A LONG time ago, I created Montessori-style Supreme Court Justice cards that could be used to play matching or memory style games. I recently updated those cards to include all the most recent Justices, since there have been 3 replacements since I created the original set. To go along with those ...
Elementary Learning
Fifth Grade Minimalist Math Curriculum
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Ever since my oldest was in first grade, I have forgone using a traditional math curriculum in our homeschool in favor of my minimalist approach. Rather than doing tons and tons of math problems every day, my kids do ten problems a week. Each week, those ten problems are selected from ten different ...
Ancient Mesopotamian Cuneiform Activity
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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 ...
2020 U.S. Presidential Election Lap Book
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Please Note: The updated version of this lap book for the upcoming 2024 election can be found here. 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 ...
2020 U.S. Presidential Election Cards
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Please Note: An updated version of these cards with the 2024 presidential candidates can be found here. 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 ...
Fourth Grade Minimalist Math Curriculum
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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 ...
Stone Age Bread Activity
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After the success of our cave painting activity, I wanted to continue the hands-on learning fun. We got the idea to make some Stone Age Bread, or more specifically, Neolithic bread, from this History Quest Study Guide (affiliate link). Overall, this exercise was a successful failure. It was a ...
Third Grade Minimalist Math Curriculum
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Math is so important. As an engineer, I understand exactly how much can be accomplished with a solid understanding of math. However, I'm personally not a fan of the way math is taught in elementary school. All the repetition seems unnecessary and often kills a child's love of math. I want my kids to ...
Second Grade Minimalist Math Curriculum
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I want my kids to be open-minded about math. Personally, I love math. I love solving puzzles and figuring out challenging problems. Unfortunately, I feel like all the repetition that kids experience in elementary school has the potential to squash a child's love of math. No one wants to do the same ...
Cave Painting Activity
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What better way to kick off Ancient History studies than with a simple cave painting activity? This activity requires only a few supplies and very little prep. For the small investment required, it is a ton of fun and even a little educational. (You are welcome to use my free printable if you would ...
Michelle has a PhD in Engineering from Stanford University and a Bachelor's Degree from the California Institute of Technology. 