Everyday Ideas

I like incorporating learning into everyday things as much as possible so this is a list of ideas that I use or have gotten from others I know that are meant for everyday learning. Some might incorporate pagan beliefs, some may not, but they will all teach something and will (hopefully) be fun for everyone involved.

All ages given are approximate age ranges. If you think your child would enjoy something from a different age range don't let my age ranges stop use. Please use some common safety sense when doing this though. Something that can be done with kids who learn better while moving might be to get a "koosh" ball and toss it back and forth during answer/question periods or to have a bounce ball for the child to sit on while he's learning his lessons (yes, I do this).

Ages 2-5

I like this idea. It's supposed to have been something that Columcille's mother did for him as a child to teach him his alphabet. I don't know about how true that might be, but it's agreat way to learn numbers and letters. If you get the refrigerated cookie or bread dough then you can have your kids help you make the different letters (and maybe things that begin with that letter) and numbers. As soon as they're done baking the kids can eat them. You can also do this from scratch, but buying the premade dough is easier and quicker. It also lets you have more time to really enjoy this project. If you prefer to do this from scratch you can incorporate some basic measuring concepts into the lesson as well.

Starting a small herb garden (even one of the window ones) is a great project for a little one. They can water it, learn about the herbs uses in the kitchen and maybe even some of the medicinal uses. Be sure to use herbs that grow quickly such as basil or mint and that can be eaten since most little ones will try for a taste. A good book to use with this project would be A Children's Herbal (see Suggested Books page).

Ages 6-11

If you haven't already, start a chores board. For every chore the child gets done give them a "coin" (can be a poker chip or play money) to put into a pocket on the chores board. After a week you and your child can decide on a reward or he might choose to save up for a larger reward later. This is a great way to teach job skills and money handling (especially if you're using play money).  You might also try offering an allowance based on recycling. My son collects cans from around the house and has been known to get them from other people. We then bring them over to a recycling plant that pays for aluminum cans and other metals. He puts in the work and gets paid for it. He usually puts the money into his savings account, but will sometimes splurge and get himself a toy or game. If you do this with a slightly older child you might consider having them keep a money register (can use an old checkbook register if you have a blank one). That way they can see how much they spend and learn to budget their money.

For history I think that taking kids this age to as many museums as possible would be a good idea. Here in TX. there's the Alamo, the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Glen Rose (for dinosaur fossil hunting), various ships down in Galveston or the Indian reservation out towards Livingston. Just look around you to see what might be in your area. Be sure to talk about it when you get back home and maybe even bring your child to a library so they can get more information on wherever you just went.

Start a "science journal". Kids can go outdoors and make notes of whatever they see there. Then they can find pictures (or if you trust them with a digital camera take pictures) and put them in the journal. If they're artistic they may draw pictures of whatever they see and find out more information about it at the library or on the internet. You can expand on their herbal education this way too. Investigate what plants they've found and some of the uses that they have.

Look up at the night sky. Do you know the stories behind all of those constellations? If not this might be a chance for you and your child to learn them. Get some books from the library about constellations, astronomy and possibly even astrology. You might even take a trip to the planetarium to learn more about them. Can your child find his own "pictures in the sky"? How about the stories behind them? My dad wanted to be an astronomer when I was a kid and having him tell me these stories was one of the best things about camping out.

Ages 12-15

This age is the perfect age to introduce the concept of Visabuxx. This program is a really good idea started by Visa to get kids used to handling credit (the downfall of so many of us adults!) http://www.visabuxx.com/ You can use it as a way to pay out allowance or however you want to handle it. This site gives information directed at teens on investing, saving, budgeting and maintaining a healthy credit history. I honestly think this should be a site for any teen. Plus they can use the card at any retailer that takes Visa debitcards. If your teen needs ID for use with a card (some retailers ask for it) they can usually get a state ID here in TX without needing a driver's license.

Here's an idea for history (and maybe language arts??). Have your child write about something in history from the point of view of something in the landscape. What would the hill at Little Bighorn have thought about it all? What about a bird flying in the air during Pearl Harbor? Mother nature and her creatures may have a very different perspective of history than we do.

Making soap, essentail oils and many other products we use involves lots of chemistry. Making soap involves saponification. Research what is involved in the chemical process of saponification and then (with an adult helping) make some soap. you can either make soap from scratch using a recipe from one of the many soap making resources available (including a soap making kit), or you can gather all of the small bits of leftover soap together and set them into a new mold to be reused. Have a bunch of herbs? Make your own herbal oils on the stove top or maybe an herbal vinegar. Have your child research what the chemical processes are that are happening. Why does heat help in making oils?What does the vinegar do to the herbs? A couple of good books I can suggest for this project are "The Herb Book" by John Lust and "Essential Oils" by Julia Lawless. Also, look into the "For Dummies" series for books on herbs. They usually have good cartoons to go with them and make the subject even more fun.

If you plan to continue homeschooling through highschool sometime around 9th grade is when you should double check with the state suggested  curriculum for highschool to be sure that colleges will be more likely to accept a notarized copy of your transcripts. This is also a good time to check with various colleges to see what some of them might require of you when you child is ready to start sending in applications.

Ages 16 +

Most kids this age will probably enjoy and learn from most of the same sources you do. Here are a few ideas that might be enjoyed.

Did you know that the tarot deck has a lot in common with psychology and the Rorshach tests? The tarot uses elements common to many people in our society to help give insight to their subconscious. Do some research into the Rorshach tests (you know...those inkblots) and the tarot to see for yourself. One other thing that might be of interest to note is that Freud based a lot of his childhood development theories (which led to many others) partly on his interpretation of Frazier's "The Golden Bough".

Biology Project:

You'll need a coffee filter, a pair of scissors, a blender, fresh spinach leaves, two pots for bioling water, a stove, tap water, 70% ethyl alcohol (can get in most drugstores, but can also use isopropyl rubbing alcohol or vodka), Plastic wrap or aluminum foil, a glass jar or drinking glass with straight sides.

Put 1-2 large spinach leaves in the blender. Add a 1/3 cup of alcohol. Liquefy the spinach. Pour your "shake" into a glass, jar or cup. Cover the glass with the plastic wrap or foil. Put the glass in a pan containing about an inch of very hot water, such as water that has been boiling but has been removed from the burner. Be careful to put out any open flames (such as flames on a gas stove) when pouring or moving a container with alcohol. Leave the glass in the hot water for about an hour. Cut a long strip from the coffe filter (or similar substitute) about an inch wide and at least an inch longer than the height of the glass that you are using. Remove the glass from the water (be sure to use a canning jar lifter or hot pad). Uncover the glass. Place the strip of filter paper in the glass so that one end extends out of the glass. You can bend the other end over the top and tape it there. Leave it for about 2 hours, checking it at about 1 hour. At the end of the 2 hours remove and observe the coffee filter strip.

What did you see on the strip of coffee filter? Completely describe all of your observations, especially the color(s) observed. Where did those colors come from? Why didn't you see them in the spinach leaves? Have you seen any of these colors in other plants? Give examples.Why are these colors important to the plant?

Language Arts:

A process paper is nothing more than a paper describing step by step how to do something, such as in a cooking recipe. What sorts of things does your child like to do? Have them give a step by step description on how to do something that's related. Make sure that they list all of the items needed to do the project.

By now many kids have started volunteering or may even have a part time job somewhere. If they haven't been doing either of these you might ask them what they would like to volunteer to do in their community. There are lots of opportunities for kids to volunteer. Check with your local hospitals, nursing homes, etc. Here are a couple of sites to get you started.

Galveston area

http://www.volunteermatch.org/bymsa/m2920/c12/opp1.html

State of Texas Organizations

http://www.onestarfoundation.org/onestar/resources/state_agencies.html

Global and Local Volunteer Programs for kids 6-18

http://www.idealist.org/kt/volorgs.html

As kids get older you may start thinking about college. This is the time to check with local colleges about where you might go to for SAT, ACT, and THEA exams. Many of them offer testing to students for a fee. Some colleges also offer dual credit (highschool and college) through online or even in person classes. See if you might be able to take advantage of this.