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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

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?

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.
  • 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?

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?

Super Bowl Food Ideas

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Super Bowl Food Ideas

Photograph Credit: Flickr (alsis35)

Woo hoo! Super Bowl weekend is on the horizon. Have I mentioned how much I love football season?

Though my Florida Gators had a rough, OK, bad season, I’m glad to see Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos going to the Big Game.

My husband, Paul, is a Denver Broncos fan, so there will be lots of orange and blue in our house Sunday night.

I do like the Seattle Seahawks, and I’m glad they made it as well. But I like the way Peyton Manning plays and will still route for the Broncos.

If you have avid football fans and need some chow during the 4+-hour game, then try a few of these Super Bowl food ideas:

With all these great options, I’m sure you can find something to keep the football fans fed during the afternoon, evening, and into the night.

Many of the slider and BBQ recipes could be doubled and cooked in the crock pot. Love using our crock pot during parties as the food can stay out and warm for hours without spoiling.

Wishing you all a wonderful Super Bowl celebration!

Question: Who do you think is going to win the Big Game: Seattle Seahawks or Denver Broncos?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Printable Packs and Resources

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Printable Packs and Resources

Photograph Credit: Blessed Beyond a Doubt

As a leader of the civil rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life is honored on the third Monday of January each year.

In recognition of his accomplishments, the following Martin Luther King, Jr. printable packs and resources focus on his contributions:

May you find these resources practical in remembering the civil rights movement and the leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Happy learning!

Question: What additional resources would you add to this list?