“Jesus is the Light” Homeschool Advent Activity

Photo by Rio Calle

In our homeschool we had another successful Advent calendar activity today, and I just have to share it with you. I think that your children will enjoy this one just as much as mine did!

Supplies

Bible
Flashlights (one for each child)
Dark room
Lyrics to “Silent Night”

Bible Verse

“I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” John 12:46

Kids’ Activity

~Sing Silent Night.
~Talk about how you cannot see anything in the dark and that you can use a flashlight, nightlight, lamp, or a candle to see in the dark. Discuss how Jesus tells us that He is the light of the world. If we need help, He can light the way. He is just like the other things we use to light up the darkness. Jesus can show you what you what to do if you ask Him for help.
~In a dark room give each child a flashlight. Play flashlight tag. Walk around with the flashlights reciting the verse as you go. Have one child light a path for everyone else to walk. (The kids love doing this. Enjoy their laughter!)

Family Activity

~Put lights on the Christmas tree. Discuss how the lights represent Jesus. He is our light in the dark.

An Advent Calendar Activity Lesson Plan

We have started our Advent calendar activities in our homeschool! I have searched the blogosphere and seen a few different ideas for calendar activities. This is an example of a lesson plan for one of my Advent calendar activities.

Supplies:

Lyrics to “O Christmas Tree” (We only sang the first verse.) Or try these two sets of translations of the lyrics
Green paper cut into a triangle
Scissors
Glue sticks & white glue
Paper circles
Tissue paper
Pictures of Christmas trees
Yarn
Index card
Bible

Objective:

~To understand that God is ever-present & everlasting.
~To understand that we use an evergreen as our Christmas tree because it reminds us that God is always with us and will always be with us.

I wrote the following information on half an index card and put it into the Advent calendar.

Bible Verse:

~”Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” Psalm 41:13

Kids’ Activity:

~Sing “O Christmas Tree”. Discuss the meaning of the lyrics - the Christmas tree is always green and known as an evergreen. God is also ever-present. He will always be with us ans always love us. Use the following motions when you sing the song:

• Arms in a triangle over your head for “O Christmas Tree”.
• Stretch arms out for “How lovely are your branches.”
• Keep arms stretched and sway to the rhythm of the song for the rest of the lyrics.

~Make a Christmas tree. Look at pictures of Christmas trees and explain that the shape of the tree is a triangle. Use circles for the ornaments. Use yarn for the garland. Glue the Christmas tree onto another piece of paper: white for a snow scene, black for a night scene, or blue for a day time scene.

Family Activity:

~Choose a Christmas tree together.

A Few of My Favorite Christmas Titles

During Advent, my family reads lots of books about the true meaning of Christmas. I think that reading these books helps the kids internalize the”Good News”. Each book also acts as a springboard for discussions about Jesus and the story of His birth. Here are a few of my favorite titles that help establish the foundation of the true meaning of Christmas:

• God Gave Us Christmas by Lisa Tawn Bergren is one of my favorite books because it explains that Christmas is a gift from God. The book does not ignore the fact that many families keep Santa as part of their Christmas tradition, though. It stays true to the greatness of God and the miracle of Jesus.

• I love the simplicity and the authenticity of The Story of Christmas by Patricia A. Pingry. This book is bilingual, English and Spanish. It is easy enough for the youngest of readers to understand.
• The Christmas Story by Patricia A. Pingry is another book that tells about Jesus’ birth in an easy to understand format. The story is accurate as well.
• Another favorite Christmas tale is How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss. I love how the Grinch learns that Christmas is not about the gifts. Instead, he finds that Christmas is about family and love.

Painting Jesus

Are you teaching your children the names of Jesus in your homeschool? This video is a great way to expand on that lesson. (HT: Rose)

This video is powerful! I think that many teens would like it and be touched. I know that I was!

Advent Memory Verses for Your Homeschool

Photo by carulmare

I am looking for more memory verses to use in our homeschool as I prepare for Advent. We will study the Christmas story as found in Luke. I want to emphasize how miraculous Jesus’ birth really is and how God keeps His promises. I found two verses that are perfect.

Mary was told that she would give birth to Jesus even though she was still a virgin. Mary did not think that would be possible, but the angel, Gabriel, reassured her. He reminded her that it seemed impossible for Elizabeth to have a baby, but she was.

For nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)

I want my children to have this reassurance. God is big enough to do anything. He is in control of everything. He creates each of us out of nothing. He is amazing!

After Jesus was born, Mary was visited by the shepherds. This must have been another truly awesome experience for Mary. God kept His promise and Mary gave birth to a child, Jesus. God also told everyday people about Jesus’ birth in a fantastic way - through the angels. After meeting baby Jesus, the shepherds had to share the good news, but Mary had a lot to consider now.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19)

This verse is a good reminder to ponder Jesus’ birth on our own. Think about the miracle of Jesus. Think about the way that God used everyday people in this story. What does that mean to each of us?

Christmas Memory Verses

This Christmas I want C4 to memorize Scripture about Jesus’ birth. I think the experience will add to our homeschool devotion time and help her understand the Christmas story a little better. I also hope she holds the memory verses she learns close to her heart. One verse that I am considering is Luke 2:11.

11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

The scene with the angels visiting the shepherds is a beautiful picture. You can find in Luke 2:8-15. I am considering a few ways of presenting this piece of the Christmas story.

• I will present a puppet show of the scene using our Little People ™ or dolls.
• Act out the scene. I’ll have C4 assume the different roles each time we act it out. We’ll make our props, too.
• Make a diorama of the scene. I think this project will open up a conversation about each of the elements of the scene - the shepherd and their attire, where the angels are and what they look like, etc.
• Draw/paint a picture of the scene. This might make a beautiful piece of art work worthy of a frame.
• Listen to the Hallelujah chorus. We might also watch a video of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing the Hallelujah chorus.
• Read Christ is Born by Layne Haacke. This book includes illustrations for the Christmas story found in Luke.

A Thematic Unit Study: The Mitten

In my last post I write about creating a thematic unit study with one of my favorite books, Bear Snores On. Continue to enhance your homeschool curriculum with another one of my favorite winter themed books, The Mitten, by Jan Brett. This is a beautifully illustrated book and a silly tale that you and your children are sure to love.

• Study folktales and fairy tales. This website has great definitions, history, and examples for a unit study.
• Learn about the Ukraine and create a travel brochure. Lonely Planet has some interesting travel information about the Ukraine.
• Complete an author study on Jan Brett. She really is an interesting author/illustrator. You could read some of her other books and study her writing style. You could also visit her homepage and use the free activities and projects listed there.

Enjoy another good winter read with your children!

Do you have any other ideas for how you could use this book?

Thematic Study Ideas: Bear Snores On

Photo by memekode

Winter is fast approaching and there are many books and activities that you can enjoy to enhance your homeschool curriculum. One of my favorite books is Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson. Bear is in a cave hibernating when all sorts of animals discover the cave as a place to warm up. Here are a few ways that you can use this book.

• Learn about hibernation.
• Learn about nocturnal animals.
• Learn about mice, hares, badgers, gophers, wrens, ravens, & moles. They are all included in the story.
• Work on rhyming words ending in the “air” sound (bear, lair, share, hare).
• This book includes repetition as a poetic device. Have your child write poetry using this device.
• Cook the foods featured in the book. Make stew, white popcorn, black tea, and honey nuts.
• Build a model bear’s den.

Have fun with this great book! Do you have any other ideas for this particular book?

My Christmas Tradition: Reading the Christmas Story

Photo by krisdecurtis

This is the first in a series of posts about Christmas traditions.This is one tradition that my family has started.

My husband and I, for the most part, are the only Christians in our family. We are trying to be salt and light to our families, especially around Christmas. It is important to us that our children understand that the reason for Christmas is Christ’s birth and not Santa Claus coming to our house.

On our third Christmas together as a family I decided that I wanted a very real way to express the reason for Christmas.

I actually got the idea for how to bring Christ into our Christmas from a powerful Christmas celebration put together by the church we were attending at the time. During this celebration, the entire Christmas story was read from the Bible as the orchestra played and the choir sang Christmas songs. There were even dancers behind a screen using creative movement to express the meaning. After seeing that, I decided that we were going to read the Christmas story in its entirety from the Bible. Unfortunately, I cannot provide the same kind of presentation that our church had, but at least my family can marvel at Christ’s birth every year.

I used Bible Gateway to locate all of the Scriptures. Then I printed them out and made booklets for each person in the family. I also added a nativity scene on the front cover. We took turns reading a few verses at a time. It was the first time my extended family had heard the real Christmas story. They always felt like they knew it, but after reading the actual story from the Bible, they realized that they were missing pieces. I felt like it was a huge success!

This will be the fourth Christmas that we read the whole story together. As the children get older, I hope that they grow to love hearing this story and anticipate it every year.

Homeschoolers, Make Math Facts Fun!

Photo by Dicemanic

Learning math facts can be boring and tedious. Here are a few ways that you can make learning them more interesting in your home school. Trying these ideas might motivate your children to memorize those facts instead of counting!

Photo by apesara

• Teach fact family trees. For example, one fact family tree is 2,3,5. 2+3=5, 3+2=5, 5-3=2, 5-2=3. It also works for multiplication and division - 2,3,6. 2×3=6, 3×2=6, 6÷2=3, 6÷3=2. Remembering three numbers is an easy way to memorize the basic facts. Also have your child write the equations on trees with the three numbers written on top.

• Practice addition facts by playing dice games. Create a game board and game pieces. Roll the dice and add the two numbers together. Move that many spaces forward on the board.

• Another way to practice addition facts is to play “Make 10″ with a set of cards numbered 0-9. It is played just like “Go Fish” except you add two numbers whose sum is 10.
• Practice multiplication facts by playing “Circles and Stars”. Roll a die. Draw that many circles. Roll the die again. Draw that many stars in each circle. Write the equation that your picture represents.

Have fun learning basic math facts by making a few simple changes in your homeschool curriculum.