It teaches some of the fundamental lessons necessary to understand future complex concepts and provides children with a better understanding of the world.
The thing is, not every kid enjoys staying still while listening to these concepts. They want to have fun and move their bodies and use their hands.
We’re here to combine education and fun by providing you with the best science games for kids. Let’s get started.
Kids stay engaged longer when they’re interested in what they’re doing. If you make learning a fun activity, they’ll definitely learn.
Here’s a list of games that should help with that:
Even at an early age, we are already interested in space, stars, and planets. That’s why the Play-Doh Solar System is an interesting way to teach your kid about the solar system.
First, you need to grab a pack of Play-Doh. Show your kid a picture of the planets and moons in our solar system and ask them to reconstruct them using Play-Doh.
For instance, your child can use blue and green to represent the Earth, red for Mars, blue for Neptune, and so on.
Once your child finishes all the planets, you need to align them according to their order in our solar system.
Then, you can go over each of the planets and mention different facts about them and what makes them unique.
For example, you can mention how scientists are currently determining whether or not we have neighboring life forms on Mars or how long it takes Pluto to revolve around the sun.
Who would’ve thought that this childhood pastime was actually an excellent way to teach kids about the concept of aerodynamics?
The best part is that you only need several sheets of paper. First, you have to teach your kid how to make paper airplanes.
Since paper airplanes behave differently in the air, explain aerodynamic concepts like gravity, lifting, thrusting, and dragging to your kid.
Additionally, flying paper airplanes can be an avenue to teach your kid about the dynamics of pressure and velocity. You can also hold a contest on which airplane will fly the farthest.
For this activity, you will need several objects with different shapes, sizes, and weights. However, all of them should be capable of rolling down a ramp.
Next, you need to build a ramp. You can easily do this with various household materials like cardboard or a chopping board.
Ask your kid to roll the objects down the ramp and observe how each object behaves differently.
Then, talk to them about how the objects’ weight, size, shape, and even the force they apply to them affect their behaviors.
This exciting game is an excellent opportunity for you to teach your kid about weight and speed.
For this activity, you will need a glass of milk, a small plate, Q-Tips, and food coloring.
First, pour a few drops of milk into the small plate. Next, drop two different colors of food coloring into the milk.
Give your kid a Q-Tip and ask them to mix everything.
This activity will teach your kid how different colors mix to create a new color, like how red and green make yellow or red and blue make violet.
All you need for this activity is an empty water bottle. First, close the water bottle using its cap to trap the air inside.
Next, twist the lower half of the water bottle to compress the air and push all the molecules to the upper half of the bottle.
Slowly open the cap, releasing all the pressure inside and propelling the cap outward. Be very careful not to hit anyone or anything with it.
Upon doing so, the molecules will also assume a cloud-like appearance. You can use this activity to teach your kids how pressure affects the behavior of certain things.
Make sure that you also explain to them what’s happening to the molecules when you’re twisting the bottle’s lower half.
For this game, you will need grape juice, baking soda, Q-Tips, a brush, a piece of paper, and two small bowls.
Tell your kids that you’re going to write an invisible “secret message” on the paper, and if they can find out what it is, they’d get a reward.
To do this, pour ⅓ cup of baking soda into the small bowl, followed by ⅓ cup of water. Mix them together until they form a glue-like substance.
Then, grab a Q-Tip and dip it into the bowl. Once it’s wet, write a secret word on the paper. Continue dipping the Q-Tip into the bowl to get more of the substance when necessary.
While waiting for it to dry, grab the second bowl and pour grape juice into it. Then, ask your kids to dip the brush into the grape juice and paint over the “secret message.”
This should darken the word on the paper written with the baking soda.
You can use this activity to teach your kid about the relationship between acids and bases. The baking soda used in this activity is a base, while the grape juice is acidic.
You can play this game on top of your dining table. All you need is a glue gun, a bottle cap, an old CD, and a balloon.
First, make a small hole at the center of the bottle cap before gluing it face down right in the middle of the CD where its hole is.
Next, inflate the balloon and use its opening to cover the entire bottle cap. Doing so should cause the air to flow into the hole of the bottle cap and right underneath the CD.
This significantly reduces the friction between the CD and the dining table.
Play with your kid by pushing the balloon from their side to your side. If the balloon loses all its air while on your side of the table, you lose.
This activity is extremely fun and will teach your kid the concept of air pressure and friction.
You can play this simple activity with your kid to learn about aerodynamics and air pressure.
You will need a pair of scissors, a CD (optional), colored paper, tape, two plastic straws with bendable ends, a pencil, and two balloons.
Grab a piece of colored paper and place the CD on top of it. Use the pencil and trace the CD to draw a circle on the paper.
Next, mark the center of the circle using the center hole of the CD. Cut the circle using a pair of scissors.
Then, cut a straight line from the edge of the circle to the center mark. This should allow you to make a cone out of the colored paper cutout.
Use the tape to secure the cone, so it doesn’t slide to the sides. Flip the cone over and cut the tip just small enough so that the plastic straws can fit.
Insert the bendable end of the plastic straw into the hole at the tip of the cone. Then, using tape, secure the straws. Make sure you don’t flatten the straw as you do so.
Inflate the balloons and place them inside the cones. Finally, blow air into the cone from the other side of the straw to lift the balloons.
The one who can keep the balloon in the air longer wins the game.
I Spy is the best way to go if you’re looking for a science game where you don’t need to prepare anything. It’s basically a verbal guessing game where you and your kid take turns.
First, you have to observe your surroundings and find a specific object. Don’t let your kid know what it is yet.
Then, you need to describe it using your five senses. For example, if the object you chose is the TV, you just say, “I spy something rectangular.”
Your kid will then observe the surroundings and look for something rectangular.
If they guess incorrectly, you must add another hint like “I spy something noisy.” (If the TV is turned on.)
The game continues until your kid has guessed the object. Once they do so successfully, you will be the next person to guess the object your kid chooses.
This game improves your kid’s observation and classification skills, which are integral in studying science.
This is a relatively easy science game because you only need a box of toothpicks and a pack of chewing gum. Instruct your child to build a structure using only these materials.
The toothpicks are the structure’s pillars and support, while the chewing gum will connect one toothpick to the other.
Of course, your kid doesn’t have to chew the gum, as this could be extremely messy and unsanitary.
Tell your kid that the structure should be sturdy and tall. Then, you can use a small piece of cardboard to try and knock the structure to the ground by fanning it.
If you have a couple of kids, you can make this even more exciting by challenging them to each build the tallest structure they can using only the materials.
This activity is a great way to develop your child’s engineering skills.
Did you know that you can teach your child basic coding with just a sheet of paper, a marker, a pair of scissors, and Legos?
To do this, grab a sheet of paper and draw a maze on it. It can be as simple or as intricate as you want, as long as it’s solvable.
Next, grab another sheet of paper and write different “codes” like “turn right,” “turn left,” “go forward,” and “go backward.”
Cut the codes and give them to your child. Place a Lego figure at the starting line of the maze and ask your child to complete the maze by giving you the codes one at a time.
For example, if your child gives you the code “go forward,” you have to move the Lego figure one step forward before giving the code back to your child.
This activity teaches your child that the right “code” can make inanimate objects move, complete puzzles, and solve equations.
This one takes a bit of time, but we promise you (and your kid) that it’s absolutely worth it.
To do this, you need an empty plastic bottle, three pencils, a funnel, tape, a cork, baking soda, and vinegar.
First, grab the empty bottle and attach the pencils evenly to its sides. The pencils will function as the rocket’s “feet” or launching pad. You can also use popsicle sticks if you want.
If you want to make it more realistic, add some designs to the empty bottle to make it look more like a rocket ship.
Then, replace the bottle cap with the cork and make sure that it tightly seals the bottle. You can also add a layer of tape to the edge of the cork to make it a better fit.
Once you’re done building the rocket ship, go outside and look for a safe area. Open the bottle and fill at least ¼ of it with vinegar.
Grab the funnel and pour some baking soda before quickly sealing it with the cork. Turn the bottle upside down and watch it fly into the air.
You can also make this a game and build two or several rockets to see which one will fly the highest.
This game teaches your kid the chemical reaction between substances, how they create pressure inside the bottle, and how fun science can be!
Just be sure that you do it in a safe and empty environment.
If your kid loves outer space and video games, you can find numerous computer games developed by NASA online.
Through games like Explore Mars, Relay, and CubeSat Builder, your kid can explore outer space and even build a NASA spacecraft!
What agency is better equipped to create space learning games than NASA, right?
Every child is a scientist. They are innately curious and driven to explore and ask questions that even adults sometimes ponder.
As parents, teachers, or adults, it is our job to satisfy their curiosity. There’s no better way to do that than by keeping them interested.
With this list of the best science games for kids, we look forward to seeing your child grow into a natural scientist, answering questions through experiments.
]]>This may be something that worries parents who are home-schooling their kids, because they just don’t have science labs in their homes, nor do they have access to a lot of scientific materials. But, this doesn’t mean that home-schooling parents can’t come up with fun and interesting ways to help their kids to learn all about science.
Also, kids don’t need to necessarily stay indoors in a classroom-like setting in order to experiment with science. There is a whole world out there, just waiting to be discovered by students of all ages, and there are tons of outdoor experiments for kids to work on.
Today we are going to take a look at some of our favorite outdoor experiments for kids. Let’s get started.
If you have access to a river or stream, you can take your kids there and they can do a simple experiment that will help them to learn about the organisms that actually live in that river. The best part about this experiment is that the only instrument your kids will need is a strainer.
But, rather than just handing them a strainer, get them to make their own, using a piece of strong wire, such as an old coat hanger, a piece of screen or mesh, and some duct tape.
The first step is to bend the wire into the shape of a circle, or as close to a circle as possible. If your children are younger, you may have to do this step for them. Next, bend a piece of screen or mesh around the wire or coat hanger. Use duct tape to keep the screen in place.
Now you and the kids can take the home-made strainer to the nearest river or stream. Let the kids dip the strainer into the water, and make sure that they hold it there for at least a minute or two, allowing the current to push things into the strainer. Then, get them to remove the strainer from the water and see what remains in the strainer.
You never know what they are going to find. For instance, they could find seeds that will eventually turn into plants along the river banks. Or, maybe there will even be tiny forms of life, such as insects, or even small fish such as minnows or crayfish.
While they are learning about these life forms, make sure that they also learn about conservation, and have them put the marine life back into the water.
One of the most fun parts of this experiment is that you never know what the strainers will catch. Your kids may even find small objects that have been lost by other people.
While this activity isn’t exactly an experiment, it is a great learning activity for budding scientists, and one that won’t cost anything. The best part is, the kids (and you) will have loads of fun exploring in nature. You can even combine this with the above experiment so they get two lessons in one!
All each kid will need for this activity is a notebook and a pencil or pen. Then, they can journal everything they are doing, just like Lewis and Clark did as the first European-Americans to explore what we now know to be the western United States. Their own journals included notes, as well as drawings of the many new things they saw, including animals, terrain, and plants.
Take your kids to a park or a body of water near your home, and let them pretend that they are explorers. Get them to closely examine plants, rocks, trees, insects, and animals and write about them in their journals. Encourage the kids to create drawings in their journals, or even draw maps that other “explorers” can use in the future.
You can find a different location to explore each week, so this could actually be a long-term thing that will help your kids to develop a love of biology, geology, and more.
The next experiment will help your kids to learn about soil, and find out that it is more than just dirt. There are many things they can learn from the composition of soil, and this experiment will help them to do so.
This is another inexpensive experiment, requiring only a pie pan, a small garden spade (or a plastic kids’ shovel), some garden soil, and water, and it something the kids can do without having to leave their own yard. This is a great experiment for smaller children, and they will have fun learning and getting dirty at the same time.
Take the kids to the yard and get them to dig up a bit of garden soil. Next, have them fill the pie pan with the soil. After they have plenty of soil, they can take the pan indoors and place it in an area where it will get plenty of sunlight, such as in front of a window.
Make sure they water the soil a little bit so it stays moist. Make sure the windows are not open so nothing can get into the soil.
Now the learning begins! Your kids will have to observe the soil daily to see if there are any changes. For instance, there may be earthworms or other worms and insects in the soil that they didn’t notice when they were digging.
They may even notice small sprouts beginning to grow. At the end of the experiment, have the kids put the soil and any insects or worms that are in it back into the garden.
You will need to set up this activity before the kids can take part, or have older kids help you with this first step of the project. A micro-hike will allow your kids to explore a tiny world and learn about the organisms that live in this world.
You will need to have some string, scissors, short stakes (small, fallen branches will work), magnifying glasses, paper, and toothpicks for this science experiment activity. The kids will also need a notebook and a pen or pencil to write down their findings. Measure about 20 to 30 feet of string, and tie each end of the string to one of the stakes.
Now, go outside and pick out an area for the micro-hike. It can be across the lawn, under shrubs and bushes, along a stream, etc. Place one stake in the ground, and then stretch the string across whatever area they will be working in.
If necessary, use more stakes to secure the line so it stays in place. Now the fun begins!
Get the kids to crawl on their hands and knees while following the string, starting where you placed the first stake. Each kid should have their own magnifying glass.
Have them search for things like plants, mosses, fungi, and even animal life, such as insects and worms. They will need to inch their way along the string to make sure that they don’t miss anything (or at least as little as possible).
Once they get to the end of the string, they can take notes about the various things they discovered along their micro-hike. Have them compare notes, because it will be interesting for them to see what each other has discovered. One kid may find something while another kid finds something completely different.
Following the discussion, have the kids take the paper and toothpicks to make little flags that they will then use to mark the areas to show what they have discovered.
Here is a fun experiment for kids that will help them to learn about where insects go when the weather turns colder. Why do they disappear in the winter? Your kids are going to learn through this experiment.
Some insects are bothered by cold weather, and they seem to pretty much vanish until the following spring. This activity will teach your kids just how much the cold weather can affect certain types of insects.
For this experiment, you will need a fresh jar, and a lid that has been outfitted with air holes. You may need to create the holes, which is easy. Simply use a hammer and a nail. Pound the nail into the lid several times until there are plenty of holes that will allow the insects to breathe.
You are also going to need some table syrup, a living fly that has been captured, and your refrigerator.
The first step of this outdoor experiment for kids (and actually the only part that will actually take place outdoors) is to capture a fly in the jar. Get the kids to put a bit of the table syrup inside the jar, which will make it easier to catch the fly because it will want the syrup.
Once they have caught a fly, put the lid with the holes on the jar to close it. Have your kids observe the fly to see how it behaves. At first, the fly will be quite active and moving quickly. The next step is to place the jar inside the refrigerator for about a half an hour.
Have your kids remove the jar from the fridge, and then they can observe how the fly moves now that it is cold. Get them to take notes, so they can make a really good comparison as to how active the fly was before refrigeration, and after.
Remember, the aim of this project is not to harm or kill the fly. Once the kids have observed the fly in both warm and cold states, have them release it back outdoors so it can live its normal life.
This activity is known as the rainbow rock collection. Your kids, and even yourself, may be quite surprised to see just how many colors are right in your own yard. This is a great experiment for younger children, and it can be combined as an arts and crafts class.
Your kids will need to have some sort of container for the rocks they collect in the yard (or wherever you take them to collect the rocks). They will also need glue or duct tape, along with some poster board.
Get the kids to collect as many different colored rocks as they can find. It will be lots of fun for them to see just how many colors and tones they discover in the rocks. Next, set up an area where they can glue the rocks onto the poster board. They can glue them in random order, or create a picture using the rocks.
Finally, take the kids to a natural history museum to learn why the rock specimens are made up of certain colors. If there is no museum in your area, find a school where geology is taught, and ask if a teacher can help your kids to identify the rocks and learn about their colors.
These are just a few of many outdoor experiments for kids that you can set up to help your kids to learn about science and have a great time doing it.
Talk to other home-schooling parents about doing these activities in larger groups, and look for more learning resources that will help bring your kids closer to nature and science. Keeping these experiments light and fun is a great way to show kids that science can indeed be lots of fun!
]]>There are many ways that you can teach your kids science without having to be a teacher or scientist yourself. Today we are going to talk about how to teach science to your kids in a way that will help them to not only learn, but to develop a life-long interest in science. Let’s get started.
First of all, it is important that as a parent-teacher, you need to make science a priority. Obviously it is going to be part of the recommended curriculum, but many parents tend to let science fall a bit by the wayside because they have difficulty understanding many of the concepts themselves. They just don’t realize that this is as much of a learning opportunity for themselves as it is for their kids.
You are the person who sets the tone for the education your kids receive, so it is important that you have a very positive and upbeat attitude about science. If you think it is boring, chances are you are going to pass your own disinterest along to your kids. They will see that you don’t care, so they won’t care about it either.
In the United States, the Education Commission requires that students have no less than three to four years of science education, including a lab, in order to be considered eligible to graduate from high school.
In fact, most colleges won’t accept students who have any lesser science background. It is actually recommended that science lessons start when kids are in the first grade.
It is important that you find a curriculum that works for our family. This is likely to insure that you will be successful in teaching science to your kids. The curriculum must be created in a way that will hold kids’ attention and keep them interested in what they are learning about. If you notice that they are becoming bored or acting indifferent towards science, it may be that you will need to change up the curriculum.
One of the best ways to keep them interested is to make science a hands-on subject. In high school, kids are asked to do experiments for science classes. You can get them to do experiments at home as well.
When they are doing hands-on experiments, they will be learning about a lot more than just science. They will also be learning about critical thinking and problem solving, along with many other important life skills.
It is important that you plan plenty of experiments, and that these experiments are right for your kids’ grade levels. It is recommended that home-school parents plan a minimum of one science experiment per week, but the more, the better.
Now, you may be wondering how your kids are going to be able to do science experiments when there is no actual laboratory in your home. The solution to this problem is to stock up on plenty of fun and interactive science kits.
These kits come with most, or in many cases, all of the items needed to conduct a variety of fun and interesting experiments.
The biggest benefit of these kits, besides the fact that your kids are going to be learning from them, is that you won’t have to go out and buy a lot of items or search your home for items because everything you need will be right in the box.
Sure, you may have to spend a bit of money, but this is one investment you can’t afford not to make.
When it comes to teaching science at home, it is important that you have science materials stored in a well-organized manner. There should be a specific place for everything that your kids will need for their science classes.
It is also just as important to teach your kids that once they are finished with any supplies that they must return said supplies to their proper locations.
Not only is this a way to stay organized, but it is also going to help maintain the science equipment that you will be using in your classes. Make sure that the area for science materials and supplies is well out of reach of younger children. Ideally, everything will be placed inside a locking cabinet.
Even if you are buying science kits for your kids, you may still not have everything you need to teach them about various areas of science. You might even be surprised to learn just how simple some of the supplies you will need actually are.
For instance, there is a lot that can be done with balloons, straws, and string. These are all things that are easily lost, or can wear out or you simply need more. You can find these and other science-related items at your local dollar store, so you won’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money.
Other items you should keep on-hand in large amounts include paper towels, popsicle sticks, q-tips, and aluminum foil.
There are some pretty amazing science books available for students of all levels, including younger children. It is important that you use these books to help supplement your children’s science classes. The more they read, the more they are going to learn.
Here is a great example. If you are working on a chapter in the textbook that is about animals, make sure they have plenty of books about various animals so they can do more research on their own.
You can even go as far as to make sure you leave a few of these books lying around the house. That way, if your kids happen to become bored, they may decide that they want to read the books, and even though they aren’t in a classroom setting, they will continue to learn.
There are always going to be some areas of science that interest some kids more than others. So, when your kids find something they are interested, encourage them to dig deeper to learn more than what they are getting from their textbooks. Make sure you allow them plenty of time to explore this new interest, and give them plenty of encouragement.
The more learning materials and resources you are able to provide, the farther down the rabbit holes your kids are going to be able to travel. They will be learning about stuff they are really interested in, and this is going to help keep their grades up.
Surely you remember how exciting it was to walk into a classroom to find a television set up. You just knew you were in for a treat, even if it was educational. It meant not having to spend the entire hour with your nose stuck in a book.
Science documentaries are not only a great way to keep kids interested in science, but also to help in areas that you may not be so sure of yourself. These shows can be amazing teaching aids, and they help break up the monotony of a long, boring school day.
There are so many different types of science documentaries available online, and of course, there are also plenty of channels that offer nothing but science documentaries, such as the National Geographic channel.
Don’t forget about YouTube science channels as well, of which there are several. Keep in mind that the documentaries you show to your kids are age-appropriate and in line with what they are already learning.
Learning doesn’t just take place inside classrooms. There is a whole world out there, just waiting to be discovered by your kids. So, instead of doing all of the teaching inside, take them out where they can see science at work. This can be anything from going to a park to learn about nature to visiting a museum to learn about astronomy. There are many options available.
For instance, if your kids are learning about astronomy, take them outside at night to look up at the stars. If you live in a brightly-lit area, you may have to take a short drive out into the country where they will be able to see more stars.
There are some really cool glow-in-the-dark astronomy charts you can get to bring along, so you can locate various constellations, planets, etc.
Even if you were only a fair-at-best science student, it doesn’t mean that you can’t find ways to teach your kids about science while home-schooling them. You just need to find activities and resources that work for you and your kids.
]]>After all, your home is only so large, and if you are going to turn one of your rooms into a classroom, organization will be important. Keeping all of that schoolwork and all of those school supplies well organized is going to be harder than you think.
Therefore, we’re going to provide you with some great tips and methods on how to organize homeschool supplies.
Let’s now take a look at some really useful methods and tips on how to organize your home school supplies. As you’re about to see, it’s actually fairly easy to do, plus there are so many different options at your disposal.
One of the easiest and best ways to organize home school supplies, especially the things that your children will use on a daily basis, is to use a chair desk with a storage bin integrated into the desktop. Yes, here we are talking about those same types of desks that you sat in during elementary school.
They might have an opening at the front of the desk that you can put things into, or the desktop might have a hinged lid that you can actually lift up to put things underneath. Whatever the case may be, this is a really effective way to save a lot of space and to keep everything well organized.
There’s also the fact that you can fit multiple desks into a single room, just in case you have more than one child that you are homeschooling. It’s also a good way to bring back a little bit of nostalgia too.
Another good option is to use a rolling storage cart. Here, we’re talking about a very simple cart that has a variety of shelves or bins integrated into it. This is a good idea for storing a variety of school supplies such as markers, pencils, papers, textbooks, glue sticks, and everything in between.
You can easily organize all of the materials on the various shelves or within the various bins. It’s also really convenient because you can roll these storage carts around from one room to another, roll them into and out of a closet, and so on and so forth.
The fact that they are portable and don’t have to be stationary in one place is a big benefit that many people are going to like. This is likely one of the most popular storage solutions for home school supplies.
The next good method to organize home school supplies is by using hanging storage cupboards. These can come in many different forms. If you are really serious about homeschooling your child for many years on end, using hanging storage cupboards that you actually mount to your walls is one good idea.
This is a rather permanent fixture, but it does make for a good solution. If you affix these storage cupboards to your walls, they’ll be able to take a lot of weight, and they look pretty decent too. You can actually make somewhat of a classroom if you get these.
If you don’t want something quite so permanent, there are also hanging storage cupboards that you can hang from a doorway. This is pretty convenient if you have limited space or don’t want to wreck your walls by mounting something. Simply hang the cupboards on the other end of the door, and you are good to go.
If you don’t want to mount anything at all, you could always use some cubbies or cupboards that are placed on the floor. Yes, here we are talking about something like a shelf that is divided into small squares or cubes. These are ideal for home school organization.
Each square or cube can be used for a different topic or a different type of school material. Some could be used for clothing, some for snacks, some for physical school materials, some for textbooks, and so on and so forth.
Moreover, if you get one that isn’t too large, you can also easily move it around. On that note, this also makes for a good art project because you can have your child design their own cubbies.
Yes, here we are diverging a little bit from the main theme, but the fact of the matter is that binders always help. If you expect your child to be able to organize their school work properly, three ring binders are the best solution.
This is also true for you the parent, who is now also the teacher. You need a good way to keep all of the different subjects organized and separated from each other. A three ring binder, or a few of them, combined with some dividers, will definitely help on this front.
If you want to go for something super simple see-through plastic bins with lids are always a good idea. Plastic bins come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, which is one benefit.
You can get even get really small plastic bins which are perfect for basic school supplies, and art supplies, like glue sticks, scissors, and other such things. You can then get much larger bins for bigger school supplies, such as for textbooks, sheets of paper, and more. Plastic bins with lids are always a good way to go.
Even better is if you get bins with weights that also have handles on them, so you can easily lift them up and move them around. If you want to take things one step further, you can even use a rolling storage cart along with these bins for extra organizational capabilities.
A really good way to keep things organized, especially if we are talking about papers and artwork, is by using a pegboard. The right kind of pegboard will also allow you to organize other types of school supplies, such as scissors and anything else with the handle that can be hung up.
Pegboards are really convenient because you can configure those pegs in any way you want. You can put the pegboard on the ground just leaning against the wall, or you can actually mount it on a wall as well.
Not only are pegboards convenient for organization, but they also really fit with the school aesthetic. They make a room look like a school room.
If you want to keep things as organized as possible, getting an actual teacher’s desk is a good idea. Here we are really just talking about a large desk that has a number of drawers and cupboards. This is just like a desk that you saw your teachers have when you went to school.
This is another one of these things that will really help add to the whole school room aesthetic. It’s going to make the classroom look legitimate. Moreover, it will allow you to keep more or less all of your school supplies organized in one simple place. After all, if you are only homeschooling a single child, you won’t need all that many materials.
OK, so this one might seem obvious to some, but many people still don’t think of it. You want to have an actual room dedicated to homeschooling. If you are going to take several years to teach your child from the comfort of your own home, you may as well make it as comfortable as possible.
Having a dedicated room for school work will help produce a bit of a routine.
Your child will get used to going into that one room every morning to learn. You can really customize that one room to be like a classroom experience. You don’t want to teach your child in the living room in front of the TV, or anything else of the sort. Keeping everything organized in one single room is a really good idea.
Some people might choose to use hanging shoe organizers to organize a variety of school materials. This could include scissors, glue sticks, papers, pencils, and more. Hanging shoe organizers are very convenient and they are cheap too.
11. Use Paper Trays
Yes, your basic paper tray is also a good addition to any school room. This is a special area for you, a parent or teacher. It will allow you to keep track of incoming and outgoing assignments.
If you have some old mason jars hanging around, these make for great storage areas for pencils, markers, and other such utensils. You can also have your child decorate the mason jars, which makes for a good art project.
If you really want to recreate the school feeling, getting some filing cabinets or lockers is always a good idea. This is especially the case if you plan on homeschooling your child for many years.
You are going to need some filing cabinets to keep all of those assignments and papers well organized over the course of several years. No office or schoolroom is complete without a good filing cabinet or locker.
As you can see, there are plenty of great ways to organize home school materials and supplies. It really comes down to how much space you have and how much money you want to invest in creating a real classroom vibe.
]]>If you’re looking to introduce your children to the world of art with a homeschool activity, then you need to look no further. Gather all of the materials needed for your exciting project: construction paper, glue, scissors, and crayons or markers.
The possibilities with these objects are endless, so don’t be afraid to be creative and have fun! Start off simple with a colorful collage that details abstract shapes; your children will be sure to love it!
Maybe you’ll go one step further and make a mosaic picture out of variously colored pieces of paper! It’s up to you – let their imaginations run wild and enjoy the process together.
Home art projects are a great way to connect with family and friends through creativity. Drawing a picture of your family or friends is a wonderful way to express yourself artistically and capture special moments in time.
Working on a portrait of loved ones can be incredibly fulfilling and can bring untold joy, both during the process and afterwards when you’re able to look back at the artwork you have created.
You don’t need any prior experience in drawing or skills – just be creative, let your imagination take flight, and enjoy the process! With some practice, colors, and warmth, you can create something that will last forever.
Creating art from cutout images from magazines has to be one of the most exciting and creative activities to do when you’re homeschooling. Collages allow you to express yourself freely, while exploring different textures and colors at the same time.
Not only that, but it’s a great way to spark discussions about current events and everyday life. Plus, it encourages your child to become an independent thinker by allowing them the space to think outside the box! All in all, it’s an imaginative project that takes art appreciation to a whole new level.
Homeschooling can often be a challenge, but art projects can make it fun. A great one to try is creating a sculpture out of clay or playdough. Not only will this inspire your children to use their imagination and explore their creative energy, but they’ll also get to learn some basics of 3D modelling and construction.
Once the sculpture has been completed, you can even have them work on coloring it, or add other materials such as Crayola Model Magic, wire coils etc. for further embellishment. This is an art project that will truly engage your children’s interest -from start to finish!
Homeschooling art projects are unlimited in their possibilities! Engaging children in art activities will help them build on creativity and motor skills, while also having fun.
A great way to both fascinate and educate your child is to have them create a work of art by painting patterns and colors on a canvas. With just some paint, brushes, and enough imagination your child can produce a grand piece of artwork that will sure to yield compliments from everyone who sees it.
Your little artist won’t be able to stop talking about their new masterpiece! Let your child set the creative direction as they discover the power of color and shapes while working diligently on their own unique representation. The finished project will be admired by all, including yourself.
Art projects provide a wonderful way to learn and often bring out new talents in children. One of the newer ways to explore artistic endeavors is with homeschooling art blow painting. This exciting activity allows children to explore their creativity without making a mess of their home environment, since the mediums used are either water or sand based.
By using blow painting techniques with these paint mediums, children can create almost any image they can imagine; from shapes and designs, to actual pictures.
With this hands-on project, kids get to enjoy learning in a creative way that strengthens their problem-solving skills and opens them up to explore their imagination in an exciting way.
Homeschooling art can be a fun and unique way for kids to express themselves while learning artistically. One popular project among homeschoolers is creating wooden peg animals. Peg animals create vibrant three-dimensional art by combining colorful pieces of wood with small hardware items and paint, allowing children to explore the world of sculpture without getting too technical.
They are also simple enough that kids of any age can follow along, whether they’re just starting out in art or if they’re advanced practicably minded. Even better, when these projects are complete, families get to admire their creations as an animal menagerie proudly displayed in the home or office!
Homeschooling art doesn’t need to break the bank, nor require a lot of fancy supplies. In fact, an interesting activity for many kids is “paint with water.” All you need for this activity is a set of water-resistant color pencils and watercolor paper or boards. Encouraging budding artists to draw on their paper with the colored pencils as they would with traditional pencils and then brush over them with clean water will bring immediately bring about a transformation!
The colors will come alive and spread out over the page in unexpected ways! It’s a different kind of painting everyone can have fun doing without needing any additional supplies like paint brushes, pigments, and other mediums. Homeschooling art can be fun and creative with just some basic supplies like these.
Homeschooling art can be an incredibly rewarding experience for both parents and students. One particular example is the creation of origami fish, a timeless art form dating back to ancient China. This art is perfect for younger children as it requires no special materials and produces beautiful results with relatively simple instructions.
With careful guidance from their parents, children can learn how to make origami fish that look just as amazing as any professional design. In addition, even more complex designs are achievable with practice, providing endless opportunities for continued learning and creativity within the home.
It’s no surprise that teaching art through homeschooling projects such as the origami fish can leave lasting impressions in both the minds of children and the hearts of their parents!
Drawing and painting offer timeless ways to express creativity, but what about those who want to learn something a little more three-dimensional? Homeschooling art classes present students with the opportunity to experience new mediums such as crafting candles. From soy wax to paraffin and beeswax, every type of candle-maker has a lot of elements to consider when selecting their materials. Short wick or long? What color will easily fit into the home decor?
All these things must be taken into account in addition to learning proper pouring techniques and safety guidelines. There’s even an entire world of candle scents to explore that can be matched perfectly with any personality or room.
Crafting candles by hand is an especially rewarding process, one where student creations can inspire future endeavors in the same art form – or another completely different one!
Homeschooling art can be a fun and educational way to engage children in the arts. One of the best activities you can do to keep children engaged is to make a calendar. Doing this encourages creativity, organization, and responsibility.
With the flexibility that homeschooling allows, it can be easy for students to get off track, but making a calendar of activities helps develop structure and gives students more freedom in how they want to complete their assignments. It also teaches them how to properly budget their time and prioritize the necessary work that needs to be done.
Furthermore, by having their weekly schedule written out for them visually, children will become more familiar with tracking dates and reflecting on their progress as the year progresses.
Homeschooling art can be a creative and educational outlet. One interesting project that families could try is creating a fingerprint tree. This could involve taking a large sheet of paper, drawing a tree trunk and several branches, then each family member dipping their finger in paint or ink to create leaves on the tree. This project would not only be fun for everyone involved, but it would also be a great keepsake of their family history.
In addition to fostering creativity, projects like this help teach children about branch structure and the relationships between them and their family members. Homeschooling art provides parents with an excellent opportunity to open the door to learning in fun and memorable ways.
Art education at home doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated! One fun and easy activity parents can try with their kids is pull yarn through paint. All you need to do is get some tempera paint, pour it onto a paper plate or other wide and shallow container, then dip your yarn into the paint and pull it through.
Children of all ages will love watching as the patterns begin to form on their paper as the yarn comes out the other side! This low cost, highly engaging project will help boost creativity in your homeschooling art class while also providing an opportunity for science exploration as kids watch how the paint and yarn interact together.
Homeschooling art projects don’t always have to follow the traditional paint and canvases approach. Embracing fabric crafts is a wonderful way for students to explore creativity in a tangible form. From quilting and sewing to weaving and knitting, there are endless possibilities for kids to get their hands on different types of colorful fabrics and create one-of-a-kind works of art.
Fabric crafts can also be incredibly useful in learning history or geography; why not create a map quilt that highlights the states you learn about together? Fabric crafting offers students an opportunity to hone their hand-eye coordination, problem solving skills, math knowledge, and so much more – all whilst having fun and building self confidence!
Homeschoolers and educators alike are always looking for creative and engaging ways to teach art. Clay craft projects are one of the most fun, versatile, and rewarding art mediums available.
Students can learn a variety of techniques with clay, such as pinch pots, coil construction, additive sculpture, and surface decoration. Not only that, but activities with clay also promote development in problem solving, dexterity, fine motor skills, 3-dimensional thinking and creativity while largely limiting direct messes.
Each project makes the learning process interactive and hands-on as children literally get their hands dirty with this ever popular material. Clay crafts make it easy for teachers to give students of any age or level the opportunity to try something new with an enjoyable twist.
These are just a few ideas to get you started. Be creative and have fun! There’s no wrong way to make art. Art is a great way to express yourself, relax, and unwind. It can also be a fun activity to do with family and friends. Do you have any other ideas for how to make art? Share them in the comments below!
]]>However, artwork has been proven to be very important for children to do on many different fronts. At the very least, it helps them express emotions and be creative.
That said, you might not know what kind of art to do at home with your children. Therefore, today, we’re going to provide you with some great art class ideas for homeschool children.
Let’s take a look at some of the best, easiest, and most creative art ideas for home schooled children that you can do at home with your kids.
One thing that you can do at home with your children are some really cool sunscreen paintings. No, kids don’t always want to put their sunscreen on, but that’s because they don’t know how fun it can be. This is a very simple art project that is going to show your kids the importance of sun protection. It can also be a whole lot of fun.
Here, you’re going to get some black construction paper, a paintbrush, and some relatively high SPF sunscreen. You are then going to get your children to draw whatever they want on that black construction paper using the sunscreen. You’ll then put the black construction paper with the sunscreen painting out in the sunlight.
Take some rocks and put them on the corners so the painting doesn’t blow away in the wind. You want to leave it in direct and bright sunlight for around three hours.
When you come back to it, you’ll see that everywhere that hasn’t been covered in sunscreen has faded a whole lot. The areas that do have sunscreen on them won’t have faded at all. Not only does it look really cool, but now you can demonstrate to your child just how important sunscreen is for their own health.
Another cool homeschool art idea for your children is to create some kind of artistic journal. Now, there are many different forms that this art journal can take. First and foremost, the journal could of course be about the feelings that your child has. Journals are great places to express feelings that we don’t want to say out loud.
Your child could write down what they are feeling and then do some artwork on the side to really put some emotion into it. Alternatively, the journal doesn’t have to have any writing in it at all. The journal can be 100% artwork. This way, your child can draw, paint, and do whatever else, to express their emotions in ways that words can’t.
On the other hand, the journal could focus on the specific subject or topic. You could have a journal that is all about animals, with each page dedicated to a different animal.
You could then have your child draw or paint the animal, and write down some interesting facts about them. This way, they can practice their artistic skills while also getting some reading and writing in.
If you have a child that is seriously interested in art, getting some how to draw books might be a good idea. Here, we are talking about books designed for people who are really into art, but don’t know where to start.
These are books that start out with basic drawing concept and skills, and then work their way up to more difficult aspects of art. If you have a child that is a perfectionist, a how to draw book is probably a good idea. These are excellent four children who maybe aren’t overly spontaneous or can’t think of what to draw on their own.
They provide your child with instruction and guidance to keep them on track, while still keeping things light and fun. This will help teach your child basic artistic skills, while also teaching them how to follow directions.
Another great art project for homeschooled children is Skittles or candy art. Here, you want to get yourself some kind of candy that has a colored coating on the outside, such as Skittles, Smarties, M&M’s, or anything else of the sort. You want them to have many different colors on the outside, because this is what your art project is going to be based on.
The main goal here is to arrange the candies on a piece of paper to create some kind of artwork. Then, you pour some water onto the candies, which causes the colors to leach off of them. The colors will come off of the candies and onto the paper, therefore forming some really neat artwork. It’s just a really fun and colorful activity.
Now, if we are talking about Skittles, each of the dyes used to color the exterior features slightly different scientific properties. So, if you want to take things up a notch, you can have your child record different things they notice about each of the colors as they leach off of the candies. It can be as simple as having your child record how the colors mix together.
Although it’s not exactly the most riveting or creative type of art around, studying art is also very important. After all, you are homeschooling your children, which means that you are educating them.
Well, a big part of art is studying art history, not just doing artwork. It’s important for your children to know who famous artists were or are, and why they are so important.
Knowing the history behind art is just as important as being able to do art. Therefore, you might want to get yourself some art textbooks or art information books. This way, you can have your child study some of the most famous artists from around the world and their works of art.
You could of course do some quizzes and tests to see how well your child retains the knowledge.
That said, you can also step things up a bit. You can always have your child try to recreate some of the most famous works of these artists. You might have them try to recreate it 100%, or do their own interpretation of it.
Whatever the case might be, knowing what the most famous artists in history have done is something that every homeschool child should learn.
Another great art idea for home school children is making portraits. Portraits are always really fun to make because they can be done in many different ways. Just like we talked about above, portraits can be very realistic or they can be interpreted.
Of course, if you have a very young child, you might want to go more for the interpretive side of things. However, if you have a young adult on your hands, going for realism might be a good idea too. You can always play to the strengths of your child as needed.
What’s really cool here is that the medium your child uses is virtually unlimited. You could use construction paper with various colors and shapes of pasta to make portraits. You can use normal paint, watercolors, sparkles, sprinkles, beads, and many other things too. if you want to keep things simple, start with some plain crayons.
A really cool type of art to do with homeschooled children is known as blow painting. Blow painting simply involves using a straw to blow paint on paper. Your child is going to use their own breath to direct the paint around as they want.
This creates some really cool and stunning visual effects. Your children can use any color of paint they want, change up the size of the straws to change the effects, and more.
It’s also a really cool project to do when it comes to color mixing. You can have your children mix together different colors of paint to see what the results are. This way, not only is this project a creative one, but also an educational one too.
OK, so this isn’t actually an artistic activity per se. However, we do think that it is still quite important, as it does have to do with the educational side of things. Although kids might find it boring, taking them to various art museums or children’s museums with art spaces is recommended.
Once again, teaching your children about different artists and the history of art is quite important. It’s all about broadening their horizons and showing them what the world has to offer.
If you go to a children’s museum that has dedicated art spaces, your children can also do some fun artwork at the same time. This way, you can have your children make a mess in the museum and then take them home. It’s fun for them and it saves a whole lot of clean up time for you.
Another cool art project for home-schooled children is making stop motion animation or clay animation. Some of the best media to use here is either clay or Lego. Both clay and Lego are really easy to manipulate to create many different frames. This way, your children can create characters, scenes, or whatever else, to create a full story.
You could have your child make literally hundreds and hundreds of frames to create a small stop-motion or clay animation movie. What’s really cool here is that it’s not just artwork, but also media studies. Your kids have to use a camera to take a picture of the individual frames.
Your children then have to upload the pictures, edit them, and put them in sequence. The process teaches your kids about art and technology at the same time. Moreover, we do have to say that this is one of the home art projects that kids tend to like the most. It really lets them be creative.
Home school art projects can be educational, fun, and creative. Remember that as a homeschool teacher to your children, you have to take care of both the creative and the educational side of things. So, do a bit of book learning, go to a museum, and mix in some fun hands-on art projects too.
]]>This course gives parents the tools to build positive, productive relationships with their children. The focus is developing strong communication skills and disciplining effectively without yelling or punishment.
Whether you’re a first-time or experienced parent, this Positive Parenting Solutions review will provide all the necessary information.
The Positive Parenting Solutions online course is one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly parenting courses currently available. It is perfect for parents who want to learn conflict-preventing parenting techniques that are proven to work.
The tools and resources in this course will help you build a strong foundation for your family that will last a lifetime.
Positive parenting is a parenting approach that focuses on raising children in a way that promotes cooperation and conflict-free communication. It follows the premise that children are likelier to thrive when they feel loved and supported.
They need to be taught how to manage their emotions and behaviors healthily, and that’s where a positive parenting solutions review can help.
Positive parenting involves using positive reinforcement to encourage the desired behavior and setting clear limits on unacceptable behavior. However, it doesn’t rely on rewards or “blackmail,” which would incline many children to rebel. This parenting style also involves teaching children problem-solving skills so they can learn how to deal with difficult situations in constructive ways.
The goal is to help children develop into happy, well-adjusted individuals capable of forming healthy relationships and reaching their full potential.
In this course, you’ll learn gentle parenting techniques to help you build a strong bond with your child while maintaining discipline. You’ll also learn to communicate effectively with your child and set boundaries without being too strict.
The course consists of seven sections, following the 7-Step Parenting Success System. The first section assesses parenting personalities, covers the basics of child psychology, and introduces key concepts that the steps explore in more depth.
Further modules focus on building empowering parent-child communication skills, exploring different approaches to discipline, and guiding when and how to use them effectively.
At the end of the course, you’ll be battle ready with strategies for dealing with everyday parenting challenges like tantrums, bedtime struggles, and sibling rivalry. You’ll achieve all this without being “the bad guy” or triggering your child’s rebellious instincts.
There are three payment plans: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each has its benefits and drawbacks, so deciding which suits you before enrolling is essential. The Bronze plan is the most affordable option but has the fewest features.
You’ll have access to the basics but won’t be able to take advantage of some of the more advanced features. The Silver plan is a good middle-of-the-road option.
More expensive than the Bronze plan, it includes additional features that may be worth the extra cost. The Gold plan is the costliest option but is the most feature-rich option. If you’re serious about making positive changes in your parenting, this is the plan for you.
All payment tiers provide 36 easy-to-implement parenting tools over 49 depth video sessions and a downloadable digital workbook. The higher payment tiers (Silver and Gold) include access to a private community, 1-on-1 LIVE help, a handy mobile app, 25 advanced power struggle modules, and lifetime access to all materials.
With the highest-tier (Gold) plan, you’ll be eligible for personalized success group coaching. As a bonus, with the Gold plan, you’ll also have unlimited and offline access to all learning materials and coaching calls that you can review anytime.
The Positive Parenting Solutions is a positive and eye-opening experience. A wealth of resources is available with the course, including the downloadable workbook, audio and video recordings of each lesson, and access to a helpful private online community.
The self-paced nature allows you to complete it in your own time without feeling pressured or burned out. While you’ll need to dedicate plenty of time to review the entire material, you can prioritize and create the perfect schedule that suits your needs.
Personalized success coaching sets Positive Parenting Solutions apart from similar online programs. Their one-on-one coaching sessions are tailored to individual parents and children, making learning gentle parenting techniques more effective.
During these sessions, parents learn to set realistic expectations for their children, manage their emotions, and establish positive discipline techniques. They will also have the opportunity to practice what they’ve learned with the help of their coach. This personalized service ensures parents feel confident and prepared to implement different strategies.
Amy McCreary is a fantastic instructor who is passionate about the topic of positive parenting. She goes above and beyond to ensure the participants understand the various concepts.
Her knowledge of the subject matter is vast, and she shares real-life examples with the attendees to help them better understand the course. Best of all, she is an active community member, always ready to provide help and support.
The excellent course content teaches you about child development, effective discipline strategies, and creating a positive parenting environment in a comprehensive and digestible manner.
The easy-to-follow lessons will resonate with you and leave a solid long-term impact. We highly recommend this course to any parent seeking guidance on raising happy, well-adjusted children.
The Parenting-In-Your-Pocket mobile app is a great way to keep your parenting information organized and accessible. This app lets you track your child’s progress, set goals, and access resources. It also includes a built-in messaging system to connect with other parents.
The entirety of the web-based system of the program is available with this handy tool. The app is available for free on the App Store and Google Play.
The Positive Parenting Solutions Online Course is an excellent resource for parents struggling with their children’s behavior. The course provides valuable information and tools to help parents change their children’s behavior. However, parents should be aware of some drawbacks before enrolling.
The cost is one of the potential drawbacks of the Positive Parenting Solutions Online Course. The course isn’t cheap and may not be affordable for all families. The multi-tier system alleviates this problem somewhat. That said, this system may confuse some parents. They may also feel they’re missing out without subscribing to the higher tiers.
It’s important to note that the online course doesn’t seem adequate for single-parent families or those with many children. The program is geared more towards two-parent families with one or two children. This can be to the detriment of some single-parent families or those with many children.
The reason is that the course may not have as much information or advice relevant to their situation.
Additionally, the coursework might be too extensive for some parents. They might want to dedicate several hours each week to completing the coursework and practicing the techniques taught in the lessons, but time restrictions prove prohibitive.
Some parents may feel uncomfortable discussing personal parenting issues with strangers online. While sharing personal experiences isn’t mandatory, you might feel like you aren’t genuinely contributing to the community.
The Positive Parenting Solutions online course is a convenient resource with many handy features. However, there are downsides to this program.
Many families have benefited from the Positive Parenting Solutions Online Course despite potential drawbacks. The techniques have helped countless parents turn their children’s behavior around.
If you’re struggling with your child’s behavior and are looking for a comprehensive resource to help, then the Positive Parenting Solutions Online Course may suit you. The course covers many well-rounded topics and provides actionable advice to help you improve your parenting skills.
The price of the course is relatively affordable, and you can access it from anywhere with an internet connection. Overall, the quality of the content is impressive. Hopefully, our Positive Parenting Solutions review has proved useful. We recommend this course to anyone looking to improve their parenting skills.
]]>Many Time Tales Reviews explain how it has helped students learn math more effectively. This article will also show you how it helps homeschool students learn multiplication facts in a more engaging and less intimidating way.
Multiplication facts are the basic building blocks of multiplication. They are the combinations of numbers that, when multiplied together, give a specific product. For example, 3 x 4 = 12 is a multiplication fact. It states that 3 multiplied by 4 equals 12. Memorizing multiplication facts is an essential step in learning and understanding multiplication.
Learning multiplication facts is vital for students because it lays the foundation for more advanced math concepts and problem-solving. Quickly recalling multiplication facts allows students to perform more complex calculations more easily and efficiently.
Additionally, a solid understanding of multiplication facts can help students better understand other mathematical operations, such as division, fractions, and algebra. Overall, it allows students to think mathematically, make connections between different mathematical concepts and develop problem-solving skills.
Times Tales is a mnemonic-based method that helps students memorize multiplication facts by associating them with a story or a visual image. It includes books, flashcards, and videos that present stories and images for each multiplication fact.
The stories and images are designed to be memorable and easy to recall, making it simple for students to remember the facts. The goal is to make the learning process more engaging and compelling so students can easily recall the information when needed. The program is commonly used to supplement traditional math instruction and is especially beneficial for students who struggle with memorization.
There are 18 stories for the students to learn in the program, divided into two parts. Part 1 presents lower multiplication facts (3 and 4), while Part 2 contains upper multiplication facts (6, 7, 8, and 9). Each course discusses one of these multiplication facts.
After finishing a session (either the lower or upper), parents are encouraged to spend a week or two practicing the program’s exercises to solidify the student’s comprehension of the subject.
To teach with Times Tales, you can use three approaches: the storybook and workbook, the video, or a combination of the two.
The storybook comprises narratives and characters that serve as an introduction to multiplication facts. For instance, six is represented by a group of sixth-graders with heads that mimic the number. A brief story and corresponding artwork are provided for each fact (6×3, for example) to aid the students in remembering the product.
The book does not have the most intricate artwork or captivating stories we have ever seen or read. But in general, the illustrations are endearing and memorable. The stories are also brief and simple to recollect. Those qualities are vital to creating an effective mnemonic.
The students can read this storybook easily and should be able to retain the narratives accurately with little effort.
The workbook is intended to help students embed the mnemonics introduced in the stories. It may include character reviews, quizzes, crossword puzzles, flashcards, in-depth exercises, story questions, and more.
The worksheets are brief, not overly complicated, and include a variety of non-drill tasks. They should be less intimidating for students, especially those with math anxiety.
They employ the same black-and-white aesthetic as the storybooks. So, while they contain some fun images, they aren’t the most interesting.
Times Tales also provides video-based learning that can be used in addition to or in place of the books. The video is available on DVD, USB, or via digital streaming.
Parents who have struggled for years to teach their kids math facts probably realize that teaching demands a lot of time and effort. They find they need to do practically everything themselves, including designing the approach or curriculum, conducting research, drilling their kids on what they’ve learned, and so on. Thankfully, this video-based component will make their job as teachers easier.
They just need to play the video and let it do the teaching. An animated instructor narrates the lessons, reads stories, teaches concepts, and sometimes appears suddenly on the screen to guide the students through the course components. Another advantage of this video-based learning component is that it allows the students to study independently without the actual presence of the teacher.
The video is designed for self-study and follows a pattern:
Students who cannot memorize the times’ tables well. Things can be slightly simpler using the visual mnemonic-based method, which offers an alternative to straightforward memorizing. It allows them to connect more with the subject they are studying.
Students who despise drill and rote tasks. Times Tales uses stories and workbook activities to make math facts more approachable and enjoyable.
Busy parents looking for an effective way to teach math. Times Tales provides a video-based learning component that allows kids to learn independently.
Students who are visual and auditory. Times Tales has graphic stories and narrated videos, making it a fantastic choice for those who learn best through sight or sound.
Pros
Cons
Homeschooling math can be challenging for a variety of reasons. One reason is that the parents, as the primary educators, may not have a strong background in math themselves.
They certainly have a mountain to climb to teach the subject effectively. Homeschooled students may also have different learning styles and paces; thus, finding the right curriculum or teaching materials that align with their learning style and level of understanding can be difficult.
The homeschool environment is distinct from that of a typical classroom. Homeschooled students may not have access to the same resources or support systems as students in a traditional classroom setting.
For example, they may not have a math teacher or peer group to work with. The lack of structure and routine in a homeschool environment can make it difficult for students to focus on math and stay on task. Furthermore, the lack of assessments and testing may make it harder for the student to keep track of their progress and for the teacher to measure the student’s understanding of the material.
It’s worth noting that these challenges are common among all parents and educators. This article is only one of many Times Tales reviews available that show how Times Tales provides the right resources and support to address the challenge. Parents can now develop the skills and confidence they need to effectively teach math to their children.
]]>Homeschooling became an option to change all that. With homeschool curriculums, parents can choose an educational method focusing on their children’s individual interests. It also offers a wide range of practices and resources that allow children to learn at their own pace.
The internet made things even easier for parents and students engaging in homeschooling. At first, it was a reliable source of information and reading material. Then, it took homeschooling to the next level as hundreds of interactive online platforms became available.
Choosing the best online homeschool programs can be as challenging for parents as any other decision regarding their children’s education. Here we will introduce you to the best homeschooling online programs and their main characteristics.
With the wide variety of online homeschooling programs, the challenging task of educating your children at home has become more accessible. Many high-quality programs provide children with interactive lessons that can be accessed on desktops, laptops, and even smartphones.
If you’re looking for a user-friendly online homeschool program or one that would be in tune with your budget, there are many online options available for you to choose from. Here are our top choices.
K12 is an online public or private school where your children only need an internet connection to get a tuition-free education. However, the two options have a few differences, which will help you decide which is best for your children’s needs.
The main difference between public and private schools is, of course, the payment required. While the public school option is free, the private ones are tuition-based. Both online programs cover every subject in a non-religious curriculum, providing students with a high-quality educational experience.
The full-time public homeschool student’s days are not limited to online lessons. The program includes the following:
The K-12 program is not homeschooling. This means that parents do not teach their children. Instead, they attend online lessons with certified teachers. However, parents’ support will be needed throughout the program.
One of the main characteristics of K12 online private homeschooling is that it offers students and parents more flexibility. It also includes:
Individual lessons that ensure a certified teacher will focus on the student’s improvement throughout the program. This private method is committed to understanding students’ needs and creating a program to ensure they reach their potential.
Worldwide availability and flexible enrollment dates. It can be either full-time or part-time, depending on the student’s schedule.
Extra support in a subject if a student shows more interest in a particular area of study, individual supplemental courses, and summer school are available.
Children from preschool to second grade can learn various subjects through online activities. ABC Mouse is a private program adapted for younger students with interactive learning to motivate them.
Let’s look at the advantages of the ABC Mouse program, as well as some downsides that parents need to consider:
As not all areas of study are covered, ABC Mouse is an excellent supplement to a homeschool curriculum.
For parents looking for a more traditional educational setting, even if it’s online, Time 4 Learning is the right way to go. The tuition-based program is a 100% online curriculum for K-12 grades. One of the main characteristics of this program is that it offers a wide range of varied activities, from interactive lessons to offline activities.
Coverage of language arts, math, foreign languages, science, and social studies with a curriculum adjustable to each grade and the student’s needs.
Every lesson is taught through different approaches, including online activities, animated lessons, quizzes, and full-length tests. The program also includes offline activities with printable worksheets and hands-on activities.
Time 4 Learning offers additional resources, such as learning guides and lesson planning, that will allow you to track your children’s progress.
Tuition for this program is reasonably priced, with a monthly subscription of approximately $20 for PreK–8 students and $30 for high schoolers. On the downside, if you decide to close your account, you’ll lose access to your records.
CK-12 Foundation offers one of the best online programs for STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, math). However, other areas of study, such as history, social studies, and the arts, are also covered. This program is unique because it offers revolutionary approaches to learning. Teachers will use different practices to create a curriculum that adjusts to students’ grades and skills. Here’s what the program includes, as well as its limitations
CK-12 Foundation is an unlimited source of educational practices. While it is essentially a digital textbook, it also includes multimedia content and interactive activities corresponding to each study area. Teachers may choose the activities according to the student’s profile, adjusting the practices based on the children’s improvement.
The program is 100% online and has different resources for teachers and students to interact. The assignments can be sent through the teachers’ dashboard, link sharing, or Google Classroom. Small children will need parents’ assistance in this area as the different platforms are not user-friendly for younger kids.
The primary resources are Play, Learn, Interact, Explore (PLIX) series, an online platform that teaches through graphics and games. In addition, you’ll find FlexBook, an online textbook that gradually allows students to understand complex concepts.
CK-12 Foundation is a free online platform where you can choose how deeply your children will be immersed in each study area.
Teachers and students have their own dashboards. Teachers can use theirs to organize the student’s lessons, and parents can use students’ dashboards to keep track of their children’s progress.
Among the best online homeschool programs, you’ll find various tuition-free K-12 curriculums. Khan Academy is a nonprofit created with the primary goal of providing world-class free education. Let’s dig into the specific characteristics of this educational program.
It provides classes in different areas of study, including math, science, reading, and even life skills. The lessons are both auditory and visual; in the latter, a tutor calmly explains each topic using a black screen to write the main concepts.
This approach is an excellent resource for students needing extra practice or clarification on a specific concept.
It includes unique classes such as growth mindset, coding, and storytelling. This goal is to provide them with fundamental learning and life skills.
Teachers at Khan Academy have access to students’ reports, which will give them a better understanding of the study areas that need more work and the ones where the student is thriving.
The students learn through online videos that do not allow for interaction with the tutor. This resource may be convenient for some students, while others will struggle. Parents and teachers must monitor their children’s progress to determine if Khan Academy is the right choice for them.
If you’ve decided to homeschool your children and want them to get a Christian education, BJU is among the best online homeschool programs you may want to consider. BJU Homeschooling program teaches from a Biblical point of view.
The content is exceptionally organized. Parents can keep track of their children lessons, assignments, and grades.
Every online activity gets automatically graded and uploaded to the main dashboard. The parents must grade additional activities using the answer keys in the same section as the assignments.
The program is organized into daily lesson plans that allow students to work independently. It’s a very user-friendly platform for parents and children.
The program offers a degree of flexibility between three courses. In this way, children may advance in the lessons they quickly grasp or go back and review already-seen work.
Upon enrollment, the BJU program provides online access to video lessons and eBook editions of the additional workbooks. Physical editions of the workbooks must be purchased separately.
Connections Academy is an online public school, tuition-free. It offers students various resources to learn all the standard subjects from grades K-12.
Choosing the best online homeschool programs is the goal of parents who have decided to homeschool their children. However, if you anticipate needing help in this endeavor, it might be wise to consider the Corrections Academy online curriculum due to the following:
The EdX curriculum is excellent for teenagers and adults who want an in-home education. This platform has partnered with some of the best universities worldwide, such as NYU, Harvard, and MIT, to provide the best courses available.
Parents and students can learn together by choosing standalone courses in various subjects. These include computer science, architecture, language law, arts and humanities, music, STEM field, and more.
If you or your children want a head start with their college education, the edX MicroBachelors program offers various courses with college transfer credit.
Most of the courses available are free. However, certifications of completion will have a fee that ranges from $50 to over $350.
The program has been designed with several learning alternatives. If you are a disciplined student, you can choose among the self-paced courses and schedule your classes around your working hours. On the other hand, if you struggle to concentrate on your studies unless you have supervision, you should choose one of the instructor-paced courses. These courses have a fixed schedule.
Before enrolling in any available courses, you need to check the prerequisites. Some courses are more advanced than others, and you’ll find in the description if there’s any previous knowledge or classes required. Most courses last 4 to 12 weeks. Once you’ve started, you’ll have a specified period for its completion.
As children go through the standard homeschool curriculum, they may show a greater interest in and preference for some areas of study over others. It’s normal for children to struggle in some areas and thrive in the ones they like the most.
If your children are particularly interested in an area of study, you may want to consider online courses. It may encourage them to show their true potential in those areas they are passionate about.
Udemy offers thousands of online courses in every study area for children and teens. You can choose art, music, technology, entrepreneurship, and more. It’s a tuition-fee platform available worldwide.
There is no prerequisite to enroll in these courses. If your children have shown enthusiasm for learning about programming or entrepreneurship, they can take a course that will start from the basics before digging into more profound concepts.
Follow-up courses are available if your children want to move into more advanced classes.
The lessons are presented via short videos, where animated characters provide the general concepts in a simple way that even the youngest children can understand.
The courses are self-paced. Once started, all videos in the program become available for your children to watch as many times as they need.
For every lesson, you’ll have fun activities that let you put into practice the concepts learned and that will monitor comprehension.
Among the best homeschooling online programs, you’ll find alternatives focusing more on a specific study area than others. IXL Learning centers its curriculum around technology. It’s a tuition-based program designed to educate children from kindergarten to 12th grade. The main focus of this curriculum is using advanced technology in every study area.
The core subjects, such as language, math, science, and social study, are included in the program. You can choose individual subjects or acquire the complete curriculum.
You can personalize the program as you deem necessary. Parents can constantly record their children’s progress and adapt the program according to their child’s strengths and weaknesses.
While this homeschooling program requires a monthly subscription, the rates are generally affordable. Depending on your subject load, the monthly cost can range from $9.95 to $19.95.
With a focus on technology, the platform includes hundreds of computer games, Quia books, quizzes, apps for kids, and special tools for teachers. Children will find everything they need online with no need for additional material.
Now that we’ve covered the best homeschooling online programs, let’s look into the benefits of online schooling.
Online homeschooling provides more flexibility than any other form of education. Attending a traditional school requires kids to wake up early, possibly disrupting their sleep patterns. A well-rested student can concentrate better and improve their grades. Flexible programs are also an excellent alternative for working students and adults, as you may coordinate your online schooling with your working schedule.
Online schooling eliminates the risk of bullying. Over the last few years, an increasing number of children have been victims of bullying at school. At-home education diminishes the risk of a child being bullied. Social media plays a role in bullying, but that aspect can be minimized by distancing the child from the network.
With online homeschooling, children can learn at their own pace. They can invest more time revisiting the concepts they struggle with that are part of a specific subject. At the same time, they can progress quickly through classes they find particularly easy. They can also do additional activities in a particular subject they have enjoyed.
Children can learn without the distractions typical of an in-person classroom. At-home education allows children to stay focused for extended periods with no disruptions from outside sources.
Even if your child takes online courses that can be done independently, you’ll have the chance to be more involved in their education. You can spend time with your children, participating in their lessons and learning with them. If they don’t understand a specific concept, they can quickly come to you for help. Some programs also provide dashboards and reports to help you monitor your children’s progress.
It’s never too early to dig into every possibility to find the best homeschool program suited for your family.
Online homeschool programs have a wide range of possibilities available. You can choose a public school that is tuition-free and that follows the same schedule and curriculum as traditional education.
On the other hand, you can pick a private school that offers schedule flexibility and programs adapted to each student according to their needs. These kinds of schools require a tuition fee.
Many online programs offer different curriculums you can choose from depending on your child’s areas of interest and skills. These programs could be either free or tuition-based. As we’ve mentioned, every program has its own characteristics that set it apart.
If you want to encourage your children to learn more about a particular area of study they are passionate about, you can choose Udemy online courses, for example. They provide online classes about many specific subjects, such as Python coding, programming, and entrepreneurship.
As we’ve shown, online homeschool programs offer many alternatives. Choose one that fits your educational, budgetary, and scheduling needs and the one you believe your children will benefit from the most, and start with their education at home.
]]>Furthermore, effective math learning depends heavily on the student’s learning style and the teacher’s communication style, and it may not be simple or intuitive. Here is a guide on how to teach homeschool math.
Before designing a math curriculum and teaching at home, it is crucial to accurately assess your child’s math skills. Regular assessments are a great way to ensure your teaching methods are effective and that your child’s math skills are where they should be. Here is a brief overview of math skills by age and grade level.
Before students enter the first grade, they should understand the following math concepts:
Assessing your child’s math skills and understanding whether they are keeping pace with learning standards helps you know where more time or focus is needed and also enables you to choose the right curriculum at the right time.
It is also essential to understand your child’s learning style. While teaching math at home requires a variety of lessons and activities that engage the student on multiple levels, knowing your child’s basic learning style can help you choose the right curriculum for them and tailor your teaching accordingly. For example:
Regardless of learning style, incorporating these types of tools and activities for every learner helps to engage different parts of the brain and promotes a more profound understanding of mathematical concepts.
It is equally important to understand your own learning and communication style. Many teachers make the mistake of explaining concepts how they understand them rather than how the student might understand them. If you have a radically different learning or teaching style from your child, it is essential to remember to modify your method to suit their needs. This may also mean a lot of experimentation and trial-and-error as you find a style or styles that suit multiple people at once.
Combining a daily structured curriculum with spontaneous math activities is the best way to teach homeschool math and raise children’s confidence with STEM. Here are some tips to remember when choosing a math curriculum for your home school.
In addition to regular and consistent math lessons, math and numeracy skills can be practiced in various fun and casual ways and integrated into normal daily activities.
Aside from specific math learning games, you can use the family game night to practice math by playing card games like 21 or blackjack, or board games like Monopoly, especially when your math student plays the role of the banker. Games like Scrabble, Cribbage, Backgammon, or Boggle can be math activities when scores are calculated and added.
Combine math practice with physical activity like scoring games like basketball, bowling, American football, or tennis for kinetic learners or simply to exercise more daily.
Ask a child to estimate how far they can throw a ball or demonstrate how the angle of the arm changes the direction and distance of the ball. Count how many times a dropped ball bounces, and note the decay of the height over time.
Demonstrate how different paper plane patterns affect flight or how added weight or spoilers influence the speed of a toy car. These mathematical concepts can be actively experienced and explained further in a classroom setting.
The answer to “when will I ever use math?” is that people use math daily in various applications and activities. Notice when you use your math skills and involve your kids and students in the act in real time.
Simple math exercises can be incorporated into almost every activity, giving numerous opportunities for children to practice and demonstrate different math skills. For example, here are some math-intensive daily activities that can become on-the-spot math practice:
The advantage of actively incorporating these kinds of mathematic activities into everyday life is that the child’s math skills and confidence improve. In addition, the child is gaining mastery over the very types of math-based problems they will frequently encounter in adult life.
Even if the child chooses to become an artist, a therapist, or another profession that doesn’t rely as much on math skills, they will have an easier time making smarter decisions and wisely managing their money.
Homeschool math is often considered a challenging subject for both students and teachers. Still, understanding how both parties learn and communicate can be easier and more successful, making math and numbers part of everyday life, conversation, and decision-making.
Math confidence and numeracy, especially when acquired young, have a lifetime of rewards for children, so take advantage of all these ways to teach math at home today.
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