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Aug. 15, 2019
Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire: Hands-on Craft Tutorial
When your history studies take you to the Holy Roman Empire, add this hands-on project to your homeschool lessons for an added bit of fun and open-ended creativity!
First request your free template and guide below. After you download the PDF, print the one-page template (one copy per child) and refer to the guide for a list of materials and directions.
Children ages 7-9 will be able to complete the project with little assistance. Younger kids can do it, too, but may need more help with measuring and cutting.
The History of the Imperial Crown of the Holy Roman Empire
While the children assemble and decorate their crowns, read aloud the historical background included in the guide. You and your children will learn:
- Which emperor was ruling when the Imperial Crown was made
- The purpose of the crown
- The duration of the Holy Roman Empire
- When the official name Holy Roman Empire began to be used
- Where the crown is today
- What's unique about the crown's shape
- Why the jewels on the crown are rounded instead of faceted
- Why the jewels on the crown are held in place with thin wires
Download the Entire Project: Template and Step-by-Step Directions
Download the full direction booklet for detailed, step-by-step how tos, a template, and historical background here.
Build It; Then Play With It
After your children create their own Imperial Crowns, add them to your costume closet for history-inspired dress-up play. Wearing crowns, children can act out the events in their history lessons and use new vocabulary to create impromptu dialogue. The learning keeps going, even after the craft is complete!
Tagged crafts, crown, download, free, hands on, history, Homeschooling, roman empire, template
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Aug. 12, 2019
10 Fun Games to Make Discussion Questions & Vocabulary Memorable
To help your child comprehend and digest Readers and Read-Alouds, Sonlight Instructor’s Guides (IGs) are packed with vocabulary enrichment and discussion questions. These help us to teach our children goodness, truth, and beauty with each and every lesson. Look these over with your child during each day’s lesson as you sit on the couch, eat lunch on a picnic blanket, drink tea at the table, or drive to a friend’s house.
To spice things up every once in a while, use these ten games to make discussion questions and vocabulary more memorable—and fun!
1. Balloon POP!
Write each question on a slip of paper. Roll up the paper and push it into a balloon. Blow up the balloon and tie it off. Your child can pop the balloon to find the question!
2. Fold a “Fortune Teller”
Use this tutorial to fold a “fortune teller” origami game. (Sometimes it's called a cootie catcher.) Write a discussion question under each flap. Play the traditional fortune teller game to review the questions or vocabulary words.
3. Egg Hunt
Write each question or vocabulary word on a slip of paper. Put each question in a plastic egg. Hide the eggs inside or outside. When your child finds an egg, he or she may open the egg, read the question, and then answer it.
4. Play a Board Game
Choose a simple board game like Candy Land or Uncle Wiggley—with a twist. In order to progress in the game, each player must answer one discussion question or define one vocabulary word per turn.
5. Hot Potato!
Following the rules for traditional hot potato, the person left with the potato at the end of each round can ask any other player a discussion question or vocabulary word.
6. M&M mmmm
Open a bag of candy coated chocolates. Assign a discussion question or vocabulary word a color corresponding with an M&M color. Have your child take a handful of candies and hold each one up for a question. Of course, only play this game if you all are up for a tasty treat in the end!
7. Jeopardy!
Try reversing the typical question/ answer process by providing the answer first, just like the Jeopardy! quiz show. If you give your child the answer, can he or she come up with a reasonable question? (To get the hang of this, consider watching at least one episode of the game show Jeopardy! together.)
8. Treasure Hunt
Write each question on a slip of paper with a clue to find the next one. As your child finds each slip of paper, he or she can answer the question in order to progress to the next clue. Be sure to hide a little treasure at the end!
(When I was a kid, my dad always always ended his Treasure Hunts with a piece of DoubleMint Gum. I think of him fondly whenever I chew DoubleMint.)
9. Beach Ball Catch
Play catch using a classic colorful beach ball. Assign each question or vocabulary word one of the colors on the beach ball. When your child catches the ball, ask the question that matches the color under their right thumb.
10. Location, Location, Location
Change things up by asking your child the discussion questions somewhere unusual. Sit under the kitchen table, stand on a chair, lay on the top bunk of bunk beds, squish in the linen closet, or swing on the swing set.
By adding a little fun and surprise to the questions and vocabulary from time to time, you will teach your child creativity, enthusiasm for learning, and a love for life.
Tagged discussion, fun, games, reading, vocabulary
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Aug. 8, 2019
What Is the Point of Education?
Those yellow school buses have started to roll by here in Colorado. And though not as visible, homeschooled kids are gathering on couches and at kitchen tables for a new school year as well.
As you dive into a new year (or not, depending on your schedule), now may be a good time to review your big picture vision: Why do you want your kids to be educated? What is the point of education?
Here’s my take on it.
At a basic level, I believe we all want our children to be able to survive in this world when they grow up. That is usually easier with some education and some job skills.
On a deeper level, we all want our children to be happy and fulfilled in life. We want them to be able to do something they enjoy as they make their way in the world. Of course, I want that for my own kids and grandkids.
A Christian Motivation for Education
But as Christians, we have an even deeper motivation for education. We believe our children’s stories matter in the grand scheme of things. We believe God is working in the world and that we are part of His story. We believe God has plans for our children’s lives; plans to bless others through them. And because of this, we want our children to be prepared to live the life God has for them.
Which brings me to my fundamental belief about education:
Education should help children develop their gifts and equip them to do whatever God calls them to do to further His Kingdom.
We are not educating our children just for their own sakes. We do not teach them just so that they can get good jobs and make a lot of money. We teach them, nurture them, help them discover and develop their gifts so that when God calls, they are ready.
Equipping Them to Fulfill God's Call
I believe God calls us in (at least) two ways: God’s general call for all Christians and God’s specific call for an individual. God clearly asks all Christians to love their neighbors, to help care for the poor, and to be a witness to Christ in the world. We should try to nurture the hearts and minds of all our children to live like that.
And God also often gives people specific calls. God’s plan for your daughter might be that she becomes a medical missionary. If that’s true, she better study up! She’ll need an effective education in math, science and the humanities, plus solid training in the faith. (Don’t worry – Sonlight helps you do that!)
But here’s the thing. You often don’t know what your children will be called to do later in life. That girl who will grow up to serve in medical missions may only be six years old now. How do you know how to prepare her for her future life? I offer that you do what I believe all Christian homeschool parents want to do: notice and nurture your child’s gifts, and help give her a well-rounded education from which she could launch in any direction that God calls.
That doesn’t mean each child needs to excel in all subjects and all areas. But we should help all children who are able to gain proficiency in key subjects and then to really thrive in the areas where they show interest and special skill.
Sonlight Provides the Tools
And of course, this is exactly what Sonlight helps you do. Whatever God calls your children to do down the road, Sonlight gives you and them the tools now to help them thrive and be ready.
A solid Sonlight education has launched children toward careers in the sciences and the humanities, mission-work and entrepreneurship. Students who complete Sonlight are really ready for whatever comes next for them. I’ve seen them go on to become doctors, pastors, attorneys, missionaries, homeschool parents, politicians, engineers and more.
I’ve seen Sonlight students with significant disabilities grow in their abilities, their character and their faith to become the people God wants them to be. (God knew what He was doing when he created your children, no matter what their innate abilities. They don’t have to work for NASA or become Bible translators in order to be where God wants them in His Kingdom.)
This is at the heart of why I created Sonlight. I want to help you equip your unique children, develop their specific gifts, and nurture their hearts toward God and towards God’s work in the world. I want our children to graduate high school with a deep love for God, compassion for the world, and the confidence that they can do what God asks them to do. Even if that seems hard or scary.
Sonlight comes alongside you to help you nurture and bless your children. So as God directs their lives, they are open and ready to continually follow. Isn’t that what we all want for them? We are with you in this!
Aug. 7, 2019
3 Steps for Teaching Multiple Ages to Learn Independently
- “Mom, can you read this to me?”
- “Mom, can you help me with this?”
- “Mom, I have a question!”
You probably hear these words from your own children, like I do, many times every school day. I find I am easily frustrated with so many questions bombarding me while I am trying to teach, guide, and instruct all four of my children at once.
Sadly, my frustration leads to curt answers that are not full of grace. I don’t want my children to feel like a nuisance because of my response; I want them to feel they are important and loved.
While it is a good thing to ask questions, I also want my children to understand that their questions need to be asked responsibly. When there is an established order, everyone benefits, and growth happens.
Part of my job as a homeschool parent is to help develop independent learners. I cannot walk around holding my children’s hands, answering their questions every day of their lives. They have to learn, at some point, to think independently so they can thrive in adulthood. (And we parents have to let them, no matter how hard.)
In my experience so far, these three steps have helped with leading my children to learn independently in our homeschool.
1. Establish Clear Boundaries
When I am working with one child on math and another child interrupts with an unnecessary question which I answer, two bad things happen:
- The question interrupts the learning for the one child.
- The child who is asking isn't thinking independently.
Here’s my solution: I establish clear boundaries that when I am working with one child, no other child can interrupt. Instead they must hold their question until I am ready to give them my attention.
This rule establishes order, and offers the child asking the question a chance to problem-solve on their own. I often find that the child with the question will figure out the answer while they are waiting.
2. Give Your Children The Right Tools and Skills
One of the best things my dad taught me was to figure things out on my own. He did not ignore my questions, but he told me where and how to find the answer instead of telling me the answer outright. After equipping me to find the answer, he would send me to investigate on my own. After figuring out the answer, I would go back to him and relay my discovery or ask for further guidance.
My dad's method helped me learn to think independently and become a good problem-solver. I try to model this same parenting style with my children, giving them the road map, teaching them how to use it, and being there to help them explore the answers.
One simple example is to provide reference tools for children such as encyclopedias, a thesaurus, and almanacs. Even when I know the answer, I teach them how to look up the answers to their questions. Not only will they learn a new skill, but they will probably better remember the fact because they had to work for it.
3. Allow Children More Freedom as They Mature
I'm a fan of giving tweens and teens the freedom to work on their own within an allotted time frame. Establish a list of expected assignments or use one of Sonlight’s student guides. But let them choose the pace, the order, and the methods. This freedom teaches time management and work ethic.
It is also good for older children to know up front what both the reward is when they complete their work on time and the consequences if they squander their time. Handing over more control instills self-motivation for higher education and the workforce—and life!
When our children are younger, we do need to help them more and devote more time teaching them one-on-one. But we also have to learn how to let go and let them learn to think for themselves. The transition is not always easy—for parents or for children. But being able to learn independently is a requirement for our children to excel in adulthood.
Aug. 5, 2019
Simple Steps for Reading Aloud to Your Baby
Boost both bonding and literacy with these age-specific strategies. You'll learn exactly when, what, and how to read to newborns, babies, and toddlers.
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Tagged babies, preschool, preschoolers, reading, reading aloud, toddlers
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Aug. 2, 2019
Teaching Household Life-skills in a Mixed-age Homeschool Family
Home maintenance can overwhelm even the most organized of us and create extra havoc when children are involved. There are days I would rather throw in the towel instead of train my children for the thousandth time how to make their bed, pick up clothes, or put away dishes. It can be exhausting and can sap my joy.
Because my four children have two year age gaps between each successive child, they each require a different approach for home management training. These four things can help any exhausted parent find motivation as they teach household life-skills to multiple ages while homeschooling.
1. Focus on Stewardship
If we focus on expecting our children to keep a perfect house—one that is magazine-worthy—we will always be disappointed. But if we keep our focus on honoring God by being good stewards of what He has entrusted to us, not only will the job be easier, we will also teach our children that the work we do is for a greater purpose.
If we start training our children early to understand that we are stewards in this world, the more quickly the truth will take root. Hopefully this will bear fruit that expresses their love for the Lord in all they do whether big or small.
2. Create a Clear List of Jobs for Each Child
What I have found helpful is to make a list of everything that needs to be done in each room of my house. Then according to each child’s age and ability, I assign a few of those jobs to each child. This room-by-room checklist is posted on a whiteboard in our breakfast area so everyone can see it.
3. Walk Your Child Through Each Task Until They Can Accomplish It Independently
When training my children in life-skills, mastery is proven when they can do it independently from the beginning to the end without hesitation.
Achieving mastery is where teaching home management gets especially challenging. If you have more than one child, you will feel torn because you can’t help everyone at the same time. Here are three keys that help me:
- Pick one room where everyone works simultaneously and you can supervise them all at once.
- Have your children do their tasks at different times of the day so you can work with one child at a time, as time allows.
- If you have older children and younger children, start a buddy system. Pair a younger and older child together to work on the same room while you go back and forth to supervise each buddy pair.
4. Keep The Same Rhythm Each Day
Keeping the same schedule (or routine) will help things run more smoothly for all ages. If your children know what to expect next, attitudes tend to stay in check.
Teaching our children to pitch in with home management not only eases our own burden as homeschool moms, but it also provides them with important life-skills. Our children gain a sense of personal discipline and confidence when they take responsibility for a task and see it to completion.
Teaching multiple children at different ages can sometimes feel difficult to manage. Sonlight makes it easier by dividing our curriculum into two types of subjects: Couch and Table Subjects. Learn more here.
