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Groundhog Day Activities

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Groundhog Day Activities

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Eddie S)

Wow . . . can we cram any more special days into today? On this February 2, 2014, celebrations are going on for Groundhog Day, Super Bowl, a couple of birthdays, Lung Leavin’ Day, and our engagement day. Whew! That’s a lot of celebrating.

Today is the day Paul asked me to marry him 16 years ago. Though 16 years sounds like a long time and in some ways it is, the time feels like a snap.

I still remember the nice dinner and coming back to my place to watch Groundhogs Day. Though we never got to the movie since I was met with two dozen roses and a beautiful ring, I remember that night vividly. And all the phone calls that were made.

Lots of activity surrounded our engagement, and the excitement and stirring continue with today’s celebrations. To go along with the anticipation of Phil’s movements today, these Groundhog Day activities provide learning opportunities with fun.

Groundhog Day Activities

1. The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Groundhog Day site offers 30+ activities including crafts, songs, poetry, games, and recipes. My favorites are the Phil’s handlers secret message, the Groundhog legend, and the thumbprint groundhog.

2. DLTK’s Crafts for Kids has 20+ Groundhog Day crafts, pages, and puzzles. I really like the Groundhog’s Day math: predict, estimate, tally, and graph, the Groundhog toilet paper roll craft, and the Groundhog tongue twister.

3. Enchanted Learning includes over 50+ Groundhog Day themed crafts, worksheets, and facts. Some of the great resources provided are the Groundhog Venn diagrams, the Groundhog verbal analogies, and Groundhog spelling words.

4. Tabitha at Meet Penny as compiled an extensive list of Groundhog Day resources. Included in her list are books, crafts, treats, printable sheets, and videos.

5. Apples 4 the Teacher provides 10+ options for celebrating Groundhog Day. The shadow puppets and the animals that hibernate memory game reinforce the theme while having fun.

With all these great Groundhog Day activities, it’s time to get celebrating. Our family has multiple celebrations going on today, and these fun resources will continue throughout the week. Keep on using time wisely, and happy celebrating!

Question: Which celebrations are your favorites today?

XXII Olympic Winter Games Activities

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XXII Olympic Winter Games Activities

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Department of Culture, Media, and Sport)

Excitement is in the air as the Opening Ceremony commences tonight. With my son studying Greece culture and literature and participating in a class Olympic exercise this year, we are ready to celebrate the world coming together to compete.

My girls are looking forward to the ice skating, my son is not particular, and my husband and I enjoy the curling events. To increase our excitement and check for our favorite events, the following schedules and activities should keep us busy for the next 2.5 weeks.

Olympic Winter Games Schedule

  • Sochi 2014 is the official website for these Russian games. All the events are listed on a chart highlighting the days of competition. When you scroll your mouse over each highlighted day, a drop box shows the times, type of event (qualifying, short program, etc.), and any teams that are playing.
  • Another great resource is NBC Olympics featuring videos, back stories, and television viewing schedule with channel lineups.

Olympic Winter Games Activities

  • Spoonful offers 16 crafts to celebrate the Sochi games. The international recipes look like a fun family activity as well as the sports score cards. Now your family can judge the competitions, too.
  • Activity Village is packed full of information for these Olympic games. From a listing of all the countries participating to activities for many of the events, you are sure to find some fun activities to include in your family fun. I really like the “Learn to draw the winter Olympics” activities as the instructions are step-by-step.
  • With over 120 pages, the 3 Dinosaurs Winter Olympics printable pack is geared for children ages 2-9. These activities focus on writing, math, and language.
  • Enchanted Homeschooling Mom has created a 100+ page Winter Olympics Pack 2014. Designed for children in pre-K through 6th grade, this pack provides the history behind the events and background on the host city of Sochi, Russia.

With all these wonderful XXII Olympic winter games activities, my children will enjoy learning and practicing with many of these worksheets. Though my son will probably pass, my girls will flock to the activity sheets and drawing sketches.

As you watch your favorite events and cheer for your favorite team, we will be watching along with you. Go USA!

Question: What Olympic Winter event is your favorite?

2014: Valentine’s Day Activities

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2013: Valentine's Day ActivitiesLove is in the air! My children put together their Valentine’s Day gifts for their classmates over the weekend.

They chose the candy and wrote their friends’ names on the cards.

Now, we are hoping they get to give them out on Friday with all the snow we are expected to get today and tomorrow.

With so many wonderful Valentine’s Day activities, I chose only the FREE options.

Having posted party ideas in 2012 and then a list of Valentine’s Day activities in 2013, I am adding to those posts with the following Valentine’s Day gifts, deals, crafts, recipes, cards, and packs:

Valentine’s Day Gifts

Valentine’s Day Restaurant Deals

Valentine’s Day Crafts

Valentine’s Day Recipes

Valentine’s Day Printable Cards

Valentine’s Day Printable Packs

  • Sweethearts Printable Pack
  • Valentine Printable Pack
  • Valentine Color-by-Number Pages
  • Valentine’s Day printable matching games

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. These FREE resources are just suggestions. Paul and I get a night out for Valentine’s Day. 🙂 We purchased a Groupon a few weeks back which we plan to use before heading to a production of To Kill a Mockingbird.

Whether you plan to stay in or venture out, may you all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day and a special celebration with those you love!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Question: What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?

2014: Snow Day Activities

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2014: Snow Day ActivitiesThankful for a warm home, power, and a healthy family, we have enjoyed our snow days this week. Though it took some time for the snow to accumulate, we were not disappointed with the final results.

This afternoon, we enjoyed sledding and playing with our neighbors in the white stuff before it turned into slush. We tossed snowballs, made snow angels, sled down the hill, and built snowmen.

The time outdoors was great as we have been cooped up this week. We topped off the outdoor activities with an indoor hot chocolate treat. Yum!

2014: Snow Day Activities

The snow did what the train tracks, crafts, drawings, reading, and movie-watching from the last few days could not do. The trips up the snow-covered hill wore them out. All three of my kids were ready for bed tonight.

If you are still stuck indoors and needing some snow day activities to stay active, then try some of these activities:

Snow Day Baking

From this Snow Ice Cream Recipe posted by BeCentsAble to your favorite chocolate chip cookies, baking provides lots of fun in the kitchen while keeping your home warm.

Snow Day Crafts, Games, and More

From building a tent to pulling out the board games, kids hop from one activity to another. For the mama and daddy, who just need a little inspiration, check out these snow day activities posts:

Snow Day Printable Packs

Though Phil, the groundhog, says spring is on the way, we are still very much experiencing winter. My backyard is still thawing the snow, and Miss 3 is not happy that the snowmen are melting. As we could still see some more ice and snow in the coming weeks, these activities are close at hand.

Finding snow day activities lifesavers on these cold days, I am so grateful for the many bloggers who compile these lists and create these printable packs. I appreciate their hard work and willingly pass along their accomplishments that we all may enjoy them.

As I am off to bundle up under a warm blanket to watch the Olympics, may you stay warm, healthy, and energized with these snow day activities. Happy creating!

Question: Are you experiencing snow days this winter?

2014: Presidents’ Day Activities, Crafts, Recipes, and Worksheets

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2014: President’s Day Activities, Crafts, Recipes, and Worksheets

Photograph Credit: iClipArt

This coming Monday, February 17, 2014, is the United States’ federal holiday honoring our Presidents.

Though most activities are centered on George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, Presidents’ Day encompasses all our American Presidents.

When Paul and I lived in Pennsylvania, we took a train ride into Philadelphia one Saturday morning. Besides visiting Independence Hall and the huge Liberty Bell, we toured the Philadelphia Mint.

Wow! I still remember this experience from over 10 years ago.

My U.S. Mint Visit

At that time, the museum portion was intriguing as we learned of the choosing process for each type of American currency printed at that Mint.

Highlighting the events of the Presidents, who were chosen for that currency, I remember how awed I was by the precise and intentional decisions of each stroke.

After viewing the museum portion, we watched from a large window, the workers printing currency. Dressed in their uniforms, including gloves, the process was precise, just like choosing the design.

Though I have not returned to a U.S. Mint since that visit, I still remember that experience and think of it around Presidents’ Day each year. Not sure if Mints still offer visits. If they do, I highly recommend taking a tour.

Without a U.S. Mint in our area, we are not planning any outings – although Sonic has a good hot dog deal. However, we can celebrate Monday with these Presidents’ Day activities, crafts, recipes, and worksheets:

Presidents’ Day Activities, Crafts, Recipes, and Worksheets

  • Enchanted Learning includes a popsicle stick log cabin craft along with Presidents’ Day printable pages, like the math decoder
  • Family Education links to 30+ Presidents’ Day activities
  • Including Thomas Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt, DLTK’s Crafts for Kids focuses on activities for preschool, kindergarten, and grade-school children
  • The list of crafts, coloring pages, and recipes by Spoonful includes the paper plate Uncle Sam
  • A Kid’s Heart provides trivia, games, and puzzles for the child who loves computer time
  • More Presidents’ Day online puzzles and games found at Primary Games
  • FREE George Washington unit study available through Educents
  • Love the creativity for serving lunch by Cookie Cutter Lunch
  • Seeded at the Table shows how to make these red, white, and blue skewers
  • Home and School Mosaics included a Presidents’ Day mini unit complete with videos
  • BeCentsAble compiled a list of Presidents’ Day coupons

If these activities leave you wanting more, then access more patriotic activities from this 2013 post, celebrating Independence Day.

Wishing all Americans a wonderful Presidents’ Day, as we celebrate those who fought, founded, and led the United States of America.

Happy Presidents’ Day!