Rabbits

Josh is obsessed with Rabbits right now so I am taking advantage of it! Feel free to join us.
Rabbits vs Hares
Rabbit Tangram (scroll down)
Simple Animal Report Idea
Animal Report Graphic Organizers
Rabbit Parts and info
Finish the Sentence writing idea
Peter Rabbit etc activities (scroll down)
Assorted Crafts
Rabbit Lapbook!!!!
Rabbit cardboard tube craft
Geography video

Have you Heard of this?

Get your very own Free Map!

Penguin Unit

Sheesh, I love Penguins! I had so much fun planning this unit. We are going to read Mr. Popper's Penguins and a few other gems. We will also study Antarctica. We live in MI so snow will be here soon. We will launch this unit after the Christmas crazy!

Other Books
The Life Cycle of an Emperor Penguin
Penguins (True Books)
Penguins: Level Four (Usborne First Reading)
Antarctica (True Books: Continents)
Penguins (Animal Information)
Counting Penguins!

Other Penguin Unit
Mr. Poppers Penguins Book study (Funny, I found this after I did the rest of this post...nothing like reinventing the wheel. Oh well!)
Mr Popper's Penguins Lapbook

Science
Penguin Lapbooks Lifecycle and many other amazing resources. (ht- My Montessori Journey)
Penguin Puzzle and cards/book
Antarctica Website
Ice Melt Fun Game

Language Arts
Many Simple Penguin Literacy Ideas Dot to dots, easy reader book, name recognition, abc activities.

Math
Printable Penguin Counting Activity (scroll down for penguin activity link)
Penguin math Ideas Varying levels!

Geography
Penguin cards (Beautiful Cards from A Bit of this and that)
Cool Antarctica Website

Art
How to draw a penguin
Penguin art

Crafts
Penguin puppets
Handprint penguins
Potato print Puppets
Felt Penguin w/ printable directions

Misc...
Penguin song etc... cute ideas!
Penguin Memory Game
Save the Egg game

Geography Songs

I was doing a little geography research for Josh's teacher and figured some of you may be interested as well.

Here is a link to several continent songs. I personally have always used the Love and Marriage version about half way down. It has the continents and the oceans but does not include the newer Southern ocean.

For a good state song try The 50 States that Rhyme Song. I had a hard time with this but got better after a few tries!

Afterschooling

...or in our case beforeschooling, since Josh attends PM young 5's. School is going great for him. He is enjoying it, LOVES his teacher and is actually learning quite a bit! He knows more about frogs then anyone would ever want to know! However, we still feel the need to enrich his learning with more. He is way ahead of his class in both math and reading. They are currently learning to count to 20. He could do that at 3 years old. So here is what we are doing...

Science- (as previously posted!) We have chosen several areas to study and are doing one a month! (September Biology plans, October Physical Science plans)

Geography- Landforms and the Continents using Continent Boxes, Continent books, and any other resources I dig up!

History- Story of the World We are enjoying this but I am having a hard time preparing ahead. I just need to sit down and get things ready for the month in a basket or something so I can just grab!

Music- To our dismay, due to scheduling, Josh does not attend Music at school this year! Therefore, I ordered Story of the Orchestra : Listen While You Learn About the Instruments, the Music and the Composers Who Wrote the Music! and am really excited to get started. We plan to begin tomorrow. (Just got it Friday!)

Practical Life- Remember these? I plan to start back up working on Josh's cookbook. Today was my b-day so I am thinking of having him help make a cake tomorrow (good excuse, right?). We also want to continue working on skills such as...

• tying
• cutting with scissors
• cutting with knife
• pouring

Math- Our main focus right now is on addition and heading toward subtraction. On our shelf you would find...

• Addition Strip Board (info)
• Addition Snake game (info)
• Hundreds board (video)
• Other manipulatives such as counters, dice, etc...

Language- This is the easiest and most natural! We have a reading night planned for Tuesday where we all pile into my bed and read to each other until bedtime. However, he reads to us or we read to him every night before bed normally. So I am not really planning anything extra...yet!

Art- Want to work on a few drawing skills and of course we will do seasonal crafts. We are happy with his school's art program so just having fun here for now!

Really though, this seems like a lot. But we have the entire school year and all summer to accomplish these things. Some weeks we do a ton and some weeks (like last week!) we get NOTHING done. Either way, we are not stressing. Our intention is to have school for an hour 4 days a week before lunch. ...but sometimes...the Lego's just need more attention than the dining room table...ya know?

Wednesday's Website

Some cool ideas for crafts for a culture study but definitely a "work in progress"!

http://www.culturecottage.com/index.html

Make sure you check it out though and bookmark for future use!

Wednesday's Websites

• Continent Map Demo
• Addition Snake game Directions! ~ I need to read through this everyday until I can actually remember it. Me and math are not friends!
• Fine motor tree craft ~ Josh would have LOVED this a year or so ago... may still!
• Recipe for Homemade NUTTERBUTTERS!!!! ~ ooooooh!
• Solar System book
• Paper plate stegosaurus
• Bacon Bowls ~ hmmm, sounds fun!

Yep...More Books!

So, after reading this review on the goddess Pioneer Woman's blog, I have been shamelessly coveting the Explore and Learn Science books she mentions toward the bottom. (These!!!) I am seriously OBSESSED with all thing science and geography right now. I may need to soon be medicated...anyway...I was over at my neighbor's when she runs in the house to grab something to show me. Out she comes with that exact stack of books...still shrink wrapped and everything. She says she does not want them and are they anything I would be intersted in?????

What???????? To her defense we are not too close... I still hide most of my crazy from her family.

So, I snatched them up, tossed a ten dollar bill at her and ran across the street to my house before she could come to her senses. Have I mentioned all 6 still wrapped...as in UNOPENED?

Anyway...I love them....they are amazing and all MINE! Yippeee.

My favorite one is the Explore and Learn Volume 4 People in Place and Time. It is all about ancient people and will be perfect to use with The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child: Volume 1: Ancient Times: From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor, Revised Edition that I bought a few months ago on CD. The other Volumes are...

1. Earth and Space
2. Science and Technology
3. The Natural World
4. People in Place and Time
5. Me and My Body
6. Atlas of the World

What I really like about the books is they have super child friendly pictures and info, activities to do about the info and all kinds of extras.

I cannot wait to get started! I sure hope we can find time to do all that I have planned!

Arctic Tale

If you are considering a unit on the Arctic or Environmental concerns check out the documentary Arctic Tale. It is rated G and is completely appropriate for small children (there is death and reproduction but it is really handled VERY well!). The story follows a polar bear family and a walrus family through a big chunk of their life cycle...until the cubs reproduce. It is amazingly beautiful. You also get a chance to see and learn about other types of animals found in the Arctic, including the mysterious Narwhal!

Earth Day Activities

Plans for the coming week!

• Maze
• Earth Day Activity Book
• Jigsaw puzzle Practice coloring, cutting, and assembling!
• Earth Day Word book Handwriting practice
• Word search Might be fun to try since there are not too many words!
• Super simple Earth suncatcher
• Environmental Color pages Book???
• Color page
• Simple cut out style Sudoku Nice first attempt!
• Another Simple Sudoku
• Many Earth Day Craft Ideas
• Bird feeder Directions
• Crayon Melt Earth Craft (Better direction and template)
• Songs
• Create your own Dominos
• Create your own Memory game
• Earth Day Song I used last year

Landforms

I have been intending to make the landform work for Josh for well over a year now. I even bought the plasticine and store brand containers. Well finally this week I did it. I really like how it turned out. It was a bit more difficult than I expected...sheesh is that clay hard! But well worth the effort.




In the above picture you can see how a peninsula is just the cutout portion of a gulf.

All you need is...

• 10 containers


• Plascticine (but for a temporary set playdoh would work!)


• Knife to cut out the shapes


• cards like these
  
  montessorimaterials.org/Geography/LandFormCards.pdf
  
  http://www.montessoriforeveryone.com/Land-Water-Forms-Nomenclature--Photos_p_263.html $
  

I just divided the clay into 5 equal amounts and smashed them into 5 containers. Flattened it and used the cards to give me an idea of how to cut. I took out the unnecessary clay area carefully and put it into another container. (The landforms are all opposites like a lake is the opposite of an island. So you can use the clay you remove from the lake to be the island landform.)

I plan to present these soon having Josh pour a bit of water into each to show the actual landform. I also printed off cards https://edutccom.ipower.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=93 that show a more photographical picture of a landform. We will add small animals and fish to this work to further extend his understanding.

Landform Lesson!

Wednesday's Website

Go to this site right this minute if you want to find great "teacher approved" educational websites for your kids.

http://www.topicbox.net/index.php

Wednesday's Website

http://mrsriley.com

This is an amazing site I just stumbled upon in which you can create your own sets of 3 part cards by just dragging the picture you want onto the format you choose! Super easy. I have already made 3 sets!

Warning: This site is in a beta trial so is free for now! I say use it before we lose it!

Embracing Winter

We are doing a Winter theme right now. I guess I figure if you can not do anything about it you might as well embrace it. (However I did just see it will be a HIGH of 12 next week sooo... we will be embracing it from the indoors!)

Anyway here is what I planned...

LANGUAGE

• Winter clothes book http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/Monthly%20Centers/January/downloads/winterclotheswritingfillin.doc

http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/Monthly%20Centers/January/downloads/winterclotheswritinghatscarf.doc

http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/Monthly%20Centers/January/downloads/winterclotheswritingcoatboots.doc

• Mitten reading puzzle http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/phonics/downloads/mittenpuzzleCVC.doc
• Shelf work

MATH

• Symmetrical snowflakes http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/Monthly%20Centers/January/downloads/symmetrical%20snowflakes.doc


• Bit more symmetry work http://www.education.com/worksheet/article/lines-of-symmetry/


• Snowman Grid Game http://www.prekinders.com/gridgames/snowman20.pdf


• Snowman addition fun http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/SnowmanAdditionFun.htm


• Calendar activity http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/Monthly%20Centers/January/downloads/Fill%20in%20Calendar.doc
• Shelf work(present tens and teens boards finally!)

CULTURE

• Animal Tracks http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/Monthly%20Centers/January/downloads/Animal%20Tracks.doc


• Astronomy Cards http://www.sherriallen.com/learningcentral/


• Snow info http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/
• Shelf work
• Experiment with melting snow

ART/CRAFTS

• Tealight holder


• Complete the snowflake http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/SnowflakeCompletetheDrawingPages.htm
• Watercolor work! (http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/2008/07/watercolor-resist-snowflakes.html)

SENSORIAL

• Fake snow!


• Sequencing cards http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/SnowmanEaselArt.htm


• Visual Discrimination Cards http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/Monthly%20Centers/January/downloads/snowflakememory.doc
• Shelf work
  

PRACTICAL LIFE

• Tracing practice ~great for developing fine motor!http://www.makinglearningfun.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.makinglearningfun.com/Activities/snow/SnowmanTraceandColor.gif


• Of course other trays that are already on shelves and maybe a few snow/winter themed for fun!

MORE IDEAS

• http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/topic/season/winter.html


• http://www.makinglearningfun.com/themepages/SnowSnowmen.htm


• http://www.prekinders.com/winter.htm

We will work on this for probably the next couple of weeks or until our interest is gone. We will also continue to use our basket of workbooks that he is real "INTO" right now!

Montessori Monday

Idea from Montessori Play and Learn by Lesley Britton.


The Trans Game~

I made this game by filling 3 empty baby food jars. One with water, one with dirt, and one with air! These jars represent the different places transportation occur; air, land, and water. Then, I printed off cards that depict different modes of transportation like these!



All the child needs to do is sort the cards next to each jar into the appropriate type of place for transportation to occur. Make sure to mark the back of the cards with a symbol for self checking!

Geography Planning

Continent Boxes (I will post pictures when I FINALLY finish!)
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/geography_resources.php
A Life Like Mine (DK w/ Unicef)
Beautiful Cards by Jo!
Other Cards etc...

Core Knowledge for Kindergarten http://www.coreknowledge.org/CK/resrcs/lessons/K.htm

lessons from What your Kindergartner Needs to Know

• Our World - Puzzle Map, I Never Forget A Face Memory Game




• Oceans/Continents - Our continent boxes and felt map! Pictured here!http://bogglesworldesl.com/continents_oceans.htm All 7 Continent True Books!



• Maps/Globes - Me On the Map by Joan Sweeney




• Your Country - US magnet map from Target's Dollar Spot




• Columbus - http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/columbus/




• First Americans/Pilgrims - Native American Homes scroll down!




• July 4th - http://lapbooklessons.ning.com/HolidayLapbooks




• Democracy - lesson from What your Kindergartner Needs to Know




• Slavery - lesson from What your Kindergartner Needs to Know




• Presidents US President cards Scroll down!




• Symbols - lesson from What your Kindergartner Needs to Know

Lapbooks -

Oceans

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/hello_ocean_lapbook.php

http://www.geocities.com/beachteach2007/

Other Geography Plans

Landforms

Scroll down for Landform Cards

Imaginary Island game


Volcanoes

volcano activity!

Family Tree

Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney

Shannon

Proud as a Peacock!

I made this! Well...Andrew helped glue and my Dad helped plan, but...I made this! It is a map of the continents using foam for the water and felt for the land(In Montessori colors). And I am just thrilled to FINALLY have it done. This week we have begun using it to teach Josh the continents.

Shannon

ht to Beth! Thanks so much for the idea! You amaze me with your creativity!

http://www.geocities.com/st.jeromeacademy/Jerome1.html?1169473775039

Edited to add:

First I purchased the fun foam rolls from http://www.discountschoolsupplies.com/

However...now I kind of wish I had just used felt. (I am having a hard time with where to keep it when not in use!)

Anyway...then I printed off a 3*3 map from http://www.yourchildlearns.com/megamaps/print-world-maps.html

I roughly cut it out and taped the continents on the proper color felt. Cut it out more precisely and glued it down. I used Elmers glue-all and a Hot glue gun.

I would suggest trying something else! Maybe Tacky glue.

The hardest part is choosing what to cut out and what to pretend you are not seeing (KWIM). There are just so many islands!

It really was pretty easy. If anything is confusing just ask!