summer activity jar

Here are directions on how to make a family activity jar.  I came up with the idea after doing some reading about summer learning with children.  To start with, I made a list of 70 learning activities, some in each of the areas of science, math, literacy, and social studies.  (There are a few just for fun activities, too.)  Then I wrote each idea on a strip of paper.  After that,the activities strips can be put in a jar or container with cover.  The idea is for the family to choose a slip of paper each day and completes the activity.  I made the activity ideas fairly simple...most do not take more than a paper and pencil, a map, or a book.  Most activities would be completed in under 15 minutes.

Here are a few ideas I used-

• count how many pairs of shoes each person in your family has
• read four books by the same author
• listen to some music from when your parents were young
• learn some words or phrases in another language
• make shadow pictures on the wall using a flashlight and your hands
• call an aunt or uncle
• list 20 or more foods that are grown in Minnesota

This takes a little preparation initially, but then the daily learning activity is ready and you don't have to think about something new each day or week.  My guess is doing this would lead to more learning in other parts of the day, whether it was child or parent directed.

If you decide to make one of these for your family and need ideas, let me know and I would be willing to share my list with you. 

This is the first post in a series about summer learning with children.  Check back each Tuesday throughout the summer for more ideas.

How to Have a Good Day

I Love to Read month

February is I Love to Read month at my school.  This year I came up with a new idea to help kids find reading interesting.  I collected a bunch of used picture books.  Then I wrapped each book.  Each time a group comes, one student gets to choose a book to unwrap.  I read the story aloud, and then another student's name is chosen.  That student gets to take the book home to keep.  By the end of the month, everyone will have at least one chance to open a book, as well as take a book home.

overnight oatmeal

Recently I tried a new oatmeal recipe.  My sister had come across the recipe in the paper, and it is now my preferred way to have oatmeal for breakfast.  What you need is a pint jar with lid, half a cup milk, half a cup old fashioned oats, and whatever toppings you would like.  First, put the milk in the jar.  Add the oatmeal and whatever topping you would like, then cover and put in the refrigerator.  In the morning, all you have to do is take it out and eat it.  I have been putting different toppings on, if I choose raisins or bananas, I add them in the morning.  This is great since I can prepare it the night before.  The other great thing is the oatmeal does not get mushy like it could if you overcook it.

enjoying the outdoors

In April I stopped by a state park and found out that this year is the 125th anniversary of Minnesota State Parks.  To commemorate that, the parks have created a program to encourage using the trails.  Individuals can try to bike, boat, or hike 125 miles in state parks or state trails this year.  So far I am at 15 miles, all hiking.  I hope to do some biking and canoeing, too.  So far, I have been to some of the closer parks...Charles Lindbergh, Lake Carlos, and Sibley.  I hope to get to Fort Snelling, Lake Itasca, Lake Maria, and Crow Wing parks soon.  Click here to see more information about the program.

artist trading cards

A few years ago, I read an article about artist trading cards.  They are mini works of art.  On the back, you can write your name and the date.  The cards are a way to show and trade your art.  This is an activity I do some with my nieces and nephews.  If you want to make your own cards, or get started on it with your children, all you need is two and a half inch by three and a half inch pieces of cardstock and some markers, crayons or colored pencils.  I cut my own, but you can also buy pre-cut cards at art stores.  This could be an unending summer project for your kids, or a fun activity to sit down and do as a family from time to time.

valentines

It is time to make valentines!  I started yesterday on the ones for my students.  It seems like there is plenty of candy around the holiday, so I give them something not edible-a mini handmade book.  I used a piece of copy paper and a four and a half by six inch piece of cardstock.  The band around the middle is a strip of cardstock folded around the book and then glued together.  It slides on and off, and I can write the to and from part on the back of it.   Once I get done with these, I can move on to valentines for my family and maybe even my coworkers.

scavenger hunt

The other day ten of my family members and I went to a nature park reserve when we had the day off school.  It being a nature park, I planned a scavenger hunt.  The list was not long or complicated and included the following things:

• something smooth
• something that looks like the letter l
• 2 kinds of seeds
• 5 different types of leaves
• tree bark
• something black 
• a piece of trash
• a circle rock
• something rough
• a stick the length of your foot
• something alive
• an acorn
• a picture of your team
• a funny shaped stick

In teams of three (one adult and two children), they had twenty minutes to find everything.  When they all returned, we shared our results.  The picture above was from one team, and another team actually found a worm for their living item.  I enjoyed seeing the variety and everyone enjoyed the activity.  Now I am thinking of ways I could incorporate a scavenger hunt into my English classes. 

FYI-the picture is of my farmer brother and my two nieces.

gift ideas

I am not Christmas shopping this year, but if you are and have not finished yet, I have three suggestions for you.  The first is the game Story Cubes.  It is a game that encourages creatity and is appropriate for ages 6 and up.  I have played with adults, teens, and children.  It is non competitive as well, which is a nice change from some games.  There are several different versions, and I have seen it at Target, though I bought mine at Barnes and Noble several years ago.  

The second game I would recommend is one of the versions of the game Spot It! made my BlueOrange games.  I got Spot It Jr! for two different families last year for Christmas, and want to get one for myself.  It is a fast game, where just because you are older does not mean you will win.  I have found some versions of this game at Target.

My third game idea is one of the Brain Box games.  I found this one last year at Toys R Us when I was helping with my dad's Christmas shopping.  It also has a variety of topics-starting with the ABCs and colors.  Again, it is a good game for a mixed age group.

All of these games would be great gifts for a variety of children and families.  I like them because they are educational, but also because they are easy to learn and you don´t get bogged down learning how to play.  Also, the games are not long and drawn out, which could also make them ideal for a classroom on a day when students are not able to get to go outdoors because of the weather. 

exploring history

Last year, I purchased a year's membership to the Minnesota Historical Society.  The membership allows a person to visit any of the historic sites at no additional charge. Last August, I went to Historic Fort Snelling for the first time in my life and was intrigued and would recommend it to everyone.


The same day I went to the James J. Hill house in St. Paul.  Another place I enjoyed touring.  I was amazed at the size of the house. 

Yesterday, I visited the Oliver H. Kelley Farm.  I am not sure I would put it on my list of places to go again, but I had driven by the sign for it on Highway 10 often enough to wonder what it was like.  The animals were actually the highlight for me.  There were a couple of groups of sheep trotting around the yard.  They hadn't been shorn yet, so their hair was pretty scruffy looking.

This sow was quite large (I don't remember my grandma's pigs being that big) and ugly.  It made me laugh.

Other sites I have been to this year are the Lindbergh Historic Site, Mille Lacs Indian Museum and Trading Post, and the Minnesota History Center. 

I would recommend buying a membership to the Minnesota Historical Society and then taking the time to visit some of the places that have been important in our state's history.  Memberships are available for individuals and families and last one year.  It will broaden your understanding of Minnesota's.  I hope to visit at least one or two more places before my membership is up, even if it is a repeat visit to Historic Fort Snelling.

read more books

Here are a few books I read in 2013 that are worth adding to your reading list.  The fiction books all happen to be from the juvenile section of the library, but I think that they are just as decent reading for adults as for children.

FICTION

I blogged about The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster last January, it was published before I was born but had never read it before.  It was written for children, but I think that adults would really understand it better.  

I read Airman by Eoin Colfer because my nephew recommended it to me.  Conor is a fourteen year old boy who is very interested in flying.  He also is implicated in a crime he did not commit.  If you like well written adventure stories or know a preteen/teen who does, this book is worth picking up.   

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink is historical fiction and set in the woods of Wisconsin.  Some people would compare the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder, but I think that the story by Brink offers much more adventure.  Maybe because Caddie's brothers Tom and Warren figure prominently in the story.  It would make a good read aloud for a class or a family.

 NONFICTION 

Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis is a book I read last summer for book club.  It tells the story of Katie choosing to go to Uganda to help orphans there.  An inspiring story that made me think and consider what impact I can have on the people around me. 

Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider is a book anyone could benefit from.  I liked when Oxenreider talked about having a definite purpose for different parts of your room, and then deciding how you are going to have the room set up.  This is worth looking through for some of the tips/recipes she has for cleaning even if you don't think you want to reassess/organize your entire home.

The Trust Edge by David Horsager is about becoming a better leader.  Individuals who have a supervisor role at work would become better at their job by taking even one of the seven pillars to heart.  If you are trying to start a business would do well to read this book.  If those do not apply to you, reading this book and applying some of the principles would improve your work and personal life. 

What books did you read this past year that you would recommend others read?

thankfulness

November is coming, and this year I am trying to be intentional about being thankful during the entire month of November.  I am encouraging my family and friends to be thankful, too.  For this endeavor, I made a bunch of blank books with 32 pages each.  If you want to make your own book, see this post).  Each person got a blank book.  Our goal is to write at least one thing we are thankful for each day of the month.  The pages are large enough to add a picture for each day as well.   By Thanksgiving we should each have 28 or more things to be thankful for, and more grateful hearts.