Category Archives: Fun Stuff For Kids

Funschooling December 2018 Week 2

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This calendar was inspired by the activities and suggestions offered on Still Learning Something New’s December Special Days Calendar.

These activities are for the week of December 9-15,

but can be enjoyed any time of the season!

 

December 9

 

A Charlie Brown Christmas Debut 1965 – Check your local listings and library for this movie. Learn about the show and make a trivia game with the facts you find most interesting. If you need a little help making your game, use the link provided in the title.

Christmas Card Day – Host a Christmas card making party. Ask everyone to bring something to help make the party a little more special: Seasonal paper, stickers, cutting tools (scissors, punches, cutters, etc.), glitter and other fun items.

December 10

World Wide Candle Lighting Day – Learn about candles, and make your own. Find out more about this day too.

December 11

Make An Ornament – Make 3-D shaped ornaments from paper and as a fun challenge, turn a recycled item into an ornament. Use a cardboard tube to make this star ornament. This ball ornament is made from a recycled plastic bottle.

December 12


Ginger Bread House Day – Turn a small milk/juice carton into a ginger bread house. The link provided offers great links.

Hot Cocoa Day – Make a batch of homemade hot cocoa mix, then add a special twist and enjoy. This recipe goes great with holiday movies! 😎

Poinsettia Day – Learn about poinsettias and take care of one during the holiday season and beyond.

December 13


Fold Seasonal Origami Shapes – Fold up some seasonal and holiday origami shapes. Use them as ornaments for your tree, as little gifts, for the front of a holiday card, or make winter scene with them.

December 14


Christmas Bird Count Week begins – Find out how you can get involved in this program. Bring birds to your house with the tips in this bird watching post.


Deck the Halls Day – Decorate the house while listen to Christmas songs. Here’s a classic version of Deck the Halls by Nat King Cole that you can listen to. This video offers 3 hours of Christmas music.

Roast Chestnuts Day – Have you ever tried chestnuts? This video will show you how to pick, prepare, and cook them.

December 15

Play A Seasonal Game of Guess My Word – Play a game of Guess My Word (played like Hangman but with a fun twist), with a Christmas, holiday, or seasonal theme. Other fun Holiday game ideas can be found here.

December Activities on Funschooling

Back to Funschooling December 2018

Funschooling December 2018

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Please bookmark this page for future use if you want to follow along with the activities being offered this month.

 

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This calendar was inspired by the activities and suggestions offered on Still Learning Something New’s December Special Days Calendar.

 

December Activities on Funschooling


December Activities

25 Fun Activities You Can Do Inside, When It’s COLD Outside!

Fun Christmas Resources

Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!

Funschooling News #28 Special Days Edition

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November Theme

Start Your own study with the Native American resources provided.


Theme for the Week


Activities to try this week.

Special Days & Holidays For November
Betty Jo, of Still Learning Something New, has posted the newest version of her November 2018 Special Days Calendar. It has a long list of famous birthdays, historical events, interesting days, and monthly event and food themes.

🐭November 18: Mickey Mouse debut 1928 – Mickey turns 90 this year! Watch the debut cartoon: Steamboat Willie, then take some time to learn about Mickey’s creator, Walt Disney – The Man Behind The Myth (Documentary).


🎩November 19:  Gettysburg Address 1863 – Listen to Johnny Cash: The Gettysburg Address.

🥜November 20: Peanut Butter Fudge Day – Whip up a batch of peanut butter fudge this week!


November 21: First Untethered Hot Air Balloon Flight 1763 – Learn about hot air balloons. Fun suggestions are included in this post.

🦃November 22: Thanksgiving Day – Learn about the first Thanksgiving and do some holiday related crafts.

🗺November 22: Start Your Own Country Day – Build your own country with the Pdf file available in this link.

⛾November 23: Espresso Day – Check out the visual history of espresso makers.

November 23: Fibonacci Day – Find patterns in nature!

November 24: Celebrate Your Unique Talent Day – Everyone has something they are good at. What do you believe is your unique talent? How can you celebrate this day using your talent?

I hope something in this post makes you smile!

Homeschool Humor:

Still Learning Something New: Homeschooling Humor
Here’s a peek at what you’ll find…

Funschooling Press: On Sale This Week

20% off Coffee Themed Word Search 

For more information about this puzzle please click here.
Thank you for stopping by, 
please feel free to share this post with others!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!
Note: If this, or any other post on Funschooling and Recreational Learning, has inspired you in a positive way, or you have featured it in a blog post, please comment and link back to where it can be found! Thank you!

Funschooling News #27 STEM Edition

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Hi! Welcome to Funschooling News STEM Edition!

Do you enjoy taking nature walks? If you do, collect some pine needles and pine cones while you’re out. The inexpensive, family-friendly activities offered below will help make your week a little more fun and interesting with these unique learning tools.

Supervision is suggested for some of the activities offered in this post.

If you missed the first part of this week’s newsletter that features activities off Still Learning Something New’s November’s Calendar, you can link to it here. You’ll find a fun activity to do or an interesting topic to learn about each day of the week.

🎍Pine Tree Resources on Funschooling & Recreational Learning🎍

YouTube Playlist: Pine Tree Resources & Info 
The videos below, and others, can be found in this playlist.

One Minute Microscope: Pine Leaf Cross Section



Medicinal Teas – Pine Needle Tea




Pinecone Hygrometer – Experiment of the Week


Pine Cone Math & Art

The Spirals in a Pine Cone




How to: Pine Cone Fire Starters

Funschooling Press: On Sale This Week
 

20% off Pumpkin Foods Themed Word Search 
with Pumpkin Pie Recipe

For more information about this puzzle please click here.
Thank you for stopping by, please feel free to share this post with others!
Have a wonderful week!
Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!
Note: If this, or any other post on Funschooling and Recreational Learning, has inspired you in a positive way, or you have featured it in a blog post, please comment and link back to where it can be found! Thank you!

Funschooling News #26 Special Days Edition

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Special Days & Holidays For November

Betty Jo, of Still Learning Something New, has posted the newest version of her November 2018 Special Days Calendar. It has a long list of famous birthdays, historical events, interesting days, and monthly event and food themes.

November Food Theme

Learn about peanuts and do some peanut experiments.

🗺November 11: Geography Awareness Week – Visit a national or state park in your area or plan a special trip somewhere. Learn how to Funschool Geography.

November 11: Origami Day – Have some fun folding easy origami projects. These sites have more projects to try: The Spruce Craft: Origami &
Origami-Make.org


👩November 12:  Suffragist/Reformer Elizabeth Stanton born 1815 – Learn about Elizabeth Stanton, then watch this informative video about the history of women’s suffrage: Women’s Suffrage: Crash Course US History #31

November 13: Indian Pudding Day – Make some today! 


November 14: Inventor Robert Fulton born 1765 – Watch this Documentary: Robert Fulton and the American Dream: Engineer and Inventor – Biography to learn more about him.

♻November 15: America Recycles Day – Turn your trash into something useful with the ideas in this post.

November 16: Button Day – Purchase a big bag of buttons from a craft store and have fun using them in creative ways. Check out this video if you need some ideas.

🌳November 17: Take A Hike Day – There are a lot of benefits to hiking, read about them in this article. Enjoy the fall season by taking a hike this week!

I hope something in this post makes you smile!

Homeschool Humor:

Still Learning Something New: Homeschooling Humor
Here’s a peek at what you’ll find…

Funschooling Press: On Sale This Week

20% off Pumpkin Foods Themed Word Search 
with Pumpkin Pie Recipe

For more information about this puzzle please click here.
Thank you for stopping by, 
please feel free to share this post with others!
Have a wonderful week!

Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!
Note: If this, or any other post on Funschooling and Recreational Learning, has inspired you in a positive way, or you have featured it in a blog post, please comment and link back to where it can be found! Thank you!

Funschooling News #25 STEM Edition

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Hi! Welcome to Funschooling News STEM Edition!


Are you looking for some inexpensive, family-friendly activities that will help make your week a little more fun and interesting? 
This week’s learning activities include projects that turn leaves into an really fun learning tool. There’s a lot of chemistry in this issue.

If you missed the first part of this week’s newsletter that features activities off Still Learning Something New’s November’s Calendar, you can link to it here. You’ll find a fun activity to do or an interesting topic to learn about each day of the week. 

🍁Leaf Resources on Funschooling & Recreational Learning🍁

YouTube Fall and Leaves Playlist 
The videos below, and others, can be found in this playlist.

Preparation of Stomata Slide

Photosynthesis in Leaf Disks Experiment


 
Use iodine to test a leaf for starch | Plant Physiology | Biology




Science Experiment: Producing electricity from a leaf!!!



Leaf Math & Art

Relaxing Activity: Trace around a leaf on a plain piece of copy paper, then, using a pen, draw enough different sized circles to cover the inside the leaf. Optional: Use different colored pens.

Doodling in Math: Spirals, Fibonacci, and Being a Plant



How To Draw Fall Leaves


Funschooling Press: On Sale This Week

20% off Presidential Fill-In Challenge DIY Study

Thank you for stopping by, please feel free to share this post with others!
Have a wonderful week!

Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!
Note: If this, or any other post on Funschooling and Recreational Learning, has inspired you in a positive way, or you have featured it in a blog post, please comment and link back to where it can be found! Thank you!

Funschooling News #24 Special Days Edition

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Special Days & Holidays For November

Betty Jo, of Still Learning Something New, has posted the newest version of her November 2018 Special Days Calendar. It has a long list of famous birthdays, historical events, interesting days, and monthly event and food themes.

November 4: King Tut’s Tomb discovered 1922 – Visit a museum that has Egyptian artifacts. Watch the documentary: In Search Of History – The Mysteries of King Tut


November 5:  Doughnut Day – Whip up a batch of Crispy and Creamy Doughnuts, then watch this informative video about the history of donuts: The American History of Donuts – US 101

✅November 6: Election​ ​Day​ ​(US) – Learning about the history of voting.

November 7: Scientist Marie Curie born 1867 – Watch this Marie Curie Documentary to learn more about her.

🎲November 8: Game Inventor Milton Bradley born 1836 – Read about this businessman and game inventor and play some of the games sold under this brand. Create a game of your own to play.

November 8: STEM & STEAM Day – 5 Ways to Celebrate National STEM/STEAM Day – Tips for celebrating the day.

November 9: Berlin Wall opened 1989 – Learn the history of the wall with the documentary: History Channel – Rise and Fall of the Berlin Wall and the news report: Nov. 10, 1989: Celebration at the Berlin Wall

November 10: Domino Day – Play with dominoes! Use them as a game or as a tumbling toy. This post has some great ideas.
Video: 25,000 DOMINOES: A Tribute to Domino Day

November 10: Great Wall of China opened to tourism 1970 – Who built the Great Wall of China? Get the facts with the site offered, and with the documentary: National Geographic – The Great Wall of China – Documentary

I hope something in this post makes you chuckle!

Homeschool Humor:

Still Learning Something New: Homeschooling Humor
Here’s a peek at what you’ll find…

Funschooling Press: On Sale This Week
20% off Presidential Fill-In Challenge DIY Study

For more information about this puzzle please click here.


Thank you for stopping by, 
please feel free to share this post with others!
Have a wonderful week!

Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!
Note: If this, or any other post on Funschooling and Recreational Learning, has inspired you in a positive way, or you have featured it in a blog post, please comment and link back to where it can be found! Thank you!

Funschooling News #23 STEAM Edition

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Hi! Welcome to Funschooling News STEAM Edition!


Are you looking for some inexpensive, family-friendly activities that will help make your week a little more fun and interesting? 
This week’s learning activities include projects that turn Pumpkins into an really cool learning tool.

If you missed the first part of this week’s newsletter that features activities off Still Learning Something New’s October Special Days Calendar and November’s Calendar, you can link to it here. You’ll find a fun activity to do or an interesting topic to learn about each day of the week. 

Pumpkins Resources


The 3 Sisters: Squash – Pumpkins

Jack O’ Lanterns


Pumpkin growth time-lapse: 
From the seed to the mature fruit in 108 days and nights




Pumpkin Carving Tips & Tricks




Professional Pumpkin Carver Jonathan Barwood Gives Carving Advice

Top 15 Best Pumpkin Carvings Ever!

Pumpkin Playlist


Pumpkin Math & Physics

How much math do you think you’d use if you were to grow a giant pumpkin? The first video shows how much work goes into growing one! 
What kind of maths would you use to construct a machine that chucks a pumpkin as far as possible?

Giant Pumpkin. Pumpkin Show – Modern Agriculture



The Physics of “Punkin Chunkin”
The idea is to chuck the pumpkin as far as possible.

Funschooling Press: On Sale This Week

20% off Witches Brew Super 50 Word Search &
Cauldron Coloring Page


For more information about this puzzle please click here.
Thank you for stopping by, please feel free to share this post with others!
Have a wonderful week!

Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!
Note: If this, or any other post on Funschooling and Recreational Learning, has inspired you in a positive way, or you have featured it in a blog post, please comment and link back to where it can be found! Thank you!

Funschooling News #22 Special Days Edition

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Special Days & Holidays For October & November


Betty Jo, of Still Learning Something New, has posted the newest version of her October 2018 Special Days Calendar and the November Calendar can be found here. It has a long list of famous birthdays, historical events, interesting days, monthly event and food themes, and more. 

Betty Jo and I have created a Special Days Companion filled with 120+ activities you can do as a family during the month of October. To find out more about this wonderful product, click here.

Here are a few of the things on her list and some helpful activities and links:

One of the fun holidays featured during the month of October is Halloween. This resource page has some fun Halloween activities to do, and animals and foods to learn about. This post has informational resources about the history of Halloween.

Not into Halloween? Celebrate the season of Fall with some of the fun activities in the post provided.

🗽October 28: Statue of Liberty dedicated 1886 – Learn about the Statue of Liberty with the video Statue of Liberty Decoded Why Was it Made? provided in the link. 

🐈October 29: Cat Day – Start your own cat study in honor of the day! Use the resources in the post provided to help get you going.

🍬October 30: Candy Corn Day – Candy corn has been around for more than 100 years! Learn more about this classic candy. Find out how they are made too!

🎃October 31: All Hollows Eve/Halloween – Learn about Halloween and do some fun activities.

🚪October 31: Knock Knock Jokes Day – Have some fun telling knock knock jokes…and be sure to make up some of your own!

🦃November🦃


🐕November 1: 
Cook for Your Pets Day – Have fun planning and making treats and healthy foods for your favorite pet.

November 1: Vinegar Day – Take some time to do one of the 5 fun Experiments with vinegar offered in this post.

📙November 2: Book Lovers Day – This link will give you access to Free classic ebooks on Project Gutenberg.

November 3:  Poet Wm. C. Bryant born 1794 – Listen to Bryant’s works. Learn about the man here. 
I hope something in this post makes you chuckle!

Homeschool Humor:

Still Learning Something New: Homeschooling Humor 
Here’s a peek at what you’ll find…

Funschooling Press: On Sale This Week

20% off Witches Brew Super 50 Word Search &
Cauldron Coloring Page

For more information about this puzzle please click here.
Thank you for stopping by, please feel free to share this post with others!
Have a wonderful week!

Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!
Note: If this, or any other post on Funschooling and Recreational Learning, has inspired you in a positive way, or you have featured it in a blog post, please comment and link back to where it can be found! Thank you!

Funschooling News #21 STEM Edition

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Hi! Welcome to Funschooling News STEM Edition!


Are you looking for some inexpensive, family-friendly activities that will help make the rest of your week a little more fun and interesting? 
This week’s learning activities include projects that turn toothpicks into an excellent learning tool.

If you missed the first part of this week’s newsletter that features activities off Still Learning Something New’s October Special Days Calendar, you can link to it here. You’ll find a fun activity to do or an interesting topic to learn about each day of the week. 

How to Demonstrate Engineering Principles | Science Projects




Building a Toothpick Bridge



Check out how strong this bridge is! My Toothpick Bridge

The Spangler Effect – Toothpick Table Tricks Season 01 Episode 45


Toothpick Math

Use toothpicks to do math.

Below you will find a couple of videos with toothpick puzzles.
Puzzles help us to solve problems and think more creatively.
If you like these, you can check this pdf out with more puzzles to try.

3 Toothpick Puzzles to Drive You Nuts!!



10 Mind Bending Matchstick Puzzles
*Just use toothpicks!

Funschooling Press: On Sale This Week

20% off Pumpkin Carving- Themed Word Search Puzzle 
& Pumpkin Pattern 

For more information about this puzzle please click here.
Thank you for stopping by, please feel free to share this post with others!
Have a wonderful week!

Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!
Note: If this, or any other post on Funschooling and Recreational Learning, has inspired you in a positive way, or you have featured it in a blog post, please comme
nt and link back to where it can be found! Thank you!

Funschooling News #20 Special Days Edition

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Special Days & Holidays For October


Betty Jo, of Still Learning Something New, has posted the newest version of her October 2018 Special Days Calendar. It has a long list of famous birthdays, historical events, interesting days, monthly event and food themes, and more. 

Betty Jo and I have created a Special Days Companion filled with 120+ activities you can do as a family during the month of October. To find out more about this wonderful product, click here.

Here are a few of the things on her list and some helpful activities and links:

One of the fun holidays featured during the month of October is Halloween. This resource page has some fun Halloween activities to do and animals and foods to learn about.
Not into Halloween? Celebrate the season of Fall with some of the fun activities in this post.
🐍October 21: Reptile Awareness Day – Learn about a favorite reptile or choose a lizard from the post offered. Sea Turtles can be found here.
Watch the YouTube video collection on my: Lizards Playlist

📘October 21: Friends of the Library Week – Find out how your library can save you money! Go to the library and find out what they have to offer you. Ask for or arrange a tour.


October 22: Daniel Boone born 1734 – Still Learning Something New offers great resources that include: Biographical information, quotes, printables, an interactive map, pioneer games and more.

October 23: Mole Day – A Mole is a unit of measurement used in Chemistry. Learn how you can celebrate the day here.


🌱October 24: Food Day – Choose a fun food to learn about or find out:


🎩October 25: Magic Week Begins – Magic has a long history! Take a bit of time to learn about some of the best magicians of our time and learn a trick or two.

October 26: Frankenstein Day – Read about Mary Shelley’s famous creation. 
October 26: National Pumpkin Day – Learn about one of ‘The Three Sisters’, Squash.
October 26: Red Cross Founded 1836.

📚October 27: Tell A Story Day – There are a lot of really fun ways to tell a story, check out this post, and choose a way to tell a story that appeals to you most. 

I hope something in this post makes you smile!

Homeschool Humor:

Still Learning Something New: Homeschooling Humor 
Here’s a peek at what you’ll find…

Funschooling Press: On Sale This Week

20% off Pumpkin Carving- Themed Word Search Puzzle 
& Pumpkin Pattern 

For more information about this puzzle please click here.
Thank you for stopping by, please feel free to share this post with others!
Have a wonderful week!

Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!
Note: If this, or any other post on Funschooling and Recreational Learning, has inspired you in a positive way, or you have featured it in a blog post, please comment and link back to where it can be found! Thank you!

Funschooling News #19 STEM Edition

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Hi! Welcome to Funschooling News STEM Edition!


Are you looking for some inexpensive, family-friendly activities that will help make the rest of your week a little more fun and interesting? This week’s learning activities include projects that turn ordinary apples into extraordinary learning experiences.

If you missed the first part of this week’s newsletter that features activities off Still Learning Something New’s October Special Days Calendar, you can link to it here. You’ll find a fun activity to do or an interesting topic to learn about each day of the week. 

It may seem unusual to think of an apple as the focus of a STEM project, but I assure you, quite a bit can be done with apples that include science, engineering, and the math parts of STEM…and maybe even the technology part too…depending on how you look at it. I’m going to add a little chemistry into the mix this week as well! I hope you enjoy it.

Note: After doing LOTS of apple experiments with my kids and in my programs, I think it’s only fair to let you know that some apples have more iron in them than others, and that can really effect the oxidation experiments. I recommend trying a variety of apples for these types of experiments to truly find ways to stop oxidation. You will also need extra apples to snack on! 😊

Apples are a fun food to study. If you would like to make your own apple study, I offer the following resource pages: 
Apple Research Project and Apple Resources

Apple Oxidation & The Scientific Method: 
A fun, at-home science experiment

Apple Oxidation Experiment

Video: Why Do Apples Turn Brown?

What Happens When Apple Meets Magnet

Science For Kids With HudsonAlpha: Enzymes & Apple Juice



5 Delicious Apple Hacks


Apple Math, Engineering, & Technology

Use apples to do math as well!
Here are a couple of videos on how to cut an apple to make something a little more special out of it. The first is a swan and the second is a puzzle.
This is where math, engineering, and technology come together in a really fun way.
I highly recommend that you go to YouTube and put the words: ‘Apple Art‘ into the search box to see some of the amazing and fun things people have done with this ordinary fruit.

How to Make an Edible Apple Swan!


Apple Puzzle

20% off Vincent Price Themed Word Search 
and Word Games

For more information about this puzzle please click here.
Thank you for stopping by, please feel free to share this post with others!
Have a wonderful week!

Connect with Funschooling and Recreational Learning!
Note: If this, or any other post on Funschooling and Recreational Learning, has inspired you in a positive way, or you have featured it in a blog post, please comment and link back to where it can be found! Thank you!