FREE Nature Scavenger Hunts

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First off I want to wish everyone a happy and safe 4th of July. Do you have any exciting plans this weekend? We are going on a camping adventure with some friends and visiting another one of a kind camping destination in Georgia (don't worry I will share all about it when we return). Remember you can follow us on our fun adventures by checking in with us on Instagram and Facebook.

We have all kinds of fun activities lined up for the weekend like learning how to tie the different types of knots, making para-cord bracelets, playing board games, geocaching, and going on scavenger hunts. So today I decided to make up my own nature scavenger hunts and share them with you.

Download the nature scavenger hunt here, or click the photo below.

Download the fungus scavenger hunt here, or click the photo below.

For more fun, FREE downloads including nature journal pages (leaf, arachnid, flower, etc) and fieldtrip/road trip worksheets (letter game, travel journal page, road trip scavenger hunt) visit my freebie page.

Do you have any camping trips planned this year? I'd love to hear more about them post a comment below.

You can also tag us on instagram (@kbalman or use hashtag #2015campingfun) or share a photo on our Facebook page.

WORD Bible Study and Video Series - Facebook Party and Exclusive Freebie

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details. This post was sponsored.

My amazing friend Kelli Becton blogger at Adventures in ChildRearing and Frugal Mommas would like to tell you about this amazing Bible Study by Lyn Smith.  I haven't personally looked this resource over but it sounds pretty amazing and helps you get closer to God through an encouraging and inspirational Bible Study and video series. Keep reading to find out more and to hear Kelli's personal thoughts.

*affiliate links may be present

You are officially invited to join the fun with a Facebook party full of prizes and encouragement - as we celebrate the launch of Lyn Smith's powerful new Bible Study & video series.

GO HERE to pre-register & get an exclusive FREEBIE!

Meet the author
We will "meet the author" and enjoy her straight forward answers to questions about what inspired her and why she wrote this study. You'll gain encouragement and inspiration that can change your life.

The video series, along with the workbook - will surprise you as Lyn's passion for knowing God becomes contagious. Her straight forward & honest approach is done with love and a non-judgemental attitude that invites everyone to take a step closer to their Creator.

More Jesus Less Me
"Right off the bat in this study, I was convicted of areas in my life that needed more Jesus & less me! I was reminded of the constant dialogue that is supposed to be a part of my daily walk with the Lord; the one that is all too often set aside during the business of life.

I was also reminded that God doesn't need me to stop everything (although, that is also important) to talk to Him. Scheduled time with the Lord, quiet time matters, but too often - I skip the daily dialogue because I feel guilty that I haven't slowed down and given Him the time He deserves from me. He doesn't NEED me . . . I NEED Him - He just Wants me to spend time with Him. Amazing how much love and forgiveness is there if we only accept it." ~ Kellie Becton

Right Words

You don't have to be "in" church. You don't have to use "just the right words". God wants to hear from you from the heart. He simply wants to spend time with you. . . . and when we do this . . . REALLY do this - what a powerful change takes place in our hearts!!

Do you have a regular dialogue with God?

About the book: What you're going through matters, not only to you but to God. He cares about your finances, diagnosis, marriage, children, job, fears, dreams, concerns and goals. He cares so much that He wrote a Book for you that meets you right where you are and leads you into the power-filled life. God's Word is alive and exciting! Journey for six weeks through Psalm 119 and experience fresh insight, fresh solutions, fresh purpose, and fresh power. His words will leap off the pages of Scripture, illuminate your life, astound you, and change you.

About the author: Lyn Smith is a Bible Activist, speaker, and author. Whether speaking or writing, she passionately communicates what she loves the most - God and His Word. "The Leadher Challenge" was her first book, a collaborative effort with six other ministry leaders. "Think 4:8 - 40 Days to a Joy-filled Life for Teens" was co-written with bestselling author Tommy Newberry. Lyn's latest release, "WORD - Psalm 119: a study in 22 meditations," is a Bible study, with video downloads available on her website ... www.lynsmith.org

Get a copy!

Check out Lyn's Site

See other books by Lyn & watch her video on the Author page HERE. 

Come join us and learn more about this life changing - heart softening - eye opening new book. WORD.

Tuesday Night - March 10 at 9 pm ET - Facebook page for A Journey Through Learning

Use your refresh button often to keep up with the fun - right from your own home! We will hear from Lyn, learn about the book, win prizes and freebies for the family, and leave encouraged!

More Amazing Homeschool Freebies

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Yesterday I shared about an amazing, limited time, subscriber only freebie. If you missed it check it out and sign up here. (If you subscribed yesterday look for your download link at the bottom of the email)

Then I stumbled upon several other amazing freebies that I just needed to tell you about. 

The first freebie is from my friends over Homeschool Giveaways. There are two parts to this amazing, limited time Black Friday-Cyber Monday freebie. Part one includes over $70 worth of some pretty awesome downloads, like the Birds of a Feather unit study that we reviewed last year. Once you download part one share your special link with your friends to get part 2 which contains over $90 worth of downloads.

The second freebie is also from Homeschool Giveaways. This one is for the  Draw Around The World Europe curriculum. Once you download the curriculum be sure to share your special link with your friends so you can get a 50% off coupon for the Draw Around the World USA curriculum.

The third freebie is from Educents. Actually they have a few great freebies like a holiday activity list, holiday number puzzle, snowman synonyms packet and more. Plus they are giving new subscribers a $10 in Edubucks (see below). 

New Educents subscribers can get a $10 credit in Edubucks, which can be put toward the purchase of ANYTHING on the site (with no minimums or catches)

Freebie Friday - Subscriber Only Bundle Learning Pack Freebie

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. As a thank you for being a Kathy's Cluttered Mind subscriber I have a very special, limited time freebie for you (freebie download expires December 1st).

This downloadable freebie includes 18 items that cover a range of topics & fun themes! If you are on the search for fun, interactive year-round learning resources, then you'll love this freebie bundle.

It's packed with Math & ELA worksheets & activities, including some of our most popular products -- I Spy Shapes, Minecraft Multiplication, Frozen ABC Fun, and many more!

Simply enter your email address below to subscribe to Kathy's Cluttered Mind posts. You will be sent a verification email which you must acknowledge before emails will be sent to you. In the next email from me you will see a download link to the special freebie offer at the bottom. Special thanks to my friends over at Educents for setting up this freebie for my readers.

If you are already a subscriber just look at the bottom of your email for the link there is no need to subscribe again!

Enter your email address:

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Usborne Book Giveaway

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We love Usborne books and probably own about 30+ of them. Usborne books are exciting, engaging, and educational. They are high quality, innovative, lavishly-illustrated and best of all they are the books children love to read. There are almost 2,000 bright colorful and fun titles covering a wide variety of subjects to choose from. If you are looking for the perfect gift for your children, look no further. If you look under specials on the left hand side under categories you can find books as low as $3. 

Want to win an Explorers Sticker Book? My Usborne consultant friend Jody is offering one of these fabulous books to one lucky reader. USA only. 

If you want to earn FREE books ask Jody about hosting your own Usborne eShow with a wish list registry for the holidays (or birthday).

Now time for the giveaway:

One winner will receive a copy of the Explorers Sticker Book. Only the first entry is mandatory. Other entries are optional and give you extra chances. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook in any way. The winner will be posted on the blog and will be emailed. Winner must reply within 24 hrs with their contact information or another winner will be chosen. 

**Note the mandatory option for the giveaway is to create a wishlist with at least 5 books. You will need to register on the website then find 5 books you like and just add them to your wishlist. At the bottom of your wishlist there is a link that you will need to copy and paste into the giveaway form below.

Please wait a moment for Rafflecopter to load.....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Z Is For Zoo

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Recently I wrote a post called, Z is for Zoo, for my blog friend My Joy Filled Life. It was a fairly short post, but it did included two great FREE zoo journal pages.

 

We love trips to the zoo because you can learn and have tons of fun at the same time. Geography, history, reading, math and more can easily be covered during a trip to the zoo! We have visited several zoos in Georgia and Tennessee over the past several years with the kids. But the closest zoo to us is Zoo Atlanta..... Read the entire post here.

Lessons From The Grave PLUS A List of Georgia Cemeteries

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Have you ever taken your children on a fieldtrip to a cemetery? I know what your thinking...and yes I am crazy. But bare with me for a few minutes and you will find out exactly what a cemetery can teach you and your children. We have been visiting local cemeteries for the last 4 years and you may be surprised to find out that there are many lessons that can be learned by a visit to a local cemetery, especially a historic one.

Cemeteries are fabulous teaching tools which are easily accessible and FREE to visit. They are an outdoor history museum, a wildlife sanctuary, a botanical garden and an art gallery all rolled into one. They exist in every single community all over the world and provide many educational opportunities for families. Children and adults can learn about history, science, math, social studies, language arts and more on a cemetery fieldtrip. Did you know that many cemeteries even provide FREE tours?

Cemeteries "bring history to life" and drive children and adults to appreciate its unique historical significance. There is no better lesson in life than digging into the past and learning how the people who came before you lived and the impacts they in their community during their life.

Make sure you follow these important rules: ask permission if it's a privately owned cemetery, provide adult supervision, dress appropriately, never move a gravestone, never lean or sit on gravestones, use only water to clean off a gravestone, use caution when doing rubbings, be quiet and respectful.

10 Lessons A Cemetery Can Teach Children:

1. Science - Discuss the different types of stones that were used to create the gravestone and how the various stone types hold up against the weather over the years. Discuss the topography of the cemetery. Discuss why gravestones begin to tilt over time. Discuss flora and fauna that you can find at a cemetery.
2. Geography - Draw an aerial view of the cemetery and label various gravestones (famous, oldest, newest etc). Discuss why that particular location may have been chosen for the cemetery.
3. Math - Calculate the age at the time of death. Find the oldest and most recent grave. Find the geometric shapes of stones (spheres, cylinders, pyramids, etc). Discuss the cost of an average funeral. Gather specific data (such as date of birth, names) and graph findings. Find the perimeter of gravestones.
4. Art - Make gravestone rubbings (be very careful not to knock over gravestones or get crayon/chalk on them). Sketch or photograph gravestones/monuments/sculptures and discuss the designs, etc. Discuss symmetry.  Discuss how monuments and sculptures are made. Discuss  the importance of cemetery restoration. Discuss the iconography of the gravestone symbols, statues and monuments. Design your own gravestone using clay or plaster. 
5. History - Research famous people you discover at the cemetery. Research various time periods that you discover at the cemetery. Find the graves of veterans and discuss the wars they fought in. Make a family tree of persons buried in a family plot. Discuss the types of gravestones used throughout history (such as Slot-and-tab, Gothic, Tablet, etc)
6. Language Arts - Discuss epitaphs...what is their significance, unusual ones, famous ones, etc. Write a story about a whose family plot you select in the cemetery. Discuss vocab words like epitaph, casket, crypt, engraving, obituary, etc).
7. Health - Discuss average lifespans through the years and how they have changed over time. Walking around a cemetery is great exercise for your body and soul. Sit down, relax and just contemplate and/or pray.
8. Social Studies - Discuss burial customs both local and other cultures. Discuss the community where the cemetery is located. Discuss social classes (rich, poor middle) and how you can possible tell a persons class by their gravestone. Discuss the community's ethnic, cultural, religious and historical background by examining ages, names, symbols and epitaphs . 
9. Technology - Before or after the trip research the history of the cemetery, burial records for the cemetery,gravestone types, etc. Gather names of people that are buried in the cemetery and try to find their obituaries online.
10. Civics - Discuss how you can be a responsible citizen in the community. Discuss respect for beliefs and feelings. Clean up litter around the cemetery. Adopt a plot (with permission). 

Cemetery Journal Page:

Here is a FREE cemetery fieldtrip journal page I created to assist you with your cemetery fieldtrip.

Cemetery lesson resources:

• Tombstone type resources - Fieldstones and Tombstones, Anatomy of a Tombstone, Types of Gravestones, Slot-and-Tab tombs
• Cemetery Studies
• Teaching From The Grave Lesson
• 100 Things To Do In A Cemetery
• New Hampshire Historical Society Cemetery Lesson Plan
• Mount Auburn Cemetery lesson plan - can be adapted to other cemeteries too
• History Written in Stone lesson plan
• Historic Cemeteries - Where Stones Talk
• Burial Customs and Cemeteries in American History
• Cemetery Lesson Plans - Venn Diagrams, Gravestone Motifs and more
• Legacy.com - national obituary search
• Find a Grave - see the graves of thousands of famous people from around the world
• Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography (book)
• Cemetery Walk: Journey into the Art, History and Society of the Cemetery and Beyond (book)
• The American Resting Place: 400 Years of History Through Our Cemeteries and Burial Grounds (books)
• "SILENT STORYTELLERS" - Cemetery Preservation Documentary (YouTube)   
• The Joy of Cemeteries (YouTube)

Georgia Cemeteries:
(As we discover more cemeteries I will add them to the list)

Georgia cemeteries provide you with a look into the past especially the Civil War and slavery.You can also learn about the lives of many notable Americans.

Oakland Cemetery

1. Oakview Cemetery - Albany
2. Andersonville National Cemetery - Andersonville
3. Oconee Hill - Athens 
4. Historic Oakland Cemetery - Atlanta - City Cemetery with the graves of Margaret Mitchell, Bobby Jones, and many Atlanta notables.
5. King Center - Atlanta - Martin Luther King's resting place.
6. Westview Cemetery - Atlanta
7. Sardis Church & Cemetery - Atlanta
8. Sylvester Cemetery - Atlanta
9. The Gilbert Memorial Cemetery - Atlanta - the final resting place for African Americans before the beginning of the Civil War.
10. Historic Utoy Cemetery - Atlanta
11. Magnolia Cemetery - Augusta
12. Cedar Grove Cemetery - Augusta 
13. Georgia National Cemetery - Canton
14. Oak Hill Cemetery - Cartersville
15. Cassville Cemetery - Cassville - Confederate Cemetery home to 300 Unknown soldiers.
16. Linwood Cemetery - Columbus
17. Honey Creek Woodlands - Conyers - I am not 100% sure if you can actually visit call ahead - however this cemetery certainly makes for great discussion.
18. Mount Hope Cemetery - Dahlonega - Pre-Civil War cemetery. There is even a marker for two Revolutionary War soldiers. Also Contains rare slot-and-tab tombstones.
19. Trahlyta's Grave - Dahlonega - This pile of stones marks the grave of a Cherokee Indian named, Trahlyta.
20. West Hill Cemetery - Dalton
21. Cedar Hill Cemetery - Dawson
22. Decatur Cemetery - Decatur -  resting place of three veterans of the American Revolution, a monument standing over a field where numerous orphans are buried, and the final resting place of Dr. Thomas Holley Chivers, who abandoned his medical training for poetry and was described by Edgar Allen Poe as “one of the best and one of the worst poets in America.”
23. Crestlawn Memorial Gardens - Eatonton 
24. Evergreen Cemetery - Fitzgerald
25. Forsyth Cemetery - Forsyth
26. Old Pioneer Cemetery - Fort Gaines
27. New Park Cemetery - Fort Gaines
28. Alta Vista Cemetery - Gainesville - cemetery with James Longstreet, Astronaut Sonny Carter, and 2 governors.
29. Memorial Park - Gainesville 
30. Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Glennville
31. Gordon City Cemetery - Gordon
32. Greensboro Cemetery - Greensboro
33. Stonewall Cemetery - Griffin
34. Hamilton City Cemetery - Hamilton - there is a very interesting article regarding the upkeep of the slave side of this cemetery 
35. Orange Hill - Hawkinsville          
36. Woodbine Cemetery - Jefferson
37. Jonesboro Confederate Cemetery - Jonesboro - small Confederate Cemetery with the grave of a Confederate Medal of Honor recipient.
38. Flat Rock Cemetery - Lithonia
39. Rose Hill Cemetery - Macon
40. Riverside Cemetery - Macon - It is the final resting place of over 18,000 people including Civil War veterans, esteemed civic and business leaders, renowned educators, religious leaders of several faiths, members of the Military, and prominent Macon families.
41. Old Madison Cemetery - Madison
42. Marietta National Cemetery - Marietta
43. Marietta Confederate Cemetery - Marietta
44. Midway Cemetery - Midway - cemetery dating all the way back to 1754.
45. Georgia Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Milledgeville 
46. Memory Hill - Milledgeville
47. Rest Haven Cemetery - Monroe
48. Wahoo Baptist - Murrayville
49. Oak Hill - Newnan
50. Farmer Street Cemetery - Newnan
51. Lebanon Cemetery - Plains - Carter family is buried here.
52. Resaca Cemetery - Resaca - Confederate Cemetery begun by two young girls after the Battle of Resaca.
53. Myrtle Hill Cemetery - Rome - Rome’s Historic Myrtle Hill Cemetery has become the permanent home of more than 20,000 Romans since 1857 (App of cemetery available on the website)
54. Founders’ Cemetery - Roswell
55. Presbyterian Cemetery - Roswell
56. Old Roswell Cemetery - Roswell
57. Bonaventure Cemetery - Savannah - final resting place for many of Georgia's founders and politicians.
58. Colonial Park Cemetery - Savannah
59. Laurel Grove Cemetery - Savannah
60. Christ Church (Christ Episcopal Church) - St. Simons Island
61. Toccoa City Cemetery - Toccoa
62. Sunset Hill Cemetery - Valdosta
63. Resthaven Cemetery - Washington 
64. Rose Hill Cemetery - Winder

Mount Hope Cemetery

If you know of a great Georgia cemetery that I did not include please leave a comment below so I can add it to the list.

Civil War Films and Apps For Children

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

The Civil War is a huge part of Georgia history and it is almost a guarantee that we will learn something new about the Civil War during our fieldtrip adventures. And it is inevitable that my children will have questions and will want to learn even more afterwards. Thankfully there are amazing films and apps to help us out.

Here is a list of Civil War films (movies and documentaries) that are child friendly (PG-13 and below ratings). As well as several great Civil War Apps.

War is always a very sensitive subject and can be a very tricky one to discuss with children due to the horrific nature of the events. Civil War films tend to be very bloody and gory, since it was one of the bloodiest battles in our history. These are documentaries and movies that we have allowed our children to watch with parental supervision. However children's maturity levels and parent views are all different so before letting your children watch these I encourage you to preview them first!

Civil War films for children:

- Dog Jack - Redbox - During the Civil War, a slave boy and his dog escape from a plantation, join the Union army and eventually face their former master on the battlefield.
-Ken Burns: The Civil War - Netflix - a documentary depicting the action of famous Civil War battles. Includes stories of soldiers and generals and the president.
-Death and the Civil War - Netflix - A film that explores how the American Civil War created a "republic of suffering" and charts the war's far reaching social, political and social impact.
-National Geographic: Civil War Gold - Netflix - Excavators and explorers uncover the mysteries of the SS Republic, a steamship that sank in 1865.
-Fields of Valor - Netflix - The miniseries brings to life the intimate accounts of brave men on both sides of the Civil War, the bloodiest conflict the U.S has ever know.
-Gettysburg - Amazon Prime - The epic story of the three day battle that forever changed the course of the American Civil War, this sweeping drama is compassionately recounted through the eyes of soldiers.
-Gods and Generals - Amazon Prime - The rise and fall of legendary war hero Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson as he leads the Confederacy to great success against the Union from 1861 to 1863. Prequel to the 1993 classic "Gettysburg".
-The Red Badge of Courage - Amazon Prime - Truncated adaptation of Stephen Crane's novel about a Civil War Union soldier who struggles to find the courage to fight in the heat of battle.
-Warriors of Honor - Amazon Prime - The Revolutionary War united America. Less than one hundred years later, a bloody Civil War divided it. Most Americans believe that Southerners fought to preserve slavery; however, a much deeper divide existed between the North and South. Two drastically different cultures had emerged on the American landscape.
-How the West Was Won - Amazon Prime - A family saga covering several decades of Westward expansion in the nineteenth century--including the Gold Rush, the Civil War, and the building of the railroads.
-The Civil War, Part I: Crash Course US History - YouTube

-The Civil War Trust - YouTube - has tons of awesome videos (I love their 4 minute videos)
-Conflict in the South (2 part) Liberty Kids - YouTube
-Causes Of The American Civil War  - YouTube
-A Summary of The Civil War - YouTube
-Johnny Shilo - YouTube
-History.com Civil War videos

Civil War Apps (FREE):
-Civil War Battles - Android - Civil War Battles is a detailed turn-based simulation of combat from the American Civil War. Unit types include infantry, cavalry, artillery, gunboats, and supply wagons as well as leaders which can significantly determine the outcome of a battle just based on their own personal leadership and command abilities.
-American Civil War Gazette - Android - With the advent of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War (ACW) upon us, this is a simple app + widget that will unfold the news headlines and events of the ACW in real-time as they occurred.
-Atlanta Campaign Battle App - IOS and Android - The Atlanta Campaign Battle App™ is the perfect touring partner for your visits to North Georgia’s Civil War battlefields. Our GPS-enabled tour application allows you to discover the great historical sites associated with this pivotal 1864 campaign.
-Civil War Interactive Tour - IOS and Android - Sandy Springs has a rich, complex Civil War history.  This app is a wonderful new asset that residents and visitors to the area can utilize to learn more of the pivotal role the area played during the turbulent summer of 1864, when Union General William T. Sherman unleashed his Army to cross the Chattahoochee River and take the City of Atlanta.
-Marietta's Cannonball Trail -  IOS and Android - Download this app for a voice narrated, guided tour of Marietta’s Cannonball Trail. Stops include: Cheatham Hill and the Illinois Monument, Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield Park, Kolb’s Farm, The Marietta Confederate Cemetery and many antebellum homes.
-History Here - IOS and Android -  an interactive travel guide to thousands of historic locations across the United States.

A few months ago The Civil War in Four Minutes was available to watch online but was removed for copyright infringement. It was absolutely amazing though and I highly recommend purchasing The Civil War In Four Minutes DVD. Here is the trailer.

I will continue adding more films and apps to this list as I come across them so be sure to pin or bookmark the post for future reference.

More suggestions:
-FREE Civil War resources
-Your Story Hour - General Lee Hero of the South

*We may let our children watch things other parents may not approve of. So before you let your children watch any of these I encourage you to preview them first.

Documentary printable:

This journal page is great for any documentary, get yours here for FREE or click the photo below.

What are some of your favorite child friendly Civil War films or apps?

How To Draw A Horse Tutorial

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

Recently WeDrawAnimals.com contacted me and asked if they could provide my readers with a FREE drawing tutorial. As you may recall in my previous post, "Why the arts matter," I am a huge advocate the arts. Since Gwyn adores horses I asked WeDrawAnimals if they could provide a horse tutorial.

WeDrawAnimals.com has over 500 more animals on their website - some common, some pretty exotic. All of these tutorials are FREE. They also have a FREE eBook.

Gwyn and Rowyn would love to see what your children draw. Please share them on our Facebook page or tag us on Instagram or Twitter (@kbalman on Twitter and Instagram).

Has Summer Boredom Set In Yet?

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.



I hope your Summer is going great so far! Can you believe its almost the middle of July already? We have been keeping very busy this Summer and have been having a blast exploring the state of Georgia. However there have been a few times we have been stuck at home and yes those dreaded words came out of my children's mouths, "Mom, I'm bored!"

Well thanks to Educents, no Summer has to be a bummer! So what are you waiting for head over to their website to check out their 50 Things To Do This Summer list NOW!

This list includes recipes, arts, crafts, books, educational materials, science experiments and much more. See how many you can cross off before Labor Day!

Some of our favorite activities so far have have been exploring Bookopolis, reading several of the "Real Kids, Real Places" books, building forts, making wind chimes and using our wildlife books kits for bird watching and bug catching.

While you are on the Educents website be sure to also check out the other great freebies they are offering right now, like a Summer coloring book, addition uno printables, magazines, eBooks and more. Also download the Educents Explorers Guide. With this nifty guide your children can follow the steps to become a certified Educents Explorers Club Member.

I hope you continue to have a great Summer full of family fun!

 *I was also compensated a small fee to share these freebies with you.

CHALK Preschool Online Curriculum - And It's FREE

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details. This is a sponsored campaign with Mums the Word Network and CHALK Preschool. All opinions are my own.

CHALK Preschool started in 2004 when 3 people with a shared ambition came together to create an educational curriculum, environment and space that would create a new standard for all preschoools. CHALK opened their doors in 2005 in Illinois and began providing well-rounded, structured education, enhanced with play and creativity. As you can imagine the demand for CHALK preschools across the country began to grow and so CHALK decided to create an online preschool!! Now they can share the gift of education not only with the entire United States, but also the entire world. And guess what? It's all FREE!

A moms review:
My children love online learning and educational videos. So I had a feeling that CHALK Preschool would be a huge hit, and I was right. Signing up for a FREE account was very easy and only required entering my name, email address and a password. After that there was a brief introduction video explaining how to use CHALK. Finally I entered my son's name and birthday. It literally took less than 10 minutes and he all set to take his first lesson.

CHALK is great for any child in the preschool age range which is 2-5 years old typically. However it is totally up to the parent to decide if their child is ready for the CHALK preschool lesson plans. I created an account for my 6 year old son who is a little delayed in some areas. However the videos are so much fun that even my 8 year old wanted to watch them and get involved. And you know what? There was definitely information in the program that was a good refresher for her too. She also loved the letter worksheets!

The CHALK lessons, games and activities are all tons of fun and prepare your child for kindergarten. Each day there is a different lesson plan which covers core subjects such as math, science and literacy. There are also supplemental subjects such as art, music and even dance. Lessons can be completed at any time of the day from any device that has internet connection, including mobile devices. It took my children about 45 minutes - 1 hour to get through the daily lesson plan.

Some of the topics covered include:

• Numbers
• Letters/Alphabet
• Shapes, Colors & Sizes
• Recognize Patterns
• The Weather
• Days of the week

The system is so easy to use and features large easy to use navigation buttons. For my children I simply created a short cut icon their computer so they could just click on it and do the daily lesson at their leisure. Very little parent involvement is needed for children in the 6-8 age range, that's how easy it is to use. All children need to do to get started is click on one of the subject buttons on the left and then hit play on the video player or they can select play all over on the left. If they don't select play all they will need to continue hitting play after each video completes (it will automatically advance to the next one in line). For each daily lesson there are printable worksheets as well as recommended craft projects to enhance the lessons. Each video is just a few minutes long and very engaging. There are also fun games and songs throughout which help your children learn and remember. 

At the top right corner of the video player is a light bulb icon and "Parent Tip." Here parents will find helpful tips and suggestions to enhance their child's learning.

There is also a "Free Play" area where children can listen to songs. And a "Parent Portal" where parents can get helpful information on everything from hands on learning to tips for getting the children to help out around the house. You can also download a materials checklist and cooking lesson recipes in the parent portal.

Both of my children love CHALK and access it just about everyday completely on their own accord. The program is fun, interactive, engaging and thorough and it's a great fit for all learning styles. As a homeschool mom it is important for our family to have access to quality online educational programs especially ones that are affordable and it doesn't get much more affordable than FREE! 

Be sure to also check out the CHALK Preschool Blog, CHALK Preschool Newsroom and don't forget to follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Rowyns review (age 6):
I really like the video lessons. They are fun and teach stuff. I like the worksheets and crafts too. They are fun to do with mommy and Gwyn.

Where to enroll:
I highly recommend you give CHALK Preschool curriculum a try! It's great for children already enrolled in a preschool program as well as homeschoolers. You can use it as a supplement or full curriculum. And since it's completely FREE so you have nothing to loose!

Lego and Star Wars Deals and Steals - May The 4th Be With You!

*This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my Disclosure Page for details.

On May 3rd from 12-2 PM stop by your local ToysRUs to build a FREE Star Wars Mini TIE Fighter or Mini X-Wing. Only while supplies last.

May 3rd-5th make a Star Wars purchase at your local Lego Store and receive a Free LEGO Star Wars Exclusive Poster.

On May 6th starting at 5 PM, visit your local LEGO store and get a FREE one while supplies last. Quantities are limited to approximately 250 per store. One free per child. The event is open to children ages 6 to 14 only.

On May 24th or 31st join take part in the Star Wars LEGO Club meeting at your local LEGO store. Meetings last 1 hour and include a T-shirt, Lego set and more. Cost is $25 per meeting or $20 for VIP members. Pre-registration is required.

Be sure to sign up for the FREE LEGO Magazine! Magazines often include FREE child admission coupons to Legoland. Kids 7 and under will get the Jr version.

Lego shop deals in celebration of May the 4th! Deals are only valid May 3rd - 5th!

Offers Include

FREE Shipping on all orders of $75 or more.

FREE Exclusive Darth Revan minifigure with LEGO Star Wars orders of $75 or more. (while supplies last)

Exclusive LEGO® Star Wars™ Poster with all LEGO Star Wars orders. (while supplies last)

**All offers are combinable on qualifying orders*

GameFly Digital has 2 LEGO Star Wars PC games for $6.59 each. There are other great Star Wars games on sale too!

Lego Story Starter Packs from Lego Education are currently on sale through the Homeschool Buyers Coop. Save 10% off through May 19th.

Head over to Amazon to grab lots of FREE Lego Apps. 

Head to the Disney Store for two awesome deals!

Disney Store Deal #1: Free Star Wars Pin (In-Store Only)

The first 100 guests to visit Disney Store on May the 4th will receive a free Star Wars pin! Find a store near you and learn more at DisneyStore.com. (Check your local store for hours of operation.)

Disney Store Deal #2: Star Wars T-Shirts: $8 for Kids/Baby and $12 for Adults
Star Wars tees are on sale ($8 for Kids/Baby and $12 for Adults) at participating Disney Stores and online at disneystore.com/StarWars! From now through 5/18!
 

Even Hallmark is joining in the fun. From now through 5/5 take advantage of these offers.

Hallmark Cards Deal #1: Free May the 4th E-Card
Visit Hallmark to send your family and friends a free May the 4th e-card!

Hallmark Cards Deal #2: 20% Off Personalized Star Wars Cards
Receive 20% off personalized Star Wars cards with the promo code MAY4!

Hallmark Cards Deal #3: Star Wars Prize Packages
Follow Hallmark on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about a chance to win 1 of 3 prize packages including Star Wars Keepsake Ornaments, Star Wars gifts, and the new Star Wars itty bitty plush!

FREE Lego printables created by yours truly. Lego Story starters, Lego Brick Busters and Lego Guess Who.

Are you getting excited about the 2015 Star Wars VII release? I know we are. Have you seen the press release about the cast? Check it out here. 

And there you have it my fellow geeky friends! May the 4th be with you! If I come across any more events or deals that are occurring this month or this weekend I will be sure to add them!