50 Foods from Around the World, Globe-Trotting Recipes

Are you planning an 'Around the World' theme for your school, church, VBS, scout troop, camp, library, 4H or community group? Need some quick, easy inexpensive food ideas that you can easily make or better yet, pull off the shelf of your local grocery store? Most all of these foods are available where you would normally shop. You will not need to make a special trip to an ethnic deli. These foods are 'local'; they grow or are made with products from the region. Most have long historical connections You'll find ideas for over fifty different countries and six continents. Team this with my article on literature around the world and you've got a great lesson plan! 50 Foods from Around the World

Teaching Hands-On Recycling, Earth-Friendly Habits in Classroom

Ecology and sustainable green living are two important habits schools should teach. Unfortunately, science classes often focus on boring, paper-and-pencil lessons (anything but eco-friendly!) Classroom recycling accomplishes several objectives. It's practical. Kids see immediate benefits. It makes schoolwork meaningful. It reinvigorates same-old curriculum. It gives hands-on experience in real-life activities. It builds healthy habits that carryover into life outside school. And it feels good to care for the earth. Here are ways to weave recycling into classroom lessons.Teaching Hands-On Recycling, Earth-Friendly Habits in Classroom
 

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 

Free Catholic Easter Worksheets, Printables, Activities

The Easter Triduum -- Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil -- makes up the three most sacred days of the Catholic liturgical calendar. As a homeschool family, we spent Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter, doing Lent activities. Here are free printable Catholic worksheets andFree Catholic Easter Resources and Activities
resources. Pope John Paul II spoke of the family as the primary educators of children. He encouraged families to set up altars in their home. Whether you homeschool your children or not, parents have a special vocation to teach the faith. These lessons, devotions and crafts help children and families explore that faith more deeply.