Creative and Fun Challenges for Your Students

Do you have children who love spending hours upon hours outdoors enjoying the wonders God has created? Do you have children who love everything LEGO? Do you have sketch artists who write on anything that is blank? Well, whether you answered yes or no to those questions, one or all three of these blogs may interest your children and provide a fun and new addition to your curriculum for the school year. These opportunities are FREE to participate, can be done from the comfort of home, and are fun for all ages; toddlers on up to adults.

Outdoor Nature Hour
Barb, a homechool mother of four, started the Handbook of Nature Study blog to record and share the nature studies she and her children did using the book Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock. What started as a simple way to archive their studies has grown into a wonderful resource for homeschool families as they pursue a nature study in their classrooms. Through what she calls “nature challenges,” Barb has created a FREE study using the book Handbook of Nature Study as a resource, that you can go through with your children to learn about the great outdoors during anytime of the year. There are already 52 challenges available. Although they are designed to use in any order you choose because of the different climates participants live in, you may want to at least start here and follow through in order with the first couple of challenges just to have a sense of how everything flows.

LEGO Quest
I’m sure Ole Kirk Christiansen had absolutely no idea more than 60 years ago how much his innovative idea would take over the world. Well, LEGOs are here to stay and parents must continue stepping on them, finding them in the dryer, and buying more because kids just can’t seem to get enough.

Sam, an unschooling mother of two, came up with the idea of LEGO Quest which is a non-competitive, fun, and educational monthly challenge for home educated kids who love playing and creating “things” with LEGOs. Each month, a creative challenge is presented and children are given one week to complete the assignment is they choose to participate. Some of the previous quests include the following:

Playground: What would a playground look like if you built it? Would it be simple and full of trees and rocks to climb, connecting you with nature or would it be an ultra modern urban design and feel more like you’re going to the fair? See the submissions.

Favorite Song – What is your favorite song or piece of music? Can you create something out of LEGO that reminds you of this song? See the submissions

30 Pieces – For this challenge, everyone will be using the exact same LEGO pieces; 30 of them to be exact and color does not matter. Build whatever you like out of these bricks. See the submissions.

If your child is up for the challenge, then the first quest of the school year has already been set and is due Monday, September 12 – Design a custom made aircraft. This can be simple or extremely complex, it’s up to you.

Parents, if you need some LEGO storage suggestions, then take a look at these ideas.

Sketch Tuesday
Calling all sketchers, children and adults. Yes adults may participate too in this weekly art assignment which gives you the opportunity to create through drawing. Sketch Tuesday is another creative idea from Barb (Outdoor Nature Hour) who is also known as Harmony Art Mom and from her Web siteHarmony Fine Arts where she offers art and music appreciation curriculum.

The assignment this week to be completed by Monday, September 12 is to sketch something that glows. Read more here to participate. View slide show of previous Sketch Tuesday submissions.