Au Naturel

"Au naturel" is a phrase most commonly used to refer to nudity; but by definition it also refers to anything that is in a natural style or condition. For example, when a Momma leaves the house without make-up, she is "au naturel"... her face is in a natural style or condition.

And sometimes I think it's good to learn "au naturel." No, I don't mean to teach in the buff. I mean sometimes it's good to get out of the house and learn about things in nature; in their natural condition! No worksheets or computers or books (that comes later). But rather discover God's beautiful creation and learn about amazing creatures that glorify Him just by their very existence! It doesn't have to be expensive either...

Over the weekend we took a family trip to a nearby Manatee Park ($5 per car for the entire day). I gave Savanna a very simple assignment: learn 3 facts about manatees. Very simple. Other than that, she was to enjoy spending time with family and friends as we watched the manatees in their natural condition, poking their noses in and out of the water for air. Watching as the mommy manatees swam so closely to their little ones; it was truly an incredible sight to see! Not only did we see a lot of manatees, but we also saw plenty of plant life, fish, butterflies, and more. The next day, we used the 3 facts Savanna learned about Manatees to make an "All About Manatees" lapbook.

If I've said it once, I'll say it a hundred times... NEVER UNDERESTIMATE LAPBOOKS! Lapbooks are so much fun and they're jam-packed with information! They're great for kids from preschool to high school and every grade in between. You can make them as simple or as in-depth as you'd like and they're relatively cost-efficient. They can be used for any subject AND even the least crafty kids can complete them! For the manatee lapbook, I had Savanna write a mini-report. We're working on reading and writing, so incorporating that into every lesson is important for us. Her report said, "Manatees are mammals. They have live babies that drink milk, they breathe air, and they have warm blood. Manatees need warm water above 68*. Boats are a danger to manatees." See, simple. We attached her report to the lapbook, along with her Manatee Park bingo card and a picture she drew of a manatee that said, "Manatees began the legend of mermaids." On the back of the lapbook we printed a picture of her standing near the manatee skeleton. It was easy-peasy, fun, and she learned so much!

There are so many great places to visit, just like Manatee Park, where you can take your children to learn "au naturel." Most State Parks only charge for parking, and you can bring a picnic lunch. You can even check out what's going on in your own backyard. You can make lapbooks, go on a Nature Scavenger Hunt, play Nature BINGO, and more! Whatever you do, get out and learn "au naturel!" What a great way to spend the school day!

Bye for now,
Kristina







Shameless Plug

Ok if I've said it once, I've said it a dozen times. Investing $35/year for a membership to Starfall is a wise choice for any mom who has toddlers, preschoolers, K-2nd graders, or even older children who may struggle with reading or math skills.

Toddlers who are capable of using a mouse can learn colors, shapes, the alphabet, simple addition and subtraction, and more.  Samuel (3yrs) loves the interactive games and songs that this site offers. Since Samuel already knows his colors and shapes, he has moved on to the alphabet, letter sounds, and math skills. I am impressed with the amount of games the membership offers for everything from patterns to puzzles, from addition and subtraction, to multiplication and division and so much more. Just yesterday my son was playing a matching game that was teaching him multiplication! His favorite ditty was "8x5 is 40... I am feeling sporty." It's never too early to begin teaching children to love math and reading, and Starfall is a great tool to do just that!

Yes, they have some great FREE resources, but the membership gives you full access to their entire site and to my favorite: The Teacher's Lounge. The Teacher's Lounge is only accessible with the membership and it offers you Reading & Language Arts generators, and Math generators to create printables for your child. I use these for both Samuel and Savanna. It also offers projectibles and a kindergarten teaching guide. Each generator has pre-made worksheets for up to 13wks and also have an option for you to fill in your own words.

The Reading & Language Arts generators offer:

Letter Formation

• ABC Rhymes
• Letter Searches
• Pictures Sounds
• Find the Letter
• Writing Practice
• Multi-Letter Practice

Blending Practice

• Word Families
• Puzzle Searches

High Frequency Word Practice

• Word Shapes
• Writing Practice
• Color by Words
• Word Searches

Vocabulary Cards
Word Cards
ABC Cards
Number Cards
Picture Cards
Graphing
Blank Writing Pages

The Math generators offer:

• Calendar Practice (which includes number tracing)
• Numbers
• Counting

Projectables including:

• Writing Rubric
• Animal Kingdom Posters
• Historical Figures
• Decodable Books
• 64-page printable curriculum book for Listening & Writing
• 64-page printable curriculum book for Reading & Writing

Kindergarten Teacher's Guide

So again, I give this shameless plug for Starfall and highly recommend it to all homeschooling families with early learners! A $35/yr membership is definitely homeschooling on a dime!

Bye for now,
Kristina