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Hands on activities

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 1:42 pm
by MommyMc
Can I just say that I am NOT a "hands on homeschooler"? We read a LOT of living books. We have always done generally short lessons in a wide variety of areas. I've used very few textbooks until I started Rod and Staff English for my DD when she was at the end of third grade (she's now finishing sixth grade). We've always included a lot of music in our homeschool. But I don't do art projects and I don't like "activities for the sake of activity." However, we have been doing many of the activities in Bigger and gradually adding more as we go along and we are LOVING it! I will be honest, my older kids don't always like it. They are not used to doing it. They would rather read the book, talk about it ad infinitum and then move on. My almost five year old is getting SO much out of the projects that he joins us for as well! Often, once we've done the reading, I send the 3 and 4 year old off to play or get a special activity out for them. But the 4 yo LIKES to do things with us and often asks if he can stay (and if does, the 3 yo wants to as well). He LOVED doing the Indian jumping game and remembers that it had to do with William Penn. He did a pretty good job making a map of objects in Unit 10 (I think...) and then when we were done, he took the objects and started tracing them on white papers as his own extra activity. He liked using potatoes as "type" for printing (I do NOT get paint out very often :oops: ). I had various sick kids during the time we were supposed to make the wampum belt. So we never actually did it. But we talked about it and the kids really want to go back and do it... and we probably will. (Review isn't a bad thing, right? ;) ) My 10 yo DS DOES get frustrated with the map-making activities as I used to give them "blank" maps to fill in and color for most of our geography activities prior to HOD. But, we are coming along. And I figure that my younger son has long enough before he gets to Bigger that he will still enjoy the activities with "fresh eyes" when he gets around to "his turn" to do them.

Thank you Carrie for making projects that my kids enjoy and remember but don't make me want to tear my hair out. :)

Re: Hands on activities

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:30 pm
by ncmomof5
I was just telling a homeschooling friend of mine about this very thing tonight. I told her about an activity I had done with my 5 yo in LHFHG, and she said, "You're such a good homeschool Mom." I told her it's not me. Before HOD, I always felt guilty because I didn't make time for activities. Now I am having such fun with my little guy in LHFHG and my 8 yo ds in Bigger. Yeah for doable Hands On! :D

Re: Hands on activities

Posted: Thu Mar 18, 2010 9:50 pm
by Mom2Monkeys
I just had to chime in to say "me too" on the not creative or very activity oriented with the kiddos. :oops: My kids are super happy that we actually DO the activities with HOD. And lots of times, I include the little ones with DD's activities in Bigger. They all LOVE it! And it's wonderfully meaningful, connected, and so easy to do so that it actually gets done!

Re: Hands on activities

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 9:52 am
by annaz
ncmomof5 wrote: I told her about an activity I had done with my 5 yo in LHFHG, and she said, "You're such a good homeschool Mom." I told her it's not me. :D
While I don't use Singapore, I use Carrie's math activities. My dh had commented to me on what a great idea this math idea was (it was with a deck of cards) and what a good teacher I was. He's so sweet. Of course I had to confess... :oops: it wasn't my idea it was Carrie's. :lol:

Re: Hands on activities

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 12:18 pm
by MommyMc
annaz wrote:
ncmomof5 wrote: I told her about an activity I had done with my 5 yo in LHFHG, and she said, "You're such a good homeschool Mom." I told her it's not me. :D
While I don't use Singapore, I use Carrie's math activities. My dh had commented to me on what a great idea this math idea was (it was with a deck of cards) and what a good teacher I was. He's so sweet. Of course I had to confess... :oops: it wasn't my idea it was Carrie's. :lol:
I did a LOT of "hands on" math things with my older DS. My younger DS is naturally more of a "hands on" guy and I haven't been doing nearly as much as I should. HOD is helping me to get back into that habit.

Re: Hands on activities

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 3:34 pm
by Carrie
Anita,

Thanks so much for posting your experiences! :D I must admit that I am not one to do projects or crafts on my own either. I love the idea of them but used to fall down in the day-to-day implementation. Then, I'd just get worn out and quit doing them altogether. :D

My poor oldest son is a very hands-on learner. He has been bodily-kinesthetic since he was a baby, and remains so even at age 14! Yet, he missed out on much of the hands-on that he would have thrived with due to my lacking the time and planning to get it together. :D The HOD guides are hugely influenced by my need to have short and sweet hands-on activities that do not take all day to complete and have easy household supplies (which are really within your household) and clear instructions. Even I get the actvities in the HOD guides done now! :D Praise the Lord for that as my other boys all thrive with the hands-on learning too. :D

Blessings,
Carrie

Re: Hands on activities

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:47 pm
by GinainMD
I am so thrilled to find a curriculum that says you can do the activities with "common household items" and actually means it. :D I found with so many others that I still had to read ahead and plan to buy items for the upcoming weeks. I'm much more likely to do the activities if the items are on hand.

Re: Hands on activities

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 10:25 pm
by Kathleen
Just had to join the crowd as another homeschooling family loving HOD's hands-on activities!! :D I love them! They're quick, easy, meaningful. My kids love them! They're FUN...and they get to DO them! We are oh-so-happy with this each and every week. (My oldest especially as he went through a few school years without HOD first. :wink: )

:D Kathleen

Re: Hands on activities

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 2:43 pm
by my3sons
Thanks HOD from another non-crafty mom! :D Actually, I guess I am somewhat of a crafty person myself, but I have not ever really enjoyed doing them with my dc. :oops: HOD helps my dc have fun, meaningful, DOABLE hands-on activities every day, and I enjoy them because my dc LOVE them. They are written for dc to be able to do, rather than for dc to have to have constant adult help and supervision to do them. One other thing - they don't have to set out for weeks on end; they wrap up in a timely fashion, which is a hit with my dh too as it helps the house be more orderly. :wink: They are definitely what I love taking pictures of, hanging on the fridge, or showing my dh when he gets home. What a stress reliever to have hands-on done well! :D

In Christ,
Julie