Well, here's a post I started way back in May about what I planned to do to keep the kids busy (educationally) this summer.  Sadly, as summer break is winding up, I'm just now getting around to posting about it.  Oh well, the idea may come in handy for someone sooner or later........ 

Summer break has officially begun for us, but that doesn't mean there's nothing to do.  Have you ever met a bored child in the summer?  That's one of the worst types of children to be around!  :)  Children homeschooled Charlotte Mason-style are usually good at keeping themselves busy, but I have a trick up my sleeve for those inevitable times when the kids need an idea or two for fun on their own.

I've posted before about summer ideas here, here and here.  This year, I've been gathering fun things and hoarding them away in a box that I'm calling the Super Sensational Summer Sparks box. 

I've found cheap experiment sets, art/craft books, manipulatives and such at curriculum and yard sales that I've stashed away.  I've also pulled out some things that have been sitting on the shelves for a while that will seem like new. 

One or two afternoons a week, I'll let them browse through the box for an activity.  The box will be off limits the rest of the time so it will seem like a treasure chest waiting to be explored.  Or at least I hope it will.  As the box is emptied, I'll fill it again with new items.  I'm even thinking of adding things like a baggie of ingredients for playdough, a box of shells with a magnifying glass, a bag of water balloons.  Things I already have around the house.  I have a feeling that finding these things in the Super Sensational Summer Sparks Box is going to be much more fun than if I just say, "How about making some playdough today?"

Have you ever seen Preschool Activities in a Bag?  If you have preschoolers, this is a great resource!! 

Several moms from co-op each chose an activity an month or so ago.  We made nine of the activity we chose then had an activity bag exchange this week.  Here's a peek at the wonderful activities waiting for Eli when he's just a tad older!! 

Loved this!  We'll be doing the same thing (or something similar) next year. 

I love Discovering Great Artists!  I've used it in our home and in a co-op art class.  This lesson came from the book.   

Albrecht Durer did paintings, watercolors, drawing and woodcuts.  We tried our hand at woodblock printing, which was one of Durer's specialties.  You take wood blocks and hammer metal objects into the wood to make impressions.  Then you use brayers to roll ink over the blocks to make prints.  One of Durer's famous pieces of art using this technique is called "Rhinoscerous".  Our works of wood printing aren't quite to Durer's level yet!  :)

For the rest of the month, a printing center will be out in the schoolroom.    I've included a book with a bio about Durer, sponges, rubber stamps, foam for creating their own stamps, various other objects to print with - cars, leaves, forks, tooth brushes - and paint. 

Here's the newest summer center at our house - Birds!

The box of books on the right includes nonfiction books about all sorts of birds - everything from birds we see around here to penguins to toucans.  I've also included some really good children's literature that have birds as characters - Make Way For Ducklings, Angelo, and The Raft to name a few.   

The books laying out are bird identification and drawing guides.  These will be used with their nature notebooks as they go bird watching.  That just reminded me, I need to set out binoculars.  I'll do a post soon about the nature notebooks.  I just love these!  (Ignore the toes in the picture!)  :)

I found the little birdhouses at The Dollar Tree for..........$1.00!  I've also set out a bird memory game and some bird activity sheets that I found in Considering God's Creation.  Finally, the game in the back on the left is really pushing it to fit into the bird theme.  It's a spelling game with bird pictures on the back of the cards!  Ha Ha!  Whatever works, right?

Here's the latest summer center at our house.  The topic for the next couple of weeks is the good ol' USA! 

I've included a few library books, a book on tape, 4th of July/American history songs, The 50 Great States Game, The Game of the States, a US puzzle, a magnetic states puzzle, a red,white & blue chemistry experiment set, picture timeline cards of some famous US events of the 20th century, and some patriotic stickers.

Behind the scenes:  Everything on the table (almost) was under $1.00 or free!  I've told you many times before how much I love curriculum sales, yard sales and Goodwill.  Well, when I find something cheap, I usually buy it.  When I decide on a theme for my center, I go on a treasure hunt around the house to see what goes with the theme.  Even the star fabric was 1/4 yard of  $1.00/yd fabric = 25 cents!  The only thing I paid "real money" for was the experiment set.  I bought Mahayla a few fun sets from Home Science Tools last Christmas.  You wouldn't believe how much fun I have putting these together!  It's okay to call me a nerd!

Today’s my last Tip of the Day blog.  How quickly May has flown by!  I’ve so much enjoyed spending this month on The Front Porch!  Thank you for the opportunity Tia and HomeschoolBlogger! 

Today’s tip has been inspired by another blogger whose writings I have recently had the joy of reading.  By Sun and Candlelight creates such a warm and inviting learning environment for her children!  For each new thing they study, she sets up a lovely display to peak the interest of her boys.  Yes, boys.  Yes, lovely displays.  I think it’s marvelous that she’s helping her boys to appreciate beauty, too.  Here’s a picture of one of her displays.

Whether it’s a unit, a special holiday, someone’s birthday or just something you want to do to peak your children’s interest in a certain subject, think about creating a special place in your home to create a buzz of inquisitiveness for your children.

Here are some examples:

Bird Notebooking – Set up a little table in front of a window where you’ve placed a birdfeeder.  On the table, place a few bird info books and how-to-draw books on the table.  Include a basket full of colored pencils and drawing paper.  If you happen to have any bird stuffed animals, crafts, stencils, little birds used by crafters, or anything else to do with birds – set them on, under or around the table.  Place a couple of cozy chairs or pillows near the window to encourage bird watching.

See what I mean.  Very inviting, yet very gentle nudging.  You’re lighting the spark that will get their fires going!

Fourth of July – Cover the table with a piece of cheap patriotic fabric as a table cloth.  Place a flag in the middle of the table, along with a few books about the 4^th, some red, white & blue crafting supplies in a basket, and maybe a handmade poster of The Pledge of Allegiance taped to the wall behind the table.  On the fourth, you might place a lovely plate of sugar cookies on the table to be decorated and eaten after singing some patriotic songs.  How about some sparklers sitting in a vase that they get to use later that night?

The sky is the limit!  These little displays do take some planning by Mom, but what a reward for your efforts when your children run down the hall to see just what Mom may have done with “the” table today!

Here’s my first go at a learning display.

The topic is Insects – I’ve placed some bumblebee fabric (that I already had) on the table.  I’ve included a bowl of plastic bugs, some insect books (nonfiction and fiction), a bug box with built in magnifier, sketchbooks and colored pencils, insect life cycle cards (handmade from internet photocopies), bug stickers and some fun reproducibles I found on the internet (bug masks and word searches). 

Since we’re not really “schooling” right now, I’m using this table as more of an exploration center for the time being.  I’ll probably change a few of the current items out in a couple of days.  Maybe adding the Cootie game, some playdough for bug sculpting, some insect coloring/labeling sheets and a self-explanatory experiment.

In two days’ time, my children have LOVED this display and have soaked up every book and goody I’ve put out.  I’m off to plan more displays………..

If you make/have made one, would you mind posting your topic and what you included in the display?  I'd love your ideas!

Related Tags: homeschool, learning displays

If you're anything like me, art tends to take somewhat of a back seat to other subjects during the school year.  So, I've decided to make an art center that will stay around all summer long!  

I plan to fill it with all sorts of goodies, but only a few at a time.  I'll change out the supplies every week or two to keep the center fresh and exciting.  I'll also check out a couple of books on a new artist every couple of weeks to put in the center, too.  

The center is in my kitchen (where we spend a lot of time!), with an old sheet underneath.  There's plenty of wall space for the artists to display their work, too! 

Here's what the first week's table looks like - a Picasso book, colorful clay, tie-dye kit, oil pastels and plenty of paper.  I picked really colorful supplies because Picasso used lots of bright color in his art.

I don't know what other artists I'll spotlight, but here's a list of supplies I have on hand to use throughout the summer:  watercolors, acrylic paints, sponges, food coloring, paint pens, marbling kit, markers, crayons, colored pencils, toothbrushes, pastels, charcoal, face paints, craft scissors, foam shapes, foam sheets, glitter glues, fabric, scrapbook paper, construction paper, pipe cleaners, wood shapes, wood scraps, beads, yarn, brayers, colored sand, sequins, feathers, old cards, old magazines, sculpey clay, glitter, goodly eyes, pom poms, stickers, tissue paper, ribbon, styrofoam.......

Remember to keep an eye out for some of these things at yard sales and Goodwill!  I stock up on many things in July at the Back-to-School sales.  I also use a lot of recyclables.

Whether young or old, I think all ages can benefit from an art center.  Even if you school year 'round, you could easily incorporate this sort of center into your regular schedule.   Personally, a summer's worth of art in my kitchen will be enough!  Until next summer, that is.

 Related Tags: homeschool, summer, art, crafts, artists