Learning Year Round: Christmas Homeschool Plans

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The month of December affords homeschool families with a lot of wonderful opportunities for holiday homeschooling. Learning year-round takes on a special meaning for the Christian homeschooler at Christmas time. We can set aside our normal routine and books and spend time focusing on Jesus and Christmas. 

Making Small Changes 

If you aren't ready to put away all the homeschool books during December, you can start adding in small changes. Swap out the books in your morning basket or at read-aloud time with Christmas ones like A Christmas Carol, Christmas in the Manger, or Bear Stays Up. 

In addition to books, change out the music you play during the week. We often listen to music during art or while working on independent projects. During this time of year, we listen to my different Christmas playlists. 

What do you do during lunchtime? Our children watch either Minno or RightNow Media or listen to me read aloud. During December, I break out our box of Christmas-themed holiday DVDs for lunchtime. Some of our favorites include: 

• The Muppet Christmas Carol
• VeggieTales: The Toy That Saved Christmas
• The Year Without a Santa Claus
• White Christmas

Fun Activities 

If you are looking to incorporate more Christmas activities while learning year-round, you can look at art lessons from SchoolhouseTeachers.com that focus on Christmas themes. Or you can work on crafts, cards, and gifts. 

Another feature of SchoolhouseTeachers.com that I enjoy is the holiday-themed worksheets. This year, I printed out one about Advent, where our children will write a poem and some coloring sheets, but there are more options, including ones for math! 

Switching Up the Entire Day 

There are a couple of options left to you if you want to holiday homeschool the entire month. You can keep working on normal subjects but with a Christmas twist from unit studies. For example, Homeschool Complete offers a Christmas Unit Study (K-6). Lessons include reading, mathematics, arts and crafts, and more. Another option would be the White House Holiday Unit Studies offered by Silverdale Press LLC, which includes a Christmas-themed one.

You can also ditch all the subjects and work on relationships. Prepare the house for Christmas by cleaning and decorating. Bake Christmas cookies and prepare yummy treats and treasures as gifts. Go ice skating, skiing, or participate in other winter sports. Learn Christmas hymns or carols and sing or play them for others. There are many options available. 

As a family, select from things to do in your area. Go see Christmas lights, drink hot chocolate, or choose a new hobby (or return to an old one). Spending time together during December is a wonderful way to learn during the Christmas season. 

What are some of your favorite ways to homeschool during December? 

Holidays: Veterans Day – Honoring and Remember Our Heroes

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Learning about holidays is an important part of homeschooling. We can spend as much or as little time on learning about the history and celebrating cultural, historical, Biblical, national, and state holidays. In the past, we have spent time using My Father's World to study Thanksgiving, completed Christmas-themed activities with Homeschool Complete, and learned about Memorial Day through readings and lap-book activities. Veterans Day is another essential holiday to learn about in our homeschool. 

History of Veterans Day 

We honor the Veterans of our Nation on November 11 every year. The date originates from the armistice between the Allied Nations and Germany during World War I. Hostilities ceased on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. So even though the official treaty to end World War I was not signed until June 28, 1919, November 11, 1918, is considered the date that brought the end to the war to end all wars.

In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed that November 11 would be Armistice Day, when Americans would honor those who had fallen and share their gratitude for those who helped achieve the victory. In the early years, November 11 was only a day to honor those who had served in World War I, but with time, it would change to honor American veterans in all wars. In fact, President Eisenhower issued the first Veterans Day Proclamation on October 8, 1954: 

"On that day, let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain." Proclamation 3071—Veteran's Day, 1954

Over the years, the holiday has been moved to the Monday nearest to November 11 to allow for an extended three-day weekend, but it eventually was moved back to being observed on November 11. Although state and federal offices still close on the Monday or Friday when the holiday falls on the weekend. 

Activities for Your Homeschool  

There are many ways in which you can celebrate and honor Veterans Day. From lessons, poems, and readings to community service and visiting historic sites, there are many options depending on the age of your children. There are even more options if you or a member of your family are a Veteran. For example, the National Park Service offers special admission for Veterans with their Military Pass. And for everyone else, you can visit parks free on several holidays, including Veterans Day. 

Many towns and other locations hold ceremonies with wreath laying at monuments, speeches, and parades. There is a Veterans Day National Ceremony held every year at Arlington National Cemetery that starts with the laying of a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The Fleet Reserve Association in Annapolis, Maryland, will hold a special ceremony in 2023 with CDR La'Shanda R. Hawkins, the U.S. Coast Guard's first African-American woman helicopter pilot. The Killeen Veterans Day Parade, held in Killeen, Texas, is recognized by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a regional site to celebrate Veterans Day.  Look in your local newspaper, town website, or Veterans News to see what events will be held in your area. 

Other ideas for your homeschool: 

• Read "In Flanders Fields" and make poppies. 
• Observe a moment of silence on November 11th at 11 a.m. 
• Send a thank you card, letter, or care package to a veteran. 
• Talk to a veteran about their experiences. 
• Research the history of Veterans Day or a past war. 
• Pray for peace. 
• Visit a local veterans memorial. 

How will you celebrate Veterans Day this year? 

Favorite Christian Christmas Songs

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'Tis the season to start playing Christmas music. There is a great variety of Christmas music available to purchase and many places from which you can stream your favorite Carolers. We use a variety of digital methods to listen to our favorite Christmas songs – both Christian and holiday-themed – as well as the less traditional way of listening using CDs and – gasp – even cassette tapes on the rare occasion. Over the years, my Grandmom had collected a great variety of Christmas cassette tapes and then CDs, all of which I inherited. My husband also has a large collection of Christmas music, so there are many favorites among our collection. 

O Come All Ye Faithful 

I have enjoyed this song for many years. It was the first song sung by the senior choir at my high school as we entered the auditorium holding light-up candles. We would sing the first verse in Latin as we walked down the aisles, continue on to sing the first verse again in English, before moving onto the second verse. By then, we were all on the stage and ready to sing the next song. We never really sang many traditional Christmas songs – religious or secular – beyond a few. Our choir director always picked obscure songs from the Middle Ages or the Renaissance for us to sing. So, this one was a particular favorite of mine. 

What Child Is This? 

This was a favorite song of my mom's. Knowing this, I learned how to play it on the electric organ that my Grandmom had at her house. It was one of those instruments for which the books had the keys numbered and not actually listed by the real notes. So, all my practice learning how to play it did not translate to anything else. 

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear 

Can I share a secret? I love singing this song, too. There is something about the way the music swells that stirs my heart. Whether I am listening to Frank Sinatra sing about the angels singing or I am enjoying Ella Fitzgerald sing about peace on the earth, I enjoy the melody and message behind this beautiful Christmas song.

The First Noel 

I particularly love the way in which this song captures the story of Christmas. Whether Jesus was actually born on a cold winter night or not, the imagery of the birth of the King of Israel is stunning. As I write this post, I am listening to Pat Boone, Frank Sinatra, and Andy Williams all sing their own versions of this classic Christmas song. Do you have a favorite artist who sings The First Noel? 

Silent Night 

Lastly, I want to include Silent Night on my list of favorite Christian Christmas songs. I would love to think that the night of Jesus' birth was silent and calm. As a mom, it is wonderful to recall those first hours after the birth of my own children. Even though there was so much going on, there was a special calm. I love that heavenly hosts helped to announce the birth of Christ the Savior.  I am so thankful that Jesus was born. 

Wishing You a Merry Christmas 

I hope that no matter what your favorite Christmas songs may be – whether you prefer traditional artists, classical versions, instrumental versions, or maybe modernized, rock versions of Christmas Carols – that you have a very joyous holiday season as you listen to your favorite songs. As we approach the New Year, I hope that you have a wonderful time with your family. 

Wordless Wednesday: Star Wars-Themed Ornaments

 

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Be sure to check out my other Wordless Wednesday posts to see more ornaments on our tree including The Nutcracker Ballet Ornaments and some of our favorites. 

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas Ornaments

 

Sharing a few of my favorite Christmas Ornaments this week. 

Favorite Holiday Christmas Songs

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In addition to the beautiful music written specifically to glorify the birth of Jesus, there is also a great collection of music that relates to secular reasons that people celebrate during the same period. I must admit that my Christmas music lists often have a mixture of both types of songs, as I love it all. Yes, there are some songs that I will not listen to, but in general, I like to have a mixture of songs by a mixture of artists. 

White Christmas by Bing Crosby 

I love to listen to songs sung by Bing Crosby. Some of my favorites include: 

• Don't Fence Me In 
• Something's Gotta Give
• Dream a Little Dream of Me
• Well Did You Evah? 

Christmas songs I also enjoy by Bing Crosby: 

• A Marshmallow World 
• Twelve Days of Christmas (with The Andrew Sisters) 
• Do You Hear What I Hear? 

My favorite Christmas song by Bing Crosby has to be White Christmas. Combine that with the movie, and I have a perfect afternoon spent with my family. I love the fact that the movie also stars Danny Kaye – another favorite singer of mine. I do wonder what the movie would have been like if Fred Astaire had not dropped out, though.

A Jolly Christmas from Frank Sinatra 

So, this is not one song in particular. I have only recently begun to appreciate songs by Frank Sinatra. I am quite pleased by the wide selection of Christmas songs that I can add to my playlists performed by this talented singer. I really enjoy The Christmas Song, I'll be Home for Christmas, and Jingle Bells. The album was originally released in 1957, but I have been listening to the remastered 50th anniversary edition. I love reading that it was reissued on vinyl in 2010. We still have quite a few records, and I think it is wonderful that they are making a resurgence.

Sleigh Ride 

For several years, I was in the choir at my high school and the band always played Sleigh Ride. This song was my Great Uncle's favorite that they played. Now when I hear the song, I am reminded of him and my aunt coming to my concerts every year.

There are many different versions of the song. I have versions from Tex Beneke, Ray Eberle, & The Modernaires, Andy Williams, and Ella Fitzgerald on my one Christmas Playlist. I am not really sure whose take I enjoy the most. They are all equally good, as are the others that I have heard on the radio and on other compilations of Holiday music.

  

Frosty the Snowman 

I think the reason why I really like this song is that it reminds me of watching the 1969 cartoon by Rankin and Bass. So many of the Rankin and Bass productions were part of my childhood that I love hearing songs or stories that remind me of their tales. Whenever I hear the song, I can't help it; seeing Frosty first waking up and saying, "Happy Birthday!" brings a smile to my face.

Blue Christmas by Elvis Presley 

This song is another one that reminds me of a favorite Christmas cartoon. In the Year Without a Santa Claus, the children are sad – they will have a Blue Christmas – because Santa is staying home. This is my all-time favorite Christmas special from Rankin and Bass. I even have the Frost Miser and Heat Miser Christmas ornaments and figures from the cartoon to decorate for the holidays. Of all the versions of the song, I really enjoy Elvis Presley's the most. 

What Is Your Favorite Holiday Christmas Song? 

Do you have a favorite holiday Christmas song? Maybe it is one that makes you smile every time you hear it. Or perhaps there is one that you just have to sing along to, no matter where you are. Do we share any similar favorites?

Book Club: Christmas-Themed Books for Children

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I love sharing holiday-themed books on my blog, A Mom's Quest to Teach. Children's Christmas-themed books can provide a mixture of stories. One can find stories that focus upon the birth of Jesus to those that share about Santa, Charles Dickens' The Christmas Carol, or spending the holiday with ones' family. Personally, I love that there is such a great variety because we then make many happy memories reading Christmas-themed books in the weeks leading up to Christmas. 

Christmas in the Big Woods 

To experience a typical Christmas in the early 1870s in Wisconsin, Christmas in the Big Woods is the perfect book to read with your children. The story is adapted from the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and illustrated by Renee Graef. The simple story certainly gets one in the mood for a family-focused Christmas. There are cookies to bake, molasses candy to make, and even snow angels to make outside. And the simple gifts in the stockings provide a perfect talking point for appreciating the small gifts we are given and what we can gift to others. 

It's Christmas 

An "I Can Read" book for reading alone, It's Christmas by Jack Prelutsky and pictures by Marylin Hafner, is a mixed bag in my opinion. I had great hopes for this slim book as the chapters are short and they rhyme, which makes reading it aloud easy, but as I read more and more of it, I found myself wanting to put it down. The child has a LONG list of wants for Christmas, the father refuses to pay for a tree so they go hunting for one in a forest, Santa Clauses abound as the family goes from place to place, and Auntie Flo buys her niece and nephew underwear. I wish I had read the book before reading it to our children. I learned again the importance of previewing materials we share with our children. 

On Christmas Eve 

Having enjoyed Goodnight Moon and Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown, I was happy to check out On Christmas Eve from the library. This lovely tale about children sneaking downstairs on Christmas Eve was illustrated by Nancy Edwards Calder. I really like that the children snuck downstairs, saw the beautiful tree, and did not touch anything. While we were reading On Christmas Eve, our daughter kept saying, "No, they should not go downstairs. They are going to get in trouble." I love that she was worried about them doing right or wrong.

Christmas in Italy 

One of my goals for homeschooling our children is for them to learn about different cultures and customs. Reading Christmas in Italy by Jack Manning allowed us to talk about how important the birth of Jesus is to the celebration of Christmas in Italy. There were even directions to make an ornament at the of this short non-fiction book.

The 12 Bugs of Christmas 

Our children have seen a few episodes of Mac Lucado's Hermie & Friends. So, I thought maybe they would enjoy reading The 12 Bugs of Christmas (especially since they love the traditional version of the Christmas song). This is a cute little board book where each day brings more bugs joining in the story. By the end, 12 caterpillars join the story and are praying. This is a fun sing-along-song for the whole family.

From Christmases of the past to singing Christmas songs, there are many options to include Christmas-themed books into your homeschool day. I think it is a wonderful idea to read one Christmas book a day leading up to Christmas with children. What a great way to spend time together and spread some Christmas cheer! Does your family have any favorite Christmas-themed books that you read every year? Or perhaps you have another tradition involving Christmas stories? I would love to read about them!

Wordless Wednesday: The Nutcracker Ballet Ornaments

 

These ornaments are favorites from my childhood! 

  

We Are Thankful

Even in the midst of stress and turmoil, it is still easy to find things to be thankful for in our lives. The sun continues to rise, and the rain continues to fall. As our son has been studying, the earth continues to rotate, the days pass by—and so do the months and seasons. Sometimes, it is easy to dwell upon the things that are going wrong. I know I often fall into the pessimist camp, looking at the glass as half empty, but during those moments, I remind myself of everything for which I am thankful.

I Am Thankful 

I am thankful for my family. Without my loving husband and three children, I do not think I would be the strong woman of faith that I am today. I have been blessed with a husband who has stood by me through some dark times and helped me see how much God loves me for who I am. My oldest child – my step-son – made me a mom. He has proven to be such a loving older brother to his two younger siblings.

I am thankful for the ability to homeschool. We are blessed with so many wonderful opportunities to educate our children. I am thankful that I am able to create lifelong learners in them. From reading excellent books with them to doing fun projects together, we get to spend our days learning about the world around us.

My Children Are Thankful 

Our oldest son shared with me the following: "I am thankful to have been given life by God. I am thankful I was born with food always ready for me to eat, a home I could come home to every day, and clothes appropriate for whatever weather conditions. I am thankful for the loving family I have and the friends that I have made."

Our youngest son is thankful for houses, food, and the Internet. The house provide safety from the rain and food prevents us from starving. He says he is thankful for the Internet so he can play games. 

Our daughter is thankful for her mommy and daddy. She is also thankful for water on the Earth. She is thankful for toys so that she and her brother stay occupied so they don't argue. She said, "I am thankful that God made me so I can play." 

My Husband Is Thankful

My husband is thankful for God's faithfulness, salvation, grace, and mercy; his wife's love and endurance, his family's love and loyalty to each other, and our church family's steadfastness. He has been attending our church's monthly men's breakfasts and comes home thrilled at how God is edifying those attending with sharing of the Word, prayer, and fellowship. Finally, my husband is especially thankful for author Dr. Michael Heiser, whose works (The Unseen Realm, Reversing Hermon, Angels, and Demons) over the last few years have bolstered his faith.

Thankful Last Words  

As I was finishing up this post, our furnace was being cleaned. This was an annual check-up which turned into a bit of a nightmare. We will need to have the entire furnace replaced for quite a heavy penny because there are cracks. So, while it is hard to be remain ever thankful (we have had problems with our refrigerator (in fact, we still need to get it replaced), our dishwasher has been broken for over six years, and we have some plumbing problems that we are living with), I still have faith and hope in our Lord. I am thankful for our family and for all God has given our family. Even with all these problems, they will not be problems forever. For that I am very thankful. 

Top Ten Favorite Kids Toys for Ages 2-4

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Are you shopping for a preschooler or toddler? There are so many choices on the shelves and online when shopping for young children that it can be a bit overwhelming. With the help of our two younger children, I have compiled a list of our ten favorite toys to go along with our list of stocking ideas.

Fisher Price Little People

These make for fantastic toys for children. They come in a variety of types from Disney Princesses to people of various careers. Over the years they have changed from the ones I had when I was a child to larger plastic ones today. They even changed the design a bit from when we first started collecting them for our son to when our daughter was born.

Thomas Toys

There are a variety of toys that are geared for younger kids in the Thomas the Train line. While the wooden and metal trains may be better for kids a little older, there are larger plastic trains based on the television show characters.

 

Board Games

Many board games are geared towards children ages 4+ or older but we have found that we can easily adapt some simpler board games for our younger daughter. Those that are easier for her to understand (and to play as a 3- and 4-year-old) include Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Raccoon Rumpus, and Koala Capers.

Blocks

Wooden blocks make for excellent toys for younger children. You can purchase alphabet ones to work on educational goals or just simple ones for them to build and create cities. Or you can purchase a set of plain wooden blocks like Brain Blox. These allow for a lot of creativity since they are not painted and do not have a design on them.

Lego Duplo

All kids love to build with Lego and their Duplo line is perfect for little hands. They come in a variety of sets from ones with instructions on how to build as well as just sets to allow your child's imagination to roam free.

Plushes

A great toy for younger children is a plush. Because they are soft, they can be played with at most any time. They make for the perfect companion for a car ride or for when they are not feeling well (although I recommend ones that are washable for those sick days).

And if your child has one favorite plush, I recommend buying more than one of the same in case it gets lost. We are lucky that our two younger children have tons of favorite plushes but every time they want to bring with them on a road trip, I worry about them losing a favorite toy.

Crayons & Paper 

Even at very young ages, children enjoy coloring and drawing. You can provide them with just scrap paper or pick up coloring books for them. Our children have moved from wanting to color in coloring books to drawing their own pictures on plain paper.

Balls & Outdoor Toys 

Getting to spend time a lot of time outside is a bonus for us since we are homeschooling. There are a variety of toys that are great for playing with outdoors—like balls, hula hoops, chalk, and bubbles. Some of these might require more help and supervision to enjoy than others but most younger children enjoy using them on a sunny day.

Books 

For younger children, board books might be the way to go. The pages won't tear and the books tend to be sturdier for rough hands. And there is such a wide selection of board books! You can pick ones that have actual stories or ones that just teach words, colors, or numbers.

Indoor Tents & Tunnels 

Another way to encourage fostering imagination and creativity is to provide them with indoor tents and tunnels. Your children can pretend they are camping outdoors in the woods or the outback. If you can connect lots of tunnels, they can create their own 'underground' home.

Do your young children have any favorite toys they would add to this gift list?

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