We couldn’t have done our school year so far without stepping outside our walls into the amazing world that God has made for us. Along the way, we have found some trips that have worked and some that have not, but either way we have started to see that exploring no matter how grand it may be, is worth all the effort!

5 Tips for Field Trips

CONSIDER YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. This is one I have learned the hard way. You may be limited on the time you have or the money you can spend. There are lots of field trips and activities out there to do and it can be overwhelming to choose which ones will be best for your family.

An adventurous group hike through the forest may sound great, but may not suit you with several young children that would need help. That’s ok, it’s only a season. You may not have enough money to purchase tickets for all your kids to the museum you want to go to. That’s ok too. Be creative with what you have and know the right time to do what activities.

LEARN AHEAD & BE PREPARED! If you are going to a museum, a special class, or an interesting landmark, take the time ahead of it to interest your kids before you go. Once you have hooked them, then you can let their imaginations fly as they see firsthand the lessons they have been learning.

Don’t forget to be prepared for food, potty breaks, and anything special your kids will need for the adventure. My children definitely need snacks to keep them going and since we never know quite where our adventures will lead us, I try to bring anything extra I can think of.

Currently my car has an extra stroller, a bucket, rain boots, nets, and sand toys. Just in case there are tadpoles, sand parks, or trails to walk on our way home. We love to detour!

SIMPLE & FREE TRIPS ARE AWESOME. Our small budget doesn’t always allow for the adventures we would like. But, we have learned that even though something may be simple or even free doesn’t mean it’s any less effective in teaching.

Some of our best adventures have been taking our canoe out along the river, hiking a wilderness trail, flying a kite at a local park, and embracing the times that places offer free nights. Did I mention we love FREE stuff?

ENJOY IT & SO WILL YOUR KIDS. We have all had our moments where an outing goes from a great idea to chaos. Nothing is more defeating then something you thought was going to be amazing trip to turn into a stressed out adventure.

I have to remind myself to relax sometimes and let go of all the details or expectations I may have for the trips we take. If I can enjoy it and pump it up for my kids, chances are they will be excited too! These days will be gone before we know it, so breathe deep, and roll with it!

FOLLOW UP. Use your car ride home to talk about their favorite parts. Ask them questions about what they saw, touched, or experienced.

I like to have my kids write or draw pictures of what they were most excited about. Sometimes I have gotten a picture from my daughter of us walking together on our trip and she has said, “I liked being with you while I was learning.” Yep, I’ll take it!

Learning together is about so much more then just the information. If my kids can capture my genuineness and excitement to be with them, then that’s a successful trip too!

Field Trips can be a little extra work. Planning, preparing, and packing up stuff can take effort. If you can choose the opportunities that best fit the needs of your family, learn a little beforehand, and just let go, it’s possible that these trips may be some of the best times together.

What tips do you have that help make trips work for your family?

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The post Tips for Homeschool Field Trips first appeared on True Aim.

I’ve tried to set a standard, but then there are days where Bible stories around the breakfast table turns into prayer time which turns into crafts which leads to history – you get the picture. Before we know it, my husband gets home and we are still in jammies, but usually surrounded by a creative mess of learning and giggles. They are indeed some of our best school days.

Finding Beauty in Messes

Last week my husband set up a business dinner with one of his executives from New York and wanted the kids and I to go with him. I thought it would be nice for the kids to make a card for her since she was traveling away from her own family. As soon as I suggested the idea, my pajama clad crew were up the stairs digging through boxes of creative supplies to use.

They excitedly pulled out stickers, dot stampers, markers, paper, pens, glue, and anything else they could get their hands on. Their hair was still messy, their faces still sleepy, but they were ready to go! So, pajama morning it was, simply because it could be!

I watched as the kids giggled, helped one another, shared, and considered what a complete stranger would enjoy. When I asked my daughter what she wanted her card to say, she replied, “Welcome to Texas, We love You!” I almost encouraged her to write something else considering that she had never met this lady, but realized that those words were a reflection of her heart.

What started as an idea to make a stranger feel welcome for dinner turned into an hour of creative mess. Paper thrown left and right, ink marks on the table, glue oozing out of every inch of my two year olds cards, and a whole lot of laughter. Almost ten cards later, they had a large stack of cards made with such love for someone they would only meet for the first time later in the evening.

As I quickly snapped pictures trying to capture the fleeting moment, I was overjoyed with the utter mess before me. It was beautiful. It was chaos non the less but it was the perfect reflection of what I want for my kids. As we got ready (finally) for our dinner date, I was so blessed to watch as my kids could hardly wait to hand over their labor of love.

Sitting around the restaurant table they politely handed their handmade cards to a woman they had just met and explained what they did for her as she opened each one. My heart was melted into so many pieces as I felt such a sense of pride for how homeschooling was represented that night.

As much as the activity was great for both art and writing, what meant the most was the attitudes that they showed. Homeschooling has allowed me to invest so much into my children every hour of the day. I love the freedom to watch a beautiful mess be created around my table each day as their hearts develop.

Clearly some days are just meant for pajamas and beautiful messes!

The post Beautiful Messes first appeared on True Aim.

Owl Pellet Dissection

If you are unfamiliar with the term, owl pellets are essentially the extra pieces of  food the owl can not digest in their diet that are formed into a tight pellet shape and later spit up. The pellets can contain fur, teeth, feathers, and bones from anything the owl has eaten.

My daughter pictured here was so excited about this project until we showed her a video of how the whole process happens. By the look on her face you can imagine why she was rethinking it as this point! Don’t worry the look quickly faded into fascination!

We ordered our pellets here but there are a lot of great options on Amazon also. Our kits came with just wooden probes
 that the kids could use to gently pull apart the pellets. We had enough tweezers and magnifying glasses at home that we didn’t purchase those.

There are several different options between just ordering the pellets to separate kits that include different tools. Joining in with another family and ordering more pellets can also help lower your cost. Well worth it and exciting to do with friends!

Our library had some great resource books about owls, their prey, and how their digestive system works. After reading these, we handed out the pellets and explained some of the things they should expect to see. I was amazed how both my kindergartner and my toddler were both able to peel back layers and find the hidden pieces of remains all by themselves. It was only minutes into it that their hesitations were gone and the room was filled with “whoah, I got a bone”, and “look at the skull I found!” The further they got, the more exciting it became!Using a bone sorting sheet (included in some of the kits and very helpful) to see that both the kids had remains of a rodent in their pellets. It was incredible to see at such a young age how engaged they were and fascinated by the different bones they were able to find. I have to say that I originally considered it a project for when my children were older, but with little expense and the excitement it created, it is completely worth doing at any age!

What do you think? Are you brave enough to give it a try?

The post Owl Pellet Activity first appeared on True Aim.

Hatching Baby Chicks

We were so blessed to get connected with a local chapter of 4-H through an Agricultural Extension office. We were able to go there along with some other homeschool families to learn about the process and check out a simple Styrofoam incubator for free.

We only paid $6 for a dozen eggs and we were on our way to watching life form! The kids were so excited to setup their incubator and get started. If you are able to get families to do it with you, it makes it so much fun!

It taught our kids so much about commitment and patience. Every day they were in charge of flipping the eggs, checking the water for humidity, and the temperature. We kept a spreadsheet where they were able to check off their daily responsibilities and keep track of any observations they made. It was such a neat experience to candle the eggs with a flashlight and actually see the chickens developing inside the shells.

It was hard for them at age 5 and 2 to understand how long it would take, but after just 28 days, we were able to experience life in such an exciting way. I will never forget the shrieks and tears that came from the excitement of watching their much anticipated chicks come popping out of the shells. Of course ours started to hatch right at bedtime and continued on through the night. We were able to hatch 9 out of the 12 eggs, a really great turnout!

As their feathers started to fluff out we were able to transfer them from the incubator into a box filled with shavings, water, and food. The kids felt such a sense of accomplishment as they completed their tasks each day and the end result was worth every bit of the work. There are so many things that you can learn from books, worksheets, and pictures, but to watch a baby chick hatch, to hold it in your own hands, that’s real hands-on learning!

We were blessed to have a friend who took our chickens since we couldn’t keep them in our neighborhood. We are able to go out every once in awhile and visit them. They are so big now and are just starting to lay eggs. I will never forget this project and the experience that came from it. Seeing life form no matter what shape it comes is just an incredible sight to see.

Have you ever hatched chickens before?

For more homeschooling adventures, like us on Facebook or follow along on Pinterest.  Thank you for your support!

The post Hatching Chickens with Kids first appeared on True Aim.

It is so much easier to reach out, to share, and to respond to someone else’s needs when we want to.  The gift of kindness involves teaching our children that it is always about thinking of others before themselves, even at the most inconvenient times.  Acts of kindness are all about bringing happiness to the lives of people around us.  The wonderful thing is that simple acts can be done everywhere!

Teaching Simple Acts of Kindness

We were so excited to be a part of a group of bloggers today who are sharing ideas of how they are helping their children learn about simple acts of kindness or deeds that can set off a chain reaction.  The idea started from a wonderful book by Emily Pearson titled, Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed. (Affiliate Link)

The book details an ordinary girl who has a very ordinary life and decides to do a very simple act of kindness that ends up setting off a chain reaction around the world. It’s an inspiring book that encourages kids to look for the simplest ways to bless others around them and hopefully inspire them to pass on the good!

Often our lives are so jammed packed that we forget to look at all the opportunities in front of us to pass on kindness.  We have tried to instill in our kids the desire to dig deep even when they may not feel like it, to ALWAYS keep their eyes open for these opportunities.  You never know what simple act can change the world!

In teaching our kids the qualities of kindness we try to have them understand the primary factor behind it is that it’s always about others.  In 2011, our son Jackson was diagnosed with a very rare and serious heart condition.  We have spent the last couple of years in and out of the hospital for appointments, testing, and countless hours watching others pace the halls anxiously waiting for results.

At our last appointment we knew it would be the perfect place to start a chain reaction of good deeds.  It would teach our kids that even on a difficult day for us, it is also the perfect opportunity to share the love of Jesus with others who were going through the same thing. 

The kids began by making special cards for their nurses and doctors. Jackson who is 2, decorated all of his with stickers and then colored over the top of them with markers. Who can resist that creativity? Ava, our little helper decorated almost a dozen cards with writing and drawings that could cheer up anybody!

We also decorated over 80 snack bags to hand out to patients and their families with little love notes that said:

” Hospital days can be long, so we hope this little snack helps get you through the obstacles you are facing. Be courageous and know that someone is praying and cheering for you today.”

As our appointment day arrived, the kids excitedly marched into the hospital with their basket full of snack bags and were anxious to spread the love. My heart was so blessed to see how something simple could bring a smile to others around us that were facing some of their greatest battles.

What a challenge for both us and the kids that even on days when we could easily be consumed with our own circumstances, that those very circumstances open the perfect opportunity to share the love and hope of Jesus with others. Who knows how far that love was truly shared and how deeply it inspired others to pay it forward. All it takes is ordinary people living ordinary lives to make the extraordinary happen.

We hope you have been inspired to look around at your circumstances and find ways that you can simply reach out to others. Please enjoy reading from our other group bloggers as they share their simple ideas today too!

The post Simple Acts of Kindness For Kids first appeared on True Aim.

Matter Experiments

I started teaching the kids a very simple song about the states of matter to introduce it. With only singing the chorus a few times through, they were able to tell me the three different states. A perfect stage was set for teaching, digging, and watching the information come alive!

Our first day of learning about matter I used a very simple demonstration by using a pot (solid), adding water (liquid), and having them watch as it began to boil and create steam (gas). No preparation, as simple as can be, and as a treat, you can use the hot water to make some delicious hot chocolate. Who says you can’t have a little snack on the side?

You can do a simple experiment to introduce the 3 states by using balloons. Fill one with water and freeze over night(solid), fill one with water (liquid), and have your kids blow up one (gas). Talk about the difference in weight, how easy the balloons are to squish, etc. My kids loved tossing the balloons to see the difference in how they traveled and broke!

One of their very favorite experiments was demonstrating with two liquids to see which was one heavier. By simply filling a container of any sort with vegetable oil and having them use pipets to squirt in drops of water, they are able to see that water, being heavier sinks to the bottom. We added food coloring to our water to make the drops that much more visible. They couldn’t get enough of creating their own bubbles!

The most famous science ingredients came in extra handy for some fun with gases. Sprinkle baking soda onto a plate and then let them drop in little or big drops of vinegar. They won’t want to stop watching their fizzy creations. We tested out the difference in the reaction with using different sizes of droppers, even pulling out a turkey baster to see something more dramatic.

As if the experiments couldn’t get any easier or more fun to play with, we had to try our hand at OOBLECK. Is it a solid, a liquid, or something in between? Only comprised of cornstarch and water, your kids will love watching the goo go from dripping from their hands to feeling hard if they push on it!

Lastly for our matter round up, we couldn’t leave the subject without finding an awesome song to learn. We had an absolute blast as we dug our hands and our minds into something that is all around us. Matter, matter, it’s everywhere!

The post Kid Science: Simple Ways to Teach Matter first appeared on True Aim.

I wanted to teach in a way that my kids felt learning at a desk was just as common as learning on the carpet, kitchen counter, backyard, or on a hike.  Taking every little moment and realizing that if I am purposeful, teachable moments can happen anywhere and at anytime.

10 Tips to Encourage Learning All Day

1. Soak up Mealtimes

• They are already sitting, why not teach? My kids are young and active so I have learned to capitalize on moments where they are already content at sitting down. We usually do our Bible stories and memory work around the breakfast table. They are so busy munching away they don’t feel like it is school yet!
• Use mealtime mats. We often review our states, presidents, and countries while the kids are waiting for their lunch. I am prepping food and teaching while they feel like they are just playing a game while they wait.

2. Keep things in their line of sight.

• If they can reach it and see it, chances are they will use it. Everything that hangs on our walls is at their eye level. Our magnetic letter board, alphabet line, and wall maps are always right in front of them which makes for their curious minds to always find a way to use them. We use a table that is their height so they can kneel, stand, or sit to study and play.

3. Make Technology within Reach.

• Our curriculum is made up of e-books so it has made it easy for our kids to use it in so many ways. We loaded the curriculum onto our laptop, tablet, and an extra computer we have just for the kids. Most of the time they feel like they are playing computer games as they click and swipe through the pages. They will often request time to “play” with their books…. Fine by me!
• There are so many resources out there for apps and computer games that enhance kids learning. We love Starfall and SplashMath for some educational games.

4. Art, Art, Everywhere!

• Whether it’s paper and glue, play dough, or painting, art is the perfect way for kids to express creativity and relate what they are learning. I usually have my kids draw each day something that we talked about and without hesitation they will make pages of maps, animals, people, etc.
• Make different art centers. Our art easel is the gift that keeps on giving. It’s so versatile! We also keep art supplies handy in almost every room that has a table. Sometimes learning is best when messy!

5.  Keep books easy to grab.

• I love my little book shelves that are actually Ikea spice racks. You can hang them anywhere for kids to easily pick up their favorites to read.
• Make a little reading nook or hideaway that will encourage reading to be fun! We simply put an old crib mattress we weren’t using on the ground and the kids have loved sitting on it to read together.

6. Hang Up Their Work

• When I show my kids how much I love what they do, their pride in their work grows too. When they see their work hung up and proudly displayed, it usually encourages them to want to do more!

7. Go Outside!

• Field trips, play dates, and trips to the park don’t have to be time away from our studies. Learning about tadpoles? Go find some! Getting stuck on a lesson? Fresh air can make all the difference. Never underestimate the things that can be learned through things you didn’t plan on teaching!

8. Use bath times to connect.

• Make bath paint and draw new words. Hang up your mealtime mats on the tub walls and sing songs about what you are learning. Don’t forget to make them extra special once in a while with a glow in the dark bath.
• This is the perfect time to talk about how special God made them and how there is no one else just like them! This is some of the most valuable things you can teach them now.

9. Night and bedtimes are for learning too!

• Darkness makes for some fun learning. Flashlights hunts, star searching, and moonlit walks are some of our favorite times together.
• Stories are the perfect ending to a day. Every night we give the kids each a turn to make up their own story or a song. We’ve had everything from tales of Davy Crocket and the wild bunny rabbit to a fierce pirate traveling from Egypt. Not only is it working their brain creatively but it also lets me know I am on the right track. They are excited about what they are learning!

10. Use what you have to make an impact!

• Look around and see what you already have. We’ve made an old crib mattress into a reading nook, took the side off of a crib to make an art center desk, and wood scraps to make a sensory table. See what you don’t use anymore and find a way to make it a learning machine!
• Use what they already play with and make it count. Train tables, play kitchens, tea sets, cars, Legos, and everything else they get their hands on can be used for learning.

Learning is experiencing life and life happens all day long. What easy steps can you take today to soak it all up and purposefully make each moment count? Be creative, use what you have, cherish the time, and be sneaky- they may not even realize they are “doing” school!

Photo credit: KristinNador / Foter / CC BY

The post 10 Tips to Keep Kids Learning All Day! first appeared on True Aim.

Memorable Homeschooling

Homeschooling is so much more than sitting around the table with open books.  Releasing the pressure of teaching often lets us see the big picture of raising children instead of scholars.  I found myself needing to be reminded of this last week.

In 2011, our son was diagnosed with a very rare and serious heart defect.  Our decision to homeschool in part was based on the fact that our life needed a lot of flexibility with different traveling and doctors appointments.

It was important to us to be able to travel as a family and we knew how precious every moment was together.  I was surprised that even with that perspective I would stress over a missed lesson.  But, it happens to all of us. We fail at times to see beyond the books and overlook the importance of those days that we don’t get to check off our lists.

Last Wednesday we traveled to Houston to have our son monitored, as he regularly does.  I got a front row seat to my five year old daughter sitting on the hospital bed with our son as they did his testing, speaking encouragement to her brother.  Words such as, “You can do it buddy. You are so brave.”  She waited with him for his results and cheered with him as we found out the good news that he is not in heart failure.

I watched as my children walked the halls of the largest freestanding children’s hospital in the world.  Hand in hand they marched with smiles and laughter.  They were confident in a place where uncertainty rains.  They were joyful in one of the most desperate places you can be.  As my kids giggled in the back of my car on the way home, I remember asking myself how I could have ever felt anything was more important than this.  Lord, please forgive my anxious heart.

At the bottom of my school planner I have a blank space labeled, “Weeks most memorable moments and Evidences of Grace”.  It’s so good to keep the perspective in the right place.  There may be weeks where you feel you can’t check off all your subjects or you feel like you barely touched on what you planned, but always take the time to look back on what you did get done.  This last week in Houston I didn’t get a chance to get to everything, but at the bottom of my planner I have this written:

Weeks Most Memerable Moments & Evidences of Grace (Provision):

” I watched my kids exhibit the joy of the Lord, the confidence of His promises, and the love of His sacrifice in a time where the world says they should be shackled with grief.  Medical explanations were unfounded once again as God continues to use our son to redefine what’s possible.  My kids watched another miracle today.  Thank you Jesus for this week”

The big picture of homeschooling doesn’t look at the sick days or the last minute days off.  It looks at the heart of children.  Are we merely raising children who are concerned with checking off boxes or are we choosing to raise intelligent children who are filled with faith and compassion for the world around them?

Have you had days that were hard to let go of lessons? What things have helped remind you of the big picture of homeschooling?

Keep the perspective and don’t forget to look for the evidences of His grace. They are everywhere!

For more homeschooling encouragement, like us on Facebook or follow us on Pinterest.

~Kathryn

The post Homeschooling with Perspective first appeared on True Aim.

Sitting down to do math can be a tedious chore for them, so I do my best to find ways to make it fun and exciting.  Math is such an essential part of learning and in the world we live in, it’s important that we don’t overlook the value of it, no matter how much our kids may resist it.  So, everyday little bit by little bit they are learning facts and hopefully catching on to thinking – Math is fun!

Fun Math Activities

We always start with our curriculum and our worksheets that come along with it.  This reintroduces it each day and creates repetition for their memory.  Remember not to lose heart if things don’t click as quickly as you want them to.

I have to remind myself all the time that learning is a process and Math is something that is built little bit by little bit.  Learning quickly is not as important as building a good foundation.  Take your time, go according to their pace (because you can), and encourage every tiny step forward.

We recently found a great idea of making an addition game out of a simple p-drain. I found mine at Home Depot for under $5 and it made for a great game. We called ours a “Super Duper Adding Machine” which made the kids love it even more!

Marking the different buckets with dry erase markers makes it easy to do problem after problem.   My kids would get such a thrill dumping the equal box out to see how many were in there.  We found that pom poms were a little bit light and would get stuck but we were able to use beads, beans, popcorn kernels,  and chocolate chips.  You could gather anything from around the house that the kids would love!

We also found a great craft for adding or multiplying using their very own hands.  The link I found glued their hand cutouts to a page and wrote out sums of 10.

I modified it just a bit and created a page for them in a sheet protector with a blank equation.  They can then write in any numbers and use their fingers to calculate it out.  They loved using their own “hands” to help with math.  It was so easy and with just one quick swipe they were able to clear the equation and do it all over again.  How did I ever live with out sheet protectors?

I also love these ideas of taking both dominos and playing cards to help with math.  If you are also looking for an online option to strengthen math skills, our favorite is Splash Math.  I just recently discovered it from Janine’s post and my kids have fallen in love with it!

Math can be fun! It may be a strength or a weakness for your child, but remember either way it’s important.  Take your time to build, encourage, and have fun with it!

For more ways to make learning fun, like us on Facebook or follow us on Pinterest!

How do you make math fun for your children?

~Kathryn

The post Fun Math Activities for Kids first appeared on True Aim.

What makes their heart skip a beat with excitement? And my favorite-what creates the “look”; the glow and the twinkle in their eyes that sparks a whole world of imagination and creativity.  That’s the moment you know you are on to something!

Partying Our Way Through School

Children are ignited by the things they are passionate about.  The great thing about homeschooling is that you have the ability to give your kids opportunities where they are fully engaged and their creativity is limitless.  Whatever hobbies or interests your kids have, why limit those things until after school?  For my daughter her favorite things are tea parties and planning.

So, here’s what I discovered when we took a couple of weeks and made our school a party…. Literally!  We used our curriculum the way we always do but just incorporated all of her favorite things!

As my daughter started to plan her tea party she was engaged more than ever in her school work.  Her motivation to read went through the roof.  Her writing capacity was almost endless as she wrote shopping lists, place cards, and her menu plans.  Math skills were put to the test as she added with excitement the number of items we would still need to meet her guests’ needs.

We were able to spend hours baking, preparing, and cleaning together to make sure everything was as special as she wanted it to be.  She gained understanding in the roll as a hostess and how to be sensitive to the needs and desires of others.  It setup the perfect stage to discuss manners and modesty at an age where she is so quickly turning into a little lady.

After all of her hard work and planning, the big day finally arrived!  I watched as she proudly welcomed her quests and showed them the treats and activities she had made for them.  I watched as she had a sense of ownership in the event.  It wasn’t just something I had done for her, but a task that we had supported her in.

Every now and again you get the privilege of bringing lessons together to teach life.  You get to watch the twinkle of an eye linger and sit back and know you’re doing something right!  So yes, life has been party planning, party planning has been school, and school has been everything I’d hoped for it to be; passionate, engaging, creative, and meaningful!

For more inspiring ways to homeschool, like us on Facebook or follow us on Pinterest.  Thanks for your support!

How do you incorporate your children’s passions into their school?

~Kathryn

The post Turn School into a Party! first appeared on True Aim.