On April 8th a solar eclipse is going to occur over North America. The 120-mile-long path of totality will touch 15 U.S. states: Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun's light and causing a shadow to be cast upon the Earth. For a solar eclipse to occur, the sun, the moon, and the Earth have to be in perfect alignment. Below are some activities and learning resources to help you prepare your kids for the upcoming solar eclipse. Solar Eclipse Activities for Kids Printable Eclipse Activity Pack My printable Eclipse Activity Pack includes diagrams, reading sheets, vocabulary words, a crossword puzzle, an eclipse journaling sheet, 2 flip books, a cut and paste paper eclipse model, and more! Grab it here:  Printable Eclipse Activity Pack . Solar Eclipse Videos • Solar Eclipse 101  from

Exploring in nature can provide a wonderful foundation for your family's science lessons. All you need is a wild space (or just a backyard or neighborhood park) to explore, some simple journaling supplies, and a few resources for researching about all the interesting things that you come across. Why Study Nature? Nature study is a wonderful way to add more science to your homeschool days. There is so much to be learned by just observing the natural world around us. Nature study requires very little planning and supplies, so it's easy for parents to facilitate. Ki ds tend to be instictivley curious about the world around them, so it's easy to get them on board. It's also a good way to slow down and appreciate the beauty of God's creations. How to Get Started Just grab a journal or some paper on a clipboard and some colored pencils or watercolor supplies, and head outside. Choose a spot and observe the plant and wildlife that you see. Have your kids draw, paint, photo

My family happens to live in the path of totality for next month's solar eclipse, so to make sure my kids understand what an eclipse is and how they happen, I put together this fun eclipse activity pack. I hope you all enjoy it as much as my girls did! Printable Eclipse Activity Pack Learn all about solar and lunar eclipses with this 15-page printable activity and learning pack. This pack includes two reading sheets, two diagrams/posters, vocabulary words, a crossword puzzle, two flip books, a cut and paste paper solar eclipse model activity, an art activity, instructions for making a pinhole viewer, an eclipse journaling sheet, and a list of additional resources to check out. Grab it here:  Printable Eclipse Activity Pack Follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers Facebook Instagram Pinterest

  Do your kids love dandelions? Mine can't get enough of these lovely spring flowers, so I put together this simple dandelion study for them. I'm hoping you will all enjoy it as much as my family did! Printable Dandelion Mini Study Learn all about dandelion anatomy, the lifecycle of a dandelion, dandelion seeds, and more with this 12-page printable study pack. This pack includes vocabulary words, 4 informational reading sheets, a dandelion anatomy diagram/poster, a dandelion anatomy coloring/worksheet, a math activity, a nature journaling activity, a crossword puzzle, and a list of additional resources to check out. Grab it here :  Dandelion Mini Study by The Barefoot Mom | TPT (teacherspayteachers.com) For more fun dandelion activity ideas, check out this blog post:  Dandelion Investigation Follow me on: Facebook Instagram Pinterest Teachers Pay Teachers

  Citizen science projects can be a really fun way to add more science to your homeschool days! In this post I share about a few of my favorite projects and some resources to help you find citizen science projects near you. What is citizen science? Citizen science is scientific research conducted voluntarily by members of the public in collaboration with professional scientists. Anyone can participate in most citizen science projects regardless of age or background. That means that there are real scientific research projects that you and your kids can contribute to! There are many ongoing and annual projects to get involved with. Some projects are local to specific areas and some are nationwide (or even worldwide). Citizen Science Projects to Check Out: The Great Backyard Bird Count The Great Backyard Bird Count is a global project that aims to collect data on worldwide bird populations. It takes place every year for 4 days in mid-February. It's easy to participate, just get outsid

  Watching live animal cams can be a great way to observe and learn about animals you wouldn't usually have the chance to see up-close. In this post I share about some of my family's favorite live animal cams on YouTube. Bald Eagle Cams Bald eagle cams are really cool! It is so fun to watch the process of laying and incubating eggs, and then the raising of the eaglets after they hatch. We have several pairs that we watch regularly during breeding season. - The Big Bear Bald Eagles Live Nest Cam The Big Bear Bald Eagle Cam is positioned on the nest of Jackie and Shadow, a breeding pair of wild bald eagles in Big Bear, California. This pair typically lays eggs in January, so the best months to watch this particular cam is January through June. - The Southwest Florida Eagle Cam In this region eggs are typically layed in November or December, so the best months to watch this cam are November through April. - The NEFL Eagle Cam This cam is positioned on the nest of a wild pair of ba

Play isn't just for fun. It's a necessity. Play is  how kids develop fine and gross motor skills, build core strength, learn to make friends, gain independence, develop problem solving skills, develop object manipulation skills, and so much more. And these types of skills provide an important foundation for later academic and non-academic learning. Movement Activates Neural Pathways Giving kids ample time to play makes academic learning easier. Movement activates neural pathways and primes the brain for learning. Active play provides the perfect environment for developing brains to thrive. Kids instinctively seek out the kinds of activities that their bodies and brains need to develop properly. As parents and educators we need to stop trying to train this instinct out of them. When your kids are fidgeting too much during a lesson or seem to have lost interest, take a break. Go outside and play, do a few jumping jacks, go for a walk, do something that incorporates movement. This