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We originally started tracking the weather just as a hands on way to help my oldest daughter become familiar with calendars when she was little, but it ended up morphing into much more than that. Over the years we've used our weather data for many different science and math activities. We've counted and tallied weather types, measured and recorded temperatures, made bar graphs, compared how the weather changes from month to month, used our data for simple math calculations, learned about the seasons, made our data into art, and lots more.  One of my favorite things about tracking the weather, is that it encourages us to slow down and be observant for a few moments every day. This is why I especially love weather tracking methods that include some sort of artistic or creative element. Here are a few of the methods we've used over the years: Weather Calendar When my oldest daughter was kindergarten aged we used a calendar to record the weather. I just printed 12 blank ca...

Raptors include all the birds of prey that are active primarily during the day, like eagles, hawks, vultures, and falcons. Their diets include small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. "Raptor" means "to grasp or seize" in Latin and refers to how they use their sharp talons to grab and capture prey. One of the most well know groups of raptors are the eagles. There are over 60 recognized species of eagle worldwide and they can be found in a wide variety of habitats. Eagles range in size from the South Nicobar serpent eagle which weighs less than a pound and stands about 16 inches tall, to the Phillipine eagle, which can be up to 3ft 5 inches in length and up to 17 pounds! How The Bald Eagle Became a National Symbol: After the declaration of independence was signed in 1776, the Continental Congress assigned the task of designing an official seal for the United States to Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams, however, they were unable to come ...

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I've been trying to find some new Valentine's crafts to try with the kiddos. We decided to give making our own heart shaped suncatchers made with recycled plastic a try. The kids had a blast making them and I love how they turned out! Instructions For Homemade Valentine Suncatchers For this activity you will need: -a sheet of clear plastic, we recycled a piece of plastic off a box that a pie came in, but just about any sheet of clear plastic will work. -black puffy paint -acrylic paints -modge podge or school glue that dries clear -a paint brush -scissors -a hole punch or a push pin  -string or thread (If your doing this craft with real young kids, this first step should be done by an adult) Start by drawing some heart shapes about the size of your fist on the clear plastic with the puffy paint. Then set them aside over night to dry. Once your heart shapes are dry, cut them out. M...

There are a lot of different homeschool philosophies and methods out there, such as unschooling, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Montessori, and many others. When I first started homeschooling, I struggled finding a philosophy that felt like the right fit for my family. I liked certain aspects of many of the different methods, but there were also aspects that I didn't like. After a while, I said "forget it", and stopped trying to fit our homeschool into someone else's vision. We've been doing our own thing ever since and have never looked back. One of the best things about homeschooling, is the freedom it allows to custom fit your children's education to accommodate their unique interests and needs. Take advantage of that freedom! Your family is unique, and so are each of your children, so shouldn't their educations also be unique? What works for one family or even one child, may not work for another. Don't get caught up trying to make your ho...

Spending time outside is beneficial in so many ways. Outdoor time is linked to lower stress levels and increased creativity and mental clarity.  It can help boost the immune system and vitamin D levels, and encourages exercise. A 2019  study  suggests that as little as 20 minutes of time spent in nature can reduce stress hormone levels, and that the more time spent in nature, the more profound the effect.  Unstructured outdoor play gives kids opportunities to develop strength and coordination, to interact with peers and practice  communication and positive behavioral skills, and to improve sensory skills. Outdoor time also gives children a chance to explore and connect with the natural world around them.  Too many kids today spend huge portions of their days in classrooms or other indoor spaces, with little outdoor play time.  Let's try to give our children back their childhood, and make more time for outside play. Let's give them more opportunitie...