Over the weekend the boys and I tried out one of the games we have the in house that connect in with our Human Body unit. This Somebody game (most recent version available, see here) was passed on to me from another homeschooler (thanks, Lisa!) whose kids have outgrown it. In this game we built [...]
I came across a new way to practice your times tables, based on a honeycomb shape with all the different products (using factors from 2 to 9) in it: All the numbers (products) have a unique answer (factors), except for the shaded middle row which have 2 answers apiece. So the student ‘sweeping’ the grid [...]
I’ve found several math apps the boys are enjoying, from creative games covering a wide variety of math topics (the oft- and deservedly-praised Rocket Math) to those focused on particular topics (like fractions, or telling time), to highly customizable flashcard drill (Flash to Pass free, Math Drills Lite), to those that use games to get [...]
So we recently joined the 21st century and got iPhones and an iPad, and I’ve been spending some time checking out various educational apps for the boys. Over the next few days I’ll write up some of our favourites—do keep in mind that we are new to this Apple world, so no doubt there are [...]
This morning the boys and I played a round of Contig Jr., which is a great game/activity for practicing math facts. You can find a printable game board here. The game involves rolling 3 dice, and using various mathematical operations to cover numbers on the game board (both pennies and dimes fit this job well). [...]
We took the boys bowling on the weekend, for the first time ever. We were joined by a few of their friends. We played 5-pin, a Canadian invention, as the ball is far lighter and easier for small hands. I’m glad we did too—some of Gareth’s rolls barely made it down the lane as it [...]
Last week I wrote here about the multiplication (and addition) practice game Fingers!, which my boys quite enjoyed. Daegan and I recently tried another game, based on the Shout It Out! game of Lynette Long’s Marvelous Multiplication (Canada)(US), and this one proved just as popular. To play, you need a deck of cards with face [...]
Gareth is growing more confident in his literacy skills. He wanted to try the Spelldown (US) game, which up until now has languished in the cupboard. In the game, each player has 10 letters that need to be used to spell words—at which point you flip up any letters used—and two dice (one vowels, one [...]
Yesterday after a morning filled with Valentine’s crafting, the boys and I played a quick game to get some math in. The game is called Fingers!, and I adapted the idea from a game of the same name in Lynette Long’s Marvelous Multiplication: Games and Activities that Make Math Easy and Fun (Canada)(US). (You may recall [...]
This morning the boys and I read an intriguing book, The Token Gift (Canada) (US). It tells the fictional story of an old man from India, Rajrishi Mohan, discontent with what he has accomplished in life. If only he had been king, then he would have amounted to something! His wife reminds him to think [...]