Tuesday, September 27, 2022

Free Situational Math Problem for Elementary Cycle 2 Grades 3 to 4

 Free Situational Math Problem for Elementary Cycle Two (Grades 3 to 4)

Have you seen my other situational problems? You can find them here on my math freebies page under 'problem-solving' There are problems for all elementary cycles!

Another situational problem is here!

Does that make you feel happy or anxious? How about your learners - do they like solving these longer math problems or do they bring on tears? My hope is that with these simpler problems I am creating, we can all find a happy balance! Your kids will still be familiar with situational problems and how to solve them, but they won't feel overwhelmed by the size of the problem.

If your learner is still feeling frustrated, I recommend taking it slow. On day one, read the problem together and talk about what needs to be done. On day two, write down what needs to be done. Day three, write down some ways you can both brainstorm to solve it. Don't be afraid to really help your child - they are not meant to solve these along at this age. Maybe they'd also like to colour in the catalogue. Day four, begin to solve. Day five, finish it up and review. 

And CELEBRATE! 

GO out for a treat or do something they would like to do - solving a situational problem is quite an accomplishment at this age!


In this situational problem, learners will need to help Tim design his new bedroom. They will plan the layout of his room following certain rules and need to stay within a budget using the furniture catalogue included. 

An example is given of how this problem could be solved on the problem page (as in the image above). I have also included an answer guide - although every kid's answer might be different. That's the fun part of solving a problem like this - it is kind of open-ended. I have also included a checklist that you can use to be sure your kids did everything the problem asked.


Outline pages are also included in this situational problem. Students can use these to write down what they know about the problem, as well as write ideas about how they can solve the problem. Although these pages are usually not required in exams with situational problems, they can come in handy!

The best part, of course, is that this problem is FREE! You can download it under the image below. All I ask is that when sharing this resource you share the link to this blog page and not the direct download link. Thank you!

Enjoy learning!


Download the free situational math problem here!


Monday, September 26, 2022

History Mystery 2: Free Quebec History Curriculum

 History Mystery 2

Who were the Iroquoians Around 1500?


Did you miss History Mystery 1? You can find it here!

Welcome to another fun and quick History Mystery! A fun and FREE new series I am starting for kids to be able to study Quebec History and fill the progressions of learning requirements in small, easy-to-use units.

This second unit focuses on the Iroquoians (Haudenosaunee) and why they have the names that they do. It's a great way to introduce this portion of the history progressions to your learners. The following units will focus on the lives the Haudenosaunee people lived around the year 1500, including longhouses, food, clothing, etc.

The really wonderful thing about these units is how simple they are to use. You can use them on the computer and just fill out the worksheets together with your learner, or you can print out the entire thing and use the QR code with your device to look up the information.

With each unit I provide a QR code kids can use to research the questions asked (it is also a clickable link). The information is on pages either written for kids or in simple words. I also try to not have too much to read in each unit - in this unit, there are 4 small paragraphs to read. 

Since all of the concepts cycle 2 will cover need to be done over 2 years, I suggest taking it as slow as you'd like with your learner, especially if this is their first time studying history. You may choose to just do the research and answer the questions orally in some units, while in others you fill out the sheets for learning portfolios.

Every unit also comes with a badge for kids to collect to show their learning. It's also a great way to remember what they've learned throughout the year. We love to hang up things like this on our dining room wall so we can discuss them over dinner - it's such an easy (and sneaky!) way to review.

Every badge states what they have learned about in the unit. A photo of all of their badges could also make a great learning portfolio addition!


The pages are also all in black and white (except for 2 optional maps at the end, which are also available in black and white) so they are easy on your printer too. I also try to include a fun colouring page in each unit that sticks to the unit's theme. Kids could colour these while you read aloud the research page to them, or colour them later on while you discuss what they learned about what is in that picture. In this unit, it is a longhouse - something that is mentioned in the article but that will be studied further in a later unit.

This unit includes an answer key!

However, you use these pages I hope that you enjoy them! 

You can download this unit below by clicking on the link under the image.

Please feel free to share this unit by sharing the link to this blog post, but not the google drive link.

Thank you and enjoy learning!


Click Here to Download the FREE History Mystery 2

 

Saturday, September 24, 2022

History Mystery: A FREE Quebec History Resource for Cycle 2 Elementary



There will be more history units coming! Check this page for more!

 If there is one thing that I see many of my fellow Quebec homeschoolers struggling to teach, it's social studies! We are required by law to follow certain progressions of history every year throughout elementary and high school. We must prove at the end of the year that we touched on these progressions with our kids throughout the year.

The great thing is that the progressions go in cycles - we have two years to teach all of the concepts listed for a cycle. The tough part is balancing what we want to teach our own kids about history alongside having to follow these requirements AND having to prove that we did.

Introducing history mysteries! A new series of free units I will be releasing that follow these progressions but in a very simple-to-follow format and in a way that won't make your kids dread every minute. 

These units will cover all of the progressions as I make them for elementary cycles 2 through 3, and then high school as well. Every unit will have some worksheets that students will fill in using a research method provided in the unit - either a link or a video. 

These worksheets can then be placed into your child's portfolio to show what they learned!

Of course, kids also need to feel validated and rewarded for their learning - as adults we know how valuable this knowledge is, but kids can't always grasp that. So in each unit, a badge will be included once kids complete the unit. They can use this badge in a notebook or hang it up somewhere to show their accomplishments!

In this first unit, kids in grades 3-4 levels of learning (cycle 2) will look at how there came to be people in Canada. They will read 3 short paragraphs in the Canadian encyclopedia online and answer questions to show what they learned. 

I would encourage you to read the paragraphs yourself first, especially if you are planning to have your child do this on their own - or if you are a teacher sending this home as homework. It will take 5 minutes and help you to be a le to answer any questions your learners might have.

At the end of the unit, kids can print out badges in either colour or black and white if they would like to. Each badge will showcase what they have learned so that they can be proud of it!

I really hope you enjoy this unit and it helps you out in your homeschool! Download it below the image by clicking on the link.

Download The History Unit Here

Friday, September 23, 2022

Free Situational Math Problem For Cycle 1 Grades k to 2

 Free Situational Math Problem

Follows the Quebec Competency for mathematics: Solve a situational problem related to mathematics (but can be used by anyone for some math fun!)

Want more situational math problems? Check out my Math Freebies page here! I will be adding more soon!

Have you ever tried to solve a situational math problem with your learners? It can be a really fun way to put math skills into practice using real-life-like situations. Where we live in Quebec, they are a required part of the math curriculum for both public school and homeschooled kids. However, I find them to be a great way to see how much my kids have retained of what we've learned in math.

I especially love making them fun-looking and interactive for kids, not just writing down problems on paper. That is why I am so excited to bring you this new freebie problem for grades 1-2. It's simple, fun (it's mainly coloring!) and includes an answer sheet for parents too! If you haven't seen my other grade 1-2 problem, you can download it here.


In this problem, kids will be designing a basket. They will use organizational skills to organize information in the problem, patterning skills, and prepositional skills. They will also need to fill in some information into a simple table.

There are also plenty of fun pictures for kids to color in. You can take a few days to complete this problem, with younger learners especially! It will give them an opportunity to understand all of the information and give them a chance to colour in math class - that's always fun!

You can download this freebie below. All I ask is that when sharing this resource you share the link to this page and NOT the google drive link - that can really mess things up on my end! Thank you and ENJOY!


Download This Free Situational Problem HERE!


French Verb Freebie Unit: Avoir in the Present Tense For All Ages

Free French Verb Unit: Avoir in the Present Tense
Here is another great FREE French unit for you to use with your learners! You can see all of the other great free units on this page.

If you are trying to teach the verb avoir (to have) to your learners or class, then this unit is the perfect fit! It includes plenty of practice on using the verb in the present tense along with optional conjugation worksheets that more advanced students can use to conjugate the verb in other tenses too!


The mini book is a great way to introduce the verb. Just like my other French verb units, the mini book can be printed and made into a book, or displayed on a screen - your tablet, computer, or TV! It features simple sentences using avoir in the present tense with fun, full-colour photos on every page. It also has a super cute cover.


The verb cards are a great way to have learners practice speaking or writing sentences independently, or if you're teaching a class, to send home with them. I love to print these on coloured cardstock and put them onto a binder ring. That way, as we learn new verbs we can add them on too. All of my free verb units feature these cards.


Finally, there are a few options in worksheets that will suit many different ages and learning styles. There are fun coloring pages with questions prompting kids to use the verb in a sentence, there is a simple coloring page where younger level learners can draw their sentences and say them out loud, and there are conjugation pages that higher level learners can use to conjugate the verb in any tense. 

In this unit, I have also included some sentence prompts that kids can use in their notebooks. Just cut them out and glue one into a notebook page and they can answer the question using the verb.

Download this free unit by clicking on the link below the image below!

Download the free French Avoir unit here!




 

Thursday, September 22, 2022

French verb Freebie: Conjugating Etre in the Present Tense

Free French verb Unit Etre

 I've got another great French language freebie for you all! You can see the rest of my French language freebies on this page!

The verb etre (to be) is one of the most important verbs your FSL learners will need to learn to conjugate in the French speaking, writing, and reading. So I am happy to bring you this new freebie that is in the same layout as my VOIR verb unit.


One of the first components of the unit is this mini book that contains sentences using the verb in the present tense. They're simple sentences for beginner readers and great for anyone of any age learning the language.

They also have fun photographs on every page in colour. These can be printed and made into  book or projected on your TV or tablet, etc. They're a great way to practice the verb every day.


The unit also includes these verb cards that come in handy for practice when speaking or writing. I love to print these out on colored cardstock and put them onto a binder ring for my kids as they learn each verb. As I make more units like this, all of them will contain these cards.


Once you and your learners have learned the verb in the present and what it means, it's great to put it into practice with some writing! I have included many different types of sheets in this unit for learners of all ages. 

There are fun coloring and writing pages for younger children. You can have them write sentences on them or you can have them tell you a sentence orally, then write down what they told you.
There are also some simpler drawing pages where younger kids can draw and write a sentence, as well as some conjugation sheets that you can have older students use to conjugate the verb in ANY tense!

I really hope you enjoy this unit with your learners! You can download it below right from Google Drive. All I ask is that when sharing this resource you link to this blog or page, NOT the google drive link - this can really mess things up on my end ;)


Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Free Science Journal 11: Seasons Science for Grades k-2

Free Science Journal Seasons For Elementary Learners

I have an all-new science journal for you all! This one is the eleventh in this series for levels k through 2nd grade! You can see all of the other science journals on THIS PAGE.

Learning about the seasons with this age group can be so much fun! Going outside every season and exploring the plants, trees, and animals is a wonderful way to introduce kids to the way the seasons work. This journal makes a great companion to that, giving simple explanations for the reasons why seasons change, and giving you simple worksheets to show your child's learning!


One of my favourite ways to experience the science of the seasons with my own kids has always been to sketch the trees all throughout the year. In this unit, I have included a tree sheet for each season, so that your kiddos can do the same!

I have also included plenty of simple worksheets that you can add that cover the progressions of learning, while not putting too much pressure on your little ones to write or give long-winded explanations. On many of these pages, kids simply need to draw and label things, and I've given space for them to dictate what they would like to explain to an adult who writes for them, or for them to write themselves if they can.


There are also some lovely color photos as well as tiny cute cliparts that your children can enjoy coloring in. Although Canada is mentioned in this unit, you can change the wording with a pen or just explain where in the world you live on the Earth rotation pages.

This unit also includes a favourite poem of ours for summertime (extra ELA! woot!)...

I really hope you and your learners enjoy this unit as much as the others I have published for free here!
Please feel free to tag me on Instagram (@debbiejeanmcmullen) if you do use these units - I'd love to see what your kiddos or classes come up with!

Download the free unit below...

Download the Free Science Unit Here