Friendship-building activities help children in K-3 develop strong social skills. When relationships are an important factor in education, kids succeed in school and life.
Help children appreciate the diversity of all sorts of modern families take with this fabulous collection of picture books about families.
This week’s lesson was a super fun one for our little ones! The focus was on God’s promises, so we started by talking about a promise that we had learnt a couple of weeks before. We remember that God had made a promise to Noah to save him and his family from the flood and we saw […]
The concept of friendship is not a hard one to teach. Children of all ages want to make friends and be good ones in return. Sometimes though, the how to go
Sin, sin, sin. We are just pressing through the Children’s Catechism and right now we want to make sure we have a grasp on what sin is, how it entered the world, and what the effect of it was in the garden.
Free 12 Apostles accordion style mini book is the perfect activity for kids learning about the followers of Jesus.
Hi! I’m Lisa and I am so happy to celebrate The Family Proclamation. On my blog Pebbles & Piggytails, I talk about making life meaningful. I believe in treasuring time with our familie…
The green and red choice board is a universal support available for all students to support their social-emotional behavior.
Hi KidMin friends! Today I’m wrapping up the Grow Series with a lesson on prayer. This lesson is especially interactive as we used prayer stations to help kids experience prayer with a hands-on approach. My notes on this lesson: be […]
A fun wedding DIY project - download this fingerprint tree template to create your own free fingerprint tree wedding guest book.
An All About Me theme unit is a great way to kick off your preschooler's year. It gives them the chance to learn about themselves, their bodies, their
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Happy Cinco de Mayo! I'm feeling pretty festive today (or maybe I'm just craving tacos...) so I thought I'd share some of my favorite Spanish picture books. Or really, to be more specific, the Spanish bilingual books and Mexican culture stories I enjoyed using my Head Start Preschool storytimes (you can see a couple highlighted bilingual storytimes I did here). So here are my top eleven! Plus some more, because I always seem to think of other random titles here and there in my descriptions. There are, of course, many more awesome bilingual books, so if you have a favorite, don't forget to share them in the comments below! Cinco De Mouse-O Written by Judy Cox, illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler Holiday House (January 1, 2011) 978-0823423286 ¡Que felicidad! It’s Cinco de Mayo, and Mouse follows his nose to the festival, where musicians play, dancers stomp, and delicious treats abound. This one would be most appropriate for today, of course! Mouse gets to enjoy a proper fiesta (although he should beware the cat) and even tasted some candy. Another awesome Mexican holiday book I enjoyed is The Dead Family Diaz, which celebrates the Day of the Dead. Chicks and Salsa Written by Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Paulette Bogan Bloomsbury (October 7, 2005) 978-1599900995 The chickens are very tired of their chicken feed. Luckily, the farmer's wife has been watching some cooking shows and Rooster knows just what to do. This celebration of Mexican food (mmm, guacamole) is pretty silly, but still lots of fun. It's also very similar to another play-on-food-words, Mice and Beans, by Pam Munoz Ryan, which is another great Mexican culture story. Señorita Gordita Written by Helen Ketteman, illustrated by Will Terry Alber Whitman & Co (March 1, 2012) 978-0807573020 A little corn cake has escaped from the frying pan that cooked her and is on the run! Yep, a Spanish version of The Gingerbread Man. It has a lot of Spanish vocabulary (all the animals she's running from) and is a total hit with the kids! Well, until the very end... This author/illustrator team actually has a lot of awesome southwestern-flair retellings that are sure to please, such as Armidilly Chili, and There Once Was a Cowpoke Who Swallowed an Ant. Don Quixote: A BabyLit Spanish Language Primer Written by Jennifer Adams, illustrated by Alison Oliver Gibbs Smith (April 1, 2015) 978-1423638759 So no, this isn't a Mexican cultural book, but it does involve classic literature (albeit, from Spain) and learning Spanish. Plus the illustrations are so cute and it's aimed for those youngest of readers, so yes, I'm including this one. This is a cute one to share with tots and babies. My Family Adventure (Sofia Martinez) Written by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Kim Smith Picture Window Books (February 1, 2015) 978-1479557905 Great for beginning readers, Sofia Martinez is a fun and spunky character dealing with all sorts of family drama (it is hard to be the youngest, you know). The story also has a good amount of Spanish vocabulary—any Spanish words that Sofia and her family use are highlighted and there's an index in the back with the translation. There's also other helpful hints and activities at the end, too. Be sure to check out all the books in the Sofia Martinez series. Mañana, Iguana! Written by Ann Whitford Paul and illustrated by Ethan Long Holiday House (September 1, 2004) 978-0823418084 A classic! Iguana is planning a fiesta. Tortuga the tortoise, Gonejo the rabbit, and Gulebra the snake all want to come. But do they want to help Iguana deliver invitations or stuff the pinata or cook the food? No, no, and no! A lazy trio loses out in this Mexican retelling of the Little Red Hen. Again, be sure to check out more from this author/illustrator duo, such as Fiesta Fiasco and Tortuga in Trouble (a Little Red Riding Hood retelling). Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin Written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh Henry N. Abrams (March 1, 2010) 978-0810938724 This is the story of two cousins, one in America and one in Mexico, and how their daily lives are different yet similar. The text is quite beautiful, with a good sprinkling of Spanish vocabulary. It's a perfect introduction to Mexican culture. Gazpacho for Nacho Written by Tracey C. Kyle, illustrated by Carolina Farías Two Lions (January 14, 2014) 978-1477817278 Okay, yes, I have a thing for food, especially Mexican food. Yes, a lot of these books have to do with food. Sorry, not sorry. This one is really cute, though, so I have to share it. The beautifully rhyming text (yes, English and Spanish words both) tell a perfectly relatable story about a picky eater. It's sure to be loved by all ages. P is for Pinata: A Mexico Alphabet Written by Tony Johnston, illustrated by John Parra Sleeping Bear (September 23, 2008) 978-1585361441 The Discover the World Alphabet series is a favorite of mine. This book has little poetic phrases for each letter of the alphabet, introducing different topics about Mexico. What's even better is the good amount of factual text included to support each topic. This is a good nonfiction choice to share with kids. Fire! ¡Fuego! Brave Bomberos Written by Susan Middleton Elya, illustrated by Dan Santat Bloomsbury (April 24, 2012) 978-1599904610 Firefighters are super brave and this book shows what a day in the life may look like for these heroes—with a healthy dose of Spanish included! Yes, this really isn't a Mexican cultural story, but I do so love Dan Santat's work. And plus, the rhyming, simple text is awesome—good for beginning readers/ Plus, there's an index at the end that explains the many Spanish words. Buenas Noches, Luna Written by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd HarperCollins Español (April 11, 2006) 978-0064434164 This book is more of a tag on to remind you that many classic children's books have been translated into Spanish, making for a great opportunity for kids to learn the language. Do they have a favorite they've practically memorized? Get them the Spanish translation! ....... Do you have a favorite Spanish bilingual or Mexican heritage picture book? Share them in the comments below?
I am so thrilled to team up with one of my favorite people - Amy from Raising Arrows! Last week, Amy told me of her wonderful idea for 'Listening Pages.' I immediately knew it was a project I would love to work on. The concept of these Pages is to keep little ones engaged in the church service on Sunday mornings - from singing to the sermon to prayer. I am hosting the pages for children who are not yet reading, utilizing pictures instead of words. You'll also see a space on the side of the Page where your little one
Kids will LOVE learning about the past with these great history movies that are perfect for family movie night or elementary & middle school students!
52 Scriptures Every Kid Should Know! Get the free printable Bible memory verses, coloring sheets, and progress reward chart from I Can Learn the Bible.
Help your kids start to engage in a Sunday sermon using these sermon notes for kids designed with them in mind! + FREE Printable
Read this great classic tale and then jump into our free The Story of Ferdinand activities and lapbook for a learning adventure!
If there is one thing I have learned from working with preschoolers and now, homeschooling my own preschooler, it is that they love, more than anything else,
Click HERE to see which books we've read and the craft that went along with it! (We'll be adding more soon so check back for more ideas!)
Looking for some fabulous Christian picture books for your children? Be sure to check out the picture books on this list!
Until understanding ADHD in 2018, I don’t know how many times my son’s disruptive behavior was chalked up to that overused phrase “boys will be boys.” My son’s needle seemed to be stuck on hyperdrive all the time. Keeping him from doing and saying certain things became a full-time job.
Ruth Bible lesson for under 5s. Learn how God redeems us and bring us into His family. Includes story, worksheets, colouring pages, craft and more. Free printable.
Teach your kids coping skills with these easy and brilliant anger management activities for kids - designed for positive parenting.
Teach honesty to your children and it will establish a strong desire in them to do what is right. Find lots of fun activities, books and suggestions here!
Help your kids learn to pay attention and get more out of the sermon in church with this free church book for kids!
We pulled together some of the best Memorial Crafts for Loved Ones. Remembrance ideas for deceased including how to save a voicemail, memory keepsakes, celebration of life ideas, and clothing ideas.
(please note that this post includes affiliate links. Read my full disclosures here.) Reading aloud is a chance for families to connect...
Persistence activities to help kids and families learn about the power of perserverance. Includes a free printable activity guide!
Reading is kind of a big deal at our house, but as much as we value books, we love family most of all! I remember seeing this family photo board book idea on A Cup of Jo and thinking I would love to try making something like that for our kiddo. It turned out to…
Books for 6-8 year olds. Books for elementary-age children that they will love to read. These make great read alouds, also.
Book-By-Book Printable Bible Coloring Pages: Genesis-Revelation.
This easy bible quiet book template is super easy to put together and is sure to be a huge hit for any young child.
Our family LOVES Stellaluna so I was thrilled when I found this FREE printable activity sheet pack to pair up with the Stellaluna book. It includes Stellaluna coloring sheets, activity sheets and trivia quizzes!
Enjoy this Our Class is a Family activity sheet! I used this with my 1st grade class when we came back from remote learning and it was a huge hit!
Help your kids learn the story of Job with this fun printable Job mini book - Easy to make from one piece of paper! Perfect for home or class.
If they don't, there are several reasons for this. One is generational and the other is science based. Read the article and find out what to do so that your memories can be enjoyed for generations.
Have fun introducing the books from your childhood to your own children with this list of 25 classic chapter books for 5-8 year olds. Great read alouds.
Bible games for teens are a good way to incorporate bible teachings into their life. Here is our list of the best Bible activities you may use for your teens.
Start planning your family trip to Italy HERE! Read about the best places to go in Italy with kids, where to stay in Italy with kids, getting around & more!
Fun and learning packed The Day the Crayons Quit activities that include free printables to download. Just supply crayons!
