How and Why to Display Your Child’s School Work

Have you ever made a pie or a casserole that was so beautiful that you almost hated to cut into it and serve it? The satisfaction of simply looking at your masterpiece and hearing the praise of your family felt equal to the joy of devouring it.

Every homeschooling mother longs for her child to have that same sense of satisfaction in looking back at thoughtfully done school work. Furthermore, that feeling of accomplishment is a vital foundation for a strong work ethic.  I believe that displaying our children’s work is one way we can help promote the joy of a job well done.

You can always slap a paper on the refrigerator with a handy magnet, but I’m talking about giving select pieces of school work a special honor.

Try one of these ideas. (Personalizing and decorating the display method also gives you a great family craft opportunity.)

1. Hang a rod or dowel with pretty ribbon and use clothespins to attach papers.
2. Create a “clothesline” with a ribbon tied between two hooks.
3. Choose an empty frame and hang it on the wall. Then tape the schoolwork directly onto the press board backing.
4. Apply magnetic paint on a portion of a wall and use pretty magnets so showcase special assignments.
5. Use small bulletin boards – one for each child in the family.
6. Place a clear acrylic frame in a prominent place on a table or shelf. Just slide the work in the slot.

Your criteria for featuring various pieces will be up to you. You may want to choose one excellent piece each day or each week or just whenever you think an assignment should be featured. Consider allowing your children to choose their own pieces occasionally.

You may be surprised at what they consider their best work.

Showcasing your child’s work is not just about art. Any well done school work qualifies – a notebooking page, a well written poem or paragraph, a math activity that was especially challenging, a spelling test, a nature journal  page, pretty copywork, etc.

Displaying your child’s artwork sends a strong message to your child:

• “I value what you do.”
• “You are creative, smart, or hard-working.”
• “Work done well is beautiful.”

When visitors come to your home, they can see the schoolwork too and have the chance to ask questions or praise your child again.

Share the ways you display your children’s schoolwork. How often do you change the work? What is your criteria? How does it make your children feel?

Jimmie is a former public school teacher turned homeschooling stay-at-home-mom. A sense of humor, faith, and creativity keep her “pressing on” in her unique situation — living and traveling abroad with an only child in a bilingual environment. Visit her blog at Jimmie’s Collage.

Tags: displaying artwork, displaying schoolwork, job well done, work ethic

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Home Schooling and Community Service

I am the daughter of a home health nurse who worked in one of the poorest counties in our state. Whenever my brother and I were out of school (either we students had a holiday, it was the weekend or summer break) we had to go with Mom to visit her patients.

I have vivid memories of knocking on dilapidated doors and evading unchained dogs in order to visit with Mom’s elderly patients. What I remember most about those visits is how happy they were to see a child and to talk to a child. I also remember their poverty. Most of these patients did not have anyone who checked on them every day. Mom would often buy new slippers or a few groceries for her patients. In the winter, she made sure they had enough blankets to make it through the coldest nights. Though I didn’t realize it at the time, going with and watching my Mom do her work trained my heart to care for the poor.

When I first entertained the idea of home schooling, I had grand visions that included community service. When my children were really young, there was not a whole lot for them to do. But now that they’re older, new opportunities for community service are opening to us. For their safety, there are many activities in which my children cannot yet participate. However, I’ve done a little research on community service programs in our area to find ways that our children can be more involved in serving their community.

They can:

• stock canned and dry goods at one of our local food banks
• prepare bags of food to be given away
• fold clothes (or put them on hangers) for one of the ministry clothes closets
• participate in fund-raisers, clothing drives and food drives
• help serve at the community soup kitchens
• visit one of the nursing homes and adopt a grandparent
• befriend the children they meet when we visit the homeless shelter

Like my mother did for me, helping my children become more aware of the poor in our community and showing them ways to help is one of the most important things I can do.

Many Heart of the Matter contributors and readers have been moved to action after seeing the devastating effects of the earthquake in Haiti. My eyes and my heart have been overwhelmed by the images that I’ve seen on television and various internet sites these last few weeks. Perhaps the most heartbreaking to me, though, are the pictures of the displaced and orphaned children. I want so badly to be able to help them, to do more than send money and prayers. With each picture, impulse to help them grows. I want to do something. And I have been a little frustrated that I can’t do anything. Then it occurred to me that, though I can’t travel to Haiti, I can drive across town where there are people in need of a home, food and water and clothing, a warm touch or a hug.

In doing research on my own community to find ministries that my little family and I can get involved in, I learned that there are between 40 and 50 homeless children in my city. When I heard that, I found a little piece of Haiti in my own backyard, a place where I can try to make an impact.

Perhaps there are ministry ideas I have not considered. Maybe you would be willing to share something that you’re doing that does not exist in my community that we could start. Please take a moment to share what you and your children are doing together in your communities. How do you incorporate community service in your home school life?

Leslie Wiggins has been home schooling her four children for five years. She is currently teaching fifth, fourth, second and first grades. She enjoys writing and blogs at Alabamenagerie (http://lesliewiggins.com).

Tags: community service projects, Family Volunteering, Homeschool Volunteers, Volunteer Opportunities, volunteering, volunteering for children

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Step By Step, Piece by Piece: Mini-Offices

The mini-office concept was started in public school by a teacher that was having trouble with kids focusing. So she took some legal size file folders and created a small cubicle for each student. But that didn’t solve the problem at all. The true problem was that instead of not focusing-they were asking each other questions. So now they were asking HER the questions. And as desperation is truly the mother of invention–the Mini-office was born.

What she did was create small notes to help the students remember the subject matter. Each section of the folders focused on a separate subject. So if they were studying measurements in math, they would have a ruler and metric conversions. For english they might have proof reading marks to remind them of the different symbols to assist in their editing skills. Truly the concept was a good one. Soon many other teachers caught on and many helpers and aids were created for various needs.

photo credit:  Teaching Heart

And so what does this public school cubicle have to do with homeschooling and just why do you want to know? Because it’s a fabulous study tool. It will save you hours each week in answering questions you have already answered “what seems” like 100 times! Trust me on this. I have learned to LOVE the labor of putting this together.

Now there are a ton of ways to put these together. I personally like having the file folders glued back to back so they open up like a book. However many like them just the way the original creator intended them to be–a cubicle so that they can help their multiple children focus on their studies. Here are a few tutorials to help you put the folders together.

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A Valentine’s Day Treat

Valentine’s Day doesn’t look much different than any other day in our house. We still have a full school load as well as chores and other responsibilities. However, I do try to fit in a couple of things to make the day special. One of which is to bake some kind of treat.

This year I’ve decided to make some homemade Hostess Cupcakes ~ Valentine’s Day style.

This treat is sure to be a hit with both you and your children! You’ll love the simplicity and they’ll love how yummy it is.

Step 1: Bake up a batch of cupcakes using your favorite recipe.

Step 2: Using either canned frosting or homemade frosting, tint a large portion pink and leave about 1/4 cup white. Place about half of the pink frosting {set the other half aside for now}  into a decorator bag with Wilton tip #12 and do the same with the white frosting using Wilton tip #5. If you don’t have any Wilton tips, don’t worry! Simply place your frosting in Ziploc bags and cut the tip off of one of the corners.

Step 3: Using the bag of pink frosting, sink the tip down into the cupcake ~ until it covers the tip completely. Start squeezing and slowly raise the bag up. Continue to squeeze until the frosting is level with the top of the cupcake. Run a butter knife over the top to make the filling even with the top of the cupcake.

Alternate-Step 3: If you don’t have any Wilton tips or you just want more filling in the center, cut out a cone shape from the middle of each cupcake and fill ~ smoothing out the top when finished.

Step 4: Take the other half of pink frosting and microwave it just until it is just slightly runny ~ about 20 or 30 seconds. Dip the tops of each cupcake into the frosting and set onto a cooling rack.

Step 5: Allow the cupcakes to set ~ about 10 minutes.

Step 6: Using the bag of white frosting, draw squiggly lines on the top of each cupcake.

Step 7: Sit back and enjoy your children’s excitement!

Ruthanne has been homeschooling for just over a decade. She’s passionate about many things ~ the Lord, her principal and students (mother to four boys and a girl), photography, baking and really good coffee. You can find her blogging at www.eclecticwhatnot.com where she shares a few random thoughts and loads of pictures.

Tags: Cupcake Decorating, Cupcake Recipes, Frosting Cupcakes, Hostess Cupcakes, Pink Valentine Cupcakes, Valentine's Day Treats

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Cootie Catchers for Learning

Here is a simple idea to spice up your homeschool lesson – make a cootie catcher! All you need is a square piece of paper, folded according to these directions.

Usually the person holding the cootie catcher asks his partner to choose a number. Then he opens the cootie catcher back and forth that many times. Next the partner chooses a numbered flap from the exposed sections and answers the question underneath. You don’t have to use numbers. You can use colors, symbols, or letters to label the flaps.

Your cootie catcher has four flaps, each with two portions. So in all, you’ve got a maximum of eight sections for information.

Think of all the ways you can use them:

• Math Facts (times nine multiplication facts, for example)
• Fraction and Decimal Equivalents
• Spelling practice
• State abbreviations

Actually, cootie catchers work well for questions on any topic. Have your child select the questions and write them inside the flaps. Then let her manipulate the cootie catcher as you choose a flap.  Since your child has the cootie catcher, she has to say if your answer was right or wrong. Then switch roles and quiz your child.

See how much repetition is happening? You child chooses the questions, writes the questions, asks you the questions, and verifies your answer. These cootie catchers are wonderful, sneaky things!

For variety, try these altered cootie catcher ideas:

• Use a BIG square for a super sized cootie catcher.
• Use colored paper or decorate the cootie catcher with stickers, stamps, or sequins.

Have you ever tried using cootie catchers for homeschool? What topic did you use? Have any photos to share with us? Your comments are always welcome.

Jimmie is a former public school teacher turned homeschooling stay-at-home-mom. A sense of humor, faith, and creativity keep her “pressing on” in her unique situation — living and traveling abroad with an only child in a bilingual environment. Visit her blog at Jimmie’s Collage.

Tags: art, cootie catcher craft, fractions, hands-on, Homeschool Fun, Lesson Fun, Math, papercrafts, spelling, State Abbreviations, variety

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Science Project: Growing all natural crystals

I’ve priced those crystal growing kits and WOW they’re expensive. So I searched online for a homemade alternative. After getting together all of the chemicals, we were ready to go.

One. Two. Three times we tried to grow these chemical crystals and nothing happened. (and I must say that the ammonia smell stayed in the house! EW!)

Back to the ‘ol drawing board. I did  another search after remembering rock candy are essentially crystals and it’s natural! (Although we can’t eat them because the boys are diabetic.) So we started over and success on the first try!

Here’s what we did.

• First I decided what I’d grow our crystals in. We used a glass (so we can watch them grow) carafe.
• Then I decided what the crystals would grow on. I knew we wouldn’t eat them, so I decided to make cool color shapes with pipe cleaner. We molded them into desired shapes and placed them into our glass carafe. If you want to make rock candy you can use wood skewers or heavy-grade yarn/thread dangling by a pencil. But make sure they don’t touch the bottom…more on why later.
  
• Then we started cooking! Boil some water and dissolve loads of sugar in water by cooking it. I didn’t measure I just poured away! You know you have the right consistency when it starts turning grayish-white and it’s carmelizing (getting thick). You can add food coloring or flavoring if you’re making edible rock candy.
  
• Pour your syrup water into your container. You will barely be able to see your shapes because the water is so murky but as the water evaporates, it clears. We placed our container in the windowsill to help the water evaporate more efficiently. As the water cools and the water evaporates, the crystals start forming right before your eyes! The longer you leave the project, the more crystals you’ll have.

Once we were satisfied with the size of our crystals, we took them out of the jar and laid them on wax paper (which was hard to do because they stuck to the bottom). Tip: Use gloves or a kitchen tool if they touch the bottom because those crystals are sharp! We studied the crystals with our magnifying glasses and discussed accordingly.

Edible rock candy would make a great homemade gift and promote homeschooling too!

Nikowa is a quirky homeschooling mom to a special needs son, co-schooling mom to a son that’s a handful, foster-to-adopt parent, Cub Scout volunteer, music lover, frugal lifestyle livin’, 2x cervical cancer surviving wife. She enjoys social media, photography, knitting, gardening, reading, cooking, and teaching. You can visit Nikowa at The Adventures of a Quirky Mom.

Tags: Christmas Candy, Crystals in the Kitchen, Growing Crystals, homemade crystals, rock candy, Science at Home, science projects, Sugar Crystals

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January Unit Study – Dinosaurs

Do you have a budding paleontologist in your home? Someone who likes to read about dinosaurs or go out in the backyard and dig up ‘fossils’.. This month’s hands on unit extender is on Dinosaurs. Activities you can do with any age range. All three of my children participated in all the activities and their ages ranged from 7-14 at the time. This will fit with any unit study that you are currently doing on Dinosaurs. Have fun this month..

Digging for Bones
Resource: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php

• Large bucket
• Dirt or potting soil
• Dog bones
• Old Paint Brush

Instructions:

• Place dirt inside large bucket
• Bury the dog bones in and around the soil covering them all completely
• Have child(ren) dig for the bones by using an old paint brush to brush away the dirt to locate the bones or you can have them use their hands
• Optional- for younger children you can have them sort the bones by color and for older children you can have them put together their dinosaur by what they think it will look like

Make Your Own Fossil
Resource:http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php

Supplies:

• Plaster of Paris
• Sea Shells
• Disposable spoon and cup
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Oil

Instructions:

• Mix 1/2 cup plaster of paris with 2 1/2 tablespoons cold water for each fossil imprint.
• Wipe shell with oil.
• Place shell in plaster of paris and let dry for at least one hour.
• Peel away shell and compare the imprint to the original shell.

Digging For A Dinosaur-Being a Paleontologist
Resource:http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php

Supplies:

• Large Bucket
• Dirt or Potting Soil
• Dinosaur Puzzle- we used Land Before Time Puzzle from the Dollar Store

Instructions:

• Break the puzzles into pieces and mix them up
• Bury them in the dirt
• Have your child(ren) search for all the pieces of the puzzle and have them put it together without using any pictures
• Hint- count the pieces of the puzzle before you bury them so you know if they got them all out or not.

Dinosaur Diorama
Resource: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php

Supplies:

• Shoe Box
• Construction Paper
• Play-doh or clay
• Twigs
• Glue
• Tape
• Markers and Crayons
• Scissors
• Aluminum Foil
• Small Rocks or
• Pipe Cleaners
• Puppets-
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/puppets/twofinger/Trextemplatebw.shtml
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/puppets/twofinger/Stegotemplatebw.shtml
  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/puppets/twofinger/Brachiotemplatebw.shtml

Instructions:

• Design a shoebox diorama using the above materials or anything else you might have on hand that your child(ren) would like to use

Paper Mache Dinosaur Egg
Resource: http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php

Supplies:

• Glue
• Water
• Newspaper Strips
• Round Balloons
• Plastic dinosaur

Instructions:

• Blow up balloon in an oval shape
• Before tying it off, place a plastic dinosaur inside
• Mix up your glue- 3/4 white glue to 1/4 water
• Place paper in glue. Make sure you get the entire piece wet
• Wipe off excess with your fingers
• Place each strip on the balloon
• Let dry a bit.
• Add two more layers allowing drying time between layers
• Pop balloon inside of egg once completely dry
• Optional- Decorate the egg with paint, or markers
• Crack egg open to allow your dinosaur to hatch

Additional Resources:

• Dinosaur Lapbook- http://www.homeschoolshare.com/dinosaurs.php
• Dinosaur Unit Studies- http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/dinosaurUnit.html
  http://www.essortment.com/family/homeschoolingun_shts.htm

Dinosaur Museums:

• Best Dinosaur Museums in the USA- http://www.americasbestonline.com/Dinosaurs.html
• Montana Dinosaur Trail- http://mtdinotrail.org/
• USA Museums by State- http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/fun/Museums.shtml

Books:

• Books on Dinosaurs- http://www.amazon.com/Books-on-Dinosaurs/lm/2RDL3VXEYXYVG
• If the Dinosaurs Came Back by Bernard Most
• Bones,Bones, Dinosaur Bones by Byron Barton
• What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs by John Morris and Ken Ham
• Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen
• Dinosaurumpus! by Tony Mitton
• Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct by Mo Willems
• Dinosaur! by Peter Sis
• Dinosaur Train by John Steven Gurney
• Dinosaurs by Design by Duane T. Gish
• The Great Dinosaur Mystery and The Bible by Paul S. Taylor
• How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? by Jane Yolen
• Dinosaur Roar by Henrietta Stickland and Paul Stickland
• Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs by Sandra Boynton
• That’s Not My Dinosaur by Fiona Watt

Lynn is a blessed wife to a wonderful husband of 12 years, a mom to three children, ranging from 15 to almost 8, and in the process of expanding their family through adoption. They are in their fifth year of homeschooling, using a hands on/eclectic approach to learning. You can find out more by visiting her blogs @ Learning By Living and Ladybug Chronicles.

Tags: Archaeology, Digging for Bones, Dinosaur Book, Dinosaur Museums, dinosaurs, diorama, Excavation, Fossils, Lapbooking, Paleontology, Papier Mache, Unit Study

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Christmas Unit Study

It’s Christmas time already. Time to start thinking about activities to do with your kids this month. We have a full schedule of fun things to do and make this month to really bring Jesus alive to us. I would like to give you some ideas that you can work on with your kids to help celebrate the birth of Christ while spending time with the ones you love. Merry Christmas to you all and may the Lord Bless you in the coming year!

~Things to Do to Prepare & Celebrate for Christmas~

Jesse Tree
Source: Reformed Church Press

To make your own Jesse Tree, you can do it in many ways. You can take a branch from a tree without leaves and place in a pot and place your ornaments as you make them on the bare branches.. You can also make it out of wood. By making ‘branches’ out of dowels or you can make it out of felt like we did.

I purchased 24″ X 36″ green felt and brown felt. I also purchased Velcro to fasten the ornaments onto since they won’t hang like if it was on a tree.

• I cut the felt in half long wise so it was 12″ X 36″
• I then cut out a trunk from the brown felt and glued it onto the green felt
• I cut out branches and made them big at the bottom and slowly made them smaller as they went up the tree
• The tree needs to hold 29 ornaments.. Which is 28 on the branches and the 29th goes on the top (it’s a star)
• I then wrapped a dowel on the top and glued it down for a handle to hang it up.
• Tied ribbon for the handle on the dowel.
• Placed one side of the Velcro on the branches and one on top so it will be ready for each day’s ornaments.

You can get the patterns for the ornaments and the devotional for this at the following link:
Jesse Tree Patterns & Jesse Tree Devotions

Christmas Kisses Countdown Craft

For the past four years, I’ve made a Kisses Countdown to Christmas. Each day, my kids would give me a little kiss for a chocolate kiss starting December 1st through Christmas day. For three years I hung them with colored clear wrap with ribbon but last year I wanted to do it differently. I came up with this really easy idea of how to countdown the days of Christmas, get a kiss from your kiddos everyday and they get a piece of chocolate!! We all win!

You will need:

• Glue
• 12 X 12 solid color cardstock
• 12 x 12 patterned paper (your choice)
• small hole punch
• scissors
• ruler
• pen or pencil
• 8 Pipe Cleaners
• 25 Chocolate Kisses per box (1 box per child)

Instructions:

• Measure each corner 1 inch and draw a line
• Do this for all four corners
• Cut those lines you made, then take ruler and draw line across the paper from the cuts in the paper
• This will allow you to fold the side up like this above
• Place glue on corner flaps
• And stick together. I used quick dry glue
• Place 4 Pipe Cleaners evenly spaced across the newly made box
• Once you found where you’d like these, use your small hole puncher or a tip of a push pin will work if you don’t have a small hole puncher. Then push the pipe cleaner through.
• Then cut down the ends that are sticking out of the box so they are short and even. Then you can fold them down to the side.
• Do this with the other side to make a grid. Weave them to interlock them.
• You now have 25 little boxes made from the pipe cleaners.
• Then you will need to write a number in each square 1-25
• Then place your kisses inside each little square in your box

Countdown to Christmas Craft
Source: http://kathy-prettyinink.blogspot.com

She made hers on a cookie sheet and I really tried, but I couldn’t get it to work. I had a non stick surface and even when I sanded it down like she mentioned I couldn’t the paint to stick. So I went to plan B.. I took a frame and a piece of sheet metal to make the background.. I love it! It’s very easy to hang now for each year’s use..

Supplies Needed:

• 2″ metal tins -total of 24
• Frame (Mine was 18″ x 26″)
• Piece of sheet metal (Got mine at Home Depot-same size as frame)
• strong magnets
• hot glue gun and glue
• Numbers 1-24
• Pop Dots
• Scrapbook Circle Tags-24
• assorted decorative papers
• assorted embellishments for the tins
• adhesive -Modge Podge
• round punch (mine is 1 3/4″)
• Small brush
• Sponge Brush
• Items to go inside tin- ex. candies, or maybe put an activity on a slip of paper in each tin for you to do each day as a family..

Instructions:

• Punch circles with hole puncher from your decorative paper. I chose 2 different designs but you don’t have to.
• Glue or stick them to the front of the circle tins
• Optional: Since you can see through the tin covers you might want to put decorative paper on the inside to so you don’t see the adhesive
• Glue the magnets to the back of each tin
• Print out or use numbered sticker number to place on the tops of each tin. I used a circle tag and then used a pop dot to adhere to the top of the tin
• Place Modge Podge over each tagged number to give a barrier and protect the paper of the circle tag
• Place embellishments next to the tag if desired.
• Set them aside
• To decorate the sheet metal, pick out three different 12 X 12 pieces of decorative papers.
• Rip or tear two of the designs.
• Glue the middle down to the sheet metal
• Then glue down the other two above and below it and let dry
• After dry, put Modge Podge over the entire surface of the paper to form a barrier
• Let dry
• Optional: Add a label to the top and print it out. Glue it behind another piece of cardstock and then glue to the top of the sheet metal. Let dry
• After dry, place Modge Podge over this and let dry to give it a barrier as well
• Place inside frame
• After everything has dried thoroughly, you can arrange your tins 1-24 on your metal sheet
• Place candies, goodies, activity slips inside each tin as you countdown to Christmas…
• Hang up or set out and enjoy!

~Goodies to Make for Christmas Gifts or to Eat~

Marshmallow Snowmen
Source: http://speckled-egg.blogspot.com

Supplies:

• Large marshmallows (3 per pop)
• 6″lollipop sticks
• White chocolate candy melts (available at craft or baking shops)
• Mini M&Ms or candies
• Waxed Paper
• Cellophane Bags

Instructions:

• Put 3 marshmallows onto each stick. The stick should almost be at the top of the ‘head’ marshmallow, but should not poke all the way through.
• Melt white chocolate according to the package directions
• Dip marshmallows into chocolate, working quickly
• Marshmallows need to be completely covered
• Slightly shake off excess chocolate
• Place on wax paper to dry
• While the chocolate is still wet, add M&Ms, candies for eyes, nose and buttons
• Allow chocolate to set
• Peel off waxed paper and place in cellophane bags
• Tie and then you are ready to give as gifts
• Store in a cool place.

~Crafts to do with your kids resources~

• Make Your Own Chocolate Playdough
• Sponge Printed Lights
• Sparkly Pinecones
• Bedroom Door Wreath
• Hand and Foot Angels
• Clothes Pin Angels
• Popsicle Stick Christmas Trees
  

~Recipes to make resources~

• Chocolate Peanut Butter Crispy Balls
• Chocolate Covered Pretzels
• Chocolate Fudge
• 540 Christmas Cookies
• Snowman Meringues

Lynn is a blessed wife to a wonderful husband of 12 years, a mom to three children, ranging from 15 to almost 8, and in the process of expanding their family through adoption. They are in their fifth year of homeschooling, using a hands on/eclectic approach to learning. You can find out more by visiting her blogs @ Learning By Living and Ladybug Chronicles.

Tags: Advent Calendars to Make, Christmas Crafts for Kids, Christmas Homeschool, Christmas Kisses Countdown, Christmas Unit Study, Countdown to Christmas, Holiday Homeschooling, How to Make an Advent Calendar, Jesse Tree

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The Santa Scandal

“No one would see him. These, and numerous other seductive thoughts flew threw Andrew’s brain like arrows. It was Christmas Eve, and his parents were out doing a little last minute shopping. There was a choice; be a good boy and go to bed, or sneak into his parents’ room and hunt for presents.”   ~The Santa Scandal

In our family, each December we did a version of “homeschool-lite” that we called Christmas School. By my way of thinking, it must have been a homeschool mom who decided the Christmas holiday would be in December. After 3 months of homeschooling, it was time for a break! My favorite Christmas school project was our yearly creative writing assignment based on Norman Rockwell art.

I asked my boys to choose any picture in Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book. Their assignment was to write the story behind the picture. They came up with some GREAT creative writing ideas, and the pictures really helped to get those creative juices flowing. That was how my son Kevin came to write “The Santa Scandal.”

During December, we would only do subjects that required us to be consistent in order to finish in one year. That usually meant math and foreign language. We did a writing assignment like the one above, but they would also write their Christmas cards and letters to friends. We listened to Handel’s Messiah, and other Christmas music, and talked about the words and the composers. Then the boys would work on making presents for family and friends.

They would finish their schoolwork at about noon. We had strict rules limiting TV and computer time during our “homeschool-lite” season. The kids normally helped me with all the shopping, baking, cleanings, decorating and preparing. Then they spent the rest of the day pursuing their areas of passion.

By the way, Kevin’s story about “The Santa Scandal” ends this way:

“For a moment, the drawer seemed to contain nothing of importance. There was nothing but dusty, red clothes. Andrew dug deeper and uncovered a pointy fur hat. “Now that’s odd. Why would Dad have red clothes and a hat. Unless…

As his thoughts slowly caught up with him, his parents barged in from the living room – early.  Andrew let out a strangled cry and whirled about. In his hands was the incriminating evidence, and on his face was written a mixture of horror, disbelief, and betrayal. Shaking with tears, he finally cried out, “You STOLE Santa’s clothes?!?”

Lee Binz is a veteran homeschooling mom of two and the owner of The HomeScholar, “Helping parents homeschool through high school.” She has a new free minicourse called “The 5 Biggest Mistakes Parents Make When Homeschooling High School”. You can sign up for her free email homeschool newsletter, The HomeScholar Record and get your daily dose of wisdom via e-mail from her homeschool blog, The HomeScholar Helper.

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The Symbols of Christmas: a Unit Study

Christmas is such a joyful time of year. The spirit of brotherly kindness and charity is more evident in the hearts of men. We feel a greater desire to serve and give to others. Unfortunately, the true meaning of Christmas and what we, as Christians, celebrate can easily be lost because of all the commercialism that surrounds this holiday in our culture. To counteract that and bring the true meaning of Christmas back into focus we like to do “Christmas School” for the month of December.

Christmas School takes the place of our regular school schedule. We don’t worry about math, history, science or literature. Instead we concentrate on Jesus Christ: on His birth, His life, His teachings. We do this differently each year. One year we may study various Christmas carols and hymns, the history of how they were written and what messages they teach us. Another year’s study may cover some of the different names for Jesus (there are over 200) and what those names teach us about His perfect character. This year for part of our Christmas school we will learn about 12 symbols of Christmas and how they point us to Jesus. I’d like to share our family’s plan with you. It is a unit study you can download to implement in whatever way is right for your family.

Here’s a list of the symbols covered as well as a short preview of the unit study using one symbol of Christmas.

1. Wreath
2. Candle
3. Red, Green & White
4. Tree
5. Bells
6. Candy Cane
7. Carols
8. Holly
9. X-mas
10. St. Nicholas
11. Star
12. Gifts

In the olden days animals were very valuable to people as they provided transportation and food. People put a bell around the neck of each sheep or cow, so they could hear where they were if they got lost. In the same way God values all people, wherever they are, and they are never lost to Him. In some places church bells are rung on Christmas Day to proclaim the good news of this special day.

Psalms 100 (KJV), “1 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
3 Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
5 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.“

Activities:

Jingle Bell Bracelets
Kid Made Door Bells

Expand your study:

Collect all the bells in your house. Listen to the different tones or pitches of each bell. See if you can play a song with the bells you have.

Download the Symbols of Christmas Unit Study in a PDF File

Montserrat is completely devoted to her wonderful husband, Joseph, and their seven (soon to be eight) children. They live on a 2,500 acre alfalfa farm nestled in a small Northern Nevada valley. They’ve been homeschooling for 10+ years. Montserrat enjoys, photography, cooking, crafting, chocolate, and sloppy goodnight kisses. She strives to live each day as God would have her do following Mary’s biblical supplication, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) You can find her at her blog Chocolate On My Cranium.

Tags: Bells, Christmas, Christmas Unit Study, Holiday Decor, Jingle Bell Craft, Make Your Own Doorbell, Wreaths

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