I've run an afterschool makers club at my school for the past two years. Here I share tips on creating norms, balancing guided projects & free time, & more.
The activities below are available for free download, and are to be used in educational and/or private settings. They may not be used elsewhere or for other purposes (such as for profit) unless exp…
For everyone who hasn't gotten their Hogwarts letter yet.
CREATIVE means… Original, resourceful, imaginative, inspired, artistic, inventive, ingenious, innovative, productive, having vision, freshness, novel, unique…. Do you have any ideas that ... Read more
g Summer Boredom Buster Science Experiment Ideas to do With the Kids: Summer Boredom Busters for Kids What a great way to make memories with the kids this summer. These all look like Epic Fun! I just love doing science experiments with the kids. Lucky for me, I’ve noticed some really cool ideas on Pinterest. All …
My 9-year-old son loves codes, history, and treasure hunts. This activity combines all three. When he got home from after school, I handed him a Viking Runes Encryption sheet and the first of six clues. Each clue contains facts about the life and times of Vikings as well as runes that required he decode them and a hint as to where to find the next clue. Our oldest son read the clue at the bottom of each card allowed, giving his 5-year-old brother an opportunity to get in on the action, and guess the location of the next clue. Clues lead them to our bathtub, my jewelry box, front door's deadbolt, refrigerator, games closet, and lastly our living room sofa. Click on the clue or encryption sheet to download my PDF free on Google Drive. In the end, my eldest had to use the small runes in the corner of each clue to identify the location of his prize (couch), which he acquired after reading a wonderful graphic novel history book. (Think comic book meets ancient history!) His prize was a punch card for free electronic (i.e. iPad or DS) minutes; our boys have to do chores to earn their time otherwise. Want to make your own decoding treasure hunt? Print the encryption sheet and use it as a guide! To get kids ready for this activity, give them a fun interactive novel (think choose-your-own-adventure). I don't think I've ever seen our oldest son get so excited over a book before. He LOVED this! My sons had so much fun with this activity and our oldest really liked the books I paired with it. After we were done, my oldest boy even wrote me a note using the Runic Alphabet that when decoded revealed "I love you."
We wrapped up our chapter on color this week and our final projects might be some of my favorite that we’ve ever done! During our unit on color my students had the chance to create their own color wheel’s and man oh man was that a learning experience. For about 75% of my students that was […]
500 science activities for each month of the year, with season themes, for kids from preschool kindergarten to high school. Making teaching STEM easy.
As they had during World War I, people on the home front during World War II picked up their knitting needles almost as soon as the war began in September 1939. Only two months later, these girls a…
Use this list of fun tween activities ideas, and after school activities for tweens to keep your kids entertained and smiling.
Attention graduating high school seniors! Here are some of the biggest scholarships for you, as well as useful advice on how to find and win scholarships.
These are 3 things to do with your kids every day to stay connected. They are really simple and don't take much time. But hear me out because they could..
This back to school "snowball" fight activity will have your students getting up and out of their seats moving around the room to get to know each other.
The story of the post-WWII New York School painters is still being written. A well-timed show at the Denver Art Museum explores the contribution of the "Women of Abstract Expressionism" such as Elaine DeKooning, Joan Mitchell and Grace Hartigan. The only living member of that group is Amaranth Ehrenhalt, age 90. Ehrenhalt journeyed to Paris after the war and settled there as an expatriate artist for the next forty-odd years. Le Select Cafe was the place where artists and cognoscenti met. There Ehrenhalt met Beauford Delaney and Yves Klein among others. There she befriended Giacometti. And there she exhibited with, among others, Joan Mitchell, Sam Francis, Shirley Jaffe and Norman Bluhm, most recently in 2017 at the Mona Bismarck Foundation in Paris as part of its "American Artists in Paris" exhibition. Her work is currently on exhibit in three locations--London, Dusseldorf and NYC. Her work is in the collection of the Hirshhorn Museum. Painted during the artist's sojourn in Paris.
For a small minority of teachers, staying late after school is a symbol of their dedication. It makes them feel as if they’re doing everything they can for their students. It gives them a sense of pride. They like having their car the last ... Read more
Check out these fun activities from Award Winning Author/Illustrator Jarett Lerner to do at home or in the classsroom. Includes comics, drawing, and more.
This week after Christmas I really wanted to focus on winter decor here on the blog to help any of you struggling with taking your Christmas decor & not knowing what to do with your house, or those who are about to take your christmas decor down & are sad because you don't want a bare house. Of course I'll be sharing our winter home soon, but today I wanted to share some inspiration for you that I have been loving & some of my favorite winter decor that inspires me. I shared some of my favorite winter decor last
There's a reason why kids are misbehaving. And it might just be the opposite of what you're thinking.
My Mouth is a Volcano is one my favorite books to read at the beginning of the year to help curb the interrupting and blurting out! This year I made a cute little craftivity to extend our learning after this read-aloud. We always talk about why it is important not to interrupt others and […]
The truth is, I'm always trying new things because an idea will last for a bit and then stop working with my kids. It's just the nature of parenting...
Find over 100 fun and engaging busy bags for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarten and elementary kids, too — perfect for on the go!
Fun hands-on American History lesson for elementary children covering President George Washington in 45 minutes for Kindergarten, 1st, & 2nd grade-level children - Notebook & lapbook pages & children's book suggestions - Use with your class, homeschool, after-school program, or co-op! U.S. History
It's harder than building a house of cards.
Ideal for the holiday freezer, these easy cookie bars are quick to prepare, freeze exceptionally well and are always a hit with kids of all ages.
We are beginning to move full swing into the holiday season and I have been planning the two weeks we will all be at home. With some down time I thought it would be a great chance to plan a few activities with my little ones, and since I do love all things Waldorf, I
Creating character silhouettes is a creative way to conduct a close reading of character or figure from an assigned or selected fiction or nonfiction text. This activity can be used with any grade level, during or after reading any text, and reinforces the ideas of character and characterization while asking students to closely examine evidence from the text.
From mini wreaths to watercolor ornament designs.
If you’re entering college as a student with a disability, the first thing you should know is that you’re not alone. In a study of approximately 11,000 young adults with disabilities, nearly 20 percent were found to have attended a four-year college or university at some point after high school. And, like all students, you
Do you know the FAFSA 12 best kept secrets? In this episode, Jean Burk explains the mistakes people make and how scholarships are left behind.
If you want to know how to get started with BLW plus the best beginner foods and recipes for babies, these baby led weaning for beginners tips are for you!
Using iodine to identify starch is a fantastic visual science experiment for kids. It's kitchen science at its best!
Are you more Veronica Sawyer or Regina George?
Worried about how to pay for college or how to graduate without a ton of student loans? Applying for scholarships is one way to save money on costs. To get you started, here’s a list of 100 college scholarships. Good luck!
We're returning to homeschooling! Find out why we're choosing this method again after several months in public school.
Learn About the 7 Continents! Exploring the 7 Continents has never been more exciting! It’s a Small World Continent Study is filled with over 35 activities to help your students gain a greater understanding of the seven continents. This 130+ page unit is filled with great resources, posters, printables, activities, and projects that will open […]
This game is played individually with a dice. The students roll the dice and draw the appropriate part to create portraits in the style of Pablo Picasso. After rolling the dice 4 times your students will have completed a portrait in the style of a Master Artist. After completing one, the students ca...
