Category: Just For Fun

Sabbath Playlist ~ Easy 10 Commandments Memory Game

Ann1 Comment

Kaboom is a fun game we play in my Sabbath School class to help us with our 10 Commandments memorization project.   Totally easy to set up and play.

You need popsicle sticks or strips of cardstock paper, and a pen.  That’s it.

I wrote the numbers 1-10 on 10 sticks, and a brief summary of each commandments on 10 more sticks.  I wrote ‘KABOOM’ on 4 or 5 other sticks.

I divide my Sabbath School class into groups and each group draws a stick from a cup or jar.   They either have to explain which commandment the number refers to, or tell the number of the commandment the summary is talking about.   If the answer is correct, they get to keep the stick.

If a group draws a KABOOM stick, they have to give up all of the sticks they have earned so far.  The game is essentially endless because the KABOOM stick means someone will always be starting over.    I watch and gauge to see if everyone has had an opportunity to participate and learn before I call time for the game.

We’ve been able to learn the 10 commandments quite quickly with this review game!  You can change the topic to whatever you want to learn.

 

 

Bible Crafting Fun for Sabbath

Ann1 Comment

Do you like crafty Bible activities?  Here’s a fun website full of printable paper Bible crafts to construct.  My Little House is a lovely website full of free paper crafting printables that you can print, cut out and put together.

                                                        Photos courtesy of My Little House

 Isn’t this Bible town awesome!  There are lots of different Bible printables, so be sure to take some time to browse through the site.   Check out 3-D picture crafts- I made one myself and they turn out exactly like the pictures.  Enjoy!

Sabbath Playlist ~ Taking a Nature Walk with Young Children? Nature Scavenger Hunt Printables

Ann1 Comment

Something a little more active for this week’s Sabbath Playlist!   If you have plans this weekend to take a nature walk with young children, how about some fun free nature scavenger hunt ideas and printables? Teachstarter.com offers 16 nature walk ideas and activities will especially appeal to young children.  I especially like the free checklist printable because it encourages children to engage all of their senses as the enjoy nature.

-16 NATURE WALK ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS-

 

What’s Your Homeschooling ‘Thing’?

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What’s your homeschooling ‘thing’ right now?  What is that one item that you love to use or  just can’t live without? That simple item that is at the top of your supply list?   For many years my ‘thing’ was freezer paper (my craft paper go-to).  However, now that my children are older, my new can’t-live-without item is colored paper, specifically the neon Astrobright colored paper.

For many years each of my three children had a main pastel color that I used for planning and printables.   I could look at a stack of papers and know that the pale green papers were for one child, the yellow for another, etc.  Keeping each child’s paperwork organized by color made sorting and organizing so much easier.

Now that I’m down to one student, my love of colored paper has increased, not decreased!  Now I’m in love with the shockingly bright Astrobright paper.   I categorize and print multiplication fact cards and review sheets by color.  A different neon color for each part of speech in his grammar notebook, the uses are endless!  I always keep a healthy supply of colored paper, cardstock and lined notebook paper on hand.  Always ready to print!

What item makes life easier/more cheerful/more organized/simpler for you?  Share with us your homeschooling thing in the comments!

What Are You Reading Together?

Ann2 Comments

Read-aloud time is an extra special blessing of homeschooling.    Having the ability to set aside extended time during the school day for reading a book together is not only a family bonding time, but a learning time.  If your schooling hours are jam-packed, then an evening read aloud time is a perfect way to unwind from a busy day.

We are currently reading the last volume of The Bible Story aloud together.   I read the set of ten books straight through to my older children when they were young.    When my youngest child came along, I started reading the series all over again, but this time interspersed with the Conflict of the Ages series by Ellen White.  As soon as we finish volume 10 of The Bible Story, we’ll finish the Conflict series with  Acts of the Apostles.

My 11yo loves to be read to, but what about the 18yo still at home?   You might think he’s too old to be read to(or read to us), but he has gained his own special blessings from our read aloud time.   When he was asked to prepare and present a sermon at church , he chose to research and expand upon one of the stories we had read together a week earlier.  There’s a blessing for everyone!

Our favorite book list is varied, and includes:  They Dared for God, by Glenna Barstad,  several of the Sam Campbell books, and The Seventh Day Ox by Bradley Booth.

What are you currently reading together with your family?   We’d love to hear what you are enjoying.   Leave a comment so we can add new books to our reading lists!

 

 

Sabbath Playlist- Healthy Inside and Out

Editor1 Comment

Here is the first of more than 25 free  two-minute audio files teaching children the 8 laws of health and encouraging healthy habits.   This sample file is on sunlight  Each of the files can be listened to online or downloaded for free. These would make a great  introduction to a weekly health theme.   You can find the rest of the files HERE  at General Conference Children’s Ministries.

Outline for Gardening – Unit Study Idea

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Outline for Gardening is a 28 page booklet recently released by our sister ministry,  Sonlight Education Ministry (SEM).  It is an older publication not found in the SEM catalog, but is full of such possibility!

My first thought was that the booklet is a wonderful gardening curriculum outline.  Starting several months before planting season begins in your area, you can work on understanding each section of the outline and how it applies to your particular growing zone.The various sections lend themselves to different types of projects and activities.

For example, for Sunlight: Measure and graph the amount of sunlight several potential garden plots receive each day and use the information to choose the best garden plots.

Soil: Do a home soil test or send a soil sample to your area’s university extenstion service for testing.  Use the results to learn what the your soil needs and how to provide for those needs.

Variety selection:  Order several seed/gardening catalogs and let your child create a collage of the garden they would like to grow in the coming season.

The companion planting section is written in such a way as to add a very nice character development/spiritual growth aspect to your study.

Outline for Gardening is available for free download on the Sonlight Education Ministry website.  While you are there, be sure to check the Released Materials page to see what has been recently released.