I recently had the opportunity to review the “Have I Got a Story for You” downloadable art history program for the Renaissance period. It is also called HiGASFY as an acronym and because the paint drop character in the videos is named Gasfy.

What is “Have I Got A Story For You?”

This program was 12 video lessons, each ranging from fifteen to thirty minutes. The program covers three artists: Da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael. It is designed for students in grades 1st through 8th, but students of any age could use this program.

In addition to the videos, there are two or three art activities to choose from to go along with each lesson. Each lesson plan includes critical thinking questions, vocabulary, and writing activities. Geography, history, and science activities also coordinate with the lessons. Finally, there are downloadable flashcards and a “Name that Artist” Assessment PowerPoint Game/Test.

For example, one of the writing prompts is:

Write or retell the story of Michelangelo’s meeting with Francesco’s art teacher,
Ghirlandaio, and how he became his apprentice. If writing it, use 1-3 paragraphs and
incorporate 5 vocabulary words from this lesson or previous lessons.

A sample science activity is making play dough, and advanced students use that play dough to recreate Michealgelo’s Pieta.

How Did We Use This Program?

We reviewed this product with my eight-year-old son in mind, but not surprisingly, my four-year-old wanted to watch the videos as well. The videos were fun and engaging; my sons would always ask to watch another one when the video finished.

I loved that they were engaged and learning about different artists in a way that felt like a fun treat and not a challenging school subject. In the videos, the teacher, Mrs. Beth, chats with Gasfy, the paint drop, and tells stories about the life and work of the artist.

The lesson is presented through conversations between Mrs. Beth and Gasfy and story times. It is engaging and easy to understand. While we checked out some of the activities in the lesson plans, we mainly used the curriculum by watching the videos and discussing what they learned.

One thing I loved about the lesson plans is that they included some extra activities and questions for advanced students. Also, because the program was downloadable, it was stored on my laptop, which made it very portable. We could watch it at home or when we traveled.

Who Should Use “Have I Got A Story For You?”

I recommend it for elementary students, but it could easily work as a family study. If older students were included in our lessons, I would use this as a jumping-off point and have them go deeper into the study. Still, it is comprehensive enough for elementary and possibly even middle grades students.

You can find out more and purchase this product and the other time periods at Timberdoodle!

I received a free copy of this product from Timberdoodle in exchange for my honest review.

Resource Library and Affiliate Disclosure

When you sign up for the Schoolin’ Swag free resource library, you will get a link and password to the library; we are adding to the library each month with new items. You will also get a bi-weekly newsletter email to keep you up to date on what we have going on.

Resource Library 

This post may contain affiliate or referral links, including Amazon affiliate links. As always, I will never recommend a product that I don’t believe in, and you will never be charged more for purchasing through our links. It does help pay for the costs associated with the blog.

With children ages four to sixteen, it can be challenging to find games everyone enjoys. However, the IQ 6 Pro was a hit with all four children. I love when a game works on critical thinking skills and problem-solving because I know those skills will benefit my children into adulthood.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this product from Timberdoodle in exchange for my honest review.

What is the IQ 6 Pro?

The IQ 6 Pro is a pocket-sized game that works on problem-solving, visual-spatial skills, concentration, and more. The game includes a pocket-sized case with two different game surfaces and twelve multi-colored, multi-shaped connected beads that fit together in the game surfaces.

There is also a book that includes 120 puzzles for the user to complete with the surfaces and beads. The puzzles range in difficulty from reasonably simple to much more complex; they are also two- and three-dimensional. This variety made it an excellent option for so many different ages.

How Did We Use the IQ Pro 6?

While the IQ Pro 6 could be included in your schoolwork and is a part of Timberdoodle’s Ninth Grade Curriculum kit, we just used it for fun.

When it came in, I opened it up and sat it on the table to see what would happen. The kids were drawn to the bright colors and interesting design. They would gravitate to it as it sat out, and each one gave it a try.

For my four-year-old, a try was simply seeing if he could get the pieces to fit back onto the playing surface. My other three children could use the included puzzles and begin working through them. They were surprised at just how challenging some of the puzzles were. None of them have been able to do the most challenging puzzles yet, but they are getting better, and I think my son will have figured them out with a bit more practice.

What Did We Think?

IQ 6 was a fantastic game for many reasons. I love that we can use it with all ages and that it doesn’t take up much space. The size also makes it a great game to take in the car on those long road trips when you don’t want their heads in a tablet for hours.

Another perk is that it is a one-player game. I love playing games with my children, but I also need them to have activities they can do independently while I work with their siblings, cook dinner, etc.

Finally, I like that it is fun but still very beneficial. My children do not see it as school work, but I know that it is strengthening their brains and helping them with valuable life skills.

Find Out More

This game is marketed to teens and recommended for grades three and older. That is a good recommendation, though younger children could enjoy the less challenging puzzles.

You can find out more and purchase your own set at Timberdoodle for only $11.99. It would make a great gift or fit nicely into an Easter basket.

Resource Library and Affiliate Disclosure

When you sign up for the Schoolin’ Swag free resource library, you will get a link and password to the library; we are adding to the library each month with new items. You will also get a bi-weekly newsletter email to keep you updated on what we have going on.

Resource Library 

This post may contain affiliate or referral links, including Amazon affiliate links. As always, I will never recommend a product that I don’t believe in, and you will never be charged more for purchasing through our links. It does help pay for the costs associated with the blog.

Reading, math, science, nature study, art, art appreciation, poetry, music, music appreciation, physical activity, foreign language, logic, Bible, handicrafts, life skills, and so on.

There are often so many different things that we want to teach our children, and it can be pretty overwhelming. A while back, I talked about not having to do everything every day, but today I want to talk about mastery versus exposure.

What are Mastery and Exposure

There are some subjects and skills that I want my children to master before they leave my homeschool. For example, they need a good mastery of phonics so that they can read well. They need to master math to the level that allows them to function well in adulthood (maybe not calculus but at least introductory algebra.).

However, my children do not need to have mastery of fine arts or poetry. This does not mean that I do not include them in my homeschool or that they are not important, but that the goal is different.

When is Mastery Important?

The areas for which mastery is important are often skill-based subjects, which they will need to use throughout their lives. We also consider a good knowledge of the Bible essential, though they will hopefully continue to learn and grow in that area for the rest of their lives.

Areas, where we want exposure tend to be content areas. These are subjects that I want to share with them, but I don’t expect them to master them.

For example, it is important that my children have exposure to various famous artists and musicians. However, they don’t need to pass a test on their various works. My goal for fine arts is for my children to gain some knowledge and interest and be able to find out more.

Some subjects may be both mastery and exposure for some children. In our home, I wanted to expose my children to musical instruments, but it was not necessary to me that they be proficient on the instrument. However, my daughter loves playing her violin and is working towards mastery. Since it was a priority for her, I shifted her schedule around to allow time for mastery in that area.

Why is it Important?

Analyzing each subject, you teach with the mastery or exposure concept in mind is important. By deciding if it is mastery or exposure, you can better determine how to include it in your homeschool.

One example from our home is math. Since I want a solid mastery of the math courses, I have chosen to use a formal curriculum which my children work on at some point during most school days.

However, poetry is a subject to which I want to expose them without requiring mastery. Therefore, I include it during our read-aloud or poetry tea times. They get to hear and enjoy the poems, but I do not require formal work.

You can certainly use a curriculum for areas that are just exposure (we love using our fine arts curriculum to make it easier for me to be intentional). However, remembering that your goal is exposure can take some of the pressure off and give you more flexibility. 

This can also help you with a tip I posted a while back, not needing to do everything every day.

So, take some time to determine what subjects you want your children to master and which ones you just want to expose them to, and then use that information to help make your homeschool schedule work to meet your goals.

Resource Library and Affiliate Disclosure

When you sign up for the Schoolin’ Swag free resource library, you will get a link and password to the library; we are adding to the library each month with new items. You will also get a bi-weekly newsletter email to keep you updated on what we have going on.

Resource Library 

This post may contain affiliate or referral links, including Amazon affiliate links. As always, I will never recommend a product that I don’t believe in, and you will never be charged more for purchasing through our links. It does help pay for the costs associated with the blog.

I recently realized that I wanted to work more on United States geography with my children. The older two have a basic knowledge of the states and capitals, but I wanted to go a little more in-depth about the culture and highlights of each state.

I wanted something we could do as a family to give them a good foundation and be fun. We have been saving up to take a cross-country vacation the year my oldest is a senior, so I thought it would be great to use the geography study to help plan the trip.

*Some links are affiliate links; see full disclosure below*

Free Geography Printable

For the spine of our study, I created a geography printable (available in our resource library) to use with each state. Since I want to include this as part of a high school geography course for my teens, I am having them split the states and each complete the form for 25 states. I am also going to do a few states with my younger boys.

Then we will come together as a family and have them share about the states they are covering. I plan to do this one or two states at a time so that it is not overwhelming.

Then, based on the information they found about the states and their interests, they will plan out potential routes for our cross-country trip to include as many unique attractions as possible, given our time constraints.

Even if you were not planning an extensive trip, you could have students plan dream vacations or maybe a little weekend getaway to something special in your own or neighboring state.

.

Food Ideas

In addition to the research and state-by-state forms, we will include food in our study. Many states are known for certain foods. For example, Georgia is known for peaches, North Carolina has two kinds of regional BBQ, Louisiana has crawfish and gumbo, and Texas has brisket.

As we learn about each state, we will try to make a dish from that state. Our family finds that food makes learning enjoyable and helps create memories, and these memories help the other information stick with them better.

Geography Games and Activities

The core of our course will be the state-by-state forms and the fun food that we include with each state. However, there are a few other games, books, and activities that I want to include throughout the study, and I think those will be especially important for my younger children.

We love the Stack the States app for a fun way to learn more about the states and capitals. Another fun game is the board game Scrambled States of America.

 Ticket to Ride doesn’t have as much specific geography. Still, it does help children get a better understanding of the location of major cities, and I have to mention it because it is one of our family’s favorite games.

In addition, we have several fun games that revolve around the national parks. This is a great way to learn more about the history and geography of different locations. They are also great places to put on a travel itinerary.

Our favorite National Park games are Trekking the National Parks Trivia and a National Parks memory game.

I will include some of the art lessons from You Are An Artist’s American Landmark Course for my budding artist. Our art membership contains this course, but you can also purchase it as a standalone.

There are many great lessons, including Yellowstone Falls, The Grand Tetons, The Golden Gate Bridge, and more. If you have the membership, there is also a course that includes some great map paintings that would pair well with this study.

Geography Books

I intend to check out various library books about each state and the attractions in that state. However, we also are enjoying the Campground Kids book series. It is a fictional series, but each book introduces the children to a different national park.

My friend Jen over at HomeschoolFanatic has a great list of other geography books!

For the actual travel portion of our study, we have our National Park Passports and a Scratch Off US Map. We love the National Park Passport program because it gets the kids excited to go to new parks, and once you’ve purchased the passport, the stamp is like a free souvenir at each new location.

We will also participate in Junior Ranger programs at various parks during our travels.

Can You Help Us?

Whether planning a big trip or just wanting to cover more geography, I hope this study helps you have fun while teaching more about United States geography.

I would love to hear about your favorite places to visit in the United States as we learn more and plan our trip. Also, share your favorite geography books and games in the comments.

Resource Library and Affiliate Disclosure

When you sign up for the Schoolin’ Swag free resource library, you will get a link and password to the library. We are adding to the library each month with new items. You will also get a bi-weekly newsletter email to keep you updated on what we have going on.

Resource Library 

This post may contain affiliate or referral links, including Amazon affiliate links. As always, I will never recommend a product that I don’t believe in, and you will never be charged more for purchasing through our links. It does help pay for the costs associated with the blog.

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I know it’s trendy and cliché, but I like the idea of having a word or phrase of the year. It can be a good way of helping me keep my focus and make needed changes. Last year I struggled to decide on a word, but this year I knew before December 1st what my phrase would be for 2023: Making Space.

When you hear the phrase making space, your mind might immediately go to physical space, and we probably need to do a bit of decluttering, but my main focus is going to be space on the calendar and space in my mind.

What Does Making Space Look Like?

I think Making Space will look different in different areas of my life, but it will mean taking a good look at our priorities and goals and making sure that we are saying no to things, even good things, to make the space to say yes to what we are called to

do.

Making Space in Our Homeschool

I had been thinking and praying about my daughter’s high school years and felt God lay those words on my heart. I realized that I needed to make space for her to achieve her goals and move forward with God’s plan for her life.

That will look different for each child (and I’ll be praying about that for each one), but for my daughter, it means making more time for her to focus on her music studies. In practical terms, it means she isn’t going to do some of the other electives and extra courses my son did, even though they might be included in a typical college prep course of study.

She will, of course, complete all of the requirements, but she will skip some other classes, like Spanish, to make room for more music courses and practice.

Sarah Mackenzie once said, “The sky is only the limit if you are an airplane.” I think we often forget that when we plan out our children’s homeschool schedules. We believe we can do all the things and add the extras, but sometimes we need to step back and make space.

For my oldest, making space may look like finding him more time to focus on his business. For my eight-year-old, it may be more art time. I just want to make sure we are giving them the time-space in which to pursue their callings and passions.

Making Space for our Family

Over the years, we have made some decisions to keep our outside activities manageable as a family. For us, that meant that we mainly chose activities that the family could do together, we avoided activities that kept us from family dinners multiple days a week, and we turned down some otherwise good opportunities.

However, even with those safeguards, the past year has felt super busy. We are active in our church, our AHG and Trail Life troops, and 4-H. When you add on extended family activities, the teens running small businesses, my oldest being dual-enrolled at the community college, etc., it was becoming too much.

We plan to sit down, re-evaluate some of the extras, and make sure that we are making space for us to be together as a family and to rest and recuperate. When we are too busy or away from home too much, tensions get high, attitudes get poor, and there is no peace in our home.

I am making space on our family calendar by allotting at least one or two days a week that we are home together for the entire day. This will allow us to rest, keep up with chores, and complete schoolwork without feeling overburdened.

Making Space in my Spiritual Life

I know the importance of Bible study and prayer for my spiritual life. I also know the importance of service, and I think making space for all three is vital. However, I have been off balance and need to make time for all three.

We were in a season of heavy service (which isn’t a bad thing). We also have been focusing on Bible study and discipleship within our home (which is vital), but I feel the Lord is convicting me that I need to make space for more personal Bible study time. I must ensure that I am immersing myself in His word so that he can guide me as I teach my children. So I will look at my days and make sure I make space for that personal Bible study.

Overall

I am looking forward to this year of making space, and I think it will bring renewed energy and refreshment to our homeschool, more peace in our family, and growth in my spiritual life.

If you have ever gone through a similar season, I would love to hear what worked for you. I would also love you to share your word or phrase for 2023. Let’s cheer on each other!

Resource Library and Affiliate Disclosure

When you sign up for the Schoolin’ Swag free resource library, you will get a link and password to the library; we are adding to the library each month with new items. You will also get a bi-weekly newsletter email to keep you updated on what we have going on.

Resource Library 

This post may contain affiliate or referral links, including Amazon affiliate links. As always, I will never recommend a product that I don’t believe in, and you will never be charged more for purchasing through our links. It does help pay for the costs associated with the blog.

Deals and Freebies

If you have not tried SchoolhouseTeachers.com, you don’t want to miss this sale!

Are you doing IEW’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaways? Something free for everyone each day.

Do you need to move a little more and get back on track after the holidays? Right now, you can try Fit2B fitness for FREE!

UnitStudy.com has some great sales going on right now if you want to change things up a bit.

Every year in December, I change things up in our homeschool, and we do Christmas school. Every year is a little different, and we use various resources. Nt goal is to allow us to enjoy the seasons while continuing to learn and grow.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links; see disclosure below*

After trying to add Christmas into our schooling and overwhelming myself for several years, I learned to exchange things and not to add more to them. (You can read more about that here.)

Together

Last year we were introduced to Jotham’s Journey and really enjoyed it as our Advent reading. So this year, we decided to read the sequel: Bartholomew’s Passage. I love that it helps us keep our focus on Jesus and the children love listening. I also appreciate that it is simple to implement. Just take a few minutes each day to read the section specified for that day. If we get behind (because life is crazy), I read two days at once.

We study hymns year-round during our morning time, but my favorite is Christmas hymns. We will study a different hymn each week. We just added a new study of The First Noel to the free resource library in addition to the ones on the hymn study page. I may also choose a few that go along with an Advent study I am doing with the ladies from my church.

In addition to studying hymns, my children are learning various Christmas songs on their instruments, both independently and together. We are thankful that their music teacher over at Practice Monkeys helps them learn new Christmas music each year.

We are pausing our family Bible reading through Genesis and going to read through an advent scripture reading plan.

Finally, my little boys and daughter will be doing art lessons with You Are An Artist. There are some beautiful ones that go with many of our Christmas hymn studies. There are also lots of other fun Christmas lessons. We have the clubhouse membership to access all of the art lessons, and we enjoy the variety. However, those can be purchased separately if you just wanted to check out the Christmas lessons.

Teens

My two high schoolers can’t trade out as much of their work because of dual enrollment and more structured courses, but we do still have some flexibility. They are joining in on the family activities and also incorporating Christmas into our literature. Last year we did Charles Dickens.

This year we are studying American Literature and decided to read Little Women during this season. While not an explicitly Christmas book, Christmas plays a key part in the book. We will listen together on audio and then watch the movie together. We will also be doing other activities comparing the Christmases in the book.

My Preschool and Elementary Boys

Years ago, I found Truth in Tinsel as an activity to do with my two children. Fast forward a ‘few’ years, and I now have four children. I am excited to give my two younger children the Truth in Tinsel experience. Truth in Tinsel is a great program that takes children through the Jesse Tree with Bible reading, discussion questions, and craft projects.

We will be doing a couple of the crafts each week, and on the days we do not do crafts, they will be coloring the accompanying Christmas ornaments. I even got a small artificial tree to put in our kitchen, where they hang the ornaments daily. This will be replacing our regular Bible curriculum.

We will take a break from our regular science program for the month of December and do some festive nature study activities. The time outside is great for burning off the extra energy and excitement that comes with the season. Nature study is also a great way to help children connect with nature and expand their interests.

My eight-year-old just finished a level in his reading curriculum. So we are taking a break from the formal reading curriculum until January. In its place, I will be having him read some easy readers, including some great Christmas options.

We will also be doing a book Advent. We have chosen twenty-five of our favorite Christmas picture books and wrapped them up. A few of them we put specific numbers on to correlate with certain days, but most of them are random.

Each day the boys will choose a book to unwrap and have me read it aloud. We will enjoy the fun stories, talk about the beautiful illustrations, and, some days, enjoy some fun Christmas snacks. I am really looking forward to our Christmas school this year.

If you want more ideas, you can check out the links below to see what resources we have used in the past.

Additional Christmas School Resources

Our Christmas School Ideas 2021

A Cozy, Book-Filled December

Mega Homeschool Christmas Resource Round-Up

Christmas Music Appreciation Resources

A Christmas Journey and Activity Book (Review)

Christmas School 2019

Our Christmas School Plans

Resource Library and Affiliate Disclosure

When you sign up for the Schoolin’ Swag free resource library, you will get a link and password; we are adding new items to the library each month. You will also get a bi-weekly newsletter email to keep you updated on what we have going on.

.Resource Library 

This post may contain affiliate or referral links, including Amazon affiliate links. As always, I will never recommend a product that I don’t believe in, and you will never be charged more for purchasing through our links. It does help pay for the costs associated with the blog.

Deals and Freebies

Check out all of the Cyber Monday Deals on curriculum, gifts for mom, and more.

I had so much fun reviewing different products for the Review Crew this year. As we wrap up the review year, the crew always votes on their favorite products for the year. Below is a list of the favorites in each category, and I have linked my reviews for any of the winners we reviewed.

2022 Winners

Favorite Reading Resource: Reading Eggs

Favorite Language Arts: Institute for Excellence in Writing

Favorite History/Social Studies Resource: Home School in the Woods

Favorite Science Resource: Greg Landry’s Homeschool Science

Favorite Math Curriculum: CTC Math

Favorite Math Supplement: Super Teachers Worksheet

Favorite Bible, Devotion or Study: Tommy Nelson Books/ Indescribable Kids

Favorite Bible Memory/Resource Tool: Bible Memory

Favorite Elective Resource: ARTistic Pursuits

Favorite Book/Audiobook: Tower of Light Christian Resources

Favorite Helpful Tool:or Resource: Super Teachers Worksheets

Best Resource I Didn’t Know I Needed: Reading Eggs

Favorite Preschool Program: LeapFrog

Favorite Elementary Product: Reading Eggs

Favorite Middle School Product: The Adventum

Favorite High School Product: TabletClass Math

Favorite Mom/Parent Product: Teach Sunday School

Kids Choice: Progeny Press

Teen’s Choice:YWAM Publishing

All Around Crew Favorite: The Critical Thinking Co.

In addition to these winners, my children wanted to make sure everyone checked out Farmyard Faith by Whatsoever Stories (Review), Otter B Free Book Review, and Quest for the King’s Crown.

I would love to know what products you were most interested in or if my reviews helped you to choose a product for your children. Tell me in the comments.

Resource Library and Affiliate Disclosure

When you sign up for the Schoolin’ Swag free resource library you will get a link and password to the library, we are adding to the library each month with new items. You will also get a bi-weekly newsletter email to keep you up to date on what we have going on.

Resource Library 

This post may contain affiliate or referral links, including Amazon affiliate links. As always I will never recommend a product that I don’t believe in and you will never be charged more for purchasing through our links. It does help pay for the costs associated with the blog.

Deals and Freebies

If you have not tried SchoolhouseTeachers.com, you don’t want to miss this sale!

To THANK YOU for your dedication to your children, The Old Schoolhouse® will re-release the BEST DEALS of 2022 between November 17 and November 30 only. Choose which deal works for your family to begin implementing new courses in your homeschool during an upcoming break or in the new year.

Use code: MONTHLY22 to pay only $18.97/month for the lifetime of your membership, even when our rates increase.Type in code: MAMABEAR22 at checkout to pay only $39.97/quarter.

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Want to gift yourself a free year of homeschooling curriculum? The Shark BOGO deal is also making a comeback! Code: BOGO22 gifts you a free year and a locked-in annual rate of $199. (New members only. Sorry, no refunds.)

Disclosure: I received this complimentary product through the Homeschool Review Crew.

When my teenagers (now 16 and 14) were younger, they enjoyed the Last Chance Detective radio dramas. We would listen online and also have them on CD. They moved on to other series as the years passed, and I had not thought about introducing them to my now eight-year-old son. However, we were recently given the opportunity to read one of the new books in the series from Focus on the Family and Tyndale House, Quest for the King’s Crown. I remembered how well we had enjoyed them and was excited to introduce them to my younger son.

What is Quest for the King’s Crown

Quest for the King’s Crown is the seventh book in the updated and re-released Last Chance Detectives Series. This series follows a group of friends, known as the last Chance Detectives, who solve mysteries. They have an awesome clubhouse (you will have to read to find out more) and get together looking for puzzles to solve. In addition to a fun mystery, the stories always teach moral lessons without feeling ‘preachy.’

These chapter books are recommended for ages eight to twelve, which is a reasonably accurate range for independent reading. However, younger children could enjoy them as a read-aloud, and my teens also enjoyed listening. This paperback edition was about 160 pages long, with a colorful cover.

How Did We Use this Book?

I was a little concerned about jumping in with the seventh book, but we did not feel like starting in the middle of the series was a problem. (However, my natural preference for reading books in order means I will probably go back and start at book one next.)

Since my teens remembered the series with such fondness and the book was a bit above the reading level of my younger son, I decided to use it as a family read-aloud. We gathered in the living room over several nights and even brought it with us on a family camping trip.

What Did We Think?

All in all, it was an excellent fit for us as a family read-aloud. My youngest did fall asleep, but he is only four and listened intently until he fell asleep. A few moments of peril had my son a little worried, but he wanted to continue reading. So if you have a very sensitive reader, be aware that they are put into potentially scary or perilous situations, but everything works out in the end.

We enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more in the series; I even added the others to my son’s Christmas wish list. If you want a good clean mystery series promoting positive Christian values, I recommend the Quest for the King’s Crown and the rest of the Last Chance Detectives series.

Be sure to click on the graphic below and see what other Crew Members thought about this book!

*Some links are affiliate links; see disclosure below for more information*

There is lots of turkey talk going on this time of year. Everywhere you turn, there are Thanksgiving book recommendations and conversations about the turkey that may be on your table for Thanksgiving. I love reading those books and enjoying the season, but I thought it might be fun to study the actual animal and not just the meal.

This study will cover the parts of a turkey, fun turkey facts, and the differences between wild and farm/domestic turkeys. We will also share nature study ideas, books, recipes, and more.

My children have been raising turkeys for the last five years to show at our state fair. They also participate in avian bowl and poultry judging at the state level. Through this process, they have learned quite a bit about turkeys.

In the video below, they will share the parts of a turkey and a little information about raising and caring for turkeys.

Turkey Fun Facts

• Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be the national bird.
• Only male turkeys gobble.
• Fully grown turkeys have between 5,000-6,000 feathers.
• Wild turkeys like to roost in trees.
• Domestic turkeys have doubled in average size in the last forty years.

Wild or Farm/Domestic Turkey

The turkeys sold in grocery stores across America are almost exclusively farm-raised broad-breasted white turkeys. Those turkeys are selectively bred to produce a sizeable full-grown turkey in a relatively short time. Some markets and local stores carry locally raised heritage breeds; those breeds often do not get quite as big or grow as fast as the broad-breasted white turkeys.

However, they are often beautiful birds that come in various colors. Those heritage breeds are sometimes better for people looking to keep turkeys long-term or begin a breeding program.

Wild turkeys, as the term implies, are those found in the wild. They are typically smaller than domestic turkeys and have darker feathers. If you live in an area with a wild turkey population, they are often spotted walking through fields and along the edge of the highway.

Can They Fly?

Wild turkeys can fly and often use flight to escape from predators. Most farmed/domesticated turkeys cannot fly as there are too heavy for their wings to support them.

Nature Study

There are several excellent options for nature study related to turkeys. If you are in an area with wild turkeys, have your child observe a wild turkey and journal about them. If you cannot see a wild turkey, you could visit a farm or petting zoo with turkeys and watch a domesticated turkey.

If you can get a turkey feather, it would be a great addition to the nature journal. They could study the feather and maybe even research the different types of feathers. (Yes, turkeys have different types of feathers.)

Students can create a Venn diagram comparing wild and farmed turkeys or turkeys and chickens.

If you want to learn more and go even deeper in your turkey nature study, check out this great resource from Homeschool Nature Study.

Books about Turkeys

Non-Fiction

• Facts About the Turkey (free with KU)

• Turkeys: Nature and Science (free with KU)
• Unbelievable Pictures and Facts about Turkeys (free with KU)

Fun Fiction

• A Plump and Perky Turkey (free with KU)
• Amelia Bedilia Talks Turkey
• The Amazing Turkey Rescue

Recipe Ideas

Whether you choose to cook some actual turkey (turkey breasts work great if you don’t want to do a whole turkey) or you want a crafty snack that looks like a turkey, these recipes can make a tasty end to your turkey study.

• Crock Pot Turkey Breast
• Apple Turkey
• Turkey Cheese Ball
• Turkey Vegetable Platter
• Cinnamon Roll Turkey

Resource Library and Affiliate Disclosure

When you sign up for the Schoolin’ Swag free resource library, you will get a link and password to the library; we are adding to the library each month with new items. You will also get a bi-weekly newsletter email to keep you updated on what we have going on.

Resource Library 

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