Zephyr Hill

A Family Blog

Having Fun with First Grade Geography

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When I was very young, my grandmother gave me a wonderful book called It’s Fun Finding Out About People and Places. Boy, is that title true! I still have this book and my family treasures it.

Little ones are naturally attracted to maps and globes and places all around the world, so it’s a shame that more attention isn’t given to the study of geography, especially in the early grades. As a longtime homeschooling mother, I can attest that geography workbooks are something my young learners always look forward to.

After trying different versions over the years, we were given a chance to review Skill Sharpeners Geography by our friends at Timberdoodle homeschooling.

Teaches the Basics + Bonuses!

With this series, your child explores the world while learning key map skills and geography concepts. First grade starts out close to home, with maps of rooms and parks and neighborhoods. It branches out towards the end to US state and country snapshots. There are also lessons which cover basic map skills like symbols, terms and demographics.

There are lots of hands-on activities, too, if your child likes working with crayons and scissors and glue. There’s a removable answer key in the back which you or your child can use to check work.

I love that Skill Sharpeners includes both lessons and activities, all in a compact and colorful workbook. There are teaching pages that you can read and study together and then one or two work pages after that to reinforce the concepts.

Example of lesson pages:

Example of activity pages:

The scope of Skill Sharpeners Grade 1 covers:

  • Map skills
  • Places and regions
  • Continents and oceans
  • Habitats

Book details:

  • Softcover, 144 pages
  • Available separately for $8.99 or included in Timberdoodle’s First-Grade Curriculum Kit
  • Available in grades Pre-K through 6

Speaking of fostering a love of geography, I always recommend that every homeschooling family invest early on in a good atlas of the world. If your children are at different grade levels, you can purchase one for young children and a more advanced version for teens and adults to reference. And don’t forget an attractive tabletop globe (Juvale has a classic one for under $20)!

Walls and Warriors: a Castle Defense Puzzle Game

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When I read that Walls and Warriors was most popular game at home school conferences, I was happy to accept Timberdoodle’s offer to post a review at Zephyr Hill. Of course, the medieval theme also drew my boys and me in right away.

What is Walls and Warriors?

This 3D strategy game challenges you to place walls in such a way that the castle and its knights are defended. Like our other Smart Games, Walls and Warriors is well constructed and visually appealing. The game board made to look like rock, the wall sections are sturdy and easy to handle, and knight pieces are nicely detailed.

What you get:

  • Baseplate / game board
  • 4 red enemy knights
  • 3 blue knights
  • 4 walls
  • high tower
  • booklet with 80 challenges and solutions

You can choose from among 5 levels of difficulty – Starter, Junior, Expert, Master, and Wizard – which makes Walls and Warriors highly adaptable.

Game Play

Choose a challenge and then set the board up according to the booklet.  This takes just a minute. You won’t use all of the knight pieces.

How do you meet the challenge? Keep red (enemy) knights outside and blue knights and the tower inside the ramparts. The knights do not move; only the walls do!

When placed, the wall sections must fit in the grooves of the board, or it’s not a valid move.

Our Experience

Samuel (5th grade) loves how the knights look, with their shiny silver armor and bright flags. And the idea of working to keep his tower and knights safe, just like a king or lord of the Middle Ages, is very appealing. Children can work alone or with a partner (especially on the harder challenges). The Junior puzzles are perfect for Sam’s age range, taking him 10 minutes or less to complete. Benjamin, his older brother, works Junior challenges “just for fun” and Expert for a good brain workout.

My husband and I have fun working out the challenges, too! We find that Smart Games are not only versatile, but have sticking power. Even if you complete every challenge in the booklet, there’s no way you could remember them all, allowing you to revisit puzzles at a later date for more fun.

Oh, and here is the solution to puzzle number 21. See how the high tower and blue knights are safely behind the walls, and the enemy is shut out? Mission accomplished!

Where to Buy

Recommended for ages 8 and up, Walls and Warriors is part of Timberdoodle’s 12th grade homeschool curriculum, and helps to strengthen skills like concentration, logic, flexibility and problem solving. Here are some ideas for incorporating it into your homeschool:

  • Use as a STEM supplement for logic or geometry lessons
  • Use for enrichment as part of your medieval history class
  • Use for fun between assignments, or during downtime

Walls and Warriors is also available for purchase separately for $22.99. It’s travel-friendly and comes packed in a small, sturdy box.

Do you like strategy games like Walls and Warriors? Does your family incorporate games into homeschooling?

A Colorful Logic Game for Children (and Adults) of all Ages

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Are you looking for an educational game to add to your homeschool program? Or maybe you’d like something fun to do in your down time. Color Catch is a simple but stimulating logic puzzle that can be enjoyable for all ages. The goal is to arrange 5 puzzle pieces in a way that exactly matches the challenge in the guidebook.

We got to try this unique puzzle game as part of Timberdoodle’s blogger program.

The components of Color Catch are very simple, and include:

  • Portable game board with lid
  • 5 puzzle pieces
  • Booklet with 60 challenges, and solutions

As you can see, the frog, salamander and insect puzzle pieces are clear in the middle, so that when you place them on the game board, the colors show through. This is very important, because the color patterns must exactly match the challenge you’ve chosen from the book in order to be correct.

This is what a challenge and solution look like. Only the Starter puzzles have the solutions right under the challenge, so that young children can more easily learn how the game works before progressing to Junior, Expert and Master levels.

Solving the puzzle isn’t just about getting the right colors and the right number of frogs and salamanders. There’s another twist, because sometimes the critters have to be positioned in such a way that they are grabbing a bug with their tongue!

The hints provided in the booklet for Starter level are greatly appreciated. Sometimes you look at the puzzle and you just can’t get your brain to start working. One thing that it’s important to explain up front to your children is to expect some trial and error with Color Catch. More often than not, you won’t get it right on the first try.

This is a very tactile game, which the children and I love. The tiles are not only textured and transparent so that colors shine through, but they are thick, durable and easy to click in place.

You can play Color Catch alone or with a helper. I myself have been known to sit down and work on the more challenging puzzles over a cup of coffee. It’s a nice break between homework assignments!

Color Catch is part of Timberdoodle’s 7th grade homeschool curriculum, and helps to strengthen skills like concentration, visual perception and logic. I would recommend Color Catch as a supplement for subjects like math, logic and science. It’s also available for purchase separately for $14.99. Note: Color Catch is not suitable for ages 3 and younger.

It’s also travel-friendly and comes with a compact, portable travel case. Takes just about 30 seconds to put everything away.

If you get a chance to try Color Catch, let me now what you think!

First Time Homeschoolers: Make Sure You Do These 5 Things!

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There’s a big difference between doing public school at home and homeschooling. If you’re kissing public or private school good-bye this fall for a first time adventure with homeschooling, this post is for you. Here are five very important things you should be doing to pave the way to success.

Get Support

Guess who’s still learning and seeking out advice and support, even after homeschooling for twelve years? That would be me! So join up with other homeschooling families as soon as you can in the form of Facebook groups, local co-ops, email lists, etc. Google homeschooling groups or clubs in your area and start attending meetings.

I always recommend that homeschoolers join the HSLDA, if possible. They can help you navigate your state’s homeschooling requirements, and provide support and advocacy.

Keep Some Continuity

Millions of American children were put through the wringer this year as schools were abruptly cancelled, activities tabled and graduations ceremonies cancelled. They’ve been through enough stress, so it makes sense to ease into the new school year as much as possible. Try to hold onto some familiar things like using some of the same textbooks that they would be using at school. Used copies can be found cheaply on Amazon or Ebay.

When scheduling your day, use words they are familiar with like “first period” and “recess.”

And make sure they can stay in touch with school friends!

Be Realistic

Very few first time homeschooling families score a home run the first year. Heck, it might even take a few years, but you’ll get the hang of it. I promise! Because you know your children, and you know what’s best for them. And because home is an ideal place to nurture them and pass on your wisdom and your values. When I feel discouraged, or like I’m shortchanging my children because we can’t compete with traditional schools, my mother always tells me “Even a mediocre homeschool is far better than anything they’ll get at a government school.”

As you make lesson plans this fall, set small, realistic goals for yourself and your children. Be willing to adjust your plans, or try different books, if things don’t work out well. Homeschooling is flexible. Every year doesn’t have to look the same way. Keep moving forward!

Reflect on the Positives

While some of you may be excited about this new adventure, I’m sure there are many who are embarking with a whole lot of trepidation. Homeschooling is completely uncharted territory and it may be very overwhelming, especially if one or both parents is working.

So now would be a great time for a mental pep talk. Get out a piece of paper and write down the positives. Here are some thought starters.

  • If you ever felt in the past that school was failing your child, think of homeschooling as a new way forward.
  • Teaching your children will result in more family time.
  • You are the most important influence in your child’s life; homeschooling reinforces that!
  • Your children will be safer at home.
  • You will save on school fees, gas money, extracurricular activities, etc.
  • You will more easily learn what your child’s educational needs are.
  • You will learn and expand your horizons in the process of teaching.

Buy Wisely

Don’t buy all the things! It’s better to get a lot done with just a few books than it is to barely scratch the surface with twenty of them. Start with a basic curriculum, and if it’s not challenging enough you can always add supplemental materials later in the year.

Some subjects don’t require you to buy anything at all! For instance, you can create a completely free reading program for a middle or high schooler by choosing some novels that you already own (or can check out from the library), and then downloading blank book report forms to use throughout the year.

For a free math program, use Khan Academy video tutorials and printable math worksheets.

For more tips and advice from experienced homeschoolers, check out this roundup from Porch!

If you have any questions, or want to share some advice with new homeschoolers, leave a comment below!

 

Laser Chess: New Twist on a Classic Strategy Game

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The objective of Laser Chess is the same as its predecessor – regicide! Be the first to eliminate your opponent’s king and you’re the victor. But the new spin is that you zap them with lasers! We partnered with Timberdoodle, a marvelous homeschool company, to bring you a review of this new twist on a strategy game that has a 1,500 year-old history.

There are five layouts you can choose from so games have some variability. Set-up takes just a minute or two.

Players take turns moving mirrored playing pieces around the board. They end each turn by firing the laser, removing a man from play if the beam strikes the non-mirrored surface. When the laser strikes the king, that’s checkmate. But be careful because it’s possible to leave yourself open to attack or accidentally bounce the beam at your own regent.

The lasers themselves are encased in two short pieces that are installed at the game board corners. These can be rotated during play to fire and you can follow the path of the beam as it hits the glass side of each piece.

It’s fun to follow the path of the laser as it takes out piece after piece. The same strategy as classic chess applies here; play both offensively and defensively, and stay one step ahead of your opponent, because you don’t want that laser turned on your guys! As soon as you finish one game, you’re likely to ask for a rematch – that’s how engaging it is.

Benjamin takeaway was that Laser Chess is “easy to learn but a challenge to play!” He’s in 7th grade this fall and loves STEM-related games and activities.

Game play typically takes 15 to 20 minutes.

In 2018, Laser Chess was a Parent Tested Parent Approved Top Pick. It also garnered Mensa Select’s 2018 award and got The Dice Tower’s Seal of Approval from Tom Vassel.

The game components themselves get high marks for durability and appearance. The box included a molded insert to stow away all the pieces. Laser Chess is recommended for ages 8 and up (grades 3 and higher). It’s automatically included in Timberdoodle’s complete 7th Grade Curriculum. It includes 26 playing pieces, 2 class one eye-safe lasers, and batteries. Retail price is $43.50.

Laser Chess can help teach and reinforce these skills:

  • Logic and Problem Solving
  • Visual Perception
  • Reasoning
  • Understanding angles

Check out Timberdoodle’s video short to see Laser Chess in action!