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Showing posts from April, 2019

Ideas for Learning about Ladybugs

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After I made the ladybug life cycle cards  last month, I was inspired to do a bit more with ladybug things.  I have a blog post coming up next month with lots of ideas for learning about many different insects.  I may also be adding a few more ladybug things soon (so watch the blog for them).  Today, I wanted to focus on some of the awesome content that other bloggers have produced, specifically ones that can be used for a ladybug themed study unit. @Entomart via Wikipedia Commons Random Facts about Ladybugs: - called ladybugs or ladybirds, but they're not bugs, they're beetles - carnivorous beetles who eat aphids - great for your garden as long as they're native to your area - there are more than 5000 species in the world - they come in many different colors and patterns - the brighter their color, the more toxic they are - mama ladybugs lay extra eggs (unfertilized) for larvae food Ladybug Math Facts for 10 // Look We're Learning Li

Buggy Math Activities with Printable

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I saw an adorable patterning activity on Instagram ( @Play.and.learn.activities ) and was so inspired that I had to create my own version.  Since I've been doing a lot of springtime insect posts lately, I immediate thought about making it bug themed.  This printable would go well as part of a insect life cycle study or just a way to make math more fun and would be good for most early elementary kids. Related: Ladybug Life Cycle 3-Part Cards Related: Science Books about Insects Related: Honey Bee Life Cycle 3-Part Cards > > > Click Here for Pattern Strips < < < Firstly, I created pattern strips using four basic colors, so that they could be used with many different themes.  I printed the strips , cut them out, laminated them on only on one side using packaging tape, and then glued them to a giant wood popsicle stick with a glue stick.  Once they're all made, that can be stored in a zip top bag, and the child can chose which pattern they

The Ultimate Guide for Learning About Frogs

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Although the grass is green, the Pacific Tree Frogs haven't yet made their appearance.  Catching frogs is my kids' favorite activity.  They anticipate it all winter long and start looking for them as soon as the weather gets above freezing. My kids already know a lot about frogs from keeping them in our home and talking about them all year long, but I wanted to team up with the Kid Blogger Network this spring to explore even more ideas for learning about frogs.  There are Montessori-inspired ideas, food crafts, printables, sensory play, crafts, and more.  Scroll down to see all the awesome ideas! Safari Ltd Life Cycle Set   ⧫   Frog Anatomy Model   ⧫   Frog Stages Paperweight Incredible Creatures Bullfrog   ⧫   Life Cycle of a Frog book Croaking Frog Instrument   ⧫   Wide Mouth Frog book Frog Figurines Tube   ⧫    Critter Cage   ⧫  Tadpole Kit Critter Habitat   ⧫    Frog Life Cycle Magnets   ⧫   Tadpole to Frog book Dissection Simulation   ⧫   

Games and Activities for Mr Poppers Penguins Audiobook

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Today is World Penguin Day!  Although most of the world is thinking of springtime and waving good-bye to snow, April 25th has been set aside by the people who decide these sorts of things as a day to honor penguins!  I thought this would be a great day to do a penguin post with Mr. Poppers Penguins  and ideas for activities to do while listening to the story being read aloud. My kids and I just completed our very first read aloud novel- Tuck Everlasting .  They knew the musical songs from listening to the cast album with me.  As we read the book, the kids and I would intersperse the text with snippets of songs.  It was a great way to engage their imaginations more and keep them focused on the parts of the story they already knew.  During the times when we weren't listening to the story, they wanted to listen to the music or talk about their "friend" Winnie Foster.  It was such a special time that I was eager to begin our next book. > > >  Get Audible

Montessori-Inspired Penguin 3-Part Cards

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I was going through my Montessori-Inspired 3-part cards the other day and comparing my collection to the toobs listed on the Safari Ltd. website, when I discovered a startling thing- I didn't have matching cards for the  Safari Ltd Penguin Toob !  Since the penguin toob was one of the very first toys I bought for our homeschool, I was shocked.  Today, I remedy that problem! The  Safari Ltd Penguins  are perfect for all sorts of homeschooling and play situations.  I did a big roundup early this year with crafts, food, printables, and more.  I'm posting another article about penguins again tomorrow!  There's just so many great ideas and so many ways to learn about these flightless birds. For today's blog post, I wanted to add a few ways to play with the  Safari Ltd Penguins .  In the picture below, I've listed nine small world scenarios from landscapes to sensory bins.  If you laminate my penguin cards, your child will be able to play with the penguins and m

The Blog is Five Years Old!

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It's my blog's 5th birthday!  I can't believe that I've been blogging for so long!  When I started, my kids were 2 years, 1 year, and six months.  Now, they're 7, 6, and 5 years old.  Life is completely different (and yet, somehow, still very much the same). Every year on my blog birthday, I put out a post highlighting some of the news from the year past.  It's fun to look at the history and remember how far I've come in learning about blogging, applying new ideas, and providing lots of free printables to the world.  Here is the news from this year: 1- We have a new name! At the beginning of 2019, I decided to change the name of this blog from In Our Pond to Homeschooling My Kinetic Kids .  So far, I've been satisfied with the meaning of the new name and how it describes our family atmosphere.  Tell me in the comments if you think I should change it back. 2 - We have a newsletter! If you've been visiting the blog in the last few months

Gifts for the Homeschool Mom

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Mother's Day is just a few weeks away!  I was encouraged by some other moms to put together a gift guide specifically for moms who homeschool.  The truth is that educator moms are just like regular moms in a lot of ways- we just want to pee alone!   I recently polled a group of like-minded moms on what they wanted for Mother's Day (or any day).  Their answers were similar to what any mom would want.  If you're looking for a gift for your mom or a mom figure in your life, this is a great place to start. - flowers for the garden - breakfast in bed - labor from their families - maids or cooks - a day off, sleep - a massage - gift cards or money - vacations - chocolates - date nights - a clean house - van detailing - babysitter - go to the movies alone - organizational help - taxi service for the kids - time alone - novels and time to read - time with husband and kids Several moms also had requests specific to be