Roundup of Summer Learning Activities
The Great American Backyard Campout
Don't forget your Camping Printables. Lisa Hallett Taylor, About.com Guide to Pool & Patio, offers plenty of tips in this get-your-outdoor-space-ready checklist. The About Camping Guide, David Sweet, has basic camping information that will help you get started. So pitch your tents and have fun!
Kids bowl free all summer long
Need more ideas for keeping kids entertained this summer? Check out this roundup of summer learning activities for kids.
Thrifty Thursday: Summer Reading Programs for Kids
More Thrifty Thursday Tips for Parents:
Biola Youth Theatre presents: The Sound of Music
I was blown away with the performance of the Sound of Music by the Biola Youth Theatre. I was invited to the performance by a homeschooling family, the Bennetts, who live next door to me. Benjamin Bennett, who graduated from homeschooling this year, had the lead role of Captain Von Trapp. Grace Bennett, the young entrepreneur that I've previously written about, played some bit parts and was part of the ensemble.
Biola Youth Theatre began in 1996 under the name of Biola Home School Music Club. The first home school productions were A Christmas Carol and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Biola Youth Theater strives to provide La Mirada and the surrounding Southern California communities with a quality theatre program led by highly skilled and dedicated professionals in a caring and nurturing environment for children and youth.
I highly recommend this program for your children interested in musical theatre if you're in the area. If you can make it to see this performance, you won't be disappointed.
Thrifty Thursday: Free (or Cheap) Summer Movies for Kids
Many theaters offer free or cheap movies for kids during the summer. With budgets being watched so closely these days, the summer movies are sure to be a hit. Some of the theaters also have discounted popcorn and soda prices for an extra special treat. Here's a listing of theaters offering summer specials for kids. Be sure to check your local theaters for specific showings.More Thrifty Thursday Tips for Parents:
- Shop During a Tax Free Weekend
- Free Weekends at National Parks
- A Thrifty Tween Room Makeover
- Consider Camping
- Ideas for Inexpensive Father's Day Gifts
- I Like These Links
- Be Smart About Rewards Programs
- Free (or cheap) Summer Movies for Kids
- When It's Better to Be Safe Than to Save
- Saving Money on School Supplies...Already!
- Free Pregnancy iPhone Apps
Homeschool family on tour: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
Four of the seven Hearn family children are on tour this summer with the David Payne production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The Hearn kids are quite talented. This is their first big "gig" and a dream come true. They have been homeschooling "forever." Read more to find out their homeschooling style and preferences.Carnival of Homeschooling: Field Guide to Homeschoolers
The next carnival will be hosted at The Daily Planet. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.
Announcing... 2009 Summer Reading Club
- 2009 Summer Reading Club
- Reading Club Tour - see what happens to your reading club lists and how the awards and prizes get back to you.
- Favorite Preschool/Kindergarten Level Books
- Favorite Books for Grades 1-6
- Favorite Books for Grades 5-12
Thrifty Thursday: Free educational games to fight world hunger
Looking for an easy way to keep your kids sharp over the summer months and also help fight world hunger? Then FreeRice.com is for you. For each question you answer correctly, they donate 10 grains of rice through the UN World food Program. From its launch in October 2007, Free Rice has raised over 64 billion grains of rice and fed people in Bangladesh (video clip), Cambodia, Uganda, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar.They've expanded the site to include other subjects:
- Art: Famous Paintings
- Chemistry: Chemical Symbols
- English: Grammar, Vocabulary
- Geography: Countries, World Capitals
- Language Learning: French, German, Italian, Spanish
- Math: Basic Math (Pre-Algebra), Multiplication
More Thrifty Thursday Tips for Parents:
Homeschool Promotion and Graduation Ceremonies
I attended the graduation ceremony for our homeschool group last week. It was held at the monthly park day. The park has a very nice amphitheater with a stage for the passing out the diplomas. We had kindergarten, 6th grade and 8th grade graduates. Parents, friends and grandparents came to make it a special day. It was simple, but nice.How do you celebrate your graduate’s achievement? Share your ideas of your celebrations to help other homeschooling families who are promoting or graduating their students.
- Kindergarten Graduation
- 6th Grade/8th Grade Graduation
- High School Graduation
- Homeschool Graduating Class of 2009 - Submit your senior pictures/announcements
Carnival of Homeschooling: Baby Bop Edition
The next carnival will be hosted at Principled Discovery. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.
Tennessee passes homeschool diploma equality law
More about Tennessee:
Thrifty Thursday: Stretching the Food Budget - Potato Tacos
I learned how to make these tacos from my mother-in-law who had 8 children and needed to make a little go a long way. The other day I was talking to my neighbor who was making tacos for her family of 10 and gave her my tip of adding potatoes to the hamburger meat to make it go further. We've been eating these for so long...I wasn't aware that other people didn't know about them. They're really very good and everyone loves to come to dinner on potato taco night. To feed my bunch, I have to double the batch and make about 50 tacos.
More Thrifty Thursday Tips for Parents:
- Fitness for Free
- Favorite Brown Bag Lunches
- Cheapest Photo Frame on the Planet
- Save Pounds and Pennies
- Go Through the Grocery Flyer with Your Kids
- Buying and Selling Twin Stuff
- Saving on Birthday Gifts
- Swap Coupons and Money-Saving Tips
- Baby Showers on a Budget
- Cheap Dates Are Good
- 5 Ways to Find Free Child Care
- Do-It-Yourself Day Camp
Homeschool Graduating Class of 2009 Photo Gallery
Update on Homeschool Author and Speaker, Jessica Hulcy
Submit your photo to the Homeschool Graduating Class of 2009 Photo Gallery
I had the privilege of selecting and sending my neighbor's senior picture to his homeschool group for their yearbook. It was an honor to be involved and was also my inspiration to create the Homeschool Graduating Class of 2009 Photo Gallery.Submit your graduating senior's photo and profile to be included in the Homeschool Graduating Class of 2009 Photo Gallery. I appreciate your help in building a Class of 2009 Photo Gallery that we can be proud of. The first few pictures are up.
Carnival of Homeschooling: Baseball Edition
The next carnival will be hosted at The Common Room. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.
KONOS co-author Jessica Hulcy in severe car accident
Subway Sandwich Make It Happen! Contest
Last year's contest specifically excluded homeschooled students which created quite an uproar. Subway Sandwich apologized and promised to include homeschool students in their next contest and ran a special summer edition for homeschoolers. This year's contest doesn't mention homeschool families at all. I have an email into them to get clarification. Let's hope they honor our submissions this year.
The deadline is June 30, 2009, 11:59 p.m. EST, so don't dilly dally if you're going to participate.Thrifty Thursday: Singing Science Records
More Thrifty Thursday Tips for Parents:
- Use a Menu Planner to Save on Groceries
- Tips for Saving Money on Summer Camps
- Saving Money in Pregnancy
- Finding Money for College
- Free Audio Books
- Inexpensive Ways to Say Thank You at the End of the School Year
- Make Saving a Game
- Summer on a Budget
- Creative Adoption Fundraising Efforts
- Dorm Move-Out Day & Summer Storage
Carnival of Homeschooling: Some Things Moms Love
The next carnival will be hosted at Home School Dad. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.
Thrifty Thursday: Kids earning their spending money
As young entrepreneurs, kids learn valuable life lessons. It's a good way to build strong work ethics to give them a strong foundation to take into their adult lives. Young Entrepreneurs will give you some ideas for your kids.
Do you already have an eager entrepreneur on your hands? Tell your story and give other homeschool students ideas for starting up their own little businesses. Eventually, we'll have a nice little library of ideas for kids to choose from.
More Thrifty Thursday Tips for Parents:Carnival of Homeschooling: Spring Fever 2009
"... but fortunately we have the freedom to work with and in nature in our final weeks of homeschooling."
The next carnival will be hosted at Walking Therein. Submissions are due by Monday at 6 p.m. I look forward to reading your submissions.
Lemonade Stand Printables
As the weather warms up, it's the perfect time to start planning a lemonade stand to help your neighbors cool off and make a little spending money for yourself. Use these free Lemonade Stand Printables to get started.But better than spending your earnings, you can donate it to your favorite charity. Sunkist is inviting kids 7 to 12 years old across America to Take a Stand for their favorite charity. Sunkist plans to give out 20,000 free lemonade stands this year to thoughtful kids eager to make a difference. Registration began on May 1, so act quickly.

