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Homeschool Holidays

Homeschool holidays not only makes learning fun but creates great memories, family unity and bonding and family traditions. Use this time to not only learn about the holiday but create crafts, play games and decorate your home.

Here are some tips to help you start creating your own holiday traditions:

• Help your children make homemade decorations that can be used from year-to-year. The lessons you can teach them are endless. You can show them how they can be creative. Children learn by watching and as they mimic the way you do things, you can show them valuable skills.
• Have your kids make homemade gifts for family and friends. Let them create the craft from start to finish, wrap it and then present it to the recipient.
• Look for opportunities to serve others around you who are less fortunate. You will teach them sharing and caring.
• Let your children help prepare part of the holiday meal. It brigs math to life and helps to reinforce math skills. You can also teach them the history behind different types of foods served on a specific holiday.
  

Homeschool Holidays - Games, Activities and Fun

New Year's Day, January 1st

Reflect on the year passed and all the blessings you received from the Lord. Set goals for the new year. Learn about New Year's Celebrations around the world. Plan a New Year's eve celebration.

Click here for some Bible Verses for the new year.

Click here to find out a better way to start the new year and throw your New Year's resolutions right out the window.

Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, 3rd Mon. in January

Study the Civil Rights Movement. Click here for a free lesson plan (grades 6-8) on the Civil Rights Movement by Discovery Education.

Valentine's Day, February 14th

At our house Valentine's Day is one of our favorite holidays; there are so many sweet treats and messages of love! I know the sweet treats aren't good for our waistlines; but my motto is "everything in moderation", and the messages of love are good for our souls.

There is no greater love than "God's Valentine of Grace Given to Cleanse Us!"

If we're celebrating Valentine's Day, "cleansing" seems to be in order! So, where's the soap, the shampoo, the deodorant, the perfume--hold on! The external cleansing may make you look nice--and smell nice--but that's not going to cut it in God's courting garden! He's looking for a clean heart, and if it's not, there's a Valentine love letter just for you:

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)." That valentine brings back treasured memories--of past sins washed away, of a heart cleansed by the Blood of Christ. How many times He's done it for every one of His kids..and He continues to do so. Theologians tells us that the Greek word "cleanse" means a continual cleansing. So this Valentine from your past is still valid; it's still working today. Receive God's valentine of cleansing grace--it's a love for all time and worth keeping!

Click here for some additional Valentine's Day Ideas.

Click here for a Valentine's Day Poem.

And for those who love chocolate, be sure and check out the site below for all that Personalized M&M;'s has to offer.

Enjoy all that Personalized My M&M;'s has to offer. Share My M&M;'s with a special someone this Valentine's Day (or any day).

President's Day, 3rd Monday in February

Study George Washington and/or Abraham Lincoln.

Here is a link for some George Washington teaching resources. There are 33 printables, 510 resources, ideas and activities, a fill-in-the-blank research report for grades 2-5, along with articles, and books.

Here is a link for some Abraham Lincoln teaching resources. You'll find articles, books, listen and read activities, printables and mini books, and a song.

A really great book to read on Abraham Lincoln is "Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilley and Martin Dugard. Although I haven't gotten around to reading it yet, my husband has read it twice and Matthew has read it once. Both raved about it and are still talking about what a great book it is. UPDATE: I finally read this book, and you can read my review here.

You can read more about "Killing Lincoln" and/or purchase it by clicking the link below.

Homeschool Holidays - Saint Patrick's Day, March 17th

Study the country of Ireland. Unit studies are a great way to learn all about different countries, and Amanda Bennett over delivers on all of her unit studies.

Click here to view more details about her Ireland unit study/lapbook for grades K-4.

Make an Irish meal. We celebrate St. Patrick's Day with this menu; click here for the recipes.

Here is a Saint Patrick's Day resource where you'll find lesson plans, worksheets, activities and clip art.

Homeschool Holidays - Easter, Between March 22nd and April 25th

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus after His crucifixion and is one of the holiest Christian holidays. Study Christianity and the Christian Church.

Click here for "The Essential Meaning of Easter" and "Looking Beyond Bunnies and Easter Eggs".

For lots of Easter activities for kids, parents and teachers Click Here!

Click here for some jelly bean history.

Click here for the resurrection cookies recipe and story.

Click here for resurrection rolls.

Click here for Easter poems.

Click here to read "Decorating Easter Eggs and Natural Easter Egg Dyes" by Tawra Kellam.

April Fools Day, April 1st

Practice writing skills by writing a funny story. Tell jokes.

Homeschool Holidays - Mother's Day, 2nd Sunday in May

Treat all the women in your family extra special. Do something extra special for mom, anything. Make and present Mother's Day cards. Study the women of the Bible.

You can find some great Mother's Day ideas in the Unit Study by Amanda Bennett. Click here to view more details.

Homeschool Holidays - Mother's Day

Click here to read Mother's Day poems.

Mothers, for encouragement, click here to read She Knows Who She Is! She Knows Whom She Serves!

Memorial Day, Last Monday in May

Commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service. Study the different wars. Participate in a parade. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials and volunteers often place American Flags on each grave site at national cemeteries.

Father's Day, 3rd Sunday in June

Treat all the men in your family extra special. Make and present Father's Day cards. Do something extra special for dad, anything. Study men in the Bible like the kings and prophets. Do a unit study on Father's Day. We used the unit study by Amanda Bennett.

Click here to view more details

Click here to read a Father's Day poem.


Homeschool Holidays - Summertime Fun - Click here for a list of fun summertime activities.


Independence Day, July 4th

Honors the birthday of the United States. Study the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Study the American Flag. Participate in a parade. Sing patriotic songs. Do an Amanda Bennett unit study on Independence Day.

Click here to view more details

Click here to read Another Declaration of Independence: Freedom in Christ.

Labor Day, 1st Monday in September

This holiday honors workers and their contributions. Study labor unions. Participate in a parade. Have your children write down what they want to be when they 'grow up' and why. We are doing this with our kids each year and are amazed at how it changes from year-to-year. Save what they write, it makes for great scrapbook memories.

Grandparent's Day, 1st Sunday After Labor Day

Make and present Grandparent's Day cards.

Veteran's Day, November 11th

Honors all veterans of the military. Study the different wars. Visit the veterans in the VA hospital or a nursing home.

Click here for a Veteran's Day poem.

Click here for a Veteran's Day prayer.

Thanksgiving, 4th Thursday in November

Discuss gratefulness and servitude. Make holiday crafts and decorations. Study the Pilgrims, Native Americans and the first Thanksgiving. This is a great homeschool holiday for creating family traditions.

Click here for some Thanksgiving activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Homeschool Holidays - Christmas Day, December 25th

Commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the world. Do an Advent Bible Study, make an Advent Calendar, Bake a birthday cake for Jesus, Make an edible gingerbread house, make holiday decorations, bake Christmas cookies to give as gifts, make homemade Christmas cards and crafts, go Christmas caroling, participate in a parade.

To start the Advent Season (it starts 4 Sundays before Christmas), here is a 2 minute video explaining what Advent is all about.

Click here for 7 New Christmas Traditions for Kids

Click here for some Christmas activities and games

Click here to read "Why Jesus is Better Than Santa Claus".

Click here for some fun and hilarious holiday gift ideas.

Click here for some Christmas tree activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Click here for your Christmas Week Menu Planner.

Click here for your Christmas Week Menu Planner Grocery List.

Here is a video I found showing us the true meaning of Christmas. Enjoy.

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