Stickers are one of my favorite activities for preschool and early elementary years. The children tend to love them, they have so many educational benefits, and they are quiet, which can be a welcome reprieve during those wonderful but loud and busy years. So, I was excited to get the chance to review the My First Sticker by Number set from Timberdoodle.
What is the My First Sticker by Number Kit?
This set included eight large picture cards and 480 stickers to complete the pictures. Each picture was of a different animal: a cat, giraffe, butterfly, chicken, turtle, duck, fish, and tropical bird. Each picture was accompanied by a page of stickers specific to that picture, with square and triangular stickers of different colors. The colors had a number noted beside them.
The student chooses a picture and finds the appropriate sticker page. Next, the student matches the colored stickers to the numbered blocks to complete the picture. When done, the student will have a fun and colorful image that can be displayed or given away as a cute gift to grandparents or neighbors.
This activity works on fine motor skills, number recognition, spatial awareness, and independent play. Talking about the colors as your child works through the pictures can also reinforce color names.
My six-year-old knows his numbers well but needs some practice with fine motor skills. He was able to independently complete these pages and really enjoyed them. As a parent, I had one concern before we tried them: whether the stickers would peel easily. Nothing will ruin the independence of a sticker activity like hard-to-peel stickers. However, these peeled well, and he could get them independently.
Using the My First Sticker By Number Kit
Since we tried these over the summer, I let my son work through them during his afternoon playtime when it was too hot to be outside. However, they would also work great when taken to appointments or other places with quiet waiting times.
In the words of my six-year-old, ” I liked them. They have different shapes and colors. They are not hard or easy, but kind of in the middle. My favorite picture was the duck.”
During the school day, they could be used to give little hands something quiet to do during a read-aloud time or to give a student something to work on while they wait for the parent to be able to assist them with something else.
Overall, we really enjoyed the My First Sticker by Number set from Timberdoodle. It is fun and educational and makes for a great independent activity for preschoolers and early elementary-age children. You can purchase this sticker kit individually, or it is included in the Pre-K Kit.
Have you ever climbed into a volcano? That might sound like a new adventure series’s plot, but you can climb into a volcano at Capulin Volcano National Monument.
We have been taking advantage of my son’s Every Kid Outdoors Pass and visiting as many National Park sites as possible. For the sake of this post, I will use the term National Park to mean any park site, including historic sites, monuments, etc.
*Some of the links in my posts may be affiliate links. See below for more information. *
We had a chance to visit Capulin Volcano this spring, and I am very glad we made the time to stop. Capulin was not on our original itinerary, but we saw that it was not too far out of the way and decided to try and make it work. While it is not an exceptionally large park, it is worth a visit.
Our Suggested Itinerary
I recommend starting at the visitor’s center to better understand the volcano’s history and the great science behind it. Your students can also pick up their Junior Ranger books and work on them as you tour. This is also your chance to use the restroom. There is a restroom facility up at the volcano, but it is only open seasonally.
Once you have seen the visitor’s center, you can head up the road to the volcano. If you have a camper, you must unhook it before driving the steep, narrow road to the top of the volcano. However, they provide parking spaces for campers at the visitor’s center.
It is a short drive up to the parking lot at the top of the volcano; once at the top, there are beautiful views and several information boards with more information about the volcano. Then, you can start down the trail into this extinct volcano. I consider this relatively short paved trail easy/moderate hiking. When we went, there was some snow cover that made a few spots icy. There is hardened lava rock all along the trail, and my children were very excited to think about actually being inside a volcano.
Once you have finished your walking tour, you can return to the visitors center to turn in your completed Junior Ranger books. Most people could probably complete the visitors center and crater hike in one to two hours. However, if you have time, you can take longer. There are some additional trails near the visitor’s center to see more of the area’s nature.
Science at Capulin Volcano National Monument
Obviously, the main science focus at this park is volcanos and the science behind why and how they form. This particular volcano is an extinct cinder cone volcano. We learned about the different types of volcanoes.
*If you are a family that believes in young earth creationism, you will want to talk to your children about timelines different from those in the exhibits. *
In addition to the information on volcanoes, there is information on different animals and plant life in the area.
If you get a chance to visit, let me know how you like it, and don’t forget to take your park passport and get it stamped! We have found that the passport is a great way for the children to get a souvenir at each park with no additional expense after the initial purchase.
Basic Information about Capulin Volcano
Where:
Visitor Center
46 Volcano Highway
Capulin, NM 88414
Hours of Operation:
Visitor’s Center: Seven days a week (Closed Major Holidays)
Summer: 8:00 am-5:00 pm
Spring/Fall/Winter: 8:30 am- 4:00 pm
Costs:
$20 per private vehicle (Free with 4th grade or National Parks Pass)
There is no food available on site. However, there is a picnic area if you bring your own food or several restaurants in the town a few miles away.
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 add 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.
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. However, it does help pay for the costs associated with the blog.
We have been taking advantage of my son’s Every Kid Outdoors Pass and visiting as many National Park sites as possible. For this post, I will use the term National Park to mean any park site, including historic sites, monuments, etc.
*Some of the links in my posts may be affiliate links; see below for more information. *
Our first National Parks stop on our recent road trip was Hot Springs National Park. We chose Hot Springs due to its proximity to another stop on our route, but I’m glad we took the time to visit.
One of the unique things about this park is that it is right in the middle of town. The buildings and walking paths go through the town instead of being on one isolated property. In addition to the main part of the park in town, there is a campground and some hiking trails outside of town.
When we first got there, we checked in at the campground and then went into town to check out the visitor’s center and historic buildings. Parking is mostly street-side parallel parking in town or parking decks.
There is a visitor’s center, gift shop, walking trail with hot springs and other landmarks, and a row of historic bathhouses that can be seen from outside (several are still functional, and you can make appointments for swimming and spa services for varying fees).
Our Suggested Itinerary
I recommend starting at the visitor’s center to better understand the history behind the bathhouses and how they changed over time. Your students can also pick up their Junior Ranger books and work on them as you tour.
Once you have seen the visitor center, you can walk the trail behind it and run behind the row of bathhouses. Signs point out several springs and other landmarks. You can feel warm water in several places; there is even a fountain where you can taste the fresh spring water (bring your own bottle or container).
At several stops along this path, there are signs with a phone number for an audio tour, which adds a lot of interesting information to the walk.
Next, you can walk back up the front of bathhouse row and see all of the different architecture and historical buildings. This is also a great time to visit the gift shop, located in a separate building from the visitor’s center.
Once you have finished your walking tour, you can turn in your completed Junior Ranger books. Most people could probably see the in-town part of Hot Springs National Park in two to three hours. However, if you have time, you can take longer and explore the area around the park or visit some of the bathhouses. Also, while I would prioritize the in-town portion of this park, I recommend driving over to the area near the campground for some beautiful hiking if you have extra time.
History and Science at Hot Springs National Park
In my experience, all national park sites have something to offer in the form of either history or science education, but Hot Springs has both. We were able to learn more about the science behind the hot springs themselves and enjoy nature study on our hike.
The visitor’s center and bathhouse row offered some great historical knowledge as well. The children learned about what medicine looked like many years ago and how people had used the hot springs medicinally.
If you get a chance to visit, let me know how you like it, and don’t forget to take your park passport and get it stamped! We have found that the passport is a great way for the children to get a souvenir at each park with no additional expense after the initial purchase.
Location and General Information
Where:
Fordyce Bathhouse Visitor Center
369 Central Avenue
Hot Springs, AR 71901
Hours of Operation:
Visitor’s Center: Seven days a week, year-round, 9:00 am–5:00 pm (Closed Major Holidays)
Park Grounds: Open 5 am to 10 pm
Costs:
Fee Free to visit the park, visitors center, etc. The campground does have fees.
While there is not food available at the visitor’s center, it is in the middle of town, so there are a variety of restaurants available, as well as open spaces for picnicking. We did not need a meal while we were there, but we did enjoy some ice cream at a local shop called Mamoo’s Creamery. The ice cream was delicious, and they were great at helping us navigate allergies. They also had a dairy-free option. (We also loved the name because by six-year-old calls his older brother Mamoo because he couldn’t say Matthew when he was younger.)
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 try to add to the library each month. You will also get a bi-weekly newsletter email to keep you updated on what we have going on.
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. However, it does help pay for the costs associated with the blog.
We recently went on a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list family vacation. We spent seven weeks going from the East Coast to the West Coast and back. While we did take math books for the elementary students, some type of reading for everyone (not curriculum, just reading material), and our morning routine, we did not take most of our formal schooling with us. However, the science and history learning that happened on this trip were probably worth more than a school year full of curriculum.
As we planned our trip, we mainly focused on national park sites. (For the purpose of this post, I am including parks, historic sites, monuments, etc.- basically any site run by the National Park Service, not just the ones designated as National Parks.) We also included some fun state parks in various locations.
Every Kid Outdoors
Aside from all of the wonderful educational opportunities and impressive hikes, the National Parks are generally reasonably priced to visit. However, even at reasonable prices, if you are going to multiple parks it can add up. That is where the Every Kid Outdoors program comes in to help. If you have a fourth grader (and yes homeschoolers are included) you can get a free pass that is good for a year and includes the whole family. It is very simple to go online and register for a pass and then just turn in your form at any National Park site that sells passes or charges admission. This includes admission at any of the National Park Sites as well as National Forests. Do note that it does not include camping fees or tours that have an additional charge.
Junior Ranger Programs: Education and a Souvenir
One of our favorite tools when visiting national park sites is the Junior Ranger Program. Each, park has their own Junior Ranger booklet for students to complete and then they can earn a junior ranger badge. At almost all of the parks these booklets are free (in the many parks we have visited over the years we have had to pay a small fee for two of them). While each book is different and some more elaborate than others, in general, each booklet has guidelines for students to complete a certain number of activities dependent upon their age level.
Some of the activities are workbook-style, such as word finds and crossword puzzles. Some use information in the visitors center to answer questions or do a scavenger hunt, and other activities might involve hiking or viewing other parts of the park. These books help us guide the learning of our children and give them a built in free souvenir, which is a win-win.
In most instances you will complete the book on your visit to the park and the rangers will check it and issue the badge. However, at some of the smaller parks/historic sites we were not going to be there long enough for them to finish the book. Often, they would allow me to take possession of the badges and give them to the children once they had completed the requirements. This made for a great activity for them to work on while we were riding.
Passports: Keeping a Record
Eight or nine years ago, we took the three oldest children on a road trip to Washington, D.C.. While we were there, we purchased a national park passport. At the time it was on sale and we paid about $15. That is one of the best purchases we have ever made. At each site, there are stamps for the passport. The passport is divided by region and you just stamp your book in that region when you visit a park.
In the D.C. area, almost all of the monuments have their own stamp, so we got a lot of stamps on that trip, and my children (even the teens) have been excited about collecting stamps ever since. It gives them a fun way to keep a record of all of the places we have visited and when we visited because the stamps have the date on them.
This past Christmas, our sweet neighbors gifted the children with their own passports, so on our latest trip they were each able to stamp their own in addition to our family passport and begin their own record of travel.
Benefits of Field Trips: Making It Real
I am a huge fan of reading, both independently and aloud. There are many, many benefits to reading about science and history and much is learned in that way. However, there is something extra special about taking a field trip to see actual historical locations or scientific features.
We can read about geysers and hot springs for months, but nothing compares to actually seeing one to help them understand and connect with what they are learning. My son can list facts galore about different animals (thank you Burgess Book of Animals), but seeing them in real life brings all that together with a much deeper understanding.
When students visit a historic site, they can really internalize that the events they read about were not part of a fictional story but real life and real people.
For example, I remember playing the Oregon Trail computer game as a child. While I knew it was based on real history, it really sank in once we went to one of the actual river crossings this spring and saw where those many men and women had forded the river.
National Parks Are Worth the Time
I highly encourage you to utilize the national park system in your homeschool. Whether you seek out sites that are related to your studies or simply find sites near your home or wherever you are traveling, the visit will be beneficial to your students.
The parks can stand alone in your learning or supplement the curriculum you are already studying and can be used at whatever frequency and timeline works for your family. If you have sites near you, you can visit them on multiple occasions to enjoy various programs and activities. There is something new to learn each time.
What are your favorite sites in the National Park system? Stay tuned for another post next week with some more specific ideas for using the parks as your curriculum.
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.
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! (Use code UGLYBUG)
I love summer reading. We read inside when it’s too hot to play outside and outside when we just want to enjoy the fresh air. We can read at home or while we are away, and there is not as much pressure to get on to the next thing (though that pressure is self-imposed and shouldn’t be there anyway).
While my children will read many books of their choosing throughout the summer, I wanted to share my plans for our summer reading.
Family Reading
As a family, I hope to get through at least two novels. First, we just got the second book in the Jack Zulu series in the mail this week and everyone from the teens to the six-year-old is excited. We have been waiting, not so patiently, for this book by SD Smith since we finished the first one over a year ago!
Next, we plan to read the first book in the Wingfeather Saga. This one has been on my list for a while, but we just hadn’t gotten around to it. Read Aloud Revival is using it in the summer of fairy tales, so that was just the push I needed to schedule it into our summer. We also plan to watch the show on Angel once we have finished reading it.
We are also listening to two different audiobook series: The Towers of Light series, which is full of fun adventures but also gospel truths to encourage our children when they inevitably face the darkness of this world. ( You can use code schoolinswag on their website to get a 10% discount.) We are also working our way through the National Park Mystery series, enjoying hearing about places we have visited and adding new parks to our bucket lists. My son is enjoying this series so much that he is also reading the paperback version of the one we are currently listening to.
Reading with My Teens
My sixteen-year-old and I are both going to be reading Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur. This suggestion also came from the Read Aloud Revival, as they are doing it as their Mama Book Club book, but I thought it would be a fun one for my daughter and me to share.
My oldest is graduating this summer (how time flies) and is mostly done with his schoolwork, but we realized he had not read the book The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. As he goes into a career in poultry and meat agriculture, we thought he should read it, so we have made that the last “requirement” for his graduation. His father and I have both read it and look forward to discussing it and some of the challenging themes within the book.
My Personal Reading
Finally, I am reading Habits for a Sacred Home by Jennifer Pepito. I normally read a great deal in the summer as I find it refreshing, but with an infant, my reading time is more limited, so I am starting with that book and Once a Queen. If I have more time, I may read 10 Habits of Happy Mothers and Gospeler by Willie Robertson.
I am hoping this list strikes a balance for us and allows us to have a plan without too much pressure. I would love to hear what you are reading (or listening to) this summer.
Check Out Our Summer Reading From Previous Years For More Ideas
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.
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 love sharing new ideas, helpful hints, and curriculum reviews on the blog, but if you’ve been following along, you know it’s been pretty quiet around here lately. Life has been super busy, and I thought I would take a few minutes to get you all caught up.
First, as many of you saw on social media, we were blessed with our fifth child, Daniel, in January. Like all of our children, he is a blessing, and we are grateful. However, between the normal needs of a newborn and recovery from an unexpected emergency C-section, I didn’t really get a lot of writing time.
My focus word for 2024 was Savor. I tried to live that well by savoring all of the contact naps and snuggles of a new baby, and thanks to some help from my husband and teens, still get enough sleep to be functional.
Just as I was recovering from all that and getting into a bit of a routine with the baby, it was time to get ready for a grand family adventure. Six years ago, we started planning what our family calls “the big trip.” We wanted to take a camper and go from our home in North Carolina to California and back to see the country.
We had done some planning over the years, but in the weeks leading up to the trip, we had to finalize plans, prepare to be out of the house for 6-7 weeks, prep food, pack, etc., all while still cuddling a sweet baby.
We left on our trip in mid-March and arrived back home yesterday. It was a fantastic adventure full of national park visits, fun, unexpected stops, and a few crazy times (like the day our van died). It was an excellent way to spend some family time during my oldest son’s senior year while learning so much history, science, and geography from all the parks.
I will share more about the parks we visited, how we did school on the road without it feeling like school, and what we learned in our time on the road.
We have had a busy but wonderful few months, but I have missed writing and sharing with everyone. I look forward to getting back into a routine and being more regular in my sharing while still taking time to savor and enjoy this time at home with my children, especially as my oldest wraps up his senior year.
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. You will also get a monthly newsletter email to keep you up to date on what we have going on.
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.
Most Christian kids know the story of Creation in the Bible. There’s more to learn! Here are 6 reasons to teach your kids all about Creation.
Do your kids know that God spent six days creating the universe, the earth, and every creature and plant on our planet?
God’s story of Creation in Scripture so important for our kids to learn. Most children hear the story of the days of Creation from the Bible a number of times–at Sunday School, at home, and through their homeschool Bible curriculum.
There’s more our kids need to know about Creation, though!
The doctrine of Creation is so important for our kids to learn and understand. In fact, if you look around, the doctrine of Creation is under attack from all angles in our culture.
God tells us about Creation throughout Scripture. It was a fairly significant one-time event! And, he continues to create today–just look at your sweet kiddos for proof. The doctrine of Creation helps us understand what God has told us about Creation, using passages from all over the Bible. Check out six reasons your children really need to know all about Creation.
1) God made everything out of nothing in the beginning.
Scripture tells us that God made everything. Not only that, he made it from nothing. And, he made this world for its creatures, with habitats that fit the creatures he created. God made everything good–that means perfect! All of God’s works are wondrous, and they should inspire us to praise him.
2) God created everything–the universe, the earth, and the creatures–in just six days.
It’s an amazing thing that God brought forth everything by speaking it into existence. Not only that, he created a plethora of amazing creatures and placed them each in just the right environment. And, his Creation event was organized. Everything was ready here on earth before he made his creatures. Time, weather, tides, food–it was all here, creating the perfect home for his animals and people.
3) God made your child–intentionally, purposefully, and for his glory.
The Bible tells us that God gave your child life. He formed them wonderfully and individually. Everything about your child’s body and spirit are just as God intended. And, God made your child for a specific purpose–his glory. How great is that? Our kids need to know that about themselves.
4) Our great Creator God is triune, eternal, all-powerful, and uncreated.
We always learn more about who God is when we study the Bible. It’s important to know that our Creator is eternal–he was, he is, and he always will be. No one created God, he has always existed. And, God is all-powerful. He created time by speaking it into existence, and then he placed his creation in time. Our kids need to know, too, that God is triune. He is three Persons in one God, and each Person of the Trinity–God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit–were involved in Creation.
5) God gave us good Creation gifts.
The Bible tells us that every good gift is from God–every single one. God blessed us, putting us in charge of his world, telling us to be fruitful and multiply, and giving us food. Then, he gave us good Creation gifts: a day of rest and worship, work, and marriage. Those Creation gifts are worth understanding and protecting!
6) God has a marvelous salvation plan!
Right after Creation, sin entered the world through Adam and Eve. Our sin separates us from our holy and just God. But, God loves us so much, he made a way for us to be reconciled to him. Jesus, God the Son, became fully human and fully man and took the punishment for the sin of all believers on the cross. To be saved, we must turn from our sin, believe in Jesus and confess belief. Our children need to know and understand the gospel, first, that they may be saved, and next, so they can share it with others.
See what I mean? The doctrine of Creation is really important for our kids to learn. That’s why I wrote Bible Investigators: Creation–so your kids can learn the doctrine of Creation through a fun, puzzle-based, six-unit package they’ll love! Your 8-12 year old children will work 90 exciting puzzles, learn 40 Bible passages, and commit to heart 30 truths about God’s Creation.
Danika Cooley’s Bible Investigators: Creation is the perfect puzzle-based Bible study for your 8-12 year olds. Your children will learn how to become effective Bible investigators using the inductive method, learn more about who God is and what the gospel means, and understand the doctrine of Creation! Danika is an award-winning children’s author and Bible curriculum developer. Her popular Bible Road Trip™ is used by tens of thousands of families.
For several years now, I have participated in the trend of choosing a word or phrase to focus on for each New Year. I like the concept because it helps me stay focused without the pressures of goals and resolutions. Last year, it was Making Space, and while that is an ongoing work in progress for me, it helped me last year.
I thought about many different words for this year, but the one God kept laying on my heart was Savor. This will be a year of changes and growth for our family, and I need to focus on savoring the time and each stage as it comes.
Miriam Webster gives the following definitions of the verb savor:
Over the last few months, I’ve been experiencing part b of the definition often, as I enjoyed one or two bites of desserts or treats that I enjoyed. I experienced some gestational diabetes with this pregnancy that limited my intake of many treats. While it was a challenge at times, it did help me to savor the one or two bites I enjoyed better. However, I plan to focus more on part c of the definition in 2024.
While we do not know exactly what this New Year will bring, I have a high school senior who is slated to go off to college in the fall, and I am due with baby number five in about two weeks. We also have a big family trip planned in the spring, which should provide many opportunities to savor the memories (and hopefully not to stress out about what doesn’t go as planned.)
I can be a bit (or a lot) like the Biblical Martha, worried about so many things, making all my plans, and getting the details just right. While God designed me to be a planner, and it is a gift, if I let the planning stop me from enjoying what is in front of me, I miss out on the important things in life.
This year, I aim to ensure that I hold those plans in an open hand and savor what comes, even when it isn’t “picture perfect .”While we will still make plans and preparations for the future, I won’t let my worries about what comes next make me miss out on what is right in front of me.
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.
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.
Geography is a hugely diverse subject that can be taught in many ways. Some years, our family includes geography with our history, and at other times, we do independent geography. We have a big family trip coming up in honor of my oldest son’s graduation. With that in mind, I wanted to give my kindergartner a good overall exposure to geography to prepare him for the trip. That made the opportunity to review Evan-Moor’s Skill Sharpeners Geography from Timberdoodle an easy choice.
What Is Skill Sharpeners Geography?
The Skill Sharpeners Geography Grade K book is a consumable text designed to introduce kindergarten students to various geography concepts, including map skills, landforms, bodies of water, the globe, and weather in our world.
The book contains four units: Map Skills, Looking at the World, Landforms and Bodies of Water, and Weather in Our World. In addition, those four units are separated into two to five lessons per section.
Each lesson includes a couple of pages of introductory geography texts to teach the concept to the student. There are also ideas for talking to your child about the covered concepts. Next are written practice activities and a hands-on activity. Finally, at the end of each section, there is a certificate of completion to celebrate their hard work.
The written work is designed with kindergarten students in mind, including activities like coloring, tracing, connecting similar objects, crossing out wrong answers, or circling correct pictures.
The book contains full-color pictures to help non-readers understand the concepts (though the parent will need to do some reading and explanations).
How We Used Skill Sharpeners Geography Grade K
There are a variety of ways to use this book. In our family, we chose to do one lesson each week. This makes the book last about fifteen weeks, perfect for completing it in one semester with a little wiggle room for busy weeks.
My son enjoyed doing all of one lesson in a day; it usually took him about thirty minutes to complete an entire lesson. However, you could spread the lesson out and do one activity per day. If you want the book to last for a whole school year, you could spread the lessons over two weeks and add additional reading or activities.
The hands-on activities were often cutting and pasting, which my son enjoyed, but were also very simple for me to facilitate. The only additional materials required were scissors and a glue stick.
There is also an answer key at the back of the book in case there are any questions about correct answers (though generally, at this level, the answers were self-explanatory).
What We Thought/Conclusions
Overall, we were delighted with this book. I felt like the concepts covered gave my son a general understanding of the fundamental physical geography concepts. This will make it easier for him to learn more as we travel because he will have the basic vocabulary and understanding already mastered.
My son enjoyed the book and looked forward to that part of our weekly school time. He loved the pictures, and the activities were engaging. I appreciated that it kept things simple so that it was not overwhelming.
I would recommend this book to any student in Kindergarten (or even first and second grades) who needs a basic understanding of physical geography concepts. The book is engaging and easy to implement. Go to the Timberdoodle website to learn more and purchase your copy. You can also check out the other levels offered for older students and to continue their geography studies.
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.
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 am so excited to share this review of the Vocal Gym that I did with Timberdoodle.
My daughter loves music! She is a violist, plays the piano for our youth group praise band, and hopes to one day teach music lessons. I, on the other hand, can only play the radio. I love to listen to music, but I am no help to her in improving her music skills.
She has been looking for several years for ways to work on her singing voice, but I was not sure how to help her. The Vocal Gym was the perfect solution because it provided her with self-paced video-based instruction that she could do to improve her singing and help make her a more well-rounded musician.
What is The Vocal Gym?
The course has 12 sections that you go through, some opening ones to get you ready for what is going to happen in the middle sections, which are 1 for each of the seven dimensions, and then some closing ones that help you put everything together.
Flexibility (pliability of the vocal folds)
Breathing (breathing management)
Intonation (pitch control)
Range (vocal balance (muscle coordination) from lowest to highest pitch)
Tone (quality of sound)
Articulation (diction)
Strength (Stability and stamina of the voice)
In each of the seven main sections, you have instructional videos on how to do exercises strengthening that dimension, and you have a video explaining what part of your body that dimension utilizes.
There is also a short, reasonably easy quiz and some detailed exercises. At the end of each of the seven main sections, you have the option of doing some activities like listening to a musical album and/or watching a musical, then answering questions or completing some activity that goes along with the section’s dimension.
Each section takes a couple of hours to complete if you do not include the additional activities. If you include the extra activities, that could add up to an additional three hours per section. This, along with documenting practice hours, allows students to get enough hours for a high school-level credit on their transcripts.
My Daughter’s Thoughts on the Vocal Gym
“I enjoyed the course. Some of the things that I thought were nice are, on top of the built-in videos, they give optional that you can do to increase your skills and add more time, but they were not required, so if you are busy and/or you don’t want to do it you do not have to. I like the videos that they had. And the setup of the website is excellent.
One thing that I wasn’t as big of a fan of was that they have a web that you would fill out to determine how well you are doing in certain areas, but they don’t have a great guide for you, so you have to do your best to guess how well you are doing.
I like how they have broken things down into the seven dimensions of singing to focus on little parts of your voice and then go back at the end and put everything together.
I recommend it for students and adults who want to learn more about singing and strengthen their voice. I recommend it for beginners and those who have been singing for a while. I think that everybody can gain from this course; the exercises are easy to personalize.”
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A Parent’s Perspective on the Vocal Gym
If you were a “fly on the wall” in our home recently, you probably would have heard one child or another singing:
“If I were a rich man
Ya ba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum
All day long, I’d biddy biddy bum.”
This is because, as a part of her work with the vocal Gym, my daughter had the option of watching Fiddler on the Roof. While my husband and I had heard of the musical, we had never watched it. The family watched it together, and the kids have been singing the songs ever since.
I loved that while it is helping her with her vocal skills, it is also helping her to learn more about musicals and a variety of genres of music in her extra activities.
I appreciated that it had the materials and support necessary to help my daughter with a skill that I could not help her learn.
Overall, if you have a student interested in vocal training, this is a great course. It is an easy-to-use, open-and-go program that can assist your child in improving their singing skills as well as learning about a variety of musicals and music genres.
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