Ds6 really needs a break from academics for a time. Need suggestions for...

[Sue G in PA]

some educational but fun activities we can do to keep the learning going but take the pressure off. For a few weeks he's been adament about NOT doing his work. Eventually, most days, he does relent and do some of his work but it's usually late in the afternoon (when I'm DONE and less than patient!) or evening with dh. I've decided to give him his way and take a break, but still want to do some educational activities to keep his brain sharp, KWIM? Any ideas? He does typical first grade work (FLL, SWO A, Saxon Math 1, ETC 2,3). He loves dinosaurs. Loves playing computer games, Leapster. Would it be horrible to just let him play his Leapster and favorite educational computer games for a week or so? I won't compromise on his reading...we will still read together every day (him to me, me to him, etc.) and discuss the books. TIA

[Linda...inOwasso]

Oh Sue... I wish I could think of the brand name, but it's late and I can't!! My dd7 loves dinosaurs too and some company makes an archaeological kit with all the excavating tools and kids can work on uncovering the skeletal remains of all the dinosaurs. My dd loved these kits and they weren't very expensive either, but I cannot remember where I ordered them from! Maybe someone else will recognize what I'm talking about.

I absolutely would allow him to take a break and PLAY. As far as other ideas for educational fun... maybe do a week long in-depth study of dinosaurs... paint them, read about them, watch movies about them, play with them, etc.... And have a great time!!

[Ellie]

Would it be horrible to just let him play his Leapster and favorite educational computer games for a week or so? I won't compromise on his reading...we will still read together every day (him to me, me to him, etc.) and discuss the books. TIA

No, it would not be horrible to just let him play his Leapster and favorite educational games for a week or so. Even for a month or so. And if the weather permits, y'all should take a field trip or two, just for fun. And sleep in each morning :-)

[freethinkermom]

We have a cosmeo.com subscription. When one of us needs a break from formal school they can watch educational videos and play games there. I set up favorites folders for them filled with videos and games that correlate with what they are studying. My 6 year old loves it.

I have also been know to call "free learning" weeks. They have to do educational stuff, but it can be anything they want as long as it is on their own :) We usually start with a nice long trip to the library.

[Lorna]

That sounds a great plan.
How about a dinosaur lapbook (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/jaminacema/392138/)as a project?
Lots of board games for math would be fun too and cooking together (measuring ingredients) is also great.
Here is a great website with crafts and recipes that you might like to try (we have done them all and they all work beautifully):http://www.jamboree.freedom-in-education.co.uk/
Have fun!

[Closeacademy]

Yes, take a break. Check out some books on dinosaurs, play leappad, cuddle up and read together and enjoy yourself.

I find that some of the best learning happens when we are not actually doing school.:)

[Verena]

Hi Sue--

when we came off the Christmas break, I didn't want to jump back into academics either (I was too worn out, truthfully). So- we went to the library, checked out the Flat Stanley books, read them, then made 10 Flat Stanleys (just with plain cardstock, cut out) and sent him and a letter ds9 composed to friends around the world. We asked our friends to send us postcards from their country/city and to send on Flat Stanley to one other friend. We explained how it was that F.S. had gotten so flat and that he wanted to take a trip around the world in an envelope.
These days, postcards and letters are arriving and it is so fun to see where Flat Stanley has been :-).
All postcards will eventually be put into a big book and will serve as a (very loose) world geography launchpad.

Maybe your ds would enjoy something like that?

HTH!

[karensk]

Keep the morning hours for more school-ish (yet non-academic) things:
Have lots of dinosaur-related activities available--

dinosaur books
dinosaur activity books (someone mentioned lapbooks)
maybe a book on how to draw dinosaurs
dinosaur stickers -- make a picture w/them, draw in the background
dinosaur stencils
dinosaur playset

And some other fun learning activities--

listening to a story on CD
puzzles
building kits
learning games
art/craft projects
science experiment kit


Then have Leapster & other screen-type activities available after lunch.

[Beth in Central TX]

I'm sure there are many excavating kits out there, but my boys liked the ones by GeoSafari: http://www.discoverthis.com/trex.html

[SandraDumas]

is the School Zone workbooks with CD Roms. They include computer games that relate to the schoolbooks. You can save the schoolbook for a younger child in your house or family. Actually you can let him play it and then save it for Christmas for a younger cousin or something because the CD Roms are reloadable. They're pretty fun even though some of them are too young for a first grader. That might keep him busy for a while.

Also if you subscribe to Netflix you can get lots of great educational dinosaur DVDs and documentaries.

My son loves Leapster. It can get *pretty expensive* to buy new cartridges though so if you have a good reputation for returning things in good condition, you could borrow some from friends. I have friends that I would loan three or four cartriges to, and I know I'd get them back in good condition. I have other friends...

:o)

And the LIBRARY should have a million (ZILLION) educational DVD's, music and books. Bill Nye the Science guy is fantastic, as are Schlessenger Science videos. I also just love Reading Rainbow!

[Another Lynn]

While you're at the library you could grab some Magic Schoolbus Videos. Those are fun and we've learned some things from them too. I don't have any great "fun" suggestions, but I would definitely let him have some breathing room. Don't forget things like legos and lincoln logs - there's subtle thinking skills at work with those too!

[Cadam]

I like the games at starfall (http://www.starfall.com/) and here (http://www.iknowthat.com/com).

[one l michele]

some educational but fun activities we can do to keep the learning going but take the pressure off. For a few weeks he's been adament about NOT doing his work. Eventually, most days, he does relent and do some of his work but it's usually late in the afternoon (when I'm DONE and less than patient!) or evening with dh. I've decided to give him his way and take a break, but still want to do some educational activities to keep his brain sharp, KWIM? Any ideas? He does typical first grade work (FLL, SWO A, Saxon Math 1, ETC 2,3). He loves dinosaurs. Loves playing computer games, Leapster. Would it be horrible to just let him play his Leapster and favorite educational computer games for a week or so? I won't compromise on his reading...we will still read together every day (him to me, me to him, etc.) and discuss the books. TIA

He's a K'er this year (end of '07 b-day) and I've learned from my oldest that simply moving on to the next level when one is completed is not what I want for them. There is so much else to supplement with and explore that is for their age that is just if not more valuable. With my K'er he's reading well, writing well (& willingly), and just finished Horizon K math. He loves to draw. He's finished two of the Draw Write Now books, which also gives him handwriting and reading practice. He's now working on the Thinker Doodle Books and really taking his time and enjoying the process. I've also bought him a "Smart Easel" I found on clearance at Target, he has that set up in his room. He goes through puzzles like crazy, he does 500 piece puzzles in a couple hours alone. He eats up any time of thinking or visual skills books or games, although isn't crazy about the computer, he prefers hard copies. He has a fascination with monkeys, so we've been reading about a type, outlining a paragraph, then he uses that to write his own paragraph and add a drawing. He also devours arts & craft kits. Pearler beads are a big hit here, he espeically likes the idea books. We are doing Simply Stated, which has been a blast for all of us, especially the recipe we make from each state at the end of the week. This year I have covered the basics, but also made time to help each child explore their particular interests as well. They do cover school subjects with in those areas.