My quest to make learning math facts fun through games continues with Zeus on the Loose. This one is another winner. Kids add single digit numbers on "Mount Olympus" until the total is over 100. They have to strategize to try and bring the total to a multiple of 10 in order to steal Zeus. With Zeus ...
Unschooled
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
I have wondered for a long time whether or not to call ourselves unschoolers when describing how we homeschool. I definitely educate my kids, but most of what we do is so fun (games, books, projects, outdoor activities, etc.) that it doesn't seem right to call it school. This book answered a lot of ...
Multiplication Splat!
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
"Can we play again? I like this game." - Words from the mouth of my 10 year old. This is my new favorite way for helping my 8 and 10 year olds memorize their multiplication facts. I've never really been much of a flashcard person when it comes to math. My 10 year old can solve basically any ...
Ancient Mesopotamian Cuneiform Activity
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
I did not enjoy history as a child. (Or teenager. Or young adult.) I thought all the dates and facts and figures were incredibly boring. However, now that I'm an adult learning history again, this time with my kids, I think it is fascinating. I want my children to love history. I want them to feel ...
Pac-Man: The Board Game
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
I have mixed feelings about this game. It says 10+ and I'm sure 10 year olds could play on their own in a peaceful, reasonable way. My 6 year old loves to play this game, and I think it is a great way for him to practice adding single digit numbers. However, my younger kids require my help and get ...
Homemade Hula Hoops
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Ever since I was in college, I have always wanted to make my own hula hoop. I was at a graduation celebration once and saw this girl doing the most amazing tricks with her hula hoop. Her impressive feats have stayed in the back of my mind this past decade. During this pandemic time when I'm trying ...
2020 U.S. Presidential Election Lap Book
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Once every four years, those of us in the United States get a wonderful opportunity for teaching our kids a little about how our government works. In 2016, I created my first presidential election lap book. Over the past few weeks, several people inquired about whether or not I would be updating my ...
2020 U.S. Presidential Election Cards
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Four years ago, I created Montessori-inspired, multi-part U.S. presidential election cards and a lap book to go with it. I've had several inquiries about whether or not I would be updating my material for the 2020 election. The free printable cards on this page are nearly identical to my original ...
Unselfie
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
It is really important to me that I raise empathetic kids. From my standpoint, if my kids are able to put themselves in other people's shoes, then there will be less fighting in our house. I'm all for anything that brings about peace. It has always been my parenting philosophy that rather than ...
Fourth Grade Minimalist Math Curriculum
This site uses affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Traditional math curriculum is so repetitive. I understand that kids need repeated exposure in order to fully grasp a concept. However, I worry that traditional math curriculum takes SO MUCH time that elementary-aged kids are missing out on more important activities, like playing. Sometimes kids ...
Michelle has a PhD in Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor's Degree from the California Institute of Technology. 