Fruit in Season

Elemental Science Habitats Lapbook

2012-05-28T14:43:02Z

The Challenge of Homeschooling Multiple Ages

As a homeschooler with children of various ages, I am always looking for options and resources which will allow me to include multiple children in our subjects. I was offered a gem in the Habitats Lapbook by Elemental Science, and three of my four children were thrilled to work on this lapbook together. (Pssst! There’s a giveaway at the end of the review!)

Working on the Habitats Lapbook

This is a wonderful first lapbook, or a lapbook that can be successfully completed and enjoyed by young elementary students and even preschoolers. My three younger children– a 3rd grader, Kindergartner and preschooler– loved working on the four mini-books and extension activities and even my youngest was able to work almost completely independent of me, a big plus in my book! Elemental Science has made an excellent resource that allows for Mom to be a facilitator and children to have significant ownership in their finished product.

: Zach cutting his mini book

The Habitats Lapbook is divided into four sections to be completed over four weeks– Grassland, Forest, Arctic, and Desert– with templates, vocabulary, extension activities and book suggestions. The lapbook was set up almost as a mini unit study and I loved that I could use as much or as little of the supplementary suggestions as we had available in the time we had in our weekly schedule. While I didn’t have all of the books on the list, for example, I used other similar titles from our home library and could easily search the library as well. This was a major plus in my book!

The extension activities, one per week, included a suggested documentary, art projects, and a diorama. My boys especially loved the desert diorama. They were very proud of their finished product! I think there will be more of these in our homeschool science going forward, and I’m excited that there are more Elemental Science lapbooks where this one came from!

Benefits of the Habitats Lapbook

I am not a science mom; it’s not so much my thing. So while we do it regularly, I’m more into reading about it than hands-on activities. My younger children, though, loved the hands-on nature of the Habitats Lapbook and begged to work on it on more than one occasion. And as I mentioned above, they were able to do most of the work themselves!
Easy time commitment. This lapbook required four weeks to complete, but I think a homeschool family could easily do two of the habitats in one week and cut it down to two weeks total, or extend it to eight weeks and dig in even deeper!
Flexibility. While the spine of this curriculum is very simple, concrete and well-laid out, there is wiggle room to bring in more or leave something out. For example, my oldest did more drawing on her own of the animals from each habitat and even did some collage from a National Geographic magazine. As a more relaxed homeschooler, I loved this flexibility!
Wide age range. I did not intend to do this with my 3rd grader, but she was super excited to work on it with us. The different reading level suggestions were perfect for including her as well.

Habitats Lapbook giveaway!

Now for the fun part! Elemental Science has agreed to provide one lucky reader with the Habitats Lapbook for use in her own schooling. You’re planning for the next homeschool year, right? What a perfect and easy addition to your science curriculum!

To enter, simply leave a comment below to say “hi”!

For additional entries, you can:

Check out the Elemental Science website (there is much more in the way of curricula and lapbook studies to browse through!) and tell me which product you like best.
Follow Elemental Science on Twitter
Subscribe to Fruit in Season for more homeschool and faith-filled goodness.

Please remember to leave a comment for each entry! Giveaway will close on Sunday night, June 3rd, at midnight. The winner will have two days (until midnight on Tuesday the 5th) to reply. Make sure you include an valid email address with your comments.

Tomorrow, stop by Tabitha’s blog to read about her experience with Earth Science Grammar Stage. She’ll be having a giveaway as well! Be sure to visit Carlie’s blog review from yesterday to learn about Lapbooking through Animals. (Another giveaway- you can get your whole science year covered this week!)

I received this product for the purpose of review and was compensated for my time. However, I only give honest opinions here and stand behind each product; I am not required to give a positive review. See my disclosure policy for more details.

Making the most of a date night in

2012-05-22T02:03:05Z

As a married couple with children, my husband and I know how important it is for us to be connected. Date nights are a priority for us. It was harder by far to find time together when our children were younger, but we still had date nights. Unfortunately, the distractions in the house were so numerous that in order for me to relax, we needed to go out. And since money was tight, we live far from extended family, and babysitting is expensive, our date nights were only once every month or two if we could swing it.

Now our youngest is five (when did that happen?) and we try to have a weekly date night in. We still don’t like spending the money on babysitting if we can help it, but older kids can make themselves scarce, and we can order yummy take out and make a wonderful, connecting evening in our own home for half the cost.

5 Tips for a successful date night in:

Plan ahead: some weeks we just look forward to the time chatting and catching up on what life has thrown at us. Sometimes we plan a board game to play, a relaxing soak in the jacuzzi, or something else fun. We rarely watch a movie. Sitting on the couch next to each other doesn’t really count as connecting, now does it?
Prepare the kids: honestly it took a while to get them to understand that our date nights in were not to be interrupted. Little people standing at the top of the stairs asking for a drink of water or another bedtime song kind of kills the mood. But after consistent attempts– really not letting them interrupt, even if it meant locking the door on the 3 year old until we went to bed {yup, we’re mean that way…}– eventually they understood. And now they go to bed without grumbling when they know that it’s “date night”.
Time it right: date nights in automatically cut the evening short since the date starts later than the times we get a sitter. So we don’t plan a date night when we have to get up early the next morning, or when we’re exhausted from an especially long day. The kids go to bed early, and we get our take out by 8:15 or so.
Set the mood: soft lighting, soft jazz, and a soft glow from the fireplace (on cold nights) make for a perfect evening. We clean up the living room, set the coffee table, pour some wine and it’s almost like a fine restaurant.
Splurge on the food: since we’re not spending extra money on babysitting or tip, we’ll spend a bit more on take out. Our favorites are sushi, Indian, or gourmet Italian, though we’ve also had times when we have cooked something special.

Whatever parts of our lives we feed with loving intention and action will grow to be beautiful. I want my marriage to be one of those things.

Do you have a regular date night? In or out?

Adding Notebooking to our Homeschool

2012-05-27T11:38:13Z

Homeschool Methods

In our homeschool next year, we will have a seventh grader, a fourth grader, a first grader and a Kindergargener. For the first time I will be actually planning work for all four of my kiddos, and I would be lying if I said I’m not at all worried about fitting it all in. Over the past seven years, our homeschool method has changed and evolved into something only vaguely resembling that of the heavily Classical beginning of our journey.

As every homeschool mom knows, methods must shift as we learn who our children are: their strengths and weaknesses, their learning styles and challenges, their personalities and interests. My children are all unique, and so I cannot (must not) teach them in the same manner. At the same time, teaching four at once in various levels is difficult to say the least.

This past year was the first time that I relaxed and decided that I didn’t have a “method”. We are now firmly in the eclectic mindset, and I see the value in flexible learning. It was also the first year we worked on a subject together– a US Geography notebook– and we used notebooking pages from around the web. The children loved making that notebook together! So when I was introduced to Notebooking Pages, I knew that the site and its resources would become a staple in our coming year.

Notebooking is a technique that can be used with any homeschooling style, for any subject, and with any age. The thousands of styles and subjects that can be found at Notebooking Pages are of an amazing quality and so varied! We have recently used astronomy pages as we were studying the planets and basic lined pages to chronicle our field trips. My children love having the concrete, decorative pages, and a finite amount of lines to use, to complete their work, and I love that I can use this technique with all of the children, no matter their age.

Most exciting of all is the new web-based app that is rolling out in the next week or two. The Notebooking Publisher will now allow members to create and customize their own pages. Their children can add photos and clip art of their choice, type out their work and then change the font and size of their text, and then save to the computer. My older two, who have been honing their typing skills, will be so excited to use this option instead of writing out their pages by hand.

Notebooking Pages Membership Discount

Notebooking Pages is celebrating its 6th anniversary, which has prompted them to give a huge discount on their Treasury Membership. Membership, only until Monday night, May 28th, which is normally $75.00 for the year, is marked down to $56.21, and they are tossing in three extra months for free! Membership includes all of the pages on the site, and any new pages added throughout your membership year, plus the new Notebooking Publisher.

We will be using our membership all the time in the coming year. As you are planning your year, I hope you will find the value in Notebooking Pages as well!

This post contains affiliate links. My opinions of this product are my own. I love it!

Homeschool Mother’s Journal- May 25, 2012

2012-05-25T10:54:58Z

Join me today at the iHomeschool Network for my journal entries. It’s been a busy and crazy week!

Tearing down to build back up

2012-05-25T10:55:26Z

I had a dry sponge experience in church on Sunday, and if I’m honest, I’d have to say that it’s not an uncommon occurrence lately. I come to church spiritually dry, hard and wrinkled, and feel as if the Word of God poured into me by the pastor and the leadership of the church actually makes me physically expand. I leave broader and significantly increased in surface area than I came.

Yes, that is what church is supposed to be, right?

But God is doing something different in me than He’s done before. I am on a continuous growth curve that I believe has turned sharply upward into a season of refinement. My spirit sometimes feels unsettled, and I haven’t been sure of His methods. During the week I feel adrift, and the spiritually-sodden feeling from Sunday drains away until I yearn for affirmation and encouragement from the Lord that seems lacking otherwise.

I’ve never been a “Sunday Christian”, and in spite of this struggle, I’m still not.

This past Sunday, in my spiritually thirst-quenching moments, I felt the Lord’s voice (yes, felt…do you experience that as well?) telling me that he must tear things down in my life– strongholds that have been in place for decades– before He can build. I’ve noticed that my eyes have been seeing people differently in the past couple of years, more easily extending grace and not judgement. I’ve found myself choosing gentleness of response instead of yielding to a critical spirit. Even giving myself grace for hurdles I can’t seem to overcome right now. The long-held rule-oriented faith of yesterday is eroding toward a more compassionate faith.

And these things are good. Really good. But tearing down hurts, regardless of how beautiful the finished product will be. And I hear Him speaking to me to wait it out, wait for the revealing of the blessing. Be faithful, even when my dry, hard, cracked surface feels like it can’t go on without water.

Because it will come. It always does.

Has your spiritual journey taken turns you didn’t expect?

Photo Credit

Top Ten Tuesday- 10 Homeschooling Websites

2012-05-22T11:06:56Z

Welcome to the 10 in 10 Blog Hop! We are partnering with Angie for 10 whole weeks, bringing you ten homeschooling lists you won’t want to miss. I’m so excited to get suggestions and resources from all of the bloggers participating! Be sure to visit the iHomeschool Network for a complete list.

This week, we are posting our top ten homeschooling websites. Everyone has their favorites, and honestly, there are so many places out there I rarely try a new site unless it is suggested by someone I know and trust. Hopefully you will find something new and useful here for your learning and planning at home.

Here are my top ten homeschooling websites:

You Tube– I know many people use this one, and it’s probably not new to you, but this has become an easy way to supplement any subject in a fun way. We have used it for geography (the Fifty Nifty US States song), science (octopus camouflage), history (Roman table manners), and much more.
Enchanted Learning– we actually have a yearly membership, which is well worth the cost to have all of the resources and printables available. This site is especially useful when I need to find simple ways to include my younger ones (5 and 6 years old) in our joint subjects.
Notebooking Pages– if I had to choose, I’d say this is the best website I’ve been introduced to this year. Notebooking pages galore, on every topic from (click for free samples) composers to state pages, copywork to the ancient times. Notebooking Pages is having a promotion for membershipright now– less than $60 for 15 months!Join in the Notebooking Pages Facebook party tonight from 8-9pm EST. They will be rolling out a brand new app called Notebooking Publisher, which lets you customize your own pages! You will not want to miss it!
Donna Young– I love all of the free resources here: wonderful planner pages, math and language sheets, etc. Spend some time exploring and you will surely find lots to use in your own home.
Squidoo– the “lenses”, as they are called, are as varied and informative as you can possibly find all in one place. I love Jimmie’s lenses and have used them extensively, as well as numerous others.
Deep Space Sparkle and Made by Joel– these are two of my favorite art/crafting blogs. DSS has many projects offered for free and others for purchase. Made by Joel is perhaps one of the most creative and unique sites out there, and they are all projects the author/artist makes first for his own children.
BBC Primary History– I love this site for interactive fun in different parts of history. We have gone through the Indus Valley and Ancient Greek activities as a family all huddled on the couch making decisions and exploring together. It’s very well thought out and keeps everyone’s attention (and that’s saying something!)
Eager Readers– though some of these books are out of print, I have never read a book to my children, or suggested they read one, without being pleased with the choice. I love how simple the site is and how all books are categorized by genre, series, content level, reading level, and author.
Cool Math 4 Kids– there are so many ways to have fun with math on this site, more than we’ve ever explored, but if you only go here for the Rotate and Roll game, it will be well worth it. My oldest son and my husband once had a duel, facing off on laptops across the kitchen table to see who could complete the game fastest. Try it and you’ll be hooked!
24 Hours in Pictures– I originally was led to this site by Ann Voskamp, and have loved connecting with the images from all around the world. Preview them first on any given day to make sure they are appropriate for your children to see, but definitely use this on occasion to broaden their horizons and their vision for the world.

Come link up at Angie’s!

Preparing for a homeschool convention (vlog and printables!)

2012-05-21T02:13:51Z

Attending a homeschool convention, especially for a new(er) homeschooler, can be an overwhelming and budget-busting event. Come to think of it, even we veterans could use some help with preparation to approach a convention with confidence. Here is a surefire way to prepare, plan and get the most out of your attendance so you will be ready for the upcoming school year.

Homeschool Mother’s Journal- May 18, 2012

2012-05-21T02:14:25Z

In my life this week…

We are working on some spring cleaning. My intention was to get the whole house done in one week, but as of this writing, we’ve only completed three rooms. I guess that’s better than nothing. These free cleaning printables look fantastic, but I’m not that organized…yet!

In our homeschool this week…

We have had gorgeous weather, and that always means a bit less of the academics and more playing outside. Since we’ve started our summer schedule already, academics just means math, grammar, and a lot of read alouds for history, geography and science. We’re also working on our summer notebooks…more about that next week!

Helpful homeschool tips or advice to share…

“Strewing”, or intentionally leaving materials out so that kids will pick them up and use them, really works. But that’s assuming the home is neat and uncluttered enough for the kids to notice something new is sitting there. *ahem* Just sayin’…

I’m inspired by…

Sunny days with cool breezes, fresh produce from the garden, and lots of color. I love color- in my food, in artwork, in my kids’ cheeks. Inspiring!

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

It’s a busy week. We have had regular activities, park day for our homeschool group on Wednesday, doctor’s appointments, and a trip to the observatory tonight to supplement our astronomy studies. Did you know there will be an annular solar eclipse on Sunday evening? Those of you in the west will be able to see it best. Sorry east-coasters, you’re out of luck. :(

My favorite thing this week was…

Our trip to the local outdoor ice cream shop, our first time this season. My newly-five-year-old insisted I tell the girl behind the counter that he got new shoes. I think he had a crush.

What’s working/not working for us…

Our printer is not working! It has officially conked out, though it’s still trying to convince me it works (it’s very stubborn). It will print some black and white stuff, but no color, and occasionally it chooses not to print gray. Very frustrating, especially since I’ve recently been drooling over the Notebooking Pages website and all of the goodies they have. We’ve printed some of the black and white pages, but I’m really looking forward to using the full-color pages!

We’re looking at an Epson ink jet, or maybe a Canon. What printer do you use, and do you love it?

Questions/thoughts I have…

I’ve been thinking about the upcoming Northeast Homeschool Convention and trying to start a preliminary list of to-do’s. I’m planning a vlog for next week on how to prepare for a convention. I do things a lot differently than I used to early in our homeschooling adventure!

Have you ever been to a homeschool convention? What questions do you have for homeschool convention veterans?

I’m reading…

I’m kind of still limping through Sense and Sensibility, enjoying When the Heart Waits, just finished Hinds’ Feet on High Places, and am reading 1 Corinthians and Ezekiel (blech) for my Bible plan. What are you reading?

I’m cooking…

This yumminess…

I looked for a recipe on Pinterest (Come follow me there. Don’t you find you learn a lot about someone by looking at their boards? It’s almost as good as looking on their bookshelves...) but didn’t have the right ingredients for the one I liked, so I made it up. Cook one cup dry quinoa as directed and add the following: 1/2 red pepper (diced), 1/2 cucumber (diced), 1 cup diced pineapple, 1 can black beans (drained), 1/4 cup diced red onion, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro. Mix juice of one and a half limes, 1 teaspoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/8 teaspoon salt and add to the bowl. Mix while still warm. Soooo good!

I’m grateful for…

A husband who is very forgiving and a supportive online community and IRL friends (some of whom are one and the same).

I’m praying for…

Marriages that are in trouble. Marriage is worth fighting for! Breaks my heart when couples struggle.

A photo, video, link or quote to share…

“I’ve lost my smile, but don’t worry– the dandelion has it.”

(as seen on a t-shirt)

Come on over to the iHomeschool Network and join in the fun this week!

This post contains an affiliate link.

When you’re always performing

2012-05-17T01:54:59Z

Yesterday my husband and I sang schmaltzy love duets and musical theater songs for a women’s group at a local country club. This is not an unusual occurrence, though it doesn’t happen as often as it used to. My performing days are, for the most part, behind me, and the times I sing now are both a welcome treat and a minor stressor in my day.

But I’m not just a performer on the stage, gauging my worth based on reactions in the audience. I’m a performer at heart. And spiritually speaking, this is a challenge to overcome.

How does a performer raise children who know they are valued by their being and not their doing?

As one who has always enjoyed applause and recognition for a job well done, be it on the stage or in life, I have always found it difficult to claim my worth based on who I am rather than how I perform. Call it an occupational hazard, if you will. Even in scripture, I have found comfort in the “law”, passages on “grace” always seeming a bit of an enigma.

Thankfully, in these eleven years as a parent, I’ve learned (am still learning, really- sometimes the hard way) that grace must be not merely a visitor in our home, but a loving, in-dwelling presence. I find myself bit by bit able to shed the doing and embrace the being, both in my children and in myself. It may go against the grain, but that’s what makes it such a miracle. The freedom to give and receive grace comes only from the One who is grace.

So I forgive, and ask forgiveness; tell and show my children I love them just because they are, and try to live that myself in the face of a performing life. My actions- especially the daily accepting of my own flaws in front of my children- will speak loudly into their hearts, into who they will become.

Yesterday, at our performance, I messed up. My singing wasn’t perfect. And while years ago I may have hung on to the mistakes for days, today I’m OK with it. When the kids asked how we did, we told them it was good, but not perfect.

And life went on.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

My new digs…

2012-05-15T20:20:39Z

Whew! Changing to WordPress and switching to a new domain name is like birthing a fifth child (at least for this non-techie girl)! Thanks for being patient as everything was transferred, and a special thanks to Amy for her expertise. I hope to see you more often around here as I settle in. Lots of exciting things to come!

Just to make sure you don’t miss anything (more about homeschooling, marriage, parenting, vlogs, and a special art journaling category, all coming up!), subscribe to the feed and join me as I make my new home comfy and cozy.