I cannot believe we are done with another year already. It seems like the year just started and here we are in 2015! I have written quite a few posts over a variety of subjects in 2014 including tot trays, busy bags, stay-cation, 100 budget friendly Summer activities, herbal posts, parenting, and of course the 4 part series about learning our son had Diabetes. I have offered a variety of giveaways and done lots of reviews recently all in the name of trying to find my blogging voice.
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I have to be honest I am having a little trouble coming up with daily uses for the #Cube WiFi Photoviewer in general but want to use it for homeschooling. I want to share some fun ways to use the #Cube in a safe manner.
First be sure that you know who you are following on Instagram as Your Feed is one of the viewing options. Secondly think of some “safe” terms to search via the hashtag mode. You could come up with historical places or curriculum titles or maybe a famous artist or composer. Be sure to double check the feed BEFORE sharing it with your family. Just like any social media you never know what might pop onto your screen.
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What Christian Family doesn’t want an easy way to start a family Bible Study in the new year? If you have younger children under 12 years of age I would recommend Theo God’s Truth Dvd by Whitestone Media and Child Evangelism Fellowship which is found at your local Family Christian stores or online. We were given this dvd for review which included episodes 10-12. A 5-day family devotional for each episode is included with scripture reference and activity ideas.
Theo lives in a cozy corner of a quaint English village and entertains two mice, Belfry and Luther. In this fourth installment of Theo: Teaching Children About God’s Word, he discusses doctrines about sin, God’s character, the Bible, salvation and godly living with easy-to-understand illustrations that make children want to learn more about the Christian faith and particularly about God’s Truth. Each episode uses Bible stories and verses to teach children lessons about faith, obedience and forgiveness.
Episode 10: Abiding in Christ
Belfry mimics every action of Luther’s, to the point where Luther begs Theo to make him stop. Theo uses this funny behavior as a springboard for a lesson on abiding in Christ. If we want to be like Jesus, we must abide in Him. In the Shoebox Bible Theatre, he gives the biblical definition, using the life of Paul as an illustration. In all of Paul’s hardships, good times and persecutions, he maintained a proper biblical perspective because he had learned to abide in Christ.
Episode 11: Light Unto My Path
Luther and Belfry are hopelessly lost in the woods at night and Luther forgot to bring his flashlight. Theo uses his foolishness to teach about the Bible, the Word of God, which is a lamp unto our feet, even in the darkest of times. Using the story of young King Josiah in the Shoebox Bible Theatre, Theo teaches how God blessed Israel, once their godly king decided to obey the Holy Scriptures that had been hidden and forgotten for years
Episode 12: What is the Church?
Luther and Belfry have started a club, a very exclusive club with restrictive rules, secret handshakes and goofy hats! Belfry informs Theo that not even he is allowed to join. Theo uses this “club mentality” to launch into a lesson on a proper view of the Church. It is not to be a place where only people who look, talk and think alike are allowed to join. It is not a place that Christians are to neglect. The church is the all-inclusive Body of Christ and we are all members of one Body.
This video was very impressive with it’s easy to follow story. It kept all of my children’s attention which is very hard to do with ages ranging from 15 months to almost 12 years!
I was also very impressed with large vocabulary words like I even learned a few things about the Life of Paul and his obedience while “Abiding in Christ”.
I really appreciated the animation of the mice and then the transition to the animated paper puppets during the main story telling time.
Theo is a really kind and gentle grandfatherly character. His manner is filled with love and great character.
Any Christian family who wants to teach their children more about Christ in a kind and gentle manner. It can be very scary for young children to learn about the brutality of Christ’s followers in Bible times. This animated story talks about 40 lashings, stonings, and robbers but in an even toned and not scary manner. This opens the door to expand on the historical facts of the first church.
Math, oh the dreaded subject among many students, parents, and teachers. For some all the numbers and processes seem endless. For other’s they LOVE numbers and math. (I fall into the LOVE Numbers category but not so good at teaching it sometimes!)
So what is a parent to do when their child isn’t thriving and is completely struggling? Where can they go to find free Math resources to try?
Right here on Something 2 Offer! I am striving to find free resources for each subject that is traditionally encountered throughout K-12. I already did a free resource for Handwriting, Copywork, and Writing, WWII Resources, Literature Resources for Great Classics which many parents have thanked me for. So glad I could help. Math was the next topic that a parent requested. So here goes!
[Tweet “Free Math Resources For All Ages| Preschool to College #homeschool”]
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I know this is a little late in the season but busy bags are good year round. I was on pinterest and saw so many CUTE Fall Busy Bag ideas that I just had to share them.
I have been pinning ideas for the last 2 years or so. I keep finding new and innovative ways to use household items for educational activities. If you aren’t familiar with busy bags check out my Busy Bag 101 post to get you started on this educational craze.
While many of the activities shared throughout this post aren’t originally intended as busy bags they are easy to adapt. Think about printables that can be printed, laminated and placed in a busy bag for on the go. Anything with felt can be placed in a slim wipes container which has another background piece of felt glued in for a take along felt board. Really any activity can be turned into a busy bag or car school activity.
Seasonal Tic Tac Toe Board from Homeschool Creations is a fun activity using craft sticks and your chosen seasonal items for markers.
Thanksgiving Felt Board Play from Where Imaginations Grow helps grow imagination while learning basic History concepts.
A is for Apple Preschool and Kindergarten Free Printable Pack is a quick and easy busy bag activity from Our Country Road.
Free A Preschool Pack from Confessions of a Homeschooler offers all sorts of activities that could easily be used on trays or in busy bags.
Counting Apples would be fun, maybe even with apple jacks or cheerios.
Felt Apple Counters by 123 Homeschool 4 Me shares a really cute reusable activity.
Sparkly Fall Leaves from Toddler Approved is a nice little craft for those glue loving kids.
A Fake Fall Leaves Activity from Chasing Cheerios is super simple but also great for babies and tots. Grad your fake leaves and a large mouth container and you are all set.
Leaf Button Snakes are a super fun way to learn button skills while playing with this activity found on Along the Way.
Q-tip Fall Leaf art from La Classe della Maestra Valentina might be a little messy but sure would be a fun and time consuming fine motor activity.
Pumpkin Stained Glass are a great easy craft to use up scraps of tissue paper that I found on Here Come the Girls Blog.
Coffee Filter ‘Stained Glass’ Pumpkins from I can Teach My Child are great for those who have young children who like to color!
Pumpkin Concentration – Number Dots from Fuel the Brain make for a quick and easy printable to add into a busy bag with some counters like plastic pumpkins or pumpkin seeds.
Foam Pumpkin Puzzles are great to work on visual discrimination with the various line cuts found on Making Montessori Ours.
Felt Jack-o-Lantern Activity by Vixen Made is a super cute idea to talk about eyes, mouth, nose, and feelings while creating your own Jack-o-Lantern.
Turkey Number Bond “Go Fish” Game from MPM School Supplies- cute way to work on counting and number recognition with the free printable activity.
Felt Button Turkey– grab your felt scraps, needle, thread, and some buttons to make this super cute idea from My Montessori Journey
Felt Turkey Finger Puppets– I saw this super cute example on Skip to my Lou but I have also made some Turkey Finger Puppets as well. They are always fun to play with.
Origami Turkeys from Let’s Explore are a great way to have your children get involved for decorating your Thanksgiving table.
Five Little Turkeys Glove Puppet from Learning and Teaching with Preschoolers is a fun craft for an adult to make and use to teach the poem Five Little Turkeys.
