Curriculum Share

Cosmic Kids Yoga

Today I would like to tell you about this awesome YouTube channel suggested to me by a friend. After I had 2 doctors tell me to try to try out yoga I decided I should follow their advice. The hard part was where do I start? How do I find a good yoga program that will work for my family?  I decided to include the kids because I knew it would make me stick with it. After all everything I do is ultimately for them. Being healthy is also part of that.

I did the normal thing where you ask friends first. I had a few offers of what to use and DVDs that friends would loan to us. We tried a few DVDs that were intended for adults first. The kids complained alot and didn’t seem to enjoy it at all. I really needed them to want to do it even if I thought it was silly. A friend suggested Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube.

I figured what can it hurt to give it a try. So we did. The kids had a blast. Cosmic Kids Yoga is a channel that uses stories to get kids to do yoga. The kids would ask “Mom, are you sure we are doing yoga?” They would really get into the stories and movements (yoga poses). Even Pooh and Baby Kermit will join in. I made a plan to do yoga 3 times a week for 30-45 minutes. Thanks to Cosmic Kids we have been able to stick to that plan.

So why should you try Cosmic Kids?

1. It can fulfill any PE requirements. In DC we are required to do something for Physical Education. Last year we used Easy Peasy. This year we will be dong yoga.
2. It can be done no matter the weather. Because Cosmic Kids Yoga is a YouTube channel we are still able to exercise if its hot or raining outside.
3. It’s a great way to let kids use their imaginations. There are minimal amount of special effects. Most of the time you are listening to the story and doing the poses. The kids have to use there imagination to really get into the story.
4. It’s fun. The kids all have their favorite episodes already. Pippi love Nelson the Pigeon. Jem’s favorite is Mimi the Mermaid. Bubbles always wants to do Marv the Metal Detective. Duke loves Squish the fish. Pooh’s favorite is Tiny the T-Rex. and Baby Kermit had fun doing  Pedro the Penguin.

I hope at least some of you will give it a try. I would love to hear what your kiddos favorites are. Happy Yogaing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Homeschool Resources: The Sequel

Food fun for kids

http://homeschoolgiveaways.com/2016/02/free-printable-kids-culinary-passport/

http://www.nourishinteractive.com

http://www.healthyeating.org/Healthy-Kids/Kids-Games-Activities.aspx

http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2012/08/27-ways-for-kids-to-play-with-food.html

http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/recipes/

https://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/resource-library/food-safety/food-safety-games-and-activities

 

Science
http://www.theyoungscientistsclub.com/themagicschoolbus/

https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtOAKed_MxxWBNaPno5h3Zs8

https://sciencebob.com/category/experiments/

http://www.sciencefun.org/kidszone/experiments/

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/lessonplans.html

https://kids.usa.gov/teachers/lesson-plans/science/index.shtml

 

Blogs/ articles

http://faithfilledparentin.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&chash=aab3238922bcc25a6f606eb525ffdc56.28

http://www.largefamiliesonpurpose.com

http://www.setonmagazine.com/latest-articles/bought-restaurant-homeschooling

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/a-dad-is-not-a-babysitter-or-a-helper_b_8911878.html

http://www.theuglyvolvo.com/games-to-play-with-your-child-in-which-you-barely-have-to-move-or-talk/

http://www.sheknows.com/parenting/articles/988923/tips-to-make-homeschool-fun

http://www.homeschooloasis.com/art_ideas_for_prac_real-life_hsing.htm

 

Reading incentive programs

http://www.bookitprogram.com

http://www.bookadventure.com/Home.aspx

http://www.braums.com/book-buddy/

http://www.chuckecheese.com/deals-offers/rewards-calendars

https://feedback.sixflags.com/rts/default.aspx

 

Art

http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/classroom_resources/curricula/impressionism/lesson01.html

http://www.kinderart.com

http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/education/kids.html

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/students/explore_by_topic/everything_art.html

https://kids.usa.gov/teachers/lesson-plans/art/index.shtml

http://theteachersguide.bmobilized.com/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theteachersguide.com%2FArtlessonplans.html

http://www.crayola.com/lesson-plans/k-12/social-studies-lesson-plans/

 

Music

http://musicinourhomeschool.com/2016/01/18/top-10-musicals-to-watch-with-younger-kids-day-18/

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/862267639/hoffman-academy-online-piano-lessons-for-everyone

http://lessonplanspage.com/music/elementary-school/

https://www.teachervision.com/music/lesson-plan/54321.html

http://makingmusicfun.net/htm/mmf_music_library_the_lesson_zone_index.htm

 

English
http://lifeofahomeschoolmom.com/2016/01/free-sight-word-slap-game/

http://lifeofahomeschoolmom.com/2016/01/free-phonics-assessment-printable/

http://www.vocabulary.co.il/literature-games/

https://www.teachervision.com/reading-and-language-arts/games/5831.html

http://powermylearning.org/learn/what-we-do/learning-games-activities/language-arts-english/

http://www.familylearning.org.uk/phonics_games.html

http://www.softschools.com/language_arts/phonics/

http://www.readingrockets.org

 

Social Studies 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_E2CNZIlVIg

http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/LPview.cgi?core=4

http://theteachersguide.bmobilized.com/?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theteachersguide.com%2Fsocialstudies.html

http://www.doe.k12.de.us/Page/2544

http://www.softschools.com/social_studies/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/interactive/games/

 

Math

http://creeksidelearning.com/multiplication-games/

http://www.arcademics.com

http://www.homeschoolmath.net

http://cathyduffyreviews.com/math/math-index.htm

http://www.homeschoolingheartsandminds.com/2013/04/46-free-homeschool-math-resources.html

http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/free-curriculum/Math.html

http://get.ixl.com/math/?gclid=CNCXmOKuxssCFYE8gQodgFMFOw

 

Misc.

http://frugalfun4boys.com/2015/08/30/lego-brain-puzzles/

https://www.youtube.com/user/watchfreeschool

http://www.amazon.com/The-Read-Aloud-Handbook-Sixth-Edition/dp/0143037390

http://www.amazon.com/The-Well-Trained-Mind-Classical-Education/dp/0393067084

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802403476/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_2?pf_rd_p=1944687462&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=080241270X&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1WJ7GFB1Q69NH806YMY6

http://www.christianbook.com/?kw=christianbook%20.com&mt=b&dv=t&event=PPCSRC&p=1165907&gclid=CNbs8rqxxssCFcQjgQod2-EN_A

http://www.education.com/games/

100 Day activites-2016

You did it! You finally reached 100 days. Now what? How do you celebrate only technically having 80 days of school left? Here are some ways we will be celebrating this year. We use a combination of fun worksheets and activities.The best place to find these is on my pinterest.

The other thing we have done in the past is go with a theme. One year we used only books with 100 in the title. You can check out Scholastics: Teaching With Favorite 100th Day of School Books by Joan Novelli .  We have also celebrated 101 instead using the 101 Dalmatians as a theme. This year I have had a hard time choosing between sweet or savory snacks and treats. The sweet treats seem to have more variety of activities so I have decided to go with that plus who doesn’t like the opportunity to snack.

Here is an example of a lesson plan from a couple of years ago:

100 Day of School
Verbal Discussion Start:
• What was your favorite part of the last 100 school days?
• What was your least favorite part of the last 100 school days?
• What do you look forward to for the remaining 80 days of school?
Math
Secret Message Cryptogram
Heads or Tails? Make a prediction how many times a coin will land heads/tails up, flip the coin 100 times, and record the results.
Tally Marks game: Each takes a turn rolling a die, marking the number rolled on the mat, first to 100 wins. (Maybe alternate between using one die and two dice to speed things up)
English
Name Patterns: Write name repeatedly until all blocks are filled, color each letter the same (e.g., all F’s red) and describe the pattern.
Writing prompt: What would you do with a $100? (Buy, save, give, or a combination)
Word create: Create as many words from “One hundred days of school”
Reading: Taking turns (every paragraph or so) reading out loud from a book, until at least a 100 words have been read (probably be easier to count the words ahead of time).
Art
Create something (animal, building, etc) using 100 lego blocks. Count them first, swap out pieces if needed but it has be 100 blocks.
Science
Grow yeast

Music
Practice a Christmas song on the recorder 15 min

This year of course we did things differently. I put the kids into two teams. Duke and Bubbles were captains. Team Incredible was Duke, Pooh, and Jem. Team Nerd was Bubbles, Baby Kermit, and Pippi. Teams seem to make things a little easier. The girls don’t need much help but the boys need a lot. I tried to find a variety of activities. You know a little English, math, and science. You can find these worksheets/activities and more on my Pinterest account. The kids favorite part was making our 100 day snack. 10 different yummy snacks put together to make 100.

The March for Life fell on the same day as 100 day. We did not go to the March as George was working weird hours and the impending blizzard coming. The kids were excited to get more snow. The snow we had the Sunday before just wasn’t enough. Anyways, in support of the March for Life some friends as well as us walked around our neighborhoods. Some with signs and some with baby dolls. It was a nice walk before the snow started to fall. Pippi and Jem both understand why we support the March for Life. We also watched some of the March on EWTN. It was well attended even with the threat of the blizzard. It’s hard to believe we will be living somewhere else this time next year but it’s true. Our adventure in the National Capital Region will be ending later this year. Until then we will be doing our best to explore as much as we can. Have an amazing week!

If you would like me to share my thoughts on being Prolife please comment or email me at adventureswisix@gmail.com

 

 

Most Useful Homeschool supplies

I get pretty excited when it’s time to buy school supplies, even more so when I get to repurchase or refill something I’ve grown to love. Believe it or not, kids are the best product testers. Mine are capable of destroying just about anything. These are some products that have survived the years and have made our schooling better.

1. Laminator. This is one of those products where you really wonder is it worth it, right? We have had a laminator almost from the beginning and I use it more than you think. I have used it to make my own flashcards, books, and place mats. I can print free resources and laminate as I need or want to. I can have activities from kid 1 to kid 6. I love seeing the things the kids have made over the years that I took the time to laminate.
2. Printer. We have gone through 2 printers in the past 3 yrs but whose counting? The newest printer (Brother) and I are slowly getting acquainted. I can’t decide if I’m just dumb or it really just hates me. I use my printer so much either could be true. I use it to print worksheets, coloring pages, and activities. I also have a habit of scanning alot. I mean alot. Sometimes whole books. We have also used the scanner to scan miscellaneous old pictures that we have. Not my favorite some days but one of my most used school supplies for sure.
3. Pencil sharpener. We have been through so many pencil sharpeners its annoying. Yes, I have even bought an old school sharpener. Downside to that, the outside was plastic. I think we have finally found one that will last. Well, at least until someone tries to shove a crayon or paperclip into it. To be honest unless you use nothing but mechanical pencils this is a necessity.
4. Pencils. We have tried different pencils over the years and none of them last as long as the old favorite. I mean what kid doesn’t want to feel grown up by using a mechanical pencil or a fun character pencil? Save your money. My kids chew on the pencil, eraser, and yes, even the metal piece. The good news they are slowly breaking themselves of this habit and I keep buying cheap pencils. The annoyance of paying for a mechanical pencil only to never reuse it is something I just can’t deal with it.
5. Computer/laptop/iPad. I think this one is obvious so I won’t waste your time trying to convince you that in order to use the above printer you probably need one of these. Also, how would you get all the awesome free resources if you don’t?

I have also included a list of some things that you may find yourself using on a regular basis. I use most of these things everyday. I suggest stocking up on these when they are on sale. They will come in handy during the cold and rainy months.

Useful things to stock up on:

1. paper (printer and notebook)
2. printer ink
3. erasers
4. pens
5. glue/glue sticks
6. folders
7. post-it notes
8. binders
9. tacks
10. tape

There it is. You now know the secret of some of the most useful homeschool supplies. Just a little reminder that not everything that works for my family will work for yours. It really is alot of trial and error. I do hope this list will help you make smarter purchases in the future. Have a great week!