I'm all for fun school work. I know that sometimes in life one simply has to knuckle down and do the work regardless of the fun factor or lack there of, but as Mary Poppins once said 'a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down' (I'm currently breaking off into song - you should be glad…
Tag: Homeschooling
Easter Adventure Box: Marco Polo and Ancient China-Part 2
Yesterday I shared the resources I'm using for the Ancient China part of our adventure box. The other half of the box will be focused on Marco Polo. I intend to read aloud his own autobiographical book about his travels: We are using 'Marco Polo- History's Great Adventurer' I LOVE these books. We have a similar…
Easter Adventure Box: Marco Polo and Ancient China-Part 1
Just the name sends shivers down my older children's spines! They are very excited about their Easter Adventure Box! This year it is going to be both a revisit to Ancient China and also learning the new topic of Marco Polo. Marco Polo was a well-known medieval explorer, who traveled the silk road to China. He therefore…
Schooling Together: Thomas the Tank Engine-Part Two
On a Friday we have a time where all five children are doing school together. I use the term school loosely due to the age differences, however the older one's are still learning. They learn their needs come secondary to their little sisters. They learn to put aside their wishes for a couple of hours…
Ancient Israel Unit Study
The main focus for our Ancient Israel Unit Study was the Old Testament. This was the ideal opportunity to learn more about the Jews and their covenant with God. Israel followed very naturally from our ancient Egypt unit study, given it was Moses who led the Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land of Israel. Ancient…
Homemade Handicrafts
Make time for some homemade handicrafts in your homeschool! It doesn't need to be complicated or technically difficult. Opt for something simple, like these two Mr Men dolls. You don't even really need to be that gifted in arts and crafts. It is the spending time together, whilst keeping hands busy. This encourages great conversations…
Valentine Restaurant: A Love Shown
I had another post planned for today, but I was so overwhelmed by my children last night that I wanted to share RIGHT AWAY!! Yesterday morning we were informed that we were required to dress up for a valentine dinner at Valentine Restaurant, which the children were opening just for us that night. We grinned…
Importance of Picture Books for Learning Great Literature
Studying great literature has to be one of my most favourite times in home school. I think because I design our own studies, it gives us lots of freedoms that following a curriculum of any type would remove. I am able to keep it simple, complex or anywhere in between. We don't have to ascribe…
Giotto Artist Study for Homeschoolers
Continuing with our Medieval Unit Study, today I am going to share our Giotto homeschool artist study. Giotto was apprenticed to Cimabue, yet he overtook his master in many ways, excelling in portraying a more natural and normal human form. He was a fore-runner, if you like, away from the Byzantine art which influenced Cimabue. …
Angus Lost Book Unit
This wonderful book unit contains lots and lots of hands on activities linked to the book Angus Lost. A lovely dog-themed book unit! Becca had her last two teeth coming through, and spent most of the week crying day and night. These last two were taking their time and teething was always a HUGE issue…
Homeschool Blahs
It's that time of year again. February. I know it's coming. The fact that February is a month of the year that always comes after January, and is never skipped in favour of March has not escaped my notice. Since homeschooling, February is my very least favourite time of the year. I couldn't tell you…
Beautiful Quote: Shakespeare
"A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow." ~William Shakespeare~
If Jesus Came to my House {B4FIAR}
In this latest book unit, we focused our attentions on Before Five in a Row book If Jesus Came to my House by Joan G Thomas. I chose the topic of hospitality for this weeks theme because this book lends itself well to this. This year I want to be a little less haphazard about…
Thomas’ battle and victory over writing
This week I was so proud of T11 that I almost cried. He wrote his first completely independent 5 paragraph essay using this tool . I asked T11 if he would mind me relating some of his story with regards to his difficulty with writing, and if I could share his essay. T11 would be my most…
Home Economics for Scalliwags
"And that you would be diligent, peaceable and occupied with your business,working with your hands just as we commanded you" (1 Thessalonians 4:11) "We must not only become reliable, progressive, skillful and intelligent, but we must keep the idea constantly before our youths that all forms of labor, whether with the hand or head, are…