Courtesy of The Reformed Bible Church Home School Support Group for the Institute for Theonomic Reformation

This month, as every year in January, our home school support group will again begin working on a public display project. For the next 3 months, the students will gather information and make some type of visual based on the materials gathered. By the end of March, or the beginning of April, the displays will be set up at a place in town for about a month. You may consider trying something like this with your own family or with a few friends you know. It is a great way to encourage the children to research, and to do their best. Here is what we are doing this year:

This year’s project will be entitled "God Blessed America". Each family will choose a state in the union they would like to research. Different aged siblings will not only research according to their own levels, but will also have the opportunities to work with each other as they continue with the project.

This display information may include visuals of the state’s flag, bird or flower. Perhaps pictures of its best-known products or industry can be cut out or drawn. Maybe maps and/or scenes of the terrain and culture of the state, statistics, historical background, famous people, songs, foods, or anything of interest could be included in a clever way. This would be a great opportunity to display the Christian foundation of the state chosen for all to see!

Since different ages would be participating, it encourages the younger ones to ‘prove’ themselves with the older. It also will encourage the older to help instruct and guide the younger. If you are not involved with a group, perhaps each family student can pick a state (or even one child) and make a poster or smaller display.

Before cutting out the shape, have the student draw and color large, filled in circles, arranging them like dice, on each square. You may also use other shapes, perhaps a different one on each square. (Very young children can use templates to trace, or perhaps large stickers.)

After the graphics are drawn, and the shape cut out, fold carefully and tape sides together with clear tape. Students can enjoy rolling 2 dice in many ways to practice their math skills such as:

• Younger ones can compare greater than, less than, or equal

numbers.

• 2 numbers can be added or subtracted, or multiplied,

depending on the students’ levels, then tallied up for final scores.

• Upper level students can use fractions, rather than shapes, and compare their values, or add them together for final scores. Try using decimals, too.
• Upper levels can also use whole numbers on one die, and percents on another, to determine the percent of the whole number thrown. Add the answers up for scoring.

In the winter months, food is scarce for many wild animals. January is a good time to teach the children about the hibernation and migration of different animals.

Birds are particularly interesting to learn about because they are so easy to see first hand. Children always learn best about things they can actually see. Perhaps you can focus more on your own area’s birds. Discover the ones that migrate and the ones that stay. Where do they migrate? How do they survive if they stay in the winter?

• Trace, or draw, the shapes of the birds and color. Perhaps make a little (or big, if student is very interested) chart of the different birds studied.
• Older students may consider formulating a booklet, which can be added to as time goes on. Each page could have a colorful picture of the bird, its name, characteristics, habitat and interesting facts. Their booklet can be used as a reference for other students.
• Make a bird feeder. One way is to toast a piece of bread, then cover it with raw egg, then bird seed. Pierce it with yarn or thread to hang up. Another way is to cover a pine cone with peanut butter, then the bird seed. You can also make a more elaborate bird feeder using a small milk carton. Cut out one side so that an ‘L’ shape is made, leaving about an inch of the bottom of the carton. Paint and seal it. Put birdseed in the bottom of the carton. A bird can stand on the bottom while eating the feed inside.
• Write about (younger should talk about) their favorite bird,

or one that intrigues them. Be sure they answer the basic questions; who, what, when, where, how, and why.