We Definitely Need To Upgrade!!

We have been so inspired to play board games lately. It has helped us get through rainy days and past the time while wanting on a fun outing. Today the kids found a old board game in my mess of organization that actually still had all of the pieces. Sometimes I steal pieces from games to create other activities with and then I forget to put them back:(  I so need to work on a storage system. Anyways today's find was Monopoly Junior.

   
I really can't remember the last time we played this, but umm it was way too easy for them. They loved taking turns being the Banker.Monopoly Junior is a  great way to to improve counting money, and they are awesome negotiators when it comes to trading or selling ticket booths. You can bet your bottom buck I am going to go get Monopoly. The reason I haven't yet  is there are way too many choices to choose from I just want the original, the kids want the credit card edition. Which one would you get?                                                                      

Wordless Wednesday

  " The human hand allows the mind to reveal itself."- Dr Marie Montessori

Linking to Wordless Wednesday                                                                             

Jeepers Peepers: A Schoolhouse Crew Review

We love this game!! Every since this game arrived my kids have been asking " Who wants to play Jeepers Peepers?" I don't mind one bit, because they are having fun learning!!  Jeepers Peepers is a game by Super Duper Publications. While playing this game they are improving their skills in categorizing, problem solving, and describing. It is geared toward K- Adult. At first when I opened the box I thought that our playing time would be short. I was surprised on how much they enjoyed this and was learning from it. These important skills that the game covers needs to be worked on EVERYDAY at least that what I found out while playing this with my children. What better way to tackle these skills then to play a game? The card that goes in the slot of the top of the glasses seems so easy to describe, well until you realize the person who is wearing the glasses isn't identifying the object. There are category cards that the person who is wearing the glasses, it prompts them to ask questions another important skill to learn. I'll have to admit I had trouble at times with describing without accidentally telling what was on the picture. Yes,this game is for adults too!!

 What also got my kids going crazy over this game is it also has a bling factor to it.  You get to push the spinner and then cool lights come on and where it stops is how many chips you get. You earn the chance to push the spinner when you have correctly identified the picture on your glasses. 

 The Instruction Booklet is straight forward and offers plenty of ways to play the game. We used the Advanced Directions where everyone puts on the glasses. There were six glasses that came with the game but you can order more so every person in your family can have their own glasses. This worked for us as we had others who wanted to join in. Also the booklet includes the pictures of the photo cards and their labels, just in case there is any confusion of what it is.

 When just Ken and DJ play only one person will  have a picture in the slot. This is hard to do because everyone wants to wear a card with their glasses. This was a very easy review product for us. The kids want to play this game whenever they have an opportunity to do so.


The cost of this game is $29.00  below is a picture of the game contents.

The blue card is a picture of one of the 101 photo cards covering the five categories which are animals, food, people, things, and transportation.

A snapshot of the cue cards.



This is the list of all of the photo cards.

I would recommend this product to

1. Everyone that reads this blog and because you are readers of this blog use this code BLGJP30 at checkout and receive 30% off.
2. Any families with children
3. All schools traditional or private

Go here to see a video of the game in action.

To read other Crew Members reviews go here http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/785937/

As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew I was given the game Jeepers Peepers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

                                                                       

What's Cooking?

Things are looking like they are headed in the right direction in our homeschool. I thought the process of deschooling them was going to take much longer,but they are ready even Michelle is moving along well. With that said they are really into Practical Life activities. It is like their reading my mind now. Last week I was pondering about our summer work activities. I was thinking what can we be doing to make life easier for us all now that can benefit us in the busier months of homeschooling. Just as I completed this thought Michelle enters the room and ask "When will I be able to learn how to cook dinner." Ken and DJ chime in "Me too." "Tomorrow" I say and they have been assisting in the kitchen every since. We all play a part in dinner making. This was not their ideal of what they were asking. They were meaning to say "When Can I Cook Dinner By Myself!!" Well that would make life easier wouldn't it?  If there were days when the kids cook dinner. It sounds good but it takes a lot of work on by behalf, but I am READY to do it. They will learn plenty of skills like making lists, menu planning, reading cookbooks, measuring, following directions, reviewing elapsed time, learning different types of table setting, and I think cooking is perfect way to learn from mistakes and get creative.

The first thing we did to get them independently cooking was find cookbooks that we like. At the book store we found two to begin with. They both have recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts and snacks. It was important for me for them to understand vocabulary like simmer,marinade,and all those other terms that I have taken for granted knowing what they mean. Also names of utensils that I may often to refer to as "thingie" when I am cooking in a rush:)

 This book does a great job explaning cooking utensils and the snack recipes are just awesome.

This book has very doable recipes of foods from around the world. This cookbook has inspired them to add cultural studies to their dinner planning. Ken wants to make tablecloths of flags of the country to add to her dinner. Michelle wants to learn words from the languages so we can talk over dinner. DJ wants to create and learn games to play according to the country. Great ideas!!

The first things that we are tackling is menu planning, making grocery lists and checking our utensil drawers to make sure we have everything needed to create meals. I hope that this plan will allow them to take over dinner duties in the near future. Right now they are still assisting while working on these goals. Day by day I hope that I can let go, and cheer them on.                                                                            

LoopDeDoo

Making Friendship Bracelets

                                                                           
     

                                                                           

I remember braiding these bracelets by hand, now it seems to be a machine that does everything for you. Still it was fun to watch Michelle crank these out. I think she made five in thirty minutes. I was really smitten with her while I was watching her creating something with her hands. It is not often that Michelle chooses to do handicrafts.

We Got Maps!! A Schoolhouse Crew Review

I can't express in words how privileged I feel to have been selected to review The Map Trek Ebook Bundle Version from Knowledge Quest which includes hundreds of historical outline maps. NO MORE LATE NIGHTS SEARCHING FOR MAPS!!  I was also thrilled beyond excitement to be able to use this product with all of my children. The lessons that are provided are geared toward grades 1-12!! The lessons are straight forward and are labeling activities that can go along with your history lessons, especially if you are going in chronological order. Since I have planned to go over Ancient History in the Fall I thought it would be more appropriate to introduce the kids to the World Maps. They thought this was going to be easy peasey, as in boring "We know the names of the continents already." Until they were shown how they were going to draw the maps (yeah, for positive challenges).

I first introduced them to this lesson while I was cooking dinner. They gravitated to the table after I placed all the necessary supplies on the table. Knowledge Quest suggest having these materials on hand. Also I already had the maps printed out because I asked them if they had to draw a continent which one would they want to draw.

Michelle chose Australia.

                                                      DJ chose Antarctica.
                                                       

                                                              Ken chose The World.

 Here is an example of the template that the child uses to help draw their  map

Since there aren't any lessons that accommodate this group of maps I had them just copy the master maps to the best of their ability. A lot of spatial sense goes into this work.  They really enjoyed this activity and all of them have requested this work again, during dinner preparations. What I like most about this resource is that it can involve the whole family and my kids look at this work as a great past time,while they are learning. I can see us changing whose reading the text of our history book each night and following it with some map labeling. This product is flexible like that. All of them have completed their map activities in under one hour.


Here are their completed maps

                                                                            age 14

                                            Age 8 and greatly focused on this work.

Ken's map which isn't shown was completed but just misplaced.

You can purchase each set of maps for $14.95 (Ebook version with an instant download). For the Map Trek E book bundle it is $47.00. If you want to purchase the CD Rom it is $39.95. Also you could buy a hardbook and CD Rom set for $55.00. As you can see there are plenty of options and many ways to build or add this map collection to your home school that will be available to use for all your children for all your home school years to come.







I recommend this product to

1. All home schooling families
2. All Co-ops that teach history/geography
3. To all Geography/History teachers in the world!! Seriously:)
4. Montessori Guides. Trust me you would have a field day with this resource. Think Command Cards in all levels for your students for different maps. See why I am so excited!!

Go here to get your Map Trek Sampler.
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Knowledge Quest also offers so many things that you can add to your Social Studies, Geography, and History curriculum. You really should check them out

                                       The Road To The White House by Joel F. King.
 I know as soon as this game becomes in stock were going to add it to our Presidential Elections studies this fall.

P.S
I plan to show you how we are going to use Map Trek in our home school. The " How We Learn History/Geography" post is coming soon, so check back often.

To read other crew members reviews about Map Treks go here http://schoolhousereviewcrew.com/785898/



As a member of the Schoolhouse Review Crew I received the Ebook Bundle of Map Trek in exchange for a honest review. All opinions expressed are my own!! 

Painting Pottery

Something different is happening around here. My kiddos are having a strong interesta in all things involving Practical Life skills. This weekend DJ decided that he wants to sell pottery at our "flea market". Yesterday he spent some time designing a store brought pot.

                                First he sketched the drawing.

He really was into this and looks forward to making some pots by hand.

 The pot drawings were inspired by these gourd seeds that DJ has planted in the Learning Garden.