DIY Home School: 2014

Free printable Bible Christmas puzzles, games, mazes, crafts, word searches - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Looking for free printable Bible Christmas lesson plans? Here are dozens of free printable Catholic and Christian Christmas activities. Focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Coloring pages, crafts, mazes, word search, puzzles and lesson plans are available to print free for families and non-profits. These activities make excellent holiday lesson plans. They're great to use at Advent to count down to Christmas. Use for homeschool, Sunday school, Catholic and Christian school, CCD and Catholic religious education. These Christmas activities come right from the Bible, which of course, incorporates the Joyful Mysteries of the rosary, too. Free printable Bible Christmas puzzles, games, mazes, crafts, word searches

Free printable Chanukah crafts and Jewish activities

Hanukkah (spelled Chanukah in Yiddish) is the Jewish Festival of Light. It begins at sundown December 16, 2014. This eight-day feast fluctuates on the western Gregorian calendar. It always lands between late November to early December on the Gregorian calendar. On the Hebrew lunar calendar it's always the 25th of Kislev.

Hanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas. The two holidays share nothing except calendar proximity on the calendar. Hanukkah celebrates the Miracle of the Maccabees, when the temple lights did not burn out for eight days. The festival involves lighting the menorah, feasting, dreidel games and other activities.

Here are websites with free printable Jewish lesson plans, Chanukah activities and Hebrew historical info. They'll help Jewish kids express their faith and non-Jews learn more about Judaism.

Free printable Chanukah crafts and Jewish activities

Free printable voting and elections lesson plans

U.S. General Election Day is always the first Tuesday in November. This year, it's November 4, 2014, says Holiday Insights. Teachers and homeschool parents, looking for free printable election lesson plans? Read on.

I remember in 1972, our school was immersed in the Nixon-McGovern election. We staged debates and mock elections, explored voting booths and campaigned for our candidate. It was a great hands-on learning experience. 42 years later, we have technology and the internet to help us teach voting, elections and politics. Here are free lesson plans, puzzles, quizzes, games, writing prompts and coloring pages to explore. Free printable voting and elections lesson plans for Election Day - Grand Rapids Holidays | Examiner.com

Free Social Studies Lesson Plans: Living History Wax Museum

I'm a history nerd. So it saddens me to hear people say they hate history. But I don't blame them. People usually dislike it because they weren't taught it properly. Their only contact was via boring textbooks, uninspiring paper and pencil lessons and rote memorization of facts. Nothing could be more antithesis to the way history should be learned.

History is about more than dead people long past. It's a medium for learning new ideas and processes. It's a vehicle for change. And the best way to learn is through immersion and student-directed, hands-on activities. When students should experience history through senses and actions, they begin to see the big picture. Here's a cross-curricular activity that teaches reading, writing, speaking, research, art and drama: a Living History Wax Museum. Interactive Social Studies Lesson Plans: Living History Wax Museum

Free Printable Origami Paper Crafts - Bubblews

Origami is Japanese folded paper art and kirigami is the art of cutting paper to create stand up, pop up or 3D figures. Here are free printable origami and kirigami patterns and templates. Use these for homeschool social studies lessons exploring Japanese culture. Serve tea and almond cookies, listen to Japanese music and read books from Japan, like my favorite, Zen Shorts! Free Printable Origami Paper Crafts

September 11 Lesson Plans to Teach about World Trade Center Attacks

September 11, 2001--dubbed 9/11 for the atrocity of the terrorist attacks that hit the U.S. --is a day no adult American can forget. But how can we teach children about the World Trade Center, Flight 93 and Pentagon attacks in ways they can understand? How do you explain war and terrorism to kids? How do you commemorate what they never experienced? Here are free lesson plans to help. 9/11 Lesson Plans to Teach Kids About September 11 World Trade Center Attacks - Bubblews

Free Printable Hidden Pictures Puzzles from Highlights Magazine

Jan. 29 is National Puzzles Day and some of the most enjoyable puzzle games are hidden pictures, like those in Highlights magazine. Remember Highlights magazine with those awesome hidden pictures puzzles? Hidden object picture puzzles have an image with little pictures hidden inside. Here are free printable hidden object picture puzzles from Highlights magazine and other websites. Highlights magazine hidden pictures puzzles are similar to Scholastic I Spy books.

Highlights magazine has about one hundred free printable hidden pictures puzzles from past issues of Highlights magazines. There are all sorts of main images from which to choose. Print in black and white. After children find all the hidden pictures in the puzzles, they can color the picture. All Kids Network has more free printable hidden picture puzzles and Highlights magazine coloring pages.

About Puzzles offers links to an assortment of free printable hidden object picture puzzles, similar to I Spy games. Here are free printable I Spy puzzle games There are connect the dots, mazes, find the difference and hidden pictures. Print a I Spy games and Hidden object picture puzzles booklet for home, classroom, homeschool, rainy day fun, day care and summer enrichment activities. Hidden Pictures build children's visual acuity and help them learn to focus and pay attention. But be careful; I Spy games and hidden pictures games puzzles can become habit forming. You may find your child hiding in his fort totally engrossed in solving hidden object puzzles.

Some kids were lucky to have a Highlights magazine subscription, but others could only do the puzzles at the doctor's office where inevitably some other kid had already circled all the hidden pictures. Print these hidden puzzle pictures and show your children some great puzzle fun. Hidden pictures games make learning fun and interactive. Hidden object picture puzzles make great lesson plan activities for special needs students who often struggle with visual and perceptual skills. For more free printable hidden object picture puzzles and other games visit my blog Free Safe Kids Games.

Ramadan First Moon Sighting Eid Al-Fitr in Detroit, Dearborn, Michigan

Ramadan is the Muslim religious season of abstinence, which is followed by the celebration Eid al-Fitr. Ramadan is celebrated in the month of Shawwal in Islamic calendar, which equates to August in the Western calendar most years. In 2014 Ramadan began the end of June and will finish with first moon sighting--July 28, 2014. Ramadan is a penitential season. If focuses on the Five Pillars of Islam. These pillars include Sha'hadah (declaration of faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (almsgiving, charity), Saum (fasting from food, drink and sexual relations) and Hajj (pilgrimage). Here's printable guide to understanding Ramadan, for non-Muslims. Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr in Detroit and Dearborn, Mich. - Yahoo News

Free Printable Hidden Picture Puzzles from Highlights Magazine

www.freecoloringpages4u.blogspot.com
www.freeprintablelessonplans.blogspot.com
www.freesafekidsgames.blogspot.com

Free Printable Fourth of July Crafts and Games for Homeschool Families

4th of July is right around the corner. You can turn any holiday into a party, indoor or outdoor, with a few simple activities. As a homeschooling family, we focused on the historical, cultural, educational and religious significance of holidays. We always included music, food and crafts particular to the event. These activities help families explore the significance of holidays. Here are Free Printable Fourth of July Crafts and Games to help!

Free Printable City of Ember Book Series Worksheets

The City of Ember book series, by Jeanne DuPrau, (2003) is a science-fiction fantasy series loved by students and educators alike. Many elementary, intermediate and middle schools incorporate City of Ember books in curriculum. Homeschoolers, I recommend you add this series to your required reading. The City of Ember movie came out a few years ago and now students can read the stories and follow up with the film version for comparison. There are four books in the series, The Diamond of Darkhold, The People of Sparks, The Prophet of Yonwood along with the original. Here are Free Printable City of Ember Book Series Activities

Weekly Childcare Calendar Organizer for Summer Vacation

So kids are home from school for summer vacation. Pretty exciting for them, but for work-at-home parents, not so much. Now you'll have three months of childcare to juggle, too. Here's a weekly childcare calendar organizer to manage family, activities and work. Start by setting up a four-pronged weekday plan to get the work done and enjoy the summer. Make a weekday checklist chart. Weekly Childcare Calendar Organizer for Summer Vacation

Father's Day Gift Coupons: English Language Arts, Writing, Spelling Lesson Plan and Craft

Gift coupons make perfect gifts for children to give parents. Here's a language arts lesson plan for homeschool or classroom use. Design and fill out love coupons for Mother's Day, Father's Day or Grandparents Day craft projects. Use for English Language Arts (ELA) lesson plans to teach composition, writing, spelling, grammar and punctuation lesson plan. Designing coupons could be a math lesson and decorating them, an art project. Father's Day Gift Coupons: Lesson Plans and Activities

How Parents Effectively Homeschool Kids, Learning Theory In the Home

I'm a teacher and former homeschool parent. I've explored learning theory inside out and found home an ideal teaching environment. It's best-suited to real-life learning experiences. And parents are a child's primary educators. You don't have call yourself a "homeschooler." Parenting IS educating--every day, all the time. Here are effective ways to teach children in regular family activities. How Parents Effectively Teach Kids at Home, Learning Theory Into Practice

Free Printable American, US Patriotic Crafts for Memorial Day

I love making crafts and I love things patriotic, especially vintage American. I'm sentimental that way. Memorial Day is the perfect opportunities for families and homeschoolers to make patriotic crafts. Here are free printable American themed crafts. These free printable activities might be used as lesson plans. A hands-on activity livens up any lesson in school. Use these crafts and activities for American history, Government, Civics, Social Studies, Geography and other similar classes. I've included lessons for many different age groups. Free Printable Patriotic Projects and Activities

Free Printable Stations of the Cross, Rosary Stained Glass Coloring Pages

The the mysteries of the rosary and Stations of the Cross are often shown in stained glass windows of Catholic and Christian churches. These Bible images tell the story of Our Lord's passion. Here are free printable coloring pages of images from the rosary, made from stained glass window images. May is a Our Blessed Virgin Mary's month. On Mother's Day, we honor her, too. Use these printables to get to know Our Lady better.

Homeschool families, summer is a great time to explore liturgy, saints and church teaching more closely. Summer is the major season of ordinary time. You may be taking a break from more intense studies. As a former homeschool mom, I recommend using this time to prepare for upcoming seasons of the Catholic liturgical calendar and holy days. Here are twenty-one free printable stained glass window style coloring pages to help with lesson planning. Free Printable Stations of the Cross and Rosary Stained Glass Coloring Pages

Free Printable Mexican History, Cinco de Mayo Lesson Plans

Cinco de Mayo, fifth of May, is more American holiday than Mexican, even though it commemorates the 1862 Mexican victory at Puebla. The defeat was pretty impressive given a small David Mexican army was greatly outnumbered by the Goliath French force. If you're looking for information on the real story behind Cinco de Mayo, here are free printable lesson plans, activities, games, puzzles. Print Mexican/Spanish vocabulary, social studies, history and geography worksheets. Free Printable Cinco de Mayo Lesson Plans on Mexican History

Think Earth Day with Recycled Homeschooling Supplies

I was an early homeschool mom, starting in 1994. When I homeschooled our four children, we lived on one income in a mobile home. Space and money was limited. Here is my diy, budget homeschooling materials list. I've included organization and storage tips, using shoeboxes, plastic laundry bins and plastic bins with drawers. These are perfect Earth Day activities! Recycled, Inexpensive Storage and Supplies for Home-Schooling

Holy Week Easter Egg Devotional Craft for Palm Sunday to Easter

Catholic, Orthodox and some Protestant Christians observe Lent, a journey on the way of sorrows which Our Lord took on His way to the cross. Easter, then is a celebration of the Passion, death, resurrection and triumph of Christ. For us, Easter is a New Birth. Holy Week starts with Palm Sunday and goes through the triduum--Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday. Here's a Holy Week devotional craft using Easter eggs Easter Egg Religious Devotional Craft -- A Spiritual Journey

Free Printable Catholic Chrisitan Holy Week, Easter Triduum Coloring Pages

Lent is the holiest season of the Catholic church year. During Lent, we follow Jesus on His journey to Calvary. We fast, pray and give alms in imitation of Christ's suffering and in reparation for our sins. Lent ends with Jesus triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. From there, we follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) also called that Stations of the Cross. The last three days of Lent are called the Easter or paschal triduum. "Paschal" refers to the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. The Easter Triduum begins at sundown on Holy (Maundy) Thursday, continjues through Good Friday, Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday) and on to Easter Sunday. Here are free printable coloring pages to help children explore the paschal mysteries of Christ's EasterFree Printable Catholic Holy Week, Easter Triduum Coloring Pages

Triduum.

World War Two Maritime, Naval Lesson Plans

I'm a former homeschool mom and if there is one thing I know, it's how to sniff out cheap, educational experiences! The kids are grown but we still think that way. On our most recent trip to Louisiana, my husband researched an inexpensive venue that was well-received by everyone. Well, I say "venue" but it was really a boat--a WWII naval destroyer, the U.S.S.Kidd. And here are printable lesson plans on U.S. military naval vessels from WWII. Must-Visit USS Kidd Destroyer in Baton Rouge

!

How to Organize Writing by Outline, Write 10 Short, Quality Articles

I'm a full-time online freelancer. Between all my writing jobs and the 55 blogs I maintain, I compose roughly 2,000 to 5,000 words per work day. So the 400 character posts like those we write on Bubblews are a piece of cake, even considering I write about twice the minimum. Here's how to outline and organize a series of 10 quality pieces of content. How to Write 10 Quality Bubblews Posts in an Hour

Why Catholics Give Up Things for Lent, Spiritual and Physical Fasting

Today on Ash Wednesday, Catholics begin Lent which follows Christ’s passion, death and resurrection at Easter. Part of our Lenten practice is to fast from vices or luxuries in imitation of Christ’s sufferings. We deny ourselves to get closer to God. Here are tips for kids on celebrating Lent.Why Catholics Give Up Things for Lent, Spiritual and Physical Fasting

Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Ash Wednesday, Lent Activities

Mardi Gras, (Fat Tuesday, Pancake Day) anticipates Ash Wednesday and Lent. Although used synonymously with the Carnival ("farewell to the flesh") celebration, Mardi Gras is one day. It is also called "Shrove Tuesday." "Shrove" or "shriven" means to be purged. Here are activities for to transition from Fat Tuesday feasting into Ash Wednesday and Lent.Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday and Lent Activities for Families

World Religion Teacher Skips Pagan, Mythology For Jedi

I'm big on solidarity with teachers. Being a scrappy union girl, I'll take their part any day over administration. But lazy teaching still irks me. Being certified and unable to find work myself, teachers bungling a job I could do blindfolded colossally peeves me.
Case in point: our daughter's world religion teacher. He taught the major five--Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam. Cursorily and too fast if you ask me--class has only been in session for two months, pock-marked by snow days. Now he has time left, so he polled them on what to end with. The choices were Greek or Roman mythology or Jedi. World Religion Teacher Ignores Pagan, Mythology For Jedi

Why Little Black Sambo Is Not Racist, Is Good Childrens Literature

I have a confession to make. My oldest daughter's favorite book, when she was two, was "Little Black Sambo," by Helen Bannerman. I feel like I should whisper ashamedly to admit that. Sambo has developed a cult hatred by those who believe the book to be racist and stereotyped. I looked at the images and concepts inside out and can't find any problem with. And normally, I would be the first to object. Granted, I didn't grow up in the era when it was written. So I can't speak to Bannerman's perspective. But then none of us living now were living in 1898, no one can claim to know what prompted her. I can find no shame of, only love for her main character in her writing.

Initially, I had no idea people found it racist, but even when I found out, I didn't stop reading it. Sambo is one of my favorite children in literature. And he was my daughter's too. How could I tell a toddler that I wouldn't read her favorite book? It's not like it was Penthouse! This is my apology (in the defense sense of the word) for and to Little Black Sambo. I'm connecting it to Black History Month because I think it should be read with pride and joy. An Apology for Little Black Sambo

Healthy School Snack Menu For Alphabet Lesson Plans

I'm a special needs certified teacher and former homeschooler. My big thing in teaching is to make learning interactive and multisensory. My students didn't just see and hear. They touched, smelled, tasted, did. I love to use food to teach. Here's a menu of school snacks for each letter of the alphabet. I've done letters up to F and will do other letters later. Click the link +Alphabet-food on the article to find the rest. Read onHealthy School Snack Menu For Letter F

Jewish Yom Hashoah Holocaust Remembrance Day Lesson Plans

January 27 marks Yom Hashoah, the UN Day of Remembrance commemorating of the Jewish Holocaust. The Holocaust is remembered on this day because it is the day which the Russians liberated the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland. An estimated 6 million Jewish people died in what Heinrich Himmler of Hitler's third Reich called the Final Solution to the 'Jewish Problem'. Jewish Holocaust Memorial Lesson Plans and Web Help

Establishing Your Writer Style and Voice.

I've been writing and blogging online for pay since 2005. I earn sustainable income, enough that I could quit my job and work at home. I write tips on how to do that. Today's is: follow your bliss, not someone else's. Write to your interests and knowledge base. Do what works for you. Don't try to imitate someone else you perceive to be more successful. Writing for the Web 101 Follow Your Bliss (Not Others)

Books for Chinese New Year Grades Preschool to Grade 2

Chinese New Year celebrates the culture of the east. CNY 2014 is Year of the Horse. What better way to explore oriental culture than with literature? Here is a collection of kids' books of oriental wisdom. Some books are specifically Chinese stories and others are Japanese Buddhist stories. The Chinese New Year encompasses its traditional animals of the zodiac. Since most Buddhist stories involve animals, I thought these books would be appropriate. These stories are suited to children preschool to grade 2. Childrens' Literature for Chinese New Year and Oriental Culture: Preschool Through Second Grade

Pinners, welcome!