Articles by Deanne Crawford

Miserably hot and humid, the Dog Days are the longest and hottest days of the year that happen to all of us, whether we have dogs or not! Depending on the latitude and the earth’s tilt, the Dog Days of Summer occurs between early July through mid- August in the Northern Hemisphere and late January through early March in the Southern Hemisphere. Join us this month to learn about idioms and the history and science of the hottest days of the year.

Did you know avocado sales are in the top 10 fruit sales nationally? They firmly surpass orange sales, but only slightly behind the favorite fruit of children everywhere: apples, grapes, and bananas. Today, let's take a look at the amazing avocado in this unit study!

Last month, my husband and I took a winding exploration down Route 66. Yes! The same route popularized by Disney® Pixar Cars. One of our trip’s highlights was visiting a replica Hubble Telescope in Marshfield, Mo, the birthplace of Edward Hubble, for whom the telescope is named. Standing in awe, I gazed up at the telescope and realized how much I didn’t know about this magnificent telescope. So, I did what countless other homeschool moms do, I decided to create a unit study! It is my hope that your family enjoys this introductory look at the Hubble Telescope!

This month’s unit study will teach you more about a wildly popular toy that was created in the late 1930s by a carpenter and remains a family-lead business: LEGO! 

Log cabins are a part of our American heritage, a reminder of simpler times when families lived, worked, and played together. Did you know that June 25th has been set aside to celebrate the log cabin? This month, I invite your family to celebrate this humble home. Before we begin, note the web links to family friendly sites for further exploration.

Love it or hate it, the story of the famous game of Monopoly® is bursting with controversy, financial theories, prison escapes, and more. March 7th celebrates the creation of the game that is still very popular today!

February 2nd is considered one of the most popular winter non-holidays. If you are from the Midwest or the Northeast, you may know Punxsutawney Phil as a beloved predictor of weather and seasons. Let's take a look at Groundhog Day and weather forecasting in this unit study!

Wandering through a building, you notice a strange looking sign with raised bumps. As you run your hand over them, your mind floods with questions. What are those bumps? Why are they there? Who invented them? Known as Braille code, those raised bumps are displayed in patterns to create words, allowing blind or visually impaired children and adults to read. As a family, set aside time to explore the fascinating history and methodology of this tactile reading system!

March celebrates the birthday of beloved television personality, Mr. Fred Rogers. Remembered for his gentle, compassionate voice, our unit study this month looks a bit different, as we introduce a new generation to this larger-than-life celebrity, and his message of kindness and the value of all people. Starting with a quick look at Fred Rogers, we will wrap up with a look at 3 life lessons he taught. 

Welcome Matey! Join us to celebrate the beautifully diverse land of Australia in this unit study! Down under, January 26th is a national holiday celebrating the colonization of New South Wales, or Australia, as it’s called today. We have much to learn. Be sure to follow the links for child friendly videos and websites.