There are must-do homeschool morning tasks that Abby girl tries to complete before starting the adventure of the day.

Morning snuggles

Morning snuggles is the first half hour of day when we first wake-up. It’s a time to be present and unplugged where we just snuggle and watch a television show of her choice. It’s a great time to just relax before the madness of the day begins.

Morning Calendar-

We have a pocket calendar on the wall. Each day we discuss the date and then count up all the numbers. So if it’s the fifth, we count 1,2,3,4,5. We also include the month, year, season, days of week (today, yesterday, tomorrow) and the weather.

TIP- Try fun songs about different parts of the calendar to help with memorization and engagement. Sadly, my child does not like children’s songs and Ozzy hasn’t released a days of the week song yet …

Animal of the day-

We have two bins that have books on animals. I ask my child to randomly pick a book and animal without looking. We read about that animal and then she has to write the name of it in her notebook and create a picture. Usually, I have her include the habitat in the picture too.

Suggestion- Abby Girl loves animals. So that is what is in our bin. However, you can gather books on whatever your child’s interest currently and do the same thing. You can also switch up the books throughout the school year.

Daily Prayer and Pledge-

There is an American Flag hanging in our classroom. So each day, the hand goes over the heart and she recites the pledge with me. I want to maintain some of the more old fasshioned schooling principles and teach her a respect for her country.

Daily prayer is also important. We have our on prayer that we would like to share with everyone. Click on it for a link to the free printable!

Discuss Our Adventures for the day-

We check our secondary calendar to figure out if and what is happening that day. This could be meetup, extra curricular activity, special event. Beyond that if we are hiking that day, we plan out where we are going and what we will need on that hike. This is key for teaching accountability.

We also decide where or not to bring the dog. If you do bring your pooch, be mindful of their ability too. Our dog is twelve and a mile is becoming difficult for her.

Final Thoughts on Morning Homeschool Tasks!-

Obviously, the other things fit in here too like brushing hair, teeth, planning out wardrobe for the day and breakfast (sometimes, as we often eat on the fly at the local deli.) Brushing hair is usually a battle and doesn’t always happen.

However, the five tasks above are a constant. It gives children a level of predictability and routine which is important for them as they grow. It gives us a great foundation before Abby Girl hits whatever adventures the day might bring whether planned or impromptu. Do you have a must have morning homeschool task? Tell us in the comments.

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A Volcano experiment for kids is a great way to create a natural disaster without actually being there. There are so many options too!

The poster board-

A poster board is helpful to get Your child’s mind thinking and to teach about volcanoes. It shows them how to prepare for the experiments.

Chart-

This is the sciencey stuff that will be key in the experiment. Below is what we put on our chart. It also lists the ingredients. The one section is left blank to be done during each round of experimentation.

Picture-

Let your child draw what they think their volcano will look like. It helps them visualize their creation.

Parts of the Volcano-

Last part of poster board shows the parts of the volcano.

Additional-

Depending on the ability of the child, other stuff can be added such as key eruptions in history.

Make Your Volcano!

Then we made Paper Mache to create the volcano.

We used a two-liter soda bottle which takes a lot more materials. You can go smaller. We wanted a bigger opening at the top so I cut the mouth of the bottle bigger.

You wait for a layer to dry and add on more and more layers for a more detailed look. Just remember to let each layer dry in between. We rolled bits of paper and clumped up our strips to make it rockier looking. We also put the volcano on a piece of cardboard that you can secure with hot glue or strong bonding glue. Then we’re able to pull the strips out and down to make more of a volcano shape.

After your child is satisfied with their volcano shape, use non-toxic paint to cover the volcano.

Final step if you want it more permanent, is to seal it.

*kids can take it one step further and put fake trees houses, animals, people and make more of a scene for the volcanic eruption

Time for the volcano experiments to begin-

It’s a lot of trial and error. We are not the type to sit there and have exact measurements we pulled off of every mommy homeschool blog on Pinterest. We enjoy the adventures in trial and error and flying by the seat of our pants.

Fail

The worst results for us and a complete failure was the diet soda and mentos. However, it worked well from the actual soda bottle. Let us know if you get it to work in the volcano.

So-So Experiment Results-

All experiments with baking soda and vinegar gave the same results. It bubbled and rolled fast over the top. But, we had to fill it all the way to the top. We used halfway up with water and rest, vinegar. A couple of drops of dish soap. We tried a baking soda bomb. However, just pouring it in gives a faster result.

The best experiment result-

Elephant tooth paste.

My kid put in a whole jar of yeast to two bottles of peroxide. But before the yeast was added, we added a few drops of dish soap and red non-toxic paint. Mix. Then put in yeast. My husband mixed it fast for a reaction. Our method made a really thick long-lasting, oozing reaction. I think she might have snuck in some baking soda too.

*appears our mistake is that you need to put a few drops of warm water into the yeast before pouring it into the volcano. This must be why a lot of the yeast immediately came back out of the top. Think melted ice cream.

Also, 3 percent peroxide will give a smaller reaction. If you go to the hair store, you can find a higher percentage for a bigger reaction. Just remember gloves and

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE!

Free volcano experiment time

After all, our experiments from the chart were completed and her findings recorded, we let her explore with whatever was leftover.

Final thoughts

A volcano experiment for kids is an awesome adventure. It’s fun for all ages as the activity can be changed based on ability, interest, age, etc. So go visit a volcano without having to deal with standing in real lava. PS. the experiment works best outdoors.

Want more activities to do?

Hey here are some cool nature-based activity ideas!

Home School Adventures Begin. It has been about a month. I’m not going to sugar coat it … I am absolutely exhausted. We begin every morning with workbook. We in between all this have breakfast. She is going through a vegetarian phase that started the same time as homeschooling, so I’m adjusting to cooking a vegetarian menu for her unless it’s chicken nuggets. Then in the morning, we also do calendar and circle time. Sometimes we do a dance party or something impromptu. Then we are off and running.

Monday

we have Preschool library time and play at one of our many local libraries. That fills most of our morning. We eat lunch and run errands, go for a walk or hike or find something to do in the afternoon. We then read more stories, eat dinner and do whatever we need to do at home before bed. Bed is somewhere between 9-10 pm because she has issues settling down. In the afternoon, we had an art class for elementary age children. We made birch trees with little birdies.

Tuesday

we have free choice but always do all the other in place stuff such as workbook. But, our free choice this Tuesday was Muscoot Farm in Katonah, NY. We learned about turn of the century farm life and looked at animals. Then Abby girl wanted chicken nuggets and fries. GPS took us on a crazy adventure to find the golden happy meal. After that, we headed to the Jefferson Valley Mall where she saw a little boy in play area and played with him for a bit. It was getting late and I didn’t want her to miss her library program, so we headed back up north after a quick stop at the gas station for snacks. At 4 pm we had a lesson on Chinese New Year. She made an instrument, tried and liked an egg roll and did the prop photo-booth. Then back home.

Wednesday

Dance combo class in the morning. We stop for bagels. She pays. Then she has a combo dance class with her bestfriend, JuJu. Then grocery shopping for all our fantabulous vegetarian needs and educational stuff. K workbook for when prek gets boring. Aldis is my go to grocery store recently.

Thursday

Another library time. Then free choice.

Friday

Total free choice or Christian playgroup depending on the alternating week

Saturday

Kindermusik music. Then an adventure.

Sunday

Sunday School. Family time.

In between all this, we take full advantage of activities near and far we can go to and even possibly blog about. Sometimes, we even take mini vacations. We do it all on a very limited budget. So, there are no excuses. You just have be creative!

Next Weds she has another yoga class and more library bonus classes! Though only three, she has moved into many k-3 and k-6 programs. I gotta be doing something right! It’s a lot but we are getting the hang of things and just think of all the adventures we get to blog about now! I just have to work in between everything. Here is too our next adventure.

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