all links updated

Dropbox changed the way they store links and how they are shared. It took me some time to go through all of my pages and update the links. All SOTW and other download links have now been updated. Thanks for your patience.

abc pencil wreath

Need something to jazz up your classroom door or wall? I saw this wreath in a magazine (I can't recall where) a couple of years ago.

I purchased the cork hot pad and pencils from the Dollar Store. I bunched the pencils into groups of three and got crazy with the hot glue gun. I finished the center off with some large scrapbook letters I had on hand. The wreath is mounted to the door with Command Strips.

This is probably the easiest wreath I have ever made. Happy decorating!

tunnel book report

I wanted to help my kids make their book reports come to life! I found a fabulous YouTube tutorial on how to make a tunnel book! (link below)

Open the front cover and you see different layers of pictures which adds depth and the 3D look. My daughter typed up her story and pasted it to the insides of the front cover.

Take the first picture out and you see the second "scene" of the story.

We used an exacto knife to cut out windows in each scene.

Another close up picture of a scene.

These are the five scenes in the story. You can see that we started cutting out more of the cardstock with the first layer and decreased the amount cut out with each scene. The last scene has only a little cardstock cut out near the sun. 

Want to try this? This guy has a fabulous YouTube clip that walks you through all the measurements and how to put it together!

Tunnel Book Tutorial

This tunnel book gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "book report." A tunnel book can be used across the curriculum and can be attractive as an alternative to the "old school" book report. It appeals to students who enjoy drawing, as well as helps to assess their ability to express themselves via a personal narrative or summary of what they've already read. Students love the chance to make something 3D using minimal materials.

paul revere puppets

Creating puppets is a great activity for multiple ages. Even the big kids got into these!

I used what we had on hand--I had brown or white paper bags to choose from, construction paper that we cut to look like coats, cotton balls (though one of my daughters wanted to make regular hair), feathers, google eyes and markers. For the hat, I made a simple pattern and then cut it out multiple times.

While the kids created, we listened to a SOTW audio lesson. I also read a short book about Paul Revere to them. Then I let them chat and have fun creating with their friends.

A few of our favorite Paul Revere resources:

And Then What Happened Paul Revere?

A Picture Book of Paul Revere

Brainpop.com: American Revolution (need a subscription to view)

moon phases with oreo cookies!

This idea is all over Pinterest, so it is not my original idea. I did, however, turn it into a "book report!"

My daughter wrote a short paper about the moon and it's features. We simply divided it into four sections and glued it to the poster board. I happened to have some poster board on hand from the dollar store and we glued two sheets of black construction paper on top.

The "world" is a sticker from Gymboree that I received with gift packaging years ago--saved it! You could simply print an image from Google and paste it on. I used hot glue for the Oreos. Easy peasy. This project did not take long and the kids LOVED it! Of course that may have been because they got to eat the other half of the cookie and frosting . . . but I tell myself it's because they love being educated! 

Tip: Target sells Oreos in a pack of 10 in the check out lane for $1.00--then you don't have to buy an entire package!

solar system with shaving cream

This was such a fun project! We are learning all about the Solar System around here and I discovered this "puffy planet" idea here. She gives a full tutorial on the ratio of white glue and shaving cream. Just add food coloring for color!

Each of my kids made their own and loved swirling the color until they got it "just right." I purchased thick, black poster board from the Dollar Tree for the background.

Who knew shaving cream and white glue could be so much fun!? We added different types of glitter with a glue stick to represent the stars. The "asteroid belt" was made with thick glitter, micro beads and small blue beads--I just used what I had on hand.

Overnight a few of the planets imploded on themselves--too much shaving cream I guess. My kids still thought they looked cool. The kids used a silver chalk pen that I had on hand to label the planets. This project took a couple of hours and the glitter made a huge mess, but it was totally worth it. My kids LOVED this project! (Ages 10, 8, and 5) And now they know all the names of the planets and where they go!

8-year-old

5-year-old

benjamin franklin's kite

We are still in the midst of studying the Revolutionary War. This week we tackled Benjamin Franklin and we made kites! This was a project that all ages enjoyed. 

Our homeschool neighbors are joining in the history fun this year.

One of my daughters got creative and added the "key" to the kite!

Want to see how to make the kite? I found the tutorial here.

Our favorite Benjamin Franklin books:

The Value of Saving: Benjamin Franklin

(Value Tales Series)

Benjamin Franklin

(by Ingri D'Aulaire and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire) 

revolutionary war shoeboxes

I love these TOOBS that you can find online or at Michael's and Joann--where you can use a coupon! There are so many fun things you can do with them. We decided to make a Revolutionary War scene as we are studying the American Revolution. Each of my girls are currently working on writing a short paper about the war as well. I suggested one girl pretend she was a Loyalist and the other a Patriot--though neither of them want to be the Loyalist!

In addition to the TOOBS, we used rocks and some moss that I purchased from our local craft store. We used acrylic paint on the inside of the shoeboxes. A hot glue gun was used for the rocks and to secure the soldiers.

Even my 5-year-old got in on the action!

We'll be covering the Civil War later this year--they have both sides in a TOOB as well! We'll have to come up with something new for that war. Want to see another TOOB idea? Check out the Jamestown Fort that we built!

story of the world: volume 4 lapbook

It's here! Thank you to those of you who are so excited about Story of the World and lapbooking!

For the Modern Age, I thought a computer themed lapbook would be appropriate. I found this clip art on google and put it in a file for your use if you would like to decorate your file folder the same way.
Download here: Monitor and Keyboard Clip Art for File Folder

Please download the lapbook file and come back to leave a donation.

Download here: Story of the World Volume 4

Suggested donation: $5

All proceeds received will go towards the ministry my husband and I have of sending couples to a week long marriage retreat at the JH Ranch. Blessings to you!

Here are a few examples of what you'll find inside--there are 42 lapbook elements. This is only a sampling of 3 chapters:

Leave me a comment and say hello! Happy lapbooking!

Yellowstone National Park Lapbook--FREE!

This past fall we spent two weeks in our RV touring Yellowstone, The Tetons and Utah. You can read out our trip here. Before we headed out, I searched for a Yellowstone lapbook that we could incorporate into our homeschool while traveling. I couldn't find one. So, I made one and I am sharing it with you for free below.

The kids also participated in the Jr. Ranger Program and earned their badges by the end of the week. You can purchase Yellowstone wildlife stickers at most of the visitor centers. My kids loved these of course!

We gave the kids our old digital camera to share during the trip. They took all of their own pictures--whatever they found interesting. I purchased a picture book from the Dollar Store and the kids each picked 12 of their favorite pictures to include in the book. Rather than include the entire picture book (which would be too thick) I used a razor and cut off just enough picture sleeves. I then stapled them together and used packing tape to adhere to the book.

The yellow cardstock was taped to the top and then flipped up so that we could include more elements. The one side was a resting place for a paragraph each child had to write. I had my kids write about their favorite memories at Yellowstone. Under several of the wildlife stickers they wrote the names of the animals.

During our trip we collected interesting leaves that we do not have where we live. We used contact paper to press them and then adhered them with clear adhesive.

I would love to hear if you use this lapbook on your trip to Yellowstone! Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD YELLOWSTONE LAPBOOK HERE

frozen birthday party!

When my soon-to-be eight-year-old declared she would like a Frozen Party, I scoured Pinterest for ideas--there are almost too many to choose from! The Happy Birthday sign was purchased HERE. I tacked up white lights and covered with cello wrapping paper and draped some pink tulle over the top and sides.

My fabulous mom made the "Anna" dress for Faith. We pieced together a couple of random patterns and picked out the colors of her dress. She was thrilled! I drew and colored OLAF out of tagboard and we found some sticks in our yard. Isn't he cute?

For a simple centerpiece, I grabbed some sticks and spray painted them white. Did you know you can purchase cheap white spray paint at Wal-mart for $0.97? I then added some spray adhesive and some thick clear glitter that I had on hand--though it's hard to see in this picture. It was really pretty in person. I already had the blue glass beads--purchased long ago at the Dollar store.

We aren't coffee drinkers, but I happened to have a ton of coffee filters on hand that I had used for a previous craft. Instant snowflakes! I used clear thread and scotch tape to put them up.

This cake was relatively easy to make. I bought a blue-raspberry box mix and a pink lemonade box mix and made two separate 9-inch cakes. I froze them until the day of the party. 

 I found this cake HERE. I used her frosting recipe which my frozen cake kept cool during the party. I used her blue ice candy recipe and didn't have great success because I didn't have a candy thermometer. I then purchased a candy thermometer and followed the candy directions on the box and was successful. I love the icy look!

The only healthy part of my table was the Olaf parts. Carrots, stick pretzels, raisins and ranch dip. We also had blue Jello cubes, blue and pink jelly beans and mini-chocolates with Frozen wrappers.

Water bottle wrappers purchased HERE.

I had no idea these were so easy to make. Insert straw, dip in water and then dip in sprinkles. 

These candy wrappers were a part of the download I purchased HERE for $1.99.

As the girls arrived, they made "Frozen" bracelets from Oriental Trading. They weren't really "Frozen" bracelets, but they had snowmen and snowflakes and the girls loved them.

This game was a HIT! I split the girls into two teams. Each team was given a full roll of toilet paper, gloves, a hat, a scarf, a long carrot for the nose, and three pieces of coal cut out of black construction paper--with scotch tape on the back. Whichever team could use the entire roll of toilet paper first and decorate their snowman was the winner. SO FUN! The carrot "nose" went in the mouth which they all found to be hilarious!

We played the game "Minute-to-Win-it" with mini marshmallows and straws. Each girl bent her straw in half and had to pick up marshmallows ONE AT A TIME and put in their empty bowl. Whichever girl had the most marshmallows in one minute was the winner. We did this in pairs until all the girls had participated. The two girls with the highest scores had a play off round in the end.

About to blow out the candle!

We made "Olaf Parts" treat bags to send home with the girls. Pretzel sticks, candy corn, mini-marshmallows and chocolate chips. The treat bag toppers are from the same $1.99 download.

Such a fun and memorable birthday party . . . now if only I could get the song, "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" out of my head!