Using YouTube Films in Your Homeschool

 

Updated on 3/24/2020!

YouTube can be a wonderful resource for homeschooling, but I'm sure you are aware that there can be problems with using it. Here are some tips I have learned:

1) Have you ever found a GREAT film on YouTube for your students only to come back later and it's been removed? I hate that! So, I have found out how to download YouTube videos. I use a downloader like this one: http://download.cnet.com/Free-YouTube-Downloader/3000-2071_4-75219434.html  I use it all the time to download films that I then put on a USB flash drive like these to give to my children as part of their assigned resources for that day. I have a different color for each kid because sometimes they have different files loaded on them on any given day. You can also use this downloader to save YouTube videos in audio only (MP3) format. This is great for lectures and audiobooks.

2) Occasionally you don't have time to download something you want to show the kids, but you also don't want to have to deal with the comments and the sidebar videos. Sometimes those things are not just annoying, but inappropriate for kids! You can use quietube.com! This website isolates the video for you so you can watch it outside of YouTube. Here's their tutorial.

3) YouTube has some nice features to help you find films later. You can make playlists or save videos to your "Watch Later" folder just by clicking the little + sign that says "add to" under the video you are watching. Or you can click the little clock picture that pops up in the corner when you mouse over the thumbnail of a video to add it to your "Watch Later" folder without ever surfing to the video.

4) If you are concerned about child-friendly content, please be aware there is no substitute for actually watching the film. Apps that purport to make YouTube kid-friendly are not enough. I have read stories about kids' videos that have their normal audio track (so everything sounds fine to parents listening) but they will have disturbing images spliced into the video. Some channels and users are just more trustworthy than others. You almost always have good luck with the channels of official TV networks of course. Just a word to the wise.

5) Here are some YouTube channels I like:

CCProse Audiobooks
Crash Course
Crash Course Kids
Disney Educational Productions
How Stuff Works
Illustra Media
One Minute Apologist
Shaggylocks
Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
Teacher's Pet


Well that's it. Why don't you comment below with your favorite channels!

Animated Hero Classics, Biographies for Kids

Updated 3/24/2020.

This is an animated biography series for kids that can be used for teaching history and character training. They can be hard to find online, though sometimes you can google for them and find them. Many libraries carry them and I highly recommend looking for them. The series focuses on the lives of 20 historical figures and their contributions to history. Here is more from the distributor's website:

"The Animated Hero Classic Series consists of 20 inspiring and educational stories of heroic men and women, with the emphasis placed on their accomplishments in world history and social sciences. The series focuses on the role in which they contributed to developing social, economic and political structures as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped to transform the world forever."

The best part is they each have a great activity guide! You can get them here.

1. Abraham Lincoln - Teaches Honesty, Friendship, Love, Peacemaking, Faith, Patriotism, Judgment, Wisdom, Fortitude, and Dedication.
2. Alexander Graham Bell - Teaches Kindness, Dedication, Idealism, Concentration, Endurance
3. Beethoven - Teaches Persistence, Dedication, Courage, Diligence, and Overcoming Obstacles.
4. Benjamin Franklin - Teaches Curiosity, Duty, Frugality, Patience, Industry, Discipline, Humility
5. Christopher Columbus - Teaches Courage, Humility, Persistence, Faith, Leadership, Optimism
6. Florence Nightingale - Teaches Sacrifice, Compassion, Charity, Goodness, Courage, Kindness, Persistence, Empathy, Justice
7. Galileo - Teaches Integrity, Confidence, Education, Patience, Humility, Endurance, Wisdom
8. George Washington - Teaches Integrity, Commitment, Love, Peacemaking, Faith, Humility, Courage
9. Harriet Tubman - Teaches Indomitable Spirit, Faith, Courage, Trust, Love, Sacrifice, Loyalty, Hope, Compassion, Confidence
10. Helen Keller - Generosity, Patience, Love, Kindness, Discipline, Dedication, Perseverance
11. Joan of Arc - Teaches Humility, Kindness, Love, Wisdom, Virtue, Generosity, Observation, Work, Persistence, Dedication, Commitment
12. Leonardo da Vinci - Teaches Humility, Kindness, Love, Wisdom, Virtue, Generosity, Observation, Work, Persistence, Dedication, Commitment
13. Louis Pasteur - Teaches Sacrifice, Work, Compassion, Initiative, Observation, Concentration, Diligence
14. Maccabees: The Story of Hanukkah - Teaches Courage, Patriotism, Integrity, Faith, Obedience
15. Marco Polo - Teaches Trust, Faithfulness, Obedience, Courage, Honesty
16. Marie Curie - Teaches Selflessness, Sacrifice, Love, Kindness, Generosity, Work, Education, Enthusiasm
17. Pocahontas - Teaches Peacemaking, Love, Sharing, Kindness, Loyalty, Unselfishness
18. Thomas Edison - Teaches Persistence, Industry, Inventiveness, Leadership, Hope, Faith, Patience, Enthusiasm, Work, Optimism
19. William Bradford, The Father of Thanksgiving - Teaches Sharing, Gratitude, Faith, Leadership
20. The Wright Brothers - Teaches Persistence, Work, Inventiveness, Faith, Ambition

A No-Fuss, No-Cutting Timeline for Mystery of History

Updated 3/24/2020.

In 2015, I started using Mystery of History and I thought it was great. I like the approach of mixing Bible events and other historical events into the same timeline so you can see when they were in relation to each other. But to be honest I was a little intimidated by the extras the texts calls for by way of flash cards, and timeline and timeline figures, even though I think they add a lot to the topic. So, I decided to make it easy on myself and bought the flash cards and timeline figures offered. Totally worth the little bit of extra money, in my opinion. That just left the timeline. Again I was intimidated. (Can you tell I am not always enthused about getting crafty?) So, I did a little hunting around and I feel like I came up with a usable and easy alternative to the lovely timeline suggested by the author.

I bought a BIG tri-fold poster board and some bulletin board borders and voilà, timeline! Here's what I got:

1 Elmer's Premium Tri-Fold Foam Display Board, 36 x 48 Inches, Black (These come in white, too.)
https://amzn.to/2vJKW3o

1 package Carson Dellosa White Borders (These come in lots of colors.) These fit perfectly on the Elmer's board without cutting! http://amzn.to/2b7vQcO


And that's it! I glued the borders to the board with a little Elmer's glue and after letting them dry under some heavy books, it was ready to go. Here is a picture of my board with some figures on it. I fold it flat and store it under the sofa when not in use.

So good luck and enjoy!

TIME Magazine's 100 Best Children's Books of All Time

Updated 3/24/2020.

From TIME Magazine:

"To honor the best books for young adults and children, TIME compiled this survey in consultation with respected peers such as U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate Kenn Nesbitt, children’s-book historian Leonard Marcus, the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, the Young Readers Center at the Library of Congress, the Every Child a Reader literacy foundation and 10 independent booksellers."

The list is on this page, however it is a slideshow article interspersed with ads. 

I have the list here too with convenient Amazon links. I like using Amazon because I'm a Prime member and get free shipping on many things. I have marked the ones I have read with @ and the ones I have read AND like with *. Some of these books are favorites. I marked those with #.

#Where the Wild Things Are - "In the forty years since Max first cried "Let the wild rumpus start," Maurice Sendak's classic picture book has become one of the most highly acclaimed and best-loved children's books of all time. Now, in celebration of this special anniversary, introduce a new generation to Max's imaginative journey to Where the Wild Things Are."

The Snowy Day - No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day. Universal in its appeal, the story has become a favorite of millions, as it reveals a child's wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever.
The adventures of a little boy in the city on a very snowy day.

*Goodnight Moon - In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny. "Goodnight room, goodnight moon." And to all the familiar things in the softly lit room—to the picture of the three little bears sitting in chairs, to the clocks and his socks, to the mittens and the kittens, to everything one by one—he says goodnight. In this classic of modern children's literature, beloved by generations of readers and listeners, the quiet poetry of the words and the gentle, lulling illustrations combine to make a perfect book for the end of the day.

Blueberries for Sal - What happens when Sal and her mother meet a mother bear and her cub? A beloved classic is born! Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk! Sal and her mother a picking blueberries to can for the winter. But when Sal wanders to the other side of Blueberry Hill, she discovers a mama bear preparing for her own long winter.  Meanwhile Sal's mother is being followed by a small bear with a big appetite for berries! Will each mother go home with the right little one?

*Little Bear Series - Meet Little Bear, a friend to millions of children. And meet Mother Bear, who is there whenever Little Bear needs her. When it is cold and snowy outside, she finds just the right outfit for Little Bear to play in. When he goes to the moon, she has a hot lunch waiting for him on his return. And, of course, she never forgets his birthday. This classic from Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak was written in 1957 and remains as beloved today as it was then. An ALA Notable Children's Book, this Level One I Can Read is full of warm and lovingly playful stories that are perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences.

Owl Moon - "As expansive as the broad sweep of the great owl's wings and as close and comforting as a small hand held on a wintry night . . . The visual images have a sense of depth and seem to invite readers into this special nighttime world."--School Library Journal, starred review. Full color. 1988 Caldecott Medal Book.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Resources

"At the White House Rose Garden on November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill, proposed by Representative Katie Hall of Indiana, creating a federal holiday to honor King. It was observed for the first time on January 20, 1986."

Reference: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MLK_Day

We celebrate the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday in January. Here are some resources to help you create a study of Dr. King.

• This is the Martin Luther King, Jr. book in the Who Was book series.

• Here is a video of Dr. King's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. And here is the text of the speech.

• This 26-miunte video about Dr. King is free to Amazon Prime members and so is this 19-minute video about freedom in America which includes a segment about the US civil rights movement. 

• This page from Ferris Tate University shines a light on the racist Jim Crow laws and this page talks about where the name Jim Crow comes from.

• Here is a repository of MLK activity sheets.

• The History Channel has it's own resource page with video clips, pictures, and interviews. Be aware though, it had a number of pop-up video ads.

Updated 3/24/2020.

Buying Gifts for Homeschool Families

Homeschooling is growing every year and the odds are increasing YOU know someone who homeschools! Let me help you select a gift they'll really appreciate.

1) Memberships! It is so wonderful to know you can go enjoy a special location in your area whenever you want. Most museums have standing installations but they also have special traveling
exhibits there for a limited time that homeschoolers love to take advantage of. In our city we have art, history, science, children's museums, and more. So museums that host exhibits are a great gift membership. Zoos and gardens are good too because they change over time. For example, we have a Japanese and a Chinese garden on our city and a state garden that features indigenous plants. But even places that don't change can be fun every once in awhile and a gift card for one-time admission can be a nice present, too. So, check into your local options or ask your homeschoolers what attractions they love.

2) Related to memberships is season passes. Many areas have arts programs that offer season passes - symphonies, children's theaters, ballets, etc.. So passes are great, or a gift cards for one performance is nice as well. Many more grown-up shows offer special performances for kids.



3) Subscriptions. This is a huge and growing category! I'm going to break it into subcategories:

• Websites. Homeschoolers use a lot of online resources! We love to show educational films and movies. So video websites subscriptions are welcome, like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Learning websites like ABCMouse, Clever Dragons (for boys), & Always Ice Cream (for girls) are popular as well.
• Magazines. There are magazines for adult home educators like Practical Homeschooling & Homeschooling Today, full of ideas, resources, and encouragement. I personally subscribe to a number of kids' magazines because I like to keep them in the car. I only let the kids read them there, so I think it helps keep them fresh so the kids enjoy reading them. Plus I feel like having something good to read in the car makes up a bit for time spent on the way to lessons or errands. Audio books are good for the car, too.
• Kits & lessons. People send a box to your home,
  
  usually once per month, with a new kit or lesson inside. These are a lot of fun because what kid doesn't love to get mail? I have personally used and like Little Passports, a geography lesson subscription. They come with website codes for each country too, to expand the lesson. I found some others that look promising like Young Scientists Club, Animal Trackers Club & Space Scouts. I'd love your feedback on those! Here's another place to look http://www.findsubscriptionboxes.com/, or you can just do a web search.

4) Outlets for physical play. Consistent physical activity can sometimes be a challenge for homeschooling families, especially in areas that have long stretches of bad weather. An option for helping with this can be rec center or YMCA family memberships! Our local rec center offers other types of classes too, like dance, art, cooking and more. So gift cards for rec centers are very useful.

Other places for exercise include skating rinks, bouncy house centers, trampoline centers, and bowling centers. Many offer both single and package admissions.

5) Babysitting. The parent that does most of the homeschool instruction (usually the mom) often has little time away from home. We get creative for carving out time for ourselves, but time out is a special blessing and since most homeschool families are in single-income homes, they sometimes put time out together in the luxury category. A good way to make sure your homeschool couple will use this option is to offer them a specific time (one that works for you both) not just say "I'll babysit for you." They will be a lot more likely to take you up on your offer.

6) A Rainbow Resources card. Every homeschooler can find something they want or need at Rainbow Resources!

7) Supplies. Homeschoolers use their printer A LOT and ink is expensive. If you know what kind of printer they have, you can buy ink or you can give them a gift card for office supplies. We use a lot of printer paper and of course all the other things kids use in school.




8) Science kits. Science is one of the more challenging subjects to teach, especially the hands-on experiments and demonstrations. Pre-made kits can be great for a quick activity or for rounding out a
science lesson. You can subscribe to kits (see #3) or just buy a few and give them either all at once or over time. That would be a great way to correspond with a grandchild - sending kits and then asking how it went and what the kids learned!

I hope this list is helpful and blesses you and the homeschoolers you love!

Updated 3/24/2020.

Thanksgiving Resources

Hi Homeschoolers! I am so thankful I am able to homeschool and I pray I am always able. That brings me to today's post - I'd like to make it a repository for all the cool resources I find related to Thanksgiving. I hope it will continue to grow over the years. So let's get started:

1) This is the proclamation in 1863 that became the basis for a Thanksgiving national holiday on the fourth Thursday in November. I like the background and context of it. The fact that the people felt a need to show their thanks even in the face of war is inspiring.

2) Here is a link to an episode of This is America Charlie Brown called The Mayflower Voyagers. It features the peanuts gang in the roles of children on the historic voyage and discusses their journey and the first Thanksgiving. I like they way it draws kids into the story, talking about how the children played an important role when the adults suffered illness.

3) This segment of Drive Thru History discusses the Mayflower Compact, considered a foundational document of our representative US government. And here is the text of the compact.

4)  This film made by New Dimension Media was well done, in my opinion. I like how we got some more insight into the lives of the Native Americans involved with the Pilgrims.

5) As a kid I always wondered why was that horn thing called a cornucopia? I think this Wikipedia page gives a concise and helpful discussion of it. And here are some pictures of horns of plenty to color.

6) These Thanksgiving poems would make nice copywork or cute entertainment at dinner when recited by the little ones. I like number nine.

7) I found this cute Thanksgiving-dinner-themed logic game where you have to arrange the guests around the table according to what (or whom!) they like or don't like. I just had to play it. It was fun and was a bit of a mental workout. See if you and your family can beat my score of 11,000!

8) We watched Monumental today and it was so good. I enjoyed the in-depth look at who the Pilgrims were and what motivated them. The number of obstacles they faced was daunting, even before they left for America. Most of their story in the film is before they landed here, which is something I don't think I've ever seen before. I also enjoyed the discussion of the monument in Plymouth about "the matrix of liberty." The role of faith in our country's history is such an integral and fascinating subject and the fact that the our forefathers felt it needed to be foundational is reason enough to look at it, IMHO.


That's it for now. May your Thanksgiving be full of many blessings to count!

Updated 3/24/2020.