Jewish Shavuot Resources for Parents, Home-Schoolers, Educators

The Jewish festival of Shavuot honors giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. It's celebrated in Sivan on the Hebrew calendar. It's a 3-day observance that falls in May or June on the Western calendar. Shavuot is Sivan 5-7 and May 14-16 in 2013. G-d gave the Torah (including the 10 commandments) to the nation of Israel, via Moses.  Shavuot or Matan Torah, is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. It concludes the Counting of the Omer.The date of Shavuot is set by Passover (Pesach). The Torah mandates a seven-week Counting of the Omer, beginning the second day of Passover.  The counting of days and weeks imitates the anticipatory countdown to the Giving of the Torah. The people of Israel were freed from slavery on Pesach and on Shavuot they received the Torah and became a nation. This article was written about Sukkot, but all the links provided have lesson plans for shavuot, too. Jewish Sukkot Resources for Parents, Home-Schoolers, Educators

Earth Day Art. Awareness, Activism, Lesson Plans

Earth Day, celebrated on April 22, is the new name for the former holiday called Arbor Day. Arbor is the French word for tree. Earth Day is a global celebration that focuses our minds on caring for our earth. Ironically, some Earth Day activities are not really green. Printable for Earth Day, such as coloring pages and worksheets generate more paper waste. I include myself in this indictment because I've written articles for free printables for Earth Day. Here is a truly green lesson plan which is safe for our earth, educational and enjoyable for students of all ages. It's got the triples A's of Earth Day: art, activism, awareness.Free Earth Day Lesson Plan

Free Printable Endangered Species of the World Coloring Pages

Earth Day, which replaces the original holiday Arbor Day is celebrated in the United States on April 22. Here's a free printable booklet, Save our Species, with information, activities and coloring pages exploring endangered species in the US and world. The purpose of Earth Day is to celebrate our earth, educate people and explore ways to protect our natural resources. Protecting our earth include supporting our animals, plants and habitats. Earth Day reminds us that we rely on the earth for sustenance and the earth relies on us for care and safety. Exploring and understanding endangered and threatened species helps us to learn better ways to care for our environment as a whole.  Free Printable Earth Day Endangered Species Coloring Activity Booklet 

Free Printable Holi Festival of Colors Crafts, Worksheets

 Holi is the Indian Festival of Colors. It's celebrated on the full moon, called Phalgun Purnima or Pooranmash. It comes in the Hindu calendar month of Phalgun. Holi falls in late March to early April in the western calendar. Indians celebrate by tossing colored powder or spraying each other with colored liquid. Here are free printable Holi crafts, greeting cards and worksheets to help kids understand Holi. Teachers, use these for social studies. Homeschool parents, why not explore Holi with kids? Free Printable Holi Festival of Colors Crafts, Worksheets