Homeschooling From the Heart

FUN EXTRAS

In our house we have a saying, "Learning happens all the time." The resources on this page were chosen for their "fun" value, as well as their learning value. We have used several of these resources both as part of our curriculum and as fun activities for them to explore during their free time.

The Dangerous Book for Boys The bestselling book for every boy from eight to eighty, covering essential boyhood skills such as building tree houses, learning how to fish, finding true north, and even answering the age old question of what the big deal with girls is - appropriately handled. This brief section encourages them to be respectful around girls. In this digital age there is still a place for knots, skimming stones and stories of incredible courage. This book recaptures Sunday afternoons, stimulates curiosity, and makes for great father-son activities. The brothers Conn and Hal have put together a wonderful collection of all things that make being young or young at heart fun---building go-carts and electromagnets, identifying insects and spiders, and flying the world's best paper airplanes. This book is more than just fun projects, also included are topics useful for building the mind. I was pleasantly surprised to find info on historical battles, cloud formations, the solar system, grammar rules, poems every boy should know and so much more! One note of caution, there is evolutionary content in a couple of the sections (dinosaurs, fossils, solar system). I encourage you to overlook or use these sections to teach your own worldview. It would be a shame to miss out on such a cool book!
Retail: 24.95	Your Cost: $21.95
American Boys Handy Book An 1890 manual of pasttimes which includes instructions for making kites, fishing poles, a blow gun, boats, and theatrical costumes, and for raising dogs, stuffing animals, stocking an aquarium, and camping.
Retail: $12.95	Your Cost: $11.95
American Girls Handy Book A reprint of a 1890s publication for young ladies instructing them in such hobbies as fancy needlework, handmade dolls, china painting, painting in oils, heraldic painting, preservation of wild flowers, and many others.
Retail: $12.95	Your Cost: $11.95	Temporarily Out of Stock
Gonzo Gizmos - Projects & Devices to Channel Your Inner Geek This fun and informative book features projects ideal for middle schoolers and up. Siblings can even work together, or better yet, get Dad involved, too! Projects include building a radio, steam engine, solar cell, film can cannons, levitating magnets, gauss rifles and more! All the while learning foundational science and math skills.
Retail: $16.95	Your Cost: $14.95
The Art of Construction Drawing examples from every period in history, The Art of Construction explains the basic principles of building. Readers become participants as they use simple projects to illustrate sometimes complex building principles. Items used are very basic, such as straws, tongue depressors, paper, sponges, balloons, even eggs. the projects and their explanations show how basic principles and human ingenuity combine to create durable and engaging architecture.
Retail: $14.95	Your Cost: $12.95