Monday, February 20, 2012

Homeschool Haven

So, I have to admit, I did not do well at thinking about what to do for Valentine's Day for my kids.  I shared our simple plans, HERE, thanks to Walmart LOL  It wasn't completely for lack of planning - I did search and search for some creative ideas on the weekend but was coming up blank.  Then I found stuff ON Valentine's Day.  Kinda hard to plan when the posts don't go up until the day off!  I'm posting them here, along with other ideas, so I can print them later and use them next year!

Confessions of a Homeschooler is a favorite of mine and she doesn't disappoint with a review of a unit she already had on her site (and no, I did not find this one until Valentine's Day either!)
Itsy Bitsy Learners has several Valentines Ideas using simple tools.  The first uses cookie cutters - what a great idea.  Also at the end of the post are links to a bunch of printables available in their shop for Valentines Day activities too!
Then, Itsy Bitsy Learners shares ideas for using heart measuring spoons/cups. 
Finally, this is not a Valentines idea but it is a Pre-school pack for the book The Gruffalo.  I was just recently introduced to this book and was surprised to see this pack pop-up!  It will be a great addition to my plans for preschool. 

This idea should technically go on the Too Cute post but I'm going to plug it in here since Valentine's is over and this really would be a great craft to do for next year.  The idea comes from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas.

This post from I Heart Crafty Things shares lots of Valentine's AND Learning activities. Including several books that fit right in with the holiday.  

I love this next teaching idea from Totally Tots  - it is all about Nursery Rhymes and my kids love those.  I think that this unit is something I Will work on soon with the boys instead of saving it for the fall.  If I don't - it will be the first extra unit we do in the fall.

Through the link above, I found a new teaching idea blog - it is listed on my blog as one of the teaching blogs I follow but I thought I would share it here too because just in my quick glance through some older posts, she has some awesome ideas for both preschool as well as older kids too.  Check out Spell Out Loud.

I may have shared this Unit of Study from Confessions of a Homeschooler before but, since I can't remember if I did, I'll share it again.  She has created a "Road Trip" unit and they are learning about all of the states.  She is so creative and yes, this is geared towards older kids but it is one of those units I plan on adding to my files for future use.  Some things are too good to pass up :-)