Educating Risa

Just a quick post tonight as tomorrow is a very full day. Gareth starts a new ocean-themed playschool class, Daegan has an orthodontist appointment, and then we’ve got our year end meeting with our homeschool facilitator. But I wanted to share something the boys and I have been having fun with lately.

A few weeks back I came across a printable for  these very simple exercise cards, which I then cut out and pasted on index cards. They give one simple movement for each letter of the alphabet:

Unfortunately, I have since lost the link (Amendment! You can find the Exercise ABCs printable here), but these cards and the general idea are simple enough to create on your own. We use them to “get the sillies out” when we need a break from our seatwork, or during a transition from one activity to another. They are also helpful during that last hour before dinner when everyone’s nerves are frayed. They’ve led to lots of laughter, especially since Mom (and Dad if he’s around) take part too. I’ll let you create your own mental visual of me “Y y Moving Like a Yo-yo!”

To use, we simply pick a (face down) card (or 2, or 3, or….) at random. But you could easily have your kids verbally suggest a movement for each letter of the alphabet in turn (hint: Q might be “Quickly walk in place”), or have them design their own exercise cards with handmade drawings or clip art to help non-readers—the sillier the better. Have fun bringing more movement and laughter into your homeschool!