Showing posts with label free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free. Show all posts

Labor Day games for kids with American history lesson plans

Looking for Labor Day party games and crafts for kids? Here are U.S. history activities and educational patriotic party games. Use these for Memorial Day, 4th of July parties and American history lesson plans, too. Don't make games too competitive so everyone can have fun without pressure to win.

Labor Day Scavenger Hunt: List 20 American themed symbols: flag, scroll for Declaration of Independence, statue of Liberty, elephant, donkey, bald eagle, bell, stars, globe, penny, nickel, dime, quarter, star stickers. Collect items that represent American products: wheat, corn, cars, cattle, fruit. Collect logos of American companies. List 50 items to symbolize each of the fifty states. Put one of each symbol per child in a zippered bag. Hide them around the yard. Give each player a list and a plastic bag. As child finds each, he takes one and puts in his bag. Or put a piece of paper near each for him to sign his name as he finds the item. You could also do this with occupations, using symbols for jobs. 

Red, White and Blue Rover. Give each player a job title and divide players in two groups. Each group links hands and takes turns calling for one person from the other side to try to break through the chain. For example: "Red Rover, Red Rover, let the postal worker come over." For Memorial Day or 4th of July, give each player the name of one of the 13 colonies: Delaware, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, North and South Carolina, New York, Georgia, Virginia, New Jersey. New Hampshire and Maryland. For Veterans Day, use various armed services or military titles. 

Labor Day eraser tag. Divide into two teams. Assign a kid on each team job titles: two teachers, factory workers, etc. Kids place one of their shoes in the center of the circle. When their job is called, both children with title rush to grab their shoes and return to their lines without the other tagging. Award points like this: two points for getting your shoe back home without getting tagged. Three points if you get your opponent's shoe. One point if you tag your opponent before she's safe behind the line. 10 points if you get both shoes. Lose 5 points if you grab the wrong shoe!  For Memorial Day or Veterans Day, make two sets of signs with the six branches of the United States armed services: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard.

Labor Day charades. Write job titles on slips of paper and give to players. Choose active jobs like cashier, server, farmer. Each acts out the work performed. Students works in teams to act out and guess what job is being enacted.For 4th of July or Memorial Day, use names of famous Americans, events, movies, books in history. 


For more educational activities, visit my blogs DIY HomeschoolFree Lesson Plans 4U, Preschool Child Activities and Free Printable Holiday.

Free Father's Day Activities, Games Kids and Dad Can Do Together

Father's Day is about dads and their children spending quality (and hopefully quantity) together. It's not about fancy gifts or spending a lot of money or throwing the perfect bash. Kids should help out with planning. Keep kids productively busy, actively learning by involving them in holiday planning. Here are free or cheap activities, crafts and games the littlest of children can do with daddy.  Free Father's Day Activities, Games Children Can Do With Daddy

Free Kid Concoctions Science Recipes, Experiments

Kid Concoctions is a children's TV show that show kids how to make neat science recipes and concoctions using household ingredients. Kids love to muck about doing experiments from the kitchen cupboard? If you visit the website you can sign up for a free membership with access to printable chemistry experiments and special pricing on recipes and science equipment. I got a book and supplies set for $10!  It shows how to make putty, dough, glue, edible concoctions, paint, sidewalk chalk, flubber, gak splat (from the early Nickelodeon days), Oobleck, chemistry compounds, science goodies with everyday stuff.  Kid Concoctions: TV Show, Website, Books and Activities

Free Printable Story Starters, Picture Cue Writing Games and Prompts for Preschool NaPoWriMo

April is National Poetry Month in the U.S. Teachers, why not celebrate in school by hosting creative writer workshops with students? Parents, you can do with kids at home or make activities part of a homeschool lessons. Here are free printable preschool story starters, writing games and picture cue writing prompts to get the ideas flowing. Free Printable Preschool Story Starters, Picture Cue Writing Prompts

Bubblews is Like Facebook But You Get Paid

When I heard Bubblews likened to Facebook, I thought, no, totally dissimilar. Bubblews is a content site, Facebook is a social site. Bubblews earns money and Facebook time. I was wrong. Bubblews is more social networking than content. And you get paid for it. And kids can use it I Was Wrong! Bubblews Really is Like Facebook Only I Get Paid - News
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Free Printable Robotics, Physics Activities

Robotics and technology are popular themes in elementary and middle school science classes. Some schools have a robotics lab where kids can create inventions. It's part of their enrichment classes. If your school doesn't have that or if you're homeschooling, here are free printable robotics games, simulations, experiments, inventions, lessons plans. Most activities show kids how to design inventions using only basic household materials.  Free Robotics Activities

Free Printable Toddler Activities, Websites

Need to keep an energetic toddler occupied so you can get your holiday preparation underway? Here are 15 safe, school approved websites for young children. These sites are child-friendly, family-oriented and have lots of educational games and free printable activities for young learners. read more

Free Health Games, Printable Food Journals, Exercise Trackers

I don't know about you, but I find tracking my weight, counting calories and monitoring exercise boring. And I'm an adult. I feel sorry for kids trying to lose weight or improve fitness levels. But we're seeing the terrible toll that juvenile obesity is wreaking on our youth. Improved health, nutrition and exercise are crucial. What if we could address these health concerns in a fun, non-threatening way? How about about making them into games? Games make everything more fun (and less onerous!) Here are links for free online health activities written at kid level. They offer free printable food journals, online fitness trackers and nutrition planning tools. Websites are kid-friendly with games, quizzes, interactive activities and graphic cartoon novels. Geared for elementary to high school age kids, these programs teach self-sufficiency and basic life skills related to health.  read on

Free Thanksgiving Crafts for After Dinner Game Time

I've got admit--Thanksgiving is my favorite time of year. Oh I love Christmas and maybe it's the anticipation of those winter holidays that's part of what I love. But Thanksgiving has a je ne ce quoi all it's own.

Why not celebrate this joyous time by making cut and paste Thanksgiving crafts? Use with seniors in nursing homes, in day care, in school, church groups and with kids at home. How about free printable holiday crafts? Print turkeys, pilgrims, harvest, pumpkins for Thanksgiving cut and paste crafts. Keep busy hands and minds active making decorations, coloring pages, place cards, Thanksgiving greeting cards and thank-you notes. Need a child-minder for game time? Bust out these crafts, plus some scissors glue and crayons. Then sit back and enjoy the Rose Bowl (or whatever that game is? I'm not a sports fan :) Here are Printable Thanksgiving Crafts

Free Printable Diwali Games, Hindu Games

Diwali is the Hindu new year "festival of lights." Diwali is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. Diwali honors the deities of Lakshmi (goddess of prosperity) and Ganesha, the elephant-headed goddess (shown left). For five days, prayers and meditation, called puja (or pooja) are said. Diwali 2012 will be observed on November 13-17 in the western calendar. In the Indian calendar, Diwali is celebrated in late Ashwin (September-October) and ends in early Kartika, around October-November. Diwali is a time of feasting and fun. Here printable games to enjoy during this most festive season. Free Printable Diwali Games, Hindu Activities 

Free Printable Thanksgiving Word Games

Thanksgiving reminds me of family and how richly blessed I am. I also remember past Thanksgiving celebrations homeschooling my kids and with students I've taught. From special needs, to Montessori, from preschool to adult education classrooms. I always connect curriculum to the current season or holiday. Around Thanksgiving, we study American history, exploration, settlement, world religions, native American cultures and early technology. At our holiday parties, we play seasonal themed games. In 26 years teaching, I've made loads of games, puzzles, word searches, crossword puzzles, matching games etc. I use these games to connect lessons and content. Word games and puzzles also make excellent non-traditional tests. Happily, the internet provides us with all the free printables we could want. Here are links for  Free Printable Thanksgiving Party Puzzles and Word Games

Free Printable Doctor Who Coloring Pages, Crafts, Games, Activities

BBC's sci-fi show "Doctor Who" celebrates its 50th birthday in 2013. My youngest daughter discovered Doctor Who in 2005 when she was seven. The then-current Time Lord was the Ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston. The current Eleventh Doctor is Matt Smith. If you love galaxy hopping in the TARDIS, and battling Cybermen and Daleks here are free printable Doctor Who coloring pages to extend your adventures. Play online Doctor Who games. Use these free printable activities for a Doctor Who-themed party! There are also free printable Doctor Who masks for Halloween--the Weeping Angels, the Doppelganger Twins, Silence, Silurians, Peg the Doll and other enemies of the Doctor. Free Printable Doctor Who Coloring Pages, Crafts, Online Games, Activities 

Free Printable Animal Classification Bingo Game Lesson Plans

When homeschooled our kids, I invented this game to teach animal classification. I'm always looking for hands-on, interactive ways to teach concepts. To explore animal taxonomy,  habitats and life science and biology, we played animal bingo. My children had an impressive collection of stuffed animals, toy animals and plastic animals (Webkinz, Neopets, Beanie Babies, plus assorted other). I put that collection to use to teach KPCOFGS (Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Genus, Species). I used it in preschool to teach animal kingdoms (mammal, bird, insect, fish, reptile, amphibian). I used it for other science sorting games (nocturnal/diurnal, egg-laying/live birth, predator/prey). We learned about habitats, biomes, biodiversity, adapation, body covering and lots more neat science stuf. Here's how.  Homemade Animal Classification Bingo Game

Free Printable Native American Lesson Plans, Games

Here is lesson one in a unit on American natives. In this lesson, we will explore the culture of  the eastern woodland 'Indians' from the eastern seaboard region. We will look at cultural patterns, history, geography, peoples and tribal relations of this region. This unit is multisensory, cross-curricular and can be used and adapted with many ages and grades. This unit addresses history, geography, culture, core democratic values, math, art, literature, science, music, reading, writing and media skills. I've included web resources, books, music and materials you'll need. You'll find free printable native American activities, games, lesson plans.

Free Printable Apple Activities, Apple Games for Fall Preschool Lesson Plans

Apples are a popular theme for fall lesson plans, especially for preschool lessons. Looking for apple activities? Have I got a great sweet treat for you--a plethora of free printable apple-themed fun. This booklet includes apple math activities, science puzzles, social studies lessons and history extensions. There are printable creative writing prompts, word games and more. Free Printable Apple Activities for Fall Preschool Lesson Plans 

Free Printable Hunger Games Book, Movie Activities

It's an understatement to say that "The Hunger Games" book trilogy, by Suzanne Collins, has taken the world by storm. "The Hunger Games" movie blasted to top spot when it came out in March. The saga continues in "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay" which don't stay long on book shelves. Planning to teach a unit on "The Hunger Games" books or movie? Why not incorporate these free printable activities and host a Hunger Games party or simulation. Here are free printable lesson plans and activities for several different content areas. As for age level, the movie is acceptable for most ages, but the books are a bit graphic. I recommend using "The Hunger Games" series with kids over 12. Read on Free Printable Hunger Games Lesson Plans

Last-Minute kids Party Games, Activities Ideas

You've been planning this birthday party for months. It's her fifth birthday. All her friends are coming and you've got a great outdoor theme. Games and decorations are set to go. Suddenly, those big old clouds in the sky let down with a torrential rainstorm. Nothing about rain in the forecast. You've got no back up plan. And twelve little girls are coming over in a half an hour. What do you do? Here's my no-fail last minute party planner to bail you out.

First, don't panic. Your little girl is already tense and nervous about her party. She's probably crying right now watching those balloons and streamers getting soaked. Dry her tears and tell you that this is perfect because now you can have your "super-dooper, extra especially cool party" that you had saved to surprise her. Call the neighbor or grandma and tell them to take the birthday princess out for an ice cream cone. Meanwhile, you call all hands on deck for an emergency party game planning marathon in overdrive. Here are 12 party games and activities the little party goers will love. Last-Minute Birthday Party Activity Ideas 

Best Free Online Spelling, Vocabulary Games to Boost Reading Skills

Looking for free online reading games and spelling activities? I'll share links, but you have to promise not to tell anyone about my secret. See, I have a confession to make--I love online word games. For all the articles I write warning parents and kids about the dangers of obsessive game playing, I should be the last one to fall prey to online gaming. But I admit there are advantages. Playing word games helps boost my visual tracking, perceptual acuity and typing skills (or so I tell myself). Mostly, I use them as a brain break from writing and research. For  great reading games (for kids and adults) click here Best Free Online Spelling, Vocabulary Games to Boost Reading Skills

Free Printable Winter Olympics Coloring Pages and Activities

The 2012 Summer Olympics are being held in London, England. The Olympics is international, multicultural; studying the Olympics is an excellent lesson plan. Explore the Olympics with these free printable lesson plans.  There are activities, coloring pages and games based on the events, too. Read more at Free Printable Winter Olympics Coloring Pages and Activities

Free Printable Brave Games, Coloring Activities

Looking for a new Disney princess that's not quite as sugar-coated as the standard fare? Why not check out Merida from Disney's newest Pixar release "Brave?" Merida is definitely no Cinderella. She's more akin to Lady Macbeth (minus that nasty business of murder) that Sleeping Beauty. If you liked the movie "Brave," which premiered on June 10, 2012, you'll want these free printables, reading games and coloring pages and activities from the film.  Free Printable Brave Movie Games, Coloring Activities 

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