School

Tips for Writing Your Own Story

No comments

Plan out the main events and structure of your story. Decide on how the beginning, middle, and end will work together. You should also consider any major plot twists or turning points. An outline can help keep your story organized and focused as you write. Describe the setting and atmosphere of your story in vivid detail to make the world come alive for your readers. Instead of simply telling them what’s happening, you can show it through scenes of actions and dialogue. Remember that writing is a process and can take time. Keep experimenting with new ideas.

Kristen HarperTips for Writing Your Own Story
read more

Fun Homemade Lava Lamp Experiment For Kids

No comments

The first thing you need is a clear jar or plastic bottle. Fill the bottle halfway with vegetable oil and add water to the top until it is almost full. After this is done, add at least five drops of food coloring. You will the need to take an Alka-Seltzer tablet and break it up into several pieces. The final step is to drop each piece in one at a time and watch as bubbles begin to form, activating your lava lamp.

Kristen HarperFun Homemade Lava Lamp Experiment For Kids
read more

Fun Games To Practice Geography

No comments

1. Provide puzzles of different countries and challenge kids to assemble the puzzle pieces correctly to complete the map. This is a great way to improve their map-reading skills.

2. Call out the name of a place, and have the kids race to find it on the map or globe as quickly as possible. The first one to find it gets a point, and the player with the most points at the end wins.

3. Create bingo cards with names of countries, cities, and landmarks instead of numbers. Give clues about the places before calling the answer. Have the kids mark off the corresponding places on their bingo cards. The first to get a line or a full card wins.

Kristen HarperFun Games To Practice Geography
read more

Fun Activities Involving Math

No comments
  1. Involve your child in cooking or baking activities that require measuring ingredients. This is a great way for him to practice using math skills while also learning how to make new foods. Have him help you measure and mix ingredients using measuring cups and spoons. This hands-on experience is great for  concepts like fractions and units of measurement in a practical context.
  1. Math Board Games: Play board games that incorporate math concepts, such as Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, or Math Bingo. These games make learning fun and reinforce many different math subjects depending on which one you choose.
  1. Math Art Projects: Combine math and art by creating geometric shapes or patterns. Use materials like rulers and compasses to design and construct geometric artworks. Practicing geometry while creating art is a great way to do it.
Kristen HarperFun Activities Involving Math
read more

Fun Science Experiments for Kids

No comments

Glowing Water: Create this by adding a highlighter ink cartridge (the part that contains the fluorescent ink) to a cup of water. Let it soak for a few hours and then shine a blacklight on the water to see it glow. This experiment demonstrates fluorescence and can be a visually striking demonstration.

Homemade slime: Mix together equal parts of white school glue and liquid starch in a bowl. You can add food coloring or glitter for extra flair. Stir until the mixture forms a slimy consistency and knead it with your hands until it reaches the desired texture.

Egg in a Bottle: Place a hard-boiled egg on the mouth of a glass bottle. Light a match and drop it into the bottle, then quickly place the egg back on the mouth of the bottle. As the match burns, it consumes the oxygen inside the bottle, creating a vacuum. The difference in pressure between the inside and outside of the bottle will push the egg into the bottle.

Static Electricity Butterfly: Cut out a butterfly shape from a piece of paper. Charge a balloon by rubbing it against your hair. Hold the charged balloon near the butterfly, and watch as it sticks to the balloon due to static electricity.

Rainbow in a Jar: Fill a clear glass with water, leaving some space at the top. Carefully pour different liquids with varying densities on top of each other, such as honey, corn syrup, water, dish soap, vegetable oil, and rubbing alcohol. You can add food coloring to some of the liquids beforehand to make it more colorful. Each layer should float on the layer below it, creating a colorful rainbow effect. 

Kristen HarperFun Science Experiments for Kids
read more

Fun Division Games For Kids

No comments

 Bingo: Create bingo cards with division problems instead of numbers. Call out division problems, and have your child solve them and mark the answers on their bingo card. The first to get a line or a full card wins.

 Tic-Tac-Toe: Create a tic-tac-toe grid and write division problems in each square. Players take turns solving the division problems to claim squares. The first player to get three in a row wins.

 Memory: Create pairs of cards with division problems and their solutions. Place the cards face down and take turns flipping over two cards at a time to find matches. If a player correctly matches a division problem with its solution, they keep the pair. The player with the most matches at the end wins.

Kristen HarperFun Division Games For Kids
read more

Teach Your Child How to Use a Dictionary

No comments

1. Introduce the dictionary: Start by explaining what a dictionary is and its purpose. Show your child a physical dictionary. Explain that dictionaries contain words, their meanings, pronunciations, and sometimes additional information like word origins.

2. Help your child understand that words in a dictionary are arranged alphabetically. Practice with simple word lists or alphabet cards. Emphasize the importance of knowing the order of letters in the alphabet to locate words in the dictionary. Show your child how using the guide words at the top of the page can help speed up finding your word.

3. Practice pronunciation: Teach your child how to read pronunciation symbols in the dictionary. Practice pronouncing words together, paying attention to vowel sounds.

4. Encourage your child to look up words they encounter while reading or during conversations. Provide assistance as needed, but allow them to locate the word independently once they’re able to. Praise their efforts and reinforce correct usage

Kristen HarperTeach Your Child How to Use a Dictionary
read more

How to Help Your Child Learn About the 50 States

No comments

Start by introducing your child to a map of the United States, pointing out each state and its location. You can use songs or rhymes to help him remember the names of the states. Make it a hands-on experience by incorporating flashcards, puzzles, and interactive games that challenge him to match states with their capitals. Encourage exploration by sharing interesting facts and discussing the unique features and their landmarks. Regular review and practice will help solidify knowledge of the states over time. With patience, you can inspire your child’s curiosity about the world around him.

Kristen HarperHow to Help Your Child Learn About the 50 States
read more

Why Exercise is Important for Children’s Education

No comments

Regular exercise has been linked to improvements in skills like attention control and working memory. These cognitive abilities are essential for effective studying, problem-solving, and maintaining focus amidst distractions. Exercise can also positively influence sleep quality and duration which are critical factors in thinking clearly and concentration.

Incorporating regular physical activity into children’s routines can have profound benefits for their ability to study effectively. PE will always play an important role in our children’s lives and should be included in their regular routines.

Kristen HarperWhy Exercise is Important for Children’s Education
read more

Fun Syllable Games for Kids

No comments

Word Building Blocks:

  • Give your child  letter blocks or tiles and multi-syllable word cards. Have them build the words by arranging the blocks according to the syllables. This visual approach helps reinforce the structure of multi-syllable words.

Syllable Clap and Count:

  • Say multi-syllable words aloud and have your child clap or tap out the syllables as they say the word. This helps them break down the word into its individual parts and improves syllable awareness.

Word Race:

  • Divide a group of children into teams and set up a relay race where they have to run to a board, pick a multi-syllable word card, and correctly sound out the word before the next teammate goes up.

Syllable Sorting:

  • Write multi-syllable words on cards and have your child sort them based on the number of syllables. For example, they could sort words into categories of two-syllable, three-syllable, and four-syllable words.

Should your child need help with learning multi-syllable words, contact us at 727-441-4444. Our tutors can help.

Kristen HarperFun Syllable Games for Kids
read more