Let's Learn About the Sacraments

Learn about the seven Sacraments with a neat game and new F3 pieces.

This is the time of year when many parents (and catechists) begin really focusing on the seven sacraments, especially if their children are preparing for the reception of sacraments themselves.  This can sometimes be an overwhelming task for young hearts and minds.  To help children accomplish this task, I usually recommend using the New Saint Joseph First Communion Catechism.  This is a very well done and easy to understand presentation of the basics of the faith for young Catholics.

To go along with this resource, I created some F3(Flip, Flap & Fold) Pieces.  I simply ask the children to pick out a few things that they have learned about each sacrament and write it on the lines.  Then they cut out the rectangles, fold on the lines and glue the piece to create a single page book.  These can easily be glued into their Religious Ed. F3 folder or any other notebook, folder or project.  This allows you to see what the child finds most important about each individual sacrament.



Sample F3 Pieces



As a bonus, the F3 pieces go with our Sacrament Match-up Game. If you love Where's Waldo type games, art and your faith - then this is the game for you. 

This game allows you to teach the seven sacraments using descriptive clues and art details from the The Seven Sacraments by Rogier Van der Weyden.  Details in the artwork reveal lots about our rich Catholic traditions through each of the sacraments. Each sacrament is highlighted and the children really enjoy trying to find the examples within this beautiful work.  Print out the pieces, cut apart, and laminate for durability.  This is a great game for use in CCD or religious education classes.   A full class period can be devoted to playing this game if teachers explain details and nuances of the faith as they go through each detail page and then the clues themselves.   Be forewarned, this is not as easy to complete as it looks.  Many times we can easily be stumped by the simplest clues.  Instructions are provided and a reference sheet is included to aid in game play.

I hope that this helps you in your sacramental prep or catechism review. 

Click Here to download the F3 pieces on the seven Sacraments.
Click Here to download the Sacrament Match-up Game.

Blessings,
Kalei

New Resource Set for The Fairy-Land of Science by Arabella Buckley

Bring God's Glory to life with a beautiful read and notebooking sheets.

Part of the appeal of the Charlotte Mason (CM) method of learning, for many homeschoolers, is the focus on the use of living books - literary works that call to the heart and mind of the reader so that they, and the truths they contain, are not forgotten. 

The Fairy-Land of Science by Arabella Buckley is just such an example of a living book.  It can be used as a read aloud for those 7-9 years old or as independent read for slightly older children. This book approaches science in a truly unique way calling to the whimsical side of childhood from the fact filled side of scientific truth.  Although she lovingly names and metaphorically refers to aspects of nature as "fairies," this book is not light nor fluffy.  It is a good solid read and sure to be a memorable reading experience when digested slowly. 

You can expect to cover the following topics:

*Sun beams/light

*Aerial ocean /atmosphere

*Water cycle

*Water and ice/forces that shape the land

*Voices of nature & how we use them/sound

*Parts of a Primrose/Plants and lifecycle of plants

*History of a Piece of Coal

*Bees in the Hive/Bees

*Bees and Flowers/Pollination

Today we share a 12 page set of notebooking sheets to help children note down or narrate about the wondrous things they learn about in the ten lectures in this book.  The set focuses on the elements, or fairies, presented in the book.  Using vintage style black and white graphics that could be coloured in, these sheets are easy on the printer and not distracting.  This set has many differently designed pages to make sure there is something for each age group to appreciate and use whether they prefer for draw, write or draw and write.  Our standard pages with four different line spacing options are also included for those who like to write a bit more than draw.  This can easily become a work that will be referred to over and over again.

Click HERE to download this set and see our collection of science notebooking sheets.

Click HERE to see our entire collection of notebooking sheets.

Click The Fairy-Land of Science (Yesterday's Classics) to purchase and add this book to your home library now.

 

Blessings,

Kalei - That Resource Team

Sweet Beautiful Homekeeping Resources for Mums and Daughters

Victorian themed goodies from the new, Young Homekeeper's Collection from Life in the Little Nest.

If you have ever wanted to really incorporate gentle learning with home skills then today is your day to start - or at least be inspired to start - compliments of Kim over at Life in the Little Nest.  Today she has some really sweet note cards to share with mums and daughters as well as some bookplates and a bookmark that is sure to speak to the hearts of Charlotte (CM) educators.

We are called to be the first teachers of our children, and that includes home skills - especially for our daughters.  Today's resource can surely help with this task.  Each note card set is a two page resource that not only provides a beautiful make it yourself card and envelope, it also has suggestions on how to use it with your daughters.  There are three sets available. 

*There is one set for "The Seamstress" to encourage sewing and other hand sewing arts. 

*There is another set for "The Good Book" to encourage daily prayer, devotion and reading God's Word.

*The last resource is a note card set for "Lessons From My Mother" to encourage your daughter in her growth and share your life stories with her.  This set is perfect for an invitation to tea with your daughter at home or even at the local java house, for a special outing and special time together.

 

The bookplates are a lovely addition to books your family intends to keep and the bookmark allows your young reader to mark their favourite books in the page as well as on the bookmark itself.

Click HERE to download today's goodies from Kim's new resource section - The Young Homekeeper's Collection.
Click HERE to see all the resources shared by the Little Nest.
 
Thanks for sharing, Kim!  These sweet resources have inspired and encouraged me to make more time to share the little treasures in life with my own children - outside of formal lessons.

Blessings,
Kalei



Resources to Help Teach About the Annunciation

Fun resources help children of all ages celebrate the most beautiful event of the Annunciation.

On Friday, we will celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation.  In honour of this very special and historical event, many of us will read the Gospel, pray the Hail Mary prayer or even the rosary.  As we reflect on the Virgin's Mary answer to the call of our Lord for obedience, trust, devotion and love, let us too, be willing to say a hope filled, YES, to our call of service to God, our children, and one another.

We have just uploaded a new page to the main resource site that celebrates the Mystery of the Annunciation with lots of resources that you may find helpful to use this week or any week in your little homeschool, Bible study or CCD class. 

Our resource list includes mini-books, notebooking sheets, games, puzzles, learning cards, trading cards and more.  Here are just a few samples. 

We hope you find something useful and enjoyable to help bring understanding of the Annunciation to the hearts and minds of your little learners.

Click HERE to visit our new page - Free Resources to Help Children Learn About the Annunciation.

If you can think of someone else who might be able to benefit from our FREE resources - a fellow homeschooler, a catechist from your parish, or even a friend who is just beginning to ponder homeschooling their children - why not send them on over to see how easy it is to let God permeate our teaching and lessons. :)

Blessings,

Kalei - That Resource Team