TISSUE PAPER CRAFTS !

TISSUE PAPER CRAFTS

In the last few weeks, I’ve been using some spare time to re-organize my first floor closets.  For as much work as it has been, it has also been fun because I’ve uncovered some really fun craft items.  Namely, a huge bag of tissue paper scraps.  I’m glad that I kept them because I wanted to use them for a winter’s day when I knew we’d be indoors and the time would be ideal for having fun making tissue paper crafts.   That day will soon arrive so I’ve been looking around online for how to turn that colorful bag of tissue papers into creative art work.  Here’s some links that I’ve found online that certainly inspire just that !  I’ll post pictures of our projects later when I edit this page with an update.

http://www.freekidscrafts.com/tissue_paper_crafts-t105.html

http://www.abchomepreschool.com/Crafts/TissuePaperCrafts.htm

A few favorites for my younger children that piqued my interest with the holidays coming up for Valentine’s and St. Patrick Day, are these holiday themed projects.

Stained Glass Heart Craft
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/valentines/mstainedglass2.htm

Shamrock in 3-D
http://www.theideabox.com/Shamrock_Tissue_Paper_Art.html

Suncatchers with Tissue Paper
These are just adorable and good for multiple ages.
http://www.favecrafts.com/Crafting-with-Kids/colorful-tissue-paper-suncatchers#

RAINBOW MAGIC !

This morning when we woke up and were dragging ourselves through breakfast and complaining that it was still like night outdoors, we lamented the ongoing gray, wet weather.  The brook in the backyard is roaring as the waterfall spurts forth white water with force.  It's beautiful.  The mud forming in the yard wasn't so beautiful.  So onward with the day.  We studied the state of New York, including its geography, famous people and famous places.  The kids played games related to facts about the state.

We played the board game, Game of the States for a while.  Interesting note was the 10 year old's observation that the game cards cited population numbers from 1980 from each state.  I thought to myself, "I bought this game THAT long ago ?  It was new."  Time flies.  We read some stories, including a book about Martin Luther King, Jr.  That prompted some good discussions between the children and I that we all enjoyed.  One of those "homeschool moments" when you smile to yourself and are extra glad you are homeschooling.

During the afternoon, we ran some errands around town.  At the bank, they had a question posted for patrons. They do it for fun; a history question that was about Martin Luther King, Jr.  If you get the correct answer, you get a Smarties candy.  My 10 year old knew the answer (Rosa Parks on the bus) and we giggled because we'd just read about that a few hours earlier. Another homeschool moment to savor !

When we got home, and the little kids wanted to put a big floor puzzle of the U.S.A. together.  As they were working on that we noticed that the sun was coming out in the back yard.  Yet, in the front yard it was still pouring buckets of rain!   Aha !  The perfect recipe for a rainbow.  And that, we did see.  A DOUBLE rainbow.  Very timely to match the wonderful day we had, despite its gray and dreary beginning !

Here's a website with some fun facts about rainbows, just for kids.  http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-optical-illusions.htm

MARTIN LUTHER KING - HOMESCHOOLING

I was just sitting down with my 10 year old, Sophia, reading the Haiku poem she just wrote.  She finished reading a story in her reading book about Basho - worth checking in to - which you can easily do right at Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bash%C5%8D

Then, my other daughter, Suzannah (just turned 14) dovetailed the haiku with origami Window Stars and decorated our kitchen sliding door with them. She thought it was fitting for winter.  Okay, so here's a picture of that for you to enjoy !  Actually, I have a blog post solely dedicated to Window Stars if you'd like to look it up. Another homeschool mom showed us how to make them many, many years ago.  I bought a book that was available at that time; it's quite small but it's full of color plate photos and was a bit costly at that time.  Last I looked, it's out of print.

What does that have to do with Martin Luther King Day ?  Well, as homeschooling will sometimes flow like the water over rocks in a stream, and go off in a different direction, that's what happened. When she read her poem aloud, we were looking at Japan on the globe. Then, we looked at Malaysia, where I have people who use my soap (who knew?), and that then led to us taking out her notebook filled with lapbooks on Geography of the U.S.A.  In one of the lapbooks, we found the upcoming national holiday, Martin Luther King Day.

And so it is in the life of a homeschooler; we're now studying, once again, to learn more about MLK's life.  If you care to join in, here is one (of many, I'm sure) good websites, particularly for children.
http://holidays.kaboose.com/martin-luther-king-jr-day.html

Last, but not least, here are a few more photos that I took so you could better see the window stars. Enjoy!

Until the next time ... .

HOT COCOA - HOMEMADE

I wasn't expecting to come across this recipe this beautiful, sunny morning.  Since I did, I thought I would share it with you all.  It's certainly that time of year when coming in from outdoors, or packing a thermos full, to take along when you are outdoors, when we all enjoy hot cocoa.  What's better than making it from scratch ?  Mmm.


Gather your chillun's and share this delightful treat !  Real CHOCOLATE !  A gift from the Gods !

HOT COCOA – homemade

1/3 cup granulated sugar

¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/8 tsp sea salt

1/3 cup of steaming-hot water

3-1/4 cups of low-fat milk

¾ tsp vanilla extract

marshmallows or whipped cream (optional)

grated dash of cinnamon (optional)

peppermint stick piece (optional)

1.    In medium pan, combine sugar, cocoa, salt, water.

2.    Stir until ready to boil, med. Heat.

3.    Add milk, stir. Don’t boil. When done, remove from heat and add vanilla.

4.    Pour hot cocoa into cups and add optional topping.

Announcing ...
the birth of our grandchild.  Meet Julian Miles Connors-Carter, born 11/28/11 and weighed in at 7 pounds, 10.8 ounces.  Mom (my oldest daughter) and dad are doing fine. Big Sister, 2 year old Adriana Nichole, is very please with baby brother's arrival.  She now knows he's really not a rubber ducky.

All the grandmas and grandpas are very excited.  This is our third grandchild; Adriana age 2, Caleb age 2, and now newborn Julian !  Counting our blessings, indeed !

U.S. HISTORY TIMELINE

This is a short post, but still has good information for you.  One of the things we're studying this year is the American Revolution.  Here is a link with excellent timeline information and printables to create your own custom designed timeline !  http://ushistorysite.com/timelines.php

We also bought a membership at the Lebanon Historical Society, since they are experts in knowledge about the revolution's history.  Foot soldiers were right on the Lebanon Green fighting for our freedom so that today we can enjoy a leisurely walk around the green on the 2 mile path.  It's rich with history, with the Jonathan Trumbull Houses, the War Office, etc.  Definitely worth the trip !

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT

HOW TO DEVELOP A HOMESCHOOL UNIT STUDY
Link HERE.


HOW TO CUSTOMIZE A HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM
Link HERE.

Link HERE.



K-12 SCOPE & SEQUENCE
Link HERE.



UNSCHOOLING: WHAT IS IT ?
Link HERE.



GIFTED CHILDREN & EDUCATION
Link HERE.



CT ASSOCIATION FOR THE GIFTED
Link HERE.