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| Date: From: Subject: | 6/17/2010 3:47:03 PM Home School Legal Defense Association HSLDA's Homeschooling Thru the Early Years Newsletter--June 2010 |
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---------------------------------------------------------------------- HSLDA's Homeschooling Thru the Early Years June 2010--What I Did on My Summer Vacation ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---[ AClassicalEducation.com ]---------------------------------------- A webstore that will eliminate the work of assembling your curriculum! Shop Classical Education materials organized by stage and subject. 100's of resources available in history, language arts, science, latin, music, art, and more. Quick. Smart. Great Prices. http://www.hslda.org/alink.asp?ID=235 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Summer is often a time to travel, whether on a local afternoon excursion or a weeklong vacation. Homeschoolers know how to get the most out of a road trip, making it both fun and educational. Here are a few tips for successful travel this summer: Make sure everyone is comfortable. Uncomfortable kids are unhappy campers, literally! It helps to have shades for the side windows for little ones strapped into car seats, and lightweight blankets to toss over chilly legs. Also, be sure that booster seats have ample padding for long trips; they are not all made alike. Water, healthy (non-crumbly) snacks, and wet wipes are other helpful additions to the travel tote. Plan to make lots of stops--not only for the obvious, but also for stretching and exploring. Pack travel activities, such as travel games, art-quality colored pencils (no crayons--they melt in the car!), and other small toys in a clear, lidded plastic shoebox that will fit under the seat. We gave each of our children her own shoebox, and each could bring what would fit into it; the lid also served as a board for small puzzles or a flat surface for drawing paper. When not in use, the shoebox slid under the van seat. On a longer trip, we also packed small treats to be brought out every so many miles or hours--a new game or a pad of MadLibs, for instance. Keep a few games in reserve. Our family still enjoys the ABC game (finding consecutive alphabet letters on road signs, billboards, passing trucks, stores in towns we passed, etc.). On one trip, we made up (way too many) silly verses to the tune of "She'll Be Coming 'Round the Mountain"--for example, "We are looking for a gas station in Grandma's van; we are looking for a gas station in Grandma's van; we are looking for a gas station; we are looking for a gas station..." (you get the picture!), and someone would pipe up with a new verse every so often. Word games, memory games, trivia cards, scavenger hunts, and the old standby--license plate bingo--can help keep minds sharp and tempers at bay. Let the children help you with the budget, itinerary, and packing. Give them each a map to plot the course and follow the landmarks. Before you head out, read a book set in the area you are visiting or related to a landmark you will see, or bring one along for a read-aloud (if someone in the car can read while riding). And to rescue your budget, check Facebook for museums or attractions you "like"; you'll often find money-saving coupons. Not on Facebook? Visit the museum website and ask about special offers. Or plan a Destination Unknown trip, venturing out for the day into your own community or a neighboring town, exploring side roads and stopping at places that catch your attention. If you are on the East Coast, George and Michele Zavatsky's Kids Love I-95 http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8444 is a family travel guide to more than 500 kid-tested fun stops and unique spots from Pennsylvania to southern Florida, with no destination more than ten miles from Interstate 95. Is camping in your plans? Check out Molly Goes Camping http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8445 , a 23-chapter e-book with everything from where to stay to what to eat, and lots of fun stories in between. And whether you camp in a national park or your backyard, you'll want to try Molly's Omelet in a Bag recipe! http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8446 If you are planning a "stay-cation" (taking some vacation time but staying at home), check out The Teaching Home's ideas for fun summer activities. http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8462 Whether you cross the country, or just cross your backyard--enjoy your family this summer! Your fellow "happy camper," Vicki Vicki Bentley HSLDA Early Years coordinator Additional Resources Books and games: > Are We There Yet? Travel game book by Rand McNally and Family Talk card packs--available at Cracker Barrel restaurants > Travel scavenger hunt printables http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8447 > Printable travel games for all ages http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8448 > And more games http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8449 > From: http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8450 My State History Funbook (age 3 to grade 3) is a color-cut-paste workbook that provides an introduction to the state of your choice. Fifty States Under God (two levels) is an introduction to all 50 states in order of statehood, with a timeline and map study built in. > Family Game Coach http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8497 10 Days game series includes 10 Days in the USA > Kids Love! travel guide series includes family-friendly, kid-tested attractions from Florida to Wisconsin http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8498 > Galloping the Globe and Cantering the Country http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8499 Make geography fun! The site also includes games and a make-your-own travel brochure template. CDs for travel: > Classical Kids CDs, including Beethoven Lives Upstairs and Hallelujah Handel http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8451 > Music Machine http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8452 > Dan and Louie Bible stories http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8453 > The Bulletproof George Washington http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8454 > Sing the Word from A to Z http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8455 > Your Story Hour: Heritage of Our Country http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8456 > G.A. Henty books on audio http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8457 More ideas--from Home School Heartbeat: > "Take a Trip!" http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8458 > "Travel-Inspired Studies" http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8459 > "Summer Vacation" http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8460 > Summer Vacation Resource List http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=8452 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> What's the shortest distance between two homeschoolers? HSLDA's elert service! When threats to homeschool freedoms arise, you want to be able to respond. We make it possible. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1101 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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