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Showing posts from June, 2015

Pixar Cars Puzzles

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These puzzles are Cars-themed because my kids love everything with wheels and especially the Cars movies.  They can be used as either a busy bag activity (cut out the playing pieces and the boards) or as a folder game (leave the puzzle boards uncut and only cut out the playing pieces). Obviously, I don't own the Cars images.  The pictures came from Disney Wiki.  As always, I'm offering the printable for free.  To download it, click here . We're linked up!

In Depth Adoption Theme- Flintstones

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As I've been working on Tadpole's adoption party, I got a bit carried away with an adoption theme I don't plan on using.  The theme is "Bamm Bamm was Adopted Too" or "We're Wild About This One."  I love the theme, but it doesn't fit our family as well as I had hoped.  So that I don't waste all that Pinteresting, I'll share some of my favorite ideas with you.  As always, please pin at the original source. from FamilyShoppingBag.com THIS website has free Flintstones' party printables. from Etsy.com THIS adorable Bamm Bamm costume is only $15 for a toddler size.  So fun! from raisingcajuns.com THIS mom made a really neat cave out of a box for her kids and then let them do cave paintings.  I think it would be so neat to decorate with family cave paintings *Krood* style. from kellygenelife.wordpress.com THIS idea comes from a puppy party, but I think the bone meat and cheese platter would be "dog-gone"

Foster-to-Adopt Party Theme Ideas

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It seems like its hard to find ideas for adoption party themes, especially if you're adopting from foster care.  I've been planning Tadpole's adoption party and looking at all my old Pinterest ideas.  Here are some to consider if you're working on your own foster-to-adopt party. Pun Party Themes "Luke was Adopted Too" ( Star Wars ) "Welcome to Our Zoo" ( zoo ) "We're Wild About This One" ( jungle ) "Wanted: Asleep or Awake" ( cowboy ) "Bee-ing Loved" or "Sweet as Honey" ( bees ) "We Found the Missing Piece" ( puzzles ) "Showers of Blessings" ( rain/umbrella/rainbows ) "You are My/Our Sunshine" ( sunflowers/yellow ) "You Color Our World" ( paint/color/art ) "Superman was Adopted Too" ( superhero ) "Our Family was Built by Adoption" ( construction ) "This is My Circus- These are My Clown

"To the Edge" VBS Daily Log

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Space Commander Daily Log, Day 1, Entry 1:  I wish our VBS launch schedule hadn't collided with the family reunion last weekend.  All I can think about is sleep.  My brain is foggy.  My kids are grumpy.  How are we going to get through the day? Space Commander Daily Log, Day 1, Entry 2:  Kids too tired and excited to nap.  Mom needs sleep!  Send reinforcements. Space Commander Daily Log, Day 2, Entry 1:  Kids sneaked a bottle of soap into their room last night and painted themselves and their room with it.  Baths first thing this morning,  One of the kids was starting to smell like a space chimp so the bath isn't necessarily bad.  When am I going to get the energy to clean up their room? Space Commander Daily Log, Day 3, Entry 1:  I hit a wall and no longer care if my kids have shoes to wear to church.  They're happier barefoot so we're going "just as you are" today. Space Commander Daily Log, Day 3, Entry 2:  We're running low on provisions

Transportation on Antarctica

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I used a Google search to find the pictures for this printable.  It has 12 pictures of transportation that people use on Antarctica.  Also included in the packet is a "control of error" card with all the "answers" and three sorting labels. These cards can be used for a sorting game, a matching game, spelling practice, or 3-part cards.  I plan on using them with my "p is for penguin" unit; although they would work well for a continent box as well. To download them for free, click here .

Step-by-Step Montessori Series (DIY School Supplies)

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I was feeling a little antsy, I realized what my problem was- I hadn't crafted in over a week!  Straight to the craft supplies bins I went and out came the glue gun.  In very little time, I had whipped out these Montessori-inspired DIY's for our homeschooling. These silly things are quick and easy tongs.  I hot glued two flat sticks (craft store) to a spring clothespin.  I'm hoping the kids will be able to use them for transferring work.  And, that they'll be easy to replace when they break.  I was inspired by a pin I saw, similar to this one . One of the themes that I keep running into in Montessori education is sorting objects by whether they go on the land, the water, or the air.  Many times, the kids are also given a 3-D representation of the 3 elements (like this ).  My version is made from very toddler-friendly plastic bottles (dollar store).  One bottle (not pictured) is empty to represent air, one is filled with dirt from our yard to show land, and one

Quilt Pieces Game

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Free logic games (rainbow and black and white).  I'm going to be using them with my Q is for Quilt unit.  To download, click here . We're linked up!

Our Third Family Road Trip (ocean)

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I love Travel Time Tuesday so much that I've decided to give it it's own blog!  It'll take me awhile to transfer everything, but all my future travel posts will now be on the new site-  Party Through the USA .  This blog will now be only for homeschooling and parenting stuff, and all the road trip ideas, free travel printables, and DIY toys will be on the new blog. Click the Picture to Visit the Post

Adoption Songs

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Sometime this summer, we're supposed to adopt Tadpole.  He's been living in our home as a foster child since he was two days old.  In many ways, he feels like he's already "ours."  As part of my preparations for the "big day," I've been looking for the perfect adoption song.  Here are a few samples: This is Home  by Switchfoot "This is home. Now I'm finally where I belong Where I belong Yeah, this is home I've been searching for a place of my own Now I've found it Maybe this is home This is home" Take Good Care of My Baby  by Carole King "Once upon a time that little girl was mine If I'd been true, I know she'd never be with you So, take good care of my baby Be just as kind as you can be And if you should discover that you don't really love her Just send my baby back home to me" Child of My Heart by Becky Wright "One day you might ask me, what was my first momm

Space Bingo/Matching Game

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Another free printable!  To download, click here .

Pirate Bingo/Matching

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Arrg!  We've been spending time at the ocean and that's made me think about pirates.  Here be a pirate printable for you. Click here to download.

Circus Bingo/Matching Game

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I'm on vacation, but I can't stop making preschool printables!  This one is a bingo board with four levels of cards for matching.  The cartoon circus objects can be paired with either an identical object card, a shadow card, a beginning sounds uppercase letter card, or a lowercase beginning sounds card.  As always, the game is free. To download, click here .

Year One Review

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The public schools are finishing up this week, so we decided to end our formal studies as well.  As I think about the past year, here are a few of my favorite things: - free printables created by other people (especially Imagine Our Life and Every Star is Different ) - my laminator (available on Amazon here ) - Universal laminating sheets ( here ) - big zipper pouches for binders ( Staples ) - Safari Ltd Toobs (like these ) - the local library Basically, our entire first year of homeschooling can be summed up with those six things.  Next year, I hope to add some more hands-on materials including more Toobs, life-cycle figurines, a globe, a felt world map, and lots more printed materials.  I'd like for us to continue introducing bits and pieces of the Montessori method.  Eventually, I hope to have "learning shelves" with trays of activities for them to chose from during school time. With Dragonfly (who will be 4), I'd like to see her master numbers and thei

Summer Themes- Universe

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Montessori Tray Work- spooning Next week is our Day Camp at church.  The theme is Space, so I thought we should spend this week studying the universe at bit. I got a new camera recently, so I tried to focus on taking more pictures. Theme: Universe Sensory: space play dough                 space toob sensory bin Activities: eat like an astronaut                   planting flags                   earth-sun model with cake pan                   spooning marbles out of rice                   spooning stars                   counting stars                   space dust writing                   moon roll and cover                   months of the year puzzle                 Books: "On the Moon"             "Roaring Rockets"             "At the Same Moment, All Around the World"             "Why is the Sun so Bright?"             "Who Works in Space?" Song:  "The Earth Goes Around the Sun" A View

Boys' Car Activity Bag

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I love Travel Time Tuesday so much that I've decided to give it it's own blog!  It'll take me awhile to transfer everything, but all my future travel posts will now be on the new site-  Party Through the USA .  This blog will now be only for homeschooling and parenting stuff, and all the road trip ideas, free travel printables, and DIY toys will be on the new blog. Click on the Picture to Visit the Post

4 Year Old's Car Activity Bag

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I love Travel Time Tuesday so much that I've decided to give it it's own blog!  It'll take me awhile to transfer everything, but all my future travel posts will now be on the new site- Party Through the USA.  This blog will now be only for homeschooling and parenting stuff, and all the road trip ideas, free travel printables, and DIY toys will be on the new blog. Click on the Picture to Visit the Post

DIY Road Trip Games

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I love Travel Time Tuesday so much that I've decided to give it it's own blog!  It'll take me awhile to transfer everything, but all my future travel posts will now be on the new site-  Party Through the USA .  This blog will now be only for homeschooling and parenting stuff, and all the road trip ideas, free travel printables, and DIY toys will be on the new blog. Click on the Picture to Visit the Post

Step by Step Montessori Series (our classroom)

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I've been hesitant to post too much about our classroom area, because I don't think it's very "Pinterest-worthy."  It's also not a good example of Montessori, since my storage area is set up more for storage than child-driven activities.  Since I started this "Step by Step Montessori" series, I've gotten the courage to blog about our learning set-up.  Here's the breakdown: 1- craft supply storage area 2- theme binders 3- books 4- random storage 5- cookie cutters and sensory materials 6- our work trays 7- microwave and coffeemaker 8- school supplies 9- sewing machine/supplies As you can see, my "classroom" storage shelves reflect the eclectic nature of our "apple room."  It's our eating place, our mud room, our storage area, our office, and our home school classroom.  This is another reason why I didn't want to show *anyone* this picture.  The Safari Toobs are stored in the bin labeled "invi

Step by Step Montessori (snack drawer)

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A wise person once told me: "Montessori looks different for everyone."  The advice couldn't have been more freeing.  I had been all tied in images I had seen of people's homes, but I couldn't see my own life/home fitting those images.  Ones like this , this , and this .  I'm not saying that these people are doing Montessori "wrong," instead I'm reminding myself not to be intimidated. Please pin at original sources (see above for websites) So, I've decided to take it step by step.  My first step is a snack drawer for my kids.  My Montessori doesn't need to look like anyone else's Montessori- this is my mantra.  And, this is my end result: A small, ill-used drawer with just a few "convenience" snacks in it.  The kids can access these at any time (although I do cut them off about an hour and a half before dinner).  I'm training them away from the bad habit of climbing on the counter to get a snack.  Perhaps soon, I&

Q is for Quilts

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We didn't end up doing very much this week, but here are a few ideas. Theme: Q is for Quilt Activities: magnetic quilt pieces                   pattern blocks Books: "Nature's Patchwork Quilt"             "Mother Earth and Her Children"             "The Kindness Quilt" And, so ends Year One of our Homeschooling Career! Follow In Our Pond's board "Q is for Quilt" on Pinterest.

My Printables (a complete list)

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This used to be my holding post for all my free printables.  I reorganized them and made them much neater.  You can now find all of them by clicking on the picture below. June 11, 2015 I've also decided to include a never-before-seen bonus printable!  Dragonfly is really into matching activities lately, especially ones where one set of cards is stationary (like in my pirate treasure maps).  Just for her, I've made this Mickey Mouse color matching map.  Obviously, I don't own Mickey- the images came from disney.wikia.com.  You can find the direct link to the game here . We're linked up: