Showing posts with label elementary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elementary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elementary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elementary. Show all posts

Homeschooling During the Coronavirus?

School Closure Home Learning


Have you unexpectedly been tossed into the throes of homeschooling since the Corona virus pandemic? If you've suddenly had to to become the school teacher, cafeteria lady, and janitor during these school closures, you're well aware that home learning is more difficult than it looks. So, how do you do homeschooling during the coronavirus pandemic? As seasoned homeschoolers, we're here to help. Below is a list of our favorite homeschool resources and some articles specifically addressing these troubled times and how to help your kids cope. What a life lesson this is, right?

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

For more on our personal journey scroll to the end.


Homeschooling During the Coronavirus?



Worried how school closure and remote learning will affect your child? Love them, support them, build them up, and they'll be fine. Think homeschoolers are weird? Maybe, depends on your perspective, but we're more normal than you think. We only had 7 months of brick and mortar school, but our previously homeschooled kids made the best of their first year of brick and mortar school. They miss school so much. When this is all over your kids will look forward to going to school too! I've added a photo album for our long time readers and fans. Enjoy!


homeschool success stories
I love this post! We have a similar experience.
Keep scrolling to see our homeschoolers' success in public school!

Tips for Home Learning and Coping during School Closures and Covid19 




Coronavirus Memes Covid18 Memes Apocalypse
These are scary times, so here's a Coronavirus meme to lighten the mood.

Educational Resources for Homeschooling during the Coronavirus

  • Many of our older homeschool resources that target elementary students are listed in the homeschool tab on this site: Homeschool Learning Lessons for Elementary Age You can also do a search on our site for specific types of lessons like, grammar, math, and science.

  • BrainPop has the most fun videos; I love them as much as my kids do. BrainPopJr. is great for the younger set. They are a paid service, but offer a free movie of the week and other free lessons.


  • Mobymax has free options for remote learning and homeschoolers. The great thing about this website is they find and fix learning gaps. Kids can take assessments to see where they fall and then do educational activities based on their grade level in different subjects. It's a great way to see if your child has been falling through the cracks in public school.



  • Khan Academy is not for the faint of heart. If you're all in to the homeschooling thing, give it a try. We used it for several years. It's a free learning resource originally targeted toward middle schoolers and high schoolers, but now offers lessons for elementary too. It feels a lot more like "real school" than some of the other online options and keeps track of your progress and grade level.

  • Why not give this difficult time a fun spin? Our Summer Camp Handbook is edutainment at its best! Enjoy science experiments, PE Activities, and more disguised as fun! 

  • We also love CrashCourse with John and Hank Green. (Yes, that John Green!) You'll even find some of their lessons on Khan Academy. These are super fun, especially for older students.

Best Homeschool Blogs











First day of public school 2019.

We hope these resources help ease your mind and put you on the right track for remote home learning during the Coronavirus pandemic situation. Remember, homeschooling isn't easy and not all parents nor all kids are cut out for it. 



Bowling allows for socialization and physical activity. During the quarantine,
bowl with your game console or set up milk jugs to knock down with a basketball.

Do the best you can. Don't overdo it! If you take it too seriously, your kids won't enjoy it and neither will you. Make learning fun, make it light, and focus on those skills that are best learned at home: writing letters, sending emails, tying shoes, telling time, how to follow a recipe, chores (consider doing laundry a PE activity,) working on cars, putting together puzzles, dice games, Minecraft Uno or any Uno game, and anything that brings your family closer together.



Dress up day.

Note:
This past year, my kids decided to go back to public school. My 15 year-old was placed as a high learning junior taking all senior and college level courses, my 13 year-old is a well-rounded, straight A, school loving eighth grader. 

In previous years, we spent a maximum of 2 hours a day on book learning. The rest  of our day was focused on healthy outdoor activities, field trips to museums, special events at the library, and a local homeschool group for "socialization." Turns out, it was more than enough. 

Take it easy, don't stress out, and remember that YOU CAN DO IT!









Made the grade, first semester honor roll.


Never played football in his life. Made the team!


Loving the school band.

My son was looking forward to performing in the high school play, finishing building a home for Habitat for Humanity, trying out different sports and clubs, and now, that will have to wait until next year. My daughter was on an academic team, loving art club, playing in the school band, and appreciating school for its many wonderful opportunities. I took great pride and joy watching them try new things. My heart aches for their loss and for the loss of those long time public school seniors who are missing out on their last school dance, possibly graduation, and all the joys of being a high school senior. If nothing else, this experience will teach us not to take life for granted. 

Never forget, no matter how stressful it gets, getting to stay home with your kids is a gift.

Good Luck, go hug your kids!



How To Prepare Your Child For A Standardized Test

So, It's Time for a Standardized Test...

Standardized tests are a common strategy applied to gauge a student’s learning capability and the school’s or teacher’s performance. There is a common misconception about standardized tests among parents that these tests are designed to evaluate school performance and don’t necessarily judge students' abilities. 
However, standardized tests are an important part of a student's academic life. In some cases, standardized tests are essential for grade promotion, graduation, or even securing a driving license. As a parent, it is your duty to prepare your children for this test, so they can deliver their best.

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

How To Prepare Your Child For A Standardized Test
How To Prepare Your Child For A Standardized Testing: Relaxing the day before is always a good idea!

What Is a Standardized Test?
A standardized test is a testing system that is based on a standard approach. In standardized tests, the question is the same for everyone, the duration of the test is the same for everyone, and even the evaluation process of answers remains the same for every student. 
Independent school entrance examination (ISSE), California achievement test (CAT), Secondary School Admission Test  (SSAT), Preliminary scholastic aptitude test (PSAT), and General Educational Development test (GED) are some commonly-known standardized tests.

Why Standardized Tests Are Used?
A standardized test is a tool applied to evaluate the effectiveness of institutional practice.  It provides a uniform platform to measure the performance of schools and students. A standardized test can gather information about the state education system, a school program, or the performance of a single student. It helps to determine a student's strengths or weaknesses and to certify their ability.

Different Methods of Standardized Test
Standardized tests are designed to evaluate the aptitude of a student. Unlike the regular tests that measure the subject-specific knowledge, the standardized test evaluates creativity, verbal ability, abstract reasoning, and mechanical ability. There are different methods of standardized methods. The most common methods adopted by schools are true or false questions, multiple-choice questions, and essay questions.

What Should Your Child Bring to a Standardized Test?
There are different rules for different tests. If students are allowed a calculator, you should check whether the model is approved by the authority. If your calculator is not approved then you should check out a smart site with good reviews for buying another model of calculator. Pen, Pencils, watch, water, and other essentials should be with your child while attending a standardized test.

How Do You Prepare Your Child For Standardized Tests?
Parents can play an important role in preparing a child for a standardized test. There are a number of ways that you can take an active role in your child’s preparation for a test. Let’s read on to know more about them.

Know About the Test
Usually, teachers notify parents before a standardized test. You should know the purpose of the test and whether the result will affect your child or the school. Also, make sure you know the exact schedule of the test and whether you need to prepare your child for the test.
Communicate With Your Child
Communicate with your child about the test. Try to find out if he/she is prepared for it. If there is any area or subject that they are less than confident about, try to solve the issues with them. If necessary, go through the previous mistakes and review them. Practicing more will boost their confidence.
Build a Positive Mindset
A positive mindset can make a huge difference in test performance. As a parent, you should try to build up your child’s confidence. Try to convey the message that you are 100% confident about them. No matter how the result is, you would be glad if they try their best.
Go Through the Test Instructions
Review the test instructions with your child. Make clear how much time will be provided and how many questions are to be answered. Try to convey the importance of that particular test to your kid; it will instill a ‘can do’ attitude within them. Tell them they should try to answer all the questions, even if they are unsure about the answer, as it will build their confidence and critical thinking skills.
Follow a Healthy Routine
A good night's sleep can have a huge impact on test performance. Try to get your child to bed early so that she can be relaxed on the test day. Most of the time, students' bad performance on a test can be tied back to the reason they lacked a good sleep the night before. Also, follow healthy eating habits that will ensure your child’s physical well being.
Build a Relaxing Atmosphere on Test Day
On the test day, stay cheerful and relaxed. Make some nutritious breakfast that will provide stamina throughout the test. Avoid foods that can cause any digestive issues to your child. Overall, follow a regular routine that your child follows for any regular test. Give some words of encouragement to them, so they feel confident.
Debrief After the Test
After the test, go through the parts that were tough for your child. Talk to your child about how they feel about the test. Try to get an insight into how they dealt with the problems they faced. It will help them process her own strategies and do better the next time.

How to Deal With Pre Test Anxiety
Some students develop anxiety over facing a test. Needless to say, extreme anxiety should be treated so that it can't have any negative effect on the test. If your children feel anxious about the test, then you have to put things in perspective for them. Tell them no matter how they perform, you will be proud of them just for braving the test.
On a final note, while standardized tests are not high stake tests, they can have an impact on your child’s studies. So prepare for the tests on a regular basis by checking your child's homework and their study progress. Be an active part of their academic life, so she feels encouraged. Your involvement in their studies can make a big difference to both their academic performance and personal growth.

Recommended:

Pin it!

What is a Standardized Test? How do you Prepare your Child?
What is a Standardized Test? How do you Prepare your Child?


Helen Keller Lesson Plans Elementary Middle School

Helen Keller Activities and Printables

These Helen Keller activities and lesson plans focus on the senses. First watch this Brainpop video about Helen Keller or watch Disney's The Miracle Worker below. Then, do the fun activities to learn about Helen Keller's life. Keep scrolling to win a book about Helen Keller's life. Enjoy!



Helen Keller Lesson Plans Elementary Middle School
Helen Keller Lesson Plans Elementary Middle School.

Teachers: Here's a Helen Keller Lesson Plan for Elementary.





Health Component:
If you have a Brainpop password, you can also watch these videos on Hearing and Vision.

The Helen Keller Website is full of biographical information and interesting facts about Helen Keller.

Use this Braille Alphabet Printable as a guide to spell your name or the name of a famous person with candy dots. Glue the dots to a piece of paper in the braille patterns and have your partner "read" them with only their sense of touch.


I am Helen Keller by Brad Meltzer: Companion book for Helen Keller lesson.

Need a Helen Keller biography? This book from, The Ordianry People Can Change the World, series is the perfect companion book for kids of all ages. Keep scrolling to win your own copy.

We can all be heroes. That’s the inspiring message of the biography series from historian and author Brad Meltzer. This book tells the story from the point of view of a child Helen Keller.

When Helen Keller was very young, she got a rare disease that made her deaf and blind. Suddenly, she couldn't see or hear at all, and it was hard for her to communicate with anyone. But when she was six years old, she met someone who change her life forever: her teacher, Annie Sullivan. With Miss Sullivan's help, Helen learned how to speak sign language and read Braille. Armed with the ability to express herself, Helen grew up to be come a social activist, leading the fight for people with disabilities and so many other causes.

After reading the story and watching the videos print out this Helen Keller Worksheet Printable from Scholastics and complete the anwsers.

Fun Activity: Use Your Senses the Alabama Quarter from the U.S. Mint. Guess who is on the back of the Alabama quarter.

Click the link below for a printable worksheet for a What's in the Bag activity about the senses. You will need headphones or ear plugs, a blindfold, and a paper bag full of various items.

Working with a partner, find small items to fill up the bag. Each person fills a bag keeping the contents secret from their partner.

Then, take turns with the headphones and blindfold to see what's in the bag with only the sense of touch and the sense of smell.

Free Printable PDF Quarter Senses Activity: What's in the Bag?

Helen Keller Quotes

Learn Sign Language Alphabet Video





Recommended:

Helen Keller Quote Printable

Martin Luther King Lesson

Abraham Lincoln Activity

Get, I am Helen Keller Book*

Famous Women in History: Ameila Earhart Lesson


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ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products. *We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)



6 Froggy Birthday Party Ideas for Book Lovers

Celebrate Froggy's Birthday with these 6 Fun Ideas

In honor of Jonathan London's newest Froggy book, which was released March 10, 2015, we're sharing 6 froggy birthday party ideas for book lovers. Feel free to share your own frog theme birthday ideas too. Enjoy!



Froggy's Birthday Wish by Jonathan London.

Froggy's Birthday Wish
Froggy is celebrating a birthday. He gets lots of wonderful, exciting presents, but he isn't happy. He wants something else. Finally, Froggy's mother shows him her present. Now Froggy is happy!

This book is fun to read in a classroom setting for a birthday celebration. You might like this fun birthday cake craft to go along with the story.

Birthday Cake Craft
Birthday Cake Craft.
Another fun birthday activity is to make your own Pinata from construction paper and a cardboard tube. Froggy had a moon pinata, but we're making a traditional donkey pinata. This mini pinata is perfect as a party favor or place setting decoration. Just fill with your favorite candy or treats.

How to make a donkey pinata party favor.
How to make a donkey pinata party favor.
You will need: construction paper, scissors, paste, 2 cardboard toilet roll tubes or 1 cardboard paper towel tube, and tape.

To make a donkey pinata birthday party favor:

Cut 1/2" strips of your favorite colors of construction paper. Use tape to attach to the base of the tube (torso) as seen in figure 1. Wrap until the cardboard tube is covered and tape to attach the end. Next, cut 1/4 of the other cardboard tube. This will be the head (see figure 2). Cut four 1/2" slits, 1/4" apart on one end of the head. This will allow you to connect the head to the end of the other tube. Leave the two center slits to attach the ears. With the leftover piece of the cardboard tube, cut two ears as shown in figure 3. Slide the ears into the center slits and then slide the outer slits onto the end of the other tube as shown in figure 4.

Next, wrap the head and ears just like the torso portion. Now, cut small strips and glue to cover the donkey until it looks like a real pinata as seen in figure 5. Cut two 2" wide strips of paper. Wrap one into a link, tape the ends, and stick into the head. This will be the nose. When complete, use construction paper to make a mouth. Use the other one on the other end- this will keep the candy in place. Finally, cut eyes out of construction paper and attach.

Congrats! You've made a mini pinata party favor. Breathe a sigh of relief... yep, it was harder than we thought it would be too, but if you are relaxing watching television you can knock several out in an hour. Practice makes perfect!

Froggy's Worst Play Date by Jonathan London.


Froggy's Worst Play Date
Froggy wants to go out to play, but all of his friends are busy. Good news! Mom has set up a playdate with Frogelina. He has to watch the Frog Prince. At the movie, they eat popcorn and have a food fight! In the end, Frogelina steals a kiss from her froggy prince!

Have you ever tried this movie popcorn trick?

Do you know the trick to eating popcorn?
This little girl doesn't know the trick! At your next birthday party, amaze your friends with magic. Did you know movie popcorn will jump on your tongue? Yep, all you have to do is stick your tongue out over a bowl of popcorn and Voila! The popcorn attaches to your tongue! Try this with our homemade microwave popcorn.

Fun Popcorn Recipe for a Birthday Snack

This is an fun alternative to Brown Sugar Pop Tarts.

Cinnamon Brown Sugar Popcorn

6 Cups Plain, Unsalted Microwave Popcorn (see recipe above)

¼ Cup Amish Country Buttery Popcorn Topping

¾ Tsp. Ground Cinnamon

¼ Cup Brown Sugar


Pour butter into paper popcorn bag and shake to mix. Add brown sugar and cinnamon, and shake bag again. Enjoy.


What else can you do with popcorn? Things to do with popcorn.

To celebrate the book, make a Frog Prince Puppet. Here's a similar frog puppet pattern and how to from DLTK. We used a mini paper plate and styled our puppet to look like Froggy! If you want, add a yellow crown to make a frog prince.

frog puppet pattern birthday party activity
Frog puppet for Froggy's Worse Playdate theme birthday party.
 You will need: mini paper plates, paint or markers, scissors, tape, and construction paper.

Froggy's Best Babysitter
Froggy's parents are celebrating their 10th anniversary. Froggy has to stay home with his baby sister and a baby sitter. Froggy makes lots of messes, and he plays in the bathtub with his baby sister.

Froggy's Best Babysitter by Jonathan London.

As a companion craft for this book, and a fun activity for your frog theme birthday party, you might like to make a froggy pond sensory play bin like this one from Growing a Jeweled Rose.


froggy birthday party activities for toddlers
A froggy sensory play bin, like this one from Growing a Jeweled Rose,
 is a fun birthday party activity for toddlers.

Have you enjoyed these books and companion birthday activities for book lovers? Are you ready to plan your own frog themed birthday party? 

Recommended Reading:

Birthday Party Activities and Ideas

Ladybug Picnic Party Activities

Froggy Birthday Party Supplies:

Kiss The Frog Party Game *

Froggy Birthday Party Kit - 32 Person*









ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)


3 Easter theme Physical Education Activities for Elementary Kids using Eggs

Want to add an Easter theme to homeschool physical education activities for elementary school age kids


Use plastic eggs and egg cartons in the games. To make a fun preschool activity or silly Easter party game add some bunny ears. These 3 games work for a kid's birthday party  and are fun to play in Sunday School at church. We also have a fun pe game for Easter. Enjoy!





Games: 3 Easter theme Physical Education Activities for Elementary Kids using Eggs
Plastic Easter Egg Games and Activities for PE/Gym.
Easter Egg Pockets Game                                                   
You need:  egg carton, markers, plastic Easter eggs, and 1 or more players.

How to play game: Any size egg carton will do, but cardboard egg cartons are easier to color with markers than styrofoam ones.


Cut lid off carton. Color each pocket a different color. Write a point value in each pocket. The points should be in increments of 10. So, if you want to use an egg carton with 8 pockets, the point values would be 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80. The larger point values should be in the pockets around the outside edges, since these are harder to get the ping pong ball into.

Place the your egg carton on the floor. Stand about four feet back from the carton. To make it harder you can stand even further back.

Now, try to toss a plastic Easter egg into one of the pockets. Where the egg lands is the number of points you get. Then, the next player takes a turn. The first one to reach a score of 100 is the winner!



Easter Egg Pass Game
You need: Plastic Eggs, Large Spoons, and an Easter Basket.

How to play game: Each player needs a large ladle or spoon. Each group of two players needs a plastic Easter egg. Player one starts with the egg balanced on his spoon. He tosses it to the other player, who in turn catches the egg in his spoon. The object of this game is to pass the ball back and forth without dropping it off the spoons. 


With a larger group of children, at a kid's birthday party, you can play a variation of this game by dividing in half and lining everyone up into a single file line and asking them to pass the egg down. 


When a whistle blows or you say, "On your mark, get set, go" the race begins and the egg is passed from spoon to spoon until it gets to the person at the end of the line. If the egg is dropped the team must start over. 


The last person drops the egg into an Easter basket at the end of the line to win. Or, try this variation: The fastest team wins or give each team an equal number of eggs and a time limit. When you blow the whistle, everyone must freeze. The team with the most eggs in their Easter basket wins.


In My Easter Bonnet Game

You need: Plastic Eggs, Easter Basket, 1 Easter Bonnet (Make one here) and enough bunny ears for all players.

How to play game: Before the game begins mark one of the plastic eggs with a tiny bunny face. For a preschool or Sunday school class let the kids make their own ears and bonnets beforehand.


Everyone sits in a circle like Duck, Duck, Goose only everyone is wearing bunny ears (Don't worry it is fun for older kids too). Place the basket of eggs with the bonnet in the center of the circle. One player is chosen to hop around the circle like a bunny. He chooses another player by tapping him on the shoulder. The second player, places his hands on the firsts shoulder (like a train) and they continue to hop around the circle adding to their bunny hop. The last player sitting grabs the basket and the bonnet. 


The bunny train circles him and then sits down. The player with the basket passes 1 egg to each of the other players. The player with the bunny egg must trade his ears for the bonnet. 


Now, the eggs are placed back into the basket, and everyone wearing bunny ears forms a new circle around the basket of eggs. The player in the Easter bonnet is now "it". This player must twirl around the circle and tap another player on the shoulder to twirl with him until all but one player remains again.


Play continues as before, and the person who gets the bunny eggs must trade his ears for the bonnet. Play continues until everyone has a chance to be "it".


If you can find the music for the Bunny Hop and Easter Bonnet songs, play them during the game to make it more festive :)



Recommended Reading:


Holiday Recipes and Games for Kids*

Egg Hunt Game for Physical Education

The Ultimate Homeschool Physical Education Game Book: Fun and Easy-To-Use Games and Activities To Help You Teach Your Children Fitness, Movement and Sport Skills*



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ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)


Make Your Own Storybook Block Puzzle: Recycle, Repurpose, Reuse_Little Golden Books

Learn How to Make a Storybook Puzzle from Old Blocks

In this addition of, Things to Make at Home, we recycle children's books. Your kids' story books can grow up with them. Use those old foam baby blocks and worn out Little Golden Books to make a fun puzzle for the kids. The pages trim to fit a 3x3 block pattern. Enjoy!


How to make a storybook block puzzle

Recycle old books into puzzles and toys for children.

Use glue to adhere the pages to the aligned blocks.
Let dry completely- up to an hour.
Trust me, patience is not only a virtue but a requirement.
If you don't wait for it to dry, it will turn into a disaster.

When the first page is dry, take an Exact-o knife and cut through the block seams.







Cutting through the paper.

Once row is separated flip it, and align again.

Repeat until all side are covered. 
Don't worry if the paper edges aren't even.











Things to Make at Home

Trim the paper edges after each paste.


story block 6 sided puzzle

Completed Story Block.


Turn you old books into 6 sided puzzles

Blocks are ready to Modge Podge, let set, and play!

Some blocks stuck to the board and ripped, but this is easily repaired in the final step with the Modge Podge. Even if some of the image is removed, it still makes a nice picture. If you're stuck on perfection you can take an extra step and cut the squares out before pasting to the blocks. If you cut them out individually, make them slightly smaller than the face of the block. This leaves a nice outline around each image and gives the puzzle a more professional feel when complete.


Recommended Reading:

Recycle Scrabble Games

Recycle Plastic Bottles

Recycle!: A Handbook for Kids by Gail Gibbons*











ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)