Homeschool Parent: September 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Halloween Coloring Pages

Have fun with these great Halloween coloring pages!

Free printable fall activities and worksheets

Count numbers

Fall theme Activity Sheets for preschoolers and kindergarten. Count the numbers of sunflowers, count fall leaves, count pumpkins on each worksheet and write down the number.

Columbus Day Activity Sheets

Columbus Day is celebrated to commemorate the historic landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. Print free Columbus Day coloring pages for your preschoolers.

Fall pictures

Circle the pictures of the items that you use or see in fall. Fun fall theme free Activity worksheets for preschoolers and kindergarten.

Fall match game

Read the fall pictures on the free worksheet and circle the picture that matchs the one on the left. Fun fall theme free Activity worksheets for preschoolers and kindergarten.

Which fit the fall theme?

Which Does Not Belong to the fall theme? Ask your preschoolers and kids to circle the picture in each row that does not belong with the fall theme. Free printable fun fall theme free Activity worksheets for preschoolers and kindergarten.

Fall patterns

Find patterns. Develop early child problem sloving skills. Free printable fun fall theme free preschoolers and kindergarten Activity worksheets.

Fall addition math pratice

Early math lessons. Add the items and write down answer. Free printable math worksheets for preschoolers and kindergarten Activity/education units.Fall ladybugs addition problem, fall flowers math addition question, etc. free fall theme preschool worksheets, fall preschoolers and kindergarten Activity Sheets

free fall theme preschool worksheets, fall preschoolers and kindergarten Activity Sheets

Compare Biggest & Smallest - free printable worksheet

Halloween theme worksheet for preschoolers and early childhood. Help kids at ages of preschool and kindergarten (ages 2-6) to learn compare numbers, compare size, and shpaes.Free preschool printable educational activities and lessons plans.

October month sign

Free printable month sign for October. Teach preschool students to learn calendar concept, time and month.

Halloween coloring pages

Help kids at ages of preschool and kindergarten (ages 2-6) to learn compare numbers, compare size, and shpaes.Free preschool printable educational activities and lessons plans.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Writer's Notebook Worksheets

Writer's Notebook Files

Amazing Adjective-PDFw
Vivid Verbs-PDF
Show Don't Tell Graphic Organizer-PDF

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Build Your Wild Self Writing Prompt

Here is a fun writing prompt for your kiddos. First have them build their wild self at this site. Then have them write a story describing what they look like.

Odd One Out Word Family Game

Here is a fun game for practicing word families. Your child does not even need to be able to read these words or even know their letters in order to find the odd word. By looking closely at each word, they can see that one is a bit more different from the others.

Fine Motor Skills

Think of all the activities your child needs to do that use fine motor skill, coordination, and motor planning. Building with legos, writing, drawing and cutting, connecting dots, using play doh, catching and throwing a ball, just to name a few.

These skills can easily be improved through a bit of practice.

Here are a few links to pages that provide this practice:

Worksheetworks.com will allow you to print ready-made practice papers, as well as create a wide range of shapes with varying degrees of difficulty.

Occupational Therapy Plan will provide fun project ideas that involve cutting.

One of our favorite practice activities uses an inexpensive paper plate. Use a marker to draw a spiral from the center of the plate out, keeping the lines about an inch or two apart and ending the line at the very edge. Next have the child cut on the spiral line all the way to the center.

Yoga for Kids

If you are at a loss for what to do with your kiddos for P.E., you may want to watch the videos below for inspiration:

Monday, September 20, 2010

Place Value Worksheets

If your kiddos are learning about place value, you may want to print out this place value chart. For those working with decimals, try this decimal place value chart.

For more place value worksheets, click here.

Krypto - Fun and Challenging Math Game

Krypto is a fun and challenging math game to give your little math wizards a chance to stretch their brains! You can try the on-line version here (it is self-checking which is nice), or you can grab deck of cards and play with the directions below:

You deal out five cards, then an additional card below. The object is to be first to figure out a way to combine the first five numbers using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in order to come up with the last number dealt. For example, if the first cards were 6 / 1 / 20 / 7 / 8 and the last card was 5, you could combine them in at least two ways:

6 - 1 = 5 (the 6 and the 1 are used, you proceed with the 5)
20 ÷ 5 = 4 (20 from the original numbers and the 5 from the first step)
8 + 4 = 12 (8 from the original numbers and the 4 from step 2)
12 - 7 = 5 (12 from the previous step and 7 from the original numbers)

8 - 7 = 1
6 - 1 = 5
20 ÷ 5 = 4
4 + 1 = 5

Now try one for yourself: The first five numbers are 1 / 3 / 2 / 8 / 8 and the last is 10.

You can also purchase the game from the Amazon link below:

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Sign Language Practice

If your kiddos are learning sign language, this site offers a fun place for them to practice! Choose the number of letters in each word and the speed for the sign language and see if you can tell what words are being spelled.

Emergent Readers

My littlest guy is just starting to work on reading, so I love these free printable emergent readers from Hubbard's Cupboard . They correspond to typical shared reading stories, focus on word families, single in on sight words, or contain concepts for science, math, and social studies commonly used in early childhood themes/lessons.

For even more emergent readers, check out the ones I have posted here.

Money Worksheets

If your kiddos are working on counting money, you will love the money counting worksheets you can generate here. You select how many coins/bills, color/bw, currency type, number of problems and so forth, then generate and print your worksheet. I’ve laminated mine and have the boys complete them with a dry erase marker so that they can be re-used by their little brothers as well. You can also stick them in a sheet protector.

Know: The Science Magazine for Curious Kids

If your kiddos are anything like mine, they are constantly asking, "Why?" KNOW the science magazine for curious kids helps answer those what, why, where, and how questions all kids ask. KNOW is engaging, fun, and full of ways to satisfy the natural curiosity of children ages 6 to 9. Each issue is packed with news articles, experiments, puzzles, dinosaurs, astronomy, the human body, and more. You can download a free sample copy here. Older kids may want to check out their sister site YES.

Displaying Your Child's Artwork

I love this idea for displaying your child's artwork (or outstanding school work!) from This and That.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Constitution Day Lesson Plan Ideas

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Hundred Board Puzzles

Here is a packet of hundred board puzzles to keep your kiddos busy and learning! Rocky Raccoon is at it again. He has stolen some of the numbers from the hundred board. Can your child figure out which numbers are missing and write them in the correct spaces?

Pascal's Punpkins

Just in time for the fall, have your child try this fun Halloween themed version of Pascal's triangle. The handout develops awareness of this important mathematical pattern in a fun way! Answer key is also included!

Monday, September 6, 2010

Cubico Math Game

Cubico is a fun Montessori based math and logic game. To make the game, use 9 craft squares (available at most craft stores) and paint each side a different color. Then add numbers like the pattern here. (You could also just print out the pattern and make paper version cubes). The object of the game is for the child (or mom!) to pick a color and arranges the die in rows 3x3 so that when you add the first 2 numbers in the row it equals the 3rd number. You can add vertical and horizontally and it should all work!

Playdough Letter Mats

If your little ones are learning their ABC's, you will want to download these wonderful PLAYDOUGH LETTER MATS: Your child can model letters with their rolled out playdough, and shape them as shown in the templates on the cards. Objects beginning with each alphabet letter are included on the cards as well.

Order of Operations Worksheet

If your older kiddos are tackling algebra and need extra practice with order of operations, you may want to head over here to print out this free worksheet.

For more practice try these as well:

Practice order of operations with this dog themed worksheet

Practice order of operations with this Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally worksheet

Mem Fox’s Ten Read Aloud Commandments

1. Spend at least ten wildly happy minutes every single day reading aloud.

2. Read at least three stories a day: it may be the same story three times. Children need to hear a thousand stories before they can begin to learn to read.

3. Read aloud with animation. Listen to your own voice and don’t be dull, or flat, or boring. Hang loose and be loud, have fun and laugh a lot.

4. Read with joy and enjoyment: real enjoyment for yourself and great joy for the listeners.

5. Read the stories that the kids love, over and over and over again, and always read in the same ‘tune’ for each book: i.e. with the same intonations on each page, each time.

6. Let children hear lots of language by talking to them constantly about the pictures, or anything else connected to the book; or sing any old song that you can remember; or say nursery rhymes in a bouncy way; or be noisy together doing clapping games.

7. Look for rhyme, rhythm or repetition in books for young children, and make sure the books are really short.

8. Play games with the things that you and the child can see on the page, such as letting kids finish rhymes, and finding the letters that start the child’s name and yours, remembering that it’s never work, it’s always a fabulous game.

9. Never ever teach reading, or get tense around books.

10. Please read aloud every day, mums and dads, because you just love being with your child, not because it’s the right thing to do.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

The Magic Pot Lesson Plan

Reading

Before Reading:

* Explain to your child that this author “retold” the story. The cover reads, “as told by.” Explain how tales are passed down from generation to generation.

* Ask your child to share ideas of what “magic” means to them.
* Ask your child if he/she thinks that the story is real or make-believe. Ask what is another word for a story that is not real (fiction).
* Ask your child to predict what might happen in the story and what the story will be about.

After Reading:

Questions for Assessing Comprehension:
1. Who are the characters in the story?
2. Where did the story take place?
3. What happened to the woodcutter?
4. What was the problem in the story?
5. How did the characters solve the problem?
6. Why was the pot magic?

Try this Magic Pot Phonics Worksheet to find words that start with the same beginning sound as pot.

Retell the story with this Magic Pot Sequencing Activity.

Here is a version of the story for older kiddos to read.

Vocabulary

* Introduce vocabulary words by saying them aloud while writing them on a board or piece of paper: woodcutter, pot, haunted, coins, savings, echo, elegant, fortunate, and magic.
* Asks child to go through the book and locate the new words.
* Ask child to read aloud the sentences from the story that contain the new words.
* Print out the Magic Pot“Vocabulary” worksheet for your child to complete.

Writing Prompt:

Ask your child what they would put into the magic pot? Why? In their writing journal. have them draw something they would like to put into the magic pot. Then have child write a paragraph about why the object was chosen and what they would do after the object was doubled.

Here is an easier version for beginning writers.

Math

*Reminds your child that the pot in the story was magical because every time something was put into the pot, the something “doubled.” (When the woodcutter put in one ax, two axes came out.).

Try this activity with your child to practice doubling.

Practice adding doubles with this Magic Pot worksheet.

For more practice try this worksheet

Practice multiplication with this worksheet

Math Journal Prompt:

Suppose you are given the choice between receiving a lump sum of 100 coins OR receiving only 5 coins with a Magic Doubling Pot that doubles everything that is put into it and that can be used exactly 10 times. Which option would get you the most coins? Explain how you determined your choice.

If you are interested in purchasing The Magic Pot please consider supporting Homeschool Parent by purchasing from the following Amazon link, thank you!

Day at a Glance

If you are looking for a way to keep track of all the things you need to do each day, you may want to print out this Day at a Glance form.

Lesson Planning Pages

If you are having trouble organizing you homeschooling day, you may want to print out these handy lesson planning pages. You can print them out as you use them, or all at once. You can either bind them together or place them in a binder to keep them all in one place. You can download a generic form that does not have the dates or subjects on them here, or choose the pre-printed ones below:

2010

Sept. 2010 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Oct. 2010 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Nov. 2010 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Dec. 2010 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets

2011

Jan. 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Feb. 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Mar. 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
Apr. 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
May. 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
June 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets
July 2011 Dated Lesson Planner Sheets

Measuring with Measuring Tape

Have your child practice measurement with measuring tape and the following questions:

1. Measure the kitchen table. How wide is it? How tall is it? How long is it?
2. Measure the front door. How wide is it? How tall is it?
3. Measure the kitchen floor. How wide is it?
4. Find an object to measure. How wide is it? How tall is it? How long is it?
5. PERIMETER is the length around an object. Look back at your measurements of the kitchen table. What is the perimeter? (Add the length of the 2 longest sides + the width of the 2 shortest sides together. This will = the perimeter.)
6. AREA is the total of all space inside an object. Look at your measurements from the front door. What is the area? (Multiply the height of the door x the width of the door. This will = the area.)

For more measurement practice, try these worksheets:

Practice using a ruler with this worksheet.

Measuring Ladybug Paths
Practice measuring perimeter, area, and volume with this worksheet

Practice measuring, converting feet to inches, and determining rate with this worksheet.

Measuring With Cups

To help your child practice measurement and fractions, give them a set of measuring cups and index cards or a sheet of paper with the following questions. Have them use water, beans, or rice to practice.

1. How many ½ cups does it take to make 1 cup?
2. How many 1/3 cups does it take to make 1 cup?
3. How many ¼ cups does it take to make 1 cup?
4. Fill up your 1-cup measure. How many times can you fill up the ½ cup?

5. Fill up your 1-cup measure. How many times can you fill up the 1/3 cup?
6. Fill up your 1-cup measure. How many times can you fill up the ¼ cup?

Angel Song by Sheila Walsh & Kathryn Cushman

You know those books that keep you up late at night anxious to finish reading as tears stream down your face? Angel Song by Sheila Walsh & Kathryn Cushman is one of those books. The novel tells the story of Ann Fletcher, a talented New York interior designer, who returns home to Charleston to see her younger sister Sarah receive her Master's Degree. Once there, Ann finds herself not in the seats of a graduation ceremony, but in the back of an ambulance as Sarah fights for her life. During the ride Sarah appears to talk to someone who is not there, humming a melody Annie has never heard before. That melody continues to haunt Ann throughout the novel until she understands that it is the music of angels who have come to protect her. Reeling from the tragic loss of her sister, Ann does not know how to deal with the love and support that she begins to receive from her sister's friends who all seem to love and accept her immediately even though they hardly know her. Sarah and her friends are Christians, but Ann has a hard time accepting or believing in God. She figured that if Christians still suffered pain and tragic accidents, that was proof God didn't exist because you'd think God would at least help those who worshiped him. When a 12 year old neighbor boy with down syndrome begins drawing pictures of her with angels, she can't help but be curious, and she delves into research about angels on the internet.

To complicate matters even further, Ann is dealing with the stress of her job and a difficult new client who may have romantic intentions toward Ann, while Ann finds herself more and more drawn towards a childhood friend who helps fix up her family home in Charleston to sell.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think you will too! You can purchase the book below, or you can enter to win my copy!

TO ENTER: (Please leave a separate comment for each entry) Contest ends September 15, 2010

1. What is your favorite book? Comment below:

2. Follow me on Twitter.

3. Follow my blog publicly with Google Friend Connect (on the side of my blog)

4. Like Homeschool Parent on Facebook

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Make Your Own Calendar

You can make your own calendar for Calendar time using a dry erase calendar and some numbers from the dollar section at Target or The Dollar Tree. Simply place velcro on the dry erase board spaces and on the backs of the numbers. Super easy!

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Free Cursive Font

This site contains a free font you can download to help your kids practice cursive writing. One of the things that I like best about this is that you can use whatever you want as far as text for the kids to practice their writing. You can use poems, their names, jokes, song lyrics, you name it. If you want extra spaces for additional practice, add blank lines of the font.