Summer break is a wonderful time for homeschool families to slow down a little, travel, spend time outdoors, and take a break from formal lessons. At the same time, many of us still want to keep our children thinking, creating, exploring, and learning in fun low-pressure ways.

That is why we created this free Interactive Summer Learning Calendar for elementary through high school students. Inside, you’ll find a wide variety of educational activities including science experiments, geography games, coding challenges, virtual field trips, art activities, logic puzzles, and hands-on projects. Most activities are quick, free, and designed to work well for mixed-age homeschool families.

You can use this calendar of summer learning activities in whatever way works best for your family. Some families may choose to do one activity each day, while others may pick a few favorites each week. Older students can work independently, while younger children may enjoy doing activities together as a family. The calendar is designed to be flexible, low-stress, and easy to fit around summer camps, vacations, pool days, and relaxed schedules.

Many of the digital resources included here are the same types of interactive tools we use in the web-based unit studies at FundaFunda Academy. We believe learning is often far more memorable when students actively explore and interact with content instead of simply reading about it.

If you enjoy these kinds of activities, you may also want to listen to the Homeschooling with Technology podcast, where we regularly share practical technology tools, websites, apps, and ideas homeschool families can use to make learning more engaging.

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Did you know that advent calendars can be educational? They can be great ways for homeschooling families to bring some holiday fun into their learning routine.

There are all kinds of advent calendars for all kinds of ages and interests: reading calendars for younger kids, STEM builds for middle and high schoolers, or group puzzles for the whole family.

You could pick one calendar per child, or even one calendar for the whole family, and turn it into a daily routine as a part of your homeschool: open the day’s door, discuss what’s inside, and then journal about it or pair it with a quick activity.

Advent calendars are not just treats — they’re opportunities for daily learning, curiosity, and connection during the holiday season. Below are some Advent calendars that we recommend. 

1. National Geographic Amazing Science Advent Calendar

This calendar, great for ages 8-12, contains a mixture of gemstone specimens and simple science experiments (everything from growing a crystal tree to making your own snow!). Perfect for curious kids who love hands-on science exploration.

2. National Geographic Gemstone Advent Calendar

This calendar contains 24 real gemstones your child can collect, identify, and learn about. It’s a great option for elementary-aged geologists and perfect homeschool families trying to take a fun spin on earth science.

3. Thames & Kosmos Science Advent Calendar

The Thames & Kosmos Science Advent Calendar includes 24 unique science experiments covering chemistry, physics, and biology. Each day reveals a new science tool or activity, which is ideal for older elementary and middle schoolers who love structured experiments.

4. Japace Kids Science Experiment Advent Calendar

This calendar includes a plethora of hands-on STEM activities like slime-making, crystal-growing, volcanic eruptions, and more. It’s a great option for older elementary and middle schoolers who enjoy fast, exciting science they can do mostly on their own.

5. 24-in-1 STEM Building Projects Advent Calendar

With this calendar, your child can open a new engineering challenge every day: build small mechanical projects such as a glider, catapult, traffic light, and windmill. This calendar is great for hands-on, project-based homeschooling, and is especially appropriate for ages 7-13.

6. STEM Wooden Engineering Advent Calendar

This engineering-based advent calendar contains daily wooden STEM builds including a hand-cranked generator, mechanical vehicles, a fiber optic light, and more. In a homeschool setting, it can be used to encourage creativity, ingenuitive thinking, and fine motor skills. It’s great for curious students ages 8 and older.

7. STEM Microscope Discovery Advent Calendar

This calendar reveals daily prepared slides and tools. It’s ideal for pre-teen students who enjoy biology, observation, and lab-style science work.

8. STEM Electronics Advent Calendar

This electronics-focused advent calendar includes lessons in electronics, circuits, and introductory engineering. Teens build a different small electronic project each day. Excellent for homeschoolers interested in robotics or engineering careers.

9. Disney Storybook Collection Advent Calendar

This calendar contains 24 mini storybooks featuring favorite Disney characters. It’s perfect for young readers because it can help families to build and maintain daily reading habits throughout the holiday season.

10. Usborne Advent Calendar Book Collection

The Usborne Advent Calendar Book Collection holds 24 small books full of bright illustrations and engaging stories. It’s great for younger kids who are just learning to read.

11. National Park Puzzle Advent Calendar

This calendar includes 24 mini jigsaw puzzles that all fit together to make one large puzzle. It’s great for teaching logic, patience, spatial reasoning, and can also be used as a fun study-break. This is a good option for a family calendar, because siblings can take turns building each section of the puzzle.

12. The Purple Cow Shocking Science Advent Calendar

This advent calendar features 24 surprising science “tricks” and experiments — fun for kids who love wow-factor science like static electricity, color reactions, and illusions. It’s recommended for ages 8 and up.

13. Hidden Games – Professor Charlie’s World Tour

This advent calendar is an escape room and a board game and a murder mystery all rolled into one. Each day reveals a puzzle to help you get closer to catching the culprit. The answer to each day’s puzzle will tell you which clue to open on the following day. This advent calendar is great for teens, and can build reasoning and critical thinking skills.

14. EXIT: The Game – Advent Calendar: The Intergalactic Race

The premise of The Intergalactic Race advent calendar is to race across the cosmos in order to hold the best Christmas party! Each day reveals a riddle to be solved in order to move forward. This advent calendar is recommended for ages ten and up, and is an excellent way to incorporate creative problem-solving into your homeschool throughout the month of December.

15. Brain Teaser Advent Calendar

This brain teaser advent calendar contains one metal or wooden puzzle (and answer key) for each day leading up to Christmas. This is a great family-friendly option, where family members can take turns solving puzzles, or all can compete to solve the day’s puzzle in the least amount of time. This advent calendar is most engaging for tweens and teens, although younger children can enjoy it as well. It’s beneficial for homeschooling, building critical thinking skills and spatial reasoning, as well as patience and determination.

BONUS: LEGO Advent Calendars

While not strictly educational, LEGO advent calendars that contain Lego mini figs, are a great option for homeschoolers because Lego bricks in general encourage engineering, logic, fine motor skills, and creativity. Plus there are lots of options, from themes like LEGO City and LEGO Friends, to LEGO Harry Potter and LEGO Star Wars. Click here to view a whole bunch of different LEGO advent calendars, appropriate for all LEGO-loving ages.

We hope that you found this guide helpful and educational, and that you and your family enjoy incorporating advent calendars into your homeschool this holiday season!

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In this post, we’ll explore a range of options to unlock the joy of reading for every child.

1. Comic Books:

Comic books are a fantastic gateway to reading for children who may find traditional books intimidating. The visual appeal and concise text make comics an exciting medium.

Look for comic books that feature characters you loved when you were their age, or characters they’re already familiar with. Comics like “Garfield” by Jim Davis or “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson are excellent choices to kickstart their reading journey.

2. Audiobooks:

For the auditory learners in your homeschool, audiobooks offer an immersive reading experience. Encourage your child to listen to audiobooks of their favorite stories or explore captivating narrations of new and exciting tales. Platforms like Audible provide a vast selection of children’s books, with many narrated by skilled performers who bring the stories to life.

3. Choose Your Own Adventure Books:

These interactive books empower readers by allowing them to make decisions that influence the story’s outcome. For kids who crave engagement and adventure, these books provide a unique reading experience. Titles like “Choose Your Own Adventure” series by R.A. Montgomery or “You Choose” series from a variety of authors are sure to captivate their imagination.

4. Graphic Novels:

Graphic novels are a blend of visual and textual storytelling, making them an excellent choice for reluctant readers. With captivating illustrations and compelling narratives, graphic novels can make the reading experience more accessible and enjoyable. Explore titles such as “Zita the Spacegirl” by Ben Hatke or “El Deafo” by Cece Bell to introduce your child to this engaging format.

5. Books on Topics Students are Obsessed with:

One of the most effective ways to encourage reading is to tap into your child’s existing interests. Whether it’s dinosaurs, space, or superheroes for younger students – or football, Taylor Swift and video games for older students, find books that align with their passions. Series like “National Geographic Kids” or “Magic School Bus” offer educational content in a format that feels more like an exploration than traditional learning.

Search for topics for older children and look for books that are short and have plenty of photos included so they won’t feel intimidated by the book, but excited to read it.

In the diverse world of literature, there’s a match for every child, even those who initially resist reading. By exploring alternative formats you can turn reluctant readers into eager bookworms.

Remember, the goal is to make reading a joyful experience, so be patient, supportive, and most importantly, have fun discovering the wonders of literature together.

Happy reading!

The post Unlocking the Joy of Reading: A Homeschool Family’s Guide to Books for Reluctant Readers appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

Here is exactly how to use the Scratch programming language to create the Christmas card – in 10 easy steps!

Step 1: Go to the Scratch website

Go to the Scratch website and create an account.

Step 2: Start your interactive Christmas Card

Click on ‘create’ in the menu bar at the top of the screen (close the tutorial that shows up by clicking X)

Step 3: Select a backdrop

At the top (where the red arrow is) type in a name for your project. Then go to where the purple arrow is pointing and click to select a backdrop. I chose “winter”.
(Note: next to the option to select from their library are options to draw your own background, upload from a file, or take a photo with the computer’s camera – so if your children are more ambitious they can try one of these)

Step 4: Remove the default sprite

Click on the trash can next to the cat to delete the cat (the default sprite) – unless you want him on the card.

Step 5: Add your first sprite

Click on ‘Choose a sprite’ (the cat face) and select one from the library (once again you could draw your own, upload a picture from a file or use the computer’s camera to take a photo). I chose a penguin.

This penguin sprite comes with many scripts –  these tell the sprite what you want it to do. You can currently see all the blue “Move” scripts, but if you click on one of the other colors you can see those categories of scripts.

Step 6: Make a dancing penguin

The different scripts (pieces of code) in Scratch will click together like a jigsaw puzzle. Make sure they do as if they aren’t connected, the code will be ‘broken’ and not work. Copy the script I have here by clicking on Events, Control, Looks, and Motion to find the blocks you need. Follow the colors to find them

If you select the wrong script by mistake – no problem – just drag it back to where you got it and it will disappear!

This script tells the penguin sprite to repeat 5 times the following sequence:

• Wait 1 second

• Move 10 steps

• Switch to the next costume

In Scratch, a costume is a variation on the appearance of a sprite and you use it when you want to animate sprites. Not all sprites have costumes but if they do you will find them when you click on the Costumes tab. Here you can see our penguin sprite has 3 costumes.

The effect of letting him move and then change costume makes it a more fun animation. Click on the penguin now – the one in the right panel – and you will see him dance. If he does nothing, check you have the code EXACTLY like mine and that all the pieces are properly joined together.

Step 7: Add a ringing bell

Now it is time to add another sprite. Follow the same steps as when you added the first one. I chose a bell this time. Drag it to where you want it to be on the screen. Here is the code to make the bell ‘ring’ when clicked. You can click on the “down arrow” to select ‘xylo1’ or leave it as ‘bell toll’.

Step 8: Add a blinking star

Add another sprite – you know how to do that by now. I used a star. These scripts will make it blink. Be sure you have the star sprite clicked before you add the scripts (see the red arrow). There will be a purple box around the sprite the scripts apply to.

These script wait briefly (.5 seconds), hide the star, wait briefly (.5 seconds), and then reshow it, and this repeats 5 times. Please note you need to change the value of the numbers. Just overtype with the values you want.

Step 9: Add a talking gift

Add your final sprite – I chose a gift. Then make it “talk” ie when it is clicked, add words to say “Happy Christmas” or whatever you want to say.

Step 10: Share with family and friends

Now it is time to save and share. Click on Files and then ‘Save’ (the red arrow) and then click on Share (red arrow). If you don’t share a project no one can see it!

Add some instructions on the project page like I did (red arrow) and finally grab the url (purple arrow) and email that to whoever you want to send it to!

Now just sit back and wait for the recipients to be impressed. Or – challenge yourself and try to create some variations to make your interactive Christmas card even better! Try to make a sprite change color or size perhaps.

And if your children love coding in Scratch, consider gifting them an online Scratch class for Christmas!

Bio:

Meryl van der Merwe started programming as a teen and worked as a computer programmer before becoming a homeschool mom. She has been teaching live and online programming classes – and other subjects too – for over 10 years. You can find her online classes at FundaFunda Academy. Follow her on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

The post How to Teach Kids to Program an Interactive Christmas Card appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

**Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase, but we might receive a small commission**

There are many benefits to incorporating robotics in your homeschool

• A fun introduction to STEM
• It’s hands-on learning
• It’s creative and encourages innovation
• Students learn problem-solving
• Students learn to persevere when things don’t work
• It equips students with tech skills they can use in future careers

But you may not know where to start. So here are some ideas based on my own experience (my one son built robots in middle and high school), and the experience of other homeschoolers I know.

Online Robotics Class

Robotics Workshops for Kids offers a free online workshop so that you can see what their classes will be like. Younger students can be accompanied by parents as they may need some help. If you love the free workshop then sign up for the class that teaches you to build Robby the Drummer robot. You will be mailed all the parts and then your child can follow along during the class to build and program it

Listen to my podcast interview with Vinod Agrawal, the owner of Robotics Workshops for Kids to learn more

Robot Kits

Some kits just have students building the robot. Some will have instructions to copy exactly and these are good for beginners as they can learn slowly.

Then it is good to progress to kits that also allow creativity as by changing things up and making their own version, students will be taking this to the next level. Many of these include the ability to program the robot.

My son had the Lego Mindstorms set. This now uses Scratch as the default programming language. Lego no longer makes Mindstorms, but the replacement is called Boost, and you can find it here.

Make a Robot from Scratch

A great way to learn more about electronics is to make a robot from scratch. Here is a simple one even elementary-age children should manage

Robotics Competitions

The most popular Robotics Competitions are hosted by FIRST. My son was on a First Lego League team in 8th and 9th grade and a few years later, I ended up coaching a middle school team for 3 years. The Lego Mindstorms robot is used for this competition. Teams consist of up to 10 students and if you ask around you are sure to find a few in your area.

Older students can participate in FIRST Robotics and FIRST Tech Challenge – also team events. Listen to this podcast episode where I talk to a student who has been competing in FIRST.

You may also find that your local community college or university hosts robotic competitions, and if you can find a Science Olympiad team to join, robotics is often one of the events.

As you can see, there are many options for adding robotics to your homeschool. Whether you include it as part of your curriculum, or add it as an “after-school” activity, it is easy to do even if you know nothing about robotics or coding.

The post Robotics in Your Homeschool appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

We had moved mid-year from South Africa and had decided to “tread water” for the spring semester as our children had already completed their school year (South Africa operates on a calendar year for school). During that spring semester while we were really just dabbling with homeschooling while waiting for the fall – we actually fell in love with homeschooling and decided to stick with it.

I was fortunate that my son was on a baseball team with a homeschooling family. The mom invited me over and showed me her curriculum. And then I attended a local homeschool fair. At this point, I still didn’t understand all the homeschool styles, but I was starting to figure  out what got me excited and what I thought would work for us.

We opted for Sonlight as our main curriculum (which falls into a blend of traditional, Charlotte Mason and classical homeschooling (see below)) and we added a lot more – some hands on, some following our children’s interests, some online etc. So ultimately I would describe my style as eclectic as it incorporated many of the styles listed below. 

**Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase, but we might receive a small commission**

If you are reading this, you are probably either new to homeschooling and want to know what styles are out there or have been homeschooling for years but are in need of something new.  There are several different styles of homeschooling, each with its own unique approach to teaching and learning and I am providing you a list of 9 of the most popular ones to help you figure out the direction you will take.  

1. Traditional Homeschooling

This is the most common type of homeschooling, and it is based on a traditional school curriculum. Children in traditional homeschooling programs typically follow a structured schedule, complete daily assignments, and take regular tests and quizzes.

Examples:
Parents who use traditional homeschooling may choose to use a packaged curriculum, such as the Calvert curriculum, or create their own curriculum based on state standards.

2. Classical Homeschooling

Classical homeschooling is based on the classical education model, which emphasizes the teaching of core subjects, such as math, science, history, and literature. Students in classical homeschooling programs often study a particular subject in depth for a period of time, known as the “spiral” or “trivium” method.

Examples:
Classical homeschoolers often use curricula such as The Well-Trained Mind or the Classical Conversations program, which emphasize the study of classical literature, history, languages, and mathematics.

3. Unschooling

Unschooling is a philosophy of education that emphasizes self-directed learning and the importance of real-life experiences. Children in unschooling programs are not required to follow a structured curriculum, and they are free to explore their interests and learn at their own pace.

Examples:
Unschooling families may not follow a set curriculum, but instead allow their children to learn through real-life experiences, such as cooking, gardening, volunteering, playing an instrument, or exploring their community. Parents may also provide their children with resources and materials based on their interests. A good music curriculum for homeschoolers is Music in Our Homeschool, which makes a great addition to unschooling for any family with a child interested in music.

4. Eclectic Homeschooling

Eclectic homeschooling is a blend of different styles and approaches to education. Parents who use an eclectic approach may choose to incorporate elements of traditional, classical, and unschooling methods, as well as other educational philosophies, into their homeschooling program.

Examples:
Eclectic homeschooling families may use a variety of resources and curricula to meet the needs and interests of their children. For example, they might use traditional textbooks for some subjects, but also incorporate real-life experiences and online resources for others. Seven Sisters Homeschool is an example of a curriculum an eclectic homeschooling family might use. FundaFunda Academy’s games and digital breakouts, which can be found on their teaching resources page are used by many eclectic homeschooling families.

5. Charlotte Mason Homeschooling

Charlotte Mason homeschooling is based on the educational philosophy of Charlotte Mason, who emphasized the importance of a well-rounded education that includes both academic subjects and “living books” (books written by authors who are passionate about their subjects). Children in Charlotte Mason homeschooling programs often keep a “commonplace book” to record their thoughts and reflections on what they are learning.

Examples:
Charlotte Mason homeschoolers often use resources such as Ambleside Online or Simply Charlotte Mason, which emphasize the use of “living books” and the development of good habits, as well as nature study and handicrafts.

6. Montessori Homeschooling

Montessori homeschooling is based on the educational philosophy of Maria Montessori, who emphasized the importance of hands-on learning and the development of the whole child. Children in Montessori homeschooling programs often have access to a wide range of materials and activities that allow them to explore their interests and learn at their own pace.

Examples:
Montessori homeschoolers may use materials and resources from Montessori curriculum providers, such as NAMC or Montessori Services, or they may create their own Montessori-inspired materials and activities.

7. Waldorf Homeschooling

Waldorf homeschooling is based on the educational philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, who emphasized the importance of imaginative and artistic expression in education. Children in Waldorf homeschooling programs often engage in creative activities, such as storytelling, singing, and drawing, as well as academic subjects.

Examples:
Waldorf homeschoolers may use curricula such as Oak Meadow or Christopherus Homeschool Resources, which incorporate artistic and imaginative activities, such as storytelling, puppetry, and handwork.

8. Unit Studies Homeschooling

Unit studies homeschooling is a method of education in which children study a particular topic or theme in depth, incorporating multiple subjects and learning styles. For example, a unit on Ancient Egypt might include lessons in history, geography, art, and literature.

Examples:
Unit studies homeschoolers may use resources such as Konos, which provides unit study plans based on topics such as inventions, world cultures, or animals. FundaFunda Academy offers a plethora of web-based unit studies for this type of homeschooling.  

9. Online Homeschooling

Online homeschooling is a type of homeschooling in which children learn at home, but they receive their instruction and materials through an online program or curriculum. Children in online homeschooling programs may have regular interactions with teachers and other students through video conferencing or online forums.

Examples:
There are three main types of online homeschooling: live online, asynchronous online, and self-paced.

• Live online usually involves interaction with a teacher via videoconference and work has due dates and is graded by the online teacher. True North Homeschool Academy is a great example of this type of homeschooling.
• Asynchronous online classes still have deadlines and are graded by an online teacher, but there is no live aspect. FundaFunda Academy works in this manner.
• Self-paced online homeschooling has work that is either automatically graded or parent graded. There are no external deadlines, only those which parents impose. FundaFunda Academy has a new line of products that are self-paced.
  
  

Anyone who has homeschooled for any amount of time knows that it is not a simple endeavor, but if you can find your general style, it can help narrow down your options. Each type has pros and cons, and there is no one right option. Often it takes a fair amount of trial and error, but once found, a homeschooling style can give you a framework with which to learn and grow.

I am glad I took the time upfront to investigate the different options as the result was homeschooling in a way that worked for my family. I hope this article is a starting point on your journey of discovery.

Your next step

I suggest you listen to the podcast episode I recorded on “How to Use the Internet to Find the Right Curriculum for Your Child“. It is episode 220 on the Homeschooling with Technology podcast which you can find anywhere you listen to podcasts. This episode will help you continue to narrow down what will work for your family.

Feel free to join either or both of the Facebook groups FundaFunda sponsors: Homeschooling Middle School and Homeschooling College-bound Teens. You arere very welcome to ask any questions in those groups and there are many veteran homeschoolers in them who would love to help you.

The post Homeschooling Styles: Find the Perfect Approach for Your Family appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

Are you looking for some ways to incorporate games to make your curriculum more engaging for your children? Look no further! Here is a list of 18 different websites and apps (most of which are free!) that contain grammar or vocabulary games you can use in your homeschool.

Here’s a  big list of Online English Language Games to use in your Homeschool – there are games for all ages! 

1. Vocabulary Spelling City: this free online vocabulary game is designed for students up to middle school and includes games like Hangmouse, a version of the classic Hangman game.
2. Freerice: Help a cause while learning! Freerice comes as a website or an app where learning earns rice that is sent to countries in need
3. Vocabulary.com: comes as a free website or paid-for app. With this learning resource, students can play on their own, or teachers can use it to assign specific groups of words. It gamifies learning vocabulary.
4. Knoword: created for teens and up, this challenging vocabulary game works a little differently than the rest. Instead of getting choices, the student is only given the first letter of the word as a hint.
5. Madtakes: a free online version of MadLibs that can be incorporated into any middle school English lesson.
6. Brainpop: contains games and short lessons to learn almost any grammar concept from run-on sentences to semi-colons. Most of the grammar concepts listed have a “Sortify” game to use for practice
7. Semicolon Wars: The fight for Punctuation Island: This game from Mr. Nussbaum teaches more than just semicolon usage as you progress through different levels trying to win the island.
8. Extreme Sentence Surgeons Saving Critically Injured Paragraphs: Another game from Mr. Nussbaum, players perform “surgery” on paragraphs to correct mistakes and save the paragraph’s life!
9. Sporcle: Sporcle contains a host of games on numerous topics. Search for “grammar games” and you’ll be sure to find one that best suits your child’s needs.
10. Abcya: Like Sporcle, Abcya has a number of grammar games to pick from. One example is “Journey to Past Tense” which takes players on an adventure as they practice grammar.
11. RoomRecess: has two arcade-style games that teach grammar – “Grammar Police” and “Grammar Gladiator” as well as a few other vocabulary/spelling themed games.
12. Wordle: This popular game can be played both online and through the app. If you can’t get enough Wordle, similar apps like Klura and Wordus are available.
13. Words with Friends: similar to Scrabble, this fun game can be played for free online or through the app
14. Typeshift: move the columns of letters to create words trying to use each letter at least once. Like Wordle, there is a new one each day
15. 7 Little Words: find the 7 words to match the 7 clues using the letters/letter groups. Also, look at their “for the classroom” page for printable-themed versions of the game
16. Flippity: a hangman-style game where you can input the words to use  (listen to this podcast episode on Flippity)
17. Word Trip: a free app good for younger children to learn vocabulary
18. Whirly Word: a paid-for app that has over 5,000 puzzles where you use given letters to make as many words as possible

If you are looking for a middle school writing program that includes grammar and vocabulary games, check out our Writing Fun for Middle Schoolers course. This class uses games in each module to encourage the reluctant writer. The class uses topics and essay prompts designed to engage middle schoolers and encourage their enthusiasm for writing.

If your students are a bit older, you can check out our Writing Mechanics class where students learn writing skills needed in order to do well on the ACT and SAT, and write papers for and at college.

The post Online English Language Games to use in your Homeschool appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

**Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you choose to purchase, but we might receive a small commission**

1. Families of the World

Families of the World is a DVD series that showcases, as the name suggests, different families from around the world and how they live their daily lives. It is a great way for your students to se everyday life in other countries. It can also provide a great prompt for a writing assignment. You can tell your child to pick a few aspects of their daily routine and write a paper comparing/contrasting their personal routine with the routine from another country. For South America, Families of the World has Brazil and Costa Rica. Of course, you can also check your local library for these DVDs.

2. Man vs Wild Season 2

In episodes 5 and 6 of this season, Bear Grylls visits the Amazon and Patagonia. These are two fascinating areas of South America. if you have adventurous, thrill-seeking kids, this could be a great choice to get them interested in geography. As a follow-up assignment, you could have your student write about which activities they would like to participate in or make a map of the places Bear travels in the episodes. (Side note: This season is free if you have Amazon Prime!)

3. Mapominoes

This fun and educational card game is like dominoes but with countries! This deck contains countries of North and South America. The goal of the game is to play a country card from your hand next to a previously played country card that shares a border with it. This game will help your children learn the locations of these countries on the map, and they get to engage in some friendly competition in the process

4. GeoPuzzles

Puzzles are a great tool for visual learners to process what they are learning about! This puzzle of Central and South America is a fun activity for all ages to practice their geography skills. You can challenge your student to put together the puzzle without looking at the reference image to really test how much they remember!

5. Lost on the Amazon (Choose Your Own Adventure)

Choose your own adventure books are an immersive way for your child to learn about various locations and periods in history. They also teach valuable critical thinking and cause-and-effect skills, and they motivate your child to read more! This choose your adventure book is set in the Amazon in South America. After reading the book, your could tell your child to try and research and design their own choose-your-own adventure game based in South America.

6. YouTube Vlog Series

While you might not think of YouTube as the first place to go for teaching resources, there are actually many great videos on there that you can use in your homeschool. Vlogs are video diaries that many creators do for their daily life, trips they go on, etc. There are many creators who make vlog series about traveling through South America. These videos will likely entertain your child, but they also give insights into traveling, the climate and physical geography of countries, activities, foods, language, and more. My favorite is this one from X Overlanders of their adventures overlanding across South America.

7. Unit Study

Here at FundaFunda, we offer an “Around South America in 30 Days” unit study. This unit study is fully online, self-paced, and contains interactive assignments for your student to complete. The course is aimed toward 4th-8th grade and discusses many aspects of South American geography. Even better, once you purchase the unit study, you will have lifetime access for your whole family!

We hope you enjoyed these teaching resources on South America for Homeschoolers! For more resources, check out this blog post on “Playing Your Way Around the U.S.A.” And, as always, if you have any more suggestions, please leave them in the comments below! Thanks for reading!

The post Teaching Resources on South America for Homeschoolers appeared first on FundaFunda Academy.

** Some of links below might be affiliate links. You won’t pay any extra if you purchase from these links, but we might earn a small commission**

This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in combination with several other blogs. For more information about this series and to see the other bloggers and topics, visit this post. 

How do I Start Getting my Teen on Board with College Prep?

Before we talk about what your teen needs to do, we should start with the first hurdle: helping them realize why it’s important! This part can be the most difficult for teenagers, especially with their limited life experience. To help them realize why college prep is important, you need to put things in perspective for them.

When my oldest son was in high school, I struggled to get him to take his academics seriously. Eventually, I asked him to tell me a few colleges he thought he might like to go to. Then I told him to look up the average GPA and ACT / SAT score for each – as well as the cost. The answers he found gave him a shock. And it worked. He realized he needed to focus more on his grades and scores – and he needed to start thinking about how to win scholarships.

This exact approach might not work for you, but you need to find a way for your teen to understand the consequences of what they do or don’t do in their early high school years. They must understand what types of qualities the colleges they want to attend are looking for. Too frequently, seniors suddenly realize they don’t have the grades, skills, or experiences to pursue a college plan they have only recently decided on. 

Of course, your teen’s plans will likely change throughout high school, and that’s perfectly fine. Having a general plan and expectations of what is needed for college is what matters. And this plan needs to be theirs – not yours! They will not be motivated to achieve your dreams for them. To get your teen on board with college prep, they need to see how it fits in with their future as they imagine it.

What Should I Advise My Teen to Do?

As mentioned above, the first step is for your child to have a general plan for what they need for college. If your child doesn’t have any idea where they might want to go to school, have them look up a few universities in your state and make note of the cost, admission rates, GPA/ACT/SAT requirements, etc.

Make a goal! If your child has a specific school they want to go to, start making a more solid plan for admission. Find the ACT/SAT score requirements for both admission and scholarships, and have your teen start working towards those. Look at the cost and estimate what your teen will need in scholarships to go to this university. Having clear targets to work towards can help motivate your teen and realize the importance of prepping now. 

If you would like a fun and engaging way to motivate your teen through college prep this summer, check out FundaFunda’s High School Challenge! We offer this challenge for homeschooled teenagers to guide them through college prep with games, activities, and prizes! Your teen earns points for each of the “challenges” they complete, and the students with the most will earn Amazon gift cards ranging from $15-$150. The tasks we suggest are interactive, unique, and educational. Your teen will have a blast, and you’ll know they are learning a variety of useful skills! 

Blog Series

We hope this post has inspired you with some methods of getting your teen on board with college prep! This post is part of a 10-day “Tips for Homeschool Moms” series we are doing in conjunction with other homeschool blogs. Our theme is “Preparing Your Homeschooled Teen for College”. You can find all of our posts, as well as the other blogs and series topics linked in this post. Our partners have some excellent experiences and insights to share in their series, so please check out their blogs!

As always, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, you can leave them in the comments below.

Thanks for reading, and happy college prepping! 

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