the-learning-sprout

Experience Gift Ideas

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 19:05:56 GMT

Gifts that work last minute, don't add clutter, and make memories?! We're in! Here's a ton of ideas and tips for how to give experience gifts! These will work for Christmas, Birthdays, or any time of year!

Grab these colorful Experience Gift Tags to go with all the ideas below: DOWNLOAD TAGS

Keep scrolling to see all the Experience Gift ideas and tips for how to present them. You can simply download and print the tag at home, and slip it into a festive envelope! Easy as pie! Or for a little something extra, if you want to recipient to have something to open, click on any of the images below to see small gifts to wrap up with the tags!

#1 CARDBOARD PLAYDATE

#6 GAME NIGHT

#7 COZY BOOKWORM DATE

#8 AT HOME SPA DAY

#9 BAKING DAY

Which gift ideas are yo ur favorite? Follow The Learning Sprout on instagram for more ideas for home and school! Tag us on social media to share how you use your printable experience gift tags!

8 Things To Declutter Before Christmas Break

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 19:25:33 GMT

Get your Home or Classroom ready! January you will say THANK YOU!

Classroom teachers and homeschool parents are uniquely vulnerable to a “just in case” mindset. Because we have the perfect combination of frugality, creativity, and a deeply-held desire to give our students the richest learning environment possible, we can fall victim to holding onto some pretty useless (and bizarre) clutter! We tell ourselves that we might use i!, We dream up interesting projects with the jar of old keys or activities for these random pieces of leftover quilting fabric. And the paper piles—help!

Give your January self a gift, and take some time to declutter these 8 things from your space before Christmas Break:

Craft supplies you haven’t used this school year

Speaking of that large grocery bag full of empty paper towel rolls… just be done with it. Unless you have the activity already on the calendar, with all the supplies accessible, you should seriously consider your space’s actual capacity for someday project storage. If you can replace it for less than $20 or borrow it from a friend when the time comes, just let your storage space breathe.

Books your kids don’t like

You know those books with really beautiful illustrations or sentimental characters? Those books you were so excited to introduce, and were sure would work for your students… until they didn’t. Yeah, those are the books you should take off the shelf. Let someone else love them. I promise you, nothing kills a love of literature like being forced to read something you loathe.

Broken things

You should’ve thrown it away when you saw it the first time, but instead it got tossed into the drawer or shoved back into the bin. Today is the day. If you’re broke, you can’t stay. (Yes, I am a poet.) All those crayons, pencils, dried up markers, paper scraps, lonely puzzle pieces, etc. have got to go.

Games and puzzles that are worn out

Speaking of missing puzzle pieces, time to find out which games and puzzles have seen better days. Kids can be rough on toys, and it may be time to let some of them cross over the rainbow bridge to board game heaven. RIP Chutes and Ladders.

Fall and Christmas decor you didn’t use

If you didn’t want to display it this year, consider passing it on to someone who will. Do you really want to pack it up and manage that inventory for ANOTHER year, only to dislike it again next time? Donate it or toss it, and enjoy the seasonal decorations you do love!

Flat surfaces

Potentially controversial this one: I’m going to suggest that you put all your flat surfaces on trial. Every table, shelf, countertop, and desk is a place for STUFF to pile up. Every flat surface in your student’s learning environment is an invitation to set something down, and an additional area for you to continuously tidy up. So, look around your space and be ruthless. Is there any furniture that can go?

Your Desk or Planning Area

This place should be your peaceful spot. It should be a place that welcomes you, calms you, and helps you do your best work. Whether you have a desk in your classroom, a basket for your homeschool planning, or anything in between, I’m guessing over the Fall some clutter has built up. Won’t it be wonderful to show up in January to a space that makes you WANT to plan and prep?

Curriculum and teacher guides that you aren’t using

This is where our frugal brain starts panicking. That extra curriculum we might use next year (except we've been saying that for three years already...) Take an honest look through your curriculum and teacher guides. Are there any that aren’t serving you this year? Resources you never ended up using or no longer need? Stop storing them for free. Let someone else benefit from them, or if they’re used up toss them right now.

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Chapter Books Boys Will Love

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 18:44:46 GMT

We've rounded up a booklist full of adventure, humor, friendship, mischief, courage, mystery, and family... basically all the things that young boys love! Whether your young reader wants to survive a storm on an island in the Pacifici Ocean or sneak past hotel staff on a daring escape mission, find the mysterious kidnapper or battle the wicked pirate captain, this list has got you covered!

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Great Mouse Detective

ages 6-10

The Sherlock of the rodent world, this tiny detective has learned his skills by watching the human version closely, and travels near and far solving mysterious crimes of his own.

The Best Bear in All The World

ages 6-12

The clever word play and humor in A. A. Milne’s original Winnie-The-Pooh is so charming that grown-ups will giggle just as often as the kiddos. An absolutely delicious book! (Bonus tip: the audio version with Stephen Fry as Pooh is *chef’s kiss*)

The Mouse With The Question Mark Tail

ages 8-12

Who is the mouse with the question mark tail? If only he himself could find the answer… Whoever he is, he must traverse the depths of Queen Victoria’s castle grounds to find out. Along the way he’ll meet friends, enemies, and a guardian in disguise.

Fantastic Mr. Fox

ages 6-10

Farmers Boggis, Bunce, and Beans are just about sick of the thief in their midst. They have closed in on their target, and Mr. Fox needs a fantastic plan to get away!

Tino and The Typhoon

ages 8-12

Set on a Phillipine island, a storm forces a lighthouse keeper’s son to decide which is greater: his fear or his fellow man. The classic you never knew existed.

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

ages 5+

The story of a boy and his mouse…or a mouse and his boy…or a boy, a mouse, and the motorcycle that gets them into plenty of wild scrapes! A beloved Beverly Clearly gem for every generation!

The Borrowers Series

ages 7-10

Follow Homily, Pod, and Arrietty, a tiny family who build their lives by borrowing from the “human beans” with which they coexist. This five-book set is full of charmingly tiny adventures with epic results!

My Father’s Dragon

ages 4-8

Another fun and funny classic, this short chapter book introduces Elmer as he is swept away to an island full of bizarre jungle animals including a dragon who needs rescuing! Is Elmer up for the task?

Peter Pan and Wendy

ages 5+

The characters you know and love: The Darling family, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, the Lost Boys, and of course Captain Hook, all laid out irresistibly by J. M. Barrie a century ago. A classic of children’s literature not to be missed!

Sugar Creek Gang

ages 8-12

The first set of books in this faith-based mystery series in which a group of young boys solve mysteries and discover more about themselves in the process.

Leading Ladies Every Reader Should Meet

Wed, 23 Nov 2022 01:45:26 GMT

We've tracked down a list of classic and quirky Leading Ladies every reader should meet: chapter book edition! From the Alpine adventures of young orphan Heidi to the lovable misunderstandings of Amelia Bedelia, we have tracked down a whole roster of female main characters that readers will love!

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Pippi Longstocking

ages 6-10

Tommy and Annika’s neighbor is an adventure with pigtails! She owns a pet horse and monkey; her father is a former sea captain and now a cannibal king on a farflung island…allegedly! This classic tale blurs the line between childhood hijinx and fantasy in the most delightful way!

Heidi

ages 6-10

Set in the Swiss Alps, readers have loved young orphan Heidi as she begins a journey that will lead her just where she belongs.

Amelia Bedelia

ages 6-10

Young Amelia Bedelia takes things literally in this prequel series to the grown-up original, which leads to some interesting mix-ups! This series is humorous and fun. With lots of black and white illustrations, it’s perfect for young readers.

Laura Ingalls

ages 6-12

Follow young Laura Ingalls in the Little House series, as she grows from a girl leaving the Big Woods behind to build a life on the prairie with her family, to a married woman making her way in the world and welcoming a baby girl of her own!

Anne Shirley

ages 8+

Anne with an E makes everything more “romantical.” From her surprise arrival at Green Gables, she brings delight and a few mishaps to a century of readers!

Ramon Quimby

ages 6-12

This classic series by Beverly Cleary brings readers along for the growing-up years of Ramona Quimby. From dealing with pesky people to the aches and pains of school and friends, this much-loved series is ready to delight your young reader!

Ten Girls Who Made History

ages 7-12

This inspiring book from the Ten Girls series highlights the life story of an influential woman in each chapter. Featuring women such as Lottie Moon, Florence Nightingale, and Elizabeth Elliot, your reader will be uplifted and motivated to make an impact!

The March Sisters

ages 8+

These iconic sisters take us through life in 19th century New England, and remind us that family, fears, and finding your way are universal rites of passage.

Nancy Drew

ages 8-12

The original mystery from this damsel detective! Introduce a new generation to the intrigue of the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories .

Mary Poppins

ages 7-12

Classic stories about the nanny who is “practically perfect in every way.” You’ve met Walt’s Mary, but have you been introduced to the more mischievous and fanciful Mary devised by P.L. Travers?

Pollyanna

ages 8-12

This dear and uplifting book about a young orphan who finds a reason to be glad, even on the dreariest of days, will endear the hearts of young readers.

Mary Lennox

ages 8-12

In The Secret Garden , a privileged (read: spoiled) girl who finds herself whisked from a luxurious life in India to a life of near-solitude in England. She discovers a mystery and finds a whole new life.

Educational Games for The Whole Family

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 03:09:00 GMT

Playing games together as a family or classroom improves interpersonal skills, builds resilience and adaptability, conflict resolution, and critical and strategic thinking. The benefits don't end there! Children learn skills and concepts through play significantly faster than through rote repetition. With all these positives, why NOT add games to your classroom or family time?!

Below you'll find board games and card games for a variety of ages and interests! Whether your interested in gameschooling or finding ways to spend more screen-free family time, we've got a game that will work for you!

The links provided below support our shop and may provide a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Preschool Games

We've found preschool games that develop visual discrimination, number recognition, 1:1 correspondence, counting, letter identification and letter sound practice, early literacy, and more!

Math Games

Who says math needs to be boring?! The math games below are full of fun and reinforce fractions, addition, subtraction, telling time, counting, place value, number recognition, and counting money.

Strategy Games

These games will challenge your student or child to exercise their brains as they formulate plans, examine cause-and-effect, predict outcomes, and practice resilience.

Language Games

Verbal language is a natural extension of playing games together. These games will have you and your little ones talking, laughing, asking questions, and making guesses. They'll also be able to learn vocabulary, spelling, letter and letter sound recognition, and formulate storytelling, sequencing skills, and verbal recall.

Race to Planet X

This space-themed number bond math game is perfect for practicing addition and subtraction from kindergarten and up.

Zeke’s Gold Grab!

History in your hand for ages 8 and up, this card game brings Gold Fever to your family game night! Twists, turns, and trick cards keep the addition and subtraction coming.

Tiny Polka Dot

A powerhouse in a little box! Sixteen ways to play for preschool to adult, it varies from simple counting to complex addition and subtraction, memory games, etc.

Professor Noggin's Geography of the United States

The professor who is synonymous with educational gaming, this trivia edition of the excellent series covers U.S. geography and is best for ages 7 and up.

Make A Pie

A delicious way to explore and reinforce fractions that can be adapted for preschool and up!

Scattergories

Best for ages 8 and up, this word game will have you racing the clock to test your vocabulary and will produce some interesting results! (For younger players, try working in teams with a grown up.)

Clumsy Thief Junior

A sneaky critter makes this addition-to-10 game full of mischief! Quick to learn for ages 5 and older.

Scrabble Junior

Vocabulary and spelling skills are stretched in this junior version of the well-loved game. A double-sided game board grows with your players, starting at age 5.

The Oregon Trail Game

Every ‘90’s kid can relive their gameschooling adventures with this nostalgic board game! Ages 14 and up.

Pete the Cat Groovy Buttons

This perfect preschool game features every little one’s favorite feline!

Alphabet Go Fish!

The simple preschool game with a literary twist will have your little ones recognizing letters and sounds in a flash!

Dino Math Tracks

Prehistoric place value practice in this adaptable game for ages 6 and up.

Perfect Timing

Family card game for kindergarten up, with tons of practice reading an analog clock and adding and subtracting amounts of time! (Bonus: this game works well for tender hearts since the family works together and no one gets “out”)

Rummikub

A numerical strategy game that’s simple to learn and a great time for the whole family! Based on the original Rummy card game, this one is best for players aged 8+

Blink

This simple matching game can be played fast or slow, which means it helps with shape and color recognition for preschoolers or as an edge-of-your-seat race for older players.

Create A Story Cards

These creative pre-literacy cards help develop language and social skills, and work wonderfully for the whole family! Stories can be as elaborate or simple as age allows.

Exact Change

Practice making change and counting money in this family game for ages 5 and up!

Buildzi

If you’re a Tetris or Tangram fan, this game will feel familiar. This one is full of engineering, hand-eye coordination, and strategy. With two difficulty levels, players can start as young as age 5.