Here are some fun, and timely ideas for the second week of October!


8th- R.L.Stine's Birthday- This spooky author has a birthday in the right month! Access his free writing program online (the link can be found at the end of this article) and encourage your child's writing. Try homeschooling on a rainy evening with the Rainy Night Theater stories, which can be found at his site (link below). Do keep in mind your homeschooler's age and interest, as even some adults might be too scared to hear these stories read aloud!
www.rlstine.com/swf/e1/t1/rl_classroom_kit.pdf
www.rlstine.com/#nav/theatre

9th- Alphabet Day- Activities using the alphabet are fun for all ages! Some great activities to try at home are:

1. Have a scavenger hunt to find items for every letter in the alphabet. Write the words down as you go, too.
2. Brainstorm October words to represent every letter of the alphabet!
3. Alphabetize your spelling words.
4. Learn to use or practice using the dictionary, finding a word to represent every letter. Older children can get a vocabulary list from this activity, too.
5. Younger children in grades K-2 will love hearing and reading Dr. Seuss's ABC book. I enjoyed reading it along with my son for many years as it is full of rhymes and awesome pictures. You can find that book below:


10th- International Dinosaur Month- Visit www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/ to explore a free dictionary of dinosaur information-from A to Z. Challenge your homeschooler to identify any dinosaur figures he or she has based on the descriptions of these. Some cool field trips to take to learn all about these prehistoric creatures are listed below:

-Folks in Florida, Kentucky and Texas will find Dinosaur World an amazing adventure. Visit www.dinoworld.net/for more information on exact locations.
-Dinosaur State Park in Connecticut offers classes alongside their awesome park. Check out their website for detailed class descriptions and how you can sign up:
www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=325192&depNav_GID=1650
-The Dinosaur Park in Bastrop, TX is a great resource and outdoor excursion. Check out their site here:
www.thedinopark.com/index.htm

10th- Columbus Day- Visit Scholastic.com (find the link at the end of this article) to get a free and comprehensive activity pack from Scholastic. Christopher Columbus (My First Biography) by Marion Dane Bauer is an excellent book for young readers to exploreand learn more about this famous explorer.


12th- World Egg Day- The Incredible Edible Egg has a day of it's own! This protein packed food is perfect for breakfast, or any meal! Challenge your homeschooler to create the perfect omelet, and then taste his or her creation. Yum!

13th- Energy Awareness Month- Take some time to have your homeschooler list ways that your family can help to save energy. Contact your local power company to inquire about any free materials they might have to add to your resources.

14th- National Field Trip Month- Take a field trip! Better yet, take a free field trip! Check out Field Trip Factory.com for free field trips offered across the nation. There are also free materials and enrichment resources as well.

15th- National Apple Month- Enlist your homeschooler and make homemade applesauce. Here is the recipe:

Applesauce in the Crockpot

10 large Gala or Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut in chunks
1/2 cup water
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup sugar

After careful cutting (adult supervision required), put all of the ingredients into the crockpot. Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours. Cool and chill before serving.

Makes 15 servings