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Let's Go Fly a Kite

National Kite Month

Not only is it National Frog Month but it's also National Kite Month. My boys and husband just love flying kites we got the boys some kites for Ostara.  To be honest I am not sure who had more fun the boys or my husband.  They started out front and ended up going to the park.  We had gotten the kites from the dollar store because I was trying again to see if they would like them.  They are on the list for Easter now as they played with them till they fell apart. (Note: dollar store kites only have 50 of string on them and you might want to change it out for heavier string. )  So naturally after finding out what month it was I had looked for the school stuff behind the kites to turn a fun afternoon into a learning adventurer.

Ricky truly loved learning about Ben Franklin and his kite and string. He thinks it was crazy but thought it was cool.  We are still working on this lesson but I can see the joy in his face as he learns.  This is what I have wanted for him it's perfect for him.

 My boys Kites on Ostara it was cloudy and windy but it didn't stop them.

Kites are a perfect tool to get your child to engage in so many subjects like art, history, math, science and more.  But lets face it they are fun.  So again I spent some time searching for things for my child to do and I found this great site with tons of stuff on it.

They also have a pattern to make your own kit out of thread and simple printer paper and you can find that here and the pdf here.  There are other patterns as well and you can find the one for the bubble bee here. 20 kids, 20 kites, 20 minutes this one looks fun and I think a home-school group would do great with it.  Here is a pattern for a paper bag kite.  And the Boka Boka Kite.

This site is full of lessons and lessons plans.  And this is a pdf on kites in the class room.  I think it's a great read.

Mrs. Jackson's Class has a ton of links for kites.  I haven't checked them all out yet but thought I would share anyways.

This blog has listed some of the books you can look out for to add to your lessons.  You can never have to much reading right?

And for the preschooler in your life or the little one that may need their own work to make it easy all around.

This is a pdf of how to make a kite with bamboo skewers and construction paper and a few other house hold items.

So take a weekend and go fly a kite, have some good old fashioned fun.  and if you don't want to make a kite there are many stores online in which you can buy one.  or if you want a cheap one there is the dollar store and walmart.  Also check out your craft stores as well they sometimes have them.

National Frog Month

National Frog Month

 

Did you know there was such a month?  I didn't not as a child and not as an adult.  But now I do and all I can think about is the fun that I will have with it. So why is April Nation Frog Month, because it's mating season silly.

So naturally I went on the look out for a way to make a fun quick unit for my son.  I mean it's frogs yeah they are slimy but I don't know any boy that doesn't like them.  I found a ton of stuff so the next few late nights will be getting a lesson plan together for next week.  But I thought I would share some of my finds.  Now you will have to check everything and see what fits your child and their learning style but I hope that it helps on planning something fun for National Frog month.

 Blue Poison Dart Frog

I have to say this link is kind of cool first you little one will love love hearing the different frogs they have one there and it also has some pre-made lesson plans.

This link is great for those preschoolers it has letter worksheets and crafts.  Oh love crafts and even some stories as well.

6 ways to tell if you are a frog  This is a cut thing to ask your children of all ages and teach them at the same time.

Wildlife coloring book has more than Frogs but it's pretty good.

About.com Nation Frog page more fun than anything.

Frog Fables and Parables

All about Frog

 Frog in Werlands

Life Cycle of a Frog

Now this can be such a fun think that you can take time to go over of make it into a whole unit study lesson. This first site I found is just full of info and I love they lay out.  It also has clip art you can use for lap books and worksheets as well as coloring pages. You really need to check it out for yourself.

This page is full of information and lesson plans for all ages I haven't looked at everything but what I have I enjoyed. 

Her is a simple craft for the life cycle of a frog great for the younger children. 

Life Cycle of a Frog Game Very simple and easy to use great for little ones. 

The life cycle in pictures pretty close to having your own frog.

If you like worksheets here are some for the life cycle of frogs.

 

Save the Frogs

Link to save the frogs site it has tons of info on it about save the frogs day and what you can do to help.

And of course check your local library for some great books on frogs.  Remember to have fun with it.  And since it's frogs don't be afraid to get a little dirty should you try to go out and find some.  Take pictures and make memories while learning.

Working on an Earth Day Lesson Plan

Earth Day

     With Earth Day around the corner I have been thinking about what I am going to do for it and how to make it fun for Ricky.  Then I remembered a fun little children's story that I am sure most of us have read The Lorax by no other than Dr. Seuss.  This is a great book for Earth Day and after a little time on Google I see that I am not alone in this thought.  There are many great jumping off places to use the Lorax in a lesson to teach about Earth Day and how to treat our home.

     A great place to start would be right in Dr. Seuss' back yard in Seussville.  This site is great they have video clips of some of the Cat in the Hat cartoons and some of Dr. Seuss' movies (previews).  They also have a Lorax lesson plan that can help get people started planning a lesson.  Ricky just loved the Lorax game that they had as well.  If your child likes printables and coloring they have that as well. 

     So this weekend we are heading to the library to borrow a copy of  The Lorax, and we are going to get the movie from Netflix.  While there we are going to see what other books they may have with an Earth day type theme. 

Smash! Smash! Truck Recycling As You've Never Heard It Before!  

Written by: Aidan Potts

We Planted A Tree

Written by:  Diane Muldrow

Baby Beluga

Written by:  Raffi

The Berenstain Bears Don't Pollute (Anymore)

Written by: Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain

              

      

     We are also going to go on a nature hike this weekend to get things started and to look at the trees and show why they are important.  We may even hit up a local nursery and check out what they have.  I am also thinking it would be a great time to get some transplants in and start a garden out 

back.

For other ideas I am going to be checking these sites.  In the end I am going for educational fun and to teach my child what I think is important and also to have this lead into nature study and and study of animals.  Every link I am sharing will have free content on it.

EPA Environmental Kids Club
The menu to the different sections is on the bottom under all the widgets it look ok.  the teacher section has some pdfs that you can check out as well

The Lorax Free Lesson Plans

Some of these would work for a child older than mine but there is still some great info on this site.

Blue Print for a Green School Curriculum Guide
This is easy to use put in the subject you want, grade level and how long you want the lesson and it pulls up ideas with links and stuff.  I have only played with it for a few minutes but I have liked what I saw already.

Green Teachers Celebrating Earth Week: It's Elemental
I just love the ideas on this page and can see them being a great jumping off point for us and many lessons.

Planet Pals
To be honest this site is cute just not sure it will work for us but I know there are so many out there that are looking for things that this might help.  there is free stuff on here and they have a store as well.

Energy Kids from the EIA
This site has lesson plans, games, riddles and science projects you can do with your child and it's educational on energy as well.  I can see my 5y.o. enjoying this site as well as my oldest who is 10.  I am sure we will wrap something from here into our earth day lessons.

The Lorax Saves the Trees Game
Ok my son hasn't tried this one out yet but I did and it was cute and easy.  While not the must educational I believe it will help back up the theme of the book and or earth day and well hey every kid likes a little fun.

These are just some of the ideas and things I have found for Earth Day, I am sure I could find more but I have been given a ton of ideas for a great jumping off point and I hope that they help you the same way.