Chocolate Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
February 28, 2007

History

Long before the Hershey's bar and even before Columbus discovered the New World; the people of Mesoamerica enjoyed the cacao bean. Read more about it here:
http://www.helium.com/tm/186438/before-hersheys-before-columbus
Discussion Questions:
1. What kind of animal first ate chocolate?
Explore

Learn how chocolate is made:
http://www.hersheys.com/discover/chocolate.asp

Journal/Language Arts
Make a book about chocolate!

Cover http://www.abcteach.com/chocolate/title.htm

Unlined page http://www.abcteach.com/free/c/chocolatekiss2_m.pdf

Lined page http://www.abcteach.com/chocolate/shaprimary.htm

Phonics
Learn about “ch” blend

http://www.first-school.ws/t/alpha1_dn/digraph_ch.htm


Science
Melting Chocolate
See how quickly the melted chocolate sets in small molds. Use a stop watch to time it. And then of course eat them after the experiment!

Art

Have your child finger-paint with chocolate pudding or chocolate syrup.

Chocolate-Scented Play Dough
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup salt
1/2 tablespoon cream of tartar
1 1/2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 cup boiling water

Mix the dry ingredients.
Add the oil and boiling water.
Stir quickly, mixing well.
When cool, mix with your hands.


Music
Chocolate
I know a treat I like a lot
and chocolate is its name-o.
C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E,
C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E,
C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E,
And chocolate is its name-o!

Math Challenge
Don’t forget to take the math challenge to win prizes!

http://homeschoolingk.blogspot.com/2007/02/math-challenge-feb-28th.html
Feel free to forward this lesson plan!
Free Homeschool Lesson Plans

http://homeschoolingk.blogspot.com/ (k-3)

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/( 4-8)

Math Challenge Feb 28th

You have 3 candy bars, you share 1 with your friend, and your Mom gives you 2 more. How many do you have now?

Email me the answer to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

Polar Bear Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
February 26, 2007
Today is Polar Bear Day!

Read about how the Polar Bears live at the San Diego Zoo

http://www.helium.com/tm/184434/diego-founded-animals-housed
Discussion Questions:
1. Do the Polar Bears live in cages at the San Diego Zoo?


Check out the Polar Bears of Polar Plunge in action http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/ex_polar_bear_plunge.html

Learn more about the Polar Bear http://www.kidzone.ws/sg/polarbear/polar_bear.htm


Art
This Polar bear craft focuses on several concepts including: shapes, scissor skills, colors, and counting.

http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mcircle_polar_bear.htm

Math
1. When human babies are born, they weigh an average of 7 pounds. Polar bear babies weigh an average of 1 pound. How much bigger are human babies?
Practice some more math facts:
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/winter/t_math.asp?add.asp?au=19&al=10&bu=9&bl=0&d=v

Language Arts
Read this fun story about a polar bear. http://www.justimaginestories.com/polarbear.html

Don’t Forget the Math Challenge!
http://homeschoolingk.blogspot.com/2007/02/math-challenge-feb-27.html

For more Free Homeschool Lesson Plans

http://homeschoolingk.blogspot.com/ (k-3)

http://homeschoolingthemiddleyears.blogspot.com/( 4-8)

Math Challenge Feb 27

10 Polar bears sat on an ice berg. 5 went swimming. 3 came back. How many polar bears are on the berg now?

Math Challenge Monday Feb. 26

A chocolate chip cookie recipe requires one cup of sugar for every two cups of flour. If you use 12 cups of flour for a big batch of cookies, how many cups of sugar will you have to use?

Send answers to kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net Parents may help, but try to let your child figure it out on their own.

Weekly winner wins a Smencil. Monthly winner wins a $20 Barnes and Noble gift certificate! Good Luck

Dental Health Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
February 26, 2007
February is National Dental Health Month!

For the Parents: Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood ailment. Here are some tips for keeping your child’s smile healthy! http://www.helium.com/tm/182340/tooth-decay-single-common

History

Legends have it that George Washington’s teeth were made of wood! Read more about it here: http://www.helium.com/tm/182419/there-stories-about-first


Using what you have read, answer the questions on this worksheet!

http://www.themeday.com/tooth_ss_worksheet.htm






Journal
What do you think the tooth fairy does with all the teeth she collects? Where does she live? What does she look like? What does she do with all of the teeth she collects? Write a story or draw a picture about the tooth fairy in your journal.
Read this tooth poem
http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/311.html

Write your own tooth poem using this worksheet: http://www.abcteach.com/teeth/poem.htm

Phonics
Practice the oo sound heard in tooth

http://www.edhelper.com/phonics/Vowels15_1.htm


Math/Art
Make a tooth necklace. This is a good task for practicing measuring skills.
Mix:
1 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup clear glitter (optional, but makes it sparkle!)
1/3 cup water
Knead the dough to get out any lumps. Have your child flatten a ball of dough for each tooth they want to make.. With a finger have them make a dent at the bottom of the flatten ball. Make a small hole at the top of the tooth with a drinking straw. Bake at 250 for an hour or until hard. When each tooth has cooled, string them on a piece of yarn long enough so that the child can wear them around their neck.
Tooth candy patterns
Make your own patterns with this worksheet:
http://teacher.scholastic.com/max/tooth/activity.htm
1. John lost 3 teeth last month and 2 teeth this month. How many teeth has he lost altogether?


2. A baby has 4 teeth and then he grew 2 more. How many teeth does he have now?


3. The tooth fairy had 9 teeth in her magic tooth bag. One of the teeth fell out. How many does she have now?


4. A puppy had 7 teeth in his mouth and then he lost 3 of them. How many teeth does he have now?


5. Sue lost 5 teeth and her sister lost 4 teeth. How many teeth did they lose altogether?

Health/Art

Look through a magazine, cut out foods that are healthy for you and paste them on a piece of paper. On another piece of paper, cut out and paste the foods that are bad for you.

Check out the World’s Craziest Dentist’s Office. Can you find what’s wrong?
http://www.healthyteeth.org/experiments/colouring.html

Pyramid Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
Special Pyramid Edition

The pyramids have fascinated people since they were first built. Read more about them here: http://www.helium.com/tm/179426/pyramids-egypt-fascinating-breathtaking
Discussion Questions:
1. Are the pyramids big or small?
2. What are they made of?
3. Why were they built?

Take a tour of these majestic pyramids!
http://www.guardians.net/egypt/pyramids/tour_the_pyramids.htm

Have you got what it takes to build a pyramid? Play this game and find out!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/egyptians/launch_gms_pyramid_builder.shtml

Language Arts
Read a book and prepare a story pyramid as a review: http://www.tooter4kids.com/classroom/worksheet_story_pyramid.htm
Acrostic Poem
An acrostic poem is one where you choose a word or name and use each letter in the name as the beginning of a word or line that tells something about that person or topic.
Example: An acrostic poem using the word "Egypt"
Enormous
Giant
Years and years old, centuries even!
Pharaohs’ burial place
Tall

Now you try using the word PYRAMID
.


Math

Here is a math lesson on pyramids:
http://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/pyramids.html
This may be difficult for the younger kids, but with parents help should be ok. Have them learn what the different shaped pyramids are as well as the parts of the pyramid. Leave the calculations for the older kids 
Here are some worksheets to test their learning: http://www.eduplace.com/math/mw/background/1/08a/ts_1_8a_dev-2.pdf
And
http://www.eduplace.com/math/mw/background/1/08a/ts_1_8a_dev-1.pdf


Here is a fun maze to find the pyramids http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/soc_studies/egypt/maze/

20 Questions That Get Kids to Think

1. Why?
2. If that is true, what might follow?
3. How do you know that?
4. What is your point?
5. What is the reason for saying that?
6. Is it possible that...?
7. Are there other ways of...?
8. What are other ways we could view this?
9. Can you briefly summarize what you just read?
10. What/Who was important in the story? Why?
11. Explain your answer.
12. Can you state examples and explain why they are important?
13. Do you agree? Why? Why not?
14. How did you arrive at your answer or solution?
15. What are your "thinking" steps?
16. What facts support your view?
17. Can you think of other facts not given?
18. Can you apply these ideas to other situations or information?
19. Can you add information to the subject? Explain
20. Contrast the information with what you already know.

Heart Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
February 23, 2007
February is National Heart Month, and today we will learn all about this amazing organ!
To put it simply, your heart is a pump that moves liquid from one place to another. In the process, your blood supplies oxygen to your entire body. Learn more about the heart here: http://www.helium.com/tm/177121/moment-begins-beating-until


Discussion Questions:
1. About how big is your heart?
2. Whose heart is faster, yours or your parent’s?

Math
Heart Dot to Dot Worksheet

http://www.kinderplans.com/admin/images/dotheart.pdf

Heart Addition
http://www.abcteach.com/free/a/add_dots_hearts_bw.pdf


Science

Heart Coloring Page
http://www.childrenheartinstitute.org/kidsonly/heartflw.htm

Handwriting
Print out the “H” Book
http://homeschooling.about.com/od/langearlyread/ss/letterhcolor_7.htm
Trace the heart
http://www.handwritingforkids.com/handwrite/manuscript/shapes/heart.htm

George Washington Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
February 22, 2007

History
On this day in 1732, George Washington, our first president was born. Interestingly enough, George Washington was home schooled! Read more about George Washington here: http://www.helium.com/tm/175420/george-washington-first-president


Discussion Questions:
1. Who was the first President of the United States?

Journal
Make a chart with the titles "What I Think the President Does" and "What the President Really Does." Challenge your child to think about what they think are some of the tasks and responsibilities that the President of the United States has and record their suggestions. After hearing their suggestions, write a few responsibilities that the President has in the appropriate column such as carrying out the laws approved by Congress, appointing officials (or people that can help him run the country), and acting as commander in chief of the armed forces. Briefly explain these tasks in simple terms for them to understand, then compare the two columns to see if any of the suggestions match.

Math
Print an enlarged copy of George Washington's picture on the head of quarter. http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/pdf.htm?GeorgeWashingtonQuarter.pdf
Have your child glue this picture on the back of paper plate (or construction paper). Discuss that one quarter is worth 25 cents or 25 pennies. If your child can, have them write 25 cents on their paper quarter. Then turn the paper plate over. Provide a cup of pennies and have your child count out 25 pennies on to the paper plate.

For older children:
Using the pennies, see how many math facts you can make, write them on paper.

Language Arts

Read the poem following poem. Discuss the fact that the "Cherry Tree" is a myth.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

by Helen H. More
Everybody knows the story of the cherry tree-
His father asked, "Who cut this down?”
And young George answered, "Me!”
Now
that's a pretty story, but; Between just me and you,
I don't think George
would like it, 'cause,; It's probably not true!;
There are a lot of other
things George Washington did do:
Like making maps, and farming, and he
was a soldier, too!
He was our country’s president, the very first we
had.
Yet what do we remember? That old tree of George's dad

Art
Cherry Trees
Glue twigs on sheets of white construction paper to make trees. Let your child attach small red circle sticker "cherries" or use finger prints dipped into red finger paints.

Music
George Washington
(Sung to "Yankee Doodle")
One time there was a little boy
Who had a little hatchet
He looked and looked around to find
A little tree to catch it
At least he spied a cherry tree
His father's pride and joy
He chopped it down, right to the ground
My! What a naughty boy!
And then he heard an angry voice
It sounded like a cymbal
George knew he was in trouble great
And he began to tremble
Who cut this tree, my son did you?
His father asked the question.
Yes, it was I. I cannot lie.
I cut it with my hatchet!
Chorus:
Georgie, Georgie, no, no, no.
Be careful what you do.
Hatchets can be dangerous
And you might get hurt too!

Pet Care Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
February 21, 2007

History
Today is Love your pet day.
Today is Love your pet day. Read the following article about pet care:

http://www.helium.com/tm/174143/sharing-bring-years-enjoyment

Discussion Questions:
1. What should your pet wear?
2. Do pets need love everyday?

Reading
Print the First Pet Care Riddle Book:
www.first-school.ws/activities/occasions/petcare.htm

Journal
Discuss the following pet-care supplies. Why are they necessary? What would happen if one of these items were missing?
License home food water ID tag Leash
Have your child draw each of these supplies in their journal. Label their pictures with the corresponding word. Read each word together, connecting the picture to the word.
Music
Sing these songs with your child:
My Kitty
I have a little kitty (hold up first and fourth fingers as ears)
He is quick as he can be (make a quick, side-ways motion with hand)
He jumps upon my lap (cup one hand in the palm of the other hand)
And purrs a song to me

Frisky Puppy
See the frisky puppy
With whiskers on his nose
He wiggles his tail
And he bounces on his toes
When he gets hungry
What do you suppose?
He grabs a tasty bone
And away he goes

1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Fishes
(To the tune of 1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Indians)

1 little, 2 little, 3 little fishes,
4 little, 5 little, 6 little fishes,
7 little, 8 little, 9 little fishes,
10 little fishes in the pond.

How Much is that Doggy in the Window?
How much is that doggy in the window? Ruff, Ruff
The one with the wiggly tail
How much is that doggy in the window? Ruff, Ruff
I do hope that doggy's for sale

The Veterinarian
(Sung to Oh my Darlin)

Bring your dogs, bring your cats,
Bring your hamsters one by one.
I take care of the animals,
I am a veterinarian.

Math
One Fish, Two Fish. Practice your counting skills with these fish worksheets
http://www.pet-educationresources.co.uk/pdf/year1_numeracy_1.pdf

Astronaut Lesson Plan

Homeschool Teacher - Lesson Plan & Newsletter
February 20, 2007

Welcome to our first edition for the younger folks (ages 4 -7)! Some of the links below are for the parents to get general background about the daily lesson plan while others are to share with your child.
History
On this day in 1962 John Glenn orbited the Earth in the Friendship 7 Space Capsule. He was the first man to orbit the Earth. Read more about John Glenn here:
http://www.helium.com/tm/171943/glenn-pilot-world-korean


Science
Eat Like an Astronaut
This science project is a yummy way to learn more about astronauts! If you have older students you can adapt it by having them weigh the objects and filling out
http://lessonplans.fundingfactory.com/plan_details.aspx?id=45
Alphabet
A is for Astronaut (Let’s Learn about the letter A!)
For those not ready to tackle writing skills
http://www.first-school.ws/t/alphabet/coloring-pages-dn/astronaut_b.htm

For those practicing their writing skills
http://www.first-school.ws/t/alpha_tracers_dn1/a5.htm

Journal
Write the following on a piece of paper. Read it to your child. Have them draw a picture below the words. Then have them tell you about what they drew.

I would like to be an astronaut. It would be fun discovering outer space. I would like to learn what the surface of the moon is like or how it feels to be in a space shuttle.
Math
John Glenn flew on the Friendship 7 – so let’s learn about the number 7. Have your child find 7 objects. Then have them work on this sheet below. Draw 7 items or put 7 stickers in the jar. Practicing writers can trace the numbers as well!

http://www.first-school.ws/t/numbers/worksheets/seven-2.htm