Archive for activities
12 days of christmas
The 12 Days of Christmas Hidden Meanings: Read & discuss. **There is not much evidence to support this as history, but I think it is interesting food for thought.
Activities:
- older – I am making a chart with this clip art & they will write the meanings of the gifts.
- younger – number tracing worksheets
Carol Lyrics: pg 1 & pg 2 or this one
Math: calculate the cost of the 12 Days of Christmas
Craft: dancing ladies ornaments (Little Prince will be making a leaping lord 
See all of the Symbols of Christmas HERE
the symbols of christmas
We like to do Funschool during the month of December, so we are spending the next few weeks studying the history behind the symbols of Christmas. We are having a blast!
I will post a lesson plan for each day, and you can find all of the links on my Symbols of Christmas Page.
Here are the resources I used if you want to come up with your own:
howdy pilgrim
I am really pleased with my choice of Truthquest History this year, and I’m excited that our study of the first colonies just happens to start in November.
Here are some good resources if you are studying the same thing:
The First Thanksgiving is a free site from Scholastic. You can read historical fiction letters, find grade-specific lessons, and print out activities.
A Pioneer Sampler: The Daily Life of a Pioneer Family in 1840
We are loving this book! It goes through the day-to-day life of the fictional Robertson family. The time period is a bit later, but we are reading it now while we have a little more time.
Hands-On History: Colonial America
The older girls are making a notebook using this book. It is filled with interesting activities which are great learning tools & not just a bunch of fluff.
.
History Pockets: Life in Plymouth Colony
The two younger will be making history pockets.
Who’s Saying What in Jamestown, Thomas Savage?
We learned all kinds of interesting things in this true story about a 13 year old boy who lived in the Jamestown settlement.
Do you have any favorites to share?
my kids are writing a book
Have you heard of NaNoWriMo? It stands for National Novel Writing Month. Participants begin writing on November 1st with a goal of finishing a novel by November 30th.
My kids will be taking part in the Young Writer’s Program. We are setting aside our writing curriculum to use these 100% Awesome, Non-Lame Workbooks.
I can wait to see what they create!
a is for apple
A is for Apple in our little schoolhouse this week.
Activities
Johnny Appleseed Day Research Activity
and Crossword Puzzle for the older girls
I think we will finish up the week by making these Harvest Apple Squares
More Apple Resources
Books We Are Reading
our first day
We had a lovely first day of school today!
We did some group activities and focused on getting notebooks organized – the real academics start on Monday!
We have a new student this year. My niece (11) is joining us each morning and we are enjoying her lovely spirit. Her bloggy nickname will be Niecey. (What can I say? I’ve used up all my creative brain cells planning our school.)
Here’s a look at what we did:
~ Sticks & Stones- We each got a body cutout with our name on it. We passed them around the circle, making sure to add a wrinkle or tear to each one as we passed it. They were a wrangled mess by the end. We then talked about how using our words as weapons does the same kind of damage to each other. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
~ We made get-well cards for my grandparents who are both in the hospital.
~ The 3 older girls filled out a Learning Style Questionnaire and How Many Ways Are You Smart?
~ The 2 younger colored & cut out a dog mask to go along with our Hank the Cowdog bedtime story.
~ We read the first lesson out of Over Our Heads In Wonder and then headed outside with this cloud paper to record our sky views.
~ Creating a September Nature Calendar was last on the list.
Tomorrow we will add journal writing and math to the mix. It’s going to be a great year!
school year’s eve party planner
Cookie Magazine has come up with a really cute celebration for back-to-school called School Year’s Eve.
You can download templates for invitations, decorations, games and more.
Register to order your FREE official School Year’s Eve™ Party Starter Kit (while supplies last).
I think this will be such a fun thing to do with my kids, and it doesn’t cost anything but a little creativity! (Btw, we homeschool, but we still get excited about the new year : -)
You can find lots of money-saving tips at Life As Mom.
a christmas alphabet
My girls will be copying A Christmas Alphabet this week. I found it at Kath’s Christmas Corner (she has lots of great ideas!). I did alter the verses a bit by changing them to English Standard Version and lengthening some of them. We are using these lovely pages from NotebookingPages.com
A Christmas Alphabet
A – is for Angels, appearing so bright, telling of Jesus that first Christmas night. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,”Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:13-14
B – is for Bethlehem, crowded and old, birthplace of Jesus by prophet foretold. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2
C – is for Cattle, their manger His bed, there in the stable where He laid His head. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7
D – is for David and his ancient throne promised forever to Jesus alone. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David.
Luke 1:32
E – is for East, where shone the bright star which Magi on camels followed afar. Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2
F – is for Frankincense, with myrrh and gold, brought by the Wise Men as Matthew has told. And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
G – is for God, who from heaven above sent down to mankind the Son of His love. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
H – is for Herod, whose murderous scheme was told to Joseph in a nocturnal dream. An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him. Matthew 2:13
I – is for Immanuel, “God with us,” for Christ brought man back to the Father’s house. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
J – is for Joseph so noble and just, obeying God’s word with absolute trust. When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, Matthew 1:24
K – is for King. A true king He would be, coming in power and authority. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9
L – is for Love that He brought down to earth that night in the stable in lowly birth. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. I John 4:9
M – is for Mary, His mother so brave, counting God faithful and mighty to save. And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
N – is for Night, when the Savior was born for nations of earth and people forlorn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8
O – is for Omega, meaning “the last;” He’s eternal: present, future and past. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Revelation 22:13
P – is for Prophets, when living on earth foretold His redemption and blessed birth. I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel. Numbers 24:17
Q – is for Quickly, as shepherds who heard hastened to act on that heavenly word. And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. Luke 2:16
R – is for Rejoice. The sorrow of sin is banished forever when Jesus comes in. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. Luke 1:14
S – is for Savior. To be this He came; the angel of God assigned Him His name. he will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
T – is for Tidings related to all, telling of Him who was born in a stall. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10
U – is for Us, to whom Jesus was given to show us the way and take us to heaven. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
V – is for Virgin, foretold by the sage, God’s revelation on prophecy’s page. “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). Matthew 1:23
W – is for Wonderful, His works and His words, the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
X – is for Christ. It’s X in the Greek, Anointed, Messiah, Mighty, yet meek. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. Acts 10:38
Y – is for Yes, called God’s Yes in His Word; God’s answer to all is Jesus the Lord. For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. II Corinthians 1:20
Z – is for Zeal as it burned in Christ’s heart. Lord, by thy Spirit to us zeal impart. His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” John 2:17
stocking stuffer words
These cute activities are from
Stocking Stuffers
Students consult a dictionary to determine if the items named at this center are appropriate stocking stuffers. Number ten cards and label each one with the name of an object that appears in a student dictionary but may be unfamiliar to students. Tuck the cards inside a holiday stocking and add an answer key. A student numbers his paper and looks up each word in the dictionary. If the object could be a stocking stuffer, he writes “yes” on his paper. If not, he writes “no.” Then he checks his work against the answer key.
Gingerbread Geometry
Students will run, run as fast as they can to this geometry-related math center! Label one 5″ x 7″ blank card for each of the following geometry shapes: triangle, circle, square, rectangle, diamond, and trapezoid. Next, make a poster like the one shown, allowing room to tape one card in each blank. Draw a simple gingerbread shape and photocopy. Then place the poster (with cards attached) and the patterns at your math center along with crayons and scissors. A student creates a gingerbread pal by following the directions on the poster. Rearrange the cards each day. Showcase the shapely cutouts around a window, door frame, or chalkboard!
gingerbread baby
The Crafty Crow shared her wonderful idea for a Christmas Book and Activity Advent. She has a whole list of books and activities, but I’m making my own list to go with the books we already have.
I was already planning to make cinnamon applesauce dough because I am making gingerbread man pins for a craft fair. I mixed up a double batch so the kids could cut out some ornaments, and later today we will be reading Gingerbread Baby
I will be listing all of our books & activities on my Christmas Books Page.
