Science learning centers: Biology activities, animal habitats, taxonomy games

Learning occurs best when it's interactive, so put hands-on activities in all preschool and elementary classroom learning centers. When studying different countries, cultures in social studies or animal habitats sciences, use these hands-on activities in science learning centers. It goes without saying that all learning centers should have a bookshelf or basket of books appropriate whatever unit you're studying. DK--Dorling Kindersley makes excellent science reference books and field guides so use those in learning centers. Here are other biology materials, interactive games and hands-on activities for science learning centers.  Science learning centers: Biology activities, animal habitats, taxonomy games | Examiner.com

Preschool science in art learning centers: Dramatic play animal habitat dioramas

Just in time for Earth Month in April how about interactive preschool science lesson plans for learning centers? Here's a cross-curricular one that involves art, science and dramatic play learning centers. Dramatic play develops the preschool child's social, emotional, artistic, creative and communication skills. Dramatic play learning centers teach expression, self-awareness and confidence. Dramatic play lends itself to all content even for science learning centers. Here are homemade costumes, props and settings for preschool science within dramatic play learning centers. Children will create life-size habitat dioramas which I call bio-drama. Using recycled materials teaches real-life environmental science!   Preschool science in art learning centers: Dramatic play animal habitat dioramas | Examiner.com

Free printable social studies lessons: World history timelines, geography bee | Examiner.com

The National Geography Bee countdown is heating up. Students are working to qualify to represent their school at the National Geography Bee, reports the Crawford County Avalanche on Feb. 17. You can take the geography bee quiz online and use free printable world history timelines to prep students for the geography bee activities. What do world history timelines have to do with a geography bee? History timelines make excellent graphic organizers for social studies lessons. Social studies teachers can use timelines to complement world maps by showing not only the where, but the when. World history timelines map time as maps and globes map places. Visit National Geographic Kids for more free printable social studies lessons.   Free printable social studies lessons: World history timelines, geography bee | Examiner.com

Best Valentine's Day gifts for women, presents mom, wife, girlfriend will love

Did you put off Valentine's Day for your gal? Now at the last minute, Feb. 14, you grab chocolates and flowers. Sorry guys, thanks for the thought, but boring. Here are frugal, thoughtful Valentine gifts for women--wife, mom, girlfriend--that will delight. Use for women's birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day gifts.   Best Valentine's Day gifts for women, presents mom, wife, girlfriend will love | Examiner.com

Lenten Kitchen: Vegetarian rice recipes for weight loss, Kosher, Halal fasting | Examiner.com

 Catholic families to observe Lenten fasting during Lent and on Fridays by serving and eating vegetarian, meatless meals. Vegetarian meals work for weight loss, too. And a good starch for weight loss is rice. Rice is multi-purpose food source (heck, it must be as half the world survives on it!) But rice gets a bad rap in western cultures for its high glycemic level, starch and calorie content. But starch isn't all bad for weight loss. It fills you up and keeps you going, especially, believe it or not, non-dietary fiber starch. Rice is high in B vitamins that help brain function and slow aging. It's fat-free and has protein, too. Brown rice is generally better than white rice but jasmine and basmati rice taste the best in rice recipes.  Lenten Kitchen: Vegetarian rice recipes for weight loss, Kosher, Halal fasting | Examiner.com

Free printable valentine countdown calendars: Valentines Day activities for kids

Countdown calendars are becoming very popular to help children count down the days to special events and holidays. Here are free printable valentine countdown calendars to number the days till Valentines Day. These cute cut and paste craft works well for preschool, special needs kids, elementary classrooms, homeschool and Girl Scout troop activities for kids.  Free printable valentine countdown calendars: Valentines Day activities for kids | Examiner.com

Free printable blank checks, play money, banking slips, money math lessons

Money math, banking and finance are some of the most practical math applications. Students learn real-world math lessons by writing checks, balancing checkbooks and managing debit and credit cards, savings and checking accounts. To help, here are free printable blank checks, play money, check register forms, banking slips, deposit slips and withdrawal slips. Use to teach hands-on money math lessons Use for consumer math classes, special education lesson plans and homeschool math activities.  Free printable blank checks, play money, banking slips, money math lessons | Examiner.com

Kids who eat healthy food also eat junk food: Curb childhood obesity with diet

 So it's official--kids who eat healthy food also eat junk food. Relax News said on Jan. 12, that this was the finding of Ohio State University researchers. Did that surprise you? It certainly shocked the folks at OSU. They expected to find that kids ate fruits, vegetables, milk and other nutritious foods to substitute junk food. They hoped to prove that childhood obesity could be overturned simply by turning kids on to healthy food. But any parent could have told OSU scientists that kids who eat healthy food will happily eat "unhealthy" if allowed to. Junk food is highly addictive and children are prime targets for addiction, having as yet undeveloped limit switches. Some kids just like to eat, period. And that is much healthier than picky eaters and parents who cater to their weird eating habits. Kids who eat healthy food also eat junk food: Curb childhood obesity with diet | Examiner.com

Take down the Christmas Tree Day: Give Christmas trees to birds or elephants!

The 12 Days of Christmas have past and now it's just a lot of birds and tired lords and ladies. Epiphany came and went on Jan. 6, and with it should have gone your old Christmas tree. Because Jan. 5 is Twelfth Night, the final hurrah of the Christmas season. So yes, Virginia, there is a real Take Down the Christmas Tree Day (reported WBUR NPR). Alas, great weeping and Bah humbugs were heard in Whoville (and across the world) as mourners bemoaned the last rites of the yule season. But now comes another dilemma--what to do with your old dead Christmas trees? Some communities collect them and dump them in the local landfill. But, as nearly half of a landfill is composed (decomposed?) of yard waste, perhaps that's not such a green idea.  Take down the Christmas Tree Day: Give Christmas trees to birds or elephants! | Examiner.com

Christmas trees: Evergreen tree choices for holiday decorations | Examiner.com

Shopping for Christmas trees? Shouldn't be all that difficult, right? After all, Christmas trees are pretty much the same, aren't they? Actually there are several different evergreen trees grown for use as Christmas trees. Here is a guide to choosing Christmas trees, based on style, allergic properties, ease of decorating and cost. This author's hometown of Grand Haven, Michigan is Christmas Tree Central, so you're getting this info from the "roots"--so to speak. Starting with less expensive, here are evergreen tree choices.  Christmas trees: Evergreen tree choices for holiday decorations | Examiner.com