it really is a time period that I wanted Tiny to study at an older age. 

Though we will focus of course on the culture and life of a few different Native American people, I wanted to expose the injustices and ugly side of American history. 

Those are teachable moments too of examples that we do not want to be like. 

The ugly side of history is something we do not shy away from, but I do wait to talk about it when each of the boys are more middle to high school age. 

It’s crazy though how even very young children know when something is not fair and can have empathy for a fellow being. 

It’s just when they are older they can value the model lessons.

Also, in preparing my lapbooks, as I talk about in the new The Big Book Of Homeschool Ideas where I am a co-author, one way to keep doing lapbooks for the middle to high school ages is to be sure clip art is not babyish.  That is a huge turnoff to the older kids.

That is one aversion I have to many printables and that is the clip art outgrows your crew in about one year.  It’s okay for sure if the focus is on the younger crew and sometimes it is.

  But I mostly aim for middle to high school because there is so much content for younger kids and not much for hands-on and to keep learning fun through to the upper grades.

I think sometimes finding appropriate clip art is more time consuming than actually doing the unit study, but I find it so worth the time for our kids.

Today, I have two minibooks. 

Well, actually one minibook and then a tear shaped printable to use either on the front of your lapbook or inside lapbook as a way to introduce The Trail of Tears.

What is the Trail of Tears

Trail of Tears silhouette credit: Edees Crafty Corner

7 Cherokee Clans Minibook

How to Get the Free Trail of Tears Lapbook

Now, how to grab the free lapbook. This is a subscriber freebie.

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

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

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.

And it’s the only way I have of freely delivering them to you. Just follow the steps below.

► 1) Sign up on my list.
► 2) Go to your inbox and confirm your email from the automatic reply I sent you. If you’re already a confirmed subscriber, you will not have to do this. You’ll receive the freebie instantly.
 ►3) Last step. look for my reply AFTER you’ve confirmed your email.