Fun Farm Unit Part 2 {NEW}

Fun Farm Unit

Part Two

Ducks: 

Field Trip:  Duck Pond
For this part of the unit... I took my son to a duck pond.  It was an early, slightly windy evening therefore, it was a great time to feed the animals, walk around, and socialize with friends.  On this particular night the animals were obviously very hungry.  The crowd gathered around as though they were 'starving'.  They were actually taking the bread out of our hands before I could even reach my hand out.  As soon as we walked up to the pond~ duck galore.  They were coming from all over the place...behind the trees, out of the water, from all sides, and more.  Through all of that, my son enjoyed himself very much.  To my surprise on the other hand; I was rather pleased with how well the animals behaved towards all of the people, especially towards the children.  They weren't aggressive.  Unfortunately, we only brought one loaf of bread... apparently, it wasn't enough.  Needless-to-say, exploring the area, looking at the ducks, and observing the various things that were happening all at once was a wonderful visual lesson within itself.  Things such as the turtles swimming around, ducks walking straight up to us, and observing the other little children that were doing the same thing ~ all priceless within it's own natural way.  Personally and professionally speaking, I find by doing such things demonstrate as to why I chose to home school in the first place.  The basic fact, that 'field trips' are hard to come by within the educational system.  To explain - a teacher would have to find parental support, sometimes money, transportation, permission slips (ohhh! those dreaded slips!), and a whole lot more that goes into effect when thinking of taking 30 plus students somewhere.  I know!! I have done it many times.  However, when all said and done - the adventure was worth it!


Read:  Dimmity Duck
This is a very cute story! My little guy loved listening to it over and over again!! It's a story about friendship, fun with another friend, and differences! Another simple read ~ 'The Duck Says'

Craft:  Making a Rocking Duck!

My little one enjoyed making and playing with this  It does require some help. 

Materials that you will need:

• Two paper plates
• Washable Orange and yellow paint
• Smock and paintbrush
• Tape
• Tacky glue
• Wiggly eyes
• 1 1/2 paper plate
• 1/2 sheet of white paper
• pencil
• Felt - cut a triangular piece that would be big enough for the ducks beak.

Directions:



1.  Fold one paper plate
(The body of the duck.)
2.  Paint the plate
3.  Wait until it dries.

4.  Cut the second paper plate in half. 
Fold one of the halves.
(This will be the wings on the duck.)
5.  Paint and wait dry.
6.  Tape on top of the body

 

 

Read~

By:  Vasha Bajaj ~Illustrated by:  Ivan Bates

A nice little book about a mothers' love!

Craft:  Making a Chick

Materials:

 - 1-2 Yellow puff balls

 - Tacky glue

 - Small Wiggly eyes

 - scissors

 - plastic golf ball

 - small triangular piece of orange felt

 - yellow pain

- white paper

Step 1:   Paint the golf ball.

Step 2:  Glue the yellow pom-poms all over the golf ball.  Set to dry.

Step 3:    Glue the felt on the feet, (felt) nose on the face, and wiggly eyes on.

Step 4:  Have fun!

Read ~ Chick to Hen

            By: Discovery Kids

This book review the chicks life stages from egg to hen.

~ Read:  Duck & Goose

   By:  Tad Hills

~ An adorable story of two friends who go on a journey in order to figure out something.  Duck & Goose are just two funny little characters that make reading enjoyable!

Chick Walk!

Materials

1.              2 (Two) Paper Plates

2.            Markers or crayons

3.            Scissors

4.            2 (Two) Brads

5.            1 (One) large wiggly eye

6.            Tacky glue

Step 1:

On the plates outline, color, and cut out the circles.  Make one circle bigger than the other.  

Step 2:

On the second plate draw four feet connected. (Does not have to be perfect!)

Step 3

Cut out the yellow circle from the first plate. Use the left over plate pieces for the wings.  (Shape them – rounded at the bottom and pointed at the top)

Step 4-- Color the circles, add the fasteners, glue the wings, beak, and wiggly eye, and finally tape the straws.

 

Math ~ Graphing!

I love using manipulatives when teaching various math concepts.  I have had the pleasure of witnessing the growth and ‘a ha’ moments come alive within so many little ones!  They essentially are educating and developing knowledge through visual stimulation.  Something in which creates a stronger sense of understanding, expansion of knowledge, and an overall lasting impression.  

Common Core:

CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C. :  4 Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask and answer questions about the total number of data points, how many in each category, and how many more or less are in one category than in another.

. 

~ Fun

~ Imaginative

~ Learning through the eyes of a child!

I thought that this photo was cute!  My little guy set the lesson up in order to graph!

First we read all of the words and placed the animals accordingly.

  

We counted all of the animals one by one and then, graphed.  Example – counted all of the cows then, graphed. 

Next – we discussed which one had more, less, and equal.

   ~Read 'Nibble Nibble' by Margaret Wise Brown and 'You're My Little Bunny' by Claire Freedmon

Both are wonderful illustrated books that demonstrate softness and whimsical  bunnies.

 



Sponge paint~

I find that allowing a child to be creative and artistic within their own personal fashion sparks interest, independence, and yes, imagination! 

Language Arts & Writing! 'Barn Booklet'

Common Core:

Print Concepts

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.1 Demonstrate understanding of the organization and basic features of print.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.1a Follow words from left to right, top to bottom, and page by page.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.1b Recognize that spoken words are represented in written language by specific sequences of letters.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.K.1c Understand that words are separated by spaces in print.

This part of the unit clearly focused on reading the appropriate books and writing.  To explain, we read stories that fit the topic of the day.  Meaning, if we were talking and learning about horses...we then, wrote our sentence about horses verses doing the entire 'Barn Booklet' together. 

 

Furthermore, it must be known that I was able to find a 'barn' template online at abcteach.  However, I made the lesson that surrounded the topic... such as found pictures, books of the animals, and so forth. 

 

Read~

Common Core:CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

More fun books to include within the unit! All enjoyable, interesting, and loving.  My personal favorite out of this group was and still is...'Going to Sleep on the Farm'.  It reminded me of my little guy due to that he asks a lot of questions about everything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I hope that you enjoyed the entire ~Farm Unit~ as much as I enjoyed completed everything with my little guy!

NOTE: ALL projects were personal projects from Creative Little Apples!  All of the ideas/projects/thoughts were original.  *Unless - noted.  Specifically speaking - 'the Barn Template.'


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God Bless!!!
 

 

 

Blue Track!

 

Around midnight, I was going through the ‘Thriving Family’ magazine by Focus on the Family (August/Sept. issue).  Usually this particular magazine has a few useful resources, interesting ideas, and other educational tips.  Like many other things that I randomly read I try to store them in my brain and so forth (I don’t know why…I usually forget about them).  Well, this very early morning was different.  I looked on the page, saw something very easy and “creative” to do for my son, and went on the search for blue painters’ tape.  I love the fact that this particular activity did not require a lot!  I took the tape, placed it on the floor in order to make roads and so forth.  I did however; expand the original idea from the magazine a bit further.  Meaning, I wanted my son to use his own personal imagination as to where things should be located, how wide the roads should be, and more.  Simple, fun, and very easy!! Just grab some blocks, cars, and various other toys that may be amusing to play with. 

Later on:

Around 8:40ish… I started to slowly wake up.  (I’m far from a morning mama!) It was quiet in the house until.... “Vroom, vroom, vrooooooom!”  I secretly smiled.  I waited to get up.  I was listening to a little five-year-old have fun with his blue track of fun on the floor.  Oh, the things that make my heart smile!!!  

Space Picture!

 

Puffy Moon!

Laura Strickland (c)

 

  

This particular craft was done at our local library.   It was both simple and sticky.

 

 

 

Common Core:  First Grade Science

Earth Science:  Earth in the Universe

1.E.1.1 - 1.E.1.2 :  Recognize the features and patterns of the earth/moon/sun system as observed from Earth. 

- The goal was to discuss, create, and recognize the differences between the earth, moon, and sun!!  This activity will mainly focus on the moon.

• Materials
• 1/2 cup of glue
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Glitter glue
• Shaving cream
• large popsicle stick
• Different color crayons (lighter the better)
• Template of a rocket ship (you can draw this part)
• A few sequences
• Glue stick
• Thick construction paper (You can glue two together)



Directions: 
Mix the above items in a small bowl. 
1/2 cup of glue
1/2 cup of shaving cream
2 Tablespoons of Glitter Glue 
*Mix until it feels and looks thick and puffy!

My little one enjoyed  coloring the rocket ship and drawing the stars.  He was very particular about the overall look of the picture.  Meaning, he wanted everything in a certain spot.

He didn’t really care for the white puffy moon part.


 

Add a small drop of the mixture on the paper then, attempt to smooth! 
Not very easy!  It's almost like melted cheese.  

 




(Which did not surprise me.)  My son is definitely a child that does not like his hands dirty.  Once the craft is completed ~ allow to dry and it should glow in the dark.   

Afterwards ~

We discussed the entire project!  My son absolutely loves talking about space ~ especially the sun, moon, and stars!   (Basically, he enjoys talking!)  In addition to the entire subject, we started viewing the moon every night for the purpose of noticing the differences and more!

Have fun!
Feel free to look and print off the Moon Worksheet!
**If you like what you see ~ please leave a review!

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Graphics by: Laura Strickland

 



 

Homeschooling 101 <-- Joke

This brief input will basically tell what to and NOT to do - all while staying home and homeschooling your child. 

Who am I kidding!  I am the least person on the planet to advise anyone how to manage 'life' from the above.  The many hats one wears can and has been a semi functional juggling act.  That only a circus can manage well.   

My transparent realistic view from a few months ago ~

Know when it's Time to Stop!

I noticed that the day was a little different; due to the mood within the house.  The mom (surprise, that IS me!) woke up (once again) LATE.  This did not go very well with the rest of the family (it never does!).  Especially, when the little person needs to eat, learn, play outside....the list goes on. 

Like every other day, we still had to do our daily non-thematic lessons (reading, writing, math, etc.).  Reason being, we try to work around the dad's schedule, play dates, educational groups, church, and yes, life.  Which inevitably throws one up in the juggling world between teaching, being a wife, mother, attending functions, and trying to breath through it all.  Not-to-mention, if we go out, obviously, we are not going to do a 'full' lesson.  (Then, guilt bestows upon the mom.)  

Moving on! I proceeded to get a review book out for my son and I to start with ...That was when I realized, my son was tired (exhausted to say the least).  He sat back in his chair, started sucking his thumb, and closed his book.  This little four-year-old did not want to do anything.  I, of-course, said, "You can stand or sit to read.  This is what we are going to do today." His little blue eyes just looked at me.

So, instead of doing a stare down...  I got up, closed my book, told him in a soft tone to "stand up".  Which he did.  I took him by the hand and walked him to his room.  While doing so, I explained "We are tired today.  You need to get some rest."  Sure enough- he was. (He fell asleep...real fast!) 

The point of all of this was really a lesson of patience.  With that, I find both the positive and negative when homeschooling. 

In general, homeschooling, is and has been great.  Great, because you can stop.  One can get some time - often known as a 'break'(for both the teacher and student). 



 
Basically, 'breaks' I feel are a necessary attribute that absolutely assist within learning.  Using the appropriate typ of break either a restful one or what I like to call, a movement break greatly helps.  Depending on the situation- one allows you to sleep, quietly read, and/or look at a book while the other has you move around in order to release energy by incorporating fine and/or gross motor movements.  Both are important and both have been proven to work.  Once finished, one can always come back to the task. 

The downside for some people regarding all of this is that - it does take a lot of practice and patience.  More importantly, all need from time to time 'a break'.  I have often said that working with children in general requires a lot of patience, heart, and hard work.

In order to conclude- it must be noted that I did not put my son to bed because he was not doing the lesson it was because, I realized and acknowledged that he was tired.  Therefore, I stopped and allowed him to rest.  Afterwards he woke up refreshed and ready to begin.