Fall into Autumn--Sept. 23

I don't forget the start of fall.  It usually "falls" on my husband's birthday, so if I'd forget it, I'd be in trouble!

So, I thought I'd help you out with a few resources for autumn.  Please feel free to share your ideas and resources as well!

Squidoo.com--Autumn Leaves are Falling Unit Study

Apples4theTeacher.com--coloring pages, worksheets, poems, more

EasyFunSchool.com--Autumn Science

EdHelper.com--color by number, read and color, math printables, a lot more

ABCTeach.com--worksheets

TeacherPlanet.com--lesson planets, worksheets, clipart, more

KidZone.ws--language arts, math, cutting skills, more

BusyTeachersCafe.com--activities, worksheets, links, more

For those of us not facing the hurricane...

 

Definitely have been praying for the East Coast.  What a week for them!  A earthquake for some and now a hurricane!

While we are busy praying, we can also use the opportunity to educate.

Here's a few resources I dug up.

A to Z Teacher Stuff--lesson plans

EdHelper.com--reading comprehension, read and color, puzzles

Lesson Plans Page--lesson plan about tracking hurricanes

Southeastern Louisiana University--hurricane unit

National Weather Service--the National Hurricane Center

Enchanted Learning--various activities for early and fluent readers
(some free, some not)

ABCTeach.com--weather including some hurricane items
(some free, some not)

Lesson Plans 4 Teachers--lessons and units

Snow Plans

Tomorrow, we're expecting a blizzard.  Expectations are for six to twelve inches with thunder snow.

We are just getting over being a sick family, so want to take it easy, but do some "schooling." 

I'm planning on a snow day tomorrow.  A day that we do snow/winter related things.  Here are some of the things I'm digging up.  Maybe it will give you somethings to springboard from as well.

• I made a word search using spelling words in the shape of a snowman.  I made it at abcteach.com.  I don't think it's one of the free things on the site, but you can go to A to Z Teacher Stuff and probably make one there.
• A friend mentioned I should make sure to mention Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley.  We'll probably go to the site there and find out about him.
• I'm going to grab some ideas from Snowflakes--A Thematic Approach.  I'm getting some picture of actually snowflakes and we'll fold symmetrically and will draw some simple pictures symmetrically, as well.
• I went to Activity Village for tons of ideas for winter.  I think we are definitely going to need to finger paint snow scenes and maybe weave a snowflake. Oooo, how about making a snowflake from hand prints?
• It'll be fun to watch some videos about snow and Wilson Bentley. 
• Hot chocolate with marshmallows are a definite must. 
• Tomorrow's the first day of February as well.  Probably should go make a calendar at Starfall. 

Well, I think that's probably plenty. I want to focus on Mr. Snowflake and make sure we remember that snowflakes have six sides and are symmetrical.  I want to review our spelling words with the word search and make the calendar. Rewarding each word found with a marshmallow might be fun. Then I think we'll go back to watch some videos and do crafts.

OHC-Construction Equipment

Currclick.com's freebie this week is OHC-Construction Equipment.  Their description states, "This unit is a nice collection of activities to help you study Construction Equipment. There are activities and links for students from preschool through highschool."

Activities and Crafts by Themes

Just came across a website new to me.  It's Activity Village based out of the UK.  It has over 40 themes that include crafts and games. While a few more UK specific (although having a Robert Burns day or a unit on the Tudors might be quite interesting), most are general things.  Some include Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, China, Dinosaurs, Narnia, Robots and more.  There's even birthday party ideas!

Unit Studies

From theoldschoolhousemagazine.com

Unit Studies

Amanda Bennett


More and more homeschooling parents are beginning to use the unit study approach as a primary instructional method, leaving behind the piles of textbooks and workbooks for each child. Unit studies can be more interesting and captivating than a standard textbook/workbook curriculum. They encourage the use of imagination, creativity, and analytical thinking.
Another advantage is that the whole family can work on them together, teaching all of the children the same unit simultaneously while varying the assignments based on the child's capabilities. While the youngest child might draw pictures of the story, the oldest child might be writing a brief summary of the book and its author.


This saves the parent time and money, instead of having to buy, assign, teach, and check separate workbooks and text materials for each child.


It is such an interesting time at home when everyone is pursuing a common topic. Dinner conversation is never dull, and the ideas that the kids come up with are priceless. I will never forget some of the daily stories that the children shared with Dad at the dinner table. Like the time they told him about their lessons in the phase change of metals that day, learned as they watched me melt a pot on an electric burner when I forgot that I was boiling water for tea!


Learning together as a family can provide a wonderful experience for everyone, and memories that last a lifetime.




~ Amanda Bennett
Unitstudies@aol.com


Amanda Bennett is an author, wife, and homeschooling mom, as well as a sought-after speaker at conventions across the country. Her revolutionary new series of studies, Download N Go™, are a new kind of learning experience--a combination unit study and lapbook for K - 4th. Studies include history, geography, reading, science, spelling, vocabulary, writing, and art--perfect for repeated use as your children grow!