Our Top 10 Currclick FREEBIES

I love Currclick and the many resources that I have gleaned there over the years.  Whenever I need some enrichment materials and I just don't have the time to "whip-it-up" on my own (which seems to be more frequently as of late), Currclick is the first place I look.  I know that it will be affordable and have the academic quality that I am pursuing.  


I would like to submit to my readers our top 10 Currclick FREEBIES.  Enjoy gleaning from these resources too!


1.  21 Day Bible Memory Verse Challenge: Take the summer time to help the kids form a new habit . . . putting God's Word into your heart.


2.  Declaration of Independence Game: Just in time for Independence Day, download this FREE game.


3.  Nature Study - Birds - Notebooking Pages:  Compliment your next nature study with this excellent 50 notebooking pages.


4.  Spelling Solutions:  A great resource to help you teach those spellers that don't come by it naturally.


5.  Summer Sampler Party from Founder's Academy!: This is a great find to use with the kids before your Independence Day celebrating.

6.  The Successful Christian Life Workbook & Study Guide:  Great summer reading and study for high school students and adults.


7.  Psalm 91 Copywork: God's care and protection Psalm 91.

8.  School & Chore Charts: From the Notebooking Nook - Includes charts and cards to add to both school and home charts.  Workbox friendly.


9.  All About My Family Notebook: From the Notebooking Nook - Great project for summer school.  Interview family members, write biographies and create a written family heritage, all in your notebook.


10.  New Zealand Unit Study:  Take a trip down under this summer with a quick unit on New Zealand.


There you go.  Go forth and have a prosperous and fun summer school session! 

This post is part of the continued Summer Schooling series.  Be sure to tune in to our blog via email so you won't miss any family summer schooling fun!

DO YOU TWEET?  Check out the #summerhomeschooling #hashtag for more summer schooling activities and ideas!

The Joyful Socks Mom 

Where We Are At? This week we are linking up at Homeschooling on the Cheap!

Visit these resources for more great homeschool fun:

• MOM ONLY! Boot Camp - Best little Homeschool Conference.  Having a Generational Heart in your homeschool.  REGISTER TODAY!  ONLY 
• SHAPE Academy - SHAPE offers excellence in home education: affordable, original and fun!

Statement of Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  The blog owner receives a small, TINY, portion of sales generated from these links.  This blog writer does not receive compensation for thoughts or opinions expressed on this blog.  Thank you for your kind consideration. 

Be sure to subscribe via email today and win a $20 Olive Garden gift card!  My subscribers have a chance to win a new $20 gift card each month.

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Word Play! Fun Activity for Summer Schooling + {Giveaway}

We have a fun little giveaway at the end . . . so stay with me . . . 

We have recently re-discovered a fun and educational activity to use throughout the summer.  Word Play! is a fun way to teach idioms and common word phrases, while enhancing your problem solving skills. . . plus, we laugh heartily when we are playing.  We have had several puzzle books over the years and have enjoyed them enough to create our own Word Play! puzzles.

Word Play! is a puzzle that teases the brain while supplying a language lesson and some fun.  Each word picture is a common phrase or word that has been written in such a way to convey it's meaning.  You must decode the puzzle by deciphering the meaning with the position of the word, number of words, letters and sizes of the words.

Ready to play?  Here is a sample Word Play! puzzle.  Take time to look at the clues in the puzzle and you will begin to see patterns that help you to solve each puzzle.  

EXAMPLE:

 1.  Famous story about the Wilder family.
ANSWER: Little House in the Big Woods

Got it?  Good!  Now, sit down with the kids and have a little fun with these Word Play! puzzles:

2.  Take this to work to tote your meal.

3.  The ultimate goal for a running back.

4.  A person that is practical and no-nonsense.

Okay, now for the giveaway.  Here is a fun little Summer Schooling Prize Pack.
The prize pack includes a Classic Games Wooden Brain Teaser puzzles, and 3 Scholastic books: Flight 29 Down, Chu Ju's House and The Secret School.

How to enter?  Complete the Word Play! puzzles above and leave your answers in the comments below.  That's it!  Entries for this prize pack will stay open until June 20, 2012 at midnight.  The winner will be chosen at random and notified via email before June 21, 2012.  

So let's have a little brain teasing Word Play! fun for Summer Schooling, shall we?

The Joyful Socks Mom     

Where We Are At? This week we are linking up at Homeschooling on the Cheap!

Visit these resources for more great homeschool fun:

• MOM ONLY! Boot Camp - Best little Homeschool Conference.  Having a Generational Heart in your homeschool.  Join Smockity Frocks and Joyful Socks Mom for a day of fellowship and fun for home educating moms!
• SHAPE Academy - SHAPE offers excellence in home education: affordable, original and fun!

 

This post is part of the Summer Schooling series.  Be sure to tune in to our blog via email so you won't miss any family summer schooling fun!

DO YOU TWEET?  Check out the #summerschoolin #hashtag for more summer schooling activities and ideas!

• Be sure to subscribe via email today and win a $20 Olive Garden gift card!  My subscribers have a chance to win a new $20 gift card each month.

Enter your email address:


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Statement of Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  The blog owner receives a small, TINY, portion of sales generated from these links.  This blog writer does not receive compensation for thoughts or opinions expressed on this blog.  Thank you for your kind consideration. 

Summer Schooling: A Little Prairie Fun & Learning!

Every little girl goes through the "Laura" phase right?  Well, in the Mac house we just don't seem to grow out of it.  I am still quite guilty of being a lover of all things prairie in nature or origin, and still secretly hope for a simpler life, like Pa, Ma, Laura, Mary and baby Carrie. *sigh*

The Bug is no exception to the Laura Ingalls Wilder factor in this home.  She has read, read and re-read (with parents and independently) most of the Little House books and she's not even 9 years old yet.  Our summer schooling session is a great time to continue to feed that need for learning more about her favorite Little House author and make some more "prairie" fun.

The Bug has enjoyed a unit study on Laura Ingalls Wilder's life, times and we are examining her contribution to American Literature.  We are planning to continue to enjoy throughout the summer.  Here are a few fun prairie activities that we enjoyed together during this week of summer schooling:

• Little House on the Prairie Lapbook - We have basically hodgepodge-ed all the fun free printables that we liked the best and pulled them together in a little Lapbook.  We are reviewing each chapter and lapbooking along with the book.  She wanted this in her Notebook, so I did a little construction, that I learned from Jolathe from Homeschool Creations.  As seen in the above picture, with a little duct tape it was perfect.

Here are some of the FREE printables we are using to construct our Lapbook:

Little House Lapbook on Homeschool Share (this is the one we used the most), Little House Lapbook on Squidoo, Little House on the Prairie Story Sack,  Little House in the Big Woods Unit Study,Little House in the Big Woods Lapbook, Little House on the Prairie Crafts (we will be doing some of these in the coming weeks).

{Here is the Timeline that the Bug started, on the back of my front door :), documenting what she has learned about the life of her favorite author}

• The Laura Ingalls Wilder Timeline - We have used resources from the internet and a lovely little tourist guide that I picked up at a used books sale eons ago, to research and produce a timeline of her life.  The Bug takes an important event from the resources we have collected and creates a Timeline Card.  She illustrates the event (like Pa & Ma's marriage, Baby Carrie's birth, Moving from the Big Woods, etc.) and writes the relevant historical information.  It is amazing as it comes together realizing that in just three generations of the Wilder family (from Pa and Ma to Rose), our country has gone from covered wagons to the moon.  Wow!  Food for thought, and speaking of food. . . 

• Cooking from the Little House on the Prairie Cookbook - We will be using this lovely cookbook through out summer schooling to bring that pioneer spirit to life!  She had her heart set on strawberry jam, although the strawberries in the garden aren't ready for harvesting.  However, being just $0.97 per pound at H-E-B, I felt it was worth the investment, after all, it is purely for academic purposes. ; )

Here is the recipe if you would like to give it a try!

Ingredients:

1 pint fresh strawberries, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and 1/2 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

{VERY IMPORTANT STEP: Stop to eat a bite of strawberry!}

Directions:  Clean and dress strawberries, cutting off tops and then cutting in half.  Mash very ripest berries or use food processor until strawberries in left in very small pieces.  Be sure you do not get your mixture too soupy.  Mix your berries with the sugar and leave to sit is saucepan for 20 minutes before cooking.  Mix again and then remove 1 Tablespoon of strawberry puree and place in a small bowl.  Use a fork to mix cornstarch into berry puree, mixing until there are no lumps.  Add this cornstarch mixture into the saucepan.  Bring berries to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally and continue to boil for almost 15 minutes or until jam is thick.  Let jam cool for several minutes, until cool enough to handle.  Spoon jam into a container, cover and refrigerate.  When mixture is completely cooled you may add lemon juice. (Recipe adapted from the Little House on the Prairie Cookbook: Published by Scholastic, Inc.)

We have some more prairie fun and summer schooling coming your way soon!

Are you having fun summer schooling yet? - or - Are you too cool for school?

Comment below and join in the discussion.

The Joyful Socks Mom 

Where We Are At? This week we are linking up at Homeschooling on the Cheap!

Visit these resources for more great homeschool fun:

• MOM ONLY! Boot Camp - Best little Homeschool Conference.  Having a Generational Heart in your homeschool.  Join Smockity Frocks and Joyful Socks Mom for a day of fellowship and fun for home educating moms!
• SHAPE Academy - SHAPE offers excellence in home education: affordable, original and fun!

Statement of Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.  The blog owner receives a small, TINY, portion of sales generated from these links.  This blog writer does not receive compensation for thoughts or opinions expressed on this blog.  Thank you for your kind consideration. 

This post is part of the upcoming the continued Summer Schooling series.  Be sure to tune in to our blog via email so you won't miss any family summer schooling fun!

DO YOU TWEET?  Check out the #summerschoolin #hashtag for more summer schooling activities and ideas!

• Be sure to subscribe via email today and win a $20 Olive Garden gift card!  My subscribers have a chance to win a new $20 gift card each month.

Enter your email address:


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Giveaway Winner & Some Housekeeping Updates

Giveaway Winner & Some Housekeeping Updates is a post from Joyful Socks Mom from the Mac RAK blog.  Thanks for stopping by!  If you haven't already Subscribe to The Mac Rak: Life Beyond Me, Myself & I by Email, take a moment to do so & be entered into our monthly $20 gift drawing!  Pop on over and follow on Facebook and Twitter - chat with you soon!

Summer.  Hotter, longer, lazier days.  Right?  Not in this house, sister!  As most of my readers know, I am anti-lazy summer approach.  I am much more an advocate for summer learning and keeping "mushy-brained" children disease at bay.  Perhaps I'm all for ridding the world of "mushy-brained" children altogether.  Do you think I have my work cut out for me?


Well, we have been hard at work, here at Mac Homeschool.  The kids and I have taken a week break (organizing our notebooks and finalizing lesson plans . . . perhaps some fun too) and now back to the books!  I have some great summer schooling plans that I am excited to share with you all.  We have decided to roll these plans and posts into a couple of blogging series that you will be able to enjoy throughout the course of the summer.

What does this me for you, my beloved reader?  Summer Schooling fun and a place to share what you are schooling too (or not schooling).  
I just wanted you to know we have had to reschedule a couple of items.  Posts coming in June that should have come in May:

• Family Math Night
• Camp Handicraft - 10 Days of fun and purposeful crafting with your children at home.

I will be rolling these 2 posts into a larger series called Summer Schooling!  This series will spotlight activities that we are partaking in at home, along with freebies for our readers, giveaways and a weekly link-up for you to post your summer schooling plans, too.  

*Twitter users: I have a new #hashtag to tweet your summer fun #summerschoolin - Use this to tweet about your fun summer or share resources!*

Next, we will be posting one Summer Handicraft tutorial each day, Monday through Friday, for 10 Days the last week of JUNE.  We have christened this series: Camp How-We-Love-To-Craft-a, and I am hoping is will be a new yearly event from the Mac Rak family.  Join us to learn and DIY your way to purposeful handicrafts during the summer days ahead.

Here is what you will learn during our 10 Days of Summer Handicrafts and we invite you to join us:

• Macrame
• Newspaper Basket Weaving
• Paper Plate Loom Weaving
• Spool Knitting
• Book Making
• Nature Notebooks
• Simple Sewing
• Sculpting
• Doll Making
• Paper Crafting

I have also planned for a 6 Day series on Teaching Biblical Character in the home.  Be sure to tune in for that.

I hope you will join us for all the upcoming summer fun, activities and sharing!

* Winner of the Designing Your Language Arts Curriculum? *

Judy of Contented at Home

Congratulations Judy!  Our winner has already been notified by email.

This post is part of the upcoming Camp How-We-Love-To-Craft-a & the continued Summer Schooling series.  Be sure to tune in to our blog via email so you won't miss any family summer fun!

• Be on the look-out for my new eBook!  Coming July 2012 - Generational Handicrafts: Real Crafts with Kids

Photo Credits: Camp How-We-Love-To-Craft-a Button Remixed

From clockwise - via Flicker: Hoopla-IMG_8504 By thombrooks, row boat at sundown By independentman, Play-Doh on a Picnic Table By Samuel Stroube, Trailblazers, Assemble By thombrooks

Summer Reading to Inspire Fun and Learning

I know as home educators it is easy to get caught up in summer "extras" - summer camps, family visits, day camps, vacation bible school, etc.  These are all fun and valuable summer happenings, but let us not get so busy that we neglect the most valuable summer pastime . . . READING!  Of course, in a home with no television, my kids have learned to love reading in all seasons, out of sheer necessity.  ;)

{The Scout displaying his "secret" super power - READING!}

There are plethora of choices in reading materials, but my philosophy would denote that not ALL are worthy of reading.  I love the classics and living books, and lovingly attempt to steer my kids in these directions.  However, all my picky-ness is thrown to the wind when summer reading arrives.  Typically I only allow the kids to choose books based on whether a book is "nutritional" or not.  Nutritional: A book that is good for the mind, as foods should be good for the body.  During the summer, I do allow the kids to choose one "junk food" book per library visit.  Exception: If the book is detrimental to the child's mind, body or spirit the answer is "No!" . . . otherwise, it is summer, live a little!

Summer and reading go hand and hand, but sometimes we all need a little motivation and encouragement.  Here are a few fun activities, tips and ideas for keeping the Reading-train rolling down the track this summer:

• READING REWARDS:  Check-out your local library for Reading Programs, Pizza Hut Book-it, Half-Priced Books: Feed Your Brain, Barnes & Noble Summer Reading, H-E-B Buddy, PBS Kids: Soar with Reading, Book Adventure Reading Program (awesome!), Chuck E. Cheese, Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge (Click on any of the above programs and it should take you to their site)
• BOOK REPORTS WITH PIZZAZZ!: Encourage your kids to complete book reports on their favorite books, AND trash the old "fill-in-the-blanks" Book Report form!  Here are a few ideas for Book Report Fun that won't fail:

Making Book Report Dioramas 

Here is a report completed recently by the Bug, who is going into 3rd Grade.

Yes, that is Jack and Annie from the Magic Tree house series, depicted here in Buffalo Before Breakfast and using toilet paper rolls.  She was so proud of her work she gave it to the librarian, since it was a book she checked-out.

Main Character Sculptures

Here the Squeaker had only just begun her book.  She completed a characterization and narration of the main characters in the first five chapters of Dragonspell.  Then she used clay to sculpt out what she thought they looked like.

Lego Book Report

The Scout, 12 years old and ALL boy, used his Legos to depict his reading (plus some fiber filling material for smoke).  He just finished the classic The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  He also completed a book report using descriptive writing methods.

• MAKE IT A FAMILY THING: When completing books, make it a reason to celebrate and share.  We usually have presentations after supper, so the kids can share what they have completed with the entire family.  They are usually excited about sharing these with Dad, so it gives them the opportunity to try public speaking and includes daddy in our summer schooling fun.

Don't forget to pick-up a fun book for yourself mom!

Happy Summer Schooling!

The Joyful Socks Mom  

Be sure to follow all the Summer Schooling fun on Twitter #summerschoolin

Thank you for supporting this site:

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• Subscribe via email and be entered EACH MONTH to win a $20 Gift Giveaway - beginning June!  $20 Olive Garden Gift Card

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This post contains affiliate links.  The blog owner receives a small  portion of sales generated from these links.  This blog writer does not receive compensation for thoughts or opinions expressed on this blog.  Thank you for your kind consideration.