A Homeschool Thanksgiving - Theme Learning

We love using Seton for our homeschooling, but we also really enjoy adding some extras for special fun learning!  We especially love adding different "themes" to different weeks or seasons.  We have done themes for the Olympics, Fire Prevention Week, and holidays like Halloween, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, etc.  We also will do theme weeks to focus on special topics like Colors, Shapes, Numbers, Letters, Seasons, and Months.  One thing that I knew I needed to figure out early on in homeschooling was some sort of organization.  Being a "type A" momma, I knew that organization is a must for me to be able to enjoy things, and I think I finally have a system figured out that works for our family. 

First, when I find things for my "themes" from Pinterest or different websites I print them out and laminate anything that we can re-use between different years or even with different children.  I put any small pieces and puzzles in a zip-lock bag.  I then found clear plastic folders with a snap at Target that I put each "theme" in and then label that folder with the theme name on the outside so I can clearly see what it is!  I probably have 20-30 of these "theme folders" so far and I keep them all in file drawers that are easily accessible by my desk.  It has been great to have them all easily accessible and organized.

Our Thanksgiving Theme Pack

Then when fun theme weeks come along, like starting our theme of Thanksgiving this week, we can pull out the folder and it's all ready to go!  Even if the kids have done the activities before, as their learning increases they do the activities in different ways and are able to gain more from them!

 

They love this fun Thanksgiving song and activity from 1+1+1=1, we sing the song to the tune of "Are you Sleeping" and work on finding and identifying different colors!  It also helps with sharing and taking turns when I hand out different colored feathers to each child before we start!

 

We always love activities that work on improving writing skills!  Ryan (almost 5 years old) can now write all of his letters on his own without tracing or guides, but practice never hurts!  Connor (3 years old) is just learning those basic writing skills so these activities are perfect for him!  It's also different for me because Connor writes with his left hand, so he has been needing a little extra practice writing.

 



 

We love these activities from HomeschoolCreations.com, that help sorting sizes of Large, Medium and Small and also building puzzles from identifying number order!

 

One of our kids FAVORITE activities is lacing cards.  I make lacing cards all of the time by simply printing off a picture on a regular piece of paper, laminating it, cutting around the shape, using a hole puncher to punch holes and then adding a piece of yarn!  It is so easy, they are so great for those important fine motor skills, and the kids LOVE them! 

 

Finally, with each theme we include books!  If we don't have books that go with that theme we use our weekly library trip to find some!  All of our boys love our read aloud story time!

 

 

 

Well, that is part of our Thanksgiving learning fun!  I hope you all have a blessed Thanksgiving and are able to be with ones you love!