Just some ideas to be used as story starts or conversation starts. I use these with our autistic when we need to build on some discussion ideas or vocabulary, but they can come in handy for many other things and are handy kept right in a 3x5 or 4x6 card box. Using old magazines, cut out different pictures. It could be anything, be sure to check old children's magazines, if you have been doing any spring/summer cleaning, this is a handy way to get a little more out of those magazines before throwing them away. Some magazines have little riddles for kids, you can add additional questions on the back of the card. Others use "find it" type pictures and you can do the same by finding a few normal items in an ordinary picture, list items to find on the back of the card. Here are some examples since I still don't have a scanner or good camera to flip pictures onto this old computer of mine: (First is a description of the picture--Then, questions I wrote on the back of the card to encourage speech or writing.)
1)a boy on a dirt bike, wearing a helmet, muddied up, looking scared to death while racing--What is he thinking? What is happening? What is that? (bike) Do you have one? Is he having fun? What is on his leg? (dirt)
2)baby crawling across a floor with mom following behind, it's a view from above (I think it was a carpet ad or something)--What is happening? Where are they? Where are they going? Is it winter or summer? (baby is in a diaper only & no shirt)
3) adult woman, teen boy, and younger boy sitting on a beach with wind blowing their hair, waves splashing the beach in the background, everyone is wearing jackets--Where are they? Have you been to the beach? Is it hot? Who are they? What might they be talking about? What could they be looking at? (they are facing away from the water)
4)young girl showing the sign language symbol for "I love you" with her hand-- Do you know what hand sign she is making? ("I love you") Can you make that sign? Do you know any sign language? Why do we use sign language?
5) picture of two children, one boy and one girl, raising one leg off the floor, I did cut around them completely and "laid" them down on the long side of the card for the illusion that they could be walking funny if you just glanced at the picture from a different angle--(On the back of the card I noted that they are indeed lying on their backs) What are they doing? Do you stretch and exercise? Is it fun? (I think this one was actually a tennis shoe ad)
6) a monkey holding onto a woman's neck, she is smiling, all you see is head shot only with her hand holding onto the monkey--What is she thinking? What is that? Do you like them?
7) a young boy looking at an older woman who is smiling at him (I think this was a tutoring/reading ad where the woman does look pleased with the boy and he looks proud of himself)--What are they doing? Who are they? Who reads to you? What is she wearing? (glasses)
8)Toddler girl standing in a bathroom with her hands raised in the air and an adult woman sitting on the floor next to her with hands also raised, there is a training potty next to the girl, she is wearing a shirt, pull-up and socks--Who are they? What are they doing? Where are they? What is behind the woman? (the big toilet) Do you like her socks?
I think you get the idea. The above grouping I call "Observance cards" and they have helped to start wonderful discussions. Another option is what I call "Question Cards" and here are a few examples of that type:
1)baby held in one adult hand while lying on his tummy as if flying, baby is grinning widely--Who's hand is holding? Is he/she sad or happy? Is it hot or cold? Did you play like that? With who? Do you like to "fly" like this?
2) two boys wearing strawberry decorated aprons with boxes of strawberries stacked high behind them, one is holding an open box of fresh strawberries and looking right at the camera with a smile--Who are they? What are they holding? What is on his face? (he has a strawberry painted on one cheek) Do you like strawberries? How do you eat them? With sugar? Whipped cream? In pie? Shortcake?
3)A cartoon of three men dressed as cowboys in cowboy hats and one horse at the edge of the picture showing teeth as if smiling, one cowboy is tipping his hat and saying "howdy partners"--Who are they? What might they be talking about? What do cowboys do? What are they wearing? (boots, spurs, rope, hats) Have you ever seen a horse? Ridden one?
4)two cartoon monkeys dancing around on grass--What are these? What are they doing? Are they happy? Can you dance like that? Why are they dancing?
5) picture of a dog with eyes bugging out of his head, obviously touched up for dramatic effect, mouth open a little showing teeth, ears set outward as if ready for anything--What do you see? What is wrong? What might he be thinking? What might have happened?
Now for some pointers, this last card was great for open ended discussion. A child might say the dog saw a cat run by, or his owner is out of food for him, or he just found out that his wife dog is going to have babies. Kids can come up with anything! The trick for you is to leave things open ended. YOU don't necessarily know what is happening in these pictures either. Is the woman in the picture the mom or the aunt, or a family friend? Who knows. It doesn't matter. Is something good happening or bad? Discussion can be so crucial for so many children. If you can get them talking about something totally off the normal day, you might hear about something you never knew was a problem. It enables you to sometimes deal with some things that you never thought were an issue for you or your family. I have used sports pictures and had a child comment on someone cheating and how we should deal with it. Comments have arisen about split families or step families that are blending together. And for writing? These are handy for all ages. Hand a card like this to your high school student and tell them to write a two page story around the picture. You may be surprised at the creativity that can be sparked.
Pictures can be obtained from so many places. You can also pick up great ideas from Super Duper publications and the many flash cards that they make, particularly for speech activities. Once you get to thinking about the many options, you can spot pictures and cut them out easily. For younger students it might just be about observation cards. I have used these for the simple task of "Look at this card for 30 seconds" then take it away and have the child write down or tell you everything they can remember in the picture. Recall practice! So many options for not much money. The price of some 4x6 and or 3x5 cards to glue your cut out pictures onto.
I hope these ideas get you started on some handy helpers in your homeschool. You won't feel half so guilty about throwing away those old magazines after you have cut them all up and kept parts to be used for school!!!
Truly hope that you are all having a wonderful start to the school year. Let me know if these ideas come in handy for you, I'd love to hear a comment or two. | 
Too much "life" I suppose. I guess I will actually have to put this on my schedule to be sure I check in every now and then. Two more days until my baby boy turns a year old!!! 
I am amazed at how quickly the year has gone. Even though he is our fourth, it still shocks me how fast they grow. It sure is fun discussing with the kids how we were still waiting for his arrival a year ago! I pray that God continues to bless us with children. I am so sorry it took us so many years to realize that we should have been leaving it all in His hands instead of interfering. I love kids, they are so great!!!
Boxes of pictures is an understatement in this house, I have so many albums to get working on. Last year, for our oldest's graduation, I put together two science sized presentation boards with pictures of her through the years, certificates and awards, pictures of friends and activities, birthdays, etc. I still have those boards waiting to be copied out and taken apart. I actually pulled some of the pictures from some existing albums, so I really need to get those pictures back where they belong. 
I was going to completely take the boards apart, but I think now that I will just photocopy the pictures and put the copies back onto the board, and then store them away to show my grandchildren some day. I also need to be sure to get more pictures of my other kids with their homeschool work. This is such a learning process, trying to remember to do everything as they all grow up. I can hardly wait for the oldest to get back home from college, I miss her so. The family just seems incomplete while she is away. 
I hope we can keep this family close, even as they leave home.
