We have updated our Memorial Day Holiday Helps page.

You will find background information and history, activities, crafts, lesson plan ideas, a recommended book, and notebooking pages to help you and your family make this Memorial Day a special day of remembrance.

1. Fight fallacies.
2. Plan on ways to get the most out of the literature you read as a family.
3. Visit Mt. Rushmore — virtually — and celebrate its authorization (March 2).
4. Begin a course in Latin.
5. Start thinking about evaluation techniques.
6. Celebrate the first transmission over the telephone (March 10).
7. Begin thinking of fun ways to incorporate geography next year.
8. Watch our country grow!
9. Celebrate Maine becoming a state (March 15).
10. Spring cleaning:  Organize all of those free eBooks!
11. Wear the green during a St. Patrick’s Day unit study (March 17).
12. Plan fun activities with your preschooler.
13. Find time — free!
14. Plan your evaluation interviews.
15. Celebrate the launch of the first Vanguard satellite (March 17).
16. Liven up the place with classical music.
17. Celebrate the birth of Bach (March 21).
18. Develop your young investor.
19. Celebrate the birth of Fanny Crosby (March 24).
20. Think of ways to add music appreciation into the mix next year.
21. Inspire your young children to write — before they can.
22. Celebrate the birth of Edwin Drake and the first oil well (March 29).
23. Learn how to play the harmonica.
24. Visit the Eiffel Tower — virtually.
25. Help them remember to love.

Presidents Day, February 18, 2013

We have updated our Presidents Day Holiday Helps page.

Resources include historical information, interactive sites, biographies, art resources, units, lapbooks, notebooking pages, copywork, crafts, activities, and recommended literature to help you and your family celebrate Presidents Day!

Christmas Around the World Unit Study and Lapbook Printables takes you through the countries of Argentina, Australia, England, Ethiopia, France, Israel, Mexico, the Philippines, Sweden, and Switzerland. Each country has its own download including book lists, geography, traditions, songs, recipes, crafts, and lapbook printables.

A general file includes foldables useful for comparing and contrasting the traditions in the different countries studied and pulling the study together. A file folder game is included for review.

This well-researched and thoughtful unit is perfect for the Christmas season. And it’s free!

These Christmas Mini-Books for Lapbook from Electic Education cover the following symbols of Christmas (each is an individual download):

• Bells
• Candles
• Candy Cane (the shepherd’s staff)
• Decorating the Tree (ornaments)
• Holly
• Jesus in the Manger
• Mistletoe
• Poinsettias
• Presents (gifts)
• Reindeer
• Santa Claus (St. Nicholas)
• Shepherds
• Star
• Stockings
• Tree
• Wise Men
• Wreath

Each mini-book has a beautiful cover showing a symbol, with space for a drawing and lines to write the history/meaning behind the symbol on the inside. You could also use this “history” space to record:

• What was learned.
• What the symbol represents.
• Related Scripture verse.
• Favorite memory related to the symbol.

When folded and completed, these mini books can be glued inside a lapbook.

Although some of the symbols covered in A Blessed Christmas are not included, and there are a few mini-books not used in the unit study, these symbols of Christmas mini-books make a great addition!

Lap books are great projects that can be used to help students see a book, topic or event in a whole new way. The purpose of this lap book is to see the Birth of Christ from a new perspective.

The lapbook begins with a timeline that can be assembled. It then goes on to cover a few Christmas symbols:

• Angels – What do they really look like? We write a description based on what we find in selected referenced Scriptures.
• Presents – What gifts did Jesus receive? What do we know about them?
• Stars – We research the selected referenced Scriptures and write on each star provided the reference to a prophecy about Jesus.
• Carols – We copy a “Christmas carol” from Luke.

The lapbook also includes a chart for comparing the births of Moses and Christ. Beautiful artwork is provided in both black/white and color.

This beautiful Christmas addition also makes a nice supplement for A Blessed Christmas, a free unit study covering the symbols of Christmas.

You need 24 matchboxes, red paper, acrylic paint, and ribbon. That’s it!

As each drawer is pulled out on the appropriate day of December, it is put back in reversed. Then the image painted on the matchboxes shows.

The drawers can be filled with small treats and notes as suggested; or verses, clues to a scavenger hunt, or even the symbols of Christmas used in A Blessed Christmas unit study.

A fun project for the entire family!

We’ve added the matchbox Advent calendar craft to our Christmas (Holiday Helps) page, where you’ll find many other Christmas handicrafts and activities.

“A Blessed Christmas” is one of three wonderful Christmas unit studies by Karen Caroe that we’ve enjoyed throughout the years. We’ve added our own additional resources to round it out.

“A Blessed Christmas” focuses on Christmas symbols and their meanings.

Every Christmas symbol ought to point to the Lord Jesus Christ. Our entire focus for this season is on Christ, His character, our service to Him, and our opportunity to spread His light to others.

Karen Caroe, “A Blessed Christmas”

Designed to begin on December 1 and continue through the 24th, the unit includes ideas for celebrating Christmas and the twelve days of Christmas through January 6.

Suggested Activities

• Make a Symbols of Christmas notebook. This can be simple, one page for each symbol. With storybook paper, you can draw, illustrate, or paste the symbol at the top, and write information about the symbol below. You’ll find resources below.
• Copy the Bible verses under the symbol each day. Or use the Bible verses listed for memorization or dictation.

Day 1: The Advent Wreath

The Making and the Meaning of an Advent Wreath
Relatively simple instructions.

Day 2: Bells

Bell Ornament
Make a bell ornament out of a mini clay pot.

Day 3: Cards

Nativity Pop-up Christmas Card
Step-by-step instructions and easy for children to make.

Day 4: St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas
From In God’s Garden by Amy Steedman.

Day 5: Gifts

49 Christmas Shoe Box Stuffing Ideas
Ideas for stuffing a shoe box to send in conjunction with Operation Christmas Child sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse.

The Gift of the Magi (Audio)
Librivox version.

“The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry
Free download.

Day 6: Ornaments

Counting Your Blessings Ornaments
Neat and simple craft idea.

Christmas Blessings Mix Recipe
Yummy treat where each ingredient reminds us of a holiday blessing.

Day 7: Christmas Tree

Make a Paper Christmas Tree
Craft from Enchanted Learning.

Handprint Christmas Tree Craft
Another idea from DLTK with templates for ornaments.

Pinecone Christmas Trees
Make a Christmas tree from a pinecone! Craft idea from Hold That Thought.

Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree Recipe
Cinnamon rolls in the shape of a tree. Yummy!

Day 8: Candles

The Incandescent Light Bulb: A Mini-Unit
Our own mini-unit on how they work.

Sand Candle
Complete instructions for making your own Christmas candle.

Day 9: Wreaths

Make a Paper Wreath From Little Hand Prints
Great for even the youngest child.

Paper Plate Wreath
Simple activity from DLTK.

Gingerbread-Man Wreath
A wreath you can eat from Martha Stewart.

Day 10: Holly

Holly Napkin Holders
Simple, but elegant, from Martha Stewart.

Red Holly-Leaf Place Cards
Fun craft for children to practice and showcase their handwriting skills.

Day 11: Poinsettia

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola
Christmas favorite that tells the story of “The Flower of the Holy Night.”

Christmas Around the World Unit Study & Lapbook Printables
Includes a download for Christmas in Mexico.

Day 12: Shepherd’s Staff

Candy Cane Poem
Avoids the legend (which is likely untrue), but retains the object lesson.

Chocolate Dipped Candy Canes
A special treat with hot cocoa.

Day 13: X-Mas

Luke 2
In Greek for copying.

Christmas Celebrations Around the World
Scroll down to day 12 for Christmas traditions in Greece.

Day 14: Carols

Christmas
A selection of Christmas carols with lyrics and midi.

See resources below for Christmas notebooking pages that would work well for writing poetry.

Day 15: Carolers

Christmas Carol Book
Free songbook with 22 well-known Christmas carols. All it needs is a beautiful cover!

Day 16: Star

Find the Constellations by H.A. Rey
A favorite for learning about the constellations from the author of the Curious George series.

Stained Glass Star
Use as an ornament or hand on the window and let the light shine through.

Favorite Sugar Cookies
Our favorite for making stars.

Day 17: Manger Scene

Christmas Nativity
Simple nativity scene ready to print and assemble from Billy Bear 4 Kids.

Paper Nativity Set
Another simple set – one that can be colored, and one already colored for you.

Nativity Scene
Simple but beautiful and ready to color. (Scroll down to print the two .pdf pages.)

Day 18: Angels

Paper Plate Angel
Simple craft from Enchanted Learning.

Paper Plate Angel
The Martha Stewart version.

Day 19: Baby in the Manger

The Names of Jesus
You might want to refer to this other Karen Caroe unit for help with the names of Jesus and Scripture references.

Luke 1:26-56
Jesus’ birth announcement.

Day 20: Mary

Gabriel Visits Mary
One of the lessons from the free 325-Lesson Bible Curriculum at Calvary Chapel Children’s Ministries with coloring page, memory verse and activities.

Day 21: Joseph

Escape to Egypt
Another lesson from the free 325-Lesson Bible Curriculum at Calvary Chapel Children’s Ministries covering Matthew 2:13-23 with coloring page, memory verse and activities.

Day 22: Shepherds

Angels Appeared to Shepherds
From the free 325-Lesson Bible Curriculum at Calvary Chapel Children’s Ministries with coloring page, memory verse and activities.

Day 23: Lambs

The Sheep
From The Scripture Alphabet of Animals by Mr. Harriet N. Cook.

The Lamb
Poem by William Blake.

How to Make a Sheep Ornament
Cute idea and not too hard.

Little Lamb Cookies
From Martha Stewart. (Or use small mini-marshmallows, icing and chocolate chips to decorate cut-out or animal cookie sheep.)

Day 24: The Wise Men

The Wise Men
From the free 325-Lesson Bible Curriculum at Calvary Chapel Children’s Ministries with coloring page, memory verse and activities.

The Gifts of the Wise Men
This craft kit is no longer available so there is nothing to buy. But you can read the commonly accepted meaning of the gifts, and use the idea to create your own ornament.

Additional Resources

Christmas Symbols Lapbook
Doesn’t cover all of the symbols in the unit, but still a fun addition, especially for little hands.

Symbols of Christmas Mini-Books
Work great with this unit. Can be used alone or as a part of a lapbook.

However, another way to enjoy this site is simply to do an activity each day for the 25 days of December – no matter what day they may fall on.

Never fear, most of the links are still working and there is more than enough to do on each day! To give you an idea of all that is provided, each day includes:

• Advent candle activity
• Bible verses for study
• Jesse Tree verse and symbol
• Article or devotion
• Discussion idea
• Word to know
• Book suggestions
• Art appreciation
• Christmas carol
• Holiday tradition and history
• Christmas around the world
• Coloring pages, cooking, and crafts
• Christmas fun
• Movie recommendation

As with most things, not every activity or suggestion will be right for your family. No problem, there is plenty to do! So pick and choose what fits you.

If nothing else, you’ll pick up great ideas to create your own special Christmas studies, traditions, and activities this holiday season. Perfect for the DIY Homeschool mom!

“The Daring Ride of Portuguese Phillips” by Amy Puetz tells the tale of a group of soldiers guarding Ft. Phil Kearny who found themselves surrounded by Indians around Christmas time.  One of those soldiers needed to get help from Ft. Laramie, over 200 miles away.  But who would be brave enough to make the trip?  “Portuguese Phillips” volunteered.  Through blinding snow, freezing temperatures, and despite being spotted by Indians, Portuguese Philips arrived at Ft. Laramie during a Christmas ball and returned to Ft. Phil Kearny with reinforcements.

You can read the entire story of “The Daring Ride of Portuguese Phillips” by Amy Puetz in the Nov/Dec 2012 issue of Home School Enrichment Magazine free online.  (Just enter page 28 in the navigation box at the bottom.)  Study questions are included.

In the Hands of a Child has put together a free lapbook supplement to go with the story.  This 10-page download includes four activities with foldables covering history, geography and language arts.

Additional Resources

Famous Ride of Portuguese Phillips
From the Ft. Phil Kearny State Historic Site.

Ft. Phil Kearny
Background information from the Ft. Phil Kearny State Historic Site.

Fetterman Fight
Brief description from the Ft. Phil Kearny State Historic Site.

Fetterman Fight
Informational photo tour.

Red Cloud
Biography from PBS.

Ft. Phil Kearny
Map from PBS.

Wyoming
National Geographic map for marking route from Buffalo, Wyoming, to Ft. Laramie, Wyoming.

Hardtack
Recipe from the Food Network.