Here are a few fun ideas to make learning fun in the summer sun!

1. Make home made pudding pops. (Thanks for this idea, Heather!)
You'll need: 1 box instant pudding, milk, small Dixie cups, popsicle sticks
*Allow children to measure milk, then mix pudding and milk according to directions. Fill Dixie cups with pudding and add a popsicle stick. Freeze until firm. Hold cups in your hands to warm and loosen pudding pops for removal. Enjoy!

2. Build a reading tent. Use a real tent on a summer night outdoors, or use blankets over tables and chairs indoors on a rainy day. If you give a kid a flashlight...he might want a book to go with it! (Thanks for this idea goes to my son, Colby.)

3. Go on a shape hunt at the playground with pre-schoolers. Take along cut-out, laminated shapes. Give a cut-out shape to your child, and see if she can find a match! (square: sidewalk, rectangle: slide, circle: merry-go-round, triangle: teeter-totter base, diamond: ball park, etc.)

4. Take a timer to the park, and use the playground as an obstacle course. (Up the ladder, across the bridge, down the slide, across the monkey bars, etc.) Time your child, and encourage him to beat his best time. Enjoy healthy snacks afterward!

Do you have more ideas? Please submit them in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you!

Happy Home Schooling,
Mrs. Sherry

Well, at long last, after several family celebrations, I'm back to share with you a final installment of favorite Bible resources.

First, I want to highlight a new Bible study program called Foundations. It was written by a home schooling mom, Kim High, with whom I visited at length at the NICHE conference last month. I really LOVE this resource, and plan to use it with my own children when they're a little older.

Foundations is a multi-age Bible study for the whole family, with the majority of activities suited for middle elementary students through middle school students; it is discussion based and is designed with a Q&A format that teaches core Bible doctrines. I love that the activities appeal to all learning styles. An original music CD and review cards are included to help children with scripture memory. Students may create a weekly craft to place in a keepsake Bible Treasure Box (perfect for an annual "Christmas ornament" review!). There is enough material for a daily 15-20 minute session for twenty weeks. I'd probably stretch it out and use it for a whole school year.

The set, which includes the teaching book, CD and review cards, is only $28; you may download a sample lesson and song at www.foundationsbiblestudy.com.

Here are a couple more websites I wanted to share:

www.doorposts.net: I mentioned last month that I plan to use several of their resources this year. They have several sample "freebies" that you can download from their site. It's worth a visit!

www.kidprintables.com/bibleverses: This site has adorable primary artwork that accompanies printable memory verse cards; most of the "basic" memory verses are available.

www.angelverses.com: This site has more grown-up looking artwork
and allows you to choose your version of the Bible for a multitude of memory verses. I love this site for middle school or high school Bible students!

www.awana.org/about: If your student is in an AWANA program, you can find the scope and sequence (plan of instruction) here. It would be a cinch to dovetail your at-home Bible lessons with the weekly AWANA lessons/verses using some of the free online resources I've shared. You can find other helps including scripture memory CD's on the official AWANA site.

If you have other favorite Bible websites or resources, please share them in the comments section.

May God bless you as you seek His will for training your children with His Word!

Happy Home Schooling,
Mrs. Sherry