Best of all, they may want to try something new!

What are the most common things that you do everyday? Playing, eating, doing chores are just a few things that come to my mind. What if you could peek inside someone else’s world and see how they do those things?

That’s what the new book Here and There does for children! From Buying groceries to exercising and holidays, this book gives insight on the typical lives of people all around the world!

Learn About New Cultures with Here and There!

Not only will this book be a great reference for your studies on different cultures, but you’ll also find new ways of doing things! I can’t wait to have my children try a couple of the chores that kids do in different cultures. LOL! Yes, I’m THAT mom! My kids are most excited about celebrating some of the festivals and holidays!

One of their favorite parts of the book talked about the different modes of transportation people used. In Norway, some children ski to get where they want to go!

My son asked, “What if you don’t know how to ski?” Great question right!? I asked him what other ways you could get around in a lot of snow and we brainstormed some other things like snowshoes and sleds. The book offered a great opportunity for discussions like those!

Here are the topics briefly covered in the book:

• Buying Groceries
• Playing Outdoors
• Traveling to School
• Healthy Eating
• Chores
• New Year
• Exercising
• Nature
• Festivals
• Getting Around

It’s a perfect introduction for ages 6-11 to the different ways people live around the world! After you read about them, then go out and do something or eat something that’s from another culture.

If you like the look of this book, then you might want to check out some of my other book reviews from other cultures like:

THE RACE OF THE ANIMALS – CHINA

ONE GRAIN OF RICE – INDIA

ARTISANS AROUND THE WORLD – NORTH ASIA

HEIDI and SWISS DECOUPAGE for KIDS – SWITZERLAND

This post is part of the Reading Around the World Cummer Reading Series. Please visit the post below for even more book suggestions!

The post Learn About New Cultures – Reading Around the World! first appeared on True Aim.

This post may contain affiliate links, please read my full disclosure.

This legend is a perfect addition to your Chinese New Year celebrations! In this book, Fables Around the World, the story is rewritten in an easy to read form with beautiful illustrations.

The animals are arguing over what they should call the new year. Of course, all the animals wanted to name it after themselves. The argument was causing such a great noise, that the gods came from the heavens and had to help them work it out.

They told the animals that they would race across the river to see who would get the first year named after them. The second place animal would get the second year and so on. When the great race began, rat was last, so why is the first year named after him? You’ll have to read to find out!

Chinese New Year Activities

After reading this fun tale about Chinese New Year, why not try an activity too! Here are some simple, but exciting choices that your children will look forward to doing each year!

Dragon Handprint Craft

DIY Chinese Drum

Tray of Togetherness

DIY Chinese Gong

Chinese Calligraphy 

Pasta Snake Craft

DIY Chinese Banner Scrolls

Easy DIY Red Envelopes

Reading Around the World!

Join us this summer exploring different cultures with stories from around the world! You can see my past picks in the links below or, click the image below for more book suggestions from other bloggers!

One Grain of Rice – A Mathematical Folktale (India)

Artisans Around the World –  Northern Asia (Japan)

Heidi – Swiss Inspired Decoupage (Switzerland)

The post Chinese New Year Fable – Read Around the World first appeared on True Aim.

1. Wide, then Narrow: Before jumping into the finer details of history, start by giving an overview, from beginning to end. Knowing where the story is headed will give kids a better idea where the details fit in.

For example, when I teach Bible history I have the option of hundreds of different stories. If I start at the beginning and work my way through, my students will quickly get lost in the details. Instead, I break the entire Bible into six easy, yet central stories: Creation, Fall, Judgement (Flood), Promise (Abraham), Chosen People (Israelites), Cross (Jesus’ Sacrifice).

I strip these stories down to one or two simple details. I could literally tell each of these six stories in just a few sentences. This makes it easy for students to remember each story, and also to see how the stories fit together. The six stories then serve as bookends, and I simply go back and start filling in the gaps. I tell about Daniel and the Lions Den, and draw it back into the story of the Chosen People; I tell about Cain and Abel and point it to the Flood; I tie the Last Supper into the Story of the Cross. Teaching history this way keeps the stories connected.

2. Only Teach the Essential: If you are a mom who loves crafts, you may struggle with this one, but try to keep your content simple and relevant. If you are having your children dress up like turkeys to study the Pilgrims, you might be off track. The Pilgrims are not historical figures because they ate turkey!

3. Sequence, Not Dates: The order history unfolds is much more important than the actually dates (usually). If your history lessons become little more than the memorization of dates, your kids will learn to hate history. I’m not saying you can’t add dates, but again start with the basic elements of the story and then when your kids have mastered that, go back and sprinkle in the dates.

4. Explain BC and AD Early: As soon as your kids are old enough to understand the concept, explain the difference between BC and AD. Be careful not to just say that BC is Before Christ and AD is after His death. This confused me as a kid until learning that AD started 30 years prior to Jesus’ death. Also, be sure to point out how BC dates count backward; in other words, 3000 BC comes before 1,000 BC.

5. Don’t be biased: For the most part, the history taught in government schools is full of lies, misrepresentations, and half-truths. When I was in elementary school I lived in Lawrence, Kansas. During the Civil War, Lawrence was burned to the ground by southern Border Ruffians.

The way I was taught it, the citizens of Lawrence were just sitting there singing kumbaya, when all of the suddenly those darn rebels burst into town on a murdering and raping spree. And I couldn’t help but think that all confederates were evil-murdering-rapists. In fact, many years later, I learned about the true “Jayhawkers” and the murderous raids that they ran in Missouri. In a town that loves its Jayhawks, it is no wonder they left that bit out.

It is in our nature to divide the history into a struggle of good versus evil, and paint everything either black or white. If our side commits atrocities they were justified; when the other guys do it, it’s always without cause. It is easy to fall into this type of deception. We often pick a side and then filter history accordingly, teaching only what we want to believe.

In most cases, history is a struggle between evil and evil; when we pretend otherwise, we champion propaganda, not history.

6. Use Real History: Whenever possible forgo the publishing houses’ textbooks, and use real historical words. Read works like The Bible, Herodotus’ Histories, Thucydides’ The History of the Peloponnesian War, Tacitus’ The Annals of Imperial Rome, and Caesar’s The Civil War. These books and others are real histories, and far more interesting than dry schoolhouse textbooks.

7. Not Every Old Story is History: History is an account of the events that dramatically changed the course of human destiny. What some ate, how they dressed, when they went to bed is closer to anthropology, than history. It does not matter how the Pilgrims dressed, what their boat was called, what time they went to bed, what their houses looked like, or what their favorite dessert was; these aren’t the reasons they are historical figures. We remember the Pilgrims, not for what they wore, but what they did, and more importantly, their impact.

8. Geography is the Canvas of History: It is hard to understand history without a proper understanding of geography. You will read, “Hitler invaded the Rhineland,” but you won’t know where that was or why it was significant. The point is that geography allows us to visualize the events as they occurred. That is why at Blue Manor we begin teaching geography in kindergarten.

9. Retell the Story: Never quiz your children on history with essays or bubble sheets. History is a story and as such, it is best to have your children retell the story in their own words.

Hope that these tips were helpful. If you have history-teaching tips of your own, please leave a comment. Thanks for reading!

Check out True History on Blue Manor Academy!

The post How to Homeschool History: 9 Teaching Tips first appeared on True Aim.

I’ve used a lot of craft subscription kits before, but I prefer something a little more educational. This new science learning subscription kit is perfect for my family and a great addition to our homeschool lessons!

New Science Learning Kit

My children love science, computers games, stickers, and toys. We got all of that in our Junior Explorers Arctic Mission. Our goal was to help two polar bear cubs find their mother. How fun is that!

Not only did we learn about the animals and habitat of the arctic, we also did some writing and creative play.

The kids didn’t know about their explorer kit until it arrived in the mail. That made it even more exciting! I told them they got a secret mission and they couldn’t wait to get started.

Our kit came with lots of things in it, but my children’s favorite was the little animal figurines that they used to replay their mission during their free time.

It also came with post cards, stickers, animal fact cards, temporary tattoos, an activity book, button, and wristband. Everything they needed to pretend they were explorers offline. That really helped them remember the facts that they were learning in the online part.

Science Learning Online

Then we did the fun part all together. We logged onto the Junior Explorers site and started our mission. I wanted all of my children to hear about the Arctic, so I helped walk them through it and read all the information. My 1st grader could have done some of this herself, but may have needed some help with the larger words.

Each screen was educational and engaging with games and beautiful graphics. Real photos of the Arctic were added when the program wanted to emphasize important facts for children to remember. I really appreciated that because I think real photos are the best way to learn about the real world.

Throughout the game, children collect mission points and at the end there is a surprise waiting for them! I really love how every aspect of the game is related to science and the award at the end is no different.

Children get to use their points to help support animal conservation through a non-profit organization!

We played the online part of this science kit with our tablet and the regular computer. Both seemed to work well, but the games were a little bit harder on the tablet.

If you’re looking for an easy science learning program, this subscription kit would be the perfect solution! With the online and offline features, it really helps engage children on all levels and gives you a break from having to plan lessons. The online game is broken up into different sections so it is easy to stop and pick back up where you left off.

I love Junior Explorers because it makes science really exciting for my children. The idea of going on an adventure has them eating up all the information the can get about the animals and habitat in their kit.

For a limited time, you can get 50% off your first month of Junior Explorers! Continue exploring new ecosystems each month for just $19 a month or purchase several months for a discount.

Use code HS50 for 50% off a Junior Explorers Science Kit!

Follow Junior explorers for fun free science facts and activities for your kids: Pinterest – Facebook – Twitter – YouTube – Instagram

Do your children like to go on virtual adventures? What would they like about this new science kit?

The post New Science Learning Subscription for Kids first appeared on True Aim.

This year, CurrClick is making it easy by giving you an awesome Freebie and giving away a $20 gift card to get any resources you need!

Geography Copywork Bundle Freebie

This bundle contains information on 3 different countries; China, India, and Australia! Kids love the pictures included in the content and there are extra pages for children to write what they thought about each topic.

We were especially interested in the India book. To download your free Geography Copywork Bundle, use code CC12days7 at checkout! Valid until 12/9!

Trail Guide to Bible Geography

When we do geography lessons, usually I just look up information and make my own lesson. During the holidays I have less time to plan so I looked at all the resources on CurrClick and had to pinch myself. When I looked at all the resources on CurrClick I knew I had been doing it all wrong.

The first thing that caught my eye was the Trail Guide to Bible Geography. It takes you on an amazing journey through the lands in the Bible and gives you insight into the Jewish culture. An amazing book to help you imagine what it was like in the Old Testament and in Jesus’ day!

More Geography Freebies

Another book to look at from CurrClick is Around the World One Country at a Time. Not only is this a good resource to have when your child happens to have an interest in a country, it is also a great companion to any geography curriculum you already have. I am really excited about it because when we study current events or recent historical events, we can look in this book for information about the area.

12 Days of Christmas CurrClick Giveaway!

One lucky reader will win a $20 Gift Card to CurrClick so you can buy some more Geography resources, or any other lessons you’ve had your eye on!

For more freebies, visit the 12 Days of Christmas series from CurrClick!

I was not compensated for this post but received a Free Trial Guide to Bible Geography book.

The post Geography Resources Giveaway and Freebie! first appeared on True Aim.

This awarding winning program suits all ages and provides enrichment materials so you can turn your art lessons into a multi-subject study.

My girls love to draw, but they are used to drawing whatever they want. This is great because it allows them to communicate what they are thinking and feeling on paper. However, refining their skills encourages them to express those emotions even more, and gives them insight on design principles that help them throughout life.

When I first saw Art Achieve’s program, I knew we would love it because most of the lessons are based on actual pieces of art from different countries. This gave us a launching pad to talk about other cultures and geography, which we love.

We tried the Owl from Bali lesson and the results were incredible. Even my 4-year-old joined in on the lesson. First, we practiced drawing the different lines and curves of the owl on the warm up sheet. This really helped because it breaks copying down into manageable pieces.

The lesson started with a little information about Bali and the owls that live there. Then, it gives a few tips on how to approach drawing, setting the mood and visualizing what you are going to draw before you do it.

I’ve done quite a few art lessons and have never seen or heard some of the techniques in the lesson. The most important thing being, NOT to judge your drawing before it is finished and one drawing is not better than another; they’re just different. I really tried to emphasize those things with my girls because they want their drawings to be perfect and don’t always recognize differences as god things.

The lesson goes through step by step how to draw the figure and then it offers suggestions on how to make it your own, with color and details.

There were a few spots in the lesson when my children became a little frustrated because their owls didn’t look like the example. I just encouraged them to keep going and follow the rules that were discussed in the lesson about NOT judging your drawing until it’s finished.

I thought all of our owls turned out really great, but my favorite was my 7-year-old’s. Her owl really stood out with brighter colors and that was the whole point of the lesson!

Art Lessons Online

ArtAchieve’s online art classes were developed by John Hofland who has been studying art for over 30 years. He and his family have visited over thirty countries, and each ArtAchieve lesson begins with a unique image collected during these travels.

Your children will love the art they can create through these lessons.

Enjoy a Free Lesson

ArtAchieve’s classes:

• Insure success with guided drawings
• Encourage creative expression
• Link art to science, language arts, socials studies, and math
• Are so complete that anyone can take them (or teach them)
• Named top homeschooling curriculum of 2014 by Homeschool.com

Online Art Lesson Giveaway!

ArtAchieve is giving one reader the opportunity to win several different lessons from varying levels totaling a $60 Value!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Art Achieve Online Art Lessons Review and Giveaway first appeared on True Aim.

My daughters love geography.  I think it fascinates them to learn about how different the world is from place to place.  Most of all, I think they love making the connection of where they are in relation to where loved ones are, or have been.

Most of my family lives in Oregon and California, so when we received our Travels with Charlie book (affiliate link), I was please to see that it was the Way Out West book covering all the western states and not just Idaho.

We loved this interactive geography book from Blue Apple Books because it was a search & find book that gave us lots of fun facts and landmarks to find.  It’s a great book for younger children because it doesn’t give too many details and the pictures are really memorable.

We enjoyed our book out in the fabulous Idaho sun that shines almost everyday.  The girls enjoyed looking for Charlie the dog and talking about the different landmarks on the map.  I had them take turns finding all the things on the map and then helped explain each one to them.  They really liked the picture of Lava Hot Springs and want to make it their first Stay-cation destination.

Kid-Made Maps

After we read all about Idaho, we decided to paint our own map and the things from the book we liked best.  Of course we couldn’t let the good weather go to waste, so we took our painting outside.

I traced a large outline of our state on paper roll paper and taped it to the fence.  The girls used the book as a reference to put the places in the right spot on their kid-made maps.

It’s hard to get all of the amazing things about Idaho to fit in the confines of our little maps, but I think the girls did a great job.

If it wasn’t for the setting sun, they would have worked on their paintings all day.  I love the additions they made for things they love about Idaho like the sun, and of course Audrey’s heart for all the friends and family we have here.

Are you an Idahoan?  I’d love to chat about your favorite place to go in our amazing state!

Do you live in a different state?  What is your favorite thing about it? You can find your state below in the Booking Across the USA blogging series!

Be sure to like us on Facebook or follow us on Pinterest for more geography fun!

The post Booking Across America: Exploring Idaho with Kid-made Maps first appeared on True Aim.

Simple Geography Fun with eBooks!

The kids have absolutely loved their geography eBooks.  We have them loaded on our different computers and our tablet so the learning process seems like a game for them.  They will take turns clicking and swiping through them as they try to see who can name the location first.

Kids in school have competition but every parent knows that sibling rivalry takes the cake!

We have figured out a really simple geography game that gets them moving and racing for more!  They will find the country that we are learning or reviewing on their eBook and then race to our wall map to point it out.  As soon as they locate it on the map, they race back to find the next country.

It’s so incredibly easy I figured it would only be fun for a few days, but it turns out that racing, jumping, searching and finding is the big hit here to stay!

I love little things like these games that make our learning time so much fun and show me the value of homeschooling.  Not only do our kids get to learn together but they absolutely love it!

Below is a little window into our everyday school experience.  Our kids created their own activity of picking out different countries and pretending to call people from their location.  My little two year old was on the phone with Egypt at the time.

If kids are given an environment where they are able express creativity, they most definitely will!  Most of the pictures I took were blurred from the giggling happening on both sides of the camera.  I have learned with homeschooling that anything can be fun and any activity can create a memory to be tucked away forever in our hearts. Be creative and make geography fun today!

Do your children like geography?

For more simple learning games, like us on Facebook or follow us on Pinterest.  Thank you for your support!

~Kathryn

The post Simple Geography Fun for Kids first appeared on True Aim.