Pumpkin Crafts, 3 Ways

~ Fall is my ABSOLUTE favorite time of year, and while I am not a fan of Halloween in general, I do love adorable pumpkin crafts! Here are three simple pumpkin craft ideas for you and your kids to enjoy this season: ~ Five Little Pumpkins: This poem is an old classic! To make our …

Annotated Literature

Mixed in among the Michael Clay Thompson literature curriculum components is a great set of three classic books called "Alice, Peter, and Mole".  The set contains the complete works of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', 'Peter Pan', and 'The Wind in the Willows', with the additions of text illustrations, grammar analysis, and vocabulary definitions. This is …

How to Write a Poem

Did you ever have a sudden flashback to a book or author you loved as a kid, but had kind of forgotten about? This happened to me when I happened upon a few Jack Prelutsky books in the library last week! I have fond memories of checking out 'Something Big Has Been Here' and 'The …

Art History Card Game

Depending on your kids, you may or may not have a captive audience when it comes to Art History. This simple trivia game, Uncle Noggin's History of Art, will engage art enthusiasts and reluctant art students alike! Players take turns reading the questions on the back of each card (choose from easy or hard questions …

Simple Learning Activities for October

I like to include a little seasonal learning without having to plan anything too extravagant. Here are a few simple ideas that aren't necessarily Halloween but give a little nod to the season. 1.) Anything by Edgar Allan Poe This one is great for high school students. The Poe Museum offers free resources for a …

Sarah, Plain and Tall

As I have mentioned before, my daughter is studying history with American Girl books this year.  She recently finished reading Kirsten: An American Girl: 1864.  For an extension, she read Sarah, Plain and Tall.  This little book was sweet and comforting.  She really enjoyed it.  My daughter reads right at grade level (5th grade) and …

Spelling And Keyboarding

Do you have a high school student who needs more spelling practice but their language arts credit is already jam-packed? There is a great deal that goes into a language arts credit and since I love that subject, I usually try to stuff in just a bit more. Fitting spelling into a credit that is …

Our Simple Composer Study

We have done many different composer studies over the years. This year I had trouble fitting it into the schedule for our family. Some years are like that. I didn't want to totally skip it, so I settled for a very relaxed approach. Every two weeks, I pick a composer for our focus. I write …

Practical Physics Book

Investigating a Car Crash is a great book for kids who like to see the practical application of subjects they have studied. I have one kiddo who really likes to see how school stuff is used in "real life." This book is perfect for upper elementary or middle school students learning about things like friction, …

Fall Tea Selections

Poetry tea time seems to be all the homeschool rage right now, and while I haven't quite gotten my kids on board with that, I absolutely love a warm, cozy cup of tea as a pick-me-up on a chilly homeschool afternoon! This week, my fresh stash of fall teas from Harney & Sons arrived and …