Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Children's Books About the Olympics

Before the Winter Olympics begin, it's always a great idea to read books that explore the history and the aspects of the Games. Do you know the history of the Olympics? Where did they start? Who participated? What is the meaning behind the Olympic flame? Who was Pierre de Coubertin and why is he significant? Which events have come and gone?

Learn all this and more with these remarkable books for children. You can ask for them at your local library, or click on the affiliate links below to purchase your copy from Amazon.



G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet

by Brad Herzog
From the first games held in ancient Greece to the cultural extravaganzas of recent years, there have been some incredible and amazing events and milestones in the world of Olympic sports. Now in G is for Gold Medal: An Olympics Alphabet, writer Brad Herzog showcases those athletes and events that not only set sports records but also impacted history and worldviews. Learn the meaning behind the five interlocking rings featured on the Olympic flag. Cheer on American Jim Thorpe as he won the pentathlon and decathlon at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, Sweden, only to lose his medals later. Read how the man dubbed as the "world's laziest high jumper" won the gold in 1968 and later had a jump named after him. All these moments and more are brought to life in G is for Gold Medal.

Ages 6 - 9




The Winter Olympics

by Nick Hunter
The Winter Olympics are a thrilling festival of sports, bringing together skiers, skaters, and sliders from around the world. Held every four years, they turn snow and ice into an amazing sports arena. But how did they get their start, and how are they organized?

Ages 8 - 10



A Kid's Guide to the 2018 Winter Games

by Jack Roberts
Get ready for the 2018 Winter Olympics with this full-color book for young readers that introduces all 15 sport disciplines for the Winter Olympics as well as some of the top Team USA athletes. The book includes a history of the Winter Olympics with some amazing fun facts and trivia, as well as a Medal Tracker to keep track of the gold, silver, and bronze medals that Team USA brings home. Easy-to-read text and dramatic, full-color photographs make this the perfect book for every kid who loves the Olympics (and their parents, too!)

Ages 8 - 12




The Olympics: Ancient to Modern

by Joe Fullman
The Olympics Ancient to Modern is a fascinating look at the history of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, from the first events in Ancient Greece right the way up to London 2012 and Sochi 2014. It focusses on when and where each Games has been held, and some key stats, such as how much it cost, how many athletes competed, and how many spectators came to watch.

The book explains how all the Games - Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics, and Paralympics - came into being, and how the Olympic Games were revived in Paris at the end of the 19th century. It compares the ancient and modern Games, looking at the sports and athletes involved then and now, and at how the modern Games are continually evolving.

It also looks at key moments in the Games' history, and at some of the tragedies and controversies that have rocked it - from doping scandals, boycotts and cheating to the Berlin Olympics of 1936, and the Munich Massacre.

The book celebrates the achievements of star Olympians, and gives the lowdown on the most popular and exciting Olympic sports, from cycling and rowing to skiing and wheelchair basketball.

Ages 9 - 12





Eyewitness: Olympics

by Chris Oxlade & David Ballheimer
Discover the event that brings together the world's finest athletes in a spirit of peace and internationalism.

Here is an original and exciting new guide to the heroic world of the Olympic games -- from its ancient beginnings to the Sydney Games in 2000. Stunning full-color photographs of famous athletes, gold medals, colorful mascots and flaming torches provide a unique look at the greatest sports festival in the world. See: the ancient Greek site of Olympia, what an athlete wore in 1896, how a sports shoe is made, and the first Fosbuty flop. Learn: what an athlete in training needs to eat, what the Olympic symbol represents, how Smoky became the 1932 Olympic mascot, and what sports make up a modern pentathlon. Discover: how athlete are timed within fractions of a second, what special materials are used to make a modern swimsuit, what sports were included in the ancient Olympic Games, who has won the most Olympic medals, and much, much more!

Ages 8 - 12



Looking for other Olympic-themed resources? Don't miss:

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Winter Olympics Parts of Speech Game



As I mentioned, we're using the Olympics as a learning opportunity in our homeschool over the coming weeks. That means that almost ALL of our subjects have an Olympic link. Even grammar!

Check out this fun game that allows your student to practice distinguishing parts of speech: proper nouns, common nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. This file includes:

- game board
- game cards with words
- answer sheet with the list of words in their respective parts of speech category.
- blank cards for you to add your own words
- blank game board if you'd like to add different categories.

And, yes, it is available in English and Spanish!

You can find it in my TpT store or the MommyMaestra Shop.

Looking for other Olympic-themed resources? Don't miss:




Monday, January 29, 2018

Explore the Science of the Winter Olympics with Science 360


Do you know about Science 360? If you are homeschooling (or even if you aren't!) this site is a must, because the Science360 Video Library teaches viewers about the latest wonders of science, engineering, technology, and math. Created by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Science 360 shares the latest science videos provided by scientists, colleges and universities, science and engineering centers, the NSF, and more.

And since I will be focusing on the Winter Olympics over the next week, I wanted to share with you this really good 16-part video series that explores the science behind individual Olympic events.

NBC Learn has teamed up with the National Science Foundation to produce Science of the Olympic Winter Games. I'll be using it with my own kids as we focus the majority of our school time on the upcoming Olympics. It explores the science behind many of the individual sports. From physics to math, your kids will learn not only how science impacts the sports, but also how equipment must be designed to work perfectly with the athletes to give them the best competitive edge.

Here are a few examples of the videos in this series:


Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Winter Games Unit


The Winter Olympics will be starting in about 2 and a half weeks! Will your family be watching? We will.

And, of course, this is the perfect event to turn into a learning opportunity. Practice worldschooling! Introduce your children to 11 countries, the history of the Olympics, famous athletes and more with the new Winter Games Unit from Multicultural Kid Blogs. You may enjoy it just as much as they do.

Things have been quiet here on MommyMaestra the last few weeks because I was working on this packet. Yes, I am a contributor. And I was delighted to do so. It was so much fun to work on this unit and create pages that are engaging and educational. Lots of research and creativity going on here.


You may remember me contributing to a similar packet for the Summer Olympics a couple of years ago. In fact, you can still download the free sample pages that feature the country of Mexico and it's participation in the Olympics.

For parents and educators raising global citizens, this downloadable no-prep packet introduces children to 11 countries around the world through the Olympics theme. The Winter Games Unit Activity Pack contains 100 pages of learning materials, including:

• a history of the Ancient and Modern Olympics
• a brief history of the Olympic flame
• a brief description of all the sports played in the 2018 Winter Games
• world mapping activity
• an introduction to this year’s host city and country
• introductions to the Olympics top ten nations with the most medals; includes country facts, geography, brief histories, landmarks, wildlife, music, famous people, Olympics facts, a kid-friendly recipe, and recommended reading
• reading passages about six famous winter Olympians
• additional worksheets that allow students to show what they’ve learned, such as flag matching, word search, matching, fill in the blank, multiple choice, and trivia.

An answer key is included. These fun activities are designed for children ages 8 – 12, or 3rd through 6th grade.


You can purchase and download this packet from MKB's TpT store or on their website.

Enjoy the PyeongChang Olympics!

Monday, January 15, 2018

Martin Luther King Jr. Glossary for Families


Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! 

In honor of the great Dr. King, I have created this printable Martin Luther King Jr. poster and glossary of words associated with the American hero. His words are just as important today as they were back when he was alive and especially on August 28, 1968, when he delivered his famous speech.

Martin Luther King Jr. Glossary for Families


Decorate your classroom or refrigerator with these colorful posters, or print the black-and-white versions and have your child color them in. All of the words chosen for the glossary are closely associated with the civil rights activist. 

And this packet has been updated to include a definition worksheet and writing page to extend the learning.

Visit my TpT shop to download your copy today.

How to Use my Glossaries


My glossary packs are a great way to introduce children to historical figures while expanding their vocabulary at the same time. I recommend pairing them with a good children's biography. Some great ones about the great Dr. King can be found in my article, 5 Books to Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr., which I wrote for Mom.com.

Once your students have learned about the topic of my glossaries, read the vocabulary words together and discuss their definitions. Then you might share the definition worksheet(s) with your students and have them define each term. Allowing them to reference the glossary is optional.

Lastly, have your students write a one-page essay about the historical figure (in this case, Dr. King) and encourage them to use as many of the vocabulary words as they can. Older students using the more advanced glossaries can certainly write more extensive essays.

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Thursday, January 11, 2018

Free Download: The Letter "A"


The awesome thing about Spanish is that (unlike English) all the vowels make only one sound no matter where they are located in a word. It makes learning the language - and spelling! - so much easier.

MommyMaestra's sponsor, Spanish for You!, is kicking off the year with a fun mini-lesson on the letter "A."

This 3-page mini-lesson will help your young Spanish learner use and pronounce the letter "A." The file includes a page of directions and two storyboard activities. As always, it comes with the audio file to help you learn proper pronunciation. This time, however, there are three files for your listening pleasure!! :)


Remember! Spanish for You!'s program is geared for middle schoolers and is the perfect choice for homeschoolers and afterschoolers alike because their concepts are carefully divided up into manageable bundles that are available for immediate download from their website.

If this is your first time here, you can find other free samples from Spanish for You! here. There are some fantastic downloads of games and activities for you and your family to enjoy. If you enjoy this activity, be sure to visit the Spanish for You! website where you'll find tons of additional resources for you to help your young Spanish learner!

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Printables and Crafts for Día de los Reyes



Does your family celebrate Día de los Reyes Magos? Or maybe you are simply learning about this Christmas tradition. Either way, don't forget that I have a post that lists TONS of resources for exploring and celebrating the holiday. From books to music to videos, you'll find everything you need in English and Spanish.

In addition, I have several printables, such as the one shown above of reading passages, coloring pages, and letter templates that you may enjoy, too. You can find them in my TpT store and my MommyMaestra online shop.


And finally, don't miss out on the activities I've shared before, including this Reyes Writing Activity. It is part of the decorations packet that you can use to decorate your house or classroom. Do you put your shoes at the end of your bed or do you set out a box of hay for the Magi's camel? If it is the latter, you'll enjoy the printable coloring sheets to use to decorate your box!



Monday, January 1, 2018

Printable Bilingual 2018 Resolution Worksheet for Kids

printable bilingual 2018 resolution worksheet for kids


Optimism.

That's the word that I'm embracing for 2018. It's a word that reflects my hopes, and one that motivates me to be the change I want to see in our country.

This year, I've added a section to my bilingual resolution chart that includes space for kids to write down their own word for 2018. In addition to this, the chart includes several other sections to help you guide your children as they think about all the challenges and blessings of the last year and focus on how they'd like this next one to be different. I think the chart helps empower kids by helping them think about their own control over their education and life choices.

I've shared this resolution chart with you for the last several years with occasional tweaks. I still love it when my kids set goals and try to work toward them. And this chart is a helpful guide.

So if you'd like to use this printable with your own children, you can download it free below. The file contains both an English and Spanish worksheet.


Happy New Year!

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