Sunshine before the Sunrise: April 2012

Some of March's Homeschooling

Trip to a Children's Museum

Taking these family adventures, or field trips, are great for children's sensory awareness, imagination, and just a great way to learn through exploring

Gym class and Chess Club

Learning about Transparent, Translucent, and Opaque.

My son in grade 2 gathered items around the house to demonstrate his knowledge of transparent, translucent and opaque. Activity found in "Heat, Light and Sound 1-3". I bought this book from Blue Mantle http://www.bluemantle.ca/Products/Heat--Light-and-Sound-1-3__978-1558630284.aspx

Found in the same book, he is learned how sound is made by string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments.

Last Day of Skating Lessons and Hockey

Crafts and Art

A Pinterest inspired craft

I found a blue wooden frame at the thrift store. We painted it white and then pink. Google ballerina silhouettes and printed it off. I then cut out the silhouette and attached it to the center of this craft paper I had and cut out the shape again. I bought several bags of buttons from the thrift store for only .50 cents a bag, sorted them according to color and pulled colors from the print. My 5 year old daughter and I hot glue gunned the buttons. I used the gun and she stuck them on

This other craft is also inspired by pinterest. I wanted to make a chalkboard from a frame found from a thrift store (not finished yet). I couldn't get into a painting craft of my own without getting the kids busy painting as well. Pulling out a large tarp and water paints for the kids, on a nice day, is a great way to tackle your own project without to many interruptions.

Let nature inspire your growing artists.

Lent Crown of thorns

An activity we like doing during lent is making a crown of thorns with salt dough.

Here is a link to where I found the recipe http://www.cuf.org/familyresources/saltdoughrecipe.asp

It is a good way for children to remember sacrifices, good deeds and prayers during lent. Each time someone does one of these acts they get to remove a thorn from Jesus's crown. On Easter morning you can always have the holes replaced with jewels or flowers.

Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day is one of my favorite Feast Days. The day usually begins with milk turned green by food coloring and lucky charms. Wearing green is a must along with one fun craft. We always have corn beef or a meaty stew and end the night by dancing to Irish music.