Art has always been rather overlooked in our homeschool. Sure, my kids have plenty of basic art supplies, and there are hundreds of art tutorials on YouTube.

But my kids have never actually studied art history. They know very little about famous artists or the world’s greatest pieces of art. And honestly, I don’t know very much, either.

Obviously some knowledge of art is important for a well-rounded education, but I didn’t have any idea where to start. Thankfully there is a wonderful new art appreciation curriculum for families that makes it simple to learn more about artists and their works.

Easy-to-Use Homeschool Art Appreciation Curriculum

Beautiful Feet Books is well known for creating literature-based curriculum for subjects that may be harder to teach: music appreciation, state history, geography, and more.

Every Beautiful Feet Books curriculum is easy to use, with clear teacher guides, carefully selected books, and Charlotte Mason-style notebooking. The balance of structure and flexibility makes it perfect for homeschool families.

You may also like: Beautiful Feet Books Music Appreciation Curriculum

Art Appreciation (Family Study) is a new curriculum from Beautiful Feet Books that uses the same approach as their other literature-based studies. Even if you don’t have a background in art, you can teach confidently with these excellent resources.

The art appreciation curriculum includes:

• A beautiful hardcover book, Book of Artists, that contains stories of artists and full-color pictures of famous works of art
• A thorough, easy-to-use teacher guide with detailed lesson plans so you can teach art appreciation confidently
• A set of full-color reproductions of some of the world’s most famous pieces of art (see below)
• A guided notebook with space to record notes for each lesson

Lesson plans for Art Appreciation (Family Study) include plenty of learning activities such as reading from the Book of Artists, observing and discussing various art pieces, and suggested art projects.

In addition to these activities, there are links to helpful videos that tell more about an artist, a particular work of art, or an artistic method. I was surprised at how much my daughter enjoyed this part of the curriculum!

Why We Like This Homeschool Art Appreciation Curriculum

1. One curriculum for the entire family

One of the best parts of using this art appreciation curriculum is that it is designed to be done together as a family. Instead of juggling multiple lessons with different kids, you can teach everyone in grades 5-12 together at one time.

Not only does this save time, but it also allows parents and children to learn and discuss art together, sharing their viewpoints and observations. Instead of learning individually, the entire family can benefit from learning together.

I also appreciate that by learning together as a family, you only need to purchase ONE curriculum for everyone. The only additional purchase is an extra notebook for each student.

2. Simple to use

I love that everything we need is included in the curriculum. I don’t need to try to cram a library visit into a busy week. And I don’t have to come up with supplemental activities, because there are so many options included in the teacher guide.

Art Appreciation (Family Study) truly is an open-and-go curriculum. All you need are the supplies for the optional art projects. That’s it!

3. Fits a Charlotte Mason learning approach

I definitely don’t follow Charlotte Mason’s principles as closely as some homeschool families do, but there is a lot to appreciate about her gentle learning methods. I’ve always especially loved her emphasis on notebooking and copywork.

This curriculum incorporates two of Charlotte Mason’s methods: picture study and notebooking. Instead of studying a textbook and taking tests, students learn by observing the included picture cards closely (the curriculum suggest spending 5 minutes looking at the picture) and notebooking about their observations.

I’ve been pleased to see both of my daughters either picking up the Book of Artists to look through, or going through the stack of picture cards included with the curriculum. I want them to develop an appreciation for great art and the artists who created it.

Get Started with Homeschool Art Appreciation

Ready to get started with art appreciation in your homeschool? From now until the end of July, use promo code IHN26FS to get free shipping on your order from Beautiful Feet Books!

Promo code is only valid on orders within the United States. This offer expires July 31, 2026.

The post Homeschool Art Appreciation Curriculum appeared first on Meaningful Homeschooling.

Cryptocurrency has always been a mystery to me. In spite of multiple explanations by knowledgeable family members, the concept has been hard for me to understand.

When I had the opportunity for my daughter to take a beginner blockchain course, I was all in. She was admittedly a little less enthusiastic. Ha!

However, I wanted her to have a better understanding of blockchain fundamentals than I do. And secretly, I hoped that I might learn a little bit along with her.

Beginner Blockchain Course from Mr. D Math

To be completely honest, I might not have considered this course for my daughter if it hadn’t come from a trusted source. Because my kids have taken many different classes from Mr. D Math, I didn’t have any hesitation in enrolling Kendra in this blockchain course.

Blockchain Beginner – The Genesis Block is a great starting point for beginners to learn the basics of cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and online security. And it’s not just for teens; adults who are new to the crypto world (like me) can also take the course to gain a better understanding of how it works.

Easy for Beginners to Understand

Students don’t need any technical background to succeed with this course. Lessons start at the very beginning and build a solid foundation for further learning.

The class starts with what cryptocurrency is, how it works, and how to create a crypto wallet. It even includes information about how to set up Coinbase and Cash App accounts to use for trading.

Kendra’s only prior knowledge of cryptocurrency was hearing some general references to Bitcoin. She was surprised to learn in this beginner blockchain course that you can buy PART of a Bitcoin. (It’s a whole different thing than nickels, dimes, and quarters!)

Video Lessons

The video-based lessons in Blockchain Beginner – The Genesis Block feature a variety of styles, including animation, recorded interviews, and actual teachers speaking. Videos are short, avoiding overwhelm and informational overload.

Kendra appreciates that the lessons are all videos. She feels that it makes the lessons easier for her to understand.

I personally appreciate the closed caption option, which is very helpful for people like me who retain information best by seeing the written words in addition to watching the video.

No Extra Materials Needed

After watching each lesson video, students complete a short online quiz. I love that everything is online. There are no textbooks, answer keys, or printed worksheets. Kendra can just open the laptop and do everything in one place.

Includes Higher-Level Learning Assignments

Homeschool parents who want to challenge their students will love that this blockchain course includes research assignments and essays about various topics. For example, in Lesson 3, students are required to write a paper (2 to 3 pages long) explaining blockchain technology and its real-world uses.

In addition to the actual report, students are required to submit a glossary of 10 key terms, cite at least 3 credible references, and include a Works Cited section in their paper. (This would be great practice in writing research papers.)

No Teaching or Grading

I love, love, LOVE that I don’t have to teach anything myself. It would have been a huge undertaking for me to learn enough about blockchain to be able to teach it effectively. With this course, every single lesson is taught for me by someone who truly knows what they’re talking about.

And I don’t have to grade any lessons, either. Everything is graded automatically. All I have to do is keep an eye on Kendra’s grades and let her do all the learning on her own. It’s such a timesaver!

This also means that my daughter is able to complete lessons independently, without waiting on me to be available to help. She can jump right into her daily work and get it done without any wait. (Just the way she likes it!)

I can’t say that cryptocurrency and blockchain have suddenly become Kendra’s favorite subject (she’ll still pick history first every time!), but I can tell you without a doubt that she knows more about these topics than she did when she started.

Get 20% Off the Beginner Blockchain Course

If you’re ready to let Blockchain Beginner – The Genesis Block give your teen (or yourself!) a foundation in crypto and blockchain, you’ll want to take advantage of this special offer.

Mr. D Math is offering a 20% discount when you demo their math courses. You’ll get to see firsthand what the lessons are like, and how the online quizzes work. You and your student get to experience Mr. D Math before you even purchase the course!

The post Beginner Blockchain Course for Teens appeared first on Meaningful Homeschooling.

Many years ago, when I switched schools in junior high, I needed to make up a geography course I had missed. The teacher’s solution? Draw a map of the world. Geography completed.

That world map was the extent of my geography study in school. And quite honestly, I was relieved to have it behind me. Learning where all those countries were located was BORING.

But it doesn’t have to be that way! When you add in the human component of what life is actually like for real people in other countries, geography really comes to life.

THAT is what was missing in my “boring” introduction to geography. So when I found a fun, story-based way to learn more about other countries, I knew that’s what I wanted for my kids.

Story-Based Country Studies for Kids

Around the World Stories is an easy, enjoyable way for homeschool families to learn more about other countries. These stories are NOT just bland geography. Instead they are engaging stories that introduce kids aged 5-11 to different cultures around the world.

Each country study has four 30-minute audio stories focused on a child from that country, making geography interesting and relevant for kids. The stories are engaging and fun, and they show students how kids in other countries live. This real-life approach is what really helps kids become interested in other cultures.

Around the World Stories currently has stories available from 21 countries. And the best part is that you and your child get to choose which country you want to learn about first! You can choose a country that fits in with your history studies, or simply choose one that your child is interested in.

Scroll down to get a FREE country study!

Kiera’s first choice of country was India. (Our older daughter’s husband was born in India, and Kiera was excited to learn more about what his early life was like.)

The country study about India follows the life of Raj, a fictional character who lives with his family in Delhi, India. Throughout the series, Kiera learned about the Festival of Colors and the Taj Mahal, as well as what daily life is like for both the wealthier and the impoverished families in India.

With Around the World Stories, she was able to learn more about Indian culture, history, and daily life. No books or tests required! And as an added bonus, she found that she could take her learning with her outside, which is her favorite place to be.

As a homeschool mom, I appreciate that these stories can be taken literally anywhere. Whether waiting in a doctor’s office, lining up for your Azure pickup, or taking a family road trip, you can just grab your phone and pull up the next story. It’s a flexible option for any homeschool family.

Other Activities for Country Studies for Kids

In addition to the stories, each country study in Around the World Stories also includes cultural activities, recipes, fun facts, coloring pages, and more. These are very interesting and would make great jumping-off points for related topics.

For India, the extra information focused on Hinduism, Mahatma Gandhi, the Bengal Tiger, the history of the Taj Mahal, and the game of cricket that is played in India. You could easily delve more deeply into any of those topics to create a fabulous unit study about India.

One of the Indian recipes included was for phirni, a delicious dessert similar to rice pudding. We’ve not yet tried making it, but I’m delighted to have the recipe for the yummy pudding we’ve eaten in an Indian restaurant. (Definitely add this to your India country study!)

In addition to India, there are story packs for 20 other countries, including England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Spain, Russia, and many more. Remember, YOU get to choose what you want to learn about next.

Get Started with Country Studies for Kids

Ready to get started with these amazing stories? Sign up for a monthly subscription to receive one ticket (unlocks one country) each month. There is also an option to purchase 12 tickets at one time instead of getting one per month.

Right now you can also get one country study for FREE! Your family can learn all about Germany and enjoy all the fun activities without spending a dime.

The post Story-Based Country Studies for Kids appeared first on Meaningful Homeschooling.

If your family is planning to visit the zoo soon, these coloring pages are a great activity for younger children before or after your trip.

You could also use these pictures along with a letter of the week study. For example, your child could color the elephant while learning “E is for elephant.” Pair it with a colorful book about elephants for even more learning!

You may also like: Free Printable Spring Color by Number Pages

Free Printable Zoo Coloring Pages

These zoo coloring pages are simple enough for young children to enjoy. Preschoolers will probably find it easier to color with thicker crayons like these fun animal-themed crayons.

This set includes eight zoo-themed pictures to color, as well as a cute cover with the title “Zoo Animals.” Kids can color the cover and assemble the pages into their own special coloring book.

Scroll down to download your free zoo coloring pages!

Includes coloring pages for 8 different zoo animals:

• Bear
• Elephant
• Giraffe
• Hippo
• Lion
• Monkey
• Penguin
• Zebra

Download Zoo Animal Coloring Pages

If you see a lock on the image below, please log in or sign up to unlock the download.

Once you are logged in, you’ll get immediate access to all of my FREE homeschool printables. No need to sign up for each one—just do it once and you’re done!

Have a friend who would like a copy? Please send them to this page! Thank you for respecting my copyright.

More Fun Activities for Kids

Looking for more animal-themed activities to enjoy with your kids? Here are a few to get you started!

Kangaroo Papercraft

Mom and Baby Bird Papercraft

The post Free Printable Zoo Animal Coloring Pages appeared first on Meaningful Homeschooling.

Learning basic sewing is so much more enjoyable for kids when they love the project they are making. You can’t go wrong by choosing these adorable avocado stuffies. Kids are sure to love them!

You may also like: Felt Heart Handicraft for Kids

What You’ll Need to Make a Felt Avocado Stuffie

1. Felt: dark green, light green, pink, and color of your choice for heart
2. Scissors
3. Needle
4. Thread
5. Cotton or Poly-fil (for stuffing the avocado)
6. Fabric marker or pencil
7. Printable felt avocado template

How to Make a Felt Avocado Stuffie

Step 1

Select light green and dark green felt for the avocado pattern. Select pink felt for the blush, and any color of your choice for the heart pattern. Trace the template patterns onto the selected felt; cut the pieces out neatly.

Step 2

Take the small base cutout (light green) and use a pen or pencil to draw the eyes and mouth-line on it near the top part of the base.

Using a needle and black thread, stitch along the traced eyes and mouth-line.

Using pink thread, stitch the 2 small blush cutouts on each side of the face.

Step 3

Place the felt heart cutout below the face part, near the bottom edge of the green base. Prepare a needle with thread that matches the heart color.

Stitch the heart cutout on top of the light green base.

Step 4

After stitching on the heart shape, place the green base on one of the dark green (bigger) bases. Using light green thread, stitch the light green base onto the dark green base.

Step 5

Stitch the light green base all around to join it with the dark green base.

Step 6

Take the other dark green base and place it under the stitched base pattern. Using dark green thread, start stitching the edges of the two dark green bases together with flat blanket stitches.

Step 7

Keep a small opening for stuffing the felt avocado. Push cotton or Poly-fil through the opening until the avocado is filled.

Step 8

After stuffing the avocado, stitch the small opening shut. Tie a knot or two to secure the stitching; cut off the extra thread.

If you’d like to make the stuffie into an ornament, attach ribbon at the top for hanging.

And that’s it! Now your child can enjoy showing their handiwork to family and friends.

The post Felt Avocado Stuffie Tutorial for Kids appeared first on Meaningful Homeschooling.

As a homeschool mom of eight kids, I’ve tried out many different math curriculums over the years. Some of them were successes, and some of them were complete flops.

So today I’m sharing a list of the BEST homeschool math curriculums I have found over the past 20+ years of homeschooling.

The Best Homeschool Math Curriculums I’ve Found

1. Math Lessons for a Living Education

Math Lessons for a Living Education is a mastery-based math curriculum with a Charlotte Mason flair that I love. The curriculum uses story-based learning with a Biblical emphasis, making this a wonderful resource for Christian homeschool families.

Just ONE book has everything you need (except grade 6, which has a separate teacher guide). The full-color student workbook contains all the instruction, worksheets, and answer keys. It also has an amazing suggested daily schedule (this schedule is GOLD!).

MLFLE uses The GENTLE Approach, a developmentally-aligned approach that allows students the opportunity to learn without struggling to keep up. This approach builds math confidence and reduces the pressure and anxiety that hinder progress.

See my full review: Math Lessons for a Living Education Review

Don’t miss the Math Lessons for a Living Education giveaway at the bottom of this post!

2. Math-U-See

Math-U-See has been a long-time favorite in our family. We made the switch to MUS after struggling for months with a popular spiral-approach curriculum.

Math-U-See emphasizes hands-on learning using math manipulatives such as integer blocks, fraction overlays, and decimal inserts. Each lesson includes three worksheets focused on the current lesson, as well as three cumulative review worksheets to keep skills sharp.

The author, Mr. Demme, teaches each lesson on video, but technically these are intended to help parents teach their kids. However, my independent learners have usually done just fine watching the MUS videos on their own.

Learn more about Math-U-See.

3. Math Mammoth

Math Mammoth Light Blue Series is a mastery-based math curriculum with a strong mental math component. Mental math is very important in everyday living, and Math Mammoth does a great job at building those skills.

Each level is organized into chapters by topics. Each chapter concentrates on one theme, such as place value, division, or decimals. The entire curriculum emphasizes conceptual learning, building a solid foundation for higher math.

All the instruction is included right on the student pages, so no teacher’s manual is needed. If kids need extra help, they can watch free videos in which the author, Maria Miller, teaches the material herself.

See my full review: Math Mammoth Review

4. Apologia Math

Exploring Creation with Mathematics is an elementary math curriculum from Apologia. This curriculum combines regular skill practice with hands-on activities to help kids truly understand math.

I really like the Charlotte Mason flavor of Apologia Math. Instead of mindlessly memorizing facts, kids learn to actually understand and apply math by relating it to daily life.

The curriculum approaches math from a Christian viewpoint, with a devotional at the beginning of each unit that shows how math points to a purposeful Creator.

See my full review: Apologia Math Review

5. Dimensions Math

Dimensions Math is a Singapore math curriculum that uses the concrete-pictorial-abstract approach. Students start learning math with concrete objects, then move to pictures, and finally to numbers and symbols.

The Singapore math approach is well known for helping students develop number sense and mental math skills so they can solve problems quickly and accurately. Instead of just memorizing formulas or following steps blindly, they learn to analyze problems and find creative strategies to solve them.

Dimensions Math is a mastery-based curriculum, ensuring that students fully understand each math concept before moving on. This is a good fit for learners who need help bridging the gap between concrete and abstract math.

See my full review: Dimensions Math Review

So there you have it, friends. These are my top five picks for elementary math curriculums. You may have noticed that all of them use a mastery approach to math. That’s because ALL of my kids struggled with a spiral approach.

Your child may be thriving with a spiral-based math curriculum. That’s great! Don’t quit! If you’re meeting your child’s needs and learning style, I know you’ll have an awesome homeschool journey.

Math Lessons for a Living Education Giveaway

Master Books is giving away one level of Math Lessons for a Living Education! Complete the form below to enter the giveaway.

Giveaway ends April 30, 2026.

Can’t see the giveaway form? Click here to enter.

The post The Best Homeschool Math Curriculums for Elementary Grades appeared first on Meaningful Homeschooling.

Every year my daughter reads DOZENS of history and literature books in her literature-based history curriculum. Over the years she has enjoyed so many wonderful books, but we never actually looked closely at what she had read.

I knew I wanted to pass on my love of the classics to my daughter, but I didn’t know where to start. I didn’t even know the right questions to ask to help her develop critical reading skills.

Thankfully I’ve finally found a solution that has changed the entire way we approach high school literature: Guided Editions of the Classics.

About Guided Editions of the Classics

If you’re struggling to teach literature like I was, you’ll love Guided Editions of the Classics from Telemachos Publishing. Each volume is a comprehensive, easy-to-use homeschool literature resource, all in one book.

These editions were created by a current high school English teacher who has taught the classics for over thirty years. He has also graded the AP English exam and served as a College Board consultant. His expertise clearly shines through in these guided editions.

Guided editions are available for these classics:

• Call of the Wild
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• Great Expectations
• The Great Gatsby
• Anne of Green Gables
• Frankenstein
• The Scarlet Letter
• A Tale of Two Cities
• Macbeth
• A Christmas Carol

Developing Critical Reading Skills with Classic Books

When our Guided Editions of the Classics books first arrived, my ninth-grade daughter was skeptical. We decided to start with Anne of Green Gables, a book she had previously found “boring.”

By the second or third day, Kendra was no longer dreading literature time. I could hardly believe my ears when she told me that she was actually enjoying the book that she had previously disliked!

And the discussion that she had always dreaded? Now she genuinely looks forward to it. In fact, when I suggested skipping the discussion one day, she was so disappointed that we went ahead and did it anyway.

Guided Editions of the Classics has completely turned around literature time for my daughter, and I couldn’t be more grateful. This is hands down the best literature curriculum we have ever used in 20+ years of homeschooling.

Guided Reading Questions

Each of these editions contain guided reading questions in the sidebar of the book. These questions really open up new layers in the reading, and I believe this is the biggest reason my daughter is loving the classics now. It has given her a deeper understanding of things that she just skimmed over before.

The guided questions model the critical reading process for students so they can go deeper step by step. These questions are also the solution for the teacher (me!) not knowing what to ask or discuss.

I love that these questions are helping me to teach literature effectively, while also developing Kendra’s independent critical reading skills. Now we both look forward to literature time each day!

Introductory Essay

Each Guided Editions of the Classics book contains an introductory essay that is based on the editor’s experience in grading the AP English exam. This essay is designed to help students see the process for interpreting the book so they can develop a written argument well.

These writing strategies have been tested at a college prep school for more than 20 years, and have been extremely successful. Students using these writing strategies are having a 100% pass rate on their AP English exams, and a whopping 80% of these students are scoring 4s and 5s.

Student model essays and links to additional resources are also included for more help.

Footnotes and Glossary

Footnotes at the bottom of pages explain historical and literary references with which students may not be familiar. I appreciate this since it gives Kendra a better understanding while she is reading independently.

These editions also contain a full glossary of words that are used throughout the text, providing definitions without needing a dictionary.

Get Started with Critical Reading

Guided Editions of the Classics has completely changed high school literature for us. If you want to truly enjoy the classics, I highly recommend these editions.

These books are affordable to start with, but right now you can use promo code HOMESCHOOL for a 15% discount on your order.

You can also subscribe for free teaching resources from Telemachos Publishing.

The post Developing Critical Reading Skills with Classic Books appeared first on Meaningful Homeschooling.

Mastering basic math facts has always been a challenge for my kids. And sometimes, no matter how much time we spend drilling facts, they just don’t stick right away.

But as a homeschool parent, I believe that helping my kids build fact fluency is one of the most important things I can do to prepare them for more harder math topics down the road.

That’s why I was so excited to discover an online homeschool program that is specifically designed to help kids learn their math facts. And I guarantee that it’s way more fun than flash cards!

About Fluency Zone Online Homeschool Program

IXL’s Fluency Zone is the perfect way to get your kids excited about learning basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

With games, printable worksheets, and videos, there is truly something for every learner. My daughter was pleasantly surprised with the games, and commented, “This is actually fun!”

(I’m pretty sure this is the first time in 20+ years of homeschooling that I have heard a child say that fact practice is fun.)

Kiera’s favorite part is the Raceway. The Raceway features fun, fast-paced math races that challenge kids to improve their speed and accuracy with math facts. I love that she is excited about beating her previous score at the end of each round.

Fluency Zone divides the math facts into levels based on difficulty. Since Kiera is working on multiplication and division right now, I started her out in level E.

Within each level, there are many options for fine-tuning fact practice sessions. In level E, for example, I can choose multiplication, division, or mixed practice. Then after selecting multiplication, there are options for practicing 6s-9s, all facts up to 10, and so on.

This is so helpful for tailoring the problems to exactly what my daughter needs most. And the best part is that it’s so simple to set up.

Why I Recommend Fluency Zone Homeschool Curriculum

1. All-inclusive resource for learning math facts

Fluency Zone has everything your child needs to improve fact fluency. From helpful videos to printable worksheets to the fun challenge of the Raceway, it’s all there in one place.

2. Quick and easy to use

All the activities in Fluency Zone are quick and flexible. You don’t need a lot of time to fit in some practice. And parents don’t need to teach anything, either.

Kiera’s favorite part, the Raceway, literally only takes one minute for each challenge. If you have 3 minutes, your child can fit in three rounds, trying to improve their speed and accuracy each time. It’s that easy.

3. Makes fact practice fun

We all remember the monotony of flash cards, right? With Fluency Zone, fact practice is completely different. Kids can enjoy tons of different activities, play fun games, and collect trophies in Raceway challenges. No boredom allowed.

My daughter says the games and races are much more fun than fact worksheets, and I love that I don’t even need to use the worksheets at all (even though they’re always there if we need them).

Get a Discount on Fluency Zone

Right now IXL is offering a great discount on Fluency Zone. From now until January 31, 2026, you’ll get 26% off when you join the membership. Don’t miss this opportunity to help your kids develop fact fluency and have fun at the same time!

The post Fluency Zone Online Homeschool Program appeared first on Meaningful Homeschooling.

One of the biggest benefits of homeschooling is the freedom to choose learning materials that work for your family in various seasons of life.

This year has been especially busy for me (2 new daughters-in-law and 2 new grandbabies this year!), and I’m so thankful that there are options out there that can lighten my homeschool teaching load.

If you’re in a busy season, too, read on to learn more about the online educational games and worksheets that my daughter has been using.

Fun Educational Games and Worksheets for K-8

First things first. I do NOT recommend that you waste your time scouring the internet for random free resources. You’ll end up spending hours of valuable time looking for freebies and trying to cobble them together into something that will work.

Instead, choose a comprehensive collection of learning materials that includes a wide variety of resources for a well-rounded education.

We have the Education.com Premium Membership, which is kind of like an “all-in-one homeschool helper.” The membership is overflowing with 38,000 hands-on activities, colorful printables, and interactive games. And it’s all in ONE place!

From kindergarten worksheets to fun educational games, Education.com has educator-created resources that cover all kinds of K-8 topics. For example, this week I’ve assigned Kiera lessons about fractions, parts of a sentence, fact fluency, amendments to the Constitution, and more.

I love the convenience of this membership, and my daughter loves that she gets some extra screen time. In her words, “Doing school online is more fun than worksheets.” I consider that a win!

What I Like About These K-8 Education Resources

Loads of Printable Worksheets

I’ve been amazed at the number of printable worksheets in the Education.com Premium Membership. Kiera was especially intrigued by the colorful human heart worksheets.

I was most excited about the math worksheets (math is NOT a favorite subject here!). I also appreciate that the worksheets include time-saving answer keys.

Convenient Interactive Worksheets

The Premium Membership also contains plenty of interactive worksheets that are completed right on the website. I think these online worksheets are even more convenient than the printable ones, because I don’t have to bother printing anything and the answers are automatically scored. No grading necessary!

Easy-to-Use Dashboard

I found it extremely easy to create lessons to assign based on Kiera’s needs. I love that I can assign several different activities in a single lesson, too.

I also appreciated the option to require lessons to be completed before playing games. Yes, the games are educational, but I want to be sure that Kiera completes the lessons first. Then the games feel like a reward, even though they are sneaking in even more learning!

Discount on Education.com’s Premium Membership

Now it’s your turn! Get 55% off the Premium Membership when you use promo code EDCOM55.

The post Educational Games and Worksheets for K-8 appeared first on Meaningful Homeschooling.

Cooking from scratch is fast becoming a lost art. But it doesn’t have to be that way!

Most of us are probably comfortable having our kids help in the kitchen, but sometimes it’s hard to know what to teach first, especially when it comes to younger children.

The good news is that there is a step-by-step homeschool curriculum that can help you teach your kids to cook. Even young learners will be able to develop useful kitchen skills using these methods.

Teach Your Kids to Cook Real Food

Kids Cook Real Food is an online video curriculum that teaches kids basic cooking skills and kitchen safety. Starting with the very basics of measuring and following a recipe, kids learn everything they need to know to begin cooking real food.

This is not an “open the box and add a few ingredients” type of course. Instead, each lesson teaches how to prepare real food that you actually WANT to feed your family.

Whether chopping veggies, cooking dried beans, or browning ground beef, your kids will be learning to prepare nutritious foods that will nourish their growing bodies.

How This Cooking Curriculum for Kids Works

The core Kids Cook Real Food curriculum is made up of 3 levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. All 3 levels cover the same basic topics and then branch out into hands-on learning that is appropriate for each level.

For example, in lesson 5, all students watch a video about soaking dry beans. Then each level moves into its own learning:

• Beginners measure and soak dry beans for cooking the next day.
• Intermediate students learn about stove safety and cook rice.
• Advanced learners make homemade refried beans from dry beans.

The awesome thing about the Kids Cook Real Food curriculum is that students can work through all 3 levels consecutively and learn more each time. The topic of each lesson is the same, but the hands-on application is different in every level.

Why We Love This Homeschool Cooking Curriculum

1. No lesson planning

In the midst of the busyness of homeschool life, it’s hard for me to find time to plan extra learning for my kids. With Kids Cook Real Food, everything is planned out. Each lesson has a list of groceries and supplies needed, and there’s even a handy link to add all the ingredients to Instacart, if you use that service.

2. Engaging video lessons

My daughter has really enjoyed the fun, easy-to-follow videos. In the knife skills lesson, for example, the instructor demonstrated every step and even taught the kids some catchy phrases to remember what motions to use. Love this!

3. Helpful printables

Lesson plans, recipes, helpful guides to extend the learning . . . they’re all included in a handy downloadable PDF format.

Want to set up your teacher binder ahead of time? No problem! Just go through and print the materials you need, make notes if you want to, and then you’re done.

4. Real-life skill practice

While I love the convenience and student-friendly format of the Kids Cook Real Food course, the absolute BEST part is that my daughter is practicing skills that will benefit her for a lifetime.

Yes, she already knew how to do some basic kitchen work, but I had never thought to teach her some simple things like washing produce. And I certainly had NEVER considered teaching her how to use a chef’s knife!

(She’s fantastic with the knife by the way, and I’m 100% confident that she can chop veggies safely now without my constant supervision, aka nervous hovering.)

Get Started with Kids Cook Real Food

If you’re ready for your kids to start learning to cook real food confidently and safely, you’ll want to take a closer look at Kids Cook Real Food. I know your kids will love it!

And if you have a homeschool co-op that you participate with, you can get group access for one semester for only $35 per student (minimum 5 students). Awesome deal!

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