The Hide and Go Seek Workbox Adventure

So, if you caught that post about hiding various workboxes around the homestead, you probably recall that I said I would post how it went.  Well-just as that great idea popped into my noggin-my son came down with a terrible case of the flu.  So I had to delay it by over a week.  Thankfully, he recovered just fine, and we were able to give it a test run.  His face just lit up when I explained what he was to do.  Here are a couple shots of the event.  Funny-one I didn't put in the box, just tucked it under a pillow/stuffed animal that was on the couch, and don't cha know-that was the one we spent a lot of time hunting for cuz I simply couldn't remember where I had put it (note to self: take one's own advice and mark out where you hide these things)..we got a good laugh about that.

This was a no brainer-had it right out on the dining room table.  Figured I would start him out easy like...

I had this way back by the door to the garage. I literally hid the boxes all over the house, the poor dear had to run up and down 2 flights of stairs and search everyone's rooms.

Number 4 was stuffed betwixt the wall and the back of the couch.  The boy had some space (well enough at least) to work on this.  I think this was my favorite spot to hide the boxes.

Uh, yes, Santa tablecloth.  Well, my teen is a painter and this was on my craft table.  This was the one in the basement.  At that point it was nice to head down there cuz it was getting kinda hot in the rest of the house (was fighting turning on the air so soon in the season-so we cowboy'd up and endured the unpleasantness).

And so it went.  I ended the 8th box on his bed (top bunk) so it took him some time to spot it, as it was hard to see from his eye-level.  That was a couple tapes (one was Hank the Cowdog, the other some American songs-ie:  Working on the Railroad, etc.) and his tape player/headset. Yes, tapes are outdated, but alas-Papa gave him a portable tape player and I have tons of those things from my previous years of schooling, and so why not?  LOL.  Besides our CD portable player bit the dust.  So I was able to relax and work on my business, and he was able to chill and hang out after a hard day of hunting.

I am going to do this here and there to break up the monotony for sure. I am planning on having a snack box too.  So do consider this fun alternative.  Just remember to remember where ya put them!

My how time flies-well the workboxing has taken a strange holiday

a holiday of mainly non-use...not because I don't like them anymore, but because our days have been filled with drives back and forth to another town for driver's ed, a traveling sick/food poisoned husband, and various other types of distractions that have rendered them almost extinct for a bit.  But workbox buddies-do not despair because I will be back into our groove soon (only 2 more driver's ed classes and altho we have 3 drive times left-it isn't creating a huge gap of time loss in our days) to once again workbox away!

I am starting tomorrow off with a secret workbox activity for my boy.  [Tues. and Thurs.] we have been doing school.  So here it is and gosh, have no idea why it didn't pop in my head sooner.  If you are Sue Patrick, you may want to look away...this totally goes against your recommendations...

THE WORKBOX HUNT

Yep, you read that right-I am going to randomly hide about 6 or so boxes tonight, all over, in odd places like my closet, under a table, in a cabinet, down in the basement-etc.  He will then have to hunt all over the house to locate them.  Now, he can scout ahead, and find all em if he wants, but he must do them in order (so if he finds #4 and hasn't done #2 or 3 yet, then he cannot do it). Talk about a neat way to "shake it up a bit" heh?  I will have to map it out as I do it so I can be ready if he needs assistance.  That should get him revved up and get some schooling done too.  :0)

HTH inspire ya!  I will let you know how it goes ~

Oreo Cookie Moon Phases activity

This is a fun one!  We used the vanilla flavored cookies, since they look more like the color of the moon-but obviously, the chocolate ones are just as good.

I found this activity on the Paper Plate Education site.  There are a lot of fun things there that I am sure we will also do.

Enjoy!

Since I knew the cookies wouldn't last until we could do this-I squirreled away 9 (in case one broke) and hid the stash til the day it showed up in the workbox.  I highly recommend this approach if you will not be doing this as soon as those cookies are unpacked from the grocery store.

We did school outside that day-because it was gorgeous....just packed the workboxes up and hauled em outside.  Talk about a fun way to learn.  I just clipped the laminated sheet (of course it was laminated-do you expect anything less from me?  The laminating queen? LOL) to a clip board and then totally forgot to read the directions before heading outside...you were suppose to use a knife to help cut the shapes...but teeth work fine-they are just not very accurate....

as you can see by the final results here-that and the cookies must have been dropped or something because many were cracked...but alas-that did not stop the boy (ah hem and me and Sissy) from enjoying them.  Talk about an excellent way to being totally involved with your lesson!  LOL We may have to do this again with the chocolate ones, and perhaps the Oreos that have the orange filling (like during the fall when the harvest moon shows up) for good measure.  :0)

This is what I have in my 8 yr old's box for tomorrow

Since we are learning about the moon now, I have added a couple goodies into the workboxes, to carry over the interest (I will show the Oreo Cookie project Wed)-such as Owl Moon [FIAR book] and the story disk to match [which gets placed on the map of the world] and some miscellaneous books referencing the moon.  Later in the week, I will put some Sculpy clay in a box, to create an Owl Moon ornament [found the idea on my pal Leslie's blog: Joyful Mother of 6 Children: look under the FIAR category on the side bar to find the great ideas for FIAR books] and of course,  all week I will add the mini-booklets to go with the Apologia Astronomy book we are using.

To bolster the whole moon theme-we carried over our "schooling" to after 9 tonight...as were able to (finally) check out the "...lesser light to govern the night" [Genesis 1:16] via the telescope (no-I didn't stuff that into the boxes, LOL) my brother gave us. That really was neat to see!  Since it is a full moon all week-we will check it out each night (assuming the clouds don't roll in) to hopefully be able to spot more of the craters and trenches; along with testing our very amateur skills in astronomy, to see if we can also hone in on some of the stars and planets too.

I found the cloth world map at WalMart a few years ago-it still may be available- it works very nicely for the FIAR disks.  I simply put on some Velcro dots to the areas the books are in (for those with no noted location-I used the clues mentioned in the book/Teacher's Guide or simply guessed).  The movie is from the library.  It is just someone reading the book with a few extra sound effects (like the train and owl call)..it gave me a break from reading it-gotta love that.  We have read this book a lot in the last few years, and although it is a bit youngish for my son, he enjoys it still.  Especially now that we are doing the Molly/McGee watch and covering the moon. (this is going to be tucked into a box with the books below)

As you can see, these are well loved books in our home.  Goodness-I think Grandfather Twilight was "new" when my eldest son was about the age my youngest son is now.  These are a bit more folktale in nature, but fun to read-and again-talk about the moon.  Great tie-ins.

There are other boxes with math, Bible study, a few games and activities too-just wanted to highlight the moon stuff.   I will have to remember to put a "science center" card in a box this week-I have a magazine about space and some new cards to go into the resource pockets...plus I will add the puzzle and a few more books to the area to jazz it up a bit.

So there is our moon theme workbox ideas for tomorrow.

As for the teen's boxes?  

Well, hers are rather boring since she has a lot of reading to do for history, and science tomorrow.  I do have her working on some papers that go with the history, so I was sure to include the scissors and glue stick she needs.  She has another Winston Grammar review page to do (so that has the paper and the cards plus the pencil in the folder), and her art project she is working on...

She is doing a sketching/shading project from the Spear's Art Studio lesson [links you to the review I did on this program]...and so I have all the necessary pencils, erasers and blending stump (not in the pic) plus the paper in the folder too.  The crumpled bag is folded up (as best as possible considering its sad state) and in there as well...the rocks and shells would rip up the folder so they are strategically placed throughout the house to give her different lighting situations to draw.

Oh woe is the poor crumply bag (but hey-that is what she is suppose to doodle)

 but alas, he will be forever etched (or is that sketched?) in her art book.  

and a few other things that currently escape my mind (as it is after 1 am here as I type this) but for the most part-my creativity went to the boy's boxes for Tuesday..maybe Wednesday she will get some more exciting ones...we'll see.

and that is it for now fellow bloggers-

Some ideas for the workboxes

I found this gem at the local Dollar Tree. Seems they are starting to stock more teacher material, which is a blessing. There were others to choose from-I think there was a geography one and or a lang. arts one? Cannot recall...so check your local stores. I actually put small letters to each matching set (cuz honestly, I don't always have time to check the work-they can do a self-check after they do it).  Then I laminated it for a longer life.  :0)

So this is just another idea of what you can stuff the boxes with. One could even put this with the math lesson of the day (so when we do measurements-I can add this entire kit or just pull the ones that match the areas we are covering).  Keeping your eye open for such little goodies can help build your "goodies kit".  I look at the dollar sections at Target, Michaels, JoAnns, and of course dollar stores.  With garage sale season coming up-you should be able to find some great little doo-dads too, and for cheap too.

Well she is almost completed...but well-here ya go....the Geo Center

I will have to post another post with the links and sites where I found the majority of this stuff...as I am just too pooped to do so today.  But here it is -almost.  Yah see, when I work on these sorta things-I have it all in my head, unfortunately-that means there may not be parts of it available in the real world. Sigh.  So I am still looking for a poster I can chop up or a big pic of a globe for the lonely spot next to the maps holder...so pretend to see one OK?  Then, the Flora and Fauna-that is something we will work on in spurts-I just have to decide if I will do a long strip of Velcro across that section (couple actually) to then have the child pop up some critters and plants that are found in that region of the world or a different approach...I dunno...I will get to it when I get to it, I suppose.  As we learn stuffalage about the said region, then I will add information cards into the pocket for that stuff, and I want to add a few more Lat. and Long. maps with more detailed number listings, for the teen to use.  But for now-this will do.  I also have two teeny tiny compasses I got in a science kit last year...aren't they just so cute?  Well, I suppose if you want one of those, you can look at the dollar store to see if they have a wee bigger one available. Or maybe you have that kit too-I have to check the name but it was one I ordered for free last year-but I Velcro'd them up there too.  The picture of the compass is so I can say to the boy, "Hey, where is the Pacific Ocean from our location?"  He will have to figure it out by using the fake compass....yes, I do enjoy torturing my kids.  LOL

And what else?  All the stuff is Velcro'd to make my life easier for switching out maps and labels, as mentioned in the previous post....I think that is it for now....again-look for the info links later.

OK, so here ya go...I was trying to do an Image Loop of it and it dropped all the pics when I clicked something and honestly-I just don't want get my BP up today...so-well, I will upload it all on it later...but here is the 3 panels and a few close ups-

few of the close ups for ya...

The over all look [minus the MIA pieces], with added books, a puzzle and clipboards with the maps they fill out...

Geography Center info

After penning a lovely, long post noting all the areas for where I found the components, and what I did to create this-and then having it disappear into thin air-I am only going to post a quick link one instead.

Found the project board at Michaels (JoAnns in the past near school start up time) and see Target also carries them.

Velcro (need I say more?) black and white -dots are easier cuz you won't need to trim them, but not as economical Black goes on the board to fade away into the background better.  The white is for the stuff printed on the wht cardstock/paper.

Laminator-I have a Scotch from WalMart (cheapest place) but see KMart has cheaper (usually) laminator sheets (come in a 50 pk) but for the dollar or so difference-you'd eat that up in gas...so buy where you find em.
**Update: I forgot to note-you can make the pockets (which hold the goodies) with an empty lam. sheet ran thru the laminator. Cut to size, and use packing tape to secure to the sides/bottom.

Copy paper and card stock of your choice. I get mine at JoAnns (using the 40% coupon or when on sale).

Companies for materials:

Most of my maps are a part of the awesome Amy Pak kit called Olde World Map Pak (US and World included) which I wrote about in my review on my TOS blog-you can find that info here. Her site is Home School in the Woods, where she has tons and tons of great products to help you homeschool with pizazz! The Longitude/Latitude that is clipped together with a ring, the mini-map with the fishes attached, and the hemispheres section are all parts of a worksheet found under the World maps section.  I enlarged the lat./long. ones a tad to make those easier to read, prior to copying them off.

That is where I found the maps shown in the pictures, say for the world pic that I found (it is the one in the clear pocket under Long/Lat.) at ABCteach.  I also found the compass images there under the clip art. You do have to be a member to get those, but there are plenty of other sites where you can find these, you'll just have to hunt for them.

The maps are ones we found in our National Geographic pile.  They are most likely not super updated, but alas-they will do.

All the words (on the section for the reference point, all other labels) are done in MS Word.  I have lots of these uploaded on my Scribd page.  Look for the icon in the right-hand side of my blog, to get there. The ocean info is something you can type up as needed.  I just Googled the info, then typed out the important stuff.  Each continent will get some info like that too.

All of this is Velcro'd on, so that when I need to change maps-it is easy as pie.  I also have a long strip of Velcro running along the bottom of the map pocket and up the sides to give it super strength to hold those heavy maps.

The fish are a part of a little container I found at the Dollar Tree.  It had stars, turtles and other sea critters in it.  I will have turtles for the continent finding.  Simple Velcro a tiny piece to the back of em, so they can be stuck on.

Lastly, the little compasses.  Well I had those from a kit I got free last summer (some science place had those available) but do not recall who it was.  Anyhoo-you can find cheap compasses at the dollar store.  Just strap or Velcro them on for the kids to use on their excursions.

I think I got em all listed.  Use what you have to save $$, look for free downloads first. Since our geography is on going-we will have this for a long, long time.  Once done with the world geo...we'll go into the states.  So we will have a whole new slew of things for that.

HTH

Some workbox game ideas from a product I reviewed

OK, so I finished the review and have some pics of them too.  I am plopping these into my son's workboxes from time to time to shake up the ole routine yet, have him doing something where he is learning some things...gotta love that.

My review is for the Super Star Speech Homeschool Games.

Geography Game

All About Animals

This is the Planets, Moon and Stars game in action

Bit of the teen's boxes today (actually folders)

Her schedule book opened to today's activities

This one came first. Any papers I have gone thru that need to be readdressed are put in here and come first. 

She is working on this great book for her Bible stuff, along with a couple other programs.  But for today-it was reading from the Stranger on the Road to Emmaus.

We found this book originally at the library.  It teaches Algebra in a more easily understood way for my precious math-aphob.  This was box #2.

She is still working thru the Nutrition 101 study I reviewed late last fall.  I have her also going thru Dinah Zikes foldables/labook on the body too (mostly cuz I need it for an example when I start my lectures on this stuff-and she is kindly making these for me)...but it also helps her recall pretty darn well..so "killing 2 birds with one stone" here.

Then on to LLATL for box #4.

This is part of the science box-working on genetics in Apologia's Biology book-which is too heavy to put in the holders, but the notations on what to read/do, are in the pocket of the folder.  This cute Bikini Bottom Genetics worksheet is in there too.  Really helping her figure out all the nitty gritties of it.  I found this puppy (actually 2 worksheets) on The Science Spot.  

This was her last box.  She showed a great interest in knowing what the book was about-and since I have read this one a lot-I know it can be somewhat daunting to read the book first-so...movie first, then the book with Cliff Notes.  

I know I missed a couple of the folders (one had some worksheets for thinking skills-) , but this gives you some ideas on what you can stuff a teen's boxes with.  

By looking at the schedule book, you can see she also had to do some work in the Geography Center, and work on a math program on my puter (also reviewing that product)....so what cannot fit in a box, can go on a schedule form or book.  :0) (PS I have the templates for that book on my scribd pages-check it out!)

HTH with some ideas.  Not super creative but it does give you a peek into what you can do.  

New Easter workbox number cards available on my scribd

You can hit the pic of these in the side bar and it will get you to the downloadable page.