DIY Educational Games from Recycled Materials for Earth Day

Want to encourage cooperative learning among students? Want to develop hands-on games and teaching materials? Need fast, easy, cheap homeschool materials? Need active learning games to help students learn content? Want to use recycled materials to make teaching tools? Whew, that's a long order. But no worries--I've got you covered. Here are homemade game ideas using recycled materials--perfect for Earth Day! DIY Educational Games: Easy and Cheap to Make from Recycled Materials

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

Choosing Best Kids' Toys and Christmas Presents

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is buying gifts for kids. I love choosing toys, but I'm very picky. I demand that toy gifts I buy have some intrinsic educational value. And there are a lot of junk toys on the market. How do you wade through the chaff to find the best gifts for kids? Focus on interactive, active and hands-on. Avoid anything with a screen and battery! Here's the complete guide from a 25-year veteran teacher and 24-year mom of four.  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 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.

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 

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

How Facebook dulls kids' communication skills

Kids and computers--this can be a really unhealthy combination, especially with social networks. Setting aside the cyberbullying and vulnerability concerns (and those are bad enough), excessive social interaction desensitizes children and adolescents. It dulls their face-to-face communication. It impinges on their ability to form real-life relationships.

I know, it's fun. I enjoy Facebook too. But digital interaction is a thing which should be enjoyed only in small quantities. It should never replace real-time social interaction. Virtual interaction is fraught with pitfalls (trumped up drama, stalking, emotional blackmail, to name a few). I don't say these things don't happen face-to-face, but they're easier to spot and avoid. Call me reactionary or out-of-touch, excessive Facebook is a dangerous and unhealthy. Read about more at  How Facebook dulls kids' communication skills

Free Printable Rango Coloring Pages and Desert Craft Activities

Rango is the pseudonym of Lars, a pet chameleon who gets lost in the Mojave Desert. "Rango" is also the name of a movie featuring the rambunctious lizard. From timid critter to terror of the west, Rango finds himself drawn into the problems of a thirsty townsfolk of Dirt. If you like the movie "Rango" here are free printable crafts and coloring pages from the film. I've also included links for desert habitat crafts, dioramas and lessons. Read more at Free Printable Rango Coloring Pages and Desert Craft Activities 

Free Printable Christmas Decorations

Free Printable Christmas Holiday Decorations Finding yourself cash-strapped this holiday season? No extra funds for decorations? If you like filling your home with Christmas cheer but can't afford to, you need free printable Christmas decorations and crafts. Print from your computer for inexpensive holiday decor. These make great children's craft projects, too. Want to get double the fun from these crafts? Print in black and white and color them yourself. Read more

Free Printable Sudoku Games and Online Sudoku

Free Printable Sudoku Games and Online Sudoku What is sudoku? Sudoku was invented in 1979 and is similar to solitaire and word search. Players must fill in number one to ten in vertical and horizontal rows. Here are free printable sudoku games and online sudoku. Sudoku boards range from easy to very difficult. Read more

Free Printable Zhu Zhu Pets Coloring Pages

Zhu Zhu Pets are interactive, collectible hamster toys, named Mr. Squiggles, Chunk, Patches, Num Nums and PipSqueak. There are Kung Zhu Ninja pets and Zhu Zhu Pets Rock Stars named Kingston, Pax, Ryder and Roxie. Here are free printable Zhu Zhu pets coloring pages. printable Zhu Zhu pets games

Free Printable Presidents Day Games

Are you looking for free interactive, educational online activities for children? I've just found a website with over 140 free online games, printables, crafts and activities. Activities cover all different cultures, events and periods is history. free Presidents Day games

Free Printable Christmas Games, Free Online Games

Picture this: the Christmas presents have all been opened, Christmas dinner is nicely settling and just when adults are relaxing, the kids want to play. Now is time to weave a little holiday magic with free printable Christmas puzzles and word games! Read on

Free Printable Tangled Coloring Pages, Games, Activities

Watching the previews for the newest Disney princess movie Tangled tells me that this isn't going to be your average boy meets girl, fall in love' Disney cartoon. Looking for free printable Disney 'Tangled' coloring pages. games and activities? Read on

Free Printable Peter Rabbit Games and Craft Activities

Free Printable Peter Rabbit and Beatrix Potter Character Crafts and Coloring Pages Beatrix Potter, born 1866, is best known for her kids book series The Tale of Peter Rabbit, featuring little woodland creatures. Here are free printable Peter Rabbit and Beatrix Potter character coloring pages and crafts. Read More

Free Game Site at AGame: Fun and Educational

Free Safe Online Game Website: AGame In the world of technology and online game play, it's difficult for parents to know which game websites have safer gaming options for children. Here is a game website that offers fun, free games for kids in upper elementary and middle school. Read More

Free Printable Charlie Bone Games, Activities

Free Printable Charlie Bone Games, Jenny Nimmo: Review and Free Activities In 2002, British author Jenny Nimmo gave us Midnight for Charlie Bone. The Charlie Bone books series has grown to six and is finding a delighted audience with children and teens. Here are links for free Charlie Bone activities and games. Read More

Free Printable Animal Games, Zoo Activities

Free Printable Zoo Activities: Lessons, Games, Puzzles, Learning Resources John Ball Park Zoo, in Grand Rapids, Michigan features a huge assortment of wildlife in a relatively small location. Most all zoos offer free printable zoo lesson plans and activities for teachers and parents. Free kids online zoo games and activities. Visit John Ball Zoo website or almost any zoo website for free printable activities and free online animal games. Endangered species, animal camouflage, animal classification, animal homes and babies. Read More

Free Printable Planet 51 Coloring Pages and Games

Free Printable Planet 51 Coloring Pages and Activities Planet 51, is Sony Pictures full-length cartoon movie. Astronaut Chuck Baker lands on Planet 51. The little green 'aliens' on Planet 51 live peaceful lives, but fear 'aliens' (humans). Free printable Planet 51 coloring pages. Read More