Useful Websites for Homeschoolers

There are some great websites out there for homeschoolers. Here are a few that we are using this year.

 Kindergarten

• Education.com Games
• ABCYa
• Fun Brain
• Fun Brain Jr.
• Starfall
• Kindersite

 4th Grade

• Education.com Games
• ABCYa
• Room Recess
• Magic Tree House
• Learn Your Tables
• Cool Math Games
• Science Bob
• Grammaropolis
• Science Bug
• Math Run

Games for Everyone

• Lego Games
• Lego Building Instructions
• Barbie
• PBS Kids
• Fisher Price
• Clifford
• Suessville
• Smithsonian

Exploring the 50 States - Homeschool Style

This year we are studying the 50 states. We have several books and activity pages ready to explore. At the end of each section, we will fill out our fact sheet (get your copy here) and see what we've learned. Each state has many tourism videos that we can watch to see the state come alive. We are going to move pretty fast through them, studying 5 a month, to get through them in one school year. 

Here are some books we are using:

The United States of America: A State-by-State Guide https://www.amazon.com/dp/0439827655/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_MsUWvbQPB9T39

United States Coloring Book (Dover History Coloring Book) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486401685/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_ytUWvbEWS5BKM

The 50 States: Facts & Fun (Dover Little Activity Books) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486475247/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_UtUWvb6CPP9T3

The 50 States Book and Magnetic Puzzle Map https://www.amazon.com/dp/0794412882/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_3uUWvbNYTWSYN

Here are some Apps we are using:

Geography Drive
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/geography-drive-usa/id579100969?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Learn The States With Flat Stanley by Flatter World, Inc.

https://appsto.re/us/i_QUL.i

Stack the States™ by Freecloud Design, Inc.

https://appsto.re/us/7iTUw.i

Here is our video and cooking list list (Find Recipes Here):

• Alabama -
• Sweet Potato Biscuits 
• http://youtu.be/QmDIrJ5vXBM - 
• Alaska 
• Baked Salmon - 
• http://youtu.be/MfDrHd6eijI
• http://youtu.be/tVNQTMc4_to
• Arizona 
• Cheese Quesadilla with Vegetables 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tboZLkHkFac
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ISrhzpTnmM
• Arkansas 
• Chocolate Rice Pudding 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlaUrbv1w_Y
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvdxPiz_2Jw
• California 
• Classic Ceasar Salad 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omF8EgrDTts
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9-V0CxLPJA
• Colorado 
• Denver Sandwich 
• http://www.colorado.com/video-gallery
• Connecticut 
• Election Day Cake 
• http://www.ctvisit.com/ 
• https://www.youtube.com/user/ConnecticutTourism
• Delaware 
• Classic Gingerbread Squares
• http://www.visitdelaware.com/
• http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g28929-Delaware-Vacations.html
• Florida- 
• Key Lime Pie 
• http://www.visitflorida.com/en-us.html -
• http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g28930-Florida-Vacations.html
• Georgia 
• Peanutty Peanut Butter and Banana Bread 
• http://www.exploregeorgia.org/ 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5g7_-82OkI
• Hawaii 
• Pineapple Chicken Kabobs
• http://www.gohawaii.com/en/ 
• http://www.gohawaii.com/stories/ 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96kTK_Qi76s 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDWIH23g-dY
• Idaho 
• Baked Sliced Potatoes
• http://youtu.be/C5TzggtamW8
• Illinois 
• Deep Dish Pizza
• Indiana 
• Bread Pudding
• Iowa -
• Corn Dogs
• Kansas - 
• Grilled Swiss Cheeseburger with Sliced Mushrooms
• Kentucky - 
• Kentucky Burgoo
• Louisiana - 
• New Orleans Pain Perdu
• Maine - 
• Blueberry Cornbread
• Maryland - 
• Maryland Baked Crab Cakes
• Massachusetts
• Boston Baked Beans
• Michigan - 
• Ice cream with Cherry Sauce in a Tortilla Shel
• Minnesota - 
• Swedish Meatballs
• Mississippi - 
• Mississippi Mud Pie
• Missouri - 
• Black Walnut Quickbread
• Montana - 
• Cheyenne Batter Bread
• Nebraska - 
• Reuben Sandwich
• Nevada - 
• Onion Rings
• New Hampshire - 
• Raspberry and Apple Cobbler
• New Jersey - 
• Italian Submarine Sandwiches
• New Mexico - 
• Taco Soup
• New York - 
• Waldorf Salad
• North Carolina - 
• North Carolina BBQ
• North Dakota - 
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Ohio - 
• Cincinnati Chili over Pasta
• Oklahoma - 
• Peanut Blondie Bars
• Oregon - 
• Cranberry Cookie Bars
• Pennsylvania - 
• Philadelphia Soft Pretzels
• Rhode Island - 
• Coffee Milkshakes
• South Carolina - 
• Peach Roll
• South Dakota - 
• Cornmeal Mush with Molasses
• Tennessee - 
• German Potato Salad
• Texas - 
• Spicy Barbecue Sauce
• Utah -  
• Mallo-Mallo Fudge Squares - 
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qjdq1molSfM
• Vermont - 
• Banana Berry Pancakes with Real Maple Syrup
• Virginia - 
• Virginia Ham with Cherry Sauce
• Washington - 
• Baked Apples 
• West Virginia - 
• Golden Delicious Apple Pie
• Wisconsin - 
• Wisconsin Cheddar Dill Puffs
• Wyoming - 
• Rancher's Beef Pot Pies

Virtual Field Trips - 2015/2016

This year we are starting 2 new studies (in addition to everything else we study) in our home-school year. We are going to be learning about each of our 50 states (which I'll get to later) and we are going to be taking virtual field trips. If you haven't ever heard of a virtual field trip you can Wikipedia it here. There are plenty out there already put together for you, or you can design them yourself. I asked my 3rd grader to comprise a list of places he'd like to explore and here is what he came up with for this year:

1. Paris - August
1. Paris, France Virtual Field Trip with 4 places of interest
2. Virtual Field Trip on YouTube, 
2. Germany - September

1. Germany's Black Forest Tour
2. Berlin Tour Video
3. Top 25 Things to do in Berlin
4. Munich and the foothills of the Alps
3. Hawaii - October

1. Virtual Hawaii
2. Walking Travel Tour
3. Honolulu, What to do Tour
4. Top 10 things to do in Hawaii
4. Africa - November
1. Tour of Africa(Classroom Type Video)
2. Safari Bookings Video
3. Africa Virtual Tour
5. China - December

1. China virtual field trip 
2. Virtual field trip to China
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIpm2PWBzowLet's travel China
6. The White House - January 
1. Interactive White House Tour
2. Washington DC Virtual Field Trip
3. Washington DC Tourism Video
7. Italy - February
1. Photos of Pompeii 
2. Vatican
3. Pisa
4. Rome 
5. Rome Vatican City Tour Video
8. Japan - March
1. Virtual Field trip to Japan
2. NatGeo Destination Japan
3. Japanese Tourism Video
9. Spain - April

1. Virtual Field Trip to Spain Video
2. Spain Tourism Video
3. Barcelona Tour
10. Kenya - May
1. Mombasa Tourist Video
2. Kenya Vacation Video
3. Virtual Field Trip to Kenya

It just so happened that we are planning out 10 months so we will be doing one per month, which hopefully will be super easy to keep up with. We are doing this with my prek student as well in group time. This should be fun! 

Sea Turtle - Animal of the Week

This week is all about Sea Turtles! Get the facts and activities here. These creatures are so fascinating, I think. I hope the kids enjoy them! We might catch some Finding Nemo and other flicks with Sea Turtle stars. They seem to be very popular!

Enjoy!

Mountain Lion - Animal of the Week

This week we are studying Mountain Lions. These creatures fascinate me because I feel like it's the closest thing to feeling like you are on safari. These guys pack a real punch and their numbers and growing back into the midwest and east. Find the facts and activities here. I included some bigger words that I will have the kids look up. Also a map of recent cougar sightings in the last 20 years in our state. You can probably find one for your state just as easily. 

Enjoy!

Rabbit - Animal of the Week

I am super excited about this week's animal, the Rabbit! The craft (found through Pinterest) is an adorable sock bunny. The kids are gonna love it! 
Download the fact sheet here.
Enjoy!

Orangutan - Animal of the Week

This week we are studying Orangutans! These little guys even might get a visit from us at our local zoo. 
These guys are endangered and apparently don't live in too many places in the world. I wasn't aware because they seem to be pretty common in zoos. 
Here is the fact sheet and some fun activities and coloring pages I found to go along with them. 

Enjoy!

Hermit Crab - Animal of the Week

This week we are studying Hermit Crabs. When my son was 2, Grandma and Grandpa went to Florida and brought back two Hermit Crabs. Flash forward 5 years later and we still have 1. One of them died about a year ago. He survived being thrown away the summer before. We thought he was dead but it was actually his molted skin sticking out of his shell (he was hiding inside). I had a bad feeling and went back to the trash can to find him trying to crawl out. Sorry there little guy! He got started acting super funny and wouldn't stay in a shell and I think he got too cold outside of a shell and died without a shell. He was our favorite. He was Bash. The other one, Dash, we hardly ever saw but after Bash died he came out a lot more. He likes to bury himself in the substrate and stay there. Bash lived for high spaces.  They talked to each other loudly a lot of nights, which would completely freak me out and then I'd realize that it was the crabs. It's certainly been an adventure. Dash is monstrous in size now and when he croaks we will not be replacing them. But it has been kind of fun learning about them and how to take care of them. 

SOOOO for this week, I thought the kids would like to focus on them too. 
Get the facts and activities here. 

Enjoy!

Rhinoceros - Animal of the Week

This week we are studying Rhinoceros and why they are so hard to pronounce. :-)  Get the fact sheet and activities here. 
These vegetarians look deadly but they just like to munch of grasses or bushes. Their horns are desired for medicinal value as well as a prized possession so they are endangered. Apparently they aren't  too fond of mating which I think is probably the main problem. They can conflict battle wounds from fighting when they come together to mate. This makes me giggle. Not sure I'll bring up that part to the kiddos. Enjoy!

Horse - Animal of the Week

This week we will be studying Horses! I tried to include facts about the animal and about their care. In the activities this week, I thought we would pick a breed and learn more about the traits and characteristics of that specific breed in addition to learning about the species. 
I
'm sure there are a lot of movies to go along with this too. The 1946 version of Black Beauty is available on Netflix streaming. 

Download the facts and activities here and get started. 

Enjoy!

Toad - Animal of the Week

I didn't realize these toads were so interesting until I was preparing the fact sheet. Hope the kids think they are super cool too, but not enough to bring them in the house. Here's the facts and activities. 

Enjoy!

Snake - Animal of the Week

I must say, I'm not that excited about our animal of the week. Last fall one of these was seen actually knocking at my back glass door taunting my westie. They give me the creeps but I'll give it a go on studying them and maybe seeing things from their point of view. Here is their fact sheet and activities. 

Enjoy!

West Highland Terrier - Animal of the Week

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, we are studying Westies! Because we love ours so much! If you'd rather not study Westies, choose your family's pet and get to know them a little better. Here is the fact sheet and activites for Westies. 

Enjoy!

Leopard - Animal of the Week

Onto Leopards! Here is the fact sheet and activities. You can also include Black Panthers in this because did you know, they are actually leopards but you can't see their spots because they are so dark?

Enjoy!

Groundhog - Animal of the Week

Groundhogs this week, of course! It's their day to shine so of course we'll be studying them this week. One thing we really want to know if what is with this whole shadow business? Here is the link to the facts and activities. 

Enjoy!

Meerkat - Animal of the Week

Meerkats! I loved watching Meerkat Manor.  Unfortunately, it is not available streaming on Netflix but I think I might rent an episode off of Amazon for the kids to watch. These creatures are so interesting, I think. 

Here is the fact sheet and activities. 

Enjoy!

Panda Bears - Animal of the Week

Pandas! I know more bears! But they are so adorable and interesting in their own special way. It should be noted, you cannot watch Kung Fu Panda all week and consider it studying Pandas. Try out the fact sheet and activities too.

Enjoy!

Sea Lions - Animal of the Week

Sea Lions are the Animal of the Week! These guys are super cute. Here is their fact sheet and activities. The craft is adorable this time. 
Enjoy!

Polar Bears - Animal of the Week

We are back from Christmas break! To celebrate the arrival of winter, we are starting with the Polar Bear. I found a ton of books at our local library on Polar Bears and a few DVDs as well. They are a pretty popular animal. 
Here is our fact sheet and activities for this week. 

At the library we found:
  

• Polar bears by Laura Marsh
• The practically perfect pajamas written and illustrated by Erik Brooks
• Polar bear math : learning about fractions from Klondike and Snow by Ann Whitehead Nagda and Cindy Bickel
• Little polar bear by Hans De Beer.
• The great polar bear adventure [videorecording (DVD)] 
• Arctic tale [videorecording (DVD)] 

There were also a few National Geographic Polar Bear shows on Netflix Streaming. 

Enjoy!

Caribou - Animal of the Week

The Animal of the Week is the Caribou...or Reindeer as they are otherwise known as. Get the printable info, coloring sheets, reading log, and craft here. 

These pretty animals do not commonly have red noses but they are pretty common in the northern region of North America. We hope to catch a few good Reindeer reads and make a nifty ornament all before we start CHRISTMAS BREAK!

Enjoy,