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“The Cat In The Hat” Marathon!

Posted by on February 29, 2012 Leave a Comment

Sometimes I think that if we were only allowed one television station, I would choose PBS: great kids shows, Downton Abbey, documentaries, and news. This week PBS provides another great reason to love them — you’ll want to mark your calendars!

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ 108th birthday this Friday, March 2, The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That! will be played back-to-back in a two hour marathon, including 2 new episodes designed to reinforce core science concepts with the imaginative flair signature to Seuss.

The Cat In The Hat Knows A Lot About That! has consistently ranked in the top ten of programs for 2-5 year olds, and we can see why. Our family was privileged to have been able to pre-screen the new shows, “Seasons–Spring and Summer/Fall and Winter” and “When I Grow Up/Doing It Differently,” and our kids were predictably entranced.

In addition to the TV marathon, children will have the special opportunity to connect with the Cat and with friends online through games and videos; parents, meanwhile will be able to pilot the new Birthday Party Builder Tool on the PBS KIDS Shop website. Video clips will also be available for free download at PBSkids.org.

Tune in or set up your DVR to record the March 2 marathon, and take advantage of the wonderful tools available online for parents and kids. Science will be an adventure!

For more information, click HERE.

Filed Under: Teaching Science/Biology | Tagged: Tagged With: , , , ,

“Baseball” Homework

Posted by on February 15, 2012 2 Comments

One of my dear friends shared this idea with me as a way to engage the whole body while practicing something cognitive. She plays catch with her kids and with each toss practices states and capitals, but this morning we just stuck with the states…as in, “Can you name one?”

Sounds simple enough, but after this Superbowl my 6 year old thought that “New England” was a state.

I guess I can’t blame him.

We balled up a clean sock and headed to the living room where we started playing catch. With each toss the person throwing the sock had to name a state.

NOTE: Africa is not a state, either.

The point is, getting your child to work on the very basic concept of states vs. regions vs. continents can be fun and can be done in PJ’s before lunch.

Other ideas for catch:

  • MATH: with each toss, say a number and an operation, taking turns solving the problem. (6 + 3 = 9…toss each time you say each of those parts)
  • GEOGRAPHY: take a page out of my friend’s book and say a state, toss, then have your child catch and say the capital.
  • HISTORY: if you’re into the Presidents of the US, toss the ball each time you say a name, reciting all 44 in order.
  • SPELLING: say a word and with each toss, provide a letter to spell the word. OR, for older kids, say a letter without announcing the word, and have them add on until you’ve made a word together. See what you come up with!
  • SCIENCE: practice the components of the table of elements, geological time periods in order, examples of animals going up and down the food chain.
  • RANDOM: mom states a topic and tosses the ball. Each child who catches has to provide a fact about that topic.
  • BIBLE VERSES: mom or dad recite a verse, toss the ball, and the child who catches it provides the book/chapter/verse. OR, in reverse, mom says the book/chapter/verse, and the child recites the passage.
  • FOR VERY SMALL CHILDREN: say the alphabet with each toss. Mix it up and start somewhere in the middle to see if they can adjust. OR, do the same with counting: numbers, by 2′s, by 5′s, by 10′s.

The possibilities are endless! How can you see yourself using catch to make practice more fun at your house? I’d love your comment!

Filed Under: Checking for Understanding, Creativitiy, For Fun, Games, Having fun with your kids, Homework Helps, Teaching Geography, Teaching History, Teaching Letters & Numbers, Teaching Math, Teaching Science/Biology, Teaching Scripture, Teaching Spelling | Tagged: Tagged With: , , , ,

Teaching & Giving with iMovie

Posted by on January 15, 2012 Leave a Comment

Yesterday was my husband’s birthday. And as much as I would have loved to whisk him away somewhere or skip town together, this just wasn’t the year for doing it. Instead, he elected to spend a quiet day at home watching endless football games before enjoying dinner out as a family.

One of the highlights of the day, however, was a gift that our kids put together with a little help from me: a movie for dad that combined video tributes with still photos and meaningful songs. I think even our children were misty after seeing our lives on the screen, lifted up with songs that croon of love and lifetimes.

If you’re looking for something meaningful to do for someone you love (Valentine’s Day is a month away!) ~or~ if you need a fresh way for your kids to show you what they’ve learned in school, movie making is an option that deserves a second look.

Here’s how we did it:

  1. Using my new Sony Bloggie (no, I’m not getting paid to recommend them!), we videotaped each member of the family speaking a tribute to dad. I asked each child different questions that would help them share specific memories; for example: “Share a small moment that was meaningful between you and daddy”, “What’s the funniest story your dad’s ever told you?”, “What’s the most fun you’ve ever had outside with daddy?”
  2. After videotaping eachother, we uploaded the video and dropped it right in to iMovie. MAGIC!  The kids took it over from there and added still photos from my iPhoto collection, specifically looking for pictures of daddy.
  3. Last came transitions and music.
  4. And honestly, with the exception of a couple of snags, our kids did it all!
So how can you Unofficial Homeschoolers use it? You can use it to check for understanding!
  • Have your child recap your latest history unit: videotape him acting out the main points, google search images that support the story, and add sound effects to enhance it all.
  • Videotape your child doing a new math problem, explaining each step. Add still slides in between as visual reminders. (#1: Look for a common denominator…#2: calculate your new fraction by multiplying the numerator…etc.)
  • Film a science experiment. Stop frequently to record predictions and take measurements. Add those predictions as still slides that your child puts into words.
  • Record her playing her instrument, using still slides to announce the song title and composer. Google search an image for the composer and add that to a slide as well.

Best of all, incorporating technology and giving your child the green light to create will inject the mundane with a bright flash of fun. They’ll be begging to show you what they know…and how much they love you.

How can you imagine yourself using movie-making in your home or schooling?

Filed Under: Checking for Understanding, Comprehension Strategies, Creativitiy, Gift Ideas for Kids, Music/Music Practice, Teaching History, Teaching Math, Teaching Science/Biology | Tagged: Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Leaf Stained Glass Windows

Posted by on October 28, 2011 1 Comment

>>Have you signed up yet for my Monthly(ish) Newsletter? Please do so before November 1 to receive two more fun applications of this craft to do with your family, plus a devotional! CLICK HERE to subscribe.<<

When I was little, my mother would take us outside hunting for leaves and would marvel with us at how different they all were. I love the memories I have of days with her, and thought this fall was the perfect time to resurrect an old craft with my kids. For Leaf Stained-Glass Windows you’ll need:

  • Waxed paper
  • Old crayons and a sharpener or knife
  • A collection of leaves
  • A leaf fandeck, or something to identify leaves
  • An iron
  • A Sharpie marker
1. Have your kids venture outside to collect the prettiest leaves they can find. Encourage them to pay attention to shapes and sizes, searching for a nice variety.
2. Making sure leaves are dry, arrange them flat on a piece of waxed paper and select crayons whose melted wax colors will produce a nice “stained-glass window.”
3. Using your sharpener or a knife, scrape small chunks of crayon onto your waxed paper.
4. Next, lay a second square of waxed paper over the first and plug in your iron.
 5. Carefully iron the two sheets of waxed paper together. The crayons will melt and adhere the sheets. TIP: make sure you have enough crayon shavings around the edges so they don’t peel apart.
6. Whallah!! Your stained glass window is created! Held up to the light, it is beautiful!
7. Next, locate your leaf identifying book or fandeck and pass out the Sharpies.
8. Your child’s job is now to reference the fandeck to identify their leaves, writing the name of the tree on their stained glass window.
9. Hang up your windows in a place where natural light can shine through, illuminating them for all to see!

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Filed Under: Creativitiy, Enjoying Nature, Having fun with your kids, Teaching Science/Biology, Uncategorized | Tagged: Tagged With: , , , , ,