A Little Princess Book Study

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett tells the classic story of Sara Crewe, whose father sends her away to a boarding school when he goes off to sea. Despite her wealth, Sara is kind and sweet to everyone; with a genuine heart of gold. After her father passes away, Sara’s life is turned upside down. Through it all, Sara never loses her kind, gentle spirit. She maintains the spirit of “a little princess” despite being treated like a maid.

A Little Princess serves as an excellent reminder of kindness, treating people with dignity, humility, and thankfulness. In the end, Sara’s life turns around for the better, and happiness is restored.

There are four pages of activities and discussion questions in this packet. The lessons gleaned are excellent for character building and fostering a growth mindset for students.

• Discussion Questions (discussion questions based on the book A Little Princess)
• The Characters (character analysis of some of the story’s main characters)
• Like a Princess: traits of Sara Crewe
• Who is Sara Crewe? (character analysis of the 5 W’s)

Use the movie to go along with the book!

Grab Your Copy of A Little Princess Book Study Below!

Note: This printable packet is for personal, educational and classroom use only. You may not resell this packet or claim it as your own. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

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Each day for a month, learn about a new artist or musician! Study their great works, and learn what they were known for. Were they famous while they were living, or did they live poverty? What was going on in the world around them? What inspired their work?

Along with the list, there is a sheet that can be copied, and children can fill it out with information about the artist of the day. I made these with middle school in mind, but they can easily be adapted for younger and older grades!

They also teach Internet searching skills and library skills, as kids research the person of the day. It can be turned into a major study, or an interesting artistic person to start your morning with.

List of Famous Artists and Composers

Here are the 30 artists that I included on this printable!

1. Pablo Picasso

2. Frederic Chopin

3. Henry Matisse

4. Antonin Dvorak

5. Edgard Degas

6. Jackson Pollock

7. Johann Sebastian Bach

8. Paul Cezanne

9. Maria Anna Mozart

10. Edvard Munch

11. Franz Schubert

12. Vincent Van Gogh

13. Antonio Vivaldi

14. Claude Monet

15. Richard Wagner

16. George Inness

17. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

18. Michelangelo

19. Johannes Brahms

20. Henri Rousseau

21. Edvard Grieg

22. Johannes Vermeer

23. Franz Liszt

24. Wassily Kandinsky

25. Johann Strauss

26. Grant wood

27. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

28. Utagawa Hiroshige

29. Charles Francois Gounod

30. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Recommended Resources

Try Blue Manor’s Online Library and hear samples of famous composers music!

• Anholt’s Artists Books for Children (fictional picture books that introduce famous artists!)
• Classical Music for Kids soundtrack
• For the Love of Music: The Story of Maria Anna Mozart by Elizabeth Rusch

Click Here To Download This Free Printable!

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This is a sponsored review. All opinions are my own. Please see my full disclosure.

This new math app is perfect for my preschooler and kindergartener! It teaches all the basics and then moves on from that into addition and subtraction. When I’m searching for a math app for my young kids, I’m looking for lots of one-to-one correspondence, counting, and visual representation with pictures of the equation, not just the numeral symbols. Zap Zap Math for Kindergarten provides children with those experiences and more!

Kindergarten Math App – My Review

When I first tried this app, it was with my 5yr old. There were certain aspects of the game that were too easy, but we just skipped those and went to different areas of the game. The app features a space themed world where the player can go to different island and work on different math skills like counting, comparing, adding, subtracting, shapes and measurement. The problems are not just answering questions over and over in the same format, but changes the scene and interactive features. This helps with problem solving because the child has to figure out what to do in the game! That’s what makes this kindergarten math app so much fun.

I like to do the app with my 3yr old so I can make sure he understands what he is doing. When I explained what to do a couple times he started catching on and doing it on his own. He loves the game where he adds and subtracts apples from a bin in order to make the recipe correct and bake a pie. It’s so cute!

Your child will never get bored of this new Math App! Check out the preview of the game in the video below!

Download the game now for Apple or Android!

The post New Kindergarten Math App – Zap Zap Math! first appeared on True Aim.

How to Teach Spelling Without a Curriculum

Find Spelling Words

The first goal is to find the spelling words you will use to teach spelling without a curriculum. These words can come from almost anywhere.

One of the best places to find spelling words is your child’s writing. Most kids misspell quite a few words. Use these words to create a list of spelling words for your child to study.

Another good place to find spelling words are phonics programs. Most phonics programs begin with simple 3-letter words such as ant, cat, and dog. There’s no reason you shouldn’t take your child through phonics again focusing on spelling this time around.

If your child is a stronger speller, consider using dictation to find spelling words your child needs to study. In this case, take a sentence or paragraph from a book your kid is reading. Dictate it to your child as they write the sentence on a sheet of paper. You’ll soon see all the spelling and grammar mistakes your kid is making.

You’ll have a list of spelling words.

How Many Spelling Words

Don’t overwhelm your child with spelling words. A first grader only needs 5 words to study each week. A second grader can usually handle 10, while older kids usually get 20 words a week.

Remember to be flexible. Kids aren’t the same. Some kids can whip out math sheets by the dozen but break down seeing 5 spelling words. Other kids will adore spelling and can’t get enough of it.

Use the recommended spelling words as a guideline, follow your instincts, and adjust to fit the needs of your child. After all, we’re homeschooling to give our kids a excellent personalized education!

Study the Words

Now comes the fun part. Let’s study the spelling words!

You can use the list of words to create word searches and crossword puzzles. Hand the lists to your child for them to create the word searches and crossword puzzles.

Pull out play dough, rice, and magnetic letters while you’re cooking dinner. Encourage your child carve the words in the play dough, trace the words into rice, or spell the words on the fridge with magnetic letters.

Call the words to your kid and order them to spell the words as loud as they can. Yelling is encouraged!

Have spelling bees where the kids line up and you call out each child’s spelling words. The child who can spell their entire list wins.

Pull out letter beads, so your child can make necklaces while practicing their spelling. Encourage your kids to make rainbow words with crayons.

Practice the spelling words in the house and out of the house. Spell in the dirt. For that matter, why not head to the beach and write in the sand!

Be imaginative and find creative ways to practice spelling such as these 10 ways to practice spelling words.

The advantage to teaching spelling without a curriculum is that you can personalize the spelling words to the ones your kids needs to study, the words they love to write, and the words they can’t spell.

And your kids won’t complain about a boring spelling curriculum.

Do you teach spelling without a curriculum?

The post How to Teach Spelling Without a Spelling Curriculum first appeared on True Aim.

Free Spring Activities Pack

Spring is almost here! Get outside and have fun in the sun and celebrate the year’s new beginnings. This packet has four sheets for you and your preschooler to enjoy!

• A visual nature scavenger hunt
• An addition page
• A spring vocabulary page
• Spring acrostic puzzle

They can be done as individual work, station work, or they can be used in group work.

Get Your Free Spring Activities Pack Below!

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Free Royalty Fractions Pack

I love learning math without a textbook, through games and fun learning activities. Fractions can be hard to learn at first, but are a lifelong skill that we often use daily. Print this pack and laminate it for durability and multiple use, or stick them in plastic sleeves.

Use this pack to make fractions more exciting in solo work, group work, or partner work! You can use manipulatives  This royalty themed packet includes princesses and princes of different skin colors, hair colors, and outfit colors. There are three pages: one of princesses, one of princes, and one for pretty flowers. The color words are color-coded to assist kids in reading the color.

You can easily adapt this pack for different age ranges. For preschool and kindergarten, you can have your kiddos fill in the blank with the number. For slightly more advanced learners, you can write the answer in a fraction or the least common multiple. For more advanced learners, you can write the answer as a decimal!

Grab Your Free Royalty Fractions Pack Below!

The post Free Royalty Fractions Pack for Kindergarten first appeared on True Aim.

History Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten

Exploring Art History with Preschoolers – Playground Parkbench

Explore art history, from Modernism in the late 19th century to Pop Art, popular in the 1960s.

Montessori Inspired European Unit Study – The Pinay Homeschooler

Study European history with flags, animals, and landmarks – great for all elementary school students.

The Legend of Horatius at the Bridge – Layers of Learning

Learn about the legend of Horatius with this stanza, coloring sheet, and free printable Roman helmets.

Picture Books for Black History Month – No Twiddle Twaddle

Study black history through literature! Here are 10 great picture books for bringing black history alive.

Ancient Rome Food and Feast – Highhill Homeschool

Fill your tummy with a feast, fit for Ancient Rome. There’s nothing too extravagant about the meal, but elementary kiddos will love this!

Famous Artist Crafts for Kids  – The Crafty Classroom

Recreate the works of famous artists with these tutorials! Learn about them in the process, from Monet to Pollock.

Popsicle Stick Teepees – Glued to My Crafts

Study Native American history by creating these teepees. They’re pretty simple to make, with popsicle sticks being the base.

President’s Day Freebie – Mrs. Ricca’s Kindergarten

Study George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in this freebie for President’s Day.

Roman Numeral Lessons – The Natural Homeschool

Roman numerals are still used today! Introduce your kiddos to Roman numerals with this free printable.

Jackie Robinson Craft – Cutting Tiny Bites

On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made history for breaking racial barriers and becoming the first African American to become a Major League Baseball player.

George Washington Lapbook – Lapbook Lessons

Use this lapbook to learn about our first president, George Washington!

Learn about Martin Luther King Jr – Teach Preschool

Martin Luther King Jr. made great advances for the Civil Rights movements. Learn about his amazing life!

Stonehenge Lesson for Preschool – Adventures in Mommydom

Get hands-on while learning about Stonehenge! It can be adapted for elementary and middle school, and is great for combining history and STEM.

Rosie the Riveter Coloring Page – Education.com

Rosie the Riveter was a classic icon during WWII, inspiring woman to help the war effort by taking up jobs.

Liberty Bell Craft – Mrs. Black’s Bees

Recreate the Liberty Bell while learning about early American history!

Pom-Pom American Flag Painting – Crafty Morning

Celebrate the 4th of July and Independence Day with this American flag painting! It’s simple and costs next to nothing.

Free Ancient Egypt Preschool Worksheets – 123 Homeschool for Me

Learn about ancient Egypt with this math and literacy pack. There are 17 printables, with history activities that can be adjusted for toddlers to 2nd grade.

Fun with Coloring Mixing: A Martin Luther King Jr. Day Craft – MPM Ideas

Learn about diversity and segregation with this bright coloring craft. It works best for large groups, but can be adjusted for smaller groups.

Ancient History: Roman Road – Preschool Powol Pockets

Learn about ancient history with this hands-on craft! Recreate a textured Roman road.

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Preschool Math Hands-on Activities

Preschool Activities: Color and Math with Pom Poms – True Aim Education

Practice math AND colors with this great activity! It can also help develop fine motor skills.

Counting Beads on Pipe Cleaners – Laughing Kids Learn

Use beads and pipe cleaners (both can be found at the Dollar Store) to practice counting!

Free Printable Roll It, Write It, Count It Mats – Frugal Fun 4 Boys

Learn all about numbers with this counting mat. You can practice seeing the number, the quantity, and spelling the number.

The Secret to Skip Counting in Kindergarten – Kinder Craze

Skip counting is a life skill that makes counting a large sum of things easier and faster. Practice skip counting with these free printables!

Snap Plus One Math Game – Kids Activities Blog

Practice counting, addition, and subtraction with this simple Snap One! game! All you need is a deck of cards.

Adding: Dollar Store Project – Mothering with Creativity

With foam cups and paper towel rolls, create this simple addition board!

Feed the Hungry Shape Monster – The Imagination Tree

Practice shapes by feeding the hungry shape monster!

Preschool Math: Straw Match up – Playdough to Plato

Practice comparing, width and length with straws!

Number Writing Activity: Salt Tray Game – Learn With Play at Home

Use sensory techniques by creating this easy salt tray game. Practice matching and number recognition.

Kindergarten Math Game: Bubbling Addition – Mess for Less

When it’s warm outside, try this bubbling addition game!

Counting Cookies Common Core Math Center – Happy Little Kindergarten

Create a math center with chocolate chip cookies! Practice counting and number recognition.

Bear Color Graph – Early Learning Ideas

Practice graphing with little bears! You can substitute the bears for LEGOs, or any other small toy you have on hand.

Money Math for Kindergarten – The Measured Mom

Money is one of the most practical ways to teach math. Use these free printables to teach basic math!

Smack the Number Counting Game – Mom Inspired Life

With only minutes for prep time, create this simple counting game that can be used for independent work, partner work, or center work.

Free Interactive Shape Pages – This Reading Mama

Explore the ways shapes are used in the real world with these interactive shape pages!

Graphing with Preschoolers – Stay at Home Educator

Practice graphing with simple unifix cubes in this preschool/kindergarten activity.

Gumdrop Pattern Printable – The Kindergarten Connection

Learn about patterns with delicious, edible gumdrops. It comes with a free printable!

The post Preschool Math Hands-on Activities first appeared on True Aim.

5 Ways to Celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day

1. Read aloud stories from Winnie the Pooh

Grab your copy of Winnie the Pooh and spend the day introducing your youngest children to the adventures of a silly old bear. Learn about Rabbit, Tigger, and Piglet. Don’t forget to mention Owl, Eeyore, Kanga, and Roo.

While you read, brew up a pot of tea, and add plenty of honey of course. Add some homemade honey roasted nuts to munch and you have a treat for everyone!

2. Learn about the original black bear, Winnie

Winnie the Pooh wasn’t just imagined out of the clouds. Winnipeg, or Winnie, was a black bear who lived in the London Zoo from 1915 to her death in 1934.

Apparently Christopher Robin was a fan of hers. He even changed the name of his beloved teddy bear from Edward Bear to Winnie the Pooh, inspiring his father to tell stories of Winnie the Pooh’s adventures. If you’d like to learn more about Winnipeg, check out the book Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear.

3. Illustrate your favorite scenes

Nothing is better than drawing your favorite scenes from Winnie the Pooh. Draw him hanging from balloons while trying to steal honey. Draw Tigger bouncing on Rabbit. Draw Rabbit digging up carrots in his garden.

Illustrate the scenes and hang them around the house. Take your favorite pictures and add a quote from the book. How many pictures can you and your children draw of Winnie the Pooh?

4. Draw a map of the Hundred Acre Woods

Many adventures happen in the Hundred Acre Woods for Pooh, Piglet, and Tigger. Create a map of the Hundred Acre Woods and note where the different stories take place.

While you’re at it, chat with your kids about north and south, and the compass rose. Make certain one is included on your map!

5. If you lived in the Hundred Acre Woods

Imagine with your kids would life would be like if you lived in the Hundred Acre Woods. What sort of house would you life in? Would it be a tree house, a den, or a regular house? Ask your children to draw their houses for you.

Also ask your children what types of adventures they would take with Winnie the Pooh. Encourage them to regale you with long tales of romps through the forest, bouncing with Tigger, and eating honey with Pooh. Let your older children write the stories down in a notebook for you.

Winnie the Pooh has been a favorite series for young kids for many generations. So take a day off and celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day with your kids and if you’re really ambitious, plan a unit study around Winnie the Pooh.

What is your favorite story about Winnie the Pooh?

The post 5 Fun Ways to Celebrate Winnie the Pooh Day first appeared on True Aim.

Why You Need Regular Reading Days

1. Everyone Needs a Break

Reading days give you the chance for a change of pace from the normal frenzy of cramming math and grammar into your children’s heads. That’s not to mention guilt because you forgot to pick up the science supplies for this week’s experiment. Instead take a break. Sit down and enjoy a good book with your children.

The entire family gets a well-needed change of pace.

2. Immerse Yourself In Another World

Have your children had the opportunity to lose themselves in a good book? To spend the day wandering through Narnia with Lucy, Edmond, Susan, and Peter? What about exploring Middle Earth with Bilbo or Frodo? Often we fill our days with too many activities for our kids to have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a good book. There’s math, spelling, and chores to be done. Legos keep calling our children’s names to come and build.

Stop the chaos for a day. Let you and your children immerse yourselves in another world.

3. Focus on Skill of Reading

While we teach our children to read, sometimes we forget that kids need dedicated time reading to learn to love reading. It takes time and practice to become skilled readers. Some children naturally take to reading and will spend the time necessary to gain the skill when you first teach them to read. Other kids can think of better ways to spend their time.

Reading days give you a time to focus on giving your kids the skill of reading.

4. Homeschool When Everyone is Under the Weather

Reading days are wonderful when the entire family is under the weather. Instead of calling it quits, call it a reading day. Encourage your kids to curl up with a big mug of peppermint tea as they read their favorite book. Cook up some chicken soup for children to sip as they read.

Reading days are an excellent way to homeschool when the family is sick.

5. Time to Deal with Crisis

Sometimes you wake up to discover the sink has busted and water is spewing all over the floor. Instead of turning on the television to keep the kids out of your hair while you call the plumber, call it a reading day. The kids can curl up in the living room reading children’s books or listening to an audio book.

You’ll have the freedom you need to deal with today’s crisis.

Reading days give you a chance to focus on reading for a day. After all, there’s no better why to improve your children’s reading ability than for your children to read. Reading improves grammar, vocabulary, and spelling.

So give your kids a head start in life and enjoy the occasional reading day.

Have you ever enjoyed a reading day?

Don’t miss our FREE online class to READ more in LESS time!

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