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16 Ways to Make Homeschool Memorable During Winter

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16 Ways to Make Homeschool Memorable During Winter @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Forget the homeschooling naysayers that tout familiarity breeds contempt and cozy up with the kids to enjoy the cold days of winter.

Look at 16 ways to make homeschool memorable during winter.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

Winter time doesn’t have to be all work, take time to savor the season.

Who knows maybe you and I both can even sneak in a learning moment or two.

1. MEMORIZE SOME BEAUTIFUL WINTER POETRY.

2. CHECK OUT HISTORY MOVIES ON NETFLIX.

You know how I feel about history so it’s always the subject that we want to lounge around and learn more about.

3. MAKE SOME HOMEMADE HOT CHOCOLATE.

I have tried numerous recipes through the years, but we all absolutely love the recipe by Pioneer Woman. Do you have any favorites?

4. MAKE HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.

Again, chocolate chip cookie are my sons’ favorite though we seem to try different recipes each time.

5. STOP EVERYTHING AND DO ONE OF MY FREE LAPBOOKS.

Check out the one about Winter and about the Arctic & Inuit.

6. BOARD GAMES ARE ANOTHER FAVORITE OF MY BOYS.

Whether you use any of the free ones I have listed here or buy some, it is a fun way to change the day and add a bit of education too.

7. VISIT A MUSEUM. If the weather is warm enough, head to a museum to help avoid cabin fever.

8. ROCK CLIMBING (INDOORS). The boys have a coupon to try a rock climbing wall nearby that is indoors.

I’ll update you on how they like it, but I think it’s a great way to add some exercise in for active kids.

9. SEE A MOVIE. We love to go see movies during the winter and especially during the day.

Oh sure, you could stay home for a movie night, but my boys love going to the theater.

10. CREATE A WINTER BUCKET LIST. What would your list include?

11. MAKE PAPER SNOWFLAKES. Does your child know the science behind 6 sided snowflakes?

12. GO ICE SKATING. My boys have not been in a while and I think this would be great to do this year to soak up the season.

13. MAKE A FIRE AND ROAST MARSHMALLOWS. We may have to do this inside this year since we don’t really have a place to do this unless we go camping.

14. HAVE AN ALL DAY PAJAMA DAY. My boys loved this one. Wait! Don’t we do this anyway as homeschoolers? I won’t tell.

Have littles? 15. MAKE A GINGERBREAD HOUSE. They aren’t as easy as some of them look.

My favorite! 16. HAVE AN ALL DAY READ DAY. Nothing else, just read without being rushed and read whatever you want to.

What would be on your list?

Want some more ideas? Grab more below:

 

Follow my Winter Pinterest Board

 Follow Tinas Dynamic Homeschool ‘s board Winter ♥ on Pinterest.

3 Things To Try When Your Hands-Off Homeschooling Approach is a Failure

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3 Things To Try When Your Hands Off Homeschooling Approach is a Failure @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

My homeschool confessions have come later in my journey. I would love to tell you it’s because I am a slow learner, but the truth of it is I am a stubborn teacher.

Though I could fill up a book about things I have tried and that have flopped, I am hoping that by sharing things to try when your hands off homeschooling approach is a flop, I know that you will be a much quicker learner than me.

I have heard many reasons excuses throughout the years about why hands on learning does not work like it takes too much time, my child would prefer to just read or I don’t like the mess.

My Hits and Misses for Hands-On Homeschooling

Guess what? They may be all true, but because there is no denying the sticking power of hands on learning, I hope these ideas to ease into hands on learning will you have rethinking your present hands off approach.

Don’t Jump Ship Completely.

When I moved over to a more hands-on approach, I folded in a few activities a week, not each day.

As frustrated with my hands-off approach, which was not working, I knew that I needed time to make the transition. By not abandoning my present homeschool approach, I could slowly learn to add in hands-on activities.

I didn’t want to get overwhelmed with adding something new to my approach and besides I had to have time to mull over the fact that though a mess might be created in my home, it had a purpose.

Not only did my boys become engaged with learning that day, but they were ready to return the next day.

Meet with Just ONE Other Family.

Another thing I did when I wanted to transition to a hands-on approach was to meet with another homeschooling family each week.

If you’re a party animal homeschooler this may defeat your purpose because the more kids you have, the more you have to plan.

By meeting with just one other family, you can divide homeschool planning time between two homeschool moms.



This idea turned out much better than I even could have imagined. Not only did I have time to play by having activities every other week, but I could watch another mom that already used hands-on activities with her kids.

It was such valuable learning time for as a homeschool teacher.

A huge added bonus was that my boys had hands-on activities each week as the other homeschool mom and myself took turns planning.

Start off Easy.

Another hurdle that kept me from trying a hands-on activity was thinking that activities had to be long, drawn out and with lots of materials.

I had my light bulb moment when I saw my boys playing with puzzles.

From that moment, I learned that I set up my own boundaries to hands on learning because I thought activities had to be complicated.

Who is living and schooling in a perfect homeschool world? Good thing we can start over when we flop.

Don’t be intimidated by using a hands-on approach. It can be easier than you think.

What ideas do you have for easing into a hands-on approach?

Hugs and love ya,

Look at these posts that will help jump start you into a hands on approach without overwhelming you.

Easy Hands On Homeschooling Ideas When You’re Not the Bomb Mom
Blurring the Line Between Living and Learning When Homeschooling
When My Homeschool Curriculum Has Lost That Lovin’ Feeling

 

Ancient Greece Unit Study. Hands-on Activity 2. Ancient Greece Chariot

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Today, we made a fun and easy Ancient Greece Chariot to go with our Ancient Greece Unit Study.

Again, it was a project chosen by Tiny. And we had most of the things here in the house already.

Ancient Greece Unit Study. Make an Ancient Greece Chariot @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Look at our list of what we grabbed and then we added a few other things as we figured it out.

■ cereal box (this is what we used for the body of the chariot)
■ shoe box (we used this stronger cardboard for the “tongue” of the chariot)
■ two round lids (our round lids came from two juice bottles)
■hot glue gun
■ruler
■marker
■scissors
■utility knife
■foil (we used foil to cover the wheels and “tongue” of the chariot because it is what we had and we didn’t have to glue it). Use what you like to decorate the wheels. I see even that sharpies could have worked for a creative design on the wheels.
■brown paper bag (we used a brown paper bag to cover the body of the chariot, but any material you have that you like can cover the body of the chariot). Your child can even design an Ancient Greece pattern.
■straws or wooden skewers for the axle. We used straws because we have so many.

Chariot 1
Chariot 2

After we gathered our supplies, Tiny took the black marker and measured approximately 3 inches from the lower corner of the box and over about 4 inches.

Ancient Greece Unit Study. Hands-on Activity 2. Ancient Greece Chariot

Chariot 3
Chariot 4

He did the same for the other side of the cereal box. Then he took a ruler and connected the lines on both the front and back and on the side.

This way he could see to cut all the way around.

Ancient Greece Chariot Craft

Chariot 5
Chariot 6

This is how it looked after he cut it out. (The open side is the back of the chariot.)

Turning it on its side, he took the ruler and measured down from the top about an inch and measured in from the bottom about half an inch and drew a black line to connect them and cut.

You are trying to give the chariot that “slanted look” for a lack of better technical terms, like in this picture we found.

chariot_16657_md

We couldn’t really curve the sides, so Tiny just did a slant.

Chariot 7
Chariot 9

He did this for both sides of the chariot.

The part he cut off for one side he just used as a template for the second side.

Chariot 8
Chariot 10

So this is how it came out and he was real pleased with it.

Then because he liked the look of a brown paper bag and we had it on hand, he used it cover the chariot.

Here your child could paint or add an Ancient Greece design.

You know I told you Tiny has his limits on artsy stuff he likes to do, so I don’t push him. I let him savor what he likes to do, but there are so many possibilities for designing the body of the chariot that would be fun to do.

Let your child decide how artsy craftsy he wants to be.

Chariot 11
Chariot 12

After he covered and glued the brown paper bag on the chariot, he drew a T shape design on the bottom to show where the wheels or axle would cross with the tong of the chariot.

Then he took the juice lids we had and I actually did this part, which was to use a utility knife to cut a small hole in the middle of the juice lid big enough for the straw to fit through.

If you are using a dowel or skewer, just make sure the hole on the wheel is big enough for it to fit through.

Chariot 13
Chariot 14

Then he covered the wheels with foil and poke the hole through the foil carefully.

Next, he stuck the straw through both lids to make the axle.

I didn’t take a picture of this part, but he cut a rectangle tongue out of the shoe box cardboard and covered it with foil too.

He then glued the straw axle right onto the bottom where he made the horizontal line and glued the tongue on the vertical line under it.

Chariot 15

Cute, cute and Tiny was pleased with his work. It was another fun and hands-on way to learn about Ancient Greece.

Hugs and love ya,

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75 AWESOME Things to Add to a Lapbook

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You know our love for lapbooks and through the years, we have added all kinds of things to our lapbook.

Creating a list here for you, I am hoping that you will see lapbooks as one of the most awesome interactive learning tools ever and NO they are not just for young children.

75 AWESOME Things to Add to A Lapbook @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Check out this list of things we have either put in our lapbook or have seen others in our homeschool co-op add to their lapbooks.

75 Awesome Things to Add to a Lapbook

acorns
art and art cards
Bible book lists
bingo (mini)
business cards

board games (fold out)
calendars (mini paper)
charts
clip pins (mini)
clocks (mini paper)

coffee beans
coffee filter books Look at a sample of one I did on my Native American lapbook.
collection of lace
coloring pages
co-op photos

copywork
corn husk dolls (mini)
crafts (paper)
crossword puzzles (mini)
diorama (mini)

More Lapbook Resources

drawstring bag (mini) full of ?
essays
family tree
fan (mini paper)
feathers

If you’re short on time, there are many pre-made awesome books too!

field trip photos
flash cards
garden journal
geography games
globes (paper)

hand prints
index cards
leaves
leather projects
lists (any kind)

magazine pages (folded into minibooks) Look ho to turn ANY worksheet page into a minbook.
maps (all kinds)
mazes
memory work
money

Endless Options of Opportunity!

musical notes
notebooking pages
number lines
“o” rings (mini)
outlining

paper puppets
phonics books (mini)
photos (0ld and new)
pieces of educational themed wall paper
pockets

pop up or pop out books
post cards
posters
pressed leaves or flowers
primary sources (mini)

puzzle games
reports Look how I added them to clear ocvers on our Amazon Rainforest unit.

sand (mini ziploc bags)
science journal (mini)
seeds

sequencing patterns
shells
skeletons (mini)
snakeskin (yes Mr. Awesome put a shed snake skin in his Native American lapbook)
souvenir tickets

stamp collection
stickers
sticks
tea bags
thumb or finger prints

timelines
travel brochures
tree bark
worksheets folded into minibooks
yarn dolls

I put these in alphabetical order so that when I go back through my lapbooks, I can see if I need to any more things that we have used through the years .

What do you think? Can you think of anything else you have added to your lapbooks?

Hugs and love ya,

Ancient Greece Unit Study. Hands-on Activity 1. Refraction and Ancient Greece and their Contributions Pull Tab Book

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Ancient Greece Unit Study refraction activity and Ancient Greeks Pull Tab book @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Today, we did an easy science activity to begin our Ancient Greece Unit Study.

I have the book Classical Kids: An Activity Guide to Life in Ancient Greece and Rome (Hands-On History)

and so Tiny quickly opened it to find something he wanted to try.

He was reading about Ancient Greeks studying refraction.

We did this when the boys were little, but as is the case when you have younger children, they don’t remember what you did with the older kids.

This just means double fun for me because I get to do easy science activities again.

As the book brought out refraction is the way rays of light change when they pass from one thing to another that’s made of different material. That is what it means to have materials made of different density.

So this activity was super easy but cool and I love the fact that all 3 things were found in my house.

Ancient Greeks Studies Refraction – Easy Hands-on Activity 1

Here is the really short list of what you need:

Refraction Activity 1

■Pie or cake pan (dark coated, not glass or clear)
■Coin
■Pitcher of water

The activity is really easy. Tiny rounded up Mr. Awesome 2015 to help us.

Mr. Awesome placed the coin right next to the side.

While Tiny stood a distance away, so that the coin is hidden by the side.

Refraction Activity 2

Then Mr. Awesome poured the water slowly into the container.

Refraction Activity 2

As Mr. Awesome poured the water, it appeared to move to the center of the pan.

Of course the coin doesn’t move, it’s just that the light rays were distorted or bent as they passed through the water.

A bit of easy and quick science was enough to pique Tiny’s interest for the unit study.

Since that is the activity he chose to do first, we focused on reading about some Greeks and what they were famous for.

I created a giant pull tab book which is Famous Greeks and their Contributions.

Ancient Greece Giant Pull Tab @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Though there are many famous Greeks to focus on, I used the ones below and listed a bit of information about them.

It’s pretty easy to find information on the internet, but I am listing a few facts here for you too.

Aesop – storyteller; author of Aesop’s fables

Eratosthenes – geographer; first to describe the world as a globe

Euclid – mathematician; “Father of Geometry”

Aristotle – philosopher; student of Plato; tutor of Alexander the Great.

Archimedes – mathematician and inventor; calculated value of Pi; invented the lever; Archimedes Screw

For the giant pull tab book, just cut out all the pieces and write about each Greek on the box provided.

Ancient Greece Pull Tab 2 @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I have instructions on the minibook, but you will form a pocket with the two pieces and place the pull tab book inside.

Ancient Greece Giant Pull Tab @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

I hope you like the first “little” giant pull tab book I have for our new unit study.

I have a sweet surprise for my email readers because I always hold something back for them and this Ancient Greece Lapbook is part of my email reader’s subscribers only.

I would love for you to follow me and give me the opportunity to help you along in your homeschool journey.

I would love for you to follow me and give me the opportunity to help you along in your homeschool journey.

This is a Subscriber’s Only Freebie because I luv my followers.

subscribe to my blog posts

Important: IF you are already an email reader, please read this below instead of emailing me right away.

Though I love your emails, it can take a while for me to answer you.

1.) The private link to the subscriber’s only page was sent to you immediately when you joined my blog.

2.) Also, the link is sent to you at the bottom of EVERY newsletter. If you have been getting my blog posts, then check at the very bottom of one of my recent newsletters for the link.

Remember, if you are following along with us, do the minibooks and then just place in a ziploc bag until the end or close to the end of the unit study.

I normally show you a layout we do for our lapbook toward the end of the unit study.

I can’t wait to share the rest of our hands-on activities and the minibooks.

Hugs and love ya,

Tina Signature 2015c