I love words and am always on the lookout for new ways to play with them.

Here is a great idea from TypePlay. The website's aim is to publish one million words that bring meaning through typography.



You have probably seen this sort of thing before - but what a great reminder.

How about trying to create your own words as a project? It would be a very visual way to remember spellings. A way of using visual mnemonics in homeschool learning.

Speaking of visual!

You know that I am always on the lookout for posters and visuals that I can use in homeschooling. I even have some free educational posters on the site for you to print out.

I recently spotted a nice site called InstantDisplay. Although a lot of the posters on the site are chargeable - there are enough free versions there to make a visit worth while. I thought you might like the language ones for example, but there are science, geography, history and literacy posters too.

Have fun!

Thinking of introducing your child to chess?



Kids Chess Academy looks like a great resource. Lots of lessons, lists of rules and even ways to play the game online.

The site is put together by Richard James who says:

"I've always been painfully aware that chess not only changed but probably saved my life. Without the outlet that chess provided as a way to meet and make friends with like-minded people I would have found the world very difficult to cope with.

So that's why I've devoted my life to teaching chess to young children, and why I've spent 10 years (so far) developing this website. Nothing other than chess would - or could - have had the same effect on me. I'm passionate about ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn chess, but also about ensuring that every child, and every parent and teacher, has access to coaching materials and advice to enable them to get the most out of the game."

I think his dedication shines through and the site is well worth a peek.

Papel Picado is the beautiful Mexican craft of paper cutting.
Photo courtesy timlewisnm

This craft does involve a chisel and a hammer! But hey, I encouraged you to try needlefelting and that uses sharp needles.

You can find Papel Picado instructions and a free pattern at Mias Craft Ideas. And do take a look around while you are there - she has lots of other fun crafts for you to try.

I have instructions for a nature doll on my site that we often sit and make just for fun. But I came across this neat woven doll from Journey into Unschooling.


Isn't she lovely? The doll looks easy to make with nice clear instructions on the website.

This is just the sort of thing you could keep in your bag to bring out at a picnic or on the beach when everyone is starting to flag and needs to do a quiet activity for a little while. Or try it with corn leaves or autumn grass for a neat fall activity.

I love to find unusual art projects to share with you and this is quite a neat idea. Using sticky tape to make art.

I first came across it at the site of Chris Hosmer who says he first saw it being used by car designers!



All you need is some colored tape and a board to work with. The beauty of this idea is that the tape should be removable (check this out on a small area first!) - so you can rework your designs. Try working on a canvas, a whiteboard, a wall or even the sidewalk.

This art is very simple and graphic, so start by looking through simple coloring books for design ideas.

Need more inspiration? Try this video:
Warning: Lori emailed me to let me know that one of the songs on this video contains cussing. My apologies - I missed it. Please turn your speakers off!

Several months ago my daughter tried Orienteering and really loves it.

I have been surprised at how family friendly this sport is. I thought it would be a lot of super-fit people charging around at top speed! But actually we meet a lot of families with buggies and toddlers, as well as older generations. It can be as competitive as you wish to make it - many people use it for an interesting stroll, finding checkpoints and polishing up their map reading skills.



Would you like to find out more about it? I have put up a new page all about orienteering for kids.

Remember those paper fortune tellers you used to play with when you were a kid?

Well here is an interesting educational take on the theme! These free science printables let the children make question and answer versions on different science themes.



I took a look around and also found these versions:

• Math Chatterboxes.
• Teaching money version.
• Learning to read idea.
• Nature walk printables.

Or why not get the children to design their own around their studies? You could use them to review math facts, history facts, for journal writing prompts, or state abbreviations.

I spotted this video of a wonderful space-themed marble run from What I Made.

Thought it might inspire you to have a try! Full downloadable instructions on the link above.

• Bar Balance. (Scroll down to see it). Math balancing games. Drop the blocks and use multiplication to maximize your score - but keep the bar balanced.
• Quadrus. Unusual tetris type game. Drop the shapes where you want them, making rectangles.
• Cargo Bridge. Physics type game where you must design a bridge that supports the weight of your cargo.

The Three Rs!

Resources, Read-Alouds, and Recommendations

We have found the pictures easy to follow although making substitutions for the lego parts we didn't have has been fun! There are other versions of this book, such as Simple Machines, but Fanastic Contraptions gives a wide range of different machines - lots of them incorporating movement.

Recommended for a technic lego lover in your life!

Agony Aunt!

A Helping Hand!