Many years ago I attended a homeschool conference where a woman was speaking about "lapbooks". "How creative", I thought, "I need to try this with the kids".
Once we started school, however, I found myself too busy to add anything else to the schedule, and the lapbook idea was set aside--for a long time!
Recently, while we were learning about Australia, the kids seemed bored with me reading while they took notes, and I decided to pull out the lapbook idea again.
We browsed through this book and found a simple fold that created a lapbook with tabs and lots of space for the information the kids would be collecting.
The kids enjoyed the lapbooks and so did I.
They provide a perfect place to write notes, draw pictures, and collect images from the computer. Lapbooks help to organize information while encouraging creativity.
For the next time I have colored paper on hand, and we will attempt a more complex fold. In general, the only materials needed are paper, a stapler, and/or glue.
If you are looking for a fun addition to your homeschooling days, lapbooking might be for you!
Here are some lapbooking resources:
Let's Try Lapbooking!
How to Begin Lapbooking
Our Lapbooks
Lapbooking on a Shoestring
Happy homeschooling!
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Getting Around to Lapbooking
Friday, March 21, 2008
Meme: I Wish I Had Known...
Please link directly to your meme post. Failure to leave a direct link will result in the removal of your name from Mr. Linky.
Unit Study: Gardens
HOW DOES a GARDEN GROW!
ALL ABOUT GARDENS!
If you have any ideas, links, books, etc. that would help us put together a fabulous Unit Study, please e-mail me with your ideas.
Your ideas will become part of our April Unit Study and help make it fantastic!
Heart of the Matter April Unit Study will post on Tuesday, April 1, 2008.
Join us then for a complete resource on Gardens!
Happy Birthday Suzanne!
We would like to wish our wonderful
Suzanne a very blessed birthday. Please stop by her blog at Joyful Chaos and leave her a birthday comment.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Reflections
I have always loved teaching Science, Math, Art and English to my children. I have always approached these subjects with great excitement and enthusiasm with each new topic. But there's one subject which I had absolutely loathed. Well, maybe that's a strong word. I had rather disliked and that's history. During my education, history involved my struggling to stay awake during high school and college lectures. How did I find the most monotonous teachers for these courses? I remember feeling well rested after each lecture due to the power naps that I had taken during class. I can also remember numerous facts and dates being hashed out for my memorization. Unfortunately, this experience had influenced the formulation of my view or opinion of history in general which was that of something very much "boring and unnecessary to life". Boy, was I ever wrong!
Now, I am teaching the same subject to my children. Over the past year, I had noticed how my children were beginning to dislike history also. Oh, I could see the eyes roll and the long sighs whenever I would reach for our history book. My younger twin would say his famous line whenever he became frustrated with something, "Mom, this is giving me a headache!" For some strange reason, I couldn't put two and two together. "Why aren't y'all getting this?" I would asked in my southern drawl, of course. Then I had a light bulb moment. How much energy am I investing into this subject? Am I only viewing my mirror image in my children? I had never been enthusiastic about history so my children weren't either. Surely, I could display a "face" but children can always see so much more. How could I be upset or frustrated with the way they were 'reflecting' what I had been displaying? I had to step back and take a different perspective on history altogether. I had to change my attitude to that of gratitude in a sense. I had to learn to appreciate history for the first time in my life and its valuable place in our heritage. I had to embrace history and become one with history. Just kidding! That's a little extreme but I think you get the picture. I began to invest time and energy into our history studies just as I had done with the other 'fun" subjects. After I had discovered a wonderful Charlotte Mason History curriculum, we soon began our journey with notebooking, narrations, discussions, reading many library books, taking more history based field trips, dressing as characters and creating history based dramas for the family. I had to prime my creative juices a bit for this subject. Eventually, my children said those wonderful words..." We love history, Mom. It's fun!" Naturally, I was so excited to hear those words but I want my children to love and embrace history and learning as a whole. I want them to have wonderful memories of their history teacher also.
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit. Prov.
15:13 NIV
Amazingly, I was the source of my own frustration if you will. It was me. Today, my children are reflecting a much better image or attitude. Children are much more intelligent than we can ever imagine. Not only do they reflect my attitude toward their studies but my spiritual walk and life in general. When I get angry at the person who just cut me off during rush hour traffic, when I get frustrated at the clerk for making the incorrect change and getting price checks on every item, when I am disputing an unwarranted charge on a bill with a sales rep., when I am having conversations with my hubby or friends and whatever else I do behind closed doors when I think noone is looking. Others may only view the "Outside Mommy" but our children know, learn, absorb then reflect the "Inside Mommy". Of course, I've always known that children will imitate behavior but as a Christian mom, I thought I had always reflected good and positive images. So this revelation was a little eye opener for me in so many ways and aspects of my role as mommy teacher. What are your children reflecting?
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Phil.2:5 NIV
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
More Wonderful Speakers
Thank you to all who have pre-registered for the Virtual Conference. It will be an exciting and inspirational event. We have some AMAZING new speakers to add to our line-up. Please welcome:
Robin Sampson, of Heart of Wisdom, has been homeschooling for 20 years. Her and her husband Ronnie are blessed with a “yours, mine, and ours” blended family of eleven children (ages 6 to 34) and thirteen grandchildren (ages 1 to 12). She has a desire to be a Titus 2 older woman, sharing insights to encourage younger women to sow seeds of love and wisdom. In addition to being a columnist here at Heart of the Matter, Robin is a published author and the creator of The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach.
Sheila Wray Gregoire, is the author of To Love, Honor and Vacuum; How Big is Your Umbrella; and Honey, I Don't Have a Headache Tonight. She is a wife and homeschooling mom who has been published in dozens of magazine and publications. Sheila can also be found on her official website, her marriage and parenting blog, and her homeschooling blog.
Todd Wilson is the hilarious dad behind Familyman Ministries. His ministry started with a calling to "remind dads of what's most important."Todd and his wife Debbie, along with their seven children spend several months of the year traveling the country encouraging moms and dads. He is the author of several books including Help! I'm Married to a Homeschooling Mom andLies Homeschooling Moms Believe.
Angela Parsley, of the international ministry Refresh My Soul Ministries, is a wife and homeschooling mother to her 2 young daughters. Angela is also a contributing author to a devotional book entitled, “Standing on the Promises of God” and Radical Revolution, a devotional site for teen girls through Proverbs 31 Ministries.To pre-register, please click on this link (payment not required now). You will be directed to a simple form (see below) hosted by Google. It is important that you pre-register so that we can plan accordingly.
If you are a business and would like to have a virtual vendor's booth then please email us at: homeschoolinghearts@gmail.com for further information.
Spread the word!!
Memorable Poetry
Life just gets busy sometimes-- so busy that I had forgotten how lovely a poem could be. One of my favorite writers is Henry Wadsworth Longfellow... The Wreck of the Hesperus, The Village Blacksmith, Paul Revere's Ride, Hiawatha... I first enjoyed all of these when I was in 5th grade. I found this new-to-me poem by Longfellow and thought I'd share. It totally makes me think of my boys and how fleeting their childhood really is!
THE CASTLE-BUILDER
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A gentle boy, with soft and silken locks,
A dreamy boy, with brown and tender eyes,
A castle-builder, with his wooden blocks,
And towers that touch imaginary skies.
A fearless rider on his father's knee,
An eager listener unto stories told
At the Round Table of the nursery,
Of heroes and adventures manifold.
There will be other towers for thee to build;
There will be other steeds for thee to ride;
There will be other legends, and all filled
With greater marvels and more glorified.
Build on, and make thy castles high and fair,
Rising and reaching upward to the skies;
Listening to voices in the upper air,
Nor lose thy simple faith in mysteries.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Field Trip Tuesday: Dinosaur Valley State Park - Glenrose, TX
* * * * * * *
Dinosaur Valley State Park - Glenrose, TX
"As you browse our pages you will receive educational information presenting scientific evidence for creation and design by a personal Creator. This scientifically chartered museum was established in July of 1984 for the purpose of research, excavation, and display of scientific evidence for creation. The Museum's team, led by its Founder and Director, Carl Baugh, Ph.D., has excavated eleven dinosaurs (Acrocanthosaurus, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, etc.), 475 dinosaur tracks, 86 human footprints, 7 cat prints, and other fossil remains - all in Cretaceous limestone. Excavations were professionally documented along the Paluxy River and various other international locations."
Job 40:15-24
"Look at the behemoth,
which I made along with you
and which feeds on grass like an ox.
16 What strength he has in his loins,
what power in the muscles of his belly!
17 His tail sways like a cedar;
the sinews of his thighs are close-knit.
18 His bones are tubes of bronze,
his limbs like rods of iron.
19 He ranks first among the works of God,
yet his Maker can approach him with his sword.
20 The hills bring him their produce,
and all the wild animals play nearby.
21 Under the lotus plants he lies,
hidden among the reeds in the marsh.
22 The lotuses conceal him in their shadow;
the poplars by the stream surround him.
23 When the river rages, he is not alarmed;
he is secure, though the Jordan should surge against his mouth.
24 Can anyone capture him by the eyes,
or trap him and pierce his nose?
Monday, March 17, 2008
Critical Thinking - NOT Magical Thinking
When I first started homeschooling five years ago, I picked up a book called The Well Trained Mind - a guide to giving your child a classical education at home. This book set the foundation for my homeschool approach and gave me a solid plan to start out on this homeschooling adventure. Since then I have moved away slightly from the classical methods outlined in this book and have now become somewhat eclectic in my homeschool approach.
Filed away in the recess of my mind though was some information I gleamed from the book about teaching our children to think critically once they reach a certain age. Since my oldest daughter is now eleven I've been keeping a keen eye out for signs that she may be ready to start thinking on a more critical level. According to most classical models, this logic stage can happen between the ages 10 and 13. This is not a post so much about The Well Trained Mind, nor is it a post about the classical model of teaching. It is a post however, about the importance of instructing our children in the skill of being able to think logically - through deduction and reasoning. We refer to this as critical thinking. It is a skill that is not taught in most schools, and it is a skill that is absolutely foundational in order to support an argument or belief system.
Over the last year I've been drawn to certain kinds of books for my own reading. Books like It Couldn't Just Happen by Lawrence O. Richards, and more recently - The Lie Evolution by Ken Ham. I am acutely aware of God's prompting and leading in the very foundational topic of creation vs. evolution. How we view the world in many subjects of education, stems from one's core belief system. However, this is not a post about arguing creation vs. evolution, it's about the importance of instructing our children in the skill of critical thinking. Without this skill, one often ends up in a heated, pointed, emotional argument with weak supports, or even worse, ends up avoiding important discussions all together.
Critical thinking helps us look outside the box, so to speak. It teaches us to explore both sides of an argument, and can be defined as thinking that: consists of mental processes of discernment, analysis and evaluation. It includes possible processes of reflecting upon a tangible or intangible item in order to form a solid judgment that reconciles scientific evidence with common sense.
Magical thinking, on the other hand, can be loosely defined as: non-scientific causal reasoning. Magical thinking can occur when one simply does not understand possible causes, but can also occur in response to situations that are largely random or chaotic, as well as in situations that one has little or no control over, especially those one is emotionally invested in.
How many people do you know of in the latter category? Additionally, how many people do you know who eagerly throw their opinions around (some quite influentially) without any skill to be able to back up those very same opinions? Can you see how important it is to teach our children to think critically?
Isaiah 1:17-18 says:
17 Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. 18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD.
Yes, let us reason together - teach your children to reason. Isn't that The Heart of the Matter?
Heart of the Matter Online's 1st Annual Virtual Homeschool Conference
Spread the word!!
On July 31st trough August 3rd, we will be hosting Heart of the Matter Online's first annual Virtual Homeschool Conference. We will be providing the attendees with motivational speakers, video tutorials, free products, question and answer sessions, and a vendor hall - all ONLINE! You don't have to dress up, get a sitter, or rent a hotel room. Just log on and either listen live during that time or log in at your convenience and listen to the audios. Below are some of the inspirational speakers we have lined up so far. There will be more announced at a later date.
Amy Pak of Home School in the Woods, author of History Through the Ages, Hands on History, and Time Travelers. She is a wife and homeschooling mom to 6 kiddos.
Jennifer Steward of UnitStudies.com, author of The Choreganizer and dozens of unit studies. Steward Family has been home educating their eight children from their Northern California home since 1986. Steward Ship is their family business, founded nine years ago.
Crystal Paine of Biblical Womanhood is a 25-year-old homeschool graduate with a desire to make a difference in this sin-darkened world for the glory of God. She is a wife and homeschooling mother to two beautiful little girls. She is also an entrepreneur and super savvy money saving mom.
Heather, otherwise known as Sprittibee is a 30 something wife and mom who homeschools in a rather eclectic manner. She is the editor of Homeschool Blog Awards and a contributor to Heart of the Matter Online.
Dawn, web designer and owner of Barefoot Blogs is a modern day jack-of-all trades. She is a wife and mother to eight children and they believe homeschooling is a way of life. She designs some fabulous looking blogs, is a writer for Homeschool Blog Awards, and she also sells these fabulous little bows over at Love-Me-Knots.
DeeDee, from the widely popular blog, It Coulda’ Been Worse is a blogebrity in her own right. She is known for her quirky candor and oh so honest posts about life. She is a wife and homeschooling mom to three great kids.
Jeannie Fulbright is a wife and homeschooling mother to 4 children and the author of Apologia’s Elementary Science Series. Her love of science stems from a calling to make science fun and interesting for young and old readers.
Luke McDonald, is the publisher of Homeschool Sports Insider Magazine, a former homeschool student and Drake University basketball player. He has been featured in ESPN The Magazine for his many record-breaking accomplishments.
Amy Grant Bayliss is a wife and mother to 3 young boys. In addition to being the co-founder of Heart of the Matter, she blogs at In Pursuit of Proverbs 31 and contributes to Christian Women Online. She is a writer and speaker who has a desire to help women fulfill the call of God on their life.
Marybeth Whalen is a published author and the mother to six children ranging in age from teen to toddler. In addition to being a Heart of the Matter columnist, she writes and speaks for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Marybeth can also be found at her personal blog.
Kelli Crowe is a homeschooling mom of 3 boys and a professional scrapbooker and designer. She has been featured on Scrap In Style TV, designed her own line of paper, and has been showcased in numerous magazines and books. Kelli can be found at her personal blog.
Gina Conroy is an ordinary mom, serving an extraordinary God. She is learning and growing in her faith, parenting, and writing (among other things) while she homeschools her four high-spirited children. She is the founder Writer, Interrupted and she blogs at GinaConroy.com.
Kelly, from A Spacious Place, is a minister's wife and mother to their 2 children. She is a contributor to Christian Women Online. In addition to homeschooling, her passions are encouraging healthy lifestyles, and mentoring college students.
Angela DeRossett is military wife, homeschooling mother, and an advocate for autism research. Angela can be found blogging at Homeschooling the Chaotic Family and Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy.
Ami Brainerd is the creator of Homeschool Share, the on-line cooperative effort of homeschooling moms to provide free but quality literature-based unit studies and resources.
You'll get all this for only $29.95!
To pre-register, please click on this link (payment not required now). You will be directed to a simple form (see below) hosted by Google. It is important that you pre-register so that we can plan accordingly.
If you are a business and would like to have a virtual vendor's booth then please email us at: homeschoolinghearts@gmail.com for further information.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Resurrection Day
Activities to Teach Your Children About Easter
But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."
So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."
Matthew 28:5-10
Resurrection Eggs
Materials needed:
- 12 plastic eggs numbered 1-12
- empty egg carton
- small piece of bread
- 3 silver coins
- small piece of purple cloth
- thorn (you could use a thumbtack)
- thick string
- small cross (you could make this from toothpicks)
- nail
- small sign with the words “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS”
- piece of sponge
- spear-like object (you could use a toothpick or stick)
- rock
Fill 11 of the eggs with the above items, leaving the 12th egg empty. Read the following passages from Scripture as you open each egg.
1. (Bread) Matthew 26:26
While they were eating Jesus took a piece of bread, gave a prayer of thanks, broke it, and gave it to His disciples. "Take and eat it," He said, "This is My body."
2. (Coins) Matthew 26: 14-15
Then one of the twelve disciples, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, "What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?" They counted out thirty silver coins and gave them to him.
3. (Purple cloth, representing a purple robe) Mark 15:17
They put a purple robe on Jesus. . .
4. (Thorns) Matthew 27:29
Then they made a crown out of thorny branches and placed it on His head, and put a stick on His right hand; then they knelt before Him and made fun of Him. "Long live the King, of the Jews!" they said.
5. (Scourge-a small piece of rope or thick string) Mark 15:15
Pilate wanted to please the crowd, so he set Barabbas free for them. Then he had Jesus whipped and handed Him over to be crucified.
6. (Cross) John 19: 17-18a
He went out, carrying His cross, and came to "The Place of the Skull," as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called "Galgotha.") There they crucified Him.
7. (Nails) John 20:25b
Thomas said to them, "Unless I see the scars of the nails in His hands and put my finger on those scars and my hand in His side, I will not believe."
8. (Sign) Luke 23:38
Above Him were written these words: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
9. (Sponge) Matthew 27:48
One of them ran up at once, took a sponge, soaked it in cheap wine, put it on the end of a stick, and tried to make Him drink it.
10. (Spear) John 19:34
One of the soldiers plunged his spear into Jesus' side, and at once blood and water poured out.
11. (Rock) Matthew 27:59-60
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a new linen sheet, and placed it in his own new tomb, which he had just recently dug out of solid rock. Then he rolled a large stone across the entrance to the tomb and went away.
12. (Empty) Matthew 28:6
He is not here He has risen just as He said.
Resurrection Rolls
Ingredients:
- 1 package of refrigerated biscuits
- Large Marshmallows - 1 per biscuit
- Melted butter
- Sugar & Cinnamon mixture
1. Wrap 1 biscuit around 1 marshmallow. Dip in butter and roll in cinnamon/sugar.
2. Bake as directed on the biscuit package.
3. The marshmallow will melt and the roll will be hollow inside.
4. While the rolls are baking share The Easter Story with your children. They will be amazed to see that the roll will be empty just like Jesus’ tomb was empty.
Easter Story Cookies (an activity to be done just before bedtime)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup whole pecans
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 3 egg whites
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 gallon size zipper bag
- Wooden spoon
- Tape
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Place pecans in zipper bag and let kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces.
3. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers. Read: John 19:1-3.
4. Let each child smell the vinegar. Add teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30
5. Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11.
6. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sins. Read Luke 23:27.
7. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Psalm 34:8.
8. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
9. Fold in broken nuts.
10. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.
11. Place the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matthew 27:65-66.
12. GO TO BED. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20.
13. On Easter morning, open the oven and remove the cookies. Take a bite. Notice, the cookies are hollow. On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matthew 28:1-9.
Jelly Bean Poem
Red is for the blood He gave.
Green is for the grass He made.
Yellow is for the sunflowers so bright.
Black is for the dark of night.
White is for the grace He gave.
Orange is for the sun He made.
Purple is for the hours of sorrow.
Pink is for our new tomorrow.
A bag full of jelly beans,
Colorful and sweet.
It's a prayer, a promise,
And a child's treat.
Coloring Eggs
First...How to properly boil an egg:
Lay eggs on bottom of the pot.
Fill with water so it's an inch over the eggs.
Put on high heat and bring to a rapid boil.
Let boil for 12 minutes.
Remove the eggs from the pot with a slotted spoon and plunge them into cold water. Leave in cold water for one minute.
There are many ways to color eggs, but here are some of my favorites…
Basic Method
Materials:
- Hard boiled eggs
- Vinegar
- Small bowls or cups
- Water
- Food coloring drops
1. Fill containers about 1/2 to 2/3 full of water. Don't full too full or when you put the eggs in it will overflow.
2. Add 1 tsp of vinegar
3. Add drops of food color until you're happy with the hue.
4. Gently put hard boiled eggs in the cups for a few minutes.
5. Remove the eggs and let dry. Wipe with vegetable oil to make a glossier egg.
6. A method that works great for little ones is to fill a spray bottle with color water and allow them to squirt the eggs.
Stained Glass Eggs
Materials:
- Hard boiled eggs
- Squares of tissue paper in many bright colors.
- Water
1. Dip egg in water.
2. Overlap lots of squares of tissue paper one at a time around the egg.
3. Spray with water if the tissue paper didn't get completely wet.
4. Set aside in a bowl to dry.
5. When the egg dries, the tissue paper will fall off, but the pretty colors will stay behind.
Marbleized Eggs
Materials:
- Hard boiled eggs
- Store bought or homemade dye
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil (for each color)
1. Mix dye according to directions
2. Add 1 Tbsp vegetable oil to each color you want to marbleize
3. Dye eggs as directed
4. The oil will create a very beautiful marbleized effect
Books
- A Heart for Jesus by Juanita Bynum
- An Easter Celebration - Traditions and Customs from Around the World by Pamela Kennedy
- Before and After Easter Activities and Ideas for Lent to Penecost by Debbie Trafton O'Neal
- Benjamin's Box by Melody Carlson
- Easter Bunny, Are You For Real? by Harold Myra
- Early Easter Morning by Marti Beuschlein
- Journey, Easter Journey by Dandi Daley Mackall
- Journey to the Cross by Helen Haidle
- Peter's First Easter by Walter Wangerin
- Sunrise Hill by Kathleen Long Bostrom
- The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
- The Easter Angels by Bob Hartman
- The Easter Story by Brian Wildsmith
- The Easterville Miracle by Melody Carlson
- The Legend of the Sand Dollar by Chris Auer
- The Parable of the Lily by Liz Curtis Higgs
- The Tales of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt
- The Very First Easter by Paul L. Maier
http://www.apples4theteacher.com/coloring-pages/christian-easter/index.html
Christianity Today has a wonderful article full of family devotions and activities to be completed during the week prior to Easter.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/holidays/easter/features/activities.html
