Archive for January, 2010
Instant Lessons!
Downloadable ebooks are a great way to have instant lessons! Find the book, add it to your cart, download and print!
Downloading workbooks is time-saving, money-saving and paper-saving because you need only to print the pages you want. It gives you a great opportunity to fill in lessons with ready-made worksheets, templates and more. Even novels can be downloaded which can be great when there is a hard to find or popular book to be read for that lesson. Sometimes it is worth downloading a book to see if it is worth buying it for keeps. Audiobooks can also be downloaded to a computer or MP3 player, allowing for stories on the go, or to help the audio learner. Downloadable ebooks make quick and easy lesson plans with just a couple of clicks of the mouse!
It is hard not to hear the news about the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti and although the pictures and stories are heart-wrenching some good can come out of the devastation. This would be a great time for a lesson based on helping others.
A geography lesson could be first, acknowledging where Haiti is on a map, understanding its culture and socio-economic status. A science lesson about how earthquakes are formed could be next. It would also be good to have a lesson about the Red Cross, how and why it was founded. A discussion about the word humanitarianism could then be followed by what we can do to help.
Obviously, depending on the age of the child, the lessons will only cover what their age group could handle. The important part of the lesson is to help them learn that they can get involved in helping others. Money can be saved whenever a certain task is done, or not done. For example, everytime you get a glass of water put a penny in the jar. This money can then be donated to the cause. A child could create a poster about a bottle drive or some other fundraising activity that will help them earn money to donate. They could even write a letter to relief workers who are involved in helping the country in crisis. An encouraging letter, or a letter of thanks could be a great comfort to all those volunteers!
It is good for children to learn about disasters although they don’t need to know all the horrible details. They should understand that things like this do happen, they should have an emergency disaster plan and they should understand that even the smallest of help can be a great comfort for those suffering.
The children of today can be the future leaders of tomorrow
In this world of technology there is more instance of children playing video games than board games. And although endless hours of gaming is not a good practice there are some learning advantages to video games.
Obviously, many subjects at different grade levels are offered through computer games but regular video games can teach too. The new technology of the Wii system allows for fun, fitness and learning as well as developing hand-eye coordination. Some games require strategy and logic to advance, keeping the mind at work. Many “Sim” type games offer chances of social interaction, worldly knowledge etc. from the safety of your own home. You can learn about finances, schedules and more through a simulated character. Even games that have a child looking after a pet can help to develop responsibility. And some games offer a chance for kids to join together in teamwork in order to win the game.
Although video games can be overpowering for many children, when played in moderation, they can provide a form of education as well.
History can be a subject that is overwhelming to learn. So many names, dates and events, it can cause children to shut down and not want to learn. It is important to make subjects like this come alive so that kids can enjoy studying them!
Plan a project on a favorite topic and combine historic elements into it. For example learning about horses can encompass many eras of history including medieval times and Native American culture. Field trips are also helpful for bringing history alive. Many historic sites have costumed interpreters that help kids understand how it was back then. Some places even have programs where children can dress up and “live” in history too! Art, poetry and music contain historic references that can be developed into a further project. And don’t forget unit studies, history can be followed in a unique way through a unit study. For example, early History of Canada can be followed through forts – this would take you through the fur trade, the War of 1812 and the North West Mounted Police encompassing all of the country!
Download your free toolbar today!