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15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

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

These 15 fun resources for history for kindergarten homeschool can be added to the solids tips I share for kindergarten homeschool curriculum.

In addition, teaching history to a kindergarten aged child is not easy to know how to do.

In my 20+ years of homeschooling, I am familiar with how some public school teach it.

Combining an amalgam of subjects that fall under the social studies umbrella is how many schools teach kindergarten homeschool history.

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

And many homeschool families of kindergarten children are not even sure what is social studies.

In addition, if not taught at the level your child can understand history can go right over a child’s head.

Then, the next important thing to consider about teaching history is to know what is your local homeschool law.

4 Ways to Teach Kindergarten Homeschool History

Look at what is important to know about how to teach history to kindergarten aged children.

1. Start With An All About Me Focus

Unlike many history resources which start from the beginning like ancient history and move forward that concept can be hard to understand by young children.

Until a child is older, he doesn’t have a full grasp on understanding the passing of time or how earlier cultures influenced later ones.

So, the point I’m making is that if you start by teaching history by teaching the child about him and his family.

Learn about the house, city, state, country and continent where your child lives and work from the inside out.

Too, learning what are community helpers, helping a five-year-old learn about past and present, and simply reading aloud are effective ways of teaching beginning history.

One of the reasons this is a powerful way for a child this age to learn is that it helps them to make the connection of what is history.

2. History Should be Play-Based.

In addition, some families feel homeschooling should be worksheet based or homeschool like a public school.

I don’t embrace those mindsets for the fact that learning should be developmentally appropriate.

Although these mindsets have loomed in the homeschooling community, it’s more prevalent now.

Perhaps it’s because we have many post pandemic homeschooling families now.

Whatever the reason, the way children at this age learn best for any subject is play-based.

And incorporating play-based learning into history for kindergarten homeschool is not as hard as it may seem.

For example, look at a few of these ideas which can be used for any history topic.

  • Play dough is timeless. Your child can create any landmark, history figure, or play food.
  • Dress up for any time period or to act any event is memorable. Your child won’t easily forget what you’re teaching.
  • Get outside. Many history topics like all homeschool subjects are intertwined with science. Whether you child is on the hunt for something that looks like a fossil or arrow heads, you’ll give him a creative outlet.

3. Understand what is Social Studies.

Additionally, as I mentioned many subjects are intertwined.

There are certain times in your journey when children need exposure to a variety of topics to see their connection.

Understanding what is meant by social studies can help you to intertwine or make connections for your child.

For example, there are many definitions for social studies, but one general one is that the term means to combine learning bits on these topics:

  • History
  • Geography
  • Social science
  • American government and
  • World Geography.

As you can see doing map work along with learning about cultures, countries, foods, and animals around the world stimulates a love of history in your child.

So, history is much more than about dead people or much more than map work. It’s far from boring.

4. Use Living Books.

Finally, use living books. I had a love of books and classics when I began to homeschool but didn’t understand what is a living book.

Look at these things that are tell-tale signs of a living book.

  • Opposite a textbook is a book written by an author that is passionate about the subject. He either is knowledgeable about the subject because it could be his lifework or it’s personal experience.
  • Instead of presenting dry hard facts, a reader is drawn in through a story, which is always the best way of remembering any set of facts.

And if you’re teaching multiple ages, it can be hard to find resources.

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

So, be sure you look at 35 Simple But Powerful American History Homeschool Resources K to 12.

More Kindergarten Homeschool Curriculum Resources

Then, you’ll love these other kindergarten homeschool resources:

Whether you want to do a basic history introduction or a full-blown curriculum, you have many ways to keep history fun.

More Homeschool History Curriculum Tips

15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

Besides, you have many years ahead to teach a five-year-old. Make the beginning fun and spark a love of history.

History for Kindergarten Homeschool

Finally, unless you state requires it, you can follow your child’s lead and learn what interests your child.

A lot of social studies curriculum include some of the following concepts:

  • What is a town
  • Where are you on a map
  • What is a map
  • Introducing the cardinal directions
  • What are American symbols
  • What is a citizen
  • and I mentioned about community helpers before.
15 Fun Resources For History for Kindergarten Homeschool

Field trips and visiting museums are the backbone of a amazing history experience.

Reading aloud, doing fun hands-on history activities, and taking field trips you’re sure to nurture a budding history lover.

Lastly, look at these history resources for kindergarten.

History Resources for Homeschool Kindergarten

Because homeschool kindergarten history can be taught in many ways, you'll want curriculum and resources along with hands-on fun.

History, Geography, and Hands On Learning Ideas for Homeschool Kindergarten

Children this age love to learn about the world around them, but it doesn't have to be complicated.

Day 15: Discovering Learning Styles and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp 

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

Discovering Learning Styles is our next topic. Today is day 15 discovering learning styles for the 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

You will find an overwhelming amount of information on learning styles that is free and there exist volumes and volumes of scientific research galore too.

My desire is to whittle down this information into terms that we all can understand.

First, it’s important to realize that unless you have tutored your child up to this time, you may not be fully aware of his abilities, strengths and weaknesses.

Day 15: Discovering Learning Styles and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

True, from helping your child with his homework, you have an idea of his weak subjects, but it is quite another thing to be the full time teacher now.

What is a Learning Styles

Many homeschoolers come home to school only to realize that their bright and gifted child struggles with some concepts they feel should have been mastered in the lower grades.

On the other hand you may sense frustration because your child may have mastered some previous concepts. So now he finds learning tedious and boring drills a time waster.

It takes time to get to know your child.

1:1 tutoring is so much more comprehensive because you are now discovering his learning style.

Again, MANY definitions exist on the internet, but a learning style is the way a child prefers to learn.

It is easy to understand and talk about them like personalities than it is to talk about learning modes. Most references refer to auditory, visual and kinesthetic learner.

While it’s important to understand modes because it goes along with learning personalities, it is easier and more practical to understand their learning styles or personalities.

Cathy Duffy is queen of understanding learning styles.

Prior to the time she wrote the 100, 101, and 102 Top Picks For Homeschool Curriculum, we identified learning styles by quirky names like Golden Retriever or Concrete – Sequential.

In her book she uses terms like Perfect Paul, Competent Carl, Sociable Sue and Wiggly Willy to help you identify certain traits or characteristics.

I prefer to leave labeling alone, but information and knowledge on personality quirks can help you make a better choice in curriculum and it also helps to promote closer relationships with your children.

Unlike adults, children cannot articulate why they prefer to move when they learn math.

But if you make them think that something is wrong with them because they need to move, you may be heading toward problems and burnout.

Flexibility is needed to avoid the we-have-to-be-in-strait-jackets-before-we-can-learn  thinking.

Day 15: Discovering Learning Styles

Another example is if you are a mom that enjoys doing projects in your home and you do not mind a fair amount of clutter, but your daughter is wilting away because she does not have an organized place to do school, then your stress factors are multiplied.

Educating yourself now as to all of your children’s learning style and yours too can help you to bring peace and calm to your home.

Insight into their weaknesses in one or more subjects will help you not just teach with excellence in mind, but to nurture your children.

Also, I have created an easy course where you don’t have to wait to learn about learning styles.

As you homeschool longer, it will be to your advantage to embrace differences and to understand them.

For example, I think about all the beautiful women and mothers whose personalities are opposite of mine.

We complement each other and use that strength for the benefit of our children when we meet together for a co-op.

Overlooking faults is a beautiful thing and finding the good in each personality, even your children sets them up to be the best at whatever they are capable of doing.

There is no one better than the other. We all have strengths and weakness.

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

Days 8-14 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

Day 15: Discovering Learning Styles and New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp
Discovering Learning Styles in Homeschool

Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages

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

This fun apple lapbook and hands-on unit study for multiple ages is another one to add to your lineup of lapbooks for the fall season. Don’t forge to look at my apple unit study and lapbook here too.

Besides, studying about apples doesn’t have to be a lapbook just for young children.

When we studied apples the first time, I included my middle and high school kids.

So when deciding what to include in your multiple ages apple lapbook, you can decide if it is one lapbook for multiple ages or one lapbook per child.

Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages

And include a fun field trip like apple picking or do apple activities like baking applesauce, make apple pie or make apple butter.

It makes for such a fun and memorable time.

Add in a few apple books too like Farm Anatomy and Food Anatomy which have a couple of pages on apples to learn from.

Apple Unit Study Ideas

Next, add some topics to make this apple unit come alive for multiple ages.

Look at these ideas for a science apple unit study.

Science about Apples

For ideas on science cover these topics.

  • Cultivating, Harvesting and Storage of Apples
  • Is it a Deciduous or Conifer Tree
  • Important to the Apple Tree label page
  • Isaac Newton and His Apple
  • 3 Laws of Motion
  • Life cycle of an apple
  • Sir Isaac Newton – Father Of Modern Physics Notebooking Page
  • Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation

History and Geography Apple Themed

Also, include some geography and history ideas.

Learn about Johnny Appleseed and the states he toured.

  • John Chapman American Pioneer Notebooking Page
  • John Chapman Orchardist Notebooking Page
  • Johnny Appleseed Minibook

Too, include some fun language arts.

Language Arts Apple Themed

  • I have some gorgeous pages for your Prek kids to learn the alphabet on how to make an apple pie
  • Do acrostic for older kids
  • Write about Jonny Chapman’s life and contribution as a nurseryman and define what it means to be an American Pioneer.
  • Understand what it means an Apple a Day Minibook
  • Read and do copywork for Proverbs 25:11 Quote Minibook

Also, I created some notebooking pages for writing prompts

  • Signs of Autumn Coloring/Notebooking Pages
  • Signs of Autumn Textbox Notebooking Page
  • Spectacular Recycling Process Notebooking Page

Lastly, besides crafts add in learning about apple themed art and artists.

Art about Apples

Here are some art ideas and artists

  • Apples and Oranges  {Paul Cézanne}
  • Apple Tree  {Gustav Klimt}
  • Portrait of young man with apple or Portrait of Maria della Rovere – {Raphael}
  • Virgin and Child under an Apple Tree {Lucas Cranach the Elder}

For math ideas, cooking is a great life skill to do here.

Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages

In addition, notebook pages can be used by older children.

Notebooking Pages About Apples

In addition, not all kids love lapbooks.

For your older kids, use my free notebooking pages which I include in this one free huge download.

Remember that any worksheet can be turned into a fun minibook printable.

So if you find a worksheet your child wants to include in this apple lapbook or apple unit study, look at how to do it below.

Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Easily turn any minibook into a treasured keepsake by following the 4 steps above and glue the back of the minibook anywhere on your file folder.

Other Apple Resources

Adding more hands-on ideas will round out your apple unit study and lapbook.

Too, gardening ideas can be added if you make this lapbook more science based.

Lastly, ALL of the above topics have been turned into ONE 48 page download with the following minibooks and notebooking pages.

Cultivating, Harvesting and Storage of Apples Minibooks
An Apple a Day Minibook
Proverbs 25:11 Quote Minibook
Apple Art/Artists W/Pocket
Apple Pie Alphabet Sheets
Deciduous or Conifer Tree minbook
Important to the Apple Tree label
Isaac Newton and His Apple/3 Laws of Motion Minibook
John Chapman American Pioneer Notebooking Page
John Chapman Orchardist Notebooking Page
Johnny Appleseed Minibook
Life Cycle of Apple Tree Minibooks
Sir Isaac Newton – Father Of Modern Physics Notebooking Page
Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation
Signs of Autumn Coloring/Notebooking Pages
Signs of Autumn Textbox Notebooking Page
Spectacular Recycling Process Notebooking Page

Fun Apple Lapbook and Hands-on Unit Study for Multiple Ages

Free Apple Lapbook and Notebooking Pages

This free printable is a subscriber freebie.

This is how you get access quickly.

 1) Sign up on my list.

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

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

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

I have 15 lapbook materials ideas besides glue and paper which can be added to your homeschool lapbooks.

Homeschool lapbooks are more than a set of minibooks inside a file folder.

In addition because lapbooks are products of your child’s work each lapbook can be as individual as the child.

When I started lapbooks I didn’t realize the impact a hands-on tool would have on my children’s learning journey.

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

And materials for the lapbooks should be things which help the topic the lapbook is about to be memorable.

Unlike worksheets, lapbooks are interactive and if you create them in the right way they can be a timeless learning tool.

For example, flaps can be added anytime to your lapbook and that can continue as long as your child is interested in the topic.

3 Powerful Advantages to Homeschool Lapbooks

First, before you decide what type of lapbook materials you want to include in your child’s lapbook, look at these three advantages.

  1. Lapbooks are a powerful way to wrap up what is learned and to pull it together in one place.
  2. And because families can have a wide span of grades to cover, only one lapbook can be made with parts contributed by each child. Also, you have the option of each child making their own. There are no rules to how to use lapbooks to nurture a love of learning.
  3. The value of lapbooks comes from the interaction or collaboration within the family, by self-motivated research, or research assigned by you. Flexibility is key to creating the hands-on tool.

Also, lapbooks should be designed in a way that fits the topics your child will want to include.

For example, when my kids were younger, I decided whether the lapbook should be multiple file folders folded book like, to be letter sized or even legal sized.

Even if the file folder will be folded horizontal or vertical are things I help my kids to think about.

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

For instance, the first American Civil War lapbook we made, shown above, was book like with file folders put together instead of having flaps.

As my kids got older, they decided what type of design they would like based on their previous experience doing them.

If they needed help of course I would give suggestions.

Other Lapbook Resources

Whether your child wants his or her lapbook to be a study guide or a creative expression there is no lack of materials.

Aren’t the miniature pocket sized coloring books perfect for a lapbook?

Materials to Add to a Homeschool Lapbook

Here area few ideas of fun things or materials to add to your lapbook.

One.
Print a board game on paper and fold it smartly into your lapbook.

Two.
Create a mini or expandable timeline.

Three.
Your child’s handprint craft like a rainforest parrot not only makes fun art but is a memory keeper craft.

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

Four.
Add printed photos.

Not all photos have to stay on your phone. Add photos of your child’s field trip or a fun co-op to his or her lapbook. This way your child can cherish the moments too.

Five.
Printed mini flashcards.

Some of the materials you can make and others you can buy.

15 Amazing Lapbook Materials to Use Besides Glue and Paper

Look at these other 10 fun materials to include.

Other Materials to Add to Your Lapbook

Again, lapbooks are so much more than paper and glues. Add these solid things to your lapbook as you need them.

Day 13: Streamlined Record Keeping And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

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

Day 13 streamline record keeping is about homeschool record keeping for Day 13 of the free 31 Day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers. 

I confess that when I first started homeschooling, record keeping was one fact weighing heavy on my mind.

It even affected my view of homeschooling not for the long term. I admit it.

I was sure that when the time came that I would send my son to high school because I felt he would be missing out on something. (By the way, my first son graduated 2013 and the other ones never ever went to high school. Too much goodness at home.)

Day 13: Streamlined Record Keeping And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Little did I appreciate then that my son’s high school years would be filled with unique, precious, memorable, practical and rigorous skills that I could offer him as I continued homeschooling. 

Record keeping would be a cinch. But, I will save my rant on that until Day 25: Homeschooling Happily Through High School.

Streamlined Record Keeping

Then to complicate my stress level about record keeping in my humble beginnings I lived in fear or at least had some anxiety about the homeschool laws changing so drastically that I would be called on to produce documents for my children at a moment’s notice.

Somewhere lurked the homeschool police that only lived in my community.

As my confession continues, I touched on Day 7:Tied Up With Testing of negative effects of schooling when you school by the “what if” mentality.

All I managed to do was have sleepless nights and worry got me nowhere.

I feel better now that I confessed.

Although it would be nice to be worry-free, the truth of it is that it is hard to homeschool completely stress free.

Any challenge brings responsibility, but it also brings life time benefits that have been worth every bit of self-imposed distress.

It really is a wonder that I even managed to have enough energy to focus on teaching my sons.

So I hope that I can ease your fears and lighten your load by explaining how to approach this subject.

5 Reasons to Homeschool Record Keep

Dividing this up into topics, you can determine where along the record keeping path you are at right now.

5 Reasons to Record Keep When Homeschooling @ Tina Dynamic Homeschool plus

What to Keep?

As you can see from the above reasons to record keep, it can really be divided into two categories.

Unofficial documents or those that are for your eyes only and official documents that are mostly needed for high school and college.

Relax if you have younger children because you have plenty of time to mull over a method that will work for you.

My method changed drastically when I worried about this in Kindergarten and then when my son actually got to high school. You will be a pro by then.

Unofficial Record Keeping.

  • Keep their “first” writing assignments.
  • Keep awards earned.
  • Keep crafts.
  • Keep first drawings.
  • Keep first hands-on designs and projects.
  • Keep standardized tests you administer.

Keep things you decide YOU can’t part with.

{I have tried not to shed a tear as I have been writing this series, but long tears stream when I see their work in preschool and I end up keeping most of it.)

Official Record Keeping.

Whether you have to report to an agency or not, you want their grades in high school documented.

  • Keep field trip logs.
  • Keep awards earned.
  • Keep up with community volunteer service.
  • Keep up with trips abroad for older students.
  • Keep work records.
  • Keep attendance records.
  • Keep standardized tests.
  • Keep a diary or journal.

Where am I suppose to keep all of this?

One thing we all have in common is that most of us clamor for more book shelves and room for our lifestyle that is quickly growing with books and supplies.

However, where and how to store and keep records and deciding what to keep and not keep is very different for each homeschooler.

Look at these solutions below.

  • Can you take a picture or scan items, then toss it?
  • A virtual online year book can store memories.

Folders, expandable pocket folders color coordinated for each child, and color coordinated notebooks for each child works too. I used the system for a while and even notebooks.

Streamlined Record Keeping - 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp

BUT, after 5, 6 and more years down the road, it can get more challenging.

Streamlined Record Keeping - 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp
image

Long Term Homeschool Storage @ Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus

For many years, I have used press board report covers by Wilson Jones side bound, pressboard because I could extend the brads as I added in work and the covers were moisture resistant as I put away each year in the attic.

This is the kind of folder where the top and back cover are two separate pieces. I have one color for each child and labeled by grade. Too, I wanted something where the pages could hang out or extend because a lot of work in younger grades is on bigger paper.

Because this is stored away in totes in the attic, it is okay if the pages stick out because the binders are stored upright.

Using thick notebooks is good too for long term storage if it will be kept in a cool area and you can add pockets for storing small crafts that you can’t part with when they were preschoolers. I have separate pockets for storing things like that.

Another thought is to coil bind some of your papers.

Your office supply guy make not like seeing you come, but then again you are storing memories. I actually have some of my boy’s math papers coil bound because they are mostly the same size.

Hidden Storage Places in Your Home

Hidden storage spaces like attics, the top part of a closet, underneath the stairs and underneath the bed provide excellent places to store long term.

Source: Home DIT (Please Pin from Original Sources)

Padded storage trunks or chest that doubles as a night stand or table is also a wonderful niche for storing long term items. Company that sits in your living room will never know that under that beautiful table is a hidden treasure of several years of work.

If you keep more than you need for the first few years, it is okay.

Security counts when you are new to homeschooling and you are the only one to determine at night if you sleep sound because you kept a field trip log.

You can come back later and declutter because then you will see that your children are making progress.

Streamlined record keeping is a must in homeschool, but it can be personal, unique and distinct to your needs. Even in high school, you can accomplish stream line record keeping.

Embrace record keeping.

Too, I’m going to switch gears here on you.

Who is Tina Robertson

But before you can appreciate how I can help you here are are a few things about me. Sure, this free new homeschooler boot camp is all about you.

However, you need to know that I’m not new to the homeschool world.  

It has been several years since I wrote this series and I want to update you on my successes. And I’ve helped HUNDREDS get on the road to homeschooling.

Too, I have 3 homeschooled grads. So I’m well past having my oldest kid being 10 years old.

But the best part is that what I have for you works.

Also, look at a few other things about me.

And I have a detailed self-paced online homeschool Kickstarter course. It is a detailed comprehensive course for first time homeschoolers.

That is enough about me.

This new homeschoolers free boot camp is about you. I’ve not only been helping new homeschoolers in person, but here at my site for years.

I cherish keeping my children’s hard work and seeing my earlier mistakes.

Start slowly by adjusting your thinking to realize that you have the flexibility and freedom to make and adjust any “official” records that you may need. Control does allay fears. You are the teacher now.

Have you determined what you will keep and have a starting out niche to keep it in?

New to Homeschooling Start with the Basics

Days 1 – 7 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

How to Organize When You’re New to Homeschooling

Days 8-12 of the 31 day Free Boot Camp for New Homeschoolers

Day 13: Streamlined Record Keeping And New Homeschooler Free Bootcamp

Streamlined Record Keeping - 31 Days of New Bee Homeschooler Blog Boot Camp